Sunny immediately shot up from her spot, “You did what?” she was half excited about the news but half disturbed since Taeyeon didn’t look too excited about it.

 

“While she was sleeping, I couldn’t help it. I was hiding all the feelings I was supposed to release when I confessed to her via the Christmas present, but she missed it completely and she just looked so beautiful sleeping, I just…I kissed her, on the lips,” Taeyeon held her face in her hand as she remembered clearly the sensation of having the girl’s lips on her own.

 

Sunny waited for Taeyeon to continue, but as she paused she turned to face the girl and saw that she was trying to calm herself down. She reached out and engulfed the girl in a tight embrace.

 

“What happened Taengoo?” she asked softly and sternly, “You’re scaring me.”

 

“She whispered in her sleep, it seemed like she was awake but since she didn’t mention it I think she really was sleeping. But she said, and it was kind of faint but still audible,” she began to tremble and practically whispered the last part, “Ew get off me.”

 

Sunny had her eyes closed and she could feel Taeyeon falling apart in her arms, “Taeyeon-ah, she was sleeping. She could have been saying that to anyone.”

 

Taeyeon shook her head, “She pulled back and turned over, Sunny. It was the only time in the night that she pulled away from me.”

 

“Maybe she was having a bad dream?” Sunny tried to fight for Taeyeon’s sanity. Being rejected through a dream probably wasn’t the best way to go. She laughed lightly, albeit nervously as if trying to soothe her best friend, “Don’t think about it too much. She didn’t retract from you or anything today, right?”

 

Taeyeon nodded, “You’re right but, this can’t possibly be good. I’ve been fighting to tell her everything but things just keep going wrong. Maybe I was never meant to tell her?” she looked up at Sunny through blurred eyes, “Maybe something is telling me that I shouldn’t even bother anymore?”

 

Sunny didn’t answer right away and caught herself allowing the silence to grow as she rubbed Taeyeon’s back. What kind of answer should she give her friend? A supportive, calming answer or a painfully brutal answer? They’ve discussed this before, and Sunny was always supportive of Taeyeon and Tiffany. Although the girl only ever showed interest in boys, she treated Taeyeon specially, too specially for them to be something platonic. But by the looks of it, Tiffany wasn’t going to realize her own feelings for a long time now, either that or she was going through a strong case of denial.

 

Taeyeon rarely ever went into a sobbing fest. The girl was too strong to cry out loud. Instead tears silently fell from her face, slightly damping Sunny’s sweater. Her shaking began to die down at least, causing Sunny to relax as well.

 

“I know you’re not the type to give up,” she finally spoke up, their breathing now moving in time. They were both calm at this time, and the tears finally found rest. “But we both know that Fany is stubborn. I think this calls for extreme measures Taengoo.”

 

Taeyeon looked up at Sunny again, confusion in her eyes as she tried to read the intense look in her best friend’s expressions.

 

“Look, I know we’re talking about you right now, but I hope you don’t mind if I bring Sooyoungie into this too.”

 

The older girl nodded, knowing exactly what Sunny meant. She wiped her tears as silently as they fell, only a sniffle coming out of .

“We’re both hopelessly in love with straight girls,” Taeyeon said with a little chuckle. It was bitter, it tasted bitter and Sunny almost shivered at how bitter it felt. “Tiffany said it directly, and I try to pretend I didn’t hear it. How if I was a boy, she would totally date me.” Taeyeon didn’t mean to mock Tiffany in her tone, but the way it replayed over and over again in her head called for it. “And you’ve heard it too, she’s said it many times in the past as if joking around, but it’s hurt me every single time.”

 

Sunny sighed, knowing the feeling, the exact same feeling from her experience back in America. “I feel like Sooyoung would say the same thing to me if she ever had the chance to express it back then.”

 

The two best friends held hands and patted each other, finding comfort in their shared pain.

 

“As much as I’d love for Sooyoung to accept you all the same when you reveal the truth, we both know how mad she’s going to be and how confused she’s going to be,” Taeyeon remembered the conversation from earlier as clear as day, and she remembered the expressions her other friends gave her. “I meant to tell you this earlier, but Sooyoung was talking about she wanted to introduce Sungmin to you when you come to our graduation.”

 

Sunny flinched and opened her eyes wide. She gritted her teeth before releasing the tension through a heavy sigh, “Well then,” she began, rubbing her temple in frustration, “You don’t think there’s any way around that, do you?”

 

Taeyeon laughed, even though it was at her friend’s expense it made her feel better and she knew Sunny wouldn’t be upset over it. And that’s when something clicked in her head.

 

“You have to tell her before then,” she said simply and smoothly, her eyes widening with every word. Why didn’t she think of it earlier?

 

“Are you insane?!” Sunny exclaimed, almost jumping up from her bed, “I can barely imagine telling her months from now at our graduation, but any day closer? I may be braver than all 8 of you put together, but I am in no way insane.”

 

Taeyeon couldn’t help but roll her eyes and chuckle at the last thing that Sunny said, but she was true. If there was one thing certain about Sunny in comparison to the rest of them was that she was insanely brave.

 

“You were insane enough to do this stunt to begin with,” Taeyeon retaliated, raising her eyebrow at her the girl before her. “And you have to finish what you started. Half of us already know, what’s much more difficult about telling Sooyoung?” Taeyeon knew the answer, she knew it too well but now was not the time for doubt and negativity.

 

Sunny could only whimper as the thought of Sooyoung’s reaction plagued her mind with wonder and horrible images.

 

She heaved a final sigh, “I’m the one who mentioned desperate measures, and here I am feeling like crawling away and hiding from our problems forever.”

 

Taeyeon slapped Sunny’s back in support, “Well, at least we can go down together, right?”

 

It was Sunny’s turn to laugh this time as she pulled Taeyeon in for another hug, “We’ll fall hard together.”

 

“We’ve already fallen hard together,” Taeyeon said as she shook her head, “It’s about time we hit the ground.”

 

---

 

Hyoyeon noticed that Yuri was much more on top of her game than usual. As much as she trusted Yoona to take on the responsibility of captain after they graduated, she secretly wished that Yuri was a year younger, because she knew that she was more than capable.

 

If she was honest to herself, she remembered a time when she felt threatened by Yuri’s talent in dancing. In everything, to be precise. But Yuri always looked up to her first and foremost, and the two were the best captain and co-captain that The Chodings have ever had. And she was proud of that.

 

“Good work today,” she applauded her friend after she lead the other group mates out the door. The girls were only in a sports bra and track pants, sweat evident on their bodies.

 

“Thanks, you too Hyo,” Yuri reciprocated, giving her leader a wide grin, “Today was a good session. Looks like the rest of the team has been practicing, like you told them too. They really do respect you.”

 

Hyoyeon shook her head, “Naw, they fear me. As athletic as these dancers are, no one likes to do laps.”

 

Yuri laughed as she wiped some sweat off her brow, “Then they should start fearing next year, I’m sure Yoong is going to think of worse punishments.”

 

“Has she not shown you her list of possible punishments already?” Hyoyeon asked a little surprised, “I thought the twins were closer than this.”

 

“What? No!” Yuri exclaimed in sheer disappointmen, “That rascal, I’m going to have to text her about this.”

 

Hyoyeon chuckled and grabbed Yuri’s hand, leading them to a nearby couch so they could relax, “You were both probably just busy.”

 

“Busy?” Yuri asked as she tilted her head, “With what? We’re on break now and we’re both busy with the same things.”

 

“Precisely,” Hyoyeon answered raising her finger, “You’ve both been busy with love~” She stressed the last word teasingly, adding a wink and making a heart shape with her fingers.

 

 

Yuri instantly turned red, a reaction Hyoyeon was hoping for. At first the blonde was jealous of all the relationships and romance between her friends, but she could care less at the moment. Being the teasing and knowing friend was much more fun, and she knew that she’d probably find a good guy in University when the right time came, or girl.

 

“Except there’s one difference,” Hyoyeon continued, poking Yuri in the shoulder, “It looks like the younger one made the quicker move.” She poked Yuri again, and again, and again until she fell over.

 

“Ouch!” Yuri exclaimed, rubbing the spot that the blonde so ruthlessly attacked her. “You didn’t have to do that!”

 

“Oh but I did,” Hyoyeon said with a firm nod, “What’s going on Yuri, why didn’t you ask her out yet?”

 

Yuri’s face continued to perspire despite the ending of their practice and the red colour only deepened, “Hyo! This kind of stuff takes time!”

 

But Hyoyeon shook her head in defiance, “No way, girl. Yoona confessed and asked Seohyun out all in the same night, and what did you do? You gave Sica a snowflake necklace, that’s what.”

 

“And a charm bracelet!” Yuri protested, her bottom lip trembling at Hyoyeon’s teasing, “I did a lot!”

 

Hyoyeon continued to shake her head, “We’re graduating soon, Yuri! Come on, you’re better than this. You can stand in front of the girl you like , but you can’t ask her out on a date? Come on!” Instead of poking, Hyoyeon knocked on Yuri’s head as if trying to awaken her.

 

“Stop abusing me!” Yuri groaned, holding her probably now brusied head. She knew Hyoyeon was violent, but it didn’t stop her body from reacting to her violence. “I’m doing my best!”

 

“Well do better!” Hyoyeon shouted seriously, “What happened to my try hard, over achieving Yuri? What happened to the Yuri who boasted about getting any girl or guy she wanted?”

 

Yuri sighed, “But Sica is different.”

 

“Exactly,” Hyoyeon replied, placing a gentle hand on Yuri’s shoulder. “She’s different, even more reason for you to press on harder.” The gentle hand quickly transformed as it smacked Yuri on the upside of her head.

 

Yuri couldn’t help but smile sheepishly at Hyoyeon’s odd and violent way of supporting her. She nodded her head furiously and pumped her fist, “Alright then, I’ll ask her out soon, I promise.”

 

“Now that’s a good girl,” Hyoyeon declared happily before smacking Yuri on the shoulder, causing the girl to fall off the couch they were sitting on.

 

“Goddamnit, Hyo!”

 

---

 

Jessica arrived at the café she and Tiffany had been going to together since they were kids. They were both incredibly fond of the strawberry cheesecake and the delicious variety of flavoured lattes and smoothies that were always available. It was a bonus that the café also happened to serve delicious ramyun that made a perfect and simple dinner for the two of them. Especially after all the food that they had consumed the night before.

 

She was early for once, getting impatient from waiting for a text from Yuri. She knew that it shouldn’t bother her so much, but the girl hadn’t texted her once since they said goodbye to each other earlier that day. She knew that she was busy with dance practice and was probably fooling around with Hyoyeon at this point, but would it kill her to text her?

 

 

Hey Sica, how’s dinner with Fany?

 

Jessica smiled stupidly at her phone. It was as if the taller girl was reading her mind. But after realizing her reaction, she looked up to see if anyone was watching her. Luckily, her eye smiling friend was no where to be seen. She heaved a sigh of relief and tried her best to contain her excitement as she texted the girl back.

 

Fany isn’t here yet, but dinner should be the same as usual. Girl stuff, school, school paper, gossip and more girl stuff. How was dance practice?

 

The immediate response pleased her to the core.

 

Intense, as usual. Hyo worked us all to the bone and I am confident to say that our talent show performance will blow everyone away and that we will most definitely win first place.

 

Jessica rolled her eyes and quietly laughed at Yuri’s confidence.

 

But you haven’t heard the duet Fany and I prepared yet, it will bring you to tears.

 

With the kind of faces you make during ballads, I’m sure I’ll be brought to tears.

 

Jessica pouted.

 

Are you saying I make ugly faces when I sing ballads?!

 

Ah, no! I was just, I was just teasing you???

 

She rolled her eyes again and just laughed.

 

You are way too easy, Kwon Yuri.

 

Tiffany skipped happily into the café, looking very much forward to her dinner with her best friend. She was feeling unbelievably good since their Christmas party and she was certain that dinner with Jessica would only make her feel even better. She lightly touched the necklace around her neck, and even though she didn't entirely want to express it or admit it, she knew something had changed between the two of them. She lightly touched her lips as well, and remembered the one strange thing that happened that night, but shook her head of the memory immediately. Something she promised herself that she would do.

 

She watched from the door as Jessica happily texted whoever was at the other end of the phone. She wondered if maybe it was Taeyeon, but the girl hadn’t even texted her back since around lunch time. She wouldn’t text Jessica and not her, right? But she shook her head and brought her thoughts around. It was probably Yuri. She saw the way they interacted the night before. It was as if something changed between them as well.

 

If I’m so easy, then does that mean it’s easy for you to go on a date with me? Say, tomorrow night?

 

Jessica burst into laughter at Yuri’s ridiculous text. She wondered if the girl even bothered to read the text over before sending it, but it didn’t matter anymore, the deed had been done and Jessica found it absolutely charming.

 

Tomorrow is Christmas eve, you idiot. Lame idiot.

 

She was smirking at her phone and she didn’t care that she could see Tiffany from the corner of her eyes.

 

I know! Parents will be out for the night so I’m only spending Christmas with them. I’d be honoured to have dinner with you.

 

Krystal will be there, you know. And so will the rest of my family.

 

Then you can introduce me! ;D

 

They’ve known you since you we were kids, idiot.

 

Yah! Stop calling me an idiot! I know all this very well, you can just introduce me as something different.

 

Are you asking me to be your girlfriend over text, Kwon Yuri?

 

You know, calling me by my full name isn’t as scary as you think it is, Sica.

 

You didn’t answer me.

 

“Earth to Jessie?” Tiffany called out. She had been standing in front of Jessica for a full 5 minutes now and the girl had the nerve to ignore her when she swore that she had looked up at her at least twice. “Jessica Jung are you there?”

 

Jessica raised her left hand in the air as if silencing her best friend. Tiffany could only pout.

 

Not exactly, but kind of?

 

Just be at my house at 6PM tomorrow, look presentable. Fany is here so I’ll see you tomorrow. Oh, and don’t forget to get presents for my parents and Krystal! An extra one for me wouldn’t hurt either, later babe.

 

Jessica closed her phone triumphantly, knowing very well that Yuri’s mouth was probably gaping at this point. Her was face was probably wearing that surprised and confused expression she so cutely wears when she’s dumbfounded. It was a pity she couldn’t see it.

 

“Hey Tif,” she greeted cheerfully. She laughed at Tiffany’s clearly offended expression and placed a hand on her shoulder, “That was Yuri, we had some important issues to discuss, if you know what I mean.” Jessica winked and pulled Tiffany to a nearby table, clearly satisfied with what just went down.

 

“Gross, did you guys set up another session?” Tiffany teased, sticking her tongue out.

 

Jessica could only smirk, “You’re just jealous. I bet you haven’t had any action whatsoever in a thousand years.”

 

The taller girl blushed, clutching the menu a waitress handed them close to her face to hide her pink cheeks, “It hasn’t been that long! Besides, I haven’t had any interest in any guys.” Tiffany did her best to resist emphasizing the guy part, still completely unsure about where her heart was.

 

“What’s this?” Jessica teased as she looked through the menu, “Our boy crazy Miyoung doesn’t have a crush on anyone?” she shook her head mockingly and flipped through the pages. “Maybe you really are focusing more on graduating than I thought.”

 

Tiffany threw a wad of napkin at Jessica’s head, “Hey! I may seem a little air headed at times, but you know I work hard at school.”

 

Jessica finally looked up from the menu and rolled her eyes, “I was just kidding, Fany. God, we all know how ridiculously hard working you are at times.”

 

“I still have to be,” Tiffany retaliated, putting her menu down as she had her order decided, “I need to maintain an average, unlike someone here who was already accepted into her college of choice thanks to her brilliant portfolio.”

 

Jessica put down her menu and winked at Tiffany, “Come on, Fany, don’t worry about that. What were we just talking about again? Not being interested in any, guys?”

 

Tiffany flinched at the tone Jessica used and instantly formed a frown, “What’s that supposed to mean, Jessie?” She was certain she hadn’t given herself away at all.

 

Unfortunately for her, best friends meant something, especially after all these years. And when your best friend knew the best friend that you were actually in love with, then of course you’re meant to be screwed.

 

“I’m surprised she hasn’t confessed to you,” Jessica said nonchalantly as she called down their waitress, “Knowing her, she would’ve done it at Christmas, despite her inability to express herself properly.”

 

Tiffany refused to look at Jessica as the night replayed in her head. It was a lot for her to take in, from the first day she began to feel something that was most definitely more than platonic for Taeyeon, to the second she felt Taeyeon kiss her in her sleep. And the way she played it off after. It was awful, and she wanted to erase the memory from her mind. She didn`t dare at the moment to wake up to read Taeyeon`s face, but she knew for certain that she had hurt her. She regretted it, but panic brought on stupidity. Something she could never take back. She only hoped that what happened the morning after, that morning in fact, that made Taeyeon forget the entire thing happened.

 

“You know me, Jessie,” Tiffany responded, still not looking at Jessica in the eye, “I’m not…I’m not into girls.”

 

The waitress came, took their orders and left. Jessica reached out her hand for Tiffany’s and used the other to pull her chin up to face her.

 

“You’re not into girls,” Jessica said simply, giving Tiffany a stern look, “We all know that.”

 

Tiffany nodded, her eyes slowly finding a way to connet with Jessica’s. She always liked to pretend that she was the strongest out of the two of them, but when it came to this, she had no idea how to be, how strong to be, what it even meant to be weak in a situation like that.

 

“Then?” Tiffany responded, her eyes wandering between Jessica’s and her surroundings. She bit her bottom lip, cursing their relationship and her inability to hide anything from her best friend.

 

“She knows that, very well” Jessica continued, pulling Tiffany closer, “And this has most definitely been hard on her, you know that.”

 

Tiffany was definitely guilty of that knowledge, and she could only nod, the guilt that was always in her heart spreading. She was fully aware of her feelings, and she wasn’t stupid, she was most definitely certain of Taeyeon’s as well. But she couldn’t bring herself to act on her own heart, and she couldn’t find the ability to respond to Taeyeon’s obvious but hesitant advances.

 

She was confused, and it only meant trouble for the both of them.

 

“I don’t know what to do,” Tiffany admitted, almost breaking down right there and then. She wished it was as simple as what happened between Yoona and Seohyun, and how she wished it was as passionate as what first happened between Jessica and Taeyeon. And oh how she wanted so bad for Taeyeon to be a guy and for this to just fall easily into place, naturally, the way she pictured it growing up. The way Sooyoung and Sungmin were.

 

But it wasn’t natural, and it wasn’t easy. She never voiced it before, but she was never completely comfortable with same relationships in their group, but she held her own because it made them happy, and she knew deep down inside that there was a completely different reason as to why it made her uncomfortable. It was never easy, it would never be easy. Since the moment she wanted Taeyeon to herself, since the moment she found out that the girl had had feelings for her.

 

“Accept her,” Jessica answered simply, leaning back as their orders came in. She had a kimchi ramyun and a strawberry banana latte. She stirred the contents before her, her eyes watching Tiffany’s. She couldn’t entirely read what was going on in her head, in her eyes, in her face and it killed her.

 

“I can’t,” Tiffany responded just as simply, almost more firmly. She placed her chopsticks in the seafood ramyun steaming on her spot and took a small sip of her green tea latte, “I can’t Sica, it just, it isn’t right.”

 

Jessica rolled her eyes, “You’re an idiot, you know?” Frankly, she was disappointed in how stubborn and simple Tiffany was, but there she was, simple, honest and true and exactly how she’s always been. And she knew, she knew that this wasn’t going to be easy. But for Taeyeon’s sake, and even for Tiffany’s she only hoped that by some miracle, it would be easier.

 

Tiffany didn’t answer and blew softly on the food before her, closing her eyes and letting a strangled tear make its way down her face.