“What happened?” Sakura asked as she brought her hands to Chaeyeon’s face.

“It’s nothing.” Chaeyeon smiled.

Sakura could tell from one look that it wasn’t genuine. After observing Chaeyeon through her daily life, Sakura knew well that Chaeyeon wasn’t fine. In fact, she was the target of bullies. But Sakura couldn’t tell her she knew. Because, how did she know? Because she’s an angel? Chaeyeon would laugh.

“I’m sure it’s not, but I won’t push you any further.” Sakura said and dabbed on the other’s wounds lightly. “Let me help.”

Chaeyeon dropped her arms in defeat, allowing Sakura to aid her. The latter gently cleaned up the cuts and bruises before draping Chaeyeon’s arms over her shoulders, helping the younger up.

“Let’s get you to the infirmary.” Sakura muttered under her breath. “Be careful.”

Chaeyeon nodded weakly as she followed Sakura’s lead. The shorter could tell that she was totally drained and worned out.

Who in the world would do such a thing to Chaeyeon? Sakura has never seen any incidents of bullying throughout her observation period. How could Sakura be so sure that Chaeyeon was fine by herself. There was a reason why Sakura was here and it was to protect Chaeyeon.

“Lie down here. I will get the doctor.”

Sakura gently laid the injured down onto the soft bed before calling the doctor over.

“Oh dear!” The woman said as she rushed over. “What happened?”

“She-” Sakura was cut off.

“I just fell while playing around.” Chaeyeon covered before Sakura could reveal anything.

“Oh sweetie. Please be more careful.” The woman said. “I will get you cleaned up and you can rest at home.”

Somehow, the doctor felt familiar to Sakura but she couldn’t figure out why. There was this feeling that kept bugging her whenever the doctor spoke. Where had she heard her before?

Shaking the thought out of her mind, Sakura thanked the doctor before turning her attention to Chaeyeon.

“I’ll get your stuff from the washroom and we can go home, okay?” Sakura smiled as she held Chaeyeon’s hand warmly. “You’ll be safe here.”

Just as Sakura was going to leave, she felt a tug on her hand.

“Jjaeyeon?”

“Eun...bi.” Chaeyeon mumbled.

“What?” Sakura harshly whispered. “Eunbi did this to you?”

“No!” Chaeyeon sat up, but only to lie back down when her abdomen was hurting like hell. “Dance club. I meant to tell them I can’t attend. But don’t tell them why.”

Sakura stared at Chaeyeon, jealousy reflected in her eyes. Sakura knew it wasn’t the time for this, but she just helped Chaeyeon and she didn’t even thank her. Instead, all she thought about was Eunbi. Sakura hated herself for having those thoughts. She hated herself for even trying. She hated herself for liking Chaeyeon.

It’ll never end up like how she wanted anyways.

Chaeyeon deserved all the happiness she could get. And no matter what, Sakura should never be the one obstructing her. A human and an angel would never be happy together.

Sakura bit her bottom lip and stared at Chaeyeon for the last time before turning around and walking out of the room. She shouldn’t be doing this. Chaeyeon wasn’t wrong. Sakura knew what Chaeyeon had for her senior, Eunbi. She knew. And yet she still fell for her.

The cherry blossom girl snapped out of her thoughts as she stood outside the dance room. This was it. She doesn’t know Eunbi. Eunbi doesn’t know her. All she had to do was to deliver the message.

Shakily, Sakura knocked on the door before pulling it open. A shorter girl greeted her as she stepped into the room. Sakura recognised her. It was Eunbi, Chaeyeon’s crush.

“Eunbi.” Sakura accidentally let out.

“Oh?” The girl chuckled. “And you are?”

Sakura stared at Eunbi, not knowing that she had a scowl on her face. The older, although not knowing what she did wrong, gave Sakura a gentle smile in return. Sakura acknowledged that she was way more mature than anyone she’s ever met. It was probably why Chaeyeon fell for her in the first place. And Sakura was envious.

Ignoring the question posed, Sakura explained Chaeyeon’s condition, causing the older to panic a little before calming down when Sakura said that Chaeyeon wasn’t majorly injured. Sakura clicked her tongue at the girl and spared her one last glance, before turning away to head back.

“Wait.” Eunbi grabbed onto Sakura’s arm. “Do… Do you want to join our club?”

Sakura was dumbfounded.

She never had any interest in sports, not to mention dancing. What in the world gave Eunbi the idea that Sakura would ever join? Was it to make her jealous, showing her how Chaeyeon was head over heels for her? Sakura knew she herself was being childish. Eunbi doesn’t know about Chaeyeon’s feelings for her.

Sakura mentally slapped herself. What was she thinking? She and Chaeyeon were impossible. So why not help Chaeyeon get together with her crush instead? That was the least Sakura could do for her human, as a guardian angel. Instead of making matters worse and ending up like… Irene.

“W-What do you think?” Eunbi asked nervously as she waved her hand over Sakura’s face, snapping her out of her thoughts. “I won’t bite.”

Sakura softly chuckled.

It was different. Eunbi was different. It was as if she was a baby. Sakura found it cute, how Eunbi was nervous about it but still had the courage to ask, and she couldn’t help but replace her scowl with a warm smile. It was a good deal. Sakura can watch over Chaeyeon and at the same time, help her with Eunbi.

“Call.” The Japanese barely let out.

Eunbi did a small fist bump in the air before shyly retracting her hand with an apparent blush on her face.

“I’m E-Eunbi, as you already know.” The club president stuttered. “What’s your name?”

“Sakura. Miyawaki Sakura.” The cherry blossom girl sported a small giggle. “Nice to meet you E-Eunbi.”

The letter grew red at Sakura’s teasing, immediately hiding her face into her palms. Satisfied, Sakura playfully tapped the crown of Eunbi’s head before making her way back to the infirmary.

•¤•

“Saku-chan?” Chaeyeon called out at the end of the class.

Ever since that incident, Sakura has always stuck around Chaeyeon, worrying that it might happen again. And ever since that incident, Chaeyeon called Sakura, Saku-chan. Sakura loved it. The cherry blossom girl could only blush at the memory when the younger first called her Saku-chan.

“Saku-chan.” Chaeyeon called out as Sakura was about to leave her room. “Thank you… for today.”

Sakura tried her best not to show her smile, forming a frown on her face instead.

“It’s not like I cared.” The girl said and turned around. “Baka!”

“Are you sick?” Chaeyeon asked, hand placed onto the shorter’s forehead. “You are red.”

“N-No!” Sakura snapped her head so fast Chaeyeon almost thought it would drop off her shoulders. “I’m fine.”

Sakura was deeply embarrassed at being caught thinking about the girl in front of her. The girl that held her intention, although never intentionally. Lee Chaeyeon filled Sakura’s mind, and would soon fill Sakura’s heart as well.

“If you say so…” Chaeyeon muttered. “I’m heading to dance, see you at home.”

“I-”

Before Sakura could even ask her to wait for her, Chaeyeon was already out of the door. It hurt Sakura that the younger didn’t even wait for her because she was excited about meeting Eunbi. But Sakura shouldn’t be feeling this way in the first place. And to be fair, Chaeyeon didn’t know that Sakura joined dance.

“Get over her, would you?” Chaewon nudged Sakura on her shoulders. “I’m always available.”

Sakura made a gagging motion and the both of them laughed.

“I’m trying to.” The angel confessed. “And I’m trying to help her with Eunbi. That’s why I joined dance. Want to join me?”

“Nope sorry.” Chaewon chuckled. “I’m already in choir. Along with Yuri and Yena, being their official third wheel and er.”

“You know Yena?” Sakura said, only realising her questionable excitement afterwards.

“Yes and she hates me.” Chaewon laughed at the thought. “I’m guessing Chaeyeon introduced you guys already.”

“Yeah we met when I first visited Chaeyeon’s apartment.” Sakura recalled. “She has yet to fulfill her promise of gaming together.”

Chaewon laughed.

“I better get going now before I’m late.” Sakura said as she placed the last item into her backpack. “Thanks for cheering me up.”

The younger playfully saluted at Sakura as she walked out of the lecture room towards the practice room.

“S-Sakura!” Eunbi greeted her as soon as she saw the Japanese girl walk through the door. “I’ll introduce you around.”

Sakura smiled in gratitude and placed her backpack down along with the others before following Eunbi’s lead.

“This is Minju.” Eunbi said as she brought Sakura to the girl at the corner.

“Hello.”

“Hi.” Sakura said in return. “Miyawaki Sakura.”

Sakura had to admit, the girl was stunning.

“Nice to meet you.” Sakura mumbled as the other gave a small smile before returning to her stretching exercise.

From the corner of her eye, Sakura spotted a familiar back figure nearby. Chaeyeon. This was her chance. Sakura stuck her leg out as they were nearing the taller, tripping Eunbi in process. The oldest launched forward, landing onto the girl in front.

“Chaeryeong?!” Sakura turned to see a furious Ryujin stomping her way over.

Chaeryeong?

Confused, the angel turned to see Eunbi awkwardly releasing herself from the younger. Indeed it was Chaeryeong. Sakura failed to recognise her from the back and mistook her as Chaeyeon.

“Sorry, Eunbi.” The girl held her head down and apologised.

“It’s fine.” Eunbi gave her a pat on the shoulders. “You didn’t do it intentionally anyways.”

“Ryujin-ah.” Chaeryeong whined as the other crossed her arms, pouting.

“Ryujin.” Eunbi chuckled. “I’m really sorry. It wasn’t Chaeryeong’s fault. I tripped.”

“I’m sorry too.” Sakura added, bowing slightly to the younger.

Ryujin’s pout soon turned to a giddy smile when Chaeryeong embraced her entirely. Sakura and Eunbi smiled at the scene, sighing in relief when the minor incident was resolved. The cherry blossom girl resented herself for being foolish. All she has done was to create trouble. Was she really a guardian angel?

“Saku-chan?”

Chaeyeon walked into the room and caught sight of her crush, alongside a sulky Sakura. The older noticed that she was in a loose black top paired with comfortable looking sweatpants. Chaeyeon must have gone to change.

“What are you doing here?” Chaeyeon asked as she slipped an arm over Sakura’s shoulders. “What happened?”

The four girls turned to look at the confused newcomer before looking at each other, bursting into fits of laughter. Chaeyeon’s expression was a masterpiece. Sakura couldn’t help but gush at the adorable girl.

“W-What?” Chaeyeon stuttered and glared at Sakura.

“You’re cute.” Eunbi said as she ruffled Chaeyeon’s hair before going to the side to do her own stretching.

Sakura gritted her teeth as Chaeyeon grew red. The older found Chaeyeon’s sheepish grin endearing, but it wasn’t for her, neither was it because of her. And the green monster reappeared in Sakura. She was willing to do whatever for Chaeyeon to treat her like that, but it was impossible.

Chaeyeon was human. Sakura was an angel.

And Chaeyeon likes Eunbi.

Right. That was Sakura’s initial intention and resolution when she decided to join the club. She wasn’t in her right mind - jealousy got the better of her. Sakura shook the feeling out of her chest but to no avail.

“You’re drooling.” Sakura said to Chaeyeon who was earnestly staring at Eunbi doing stretches.

“W-What?” The younger hurriedly brought her hand to her jaw, wiping away whatever was there. “You lied!”

Sakura laughed bitterly as Chaeyeon shoved her.

Yes. She should just be satisfied with being friends. It was the best choice for her. For them.

Just friends.