Cherry Lollipop

5. A Nostalgic Memory, A Future Hope

*****

“Sakuchan!” A duo shouted as they found a particular beauty sitting in an outside table of a cafe near the workplace. It was a little past noon with the sun shining brightly and while it was warm outside, the atmosphere around the Japanese women felt a bit dreary as they walked near her. She lifted her head to the two women and a small smile came from the sides of her lips.

“Jjaejjae….Hiichan? Hey......”

They approached her and sat down at the table she was at, looking at her with uncertain eyes. The duos eyes darted at each other like a match of ping pong as they wondered who should talk first. 

“Sooooo…...how are you feeling buddddy?” Chaeyeon queried with a concerned tone as she started. She then patted Sakura’s slumped shoulders to cheer her up and let her know that she was there to help.

“I….I don’t know…..the unexpected news just came out of nowhere you know?” Sakura said in a defeated tone with a shrug of the shoulders.

“Well it’s not confirmed yet you know...just rumors.” Hitomi commented, voice low.

“But still...I can’t help but feel that it’s because of me.” Sakura laid her head on the table and began playing with her empty boba cup as her mind was going in 5 different places all at once.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself Sakuchan, it’s just rumors so far. We’ll find a way to get through this just like every other time.” The blonde peach pointed out. After a few moments of silence, Sakura’s eyes shot up at the two of them.

“Have I been too greedy?”

“What?! No! Just because you’re successful doesn’t mean that you're greedy so don’t think that way! He’s just an arrogant who just wants to bring down your accomplishments. Believe in yourself more Sakuchan!” Chaeyeon spat out as she slapped Sakura’s shoulder lightly causing her to flinch.

“Owww!”

Hitomi grabbed the boba cup away from her causing her eyes to look at the peach. “Yeah Sakuchan, we can get through this! How do you think Boss would react if she saw you as this all defeated?”

“Heh…...you gotta bring Sasshi up huh?” Sakura remarked with a small smile on her face.

“Do you want to feel like this because of a rumor? She believed in you right? Maybe I should call he-” she threatened but was cut off by Sakura, now up and grabbing one of Hitomi’s hands.

“No no no! I get it!”

“Good!” Hitomi’s face turned into a smirk causing Chaeyeon to look at her as a proud mom.

“Wow Hiichan...I never saw you speak to Sakuchan like that before! It’s refreshing actually!” she said, now laughing her signature laugh as it echoed in the area. Hitomi's face grew into worry as she raised one hand and waved it in front of them.

“I-it’s because I don’t wanna see Senpai so down! I just look up to her too much!”

Sakura patted the hand she held as she smiled at the now rosy-cheeked peach. “It’s okay Hiichan ...I think I needed that. It’s been quite a day and it’s just the beginning…”

The reaction caused Hitomi to smile back, now happy that her Senpai’s mood lightens up a little.

“Did you like the small party we threw you earlier before all the rumors started up? We all chipped in to buy all those snacks in there. I think Shige-san went a bit overboard with the streamers and balloons but I think it was because she wanted to cheer you on for later tonight.”

“Hehehe...of course Hiichan, it cheered me up greatly. I’m glad to work with such an amazing group of people and I hope to give back to the tea-”

“You’ve given enough Sakuchan! Right now we just have to focus and brace ourselves if anything happens but we’ll push through! Even if Chae unnie is not part of the team, she’s giving her support right?!” Hitomi shouted causing Sakura to back up in surprise. This new side of Hiichan has been pretty open and it made her happy to see her come out of her shell lately.

“Of course! I’m always here!”

“Thank you both. I'm glad to have friends like you two ...and to have the team.”

“Maybe you’d have someone else later on if your date goes right…..ehhhhh Sakuchan?” Chaeyeon said seductively as she raised her eyebrows up and down to .

“J-Jjaeyeon!?” Sakura yelped as her face became red, now clearly embarrassed.

“Ahahahahaha, am I wrong though?! Also Hiichan, I need to talk to Sakuchan privately for a little while….is that okay? We'll meet at the restaurant later as planned...”

Hitomi’s eyes lit up as she smiled at the other blonde.

“Of course! I actually just got a message from the others that they are 6 minutes away so I’ll go and greet them there!”

“Cool cool, I’ll meet you over there! Tell ChaeChae and BaeBi that I’ll be there shortly when you see them! This will be 7 minutes tops!”

Hitomi go up and bowed at Sakuchan while she went over to Chaeyeon to hug her before going.

“Sure thing! Sakuchan, I’ll see you later back in the office after me and unnie have lunch for a bit!”

She began walking away with a wave goodbye as they waved back.

“Have a good lunch Hiichan and see ya later! Tell Eun that I said hello…..and don’t smooch your girlfriend ChaeChae too much hehehe...” stated Sakura as she saw the peach stop in her tracks, now frantically waving her hands in dismissal with a face of rose.

“Eeeeehhhhh!!! W-we don’t do that in public!!”

Chaeyeon put her arms around Sakura and loudly whispered in her ear in an attempt to .

“So not in public ayeeeee?? You hear that Sakuchan? Not.In.Public. she says! Steamy Bread! Steamy Steamy Bread.”

Sakura also put her arms around Chaeyeon and added...

“Wow Hiichan! Such bravery! Such love! Angel Fairy Bread combination!!”

“Ssambbang!” the duo yelled as they put their hands together and made a heart hand towards Hitomi, who could only look at them in horror.

“YAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! I’M GONNA GET YOU LATER UNNIE….ALSO YOU TOO SENPAI! JUST WAIT TILL YOU GET A GIRLFRIEND!!” the peach yelled as they saw Hitomi put her hands over her face to cover up her cherry cheeks while she started to run away. They waved her goodbye and laughed when they saw her turn around and waved back...still red and embarrassed at the duo.

They both took their arms around each other and finally began their talk.

“So what is it Jjaejjae?” Sakura asked in a questioning tone.

“Sakura…...can you answer me one question?”

‘Sakura? Uhh ohhh ...this must be serious.’ Sakura thought since Chaeyeon only used her first name when they had serious talks. Her brows drew together as she found Chaeyeon’s eyes staring directly at her.

“......umm…..sure?”

“You trust me right?” Chaeyeon questioned as she put her hand on her shoulder just like earlier.

“Yes?” Sakura answered weakly...more weakly than the liked.

“Good.”

“Uhhh….what exactly...is uhh….going on?”

“Kang Hyewon…...she’s your date right?” the blonde stated, keeping her hawk-like gaze on her now, slightly fidgety friend. Sakura’s eyes shot wide as it bulge a little from it’s sockets. Her eyes traveled back and forth from Chaeyeon’s eyes to elsewhere, wondering how she knew of Hyewon.

“.....y-you know her?”

Chaeyeon rolled her eyes as she backed away and moved her hands around to suggest that she did.

“Come on Sakuchan, I'm a freelance photographer who goes to your workplace, her workplace and more ya dummy. Also we’ve been friends for like half a year now.”

".......ahhh ...makes sense. How the heck did I avoid knowing about this?!” Sakura scowled in confusion.

Seeing Sakura’s confused and angry face caused Chaeyeon to shoot her head back in laughter as her friend just looked at her. Of course, her laughter lasted for a moment until she could finally catch her breath and look at her friend again.

“Ahahahaha…..you basically have the same reaction as her!” she pointed out.

“Who wouldn’t! Having friends who don’t know each others friends is slightly weird ya know? Anyway, what about her?" Sakura asked.

Chaeyeon’s face grew serious again as she stared at Sakura again.

"Soooo…..I just found out from her that you two were together back then ...and that she was 'The One'?" she questioned.

Sakura’s ears perked up at ‘The One’....referring to ‘The one who ran away’. Back then, Chaeyeon always wanted to know about 'The One' and it seems like she finally gotten her answer from the woman herself.

"Y-yeah......she was 'The One'.”

“Well, she now knows that you thought about her a lot back then after she left…..cuz I kinda spilled a bit of info.on.it.so.I’m.sorry.Sakuchan!!!” Chaeyeon rapidly spit out the end of her sentence like a machine gun but Sakura heard it fully. The older girl laughed and placed her hand on Chaeyeon’s shoulder.

“And why would I be mad about that? If you told her, I’m glad that you did since she’ll know that I ‘did’ miss her ...a lot.....a whole lot. I guess you two had a talk about me then?"

It was Chaeyeon’s turn for her eyebrows to draw in as she started...

"Well... I kinda talked to her about you having a hard time back then but never gave any details about it. It was a sensitive subject so I didn’t really go into it much. Sorry if I intruded on talking about your past...." she said as her eyes lowered to focus on her own hands.

"Again, don't be ...I wasn’t exactly private with it which was my fault and dumb of me. Teenage way of thinking ya know? So, did she talked to you about us ...or vice versa?"

"On some things but like I said, I didn't want to pry on both of your relationships. I do want to know one thing though...if ya don’t mind.” she pondered as she looked back into Sakura’s eyes.

“What is it?”

“What exactly did she do that made you wait for her? It must’ve been something important right?”

“Oh…...that huh?”

“Yeah…..why kept you stuck on her?”

“Hyewon ...well…..she came into my life and changed it all up. All because I was cute.”

“Really?”

“Yeap...but that’s just how it started….it goes a lot deeper than that later on. Like how she saved me twice....and how she pushed me to better myself.” Sakura remarked as her mind began remembering about their history...

Seeing Sakura daydream a bit, Chaeyeon yelled as she waved her hand in front of her.

“Yo! Are you there? Sakuchan!”

“Huh?” a dazed Sakura uttered out as she rapidly blinked her eyes to clear her head.

“You were zoning out or something!”

“Oh I’m sorry ...I just remembered somethings long ago…what were you saying?”

“You dummy! Well…..all in all, this leads me to tell you something."

"Yeah?" Sakura uttered, interest peaked. Chaeyeon then grabbed one of Sakura’s hands and held it warmly. She looked into Sakura’s eyes and began...

“Time……is precious Sakuchan. Why am I saying th