When Wendy and Joy first met each other’s friends it was...unique to say the least. They had only met each other’s friends in passing, they met when Wendy and her friends knocked over a hotdog stand. And again when Joy and Wendy walked in on Seulgi and Irene. But they had never just sat down and gotten to know each other. 

This revelation bothered Wendy, partly because from the sounds of it Katy and Joy are a lot closer than they should be and Irene said it’s always the best friend that steals your girl, wendy refused to let that happen. Also, the idea that her girlfriend only knew her friends for having in the kitchen was just a horrifying thought and Wendy always sought the pat on the back. She grew up being told she was awesome. That everyone liked her. 

With her winning personality she wanted to meet Katy. Wanted her to meet her friends. She needed it. Joy didn’t get it. But hey, if Wendy wanted them all to hang then who was she to stop them?

They took separate cars, Wendy and her friends piled into Irene’s Hyundai Sonata off to City Island they went. Meanwhile. Joy and Katy fought over Katy’s scooter and Joy’s Mitsubishi Eclipse. 

“My scooter is better for the environment Joy what the ! What kind of lesbian isn’t environmentally aware?”

“Katy. You have a large Asian mans face plastered onto your freaking scooter!”

“Your car is neon green! With a bumper sticker that says mean people and nice people swallow!”

“So what! People find it funny, not embarrassing. Every time you get on your scooter you are literally mounting a mans face!”

“You know what. I don’t even wanna meet your friends. You and your friends can it!” Joy glared at Katy’s retreating back. 

“I’ll give you Juliana’s numbers if you get in my ing car.” Katy stopped, with a grin she turned to Joy. 

“And her brothers?”

“That’s disgusting. You’re gonna sleep with both of them?”

Katy shrugged. “First come first serve.”

“You’re a menace to society you know that right?”

“Numbers or I’m gone.”

“Fine. Fine whatever. I’ll give you Juliana’s and Alejandro’s numbers. Now please get in the car.”

“With pleasure my favorite Latin friend”.

“I’m your only friend.”

“I resent that”.

Wendy sat at the seafood place tapping her fingers along to the reggae music in the background. Irene was cooing and feeding Seulgi and on any other occasion she would have found this cute. But not today. Not tonight. Not right now. 

“Where the hell are they?” Wendy groaned. 

“Wannie don’t worry. They’re probably stuck in traffic”.

“Or having a quickie in the back”. Wendy’s head shot up to Irene. 

“Babe! No. Not nice” Seulgi scolded. “Don’t listen to her Wannie. She’s just cranky”. Irene rolled her eyes. 

“Hey guys sorry were late. This one was yelling at some guy jogging”. Seulgi smiles, pointing at Joy and Katy. 

“See. They’re not even sweaty”. 

“Huh?” Wendy just shook her head. Standing up to kiss Joy and hug Katy. 

“Hey babe.”

“What’s up mi amor”, Joy kissed her cheek. Turning sideways and pointing at Katy. “This is Katy. She’s my best friend from school, friends ever since.”

Katy smiled, she hated first meetings. Preferring to enter with a bang, with that thought it mind she grabbed Wendy’s hand shaking it so hard Wendy was sure it popped out the socket. “Pleasure to meet yah!” Katy yelled. “I’m Joy’s only friend. And just to really get the dust off the old shoes, I shall tell you. Joy lost her ity to me so I’m here to stay. My stamp of approval is on that and that’s that!” Joy’s face dropped into what could only be described as true and genuine fear. 

Wendy just stared stun, and the shrimp Irene was feeding Seulgi fell, but not before that ninja caught it and ate it. Can’t hold off a fight without food in your belly. Katy smiled, hands on her hips, not quite understanding what she had done. “I ing knew it! See Wendy!” Irene yelled, jumping from her seat. 

Joy was still just looking back and forth between Wendy and Katy. “She’s lying babe” Joy finally said, eyes wide. Wendy just nodded mutely, eyes on the ground. 

“Nu uh, I’m not lying. You have a birth mark on your .” Wendy’s eyes slipped shut. Oh this hurt. She could confirm that yes, Joy does in fact have a birth mark on her . 

“Katy’s shut up!”

“Yeah Katy, shut the up!” Irene yelled, to which Katy shot a look at. 

“Oh look. It’s the grandma and seulbear!”  Seulgi, who was still sitting down enjoying her shrimp smiled and waved. 

“Did you just call me a grandma? And her name is Seulgi to you hoe”.  Katy gasped. 

“Did you just call me a hoe?”

“Yeah I did. Problem?” And then, all hell broke loose. Seulgi jumped up just as the two jumped on each other. She stared long fully at the shrimp her girlfriend had just landed on. 

“Oh man. My shrimp”, she whimpered. She looked up, “where’s Wendy and Joy?” With no time to think about that, she went in to get the tiny Katy girl off her tiny girlfriend. 

Meanwhile, Joy was chasing after Wendy who was pissed off her legs couldn’t travel faster than Joy’s. 

“Just stop. I don’t want to talk right now.”

“Amor listen. That’s just how Katy is. She’s always saying stupid for the attention. She’s super awkward so she over compensates babe”.

Wendy stop, not smart they were in a parking lot. But she did it anyway. “So you’re saying, your best friend since school. Just decided to say you were her first time for s and giggles?”

“Jes baby! It’s her thing. Chee always does this! It’s not true. Chee’s lying! I love you Wendy. I would have told you a long time ago.”

Wendy just watched Joy as she yelled, accent slipping in from emotion. She wanted to believe Joy. She did, but. “How does she know you have a birth mark on your ?”

“Chee’s my best friend! We’ve been around each other before. Heck. I was the night of our first date and her and my cousin Migna helped me with my clothes.”

“Why are you just getting around your friends. I don’t ing do that!” 

“I don’t know!”  Joy fell silent, feeling defeated as she looked at Wendy. Face red, eyes puffy, cheeks wet. Joy took a deep breath to calm down. “She’s my best friend Wendy. We’ve been friends since I moved here. She helped me out of my shell, she helped me learn English. She was there every sleepless night over exams. And I was there when her father got sick, every night I held her in the hospital room. I love her more than a lot of things and people in my life. We became paramedics together. She’s the person that told me I was more than just another statistic in New York. She’s the reason I don’t work at my dads store. Because she told me I had more to offer to the world. But we’ve never been intimate. We’ve never felt that kind of way for each other. We’re just best friends Wendy. I love you though. More than anything. Please understand that. I know what she said hurt you and you don’t trust me right now. But I’ve never lied to you, I’ve never hurt you. I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me. I love you baby”.

Wendy just stared at her. What was she supposed to say? She just nodded, and pulled Joy into a hug. She may not have understood, but she trusted Joy. She’d learn to trust Katy. “Let’s just go back and try to salvage this okay?” Joy just nodded. Pulling Wendy into a kiss that could only be translated as fear and longing. “I love you Joy. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good. Because I really don’t know what I’d do.” They held hands on their way back inside. And we’re surprised to find Irene, Katy, and Seulgi sitting on the floor feeding each other shrimp and laughing together. Joy turned to Wendy. “See. She goes over board, and somehow. Every time this happens. She always gets the people to love her.” Wendy just nodded, eyes wide watching Irene feed Katy a shrimp. 

“This is so ing weird.”

———————————

“Why are you smiling so much?” I looked up. 

“Joy asked if we could look for a place together. I can’t get smile off my face.” I squealed. Irene rolled her eyes. 

“I don’t know why she doesn’t want to just move in here. She’s always here.” 

I shrugged. “Who cares? You and Seul will have the place to yourselves now. I don’t have to keep walking in on you guys”. 

“Yeah but I love having you here. Do you know how awesome is it having your best friend a door over? I literally only have to walk through your door and boom you’re stuck with me. Whose gonna squeeze your now Wendy!”

I choked on my water. “Uh. Joy does a pretty good job of it. “ Irene rolled her eyes. Picking up the phone as it rang. 

“This is 911. What is your emergency?” I just smiled as Irene rolled her eyes again. “Yes. And Ma’am is it your cat that’s trying to kill you?” It was silent for a couple moments and then Irene looked at me, put a finger gun to her head and pulled the trigger. “Ah I see Ma’am. The cat told you someone was going to try to kill you. Yes ma’am. Of course. Well, I’m going to transfer you to the Brooklyn PD. I’ve already relayed your information they’ll just want more.” I laughed as Irene hung up the phone. I hate this job sometimes. 

A loud beep sounded in the room, and Irene jumped. Scared of everything. “Irene Bae to HQ please. Irene bae to HQ please”. I quirked a brow. 

“What’d you do this time?”

“Hell if I know”. Irene walked away, and you know what I just realized? Irene’s really y. Like not toot my own horn. But my friends are really attractive. Seulgi has abs chiseled by Zeus himself. Irene has a body that people literally die over. Hell, even Katy has a nice freaking body. She’s got a cute little body that creepy Japanese guys want. And don’t even get me started on Joy holy . Legs for days. Abs modeled from Seulgi. A face that you know god took extra time on. And her thighs are delicious. Phew. Is it hot in here or what. 

I was so caught up I didn’t even notice Irene come back. “So what was it about?”

“Um. It was. Nothing. Gosh Wendy! Do I have to tell you everything! Jeez”. Whoa. 0 to 100 real quick. 

“Um no sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” If you thought that was weird. You should hear about how I spent the rest of my day. During my lunch break I thought it would be cool to visit Seul at the precinct for her break because Irene suddenly wanted to jog around the building. When I got to Seulgi I thought I saw Katy leaving, you can’t miss her bike. I’m just glad she got rid of the damned scooter, granted I don’t think a motorcycle was really any better. She still has that Korean singers face on the bike but whatever. To each his own. 

“Hey Seul!” Just like Irene, Seulgi jumped. Like physically jumped in the air. Like a little Asian Mario. “Whoa there buddy. scared you there eh?” 

“Uh yeah a bit. Whatcha doing here?”

I shrugged. “Thought I’d visit you. Irene is acting weird. Hey was that Katy that was just leaving?”

“Huh? What? Nooo”. 

“Really? It sure looked like her. And her bike”.

“Nope. Not Katy. Who’s Katy! Like Katy Perry? Psh I wish.” 

Oh my god. Are Seulgi and Katy having an affair? “Seulgi. Is something going on?”

“What? No. What would give you that impression. Oh my! Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“That! Oh. I think that’s the alarm. I gotta go Wannie. Gotta save the world and stuff. Love you!” She gave me a kiss on the cheek and sprinted away. What the hell is going on? 

I started walking away, guess I’m not having lunch with seul. I sat at a nearby bench, pulling out my pizza and soda when Joy called. 

“Amorsita, how are you?”

“I’m okay babe. How are you?”

“I’m alright. I was just wondering what you’re doing tonight.”

“Probably nothing. Why?”

“Just wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner tonight. There’s a real nice seafood place that just opened uptown.”

“Oh sure. What time should I be ready?”

“Mmm maybe round 7? I’ll be there round 7:15 maybe 20.”

“Sounds good. I have a question.”

“What’s your question?”

“Have you noticed Katy being weird?”

“Weird how?”

“Like I don’t know. Is she talking about Seulgi a lot? Or maybe hanging out with her a lot?”

“I don’t think so. And you know she talks about Seulgi a lot. She’s just as obsessed with her as she is with that Taemin guy.”

“I know. It’s just. Today I went to have lunch with Seul. And I’m pretty sure I saw Katy with her, but when I asked Seul acted all weird.”

“Hmm I don’t know baby. Don’t worry too much about it okay? I’m gonna let you go okay? Enjoy your lunch bella”. 

“Alright. Bye. I love you.”

“I love you too baby. I’ll see you tonight.”

The whole walk to my job I was freaking out. What if Seulgi and Katy are a thing? That’ll completely destroy the dynamic of the house. And what if Irene kicks Seulgi out? I won’t be able to move out at that point. I can’t just abandon Irene. I have to confront Seulgi. I need to make her come clean. 

——————————

“Irene have you noticed Seulgi being weird?” I was seated on the counter in our kitchen, Irene was cooking dinner for her and Seul. 

“Um no I don’t think so. Why?”

“Oh nothing. It’s just. Hey. Can you stop cooking for a second I really gotta talk to you about something important.” 

“Uh. Sure.” I grabbed Irene’s hands pulling her to the living room and sitting her down. How do I tell her I think her girlfriend of almost ten years is cheating? How do I tell her, her knight in her fairytale might be a scaly dragon instead? I opened my mouth to tell Irene what I saw, when in came a sweaty Seulgi. She tossed her bag aside and looked up at me and Irene and smiled that sweet goofy smile she always gives. 

So innocent looking. Cute eyes and a sweet tongue with a heart of goddamn stone. Ohhh evil. Pure evil. “Hey baby” Irene cooed. Standing up to give Seulgi a hug, but I quickly pulled her back. 

“Wait. Um. Don’t hug Seulgi.”

“Why?” Seulgi asked. Voice laced with that innocent cuteness that only she can pull off. 

“Yeah, why?” Irene asked turning to me. 

“Because. Seulgi, where were you?”

“Um work?” 

“You get off at 5. It’s 6”. 

“We had a last minute warrant that went longer than expected. Perp ran we had to give chase”.

“Oh no baby. Are you okay?”

“Don’t oh no baby her Irene. Were you at work, or were you chasing something else. Like I don’t know, maybe an !”

“What in the world. Wendy what are you talking about?” I huffed. Shoving Irene into the sofa, and walking to Seulgi and pulling her to the sofa too. I put a pillow in between them, because when the truth comes out Seulgi is gonna need something to protect herself with. 

With both of them seated I paced back and forth. How do I do this? Oh this is gonna be a doosie. I was just about to open my mouth to lay down some deep when the door bell rang. Of course. Even the gods are trying to stop me from uncovering this controversy. I yanked open the door and there stood my beautiful girlfriend in a nice fitted suit, and heels that she really doesn’t need and flowers. She gave me a quick kiss and smiled. 

“Babe. You’re early.”

“Yeah I know. But I really just wanted to see you.”

“Oh. Well come in. I could use some support.”

“Support?” I nodded and looked over my shoulder. I pushed Joy out into the hall. 

“I’m confronting Seulgi right now with Irene.”

“Wait what?” I paid her no mind. Just grabbing her and pulling her in. And then seating her on the sofa in between Irene and Seulgi. She’s better protection. God I hope Irene doesn’t hit my baby. 

“Okay. So I’ve gathered you all here. Because there is something going on. And I really need Seulgi to be honest.”

“Be honest about what?”

“Don’t play dumb Seul! You know what I’m talking about! I saw you!” Seulgi just shook her head, eyes darting around. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Wan!”

“Cmon Seul. Don’t make me say it!”

“Say what!”

“That you’re cheating on Irene! I saw you with Katy!” Everyone looked so stunned. I expected Irene to jump up and attack, but instead it was Joy who jumped up. 

“Whoa Whoa. Okay. Hold on. This is a complete misunderstanding.”

I shook my head at Joy. “No babe. I really saw them together.” 

“I know that babe. I know. But they aren’t cheating. I sent Katy to Seulgi.”

“What, why?”

“Because. I sent her to Irene and Seulgi. Because I needed to ask them something alone.”

“Ask them what!”

“For a blessing baby”.

“A blessing?”

Holy , Joy pulled something from her jacket. And like something out of a movie she was on one knee. “A blessing to marry you baby.”

—————/////————////—————///

Translations 

Bella: beautiful.