Sungmin was over for breakfast, much to Sooyoung and her family’s pleasure, but much to Sunny’s discomfort. He was looking over Sooyoung’s work while his girlfriend’s mother stuffed his face continuously with waffles, eggs and various fruit.

 

Sooyoung couldn’t help but giggle at how Sungmin’s face contorted in a mix of emotions and Soojin, Sooyoung’s older sister could only try so hard to resist her chuckles. How happy she was to be home at this special time of the year.

 

“I’ve been excited to meet your new boyfriend,” she whispered to Sooyoung as they watched their mother torture the poor boy who was only trying to focus on checking over her younger sister’s work. “Especially since you’ve been gushing about him nonstop.”

 

Sooyoung smiled at her older sister, “Do you like him?” she asked earnestly, for family approval was everything. She asked her older sister the same question a few days ago when she felt her watching them get ready from afar, but all she got was a nod. And that was definitely not good enough.

 

“I already told you,” Soojin replied with a quick roll of her eyes, “I do. He seems really charming, cute and not to mention smart. You told me he’s a good dancer too right? That’s a plus.”

 

Sooyoung nodded enthusiastically, her smile only getting wider with each word that spilled out of her sister’s mouth.

 

“But there’s one thing.”

 

Her smile instantly faded.

 

“Why is he so short?”

 

Sunny needed some kind of energy drink after a morning like that. Aside from correcting Sooyoung’s mistakes and tutoring her a little longer, she had to deal with breakfast with the whole family who knew about the necklace that Sooyoung was wearing and the meaning behind it. She knew Sooyoung’s mother and father, ever since she was a kid and she expected the huge array of questions that came her way. She wanted to hit Sooyoung for not warning her about the interrogation, but she guessed that she couldn’t really be mad either. They were just incredibly excited, after all.

 

“I’ve never seen Sooyoung so happy,” her father had told Sungmin. It made her blissful and incredibly guilty at the same time.

 

“Now go and enjoy your day together,” the entire family uttered at once as they ushered the two love birds out the door.

 

As soon as the door closed, Sunny groaned and grabbed Sooyoung’s hand before looking up at her.

 

“You owe me, you know that?” Sungmin growled, feigning anger which failed through the clearly obvious smile on his face.

 

Sooyoung dipped her head and left a quick kiss on her boyfriend’s face.

 

“Good enough?” she asked with a smirk.

 

“Could be better.”

 

---

 

Taeyeon was preparing Christmas Eve dinner with her mom as Seohyun and Yoona hung out in the living room. She was incredibly pleased with how Yoona managed to convince Seohyun to not be so responsible and relax for a moment. Besides, she hated how her little sister would nag her about the proper way to peel vegetables.

 

“My method is perfectly fine, right mom?” Taeyeon asked to her mother who was preparing food just a few metres away.

 

“Sure,” was her mother’s simple answer, a loud laugh coming out of right after. “So Sunny and her family are coming over later, right?”

 

Taeyeon groaned at the instant change of subject matter.

 

“Yes mom,” she whined before beginning to chop the vegetables she just peeled. Dinner preparations seemed to last the whole day, like usual but she didn’t care. It was always nice to do things like cook together with her mom.

 

“I’m so excited to see her parents! It’s been so long,” her mother was grinning ear to ear and Taeyeon couldn’t help but wear the exact same expression. It was amazing how instantly her parents and Sunny’s parents reconnected after she and Sunny explained the great charade that was going on. It’s like it didn’t matter at all and it’s as if so many years haven’t passed by.

 

That was friendship for you.

 

Seohyun came into the kitchen and put on her favourite apron, “Unnie, your sweet potatoes look lumpy.”

 

Taeyeon rolled her eyes, “Where did my saviour go off to?”

 

Seohyun giggled and walked up to her sister and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, “Yoona unnie went to get lunch with Sooyoung and Sunny.”

 

Taeyeon sighed, “Great, now the tyrant of the kitchen is back.”

 

Seohyun playfully hit her sister’s arm, “Let’s just get to work, Taeyeon unnie. And also, I’m not that bad.”

 

“You’re not that good either,” Taeyeon mumbled under her breath.

 

Her little sister elbowed her, hearing exactly what she said and giving Taeyeon the cutest pout she could muster.

 

 

“Pointy elbows! What did I say about those elbows!”

 

---

 

Yoona was practically bouncing off the walls about being the third wheel in Sunny and Sooyoung’s date. Not only could she tease Sooyoung, but she could offhandedly tease Sunny as well. It was perfect, and something she was definitely looking forward to.

 

She was a little disappointed at having to leave Seohyun behind, but Christmas Eve preperations were important too. She was happy that both of their parents approved of, and predicted them getting together and she was more than satisfied that the two were most definitely going to spend New Year’s Eve together after having to stick with family for the next couple of days because of Christmas. She was going to miss Seohyun for the next couple of the days, but she knew that the New Year was fast approaching as well.

 

However, Yoona regretted one thing. When they said their goodbyes and hugged for as long as they did, she wanted to kick herself for not kissing Seohyun. Surely, they kissed each other’s cheeks and more than once kissed each others’ forehead. But the lips? They were most definitely being avoided.

 

 

She knew she would have to be the one to initiate it. As playful and strange as Seohyun could be, she was most definitely not the most daring of the two, and it was up to Yoona to make their first kiss happen and their first kiss epic.

 

But she held back for a reason.

 

For what is more perfect than a first kiss on New Year’s Eve, while charging into the New Year together? Nothing, that’s what.

 

Snapping herself out of her blissful thoughts of her beautiful and more than perfect girlfriend, Yoona began to hear a commotion. A loud commotion that could only mean one thing.

 

“But you’ve met my family so many times! Why can’t I meet yours?”

 

 

“I already told you!” Hands were raised in defiance. “My family is strange and shy, I’ll introduce you to them when the time is right,” Sungmin retaliated with a firm foot down. There were more than a million reasons why Sooyoung couldn’t meet her boyfriend’s parents.

 

“I bet you don’t even talk about me,” Sooyoung replied, slightly hurt. Family meant a lot to her after all, and she wanted more than anything to meet and greet and impress Sungmin’s parents.

 

“I talk about you all the time, actually,” Sungmin responded softly, squeezing Sooyoung’s hand in an attempt to calm her down. “Believe me, okay?”

 

The two had finally reached Yoona and the girl coughed to get their attention. They both faced her immediately and Sungmin was the only one who blushed.

 

“Hey!” Sooyoung greeted, taking Yoona into a big bear hug. “How was your morning at the girlfriend’s?” Her wink was more exaggerated than usual, and Yoona could feel a bruise developing where Sooyoung kept slapping her back.

 

“The same as usual,” Yoona answered with a shrug, not letting Sooyoung’s teasing get to her, “Except Taeyeon unnie’s been trying this whole protective sister thing that is most definitely the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.”

 

Sunny’s interest was immediately caught, “What?”

 

Sooyoung’s mouth opened in excitement as she grabbed both her boyfriend and her best friend’s hand. “Tell us all about it after we order! I’m starving!”

 

Yoona and Sunny exchanged smiles as if silently greeting each other. Normally, Sunny would be very nervous about there being an extra friend, but since it was Yoona, she was nervous about something completely different.

 

“This rascal better not try anything,” she muttered under her breath as the three rushed into the restaurant Sooyoung was treating the two to thanks to her Christmas presents.

 

It was amazing how the place they stayed in was so busy and yet so attentive at the same time. Sunny watched in wonder as all of their orders were placed and brought to them in reasonable time. It was almost as if they were royalty or something almost as respectable.

 

“Are you a regular here or something?” Sungmin asked out of curiousity as he stared in disbelief at the meal in front of him. It was steaming and ready despite only having ordered a few moments prior.

 

“Basically,” Yoona responded, food flying out of and a piece of rice hitting Sunny right on the nose. “Sooyoung and I come here all the time, she didn’t tell you?”

 

Sunny flicked the rice off her nose and frowned at her junior’s horrendous manners. Oh, what would Seohyun say if she saw her like this? She could only shake her head.

 

“Eat up,” Sooyoung said, poking Sungmin in the face with her chopsticks, “You’re making us ladies look bad.”

 

Yeahup, Sunny will never get used to how Yoona and Sooyoung eat. She thought to herself that both girls were lucky that their ferocious eating habits were more endearing than incredibly disturbing. Something she wished she had Seohyun there to agree with her.

 

With a light chuckle to herself, she ate almost as heartily as the girls next to her. Something made the meal before her extra delicious, whether it was the presence of her girlfriend or her favourite junior, she couldn’t be happier.

 

“So what’s happening for Christmas with you guys?” Yoona asked first, wiping deligently with a napkin. At least there was something Seohyun probably taught her about table manners.

 

Since Sooyoung was busy finishing her tea, her hand waved at Yoona’s question dismissively, as if asking Sungmin to answer first.

 

“I’m having dinner at a family friend’s place,” Sunny responded with a small smile, thinking about being herself for an entire night with Taeyeon without worry. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen them all after coming from America, so I’m excited. What about you guys?”

 

Sooyoung would be lying if she said that she wasn’t disappointed. She put down her tea and bit her bottom lip, looking at her boyfriend as if pleading, “Aw, I was hoping to invite you for the night.”

 

“Oy,” Yoona interrupted, “I know family means a whole lot to you but you seriously shouldn’t ambush oppa with your family too much. You guys haven’t even been dating for that long!”

 

Sungmin laughed and placed his arm around Sooyoung’s shoulders, “Her family doesn’t scare me, but thanks for looking after me Yoona. They seem to like me a lot.” It may not have been a long time, but it might as well have been. She was relieved Sooyoung’s family hasn’t caught on and found her boyish self incredibly charming.

 

Sooyoung held onto her boyfriend’s small hand and squeezed it happily, “They adore you! Which is even more reason as to why I should meet your parents. I need them to fall in love with me too!” She was confident she could do it; after all, most adults and most people liked her.

 

Yoona rolled her eyes and elbowed her best friend, “What happens if you scare them, unnie?”

 

 

She made eye contact with Sunny, knowing exactly why there was a wait. It was a pity really, although Sunny’s parents were not entirely happy with the fact that she was tricking the younger girl, they were pleased to find out that they were dating. Sunny has had a history of liking the girl in the past, and they knew too well of the horror that struck their daughter in America.

 

Instead of noticing the hidden communication between her two friends, Sooyoung downed the rest of her meal, “I’m going to have to meet them eventually!”

 

“And you will,” Sungmin reassured, giving Sooyoung a surprise peck on the cheek. She immediately turned red and Sunny turned to wink at Yoona who almost fell over in laughter at Sooyoung’s instantly bright face.

 

“S-So what’s this about Taengoo being threatening?”

 

Yoona’s face brightened at the mention of her other favourite shorty and the vision of the fresh memory popped up in her mind.

“So she sat me down alone in the living room…”

 

---

 

Yuri stood in front of Jessica’s porch, a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a variety of presents in the other. She was certain that Jessica didn’t actually want her to buy everyone a present, but who could extra presents hurt, really?

 

Despite the frigid coldness bearing down on her, Yuri was sweating. Her knees felt weak and her usual brave face was wavering. She looked down at her winter outfit and once again imagined what she had put on underneath. White dress pants and an elegant red turtleneck. Comfortable and yet formal at the same time. She inhaled the air around her as well, wondering if her perfume was still evident. She remembered clearly Jessica mentioning once upon a time that she smelled good.

 

She was sure she was ready, but with every deep breath she took she was not even close to being one step closer to knocking on the door.

“Come on, Yuri,” she whispered to herself, shaking her head and her entire body of the nervousness she had been building up all day.

 

“How long are you going to stand out there?” a voice called out from above. Yuri nearly dropped all of her items as she gazed up in shock to see Jessica leaning out of her bedroom window.

 

She was embarrassed and she hoped that the cold was a good enough excuse for her flushed features.

 

“How long have you been watching me?!” Yuri asked, cursing the strong wind for making it difficult to see the angel above her.

 

Jessica laughed maniacally and Yuri for a second questioned the girl’s sanity, “You’ve been talking to yourself for like an hour!”

 

 

There was no escaping embarrassment now.

 

Yuri grumbled and stomped her foot, “So you just watched me?!”

 

 

“I couldn’t help it,” Jessica called back, “You looked so funny.”

 

She cackled again, her hearty breath clear in the crisp air. Yuri puffed her cheeks but couldn’t help the smile that formed on her lips at the actions of the girl above her. Her heart swooned a little. Her favourite laugh was always Jessica’s.

 

“Just let me in already!”

 

It turned out that Jessica had completely lied to Yuri. There was no one home.

 

Krystal was out at one of her friend’s house and her parents were back in the States. Her sister wouldn’t be back until the day after and Jessica was left to her own devices.

 

Which was apparently a private dinner with Yuri.

 

“No way,” Yuri mumbled as she stared at the fully prepared dinner before her.

 

“You impressed?” Jessica cooed with a slight chuckle. It may have taken her all day, but she managed to put together a dinner of instant spaghetti, salad, and a heap of kimchi fried rice. There also happened to be a slightly burned instant curry settling down on a warm lump of rice as well.

 

It wasn’t an incredibly attractive or delicious smelling sight, but Yuri knew that she would gobble it up nonetheless.

 

“Was this all for me?” she asked in wonder, looking at Jessica with unclosed. It was a wonder that Jessica even bothered to cook. But to plan for the two of them to be alone and for this much food to be ready before her, Yuri was beyond touched.

 

Jessica beamed at Yuri’s expression and she twirled her hair before skipping over to the girl and closing for her. She felt giddy and a little cocky at her accomplishment. The countless hours and wasted ingredients were worth it. No one has to know about the almost-fire.

 

“Yes,” Jessica answered almost shyly. She had never done such a huge act for anyone, not even Taeyeon. But with Taeyeon, the food poisoning her first batch of soft tofu stew gave the girl had made her cautious to ever cook for her again.

 

 

“Why?” was all Yuri could respond, hanging open again. She looked over at Jessica carefully, watching the wide grin that wouldn’t slip from her face. She was fully aware that she would be putting a lot of work into courting the girl, she looked forward to it even and had a million plans. But never did she plan on getting courted as well.

 

Jessica didn’t answer right away and simply reached out for Yuri’s hand. It was still cold and she swore that she felt goosebumps the second their hands made contact. She looked down at the hand in her own and ran her thumb over Yuri’s knuckles. She rubbed her hand to warm it up before intertwining their fingers and bringing her over to the table to sit down.

 

“Your Christmas present was so sweet, I wanted to do something for you.”

 

Yuri nodded in understanding, but her eyes wouldn’t leave their intertwined hands. She knew she was blushing again but she couldn’t help but squeeze the tiny hand in her own.

 

“This is too much,” she mumbled softly, smiling bashfully at everything before her. She wanted to sweep Jessica off her feet, not the other way around.

 

“Are you joking? This is all instant stuff, except for the fried rice,” Jessica retaliated with a shrug. She let go of Yuri’s hand and walked over to her kitchen to get Yuri a plate. “Now eat up before I force feed you.”

 

Yuri chuckled and gratefully accepted the plate, “But you have trouble with instant stuff too, believe me I know. We all know, so this is more than a lot.” The taller girl’s smile widened and she could almost blind Jessica with the amount of teeth she showed. Yuri felt good, very good and all the nervousness she was building up earlier instantly went away.

 

 

“Thank you, Sica. I love this,” she took a deep breath and continued to roll on her bout of courage, “And I love you.”

 

Her smile dissolved into a smirk as she noticed Jessica blush and turn away. With another laugh, she happily took some of the food that was steaming and waiting for her patiently.

 

“So, am I going to be bed ridden for a week like Taeng or?”

 

Jessica growled in response before pouting and playfully punching Yuri in the shoulder, “Shut up.”

 

 

---

 

Sunny, Taeyeon and Seohyun were in the living room singing karaoke while their parents happily chatted away in the living room. Their voices were booming and their laughter filled the house so much that the girls could feel the ground shaking.

 

“They really missed each other, huh?” Taeyeon commented as Sunny looked through the booklet for her next song. “I’m surprised our neighbours haven’t complained about the noise levels yet.”

 

“And your parents look really well, unnie,” Seohyun added. The youngest was happily finishing a piece of steamed sweet potato.

 

“They’re just like us,” Sunny replied with a wink, “Friendship never dies, no matter how long we’re apart from each other.”

 

The shortest selected her song as Taeyeon and Seohyun exchanged glances and nodded. It was their first time seeing Sunny in an outfit that hugged her more curvaceous figure, and they knew how relieved she was to not be wearing a binder all night. It was nice, no, it was amazing to spend a whole night together, as themselves and not as the slightly changed Sungmin that seemed to be getting along so well with their friends. As much as they loved Sunny’s alter ego, they missed their best friend in all her glory.

 

As the song started, Sunny began to dance without abandon, her hair turning into a mess within seconds. The siblings laughed at the comical trot song the blonde girl chose and stood up to sing along with her.

 

---

 

[Tongue Tied Playlist: Don’t Have To Think Twice – Steve Moakler]

 

Yuri, like some kind of machine or warrior on a mission, managed to finish every last bite of the meal Jessica had prepared for her. She could feel the impact of her efforts, as her stomach was throwing Satanic incantations at her.

 

She was lying on the couch, defeated with her hand rubbing small circles to calm down the demon in her gut. The tanned girl was groaning now, almost as if chanting with her bowels.

 

Jessica had finished cleaning up when she ran over to the couch and jumped abruptly on Yuri.

 

“What was that for?!” Yuri practically screamed as she tried to calm her body from the force that was Jessica. The girl had practically body slammed her as she wrapped her arms around Yuri’s waist. The anger and pain that filled her quickly dispersed as she realized that the smaller girl was nuzzling herself into her chest. “S-Sica?”

 

Jessica looked up at Yuri with her eyes half lidded, “I’m sleepy,” she mumbled before closing her eyes and resting her head back on Yuri’s chest. “Let’s go to sleep.”

 

Yuri sighed and knew that if the princess wanted her rest, there was no way around it. “Alright, alright. Let’s go to bed then.”

 

Instantly, Jessica passed out and Yuri began to hear the soft familiar snores of her friend of many years. The snores of the girl who she sat behind many times throughout their school years, the snores of the girl who would even pass out in the middle of their drawing sessions, the snores of the girl who was always the first to fall asleep at their parties and the snores of the girl she just happened to be in love with.

 

Yuri reached her hand over to caress the hair of the sleeping beauty on top of her. She almost couldn’t believe that she was lying there on a couch with Jessica on top, on Christmas Eve, alone in her house. She had prepared herself mentally for full blown conversations with her parents and Krystal while trying to charm them into thinking she was perfect girlfriend material. Certainly, they had known her all these years, but they didn’t know of her feelings for their daughter and sister.

 

She wondered if Jessica even told them about her recent advances and she began to wonder if they approved of her. Yuri knew that she was living in the shadow of Taeyeon, something that made her incredibly anxious and nervous, but something that also gave her strength.

But with Jessica there, sleeping so peacefully on her s with her arms wrapped snuggly around her waist, Yuri couldn’t help but not care about whatever past lovers Jessica had. She knew she’d be worthy for her, and Taeyeon even encouraged her which was something she was incredibly grateful for and something that gave her strength.

 

 

With how easily they conversed over dinner, through the teasing and the arguing and the discussions of everything and anything altogether, Yuri knew that they had somerhing special.

 

“Merry Christmas, Sica,” she muttered to the sleeping girl in the best English she could muster before leaning her head down and kissing Jessica on the forehead gently.

 

With a grunt, she managed to pull herself up and scoop the sleeping girl in her arms. She easily carried the girl over to the stairs and quietly went up to her room. Yuri had to maneuver carefully and use her feet, but she managed to get into Jessica’s room and place the girl down on the bed.

 

“Sweet dreams,” she whispered before walking over to the door with tippy toes.

 

“Yah! Kwon Yuri!” the sleepy girl yelled from her bed, “Where do you think you’re going?”

 

Yuri flinched at the sudden call and almost lost her balance as she instantly turned around.

 

“I was going to sleep downstairs?” she responded uncertain, scratching her head.

 

“Come here,” Jessica demanded, her finger beckoning Yuri over. “Sleep with me.”

 

Yuri gulped and nodded slowly before walking back over and stiffly settling herself beside Jessica. She lied there in a straight line, staring at Jessica’s back cautiously.

 

Immediately, Jessica turned herself around and their eyes met. She was staring at Yuri intensely as Yuri timidly and nervously stared back.

“What’s wrong?” Jessica asked, her lips forming an amused smirk.

 

“N-Nothing,” Yuri replied, swallowing her saliva once more.

 

“Whatever,” Jessica responded as she inched herself forward and wrapped her arms around Yuri, “Goodnight, Yul.”

 

She pressed herself closer and giggled when she felt Yuri continue to shudder and stiffen. Jessica gripped the other girl tightly and rubbed her face into her neck before sighing.

 

“Just cuddle with me,” she demanded, her warm breath causing countless goosebumps to form all over Yuri.

 

And she obliged, wrapping her arms around Jessica.

 

 

It took a few minutes, but Yuri managed to melt into the other girl’s figure. She sighed out of happiness and smiled widely to herself. This was most definitely one of her favourite Christmas Eves.

 

“Night Yuri, Merry Christmas,” Jessica whispered before kissing the incredibly warm girl on the cheek.

 

Yuri stiffened again for a quick second before something started up in her. It was like an engine that refused to stop running had entered her system. She couldn’t let Jessica win for the night and she wanted nothing more than to redeem her cowardly and nervous self from earlier.

 

She took another deep breath before leaning her face down and inching herself closer and closer to Jessica’s face. She knew she was blushing like crazy at this point and her head felt like it was going to explode, but it was now or never.

 

She almost laughed as she felt Jessica begin to heat up this time, pleased with her plan working. And as if caught up in the moment, she took Jessica’s lips with her own and waited for the other girl to respond.

 

It didn’t take too long for Jessica to kiss back, her mind beginning to fog up at the sensation. She could feel her heart wanting to jump out of her chest, into and out of and she wondered when the last time she felt that way was. Her arms involuntarily pulled Yuri in closer as she the bottom of the girl’s lip in hunger.

 

Yuri was pleasantly surprised by the action and gave into the temptation of using her own tongue. She moaned into the other girl’s mouth, earning a throaty moan in return. Within seconds she found herself on top of Jessica and the two found themselves in each other’s mouths. It suddenly felt way too hot for blankets as Yuri kicked them off of them. She wanted to cry out and scream and dance around at being able to kiss Jessica, but now was not the time.

 

However, Jessica stopped.

 

“Go brush your teeth,” she muttered, “You taste like burnt curry.”

 

---

 

Seohyun had fallen asleep first, her head resting on Taeyeon’s lap as the older sister leaned on her best friend who had her arms wrapped around her shoulders. The two were playing Mario Kart while the maknae slept and they were tangled in each other.

 

“It’s past midnight,” Sunny commented as she blasted another shell from her Toad Kart.

 

 

“Merry Christmas Sunny,” Taeyeon responded as she sped past Sunny for first place.

 

“God dammit!” the shorter girl groaned, almost tossing her controller onto the ground. Her squirming caused her to squeeze Taeyeon however, almost catching her in a death grip.

 

“Calm down!” Taeyeon protested as she struggled to free herself from Sunny’s arms.

 

Sunny instantly did so and chuckled at her own behaviour before casually dropping her controller and nuzzling her head into Taeyeon’s back apologetically.

 

“Sorry,” she mumbled into the girl’s back, “Merry Christmas Taengoo.”

 

The two girls turned off the system and Sunny carried Seohyun into her room. After gently putting her down, Taeyeon kissed her little sister on the forehead and tucked her in before leaving and the two prepared for bed.

 

The house was quiet now, for the parents had gone to sleep after Sunny’s parents headed home. Sunny insisted on staying over and promised to over right after breakfast to spend Christmas with her family.

 

With minty fresh breath and a pair of clean pajamas, Sunny and Taeyeon crawled into the latter’s bed and cuddled instantly.

 

“That was a lot of fun,” Sunny cooed as she made herself comfortable in Taeyeon’s arms.

 

“Yeah, it makes me really sad that the holidays are almost over and so will all of these parties. I don’t want to go back to school and go back to being responsible,” Taeyeon groaned, nuzzling her head into Sunny’s ample chest.

 

“ert,” Sunny commented before lightly flicking Taeyeon’s forehead.

 

“What? Sooyoung isn’t here,” Taeyeon teased, sticking her tongue out.

 

But Sunny froze, a reaction Taeyeon was not expecting.

 

Sunny let out some air and calmed herself down for a second before uttering the fakest laugh Taeyeon has ever heard. “Think she’d be jealous?”

 

Taeyeon ignored the question and frowned at her best friend, “What’s up, Sunny?”

 

Sadly enough, she knew exactly what was up. She honestly hoped that the two would forget about their problems for the night, but she made the mistake of bringing up Sooyoung. Taeyeon wanted to hit herself in the face for the slip up, but there was no turning back now.

“Sooyoungie,” she mumbled with a sigh, “She won’t leave me, when she finds out…right?”

 

Taeyeon bit her lower lip and looked at Sunny with concern as she saw tears begin to form in her eyes. While Taeyeon always fought to hide her emotion, she knew very well that Sunny had always been a cry baby. Sunny, Jessica and Sooyoung were always the cryers in the group.

 

“Every time we spend time together, I’m so happy, but when she leaves me and I’m alone, and I think about what will happen when this is all over, I can’t help but think that she’s going to hate me forever,” Sunny rambled on, her voice becoming more unbalanced with each word that came out of . She knew it was happening, and each word tasted bitterer than the first.

 

 

“I think about how I want to tell her, how I want to fess up now before I get in too deep, but I’m scared Taeyeon, I’m so scared. I’m so scared of her hating me, of her getting mad at me and refusing to talk to me. I’m so scared she’s going to scream at me and run away from me forever, that she’s going to never let go of the fact that I lied to her.”

 

The tears were coming down fast now, and Taeyeon could feel the liquid splashing on her. She rubbed circles into Sunny’s back and held the girl closer as if trying to calm her down.

 

“Sunny, Sunny-ah, shhh, it’s okay, it’ll be okay,” Taeyeon cooed, not stopping her actions anytime soon. “Sunny, think about this, how many people already know about you?”

 

Sunny sniffled and tried her best to calm down. Her shaking body was being held tightly by her best friend and she felt secure, very secure. She took in a deep breath and wiped her eyes.

 

“Four? You, Seohyun, Yoona and Jessica,” Sunny replied weakly.

 

Taeyeon nodded, “And how did they all react to finding out who you were?” Her eyes watched Sunny’s reaction carefully, wanting to be as delicate as possible about the situation.

 

Sunny paused and thought about the moments where her identity was revealed. And that’s when she understood what Taeyeon was saying, they had all been pleasant in the end despite the beginning anger of being tricked. They were mad, but happy to have their friend in the end.

 

“Don’t you think Sooyoung is going to react in the same way?” Taeyeon offered, not entirely believing her own words, but she had to have faith. They both needed to.

 

Sunny shook her head, “Sooyoung is different, we’re dating. I’m…”

 

“Sooyoung is the sweetest out of all of us, and you know that. She’ll be the most understanding, I hope,” Taeyeon cursed her slightly doubtful tone, but she knew she couldn’t lie to Sunny. She couldn’t completely hide her doubts.

 

Sunny sniffled again and wiped her eyes, feeling the sting of her tears and trying to compose herself further.

 

“We don’t know what the future holds, and I can’t tell you if her reaction is going to be perfect or not,” Taeyeon pulled Sunny away from her for a moment to look her in the eyes, “And I can’t tell you if waiting it out or telling her as soon as you can about this all is a good idea or not. But what I can tell you, or well, remind you, is that Sooyoung has one of the most loving and forgiving hearts ever. She would never hate you, and even if she did, it wouldn’t be for long.”

 

Sunny nodded, Taeyeon was right. And this was all information she knew already, she has a lot of confidence in Sooyoung not entirely freaking out at the reveal at graduation, but it didn’t stop her from worrying endlessly that she could be wrong.

 

 

“I think I have a plan,” Sunny mumbled, her tears finally coming to an end.

 

“What is it?” Taeyeon responded calmly, pulling Sunny into another embrace.

 

“What if I break up with her right before graduation and say something like, I’m going back to the USA?”

 

Taeyeon shook her head, “That’s a horrible idea, and you know it. She’ll be heart broken and she wouldn’t let long distance be a reason to break up.”

 

Sunny groaned, “I know it’s a horrible idea, but it’s an idea. The only idea that doesn’t end in her yelling at me for lying to her and potentially hating me.”

 

“Sunny-ah, it’s not like you’re only lying to her. I’m sure Yuri, Hyoyeon and Fany will yell at you too, but you’re not scared of them, right? Just, don’t do that breaking up plan. I know you wouldn’t be able to do it anyway, you hate it when Sooyoung cries.”

 

Sunny sighed, feeling a weight on her shoulders once more, “You’re right,” she whispered into the dark of the room, shaking her head slowly. “But I’m beginning to think that I’m running on thin ice with all of this.”

 

Taeyeon kissed her best friend on the forehead, “Keep thinking about it, okay? I know you know her as well as we all do, hell I wouldn’t be surprised if you know her better. Don’t make any stupid decisions, but don’t give up either.”

 

“Is that what you’re going to do too?” Sunny asked seriously, cupping her best friend’s face before poking her baby like cheeks. “About Fany.”

 

“Do I really have a choice?” Taeyeon replied weakly. “I love her, it’s not like I can just not love her.”

 

Sunny nodded, “I know what you mean.”

 

Taeyeon tilted her head and looked up at Sunny once more with slightly wide eyes, “Wait what?” She knew that Sunny liked her girlfriend, or well, Sungmin’s girlfriend, but anything more?

 

“I’ve had feelings for Sooyoung since we were kids, Taengoo. They were always there, whether I acknowledged them or not, I know it,” Sunny explained slowly, her cheeks turning a bright red. “And being with her, so often, as Sungmin, I realized those feelings had been there all this time.”

 

Taeyeon nodded slowly as if understanding and watched Sunny slowly as she smiled bashfully at her.

 

“I love her, so much. And to be honest, Taeyeon, I think my biggest fear isn’t exactly her yelling at me or hating me. As much as I’m scared of that, there’s something much more…”

 

Taeyeon nodded again, knowing perfectly what Sunny was about to say.

 

“What if she tells me, one day soon, that she loves me. And I fall deeper and deeper into this pit and heaven that I’m in. What if she tells me she loves me and talks about our future together, about getting married and having children and growing older together,” her breathing was becoming shallow and her saliva was spilling from the corner of as her words continued to race out, “But then when I reveal to her who I really am, who Sungmin really is. What if she takes it all back?”

 

“So that plan you spoke of earlier was just nonsense?” Taeyeon responded seriously, her face growing dark at Sunny’s words. She wiped the girl’s mouth her her hands, not caring about whatever wet substance stained her hands.“You really have been thinking about all of this a lot.”

 

“What if she loves Sungmin, but refuses to love Sunny? What do I do then?” Sunny mumbled breathlessly, her tears starting to well up again.

Taeyeon knew perfectly well how her best friend felt and she held the girl closer again as she began to sob and wail. She could feel her own tears start to build up with the increasing empathy she was feeling.

 

“Then I’ll love you,” she whispered as she closed her eyes. “I’ll love you and be there for you.”

 

Within seconds her tears began to fall as well and the two girls cried into each other’s arms until they couldn’t cry anymore. Their voices were giving out from the sobbing and their eyes were burning from drying out. They were in the same situation, trying to cross a never ending bridge of uncertainty and unrequited love. But if the bridge was beginning to collapse, if they began to lose their way, then they would at least have each other.

 

From the beginning of their struggles, until the unpredictable end.