"For God's sake, stop blinking Yuri!" Hyewon scolded her cousin while she's applying mascara to her. 

"I only asked you to choose a dress for me! I did not sign up for this!" The girl replied, trying to shrug Kwangbae away.

"Don't even start with me, hamster... Relax, can you? If you want to impress Yena, you need to trust me."

Yuri texted her cousin early in the morning that day, saying that she's having difficulty over picking the right clothes. She called Hyewon because aside from the fact that she's the only cousin near, Kwangbae is also the 'fashion guru' of their family. The girl asked Yuri about the event she's going to and why does she felt the need to be neat and clean. The hamster doesn't have any choice but to tell her the truth. 

"How can I relax if you're drawing on my face?" Yuri answered back. "Also, I'm not trying to impress anyone."

Hyewon just raised one of her eyebrows at her cousin's remark and continued on her work.

"Kwangbae, how long will it still be? My feet are getting numb already..."

"Patience kiddo, It's almost done. Just wait for a little more..." Kwangbae said. "Adding last touches and..."

She held the mirror in front of Yuri.

"Tada!"

"Kwangbae... I-"

"I know, I know... You'll say that you're pretty blah, blah, blah. It's okay... Just thank me later." Hyewon joked.

She's not lying, though. Yuri, wearing a white off-shoulders paired with denim shorts, is indeed beautiful. The little makeover Hyewon gave her highlighted her mochi cheeks and captivating eyes. Even the girl herself can't believe that it is really her reflection. It's very different from the usual sweatshirt Yuri.

"Here," Hyewon handed her a little pink purse bag. "I already prepared it for you. I also know that you only have sneakers so I'm letting you borrow mine. Good thing we're the same size."

Kwangbae said as she pulled a pair of sandals from her backpack. Yuri stood up and wore the shoes and the bag. 

"Thanks, Hye." Yuri smiled. "I honestly wouldn't know what I will do if you didn't come."

"That's nothing," Kwangbae replied. "Of course, I'm going to help you get your girl."

And suddenly, the sassy (and in-denial) Yuri is back again.

"Whatever," The girl rolled her eyes. "I need to go. I don't want to be late."

"What time is it, by the way?"

"Well, she sent me a message right after she asked me out that night. She said that it's going to start at 7 so we should meet at 6:30."

Kwangbae's mouth fell agape.

"Why are you making such face?"

"Yuri, you might have a slight problem," Hyewon informed. "It's... already 5:45."

What?!?" The hamster panicked. "Why didn't you told me?"

"I thought that it's going to start late since it's New Year's Eve Fest, remember?"

"What am I gonna do? It'll be so embarrassing if I arrived late." Yuri said, covering her face with her two hands while walking back and forth.

"You're ruining your makeup, Yuri-ah! Calm down... For sure we can find a solution. Let's think- Aha!" Hyewon said when she thought of something. "Do you remember when we're still living together back then? The bus left us that day. It isn't a problem for me but for you, you need to arrive before the school bell rings or you'll get detention for being tardy for the third time. Do you remember what happened after that?"

"Of course, I know. You helped me by- wait- Are you saying-"

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"Yep, just like the old days."

************

"Yuri..." Yena mumbled when she saw the gal.

"Hi, Yena," The girl awkwardly replied. 

The duck was lost for words but she remembered what she has been holding.

"Here, by the way," She said, handing a rose to the girl. "You look fantastic tonight. It's not like you're not pretty every day... I'm just saying that tonight, you look very enchanting."

"T-Thanks," Yuri shyly replied, her cheeks lightly turning to pink because of a compliment. 

"Ahem," Hyewon cleared . "Just so you know, I'm still here."

"Of course, of course... I didn't know that you can ride a bike."

Yuri arrived on time thanks to Hyewon's biking skills. 

"Well, now you already know," Kwangbae said before giving a smirk. "I better leave you two now. Enjoy your date, lovebirds."

And she immediately pedaled away, leaving the two in shock by her remark.  

"So... How's your Christmas?" Yena asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Good," It took Yuri a good 5 seconds to answer and that is the only thing she said.

"Are you excited about the new year?"

"Y-Yeah," Yuri said, fidgeting. 

"Well, I'm sure that you aren't ready to go back to school, right?"

"Yes,"

Silence. Yena is already running out of questions. She just looked down, searched on her pockets and gave Yuri a faint smile.

"Take this," Yena commanded as she held one of Yuri's hand and put the tickets there. 

"Why are you giving this to me?" Yuri asked in a very confused tone. Instead of answering, Yena turned her back and was about to walk away.

"Hey, Yena! I thought you-" 

"Let's not fool ourselves, Yuri," Yena said stressfully. "I know that you don't really like to go here and that I just forced you to. Look at us! We're so awkward with each other now... And it's all my fault. Sorry for ruining the friendship, Yuri-ah. You can do everything you want with the tickets. I should go now-"

"No, wait!" Yuri pleaded that made Yena stay. "Please don't think that way... Yes, I admit that I don't like to go here at first. But after I searched about this event, I became excited to see bands and solo artists. Also, you didn't destroy anything. W-We're still friends, okay?"

Yena turned to face the other lass.

"Then... Then why do you feel so awkward? You also give just short answers in every question I ask."

"Well," Yuri hesitated. "It's not your fault... It's Hyewon's words. I felt a little shy after hearing the word 'date.' I don't know why, maybe because it hasn't sunk in yet."

"Why did you told me just now?" Yena asked. "Umm... How 'bout this? Forget about that label. Let's just say that we're trying to know each other."

"Isn't that the same?"

"Kinda, but it's a bit more comfortable to use in a sentence. What do you think?"

"I... guess we should use that," Yuri said, showing her sweet smile. "S-Shall we enter then? Or do you really want to go home now?"

"Nah... I want to know you more." Yena, who is back to her goofy personality, beamed. "What are we waiting for then? Let's go!"

Yuri was surprised when Yena intertwined their fingers but she didn't say anything. It's actually weird... She wanted to get her hand back but something is telling her to just enjoy the moment. They gave their tickets to the security officials and they are able to set foot in the venue. 

Stalls everywhere, a big stage and an enormous crowd. That is how the two would describe the place. While the concert hasn't started yet, Yena and Yuri decided to tour themselves around the place, just to be familiar. 

"Do you remember this?" Yena asked as they sat on the green grass, biting the cheese hotdog they just bought.

"How couldn't I?" Yuri replied. "This is the first food that we share together."

"I didn't imagine back then that our first meeting will bloom into what we are now today," Yena commented.

"Actually... That's not the first time that I saw you," Yuri recalled. "It was minutes before. I saw you at the back of the Gaming Club booth. You look so chic and mature with your all black get-up. But after a few seconds, you suddenly pouted and that showed your duck lips. I actually found it cute and-" Yuri stopped in the middle of her reminiscing. She can feel someone smirking beside her.

"So you found me cute ever since then, huh?" Yena joked. Yuri playfully hit the other girl's arm which made Yena laugh. "I actually remember that scene. I was mad at Sakura for letting those girls join our club when clearly, they don't have any idea about gaming. They're just there for the clout. And then I heard screams... I looked at your direction and saw that you're being humiliated by those three."

"You look so scared that time. It's so different from the Yuri who always defend Minju from Jae-Hyuk and who provoked Byung-Soon in her own party." Yena said before sipping her lemonade.

"I was new back then, okay? I don't want to get into a fight," Yuri explained. "But honestly, God knows how I tried to contain myself when they're already saying things about our club. Like, you're not going to say good things, why even waste your energy talking?"

"You really love the Music Club that much?"

"Music is my life, Yena," Yuri answered. "Do you know that I want to be an idol? Bit of a surprise, right? But my parents don't want me to. They want me to enter a medical school and follow the footsteps of my great grandmother. They told me that my dream is too low and that I won't be successful anyway so I should just give up."

"W-What? How can your own parents-"

"Many people ask themselves about what they really want to be... But mine's a different case. I already know what I want, it's just a bummer that some circumstances are stopping me. But I remembered something that my grandfather told me before he died... He said that I'm the creator of my own fate. That I, and I only, can decide about my own future. And that's my main principle in life."

Yuri looked at the duck who was looking at her worriedly. She tried to laugh.

"Why did I even shared this? You know what, just forget-"

"Ever since I was a kid, I was known as the Choi Yena. Nothing more, nothing less." Yuri was surprised. It is the first time that Yena will talk about herself. 

"At first, I thought that it's good. My classmates and teachers are so kind. Everybody likes me... That's what I thought. But as I grew up, I realized that they only like the Choi in my name. They just kept me by their side so they can use me whenever they like. That's when I promised myself that I would stay away from them before they do that to me again." 

"You might be wondering, what about Sakura? Many people don't know but I met that girl in a press conference. She's a daughter of a Japanese Politician. From then on, we became good friends. She stayed by my side when my clan is facing a huge problem. She comforted me when my family is so close to breaking up. She's my only friend... until you and the others came." Yena smiled while looking at the ground, avoiding eye contact.

"I was raised to be a full-blood Choi. My uncles, aunts, grandparents, and even the whole student body expects me to enter politics. The pressure is on, everyone's eyes are always on me. I became conscious of myself, to the extent of losing my own self-confidence. They focused on building a strong, smart, and powerful version of Yena that they didn't see that the real one is being suffocated."

Yuri gently patted the girl's back. 

"You're lucky, you know? I've told a hundred times to Kkura that I really want to be like you... Carefree, funny, hardworking, but most of all, brave. And now, after telling me your own tale, you just showed to me once more why I liked you." Yena looked into the hamster's eyes. "I finally have the courage to say that... I like you, Jo Yuri."

Yuri blushed at the girl's confession, but that isn't her main problem for now. She's more worried about Yena's plans.

"H-Have you ever thought of saying it to your parents?" Yena was slightly disappointed when Yuri didn't give a reply to her last sentence but she chose to not say a word about it anymore.

"My parents have been supportive of me ever since Primary School. I just don't want to let them down... I know that I'm going to be a disgrace to our family if I chose to follow my own dream-"

"No!" Yuri suddenly yelled. "Sorry... What I want to say is, you will not be a disgrace. Yes, they might get mad, but I'm sure that you're going to do everything to make them understand. And when they finally did, everything will go to plan... That's what I always say to myself. Do not give up your dreams..."

She suddenly took Yena's hand into hers.

"And when you feel scared, when you feel like you're alone, always remember that you have us, that you have me. This might be a funny thing to say but... Let's disappoint the world... together."

Yuri tightened her hold on Yena's hand. She understands her now... Her personality, her family, the reason why she tends to not socialize, and why she doesn't want to be known with her surname. She's filled with happiness because Yena decided to trust and open up to her. She stared at the other girl's eyes, and there she finally confirmed...

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I am falling for Yena.  

************

"Wooh!" Yuri said, jumping. 

"Yah, do not waste your energy! The fireworks will still be an hour from now!" Yena shouted. 

"How can you not enjoy? Yena, this is lit!" The girl exclaimed. 

After their deep talk, The two immediately went to the main venue of the Fest. There are several bands and singers that performed. When a certain group named Iz*one entered the stage, the crowd went wild. They performed 'Violeta', which is a crowd's favorite. They also performed other tracks like 'La Vie En Rose', 'Airplane', and 'Highlight'. 

"T-That was s-so dope," Yuri said, panting.

"Here, drink some water first," Yena said, handing a bottle to the other lass. "Are you okay now? Have you calm down?"

"Thanks... It's really tiring, but fun," Yuri said, smiling widely. Yena grinned. She's happy that, in a way, she's one of the reasons for that smile.

"Do you want some energizer?" The duck asked, searching inside her bag. She took out something that's covered in a gold wrapper. "Here take some chocolates. It's melted a little, though."

Yuri still gladly took it and popped it into while waiting for the next artist to went up to the stage. 

"Is something wrong?" Yena asked a few minutes after. She observed how uncomfortable Yuri is.

"No, this is n-nothing..." The girl replied, scratching her eyes. "Let's just watch the- achoo!" 

This time, Yena worried more. 

"Are you sure you're fine? Looks like you're sick?"

"I don't even know why I feel like- achoo!- this," Yuri answered. "The only time I'm like this is when-" 

She stopped and looked at the duck's eyes.

"Yena, c-can I ask you a question?" Yuri stammered. "What are the ingredients on that chocolate?"

"What? Why are you-"

"Just tell me, please."

"Well," Yena tried to remember. "It has cocoa, nuts, milk-"

"N-Nuts?" Yuri faltered, coughing after.

"Yes, nuts. Why?"

"I... I need to go," Yuri suddenly ran away. Yena was shocked at her action and decided to follow her.

"Yuri1 Yuri, wait..." The duck blocked her way.

"Let me go home now, Yena-"

"Did I do something wrong? What's happening-"

"Please let me-"

"Not until you tell me-"

"I'm allergic to nuts!" Yuri yelled, her allergies consuming her patience. Good thing that they're already far away from the crowd. "I-I'm sorry... But I need to go home. I need to take proper medicine or else it might result to swelling. I'm really sorry, Yena..." 

And she immediately ran with her phone near her ear. probably calling Hyewon. Yena remained speechless, the events happened so fast. She wanted to punch herself when it has finally sunk in. She whispered to herself,

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"Good Job, Yena. You officially ruined Yuri's new year."  

*********

Hi, guys! Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoy this Bonus Chapter :)) 

And for the next chapter, I'm gonna give little teasers ;)

Teaser #1:

"You should probably tell her immediately, Hiichan... Before she discovers it from other people. That'll just hurt her more."

Teaser #2:

"You don't need to be number one just for someone to choose you..." 

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"Look at me, I already did."

Please look forward to the next chapters~~