a/n: idk... go sports?

---

 

               As soon as Tzuyu was on the field, her eyes shot up to the cheerleaders. Jeongyeon was quick to smack her on the head to get her to focus, “Head in the game, T-Star,” she garbled through guard.

 

                Tzuyu nodded in affirmation and steeled herself to play her hardest.

 

                With Tzuyu and Jeongyeon now on the field, the other team didn’t stand a chance. Tzuyu played rough, but not dirty, she held herself back because Jihyo had warned them they were better than that. Jeongyeon caught every pass she sent… almost as if they’d practiced it hundreds of times (which they had). They kept popping score after score. Yeri, Doyeon, Yuna, Jennie, Jeongyeon, and Tzuyu were on fire, but Tzuyu couldn’t help but continue looking up at the cheerleaders every time they scored, hoping that someone was looking back at her… she wasn’t.

 

                Tzuyu grit her teeth and played through it. They were back to square one, Tzuyu being distracted by the cheerleaders and Sana not even knowing she existed… if only Tzuyu knew how untrue that was.

 

                ~

 

                It was the last cheer practice of the pre-season and Sana felt good. They were goofing around waiting for Coach Bae to arrive.

 

                “She’s staring again,” Nayeon teased.

 

                “Who?” Sana asked.

 

                “That gorgeous new girl,” Jinsoul drawled.

 

                “She’s probably staring at Rosie,” Sana said shifting on top of the younger girl, and wrapping her arm tightly around her, “You’re quite the visual,” she flirted platonically.

 

                Everyone laughed at how oblivious Sana was. Rosé beamed up at her, knowing her best friend was just trying to hype her up.

 

                “Heads up T-Star!” one of the field hockey players shouted and all of the cheerleaders turned to look as a ball flew right over the now-crouched girl.

 

                Sana’s jaw dropped, that could have hit her head! She watched the girl grimace before putting guard back in. Even worse! That could have hit her head and knocked out all of her pretty teeth!

 

                After they calmed down and Nayeon said the girl was no longer staring Sana hopped off Rosé’s lap – suddenly feeling self-conscious – and put a reasonable distance between the two. If that girl was really interested in her like Nayeon suspected, she wanted to seem available.

 

                Coach Bae arrived around the same time the field hockey coach did, and only then did Sana know it was safe to look. She appraised the tall, lean field hockey player from behind. She will admit, the girl wasn’t horrible to look at.

 

                Coach Bae started barking orders at them, snapping Sana out of her thoughts, and back to attention, but it was hard because she could feel the girl’s eyes back on her again. Stop getting your hopes up, Sana, she had to remind herself. She’s just a field hockey player… they only want one thing from you, and those days are over.

 

                ~

 

                “Momo, thank God,” Chungha called as Momo ran back up the bleachers to them. They were about to start another routine.

 

                She noticed Heejin’s eyes on her, but she couldn’t bring herself to look up. Her brain still hadn’t managed to piece together the entire situation yet. She should be watching Heejin, making sure the same thing didn’t happen to her. Maybe she should drug test them? Just to be sure? But what if it was positive? It was too close to the dance competition. She didn’t want to lose an integral member of her team.

 

                “Momo,” Mina hissed, “Press play,”

 

                Momo snapped out of her daze and pressed play, signaling the start of their next dance to a remix of Lizzo’s “Good as Hell”.

 

                Only after the dance, did she see Heejin flop down instantly and put her head in her hands, Momo knew she wasn’t being fair. She walked up the stands and sat next to her.

 

                “Is she ok?” Heejin asked hesitantly.

 

                “They wouldn’t let me really see her, but Chaeyoung was handling everything. I’ve never seen her take charge like that before,” Momo chuckled.

 

                Heejin laughed bitterly, “Yeah, she’s like that. She’s overprotective of us,”

 

                Us.

 

                “Somi has a hole in , I saw that much,” Momo said conversationally, “Chaeyoung is taking her to the dentist to get it fixed right now,”

 

                “So, they can fix it? She’ll be ok?” Heejin asked hopefully.

 

                Momo thought for a moment, would she be ok? All things considered, for Heejin, the answer would probably be yes, “Yeah,” Momo said more assuredly than she felt.

 

                “Thank God… thank you,” She sighed in relief.

 

                There were sudden squealing and screeching noises from the cheerleaders and Momo turned around in time to see them all jumping for joy as Tzuyu scored the winning goal.

 

                6-3

 

                ~

 

                “Nayeon I think we need some ranch,” Sana said leadingly, showing the most emotion she had all day.

 

                “Why’s that Sana?” Nayeon played along, just happy that Sana seemed to be feeling more herself now.

 

                “Our wings are too hot they’re on fire tonight!” She cheered, and Nayeon whooped in agreeance with her.

 

                Sana couldn’t help but be excited. She was happy for Tzuyu, that’s it. She played fantastically and scored the winning goal. She deserved that. They were jumping for joy and all of Sana’s friends kept patting her on the back and congratulating her as if she’d done something. It made her smile. They were giving her the confidence boost she needed to be able to talk to the girl she’d been avoiding today. She wanted nothing more than to talk to Tzuyu… finally.

 

                On the field everyone swarmed Tzuyu, and she was hoisted on Doyeon’s back in triumph. They raised their sticks in celebration. Even Haseul, Rina, and 2Jin had rushed the field too. The team played great, Jennie got her wish, surely everyone would buy season tickets now after one hell of an opener.

 

                “Sana, you coming to eat with us?” Rosé asked, as everyone was grabbing their things and making their way back to the locker rooms.

 

                “Nah, go ahead without me, I have something I need to do here,”

 

                ~

 

                “I finally get why they call you T-Star,” Sana started, conversationally.

 

                Tzuyu chuckled bitterly, “Would you believe it started because they couldn’t figure out how to pronounce my name?”

 

                Sana looked at her seriously before stepping closer and asking the question that had been on her mind for quite some time, “Have you been avoiding me?” She her lips unconsciously as she manoeuvred closer to corner a sweaty, delicious looking, Tzuyu after the game. Her eyes acted on their own accord, raking unabashedly across Tzuyu’s body.

 

                If Tzuyu noticed, she didn’t show it, “No, I’ve just been busy with the game and all,” she said gesturing with her stick at the pitch where some staff were still milling about.

 

                “Why did you post that picture of us on Instagram? They’ll all think you slept with me,” Sana asked quietly.

 

                Tzuyu hesitated before finally answering, “You told me not to tell anyone you didn’t. I thought you wanted them to think you slept around with the field hockey team. Isn’t that why you sent the snapchat to Nayeon in the first place?” she then asked evenly.

 

                “Tzuyu! Nayeon has known me since high school. She saw right through the snapchat and called bull instantly. She knows I’m stupid, but not that stupid,” Sana exclaimed.

 

                “So, you think sleeping with me would be stupid?” Tzuyu scoffed.

 

                “I—stop that,” Sana said.

 

                “Stop what?” Tzuyu asked boredly.

 

                “Stop looking at me like that… like you want me to disagree with you,” Sana asked with fire in her eyes.

 

                “I don’t care what you do,” Tzuyu said harshly.

 

                “You’re trying to start a fight, and that’s the last thing I want to do with you right now,” Sana replied.

 

                Tzuyu knew Sana was playing a dangerous game, but she couldn’t hold herself back from participating anymore. She could only pretend she didn’t have feelings for so long. it, so what if someone was going to get hurt, right? She just hoped it wouldn’t be Sana. “Oh yeah? And what’s the first thing?”

 

                “This,” Sana said reaching up to pull Tzuyu's face to hers and place a gentle kiss on her lips, but as soon as she started, she pulled away, cursing herself, “Aish, … I promised myself I wouldn’t do that, but I just—"

 

                “You were right, you are stupid,” Tzuyu said pulling Sana back in for another kiss. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

 

                “Umm Tzuyu… is your phone buzzing or are you just really happy to kiss me?” Sana giggled pulling away.

 

                Tzuyu groaned pulling her phone out of her pocket and checking the caller ID, “God damnit,” right on cue, of course.

 

                “Who is it?” Sana asked, peeking over Tzuyu’s shoulder.

 

                “I uhh—I gotta take this,” Tzuyu said moving her phone away and walking away to answer it privately.

 

[Incoming call from E>]

 

                “What do you want Elkie?”

 

                “I’m here baby, waiting at your apartment… with a surprise,”

 

                “Let me guess… you’re ?” Tzuyu deadpanned.

 

                Elkie giggled, “How’d you know?”

 

                “Wouldn’t be the first time… what have you touched? I need to know what to sanitize,”

 

                “Nothing, I’ve been very good! I’m waiting on the bed… Ok maybe a pillow, or two,”

 

                “, Elkie,” Tzuyu groaned.

 

                “You will, bye baby,”

 

                “Don’t—" Tzuyu started to say, but it was too late, she’d already hung up.

 

                ~

 

                Tzuyu returned back to Sana looking mildly frustrated, Sana wanted to kiss the frown off her face, but Tzuyu didn’t seem eager to let her.

 

                “What’s wrong?” Sana asked when the younger girl flinched away from her touch.

 

                “I have to go,” was all Tzuyu offered, “I’ll see you later?”

 

                “S—sure,” Sana answered. Well… guess she was heading home alone after all. Tzuyu didn’t even bother icing her shoulder this time or going to the locker rooms to shower and change. She just ran straight to her car.

 

                “Satang!” Momo called, “I saw you k-i-s-s-i-n-g you-know-who!”

 

                “Yeah, and then she ran away,” Sana whined.

 

                “Let’s go home, ok? We can shower, and Chaeng is going to bring us food. That’ll make you feel better right?” Momo asked.

 

                “Is she sleeping over?” Sana mumbled.

 

                “No,” Momo shook her head dismissively.

 

                “That's too bad, I guess I’ll just be cuddling you tonight then,” Sana said, feigning innocence.

 

                Momo smacked her teasingly on the arm.

               

                ~

 

                “Ji! Congrats! You were fantastic out there!” Nayeon shouted. She and Jeongyeon had already changed and she had her hand around the younger’s shoulders comfortably as they greeted a sweaty Jihyo in the locker room. She had had to stay late to do interviews about the game.

 

                “Thanks Nay, and Jeong, you weren’t so bad yourself… sorry you didn’t get to play as much as you probably deserved,”

 

                “It’s perfectly ok. Just that bit I played had me wiped out, I don’t know how you did it playing defense all game… you guys were really taking a beating at one point,” Jeongyeon said shaking her head in awe.

 

                “What can I say, the D isn’t for everyone… but I’ve always preferred it over the O,” Jihyo said before winking.

 

                “Did you just make a lesbian joke…?” Nayeon asked eyeing her suspiciously.

 

                Jihyo shrugged, smirking wickedly, “Maybe,”

 

                “God, I missed you so much Park Jihyo!” Nayeon exclaimed letting go of Jeongyeon to pull the youngest in for a hug. Once she was in her arms however Nayeon whispered, “But seriously, if he isn’t pleasing you, let me know and I’ll seriously fight him… wrestling team or not,” before pulling away.

 

                Jihyo chuckled, “Nay, it was a joke… we’re—he’s great,”

 

                “TMI!” Nayeon groaned, before pretending to gag dramatically.

 

                Jeongyeon just rolled her eyes at her girlfriend’s theatrics.

 

                “Oh, as if I didn’t have to hear so much worse from you when you told me about Jeongyeon strapping you for the first time!” Jihyo countered.

 

                “You told her what!?” Jeongyeon said, her eyes widening in surprise.

 

                “Nothing! Let’s just go home, babe!” Nayeon exclaimed.

 

                “What did she say?” Jeongyeon asked in panic.

 

                “In a hurry to go home to get a blindf—”

 

                “NO!” They both shouted together.

 

                “That was one time! I told you never again!” Nayeon exclaimed.

 

                “Don’t look at me, Jihyo said it!” Jeongyeon defended.

 

                “You know I don’t like the blindfold. It makes me anxious… I like to be able to see,” Nayeon whined.

 

                “I know, and I promised after the last time you literally tore it off in terror that we would never try it again,” Jeongyeon soothed, Nayeon’s hair comfortingly.

 

                “Ohhhhh, you didn’t like the blindfold…” Jihyo said, “I thought you were saying it scared you in a good way,”

 

                “I don’t even want to know what goes on in your bed, if you think being scared is a good thing,” Jeongyeon said looking at Jihyo warily.

 

                “I’m never telling Jihyo about our life again,” Nayeon admitted.

 

                “Probably a good call on both your ends,” Jihyo nodded.

 

                ~

 

                When Chaeyoung knocked on the door she was surprised to see Sana answer, “Hey… is Momo here?”

 

                “Yeah, duh, what food did you bring?” Sana asked, eagerly taking the bag from Chaeyoung.

 

                “I brought jokbal, but I didn’t realize—” Chaeyoung started, but was cut off by a squeal from Sana.

 

                “Motang you have to marry her!” Sana called, the older walked in the room in a big sweater with damp hair, “She brought you jokbal!”

 

                “No way, Chaeng!” Momo shouted excitedly grabbing the bag from Sana. She immediately sat down at the table and started devouring it. Sana and Chaeyoung watched in fascination.

 

                “So, what’d you bring for us?” Sana asked.

 

                “I—I didn’t—” Chaeyoung started, she couldn’t take her eyes off of Momo.

 

                Sana giggled, “I’m teasing, relax. I’ll make you some ramen. When she’s finished with that, there won’t be anything left for us,”

 

                Chaeyoung remembered when Momo had told Chaeyoung about her huge appetite at her apartment. She should have thought to bring more food.

               

                ~

 

                “I can’t believe you ate all of that jokbal,” Chaeyoung added in awe.

 

                Momo giggled in response. Chaeyoung hadn’t realized she’d brought Momo her favourite food until she instantly devoured it all, “It’s my favourite food, I’ll always make an exception for jokbal… so, can I see you again soon?” Momo asked nervously. She knew Chaeyoung would be coming to the dance competition, and yet that wasn’t enough. Tonight had completely erased her fears from earlier. She got to enjoy hanging out with Chaeyoung in real life rather than a classmate or a drug dealer. She was funny, down-to-earth, and very insightful. Momo knew she wanted to be able to have more nights like this, but she needed to be sure Chaeyoung caught on that she wanted to hang out for real… like on a date… without Sana.

 

                “Could we—would you maybe… like wanna go out somewhere this time?” Chaeyoung asked hesitantly. She hadn’t gone on an actual real date in ages… she was worried she might have forgotten how to ask someone out.

 

                “I think I would really really like that,” Momo said, giggling cutely.

 

                “Wait really?” Chaeyoung asked, momentarily surprised.

 

                “Yeah, why not?” Momo answered, still smiling brightly.

 

                “I—uhh—yeah. Ok so, I’ll text you about it then?” She asked.

 

                “You better,” Momo answered.

 

                Chaeyoung walked to the elevator floating on clouds. She pressed the button and shortly after the elevator dinged signaling its arrival on their floor. Coincidentally, not a moment too soon as Chaeyoung could hear Rosé’s Aussie accent as she babbled something in English loudly in the stairwell. There was a sad looking girl with a mascara stained face already on the elevator and Chaeyoung shuddered at the sight. The girl shot her a glare back before something more interesting caught her attention over Chaeyoung’s shoulder.

 

                “Oh my God, Jennie? Is that you?” The girl called. Chaeyoung, hearing Rosé’s girlfriend’s name, on instinct turned too. Before she could think any better and turn around it was too late, she’d already locked eyes with Rosé.

 

                The sad girl pushed past Chaeyoung who had stopped dumbfounded, to give Jennie a hug. Jennie looked at Rosé guiltily, but noticed she was still staring at Chaeyoung. Rosé quickly turned back to Jennie, pretending like nothing had just happened.

 

                “Baby I’m so sorry I would never normally ask this, but you’re the first familiar face I’ve seen… could I stay at your place? I came all the way from Taiwan, and I have nowhere else to go,”

 

                “,” Jennie and Rosé cursed at once.

 

                ~

 

                Tzuyu refreshed the picture again hoping for it to suddenly not be there… the comment to have changed… anything. But it was all still the same:

 

[Instagram Post] elkieeeeee: I think I tasted my favourite fruit: kiwi

 

                It was a picture of her in bed with another girl, a sleeping brunette. Tzuyu couldn’t see the other girl’s face… but since it wasn’t her own face, she knew Elkie had cheated.

 

                She had immediately texted the girl and told her to come back to their apartment… even though she knew she was catching up with her other university friends after having just gotten back from studying abroad.

 

                “Hi baby, I’m home! I hear someone missed me,” Elkie called as soon as she was through the door.

 

                Tzuyu calmly walked out of their bedroom door, refreshing and refreshing the Instagram post a couple more times for dramatic effect.

 

                “What are you doing? Put your phone down. I’ve missed you so much and all I want to do right now is be with you,” Elkie said crossing the den in attempt to embrace her, but Tzuyu shook off her efforts and finally revealed what she’d been looking at so intently on her phone.

 

                “Elkie… help me understand. What is this? What the is this?” She tried her best to ask calmly, but she knew what it was. It was a declaration of war.

 

                Elkie smirked and continued past Tzuyu into the bedroom. Tzuyu obediently followed, “Oh I don’t know… just some girl in the same program. Do you want to take a bath? I could really use a bath,” she said casually as she took off her coat and hung it in their closet.

 

                “No—I don’t want to take a ing bath with you right now. Are you insane? Elkie are you actually insane? Did the water in New Zealand make you stupid or something? Why are you doing this to me?” Tzuyu said as she followed Elkie around the room like a lost puppy.

 

                “Baby…” She turned around and put a hand on Tzuyu’s cheek, “Are you seriously mad about this?”

 

                Tzuyu instantly recoiled from her touch as if she’d been slapped, “I—I’m really trying hard not to be, but what it really looks like is that you cheated on me… and then posted about it on Instagram… and you’re not even sorry?”

 

                Elkie sighed before responding, “Babe isn’t this what we do? We go abroad and other people and then get back together?”

 

                There was the other shoe. So, she was mad that Tzuyu was transferring to Korea after all… “I’m not just going abroad though… I’m literally moving to Korea. Y—you told me you weren’t upset about it though… I don’t understand why suddenly—this. Maybe—maybe we should just end it here,”

 

                “Baby don’t act like that. We both know you’ll be back… you’d miss me too much,” Elkie answered.

 

                Tzuyu crossed her arms and didn’t respond. Yeah… she was real mad.

 

                “What? You just expect me to believe you’ll be celibate when you’re gone?” Elkie pleaded reaching out for Tzuyu.

 

                “Not anymore,” Tzuyu growled, yanking her arm out of her reach and walking around the bed to grab the bag she’d packed.

 

                “I like it when you’re jealous. You know… that girl – she was kinda funny in bed. They do it so differently down under. Why don’t you remind me how we do it?” Elkie husked, following Tzuyu and pressing herself to the taller’s back intimately.

 

                Tzuyu stopped walking and sighed. Elkie smirked, accepting this as a win before beginning to press kisses into Tzuyu’s neck and shoulder.

 

                ~

 

                “Momo, do you hear that yelling? What the hell is going on outside?” Sana asked, popping her head into Momo’s room.

 

                “I don’t know, I didn’t see anything when I said goodbye to Chaeng,” Momo shrugged before putting a headphone back in.

 

                The shouting sounded suspiciously like Jennie and Rosé were fighting again, they did so almost once a week… but it was never usually this loud. Sana thought maybe she should intervene and back up Rosé, but as soon as she poked her head out of her door, she regretted it.

 

                “That has been sleeping with my girlfriend,” A girl with wrecked makeup shouted accusingly at her.

 

                Sana knew that somewhere along the lines this was coming, but she was shocked that it was happening so soon… and in front of Rosé and Jennie. She was finally going to figure out who E> was. Wait, wait, wait, did she hear that right? “Your what?” Did that mean she kissed a girl who already has a girlfriend?

 

                “No, no, no, I think you meant this has been sleeping with my girlfriend,” Rosé said pointing a finger accusingly at Elkie.

 

                “It was one time! We were on a break!” Jennie said throwing up her hands in frustration, “You can’t seriously be mad about that! At least Elkie and I knew there were no strings attached. You practically had a second girlfriend when I was away!” she pointed at Chaeyoung over her shoulder.

 

                “I—I don’t want—” Chaeyoung started to say, turning around and calling desperately for the elevator again… but it was all the way on the top floor now.

 

                “That’s not true. You knew we were just casual right, Chaeyoung?” Rosé asked Chaeyoung pleadingly.

 

                “I—yeah of course,” Chaeyoung lied, rubbing the back of her neck uncomfortably. Why was the elevator taking so long? Was it seriously going to stop on every single floor on the way down?

 

                “Then what’s this?” Jennie said surging forward and grabbing Chaeyoung’s exposed wrist.

 

                “I didn’t sleep with Tzuyu,” Sana admitted quietly.

 

                “Oh yeah? And how do you expect me to believe that when you have a reputation of sleeping with half the team? Was she just another conquest to you? Another check off your list? God, it’s pathetic really, she actually thinks she has a crush on you and you’re only using her,”

 

                “I didn’t—I—I’m not using her,” Sana said carefully, “I didn’t know she had a girlfriend,”

 

                “It’s nothing, Jennie, just drop it,” Rosé responded.

 

                “Oh, then they aren’t your lips Rosé?” Jennie asked.

 

                “They are… but it didn’t mean anything,” Rosé answered, “Jennie, it’s just a tattoo,”

 

                ~

 

                Chaeyoung showed up knocking on Rosé’s apartment doorstep in late June – June 26^th to be exact. She had six roses tucked behind her back for the number of months they’d spent together. Half a year with Rosé. She’d ask her out on a real date today. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. Maybe Rosé would finally admit she felt something more here too. And then Chaeyoung would ask her to be her girlfriend… officially. She was feeling confident… until Jennie opened the door.

 

                A girl she didn’t recognize at the time answered the door in adidas joggers and a comfortably worn looking t-shirt “Uh… hey,” she said awkwardly, “Can I help you?” Chaeyoung's eyes darted to the girl's neck where noticed she had all-too-familiar shaped lipstick kiss marks on her neck.

 

                “I—Is Rosé there?” Chaeyoung asked, suddenly feeling less confident under the girl’s piercing gaze.

 

                “Yeah, one sec—babe, someone is at the door for you,” the girl called into the apartment.

 

                “Jen-Jen, tell them to go away, I haven’t seen my girlfriend in six whole months,” Chaeyoung heard Rosé giggle from the other room.

 

                Did she just say girlfriend?

 

                Jennie turned around and looked Chaeyoung up and down once more, sighing before her eyes lit up noticing something behind her back, “Babe—did you forget you ordered delivery again? She’s got roses, that’s so ing cute to get me roses delivered,”

 

                Suddenly all the signs made sense. Chaeyoung was a side chick. She took off running and didn’t look back.

 

                “Huh?” Rosé said, getting up from her spot on the couch and coming to the door. But by the time she’d gotten there Chaeyoung was gone.

 

                “That’s so weird, she was just here,” Jennie muttered, “You should call that delivery service and complain. They’ll probably get you a refund,”

 

                “Just forget it,” Rosé chuckled nervously, “It’s nothing,”

 

                ~

 

                “To me it meant something,” Chaeyoung answered, speaking strongly for the first time, “But God how I wish it didn’t… You have no idea how much I hate this ing tattoo. I’m always trying to cover it up, so I never have to see it even when its ing hot outside. So no, its not just a tattoo, and maybe if you weren’t too busy pretending you liked me and stringing me along, you would have realized it,”

 

                Just then they heard the door to Sana and Momo’s apartment close. Sana who looked almost on the brink of tears looked worriedly behind her at the door. Momo.

 

                “I—I can’t do—URGGHHHH,” Chaeyoung turned around to swing a fist at the elevator, but the doors swung open just in time.

 

                “SAN-----oof,”

 

                Chaeyoung’s blind punch connected with Tzuyu’s stomach and she quickly pulled her fist back in horror, “ohmygodi’msosorry!!!” Chaeyoung exclaimed, running her hands through her hair in shock.

 

                “Its—it’s ok I’ve had worse,” Tzuyu wheezed, clutching her stomach. Something over Chaeyoung’s shoulder caught her eye.

 

                “SANA! Oh my God there you are, I’ve tried every single floor I—” She never got to finish, because Sana disappeared in her apartment as soon as she saw her.

 

                Tzuyu tried to follow her, but the door locked behind her, “Sana please,” she pleaded, but there was no response.

 

                Steeling herself, she turned back around and noticed Elkie standing close to Jennie and Rosé looking miserably at Chaeyoung.

 

                “Elkie what the hell are you still doing here, I told you to leave,” Tzuyu steamed.

 

                “She has nowhere else to go,” Jennie said stepping forward to challenge Tzuyu.

 

                “What did you just say?” Tzuyu growled, closing the gap between them and towering threateningly over Jennie.

 

                “Well she sure as hell can’t stay here… and you know what, neither can you,” Rosé said to Jennie before stalking back to her apartment and slamming the door shut behind her.

 

                Elkie looked at Tzuyu again, “Jennie, tell her what you told your girlfriend, it was no strings, it didn’t mean anything. That’s the whole reason we’re in this mess, anyway, isn’t it?”

 

                “It was you…” Tzuyu said turning to Jennie. The wheels suddenly turning, “You’re the one she slept with when she was in New Zealand? Don’t you literally have a girlfriend?”

 

                “We were on a break!” Jennie exclaimed in frustration, “That’s what people do when they go abroad! You’re abroad, you understand?”

 

                “So, you’re the one that put that idea in her head too then,” Tzuyu said narrowing her eyes.

 

                “T-Star, I swear she said she was single otherwise I never would have gone there. We’re teammates, I don’t want to fight you,” Jennie said backing away from Tzuyu suddenly.

 

                Tzuyu took a deep breath as if she was trying to collect herself, and on her exhale, she’d decide how she’d handle this. She didn’t really want to fight Jennie either… Elkie wasn’t worth it.

 

                Jennie kept eyeing Chaeyoung who was sprawled pathetically by the elevator with her head in her hands, Elkie kept looking between Tzuyu and Jennie as if she’d like to see a fight over her, and Tzuyu just wanted to talk to Sana.

 

                “Everyone just—” Tzuyu started to say on her exhale.

 

                “YAAAAAHHHHHHH!!” a voice cried out suddenly, as Momo jumped out her apartment door wielding her Hello Kitty umbrella every which direction, causing everyone to scatter in fear.

 

                When the hallway had cleared, only Chaeyoung was left looking sorry for herself.

 

                “Come on, let me make you some tea. I think it’ll make you feel better,” She said extending a hand to help the cub up.

 

                ~

 

[23:01] C. Tzuyu: Mina, this is important, I need Sana’s number. I know you have it

[Contact Info for M. Sana shared with C. Tzuyu]

[23:03] Mina: Good luck

                Mina: She’s never going to leave you alone now

[23:04] C. Tzuyu: I hope so

 

[23:05] Unknown: Sana, it’s Tzuyu

                Unknown: I got your number from Mina, please talk to me

[23:08] Unknown: What did Elkie tell you? I promise it isn’t true

                Unknown: You have to believe me

[23:13] Unknown: Please

[23:23] M. Sana: I’m mad at you for not telling me you had a girlfriend, but I’m madder at myself, I saw all the signs and I just feel stupid for falling for it anyway

[23:23] Unknown: You’re not stupid! Elkie and I aren’t like that

                Unknown: Can I see you? I can explain better in person

[23:28] M. Sana: I can’t see you right now

                M. Sana: She said I was just using you

[23:28] Unknown: You’re not, I swear

[23:29] M. Sana: How do you know?

[23:30] Unknown: I know you

[23:41] M. Sana: No, you don’t

[23:44] Unknown: Then let me get to know you

                Unknown: Please

[23:56] M. Sana: I need some time

 

                Sana put down her phone and clutched her chest after hitting send because her heart ached refusing her. She wasn’t ready, she kept telling herself. She needed more time, always more time. She put on a mask of a smile and walked out of the kitchen, they had company over, and she couldn’t let them see her cry.

 

                ~

 

                Chaeyoung was sipping her tea comfortably on their couch. Momo was her hair from her position leaning over the back of the couch when she suddenly remembered seeing clingfilm on her nape the other day and decided to get a better look, “This is new, I like it,” she said, tracing a finger over the new ink.

 

                Chaeyoung couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly, “Yeah… you would,”

 

                “Wait, I’m sorry, should I not have said that? Why did you say it like that?” Momo asked innocently, retracting her finger and hesitantly returning to instead.

 

                “Arrow hearts traditionally symbolize being wounded by love, or it could be seen as cupid’s arrow. Anyone struck with it will fall hopelessly in love with whoever they see. To me it symbolizes someone who falls to easily in love, and on the same coin tends to get her heart broken easily because of this,” She explained darkly.

 

                Momo stopped her hair and stood up straight, “Who’d you get that one for?” maybe it was a poor question to ask, but she couldn’t help but be curious now that she knew the lips were Rosé’s. She also wanted to know if Chaeyoung had any other love interests right now.

 

                “Myself,” Chaeyoung scoffed putting her empty tea down before laying back on the couch.

 

                “Oh,”

 

                Sana snorted loudly from behind them, causing both of them to look up at her, “I’m going to bed… see one—or both of you in about an hour,” she said before shoving Momo from behind playfully, causing her to lose her balance and reach to catch herself on the couch over Chaeyoung.

 

                “I—I’m sorry again,” Momo stuttered, attempting to right herself, but Chaeyoung grabbed her hand and stopped her. Momo’s face was so close to Chaeyoung’s and she thought if she leaned down just a centimeter more she could kiss her. It definitely didn’t help that she noticed Chaeyoung’s eyes flick down to her lips briefly and then her own… wait that meant Momo was looking at hers too. She really wanted to kiss Chaeyoung… but she already did that once. She needed Chaeyoung to take the next step now. Ensuring that this wasn’t all just in Momo’s head. But instead she fixed her warm brown eyes on Momo’s and asked:

 

                “Will you lay with me… just until I fall asleep?”

 

                “Of course,” Momo answered, and she couldn’t help but feel a swell of disappointment at what could have almost just happened. Cuddled safely in Chaeyoung’s arms, however, she found it hard to be disappointed for long as her mind began to wander to the rhythmic pace Chaeyoung’s steady breathing.