“Chaeyoung! Chaeyoung! Im Chaeyoung! Show yourself right now!”

 

 

The distressed unnie was running all over the place, looking like a child missing their favorite doll.

 

 

“CHAEYOOUUUNNNGGGG!!!”

 

 

But no matter how loud Sana’s scream was, her voice easily drowned amidst the university’s festivities.

 

 

“Just give it up Satang.” Tzuyu responds blankly.

 

 

The frustrated brunette just sighs heavily watching her girlfriend going on panic mode.

 

 

“I can’t! Where could they be? The university isn’t that big!”

 

 

“Sana” Tzuyu cups Sana’s hunched shoulders. “It’s not like they’re gonna get lost. Tell me how old is Chaeyoung?”

 

 

Tzuyu doesn’t really need to know. She’s asking it more to drive in a point.

 

 

“She just turned twenty a few months ago.”

 

 

“And Mina?”

 

 

“She’s my age… So, around 22?”

 

 

“Don’t you think they’re old enough?”

 

 

Sana’s eyes completely widen at what Tzuyu was trying to suggest.

 

 

“Old enough to get their freak on? Hell no! They should wait until they’re married!”

 

 

“What if they just want to be alone?”

 

 

Sana shook her head in disbelief, how can Tzuyu be so calm about this?

 

 

“Are you kidding me?!” The shorter girl shouted while dramatically flailing her arms. “Do you know what couples do when they’re alone?”

 

 

“I don’t know.” Tzuyu replied blankly. “I have never been alone with you.”

 

 

It was a simple phrase enough to mute Sana.

 

 

“Wow…”

 

 

“Who is that with Mina sunbae?”

 

 

“I know right? She’s lovely.”

 

 

“Out of this world!” Another one commented

 

 

“Isn’t that that choding Chaeyoung?”

 

 

"Wait” Sana raised a skeptical eyebrow after listening in to all this fuss. “Chaeyoung?”

 

 

The question had gotten Sana all curious. She turned around to look at what’s causing all this ruckus.

 

 

After seeing her sister, she figured out why.

 

 

“Unnie!”

 

 

“Chaeyoung?”

 

 

The older sister has to take a good look at the angel gliding towards her. Chaeyoung was gifted with her mommy Yoona’s angelic beauty, unfortunately, she didn’t inherit her mom’s grace and poise.

 

 

But come to think of it, Chaeyoung’s unpolished yet pretty looks is what made her charming.

 

 

“Unnie!”

 

 

There is something very different about her sister today that it made Sana narrow her eyes suspiciously. What it is, Sana couldn’t even point it out. Why does her smile seems to shine brighter? her cheeks flushing a delightful pink? And her face just yells out happiness?

 

 

Why? Why? What’s causing all this? Why?

 

 

Maybe Sana should check with Mina, but would that help knowing how stoic Mina is?

 

 

But not today…

 

 

Even if she knew Mina since they were in elementary, she was never buddy- buddy with her until this year. Mina always carries that air of superiority even when they were kids. But tonight something about her felt so different. The president was hardly the blushing kind, but her cheeks right now were flushed. The way her arms wrap around Chaeyoung, looks so submissive, like she’s a slave to whatever Chaeyoung tells her to do.

 

 

“Where have you two been?”

 

 

It irritated Sana to see the smile that the young sweethearts exchanged. It's like a secret that Sana is dying to know, but she will end up just dying not knowing what it is.

 

 

“Fireworks.” The two answered in unison.

 

 

“You mean you watch the fireworks?”

 

 

“Yup. That’s what I was trying to say.” Chaeyoung answered for the both of them before chuckling. “Well, me and Mina are gonna go walk around. See you around unnie and unnie’s girl.”

 

 

“Her name is Tzuyu.”

 

 

“I don’t mind.” Tzuyu shrugs.

 

 

“Huh?”

 

 

“I don’t mind being called your girl.” Tzuyu answers nonchalantly

 

 

“Ummm…” Sana begin fumbling around for words. “Chaeyoung, can we talk?”

 

 

“Sure.”

 

 

“I mean in private?”

 

 

Chaeyoung eyed her sister in suspicion, not catching on what her unnie is trying to infer.

 

 

"So what happened?"

 

 

“Ummm… nothing?”

 

 

But Sana quickly took Chaeyoung’s ignorance as a denial.

 

 

“Nothing?! It feels like something!”

 

 

“I was bonding with my girl… Uh- huh- uh- huh.” Chaeyoung nodded.

 

 

“Bonding?”

 

 

“Like the way you’re bonding with Tzuyu right now.”

 

 

“Bonding with Tzuyu-“

 

 

Sana didn’t manage to scramble out the last words of what she’s about say, as Chaeyoung’s words seeped slowly into her.

 

 

She slowly craned her neck to look at Tzuyu and Mina conversing on the side. Tzuyu might be known for her yakuza like behavior but ever since they began dating, Tzuyu has been nothing more than perfect. The girl didn’t mind being Sana’s listening ear or just company.

 

 

Now that she thinks about it, Tzuyu makes a far more better girlfriend than she is.

 

 

“Bonding with Tzuyu?”

 

 

“Yeah unnie… This is a great night, My Mina made sure there are a lot of great booths and activities for everyone. You should enjoy it with Tzuyu unnie instead of worrying about me.”

 

 

“Hmmm.” Sana could only scoff. “Since when did you become so mature?”

 

 

Chaeyoung pouted thoughtfully, thinking of what the answer is. But all she could come up was a shrug, a silly smile and three words.

 

 

“I don’t know.”

 

 

*

 

 

“You’re not going to follow them?” Tzuyu wondered out loud as Sana was lost at the sight of Mina and Chaeyoung walking away.

 

 

“What?” Sana woke up.

 

 

“I’m asking if you-“ The lethargic girl had more to say but the sight of Sana’s hand wrapped around hers, froze her.

 

 

“Nah! They’re old enough… they know what they’re doing, don’t you think?”

 

 

Tzuyu just manage a wee smile, right now who cares what those did, she have her own romantic moment to savor here.

 

 

“I think they do. I’m glad you think that way.”

 

 

Sana smiles back, feeling Tzuyu’s porcelain hand with her thumb.

 

 

“C’mon…”

 

 

"Where are we going?"

 

 

"On our official date."

 

 

Tzuyu had no idea what part of the school festival Sana was going to lead her to, not that she even cares. Finally, after sometime it’s just going to be the two of them.

 

 

The entire place was covered with giggly girls, but none of it matters anymore. For both Tzuyu and Sana this whole night belongs to them.

 

 

“Right now! It’s SaTzu Time!”

 

 

*

 

 

“You think they did it?”

 

 

Momo was the first to finally spoke up, as she and the girls observed the Chaeyoung and Mina skipping happily from a distance.

 

 

“Did what?” Sakura wonders.

 

 

The older unnies remained stunned at the question from the naïve one.

 

 

“Ummm… you know ahhh… Like ate some cotton candy?”

 

 

Momo lied to preserve the younger girl’s innocence. Sakura just bit her lower lip enjoying the idea that her unnies think of her as that pure maknae.

 

 

“Oh. That’s not good. Cotton candy has too much sugar.”

 

 

“We should just ask them.” Dahyun says curiously.

 

 

“Are you kidding me?! Mina is like a stone wall she will never admit to anything.”

 

 

“C’mon guys… Why? Why are we just so curious to know?” Nayeon finally steps in.

 

 

“So what if they did it? They’re old enough and most importantly, they love each other. Some people think that it needs more than that, but as long as Mina loves Chaeyoung and Chaeyoung obviously loves Mina, I think that is more than enough.”

 

 

“Wow. So deep Nayeon.”

 

 

“Of course.” Nayeon remarked with a flip of her shampoo commercial worthy hair. “When I said I was perfect, I meant it.”

 

 

The other girls just remain deaf to Nayeon’s self love quotes, but unfortunately she was far from being done.

 

 

“Let’s just say… when God created me, he ended up smiling for days. I make God smile.”

 

 

"Let’s move away, before we ended up getting smite with her.” Jeongyeon warned.

 

 

“Nobody thinks about waiting for marriages anymore.” Momo sighs deeply.

 

 

The girls look over to the happy couple, with Chaeyoung playing around with Mina’s hair and Mina obviously amused by it.

 

 

And the friends couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

 

 

All three of them have this fear that their dear friend Mina, as beautiful and perfect as she is will never find the perfect one for her.

 

 

Then Son Chaeyoung comes along…

 

 

There are no set parameters, or any word in the dictionary that could describe the girl. She’s attractive in an amusing way, smartass yet a sensitive soul, a lover who wouldn’t hesitate to fight. Son Chaeyoung is a jigsaw puzzle with pieces all over the place that you couldn’t help but love to put together.

 

 

This was the only girl, among the many who won Mina’s heart. It was not an easy task, it’s daunting even. It’s the thought of pouring out your whole love and energy while the other person constantly throws everything out.

 

 

But Chaeyoung made it look easy, she made falling in love seem so uncomplicated. She showed that all a person should really do is fall in love and prayed to the Gods that their actions would show it.

 

 

Chaeyoung loves Mina with everything that she had, and even more than what she could become. And everytime she says those three words, she meant every word of it.

 

 

I Love You

 

 

And Mina knew, and felt how great it would be to wanted, needed, and to be loved. And who would have thought that out of all the people in the world, a choding would be the perfect one for the perfection that is Myoui Mina?

 

 

“I have a feeling those two will end up together.”

 

 

The friends just nod in agreement. And the rest of the world who ever get to witness the way Chaeyoung and Mina loved, knew it too.

 

 

*

 

 

“What do you want to do?”

 

 

It was such a simple question but Myoui Mina had to think awhile to answer it.

 

 

Truth is, she has never gotten a chance to enjoy a school festival. Since she was a freshmen, she have always been part of the committee. Committees who do the dirty work behind the scenes and who never get recognized for their work.

 

 

She felt like she was running on autopilot, taking care of this and that. Never in her 4 years of college, did the word fun and enjoy crossed her mind.

 

 

“I don’t know.” Mina answers embarrassingly. “What is there to do?”

 

 

“Oh plenty! We could walk around! Eat anything we like! Play some games! Oh! Myoui Mina?”

 

 

Chaeyoung’s eyes beamed at her idea.

 

 

“Will you like to go on a date with me?”

 

 

Mina could only chuckle at the cheesiness of the other girl.

 

 

“Do you still need to ask that?” Mina answered, before slowly wrapping her arms around Chaeyoung’s.

 

 

“AWESOME!” Chaeyoung yelped with glee. “I’ll make this a night you won’t forget.”

 

 

Chaeyoung said it so innocently but it was enough to make Mina blush. The dark haired girl lean closer and whispered softly in her girlfriend’s ear.

 

 

“You already did earlier.”

 

 

The round eyed girl quickly covers her blushing cheeks, trying to subdue her squeals.

 

 

“I’ll make it more memorable. C’mon!”

 

 

Chaeyoung excitedly tugs Mina’s hand.

 

 

“Wait.” Mina stilled her baby monkey’s hand. “We should plan what we should do, don’t you think?”

 

 

The word plan isn’t fun.

 

 

“What’s the fun in that? We would just walk around and whatever we think is fun, we do. No need to plan. Like c’mon I’m going to win you something super awesome.”

 

 

It only took a couple of seconds before Chaeyoung knew where to take Mina to impress her.

 

 

“Let’s start here!”

 

 

Chaeyoung excitedly brought Mina to a shooting gallery, ready to wow Mina with her sharpshooting skills. Chaeyoung’s lips curve into a grin as she looks at those quacking ducks.

 

 

After she’s done with her, they wouldn’t be quacking anymore.

 

 

“Ready?”

 

 

“Good luck.”

 

 

After a few minutes…

 

 

“THAT’S NOT FAIR!”

 

 

Chaeyoung stomps with all her might as she lost once again.

 

 

It was mocking her, yes, that’s what it is. These yellow ducks were all mocking her, quacking in her face!

 

 

"THIS IS RIGGED! RIGGED I TELL YOU!!!! RIGGED!!!” Chaeyoung stomps some more.

 

 

“It’s okay.”

 

 

Mina smiled affectionately at the dejected deer.

 

 

“B-but- I didn’t win you anything.” Chaeyoung flutters her teary eyes.

 

 

“I told you…” Mina nuzzles her nose in her girlfriend’s long neck. The feel of Mina’s breath tickling Chaeyoung, made the choding’s worries disappear. “It didn’t matter. I like this. I like the company.”

 

 

“Would you like to try it?”

 

 

Mina and Chaeyoung turned away from their embrace and blink in unison at the guy.

 

 

“Who? me?” Mina pointed to herself.

 

 

“Yes, you.”

 

 

“Ummm okay” Mina shrugs before taking the gun.

 

 

“It’s okay if you miss- whoah!” Chaeyoung’s jaw drops as one shot from Mina and the duck flew out. Beginner’s luck.

 

 

“I got one.”

 

 

“Yes you did!” She got lucky “WHAT THE?!”

 

 

This was a surprising sight for Chaeyoung as the duck just flew right by.

 

 

“I did it again!!!” Mina squealed with delight, much to Chaeyoung’s disbelief.

 

 

No kidding…

 

 

“One more duck maa-and whoah!” The guy fell back in shock as Mina just shoot another duck down.

 

 

“I got one more duck! So do I get a prize?”

 

 

“Anything you like, miss.”

 

 

“So Chaeyoung- which one would you like?”

 

 

Chaeyoung’s gaze remains in the ground in both shame and defeat. She already played inside her head how this scenario is supposed to happen. It was supposed to be HER, yes HER who should wow Mina with her awesome shooting skills, not Mina beating her at this game. It embarrassed her in the maximum level to show Mina that she don’t have skills at all.

 

 

But despite all that, Chaeyoung was able to raise her arm and point to a fluffy bear that her heart desire.

 

 

“That one.”

 

 

*

 

 

“Why are you quiet?” Mina nudges the girl armed with stuff toys beside her. Chaeyoung’s teddy bear added more friends as Mina won her a unicorn, a whale, a cow and possibly every mammal known in the world.

 

 

It turned out Mina wasn’t just a sniper, she could shoot hoops, pitch, bat, kick and all that. Add this to Mina’s list of perfection, all around expert in carnival games.

 

 

“I’m not quiet. I’m just talking inside my head.”

 

 

Mina narrowed her eyes at the sarcasm.

 

 

“Is the voice in your head more interesting than talking to me?”

 

 

“Chaeyoung…”

 

 

“Mama?”

 

 

The loud gasp that came out of Mina’s mouth instantly worried her young girlfriend.

 

 

“Are you okay?” Chaeyoung asks squeezing Mina’s hand

 

 

Mina manages to give out a hesitant nod. She knew there was nothing to worry about, Chaeyoung’s mommy Yoona is always so loving. But when the thought of what she and Chaeyoung were doing race inside her head, she couldn’t help but be worried. She took away their daughter's innocence.

 

 

Oh God! Mina’s troubles quadruple at the thought of Chaeyoung’s mommy Yuri.

 

 

“Hello Mina.”

 

 

“Hello…” Mina bows down so low.

 

 

“Is mommy Yuri here too?”

 

 

“No darling… She left for a business meeting this morning. She would be back tomorrow. Did Mina win all those for you, baby?”

 

 

“Oh…” The sadness dawned on Chaeyoung again at the thought that here she is holding all this, while Mina is empty handed. “Yeah…”

 

 

“That’s really nice of you, Mina.”

 

 

Mina let out an awkward smile.

 

 

“Why are you here mama?”

 

 

"My alumni class has this impromptu reunion. I haven’t met most of my classmates for quite some time now. So, I wanted to come and catch up with them.”

 

 

“I bet you’re the prettiest one.”

 

 

Until now, the unexpected words that come out of her daughter’s mouth could make her laugh.

 

 

“We're all getting to that age.”

 

 

“Oh! Mina you must be so thirsty from all the games!” Chaeyoung says “Let me give two of my favorite ladies some juice. Stay here! Don’t move!”

 

 

“I- I can come with you.” Mina quickly offered.

 

 

“No. No you can’t. You have to protect my mom and make sure no one steals her away from mommy Yuri. And you too, mom, you know my Mina is very popular. So, make sure you guard her from her sneaky fans.”

 

 

“Chaeyoung-“ Mina squeals in embarrassment.

 

 

“Ok, sweetheart, don’t worry I will.”

 

 

“Okay, I’ll be back. Do not move.”

 

 

Chaeyoung warns them, constantly checking over her shoulder to make sure the two lovely ladies didn’t move.

 

 

“She’s so cute.” Mina mutters softly,

 

 

It took a few seconds for Mina to realize that she was spazzing about Chaeyoung to Chaeyoung’s mom.

 

 

“I-I-I-I-I’m so-rry… I wasn’t. I mean- It’s just that.”

 

 

Mina continued to stammer, for what reason she couldn’t explain. But all it took was one loving squeeze on her shoulder to reassure her, that she has nothing to worry about.

 

 

“You think my daughter is cute, there is no reason to say sorry.” It calmed Mina to see the smile from Yoona. It easily comforted her how Chaeyoung’s grin was identical to her mom’s.

 

 

“Please don’t be scared of me. I completely understand though. It was nerve wrecking for me to meet Yuri’s parents.”

 

 

Mina heard a lot of stories about how Chaeyoung’s mommy Yuri was a chaebol, but lost all inheritance when she chose to be with a girl. But does the amount of money or privilege your family has even matter? Wouldn’t the hurt be as bad for parents if they figure out their daughter is dating a girl?

 

 

“What happened?”

 

 

Even if Yoona smile at her, Mina could see a tinge of hurt in it.

 

 

“Well, they reacted like most parents did. They didn’t like that their daughter was with another girl.”

 

 

“Oh. But you and Ms. Yuri are still together and very much in love.”

 

 

Yoona smiled at the thought.

 

 

“It was very hard but we pulled through. That’s why Yuri and I always tell the girls that we want them to be with someone who makes them happy because nothing hurts the most, than knowing people are against you and the person you love.”

 

 

The two slowly weave through the excitement, finding solace in a wooden bench by the barbecue tent.

 

 

“You know, when Chaeyoung was younger she loves to visit Sakura. But before we could even ask her what she did, she would start talking about Sakura’s unnie.”

 

 

Mina lowers her head as she felt a blush rising up her cheeks.

 

 

“She would tell us everything, I mean everything about you. When you get a haircut, or what your science project was about, or even what song you hum while you’re thinking. Sometimes she would come home quietly, and when we ask her what’s wrong, it turns out that she wouldn’t see you that time.”

 

 

A tinge of guilt was starting to grapple with Mina’s heart. Mina perfectly remembered those days, during those times, she thought of Chaeyoung as nothing more but an annoying brat.

 

 

“Actually, Yuri and I were worried about you.”

 

 

“What?”

 

 

Yoona smiles again as the memories started flooding in. Her wife might be stoic and unaffectionate to the girls, but Yuri loves them dearly. Sana have always been independent even when she was still young, but Chaeyoung was always their clingy baby. That she and her wife always has this inert feeling of wanting to shield her from heartbreak.

 

 

“I think it was our fault because we baby Chaeyoung too much, that’s why she acts like a kid all the time. But we or more specifically I can’t help it.” Yoona giggles. “No matter how old Chaeyoung gets, she’s always our baby.”

 

 

“It’s part of her charms.”

 

 

“We know how immature Chaeyoung could get, and from the way she was describing you, you sounded so mature. We were scared that Chaeyoung would get her heart broken. So, we explained to her at the beginning, that it’s okay if you wouldn’t like her more than a dongsaeng. There will be someone else who could love her completely.”

 

 

It’s crazy how the thought of Chaeyoung loving someone else was enough to kill Mina inside.

 

 

“You know what she said to us?”

 

 

Mina looked back with such curiosity at the beautiful lady.

 

 

“I would rather have a piece of Mina’s heart, than have the entire heart of someone else’s.”

 

 

Mina couldn’t believe how lucky she is.

 

 

“So, we knew she loves you even before we met you. So, thank you.”

 

 

“For what?”

 

 

“Loving my daughter completely.” A happy grin spread in Mina’s lips, but before she could say her thank you, Yoona’s phone started ringing.

 

 

“Excuse me Mina.” She picks up her phone as she steps away for a bit. “Hi babe… How’s your conference?”

 

 

“I’m bacckkk!” Chaeyoung says excitedly while trying to juggle three jumbo size drinks. “Hey… where’s mama?”

 

 

“She went to get a phonecall. I think your mommy Yuri called.”

 

 

“Oh. Cool. They do that, when they’re apart they still call each other a lot.”

 

 

Mina gingerly brushes the hair out of Chaeyoung’s face.

 

 

“Do you think we’ll be like them when we grow older?”

 

 

“No. I think we won’t.”

 

 

Chaeyoung’s blunt answered surprised Mina.

 

 

“We won’t?”

 

 

“I don’t think I can be apart from you for very long.”

 

 

“Yes. I’m not drinking.” Yoona laughs as she jokes on the phone with her sweetie. “Unlike you…” Yoona teased, she suddenly laugh from her wife’s answer. “You’re not drinking? Who are you trying to kid?”

 

 

“I want to talk to her! I want to talk to her! I want to talk to her!”

 

 

Yoona turns to smile at their over eager daughter.

 

 

“Here… baby wants to talk to you. Yes, she is. She’s still our baby. Here darling.”

 

 

“Hi mommy Yuri.”

 

Her mommy Yuri always blunt and straight to the point.

 

 

“Are you being good?”

 

 

“I’m always good.”

 

 

“Really? I doubt that.”

 

 

“I miss you so much mommy. My tears flow out every night at the thought of being apart from you.”

 

 

Both Yoona and Mina just laugh at the dramatic girl. Meanwhile Yuri on the other line just rolls her eyes.

 

 

“What are you talking about? I just left this morning.”

 

 

“Oh.” Chaeyoung realized. “But I miss you still.”

 

 

“I miss you too. Now stay good.”

 

 

“I’m always good. Minari… you want to talk to mommy Yuri?”

 

 

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mina wanted to scream out, but hid it with an awkward smile.

 

 

“Ummm… well, your mom seems busy.”

 

 

“But she would love to talk to you.”

 

 

“Maybe next time Chaeng.”

 

 

“My girlfriend wants to talk to you.” Chaeyoung said to the other line. “Here my super love!”

 

 

God! Why is she dating such a choding?

 

 

“Ummm hello?”

 

 

“Hello…” Mina immediately froze from Yuri’s cold tone. “Is Chaeyoung bothering you?”

 

 

“Ummm… no… no…no- not at all. Ms. Son, Chaeyoung has been very good to me.”

 

 

Yuri paused for a bit.

 

 

“That’s good. If she’s being too troublesome, don’t hesitate to hit her. I allow you to do that.”

 

 

Mina paused for a bit, was Chaeyoung’s mom being truthful? Or is this a trap to see if she will hit her daughter?

 

 

“Oh no… she’s so sweet, Ms. Son. I wouldn’t do that at all.”

 

 

“Oh okay. That’s good to hear. Just be patient with her.”

 

 

“Ummm. I will.”

 

 

“Oh yeah, Mina by the way. No need to call me Ms. Son.”

 

 

“What?”

 

 

“You can call me and Yoona mom anytime.”

 

 

Mina smiled, she never thought Chaeyoung’s mommy Yuri can be so sweet.

 

 

“It was nice to finally speak to you, Mina. Hope we can talk to each other soon.”

 

 

“I’m looking forward to it.”

 

 

*

 

A couple of years ago…

 

 

“Baby? Time for bed now, you have school tomorrow.”

 

 

Yoona’s little kindergartner stomps her tiger shoe in frustration.

 

 

“ANIYO!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

 

Her 3 year old’s act of defiance has taken the young mom aback. Yes, she admits that her Chaeyoung is quite naughty, but she was always been polite until recently when she started school.

 

 

“Oh? Are you saying no to mommy?”

 

 

“Chaeyoung watch TV. HMMP!” The baby said with such vindication.

 

 

Although her daughter’s behavior was quite dismal, Yoona couldn’t help but bite her lower lip to hide her grin. Chaeyoung no matter how naughty she is, could still make her mommy laugh.

 

 

Yoona could handle the baby’s behavior in two ways. First, scare the off by calling Yuri or two make her guilty.

 

 

Yoona decided on the latter…

 

 

The dismayed mother covered her face before crying out.“Chaengie making mommy Yoona sad.”

 

 

And just the sight of her mommy Yoona crying (fake crying, unknown to the three year old) was enough to make Chaeyoung falter. The little girl couldn’t bear the thought of the person she loves most being sad.

 

 

“I- I-“ Chaeyoung stammers “Chaeyoung sowwweee!”

 

 

The baby apologized wrapping her mom as tightly as her three year old arms could.

 

 

“Chaeyoung will sweep now. Please don’t cwy. Mommy, no more.” Chaeyoung pleads.

 

 

Yoona slowly lowers her hands just so she could take a peek. To her surprise, she was the one caught in surprise at how close Chaeyoung was standing from her. Those round eyes blinking the tears away.

 

 

“Ok… no more tears. Is Chaeyoung going to go night night now?”

 

 

“Uh huh… uh huh… uh huh…” Chaeyoung nods her head, before stretching her arms ready for her mommy to carry her.

 

 

She picks up her young daughter, cradling her in her arms.

 

 

“Mama?”

 

 

Yoona tilts her head to the side to look at the sleepy mini version of her in her embrace.

 

 

“Yes?”

 

 

It amazes Yoona how Chaeyoung seems so full of energy, then comes crashing down the next second. The three year old was trying to stay awake, her little doe eyes fluttering as she’s drifting off to sleep.

 

 

But before she goes to dream, she has one more thing to say to her beloved mommy.

 

 

“I wub you.”

 

 

End of flashback

 

 

*

 

 

“Babe? You still there?”

 

 

The sound of her wife’s husky voice woke Yoona up from her reminiscing.

 

 

“Oh yeah… Still here.”

 

 

Despite their distance, Yuri could still pick up the faint tone of sadness in Yoona’s voice.

 

 

“You don’t sound okay. What’s the matter?” Yuri despite appearing to be cold and calculated, was always a loving and caring wife and mother.

 

 

“I’m just looking at Mina and Chaeyoung. They fascinate me that’s all.”

 

 

The street was slowly starting to fill up more with excited people, but still Chaeyoung and Mina stood out. The young lovers walk hand in hand, sharing a laugh. And as Yoona continues watching the two, her heart slowly give in to this bittersweet feeling.

 

 

Wasn’t it just yesterday where she was cradling baby Chaeyoung in her arms? singing her a lullaby to sleep?

 

 

Now, her Chaeyoung was the one cradling Mina, probably singing sweet words to her.

 

 

It’s silly how parents wish their children to grow up, and when you see them all grown up the only thing you wish is for you to hold on to your baby again.

 

 

*

 

 

“Your parents are still so in love after all these years.” Mina craned her neck to look at the girl whose hands are link with hers. “You think we’ll be like them when we get their age?”

 

 

“Nope.”

 

 

Mina’s brow raise from the quick answer. “Really?”

 

 

“We’ll be better.” Chaeyoung answers, fiddling with their intertwined fingers. She looks up and for once, Mina saw something unfamiliar in Chaeyoung’s eyes. The girl usually have such a beaming look, but right now it’s a very different look, comfortable yet different.

 

 

“You know when I was a kid, I always wonder why mommy Yuri never comes to my or Sana unnie’s presentation for school. I thought she was just too busy.”

 

 

Mina looks thoughtfully at her.

 

 

“Then, on one of my Christmas presentation, I swore to God I saw mommy Yuri watching from the back of the room. But when I came down, she left already. It wasn’t until I’m a bit older when I finally figured out everything.”

 

 

Chaeyoung smiles at the lovely girl in front of her. It’s like the most natural thing to do, whenever you look at something so beautiful, you just can’t help but look in awe.

 

 

“Figured out what?”

 

 

“That my parents loves us too much, that they want to protect us from the mean things that people can say.”

 

 

Chaeyoung stuff their hands in her coat pocket, before casting her gaze up the starry sky.

 

 

But I wish that she have chosen to stay, given me a hug, tell me how good I was… because when you’re 4 years old, the only thing you care about is not what other people think, but how proud you made your parents.”

 

 

Chaeyoung confessed softly, unearthing the pain that she always buried under pretenses of jokes and goofiness.

 

 

“And someday Mina, when we have kids, we will go together in their presentations. And no matter what mean things other people say about us, our kids will never hear it. Because all they will ever hear is how much we love them… and we’ll make them understand that nothing else matters.”

 

 

Mina blushed at the sweet words of the girl. To downplay the moment, Mina playfully pinches the girl’s nose.

 

 

“You are just too sweet, aren’t you?”

 

 

Chaeyoung’s eyes was quickly glistened with mischief.

 

 

“It just comes out naturally.” Chaeyoung says with an air of confidence. “So, my lady, what would you like to do right now?”

 

 

Mina pouts thoughtfully before answering with a shrug.

 

 

“I don’t know. How about you?”

 

 

“I don’t know either. What’s so funny?”

 

 

Chaeyoung asks as Mina just smiles happily.

 

 

“I think those three words are like our tag in our relationship.”

 

 

“Which three words? I love you?”

 

 

“No… I don’t know.”

 

 

“You don’t know?”

 

 

“No… I mean.” Mina wraps her arms tightly around Chaeyoung as they continue to walk. “I don’t know, remember when we got in this fake relationship, I don’t know why I was doing. And when I started falling, I don’t know why it was happening… until now, when we're in love, sometimes we still stumble into those three words.”

 

 

After hearing Mina’s confession, Chaeyoung is the one who ended up with a smile. It was actually the complete opposite for her. From the very beginning, she KNOWS it’s that she was madly and deeply in love with Mina and she was willing to do anything to win Mina’s heart.

 

 

Sometimes she feels like her heart kept questioning her on why she puts herself in that much pain. Now that Chaeyoung thinks about it, she will probably answer her heart in those three words.

 

 

I don’t know.

 

 

“Are you still unsure now?” Chaeyoung looks back at Mina in wonder.

 

 

Mina kept mum, yet the shine in her eyes and the smile on her lips were screaming out her quiet thoughts. Her life that she had meticulously planned was now thrown out of order, thanks to this girl right here. Just when she set herself some standards, Chaeyoung created a whole new criteria for her. The decisions that Mina had always readied herself have taken the opposite path.

 

 

Just when she thought the best thing in the world is to know everything, Chaeyoung made her believe otherwise. Chaeyoung made her believe that it’s okay not to know because when you have someone who is willing to be lost just to help you find your way in this world, then you know you made the right decision.

 

 

“There are still plenty of things that I still have no idea about.” Mina answers her young lover. “But what you and me have Chaeyoung…”

 

 

The raven haired girl drew closer, close enough that their breaths exchange with one another.

 

 

“Nothing in this world could ever compare.”

 

 

Chaeyoung closed her eyes, losing herself in Mina’s words. And before Mina could lay her lips on the Chaeyoung’s, she whispers her answer.

 

 

“And that… I know.”

 

 

 

THE END

 

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