Chapter Text
When you are in your junior year of high school, life seems great. You've been doing this for quite a while, you get the hang of it. Teachers know you, your classmates know you. If you're lucky enough, being social is no problem, you get good grades, you know what you want and your only worry is doing well so you can go to a good college.
Son Chaeyoung falls into that category. She finds life just wonderful. And she is sure everything is going to be okay as long as is perfectly planned by her. And as long as she is with her best friend. It really can't be another way.
Nothing can't be another way, or else, Chaeyoung might lose it. She carefully and thoroughly plans and takes into consideration every detail. You really can't catch her unprepared.
"Mashed potatoes." The sound of the tray made Chaeyoung look up. "I hate mashed potatoes, you can have it."
"I won't have it, Dahyun, you need to eat."
"Gosh, but you brought me something, didn't you," Dahyun asked pealing her orange, the only thing she found edible in that lunch tray.
Chaeyoung sighed and reached for her backpack. It was Wednesday. She knew it was mashed potatoes' day. Actually, everyone should know, yet everyone acted surprised every day. Did no one read schedules? She knew Dahyun hated them. She always packed her a sandwich.
"Here, I didn't have time to cut the edges this time."
"It's okay, I'm a grown-up, you know."
'no, I don't' Chaeyoung thought. her best friend sure acted like one whenever it was convenient. "Sure."
"Ah, I love lunchtime," Dahyun chewed energetically on her sandwich. "It means only a few more hours to go home."
"You have debate team," Chaeyoung reminded her like it was so obvious and she sure was used to reminding her every Wednesday and Thursday.
"Fudge, right, okay," Dahyun nodded. "But then... Oh, we have to study, right?"
"Yeah," Chaeyoung pouted. "I really need to, we must do well tomorrow, it's an all-nighter."
"Well, I like those if I'm with you."
Chaeyoung smiled wide. "Great, I'll have everything ready for when you get there."
"I know you will."
And lunchtime passed. They went to their last classes and it was time to go. Usually, Chaeyoung would wait for Dahyun, but this time she went straight home to have everything nice and comfortable for their study session. Chaeyoung guessed it was better to use her room.
You see, their town was a rather small town and probably everyone knew each other. The Kims and the Sons sure did. Chaeyoung and Dahyun had been friends since before they could walk. Their families shared many holidays and had been good friends for years. Now, Dahyun's family, specifically her dad, had to go away for some time for his job. Naturally, her daughter needed to move out with them, but Chaeyoung, who has her whole life planned, of course, couldn't let that happen. Consequently, both their parents came to an agreement and Dahyun was living with her until graduation.
It was no trouble. They basically lived together anyway. And there was an extra room at Chaeyoung's place given her brother was studying abroad. At first Dahyun kind of hated feeling like a burden but then everyone reassured her she wasn't, at all, and now she really is a burden only for Chaeyoung, but in a good way, Chaeyoung loves taking care of her. Just small things, like her Wednesday sandwiches or being her personal agenda, which, honestly, Chaeyoung was for everyone around her.
If it weren't for Dahyun, Chaeyoung's best friend could be easily her phone by how she is always taking notes and using her calendar all the time. What had her calendar for tomorrow? They had a physic test, they both needed to study being focused for that one. Both had good grades, Chaeyoung actually had the best one in their course, but she wouldn't make a big deal out of it, she just really liked to have everything organized which granted her the right amount of time to study and it was working. See? She has everything under control.
Chaeyoung prepared her worksheets and notes with all the concepts and formulas for her and Dahyun, as well as two calculators, all the pens needed, their books and some fruit snacks. She left at hand hot chocolate for the night. She had said it was going to take them the whole night, but she had checked better the syllabus and they would probably be sleeping before 2 am. She was glad because good students needed a good sleep, right? Exercise, eat healthy, Chaeyoung knew all about it.
"How was it?"
"It was great, I loved today's argument," Dahyun left her things in her room as she walked followed by her friend. "So, I'll take a shower and then we can work on our formulas."
"Awesome," Chaeyoung smiled seeing Dahyun so happy. The girl took a towel and disappeared for the bathroom leaving Chaeyoung in the hallway, where their rooms were in front of the other on the second floor.
She didn't take long and soon enough their study session started, everything according to plan. Dahyun was actually doing better than Chaeyoung that's why she knew they needed to study, they always helped each other. After hours, they took a break to have dinner downstairs with Chaeyoung's parents and then they kept going.
"You always fix us fruit," Dahyun complained. "I want some sweets."
"You'll hurt your stomach."
"No," she whined rolling to be closer to Chaeyoung. They had abandoned their desk to study with a mess of papers on the floor. It was oddly comfortable. "I know you have some..." Dahyun got super close and talked in Chaeyoung's neck, "Come on."
Chaeyoung laughed softly at her and got up, walked to her nightstand and in one of the drawers she took out one of her candies from her secret emergency stash. Skittles.
"Here," she said getting comfortable on the floor again, Dahyun was on her back, Chaeyoung got on her side using one arm for support. "You'll buy a replacement."
"Thank you!" Dahyun gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and opened her candy excitedly. Once she ate a handful, she sighed. "We'll do great," she said. "You'll do great, we studied a lot."
"I hope so." Chaeyoung kept watching her as she ate.
"No, but really," Dahyun turned around to face her, "we could have done great even without studying now."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that we're smart and... maybe we spent too much time studying, don't you think?"
Chaeyoung didn't think so, she knew they studied just the right amount. But she allowed her friend to elaborate more. "Is there something you would rather do?"
This time Dahyun took a minute before answering. Chaeyoung felt the atmosphere got serious. "We do have friends," she started. Chaeyoung nodded, they weren't outcasts, "we always have a good time, we do great with school and you exercise a lot, I mean, you have a body to die for—"
"Dahyun," Chaeyoung interrupted her. Having her or anyone talking about her body made her self-conscious. "What's your point?"
"My point is... we are lacking one thing only."
Chaeyoung was not slow, she knew by now to where Dahyun was going with this, the issue was, it made her nervous. Remember, she has everything planned.
"That is..."
"You're beautiful, anyone would love to date you, what better time than now?" And there it was.
"I'm okay, Dahyun, really," Chaeyoung chuckled. "I don't have time for such things."
"Oh, but you do, I know you do, you always know how to organize your agenda."
"Well... yeah," Chaeyoung mumbled. "But—"
"See?" Dahyun seemed excited. "It's the perfect time. Chaeng," she said looking at her, Chaeyoung could see stars in her eyes, "I want to be kissed."
Chaeyoung gulped. 'she wants to be kissed' She couldn't help but glance for a swift second at her friend's lips before catching her eyes again. "You want to be kissed."
"Yes! Don't you? When you told me you like girls I thought maybe you had someone in mind and I would get to see you dating but nothing's changed."
'right' Chaeyoung thought. She came out to Dahyun and her family a couple of years ago and it was great. She had, though, yet to date anyone. The problem was, there is a girl in mind. Chaeyoung has everything planned.
"I—"
"Then let's date!" Dahyun said eagerly and Chaeyoung's mouth dropped. "We'll go out more and find you a pretty girl and maybe I'll get to be kissed, you know? I don't even want to date, just, It's been years since my last kiss, I want to know more." And she had misinterpreted Dahyun's first sentence. 'of course' They should date... different people.
"I don't really care about that..." Lie.
"I'm sure once you get your first kiss, you'll see it differently."
"Maybe but I'm not worried about it." Lie.
"Still, we should try, get out there, maybe at the welcome dance—"
"Okay, yeah, yeah," Chaeyoung actually didn't want to hear more. "Maybe you're right."
So Dahyun kept smiling and eating her Skittles thinking about god knows what. Chaeyoung wondered if it was a nice gesture from Dahyun to not pressure her any further because she knew that her friend knew Chaeyoung thinks about everything, yet she let it slip how Chaeyoung had claimed to not be interested in that.
After that Dahyun fell asleep. Chaeyoung didn't have it in her to wake her up so she let her be in her bed. They don't mind sleeping together anyway. So after changing clothes, covering Dahyun and turning the lights off, she was ready to sleep in the little space she had left.
There was only one problem. Her heart wouldn't calm down. 'There is a girl in mind' Chaeyoung thought. 'there always has been' Dahyun's features were barely visible but she could make out in the dark her lips and nose and Chaeyoung fixed a strand of hair behind her ear delicately, leaving her hand on her head. 'She wants to be kissed'
That's how Chaeyoung found herself getting closer, being drawn by her best friend's familiar warmth. It has always been Dahyun. Chaeyoung knows falling for your best friend is a complicated territory but it's not like she could've helped it and she has, once again, everything planned. She has always wanted to tell Dahyun, she is just... waiting for the right moment.
Dahyun wanting to be kissed puts her in a tight spot. The right moment needed to come earlier than expected.
'She wants to be kissed' Chaeyoung thought one more time as she got really close to her lips. Her heart was beating like crazy and her stomach made a flip. She did care. She thought about it often. In her agenda there was time for it, as Dahyun had said, all the time Chaeyoung offered to her, how could she not see it? Maybe because it had always been like that. Then, what if she kisses her now? What if...
But it's wrong. So Chaeyoung quickly turned around to her own side and took little short breaths to calm herself down. If Dahyun wants to be kissed, she needs to change her plans now.
***
Thursday came by quickly. Almost as if her thoughts from the night before weren't a menace to her body clock but she could ignore them. She did her test without complications, handed in her five pages essay due next week, and finished with her student council's chores for the week too. Dahyun seemed completely normal around her, of course, and she reminded her once again of her extracurricular for that afternoon. For the second time, she didn't wait for her, instead went straight home.
Chaeyoung couldn't get it out of her head, because it had not been planned, all the things Dahyun expressed she wanted to experience, therefore, she needed to plan it. And she needed to hurry.
At school no one notice anything differently, she played her part, but once she got home, all her nervousness appeared at once. She needed to get it out of her head.
Leaving her school supplies, changing her school uniform for sweatpants and a sports bra, and filling a bottle with water, she was ready to get it together. She walked downstairs, they had a small basement with a rugged floor and black painted concrete walls. Chaeyoung had redecorated the space for her, it had been her project for several months. It was well illuminated, it had a grey sofabed, a red pouf, and stereo system sound around the room.
It was simple but the main element of the room got all the attention. A black and red punching bag hanging from a support beam. From a desk, Chaeyoung got out her cloth boxing wraps and wrapped her hands in no time. She took a sip of water and left the bottle on the desk, put on her red gloves, and without even realizing how upset she was, turned around to meet her punching bag immediately, throwing jab and cross punches with all her strength.
One punch after the other as fast as she could, which was a lot, she's been practicing for years now. After a full minute of her outburst, she stopped being coordinated and just threw every movement she could think of, hitting the bag with all her frustration, in her mind, the idea of anyone but her kissing Dahyun. She didn't even have a warm-up, she didn't put on her favorite compilation of Beethoven, Bach and Mozart, she didn't think. And when she finally got out of it, after some intense minutes of punching and punching, she took off her gloves with the help of her teeth and threw them on the sofa. She was ready.
It worked all the time. She ran upstairs to her bedroom, catching her breath she erased everything from her whiteboard and started writing everything again on the little spots of each day of the month drawn. Whenever she felt something wrong or changing, she needed to check her dates. Repeating them on her head, typing them on her phone again or, this time, on her board.
"Dentist appointment, Momo's presentation, Dahyun's haircut appointment, the—" Chaeyoung kept repeating and writing dates in deep focus. For most, she might look crazy or losing it, but she was actually calmed and feeling better each second. "Physic's test done, essay delivered— The dance."
Chaeyoung let out a deep breath and took a step back. That was it, clear as day. No one could kiss Dahyun. And for that, she needed to be honest. She needed to tell her how she felt. See? Problem, solution. If Dahyun wanted to be kissed now, she couldn't keep waiting for the right moment, she needed to create it.
Tomorrow. She was going to confess her feelings from years ago. Was she scared? Totally. But it had to be done. Did Dahyun even like girls? Chaeyoung refused to believe straight is the default, so if Dahyun has never come out as straight, then she has a chance still. Besides, the guy she kissed at camp years ago didn't count. Chaeyoung hated that story.
They were going together either way. Their school organized this dance around the beginning of the school year in order to make everyone feel comfortable. It was not mandatory to go or to be formal, but everyone goes and dresses up for the occasion. Dahyun and she had got their dresses a week ago and even if Dahyun had said they should experience, they still were going together, right? Her best friend knew better than to make last-minute changes with her.
But she needed to make sure, and Dahyun had arrived home just in time. Walking downstairs again, she saw her heading to the kitchen and called for her, "Dub!" The loving nickname left her mouth. "Tomorrow we—"
"What happened to you?" Dahyun frowned staring at Chaeyoung at the beginning of the stairs. 'oh' Chaeyoung took a moment to look at herself and realized she had not taken out the wraps of her hands, she still was only wearing her boxing attire and for whatever reason, she only had a sock on. Her hair that reached a little past her jawbone, for sure was messy and she definitely was all sweaty. It is not like Dahyun had not seen her before in her boxing clothes but it always made her shy, even more now.
"Nothing, just-- Uh, tomorrow," Chaeyoung ignored her burning cheeks, "we'll go together, right?"
"Of course," Dahyun smiled and Chaeyoung felt so much better. Her smile was just the most beautiful one. "Do you have time now?"
Chaeyoung made de involuntary movement of touching her leg, where her phone would be in her pockets, but she had left it in her room. "What time is it?"
"Around five and... Well, it's Thursday, I'm sure you're free, I just wanted to watch a movie, and then we can talk make up for tomorrow, deal?"
Chaeyoung smiled, of course, she had time for her. "Deal, I'll make you popcorn."
And so they changed clothes and had a regular afternoon, laughing, watching movies, throwing popcorn at each other, Chaeyoung couldn't ask for more. It was in those moments where she felt the most in love and it sure gave her the certainty of what she was about to do. How couldn't Dahyun feel something? The tiniest something. With all their cuddling, the hand holding, being together all the time, honestly, she had to have really bad luck to get rejected but then if she did, she was willing to wait. Chaeyoung has everything planned, of course rejection could be an outcome, but her friendship was too strong to be broken so easily and yes, she was willing to wait for Dahyun her whole life, after all, she felt completely hers and Dahyun, one way or another was Chaeyoung's, too. They fell asleep holding each other, like many past nights. Of course, they belonged to each other.
"I love you," Chaeyoung whispered. Just practicing, really.
"I love you too, Chaeng, sleep," Dahyun cuddled closer to her back. It was perfect.
***
7 am. Chaeyoung woke up with all her senses sharped. It was today, probably, the most important day of her life. Okay, yeah, she was exaggerating but it felt like it. Classes ended earlier today and started later. That gave her time to exercise a bit, shower calmly and prepare breakfast for her family, specially Dahyun. Her parents found her in the middle of whisking her pancake mix.
"Just a wonderful day, isn't it?" She answered once they had asked what was the occasion for her mood.
Dahyun seemed happy to wake up to pancakes and thanked Chaeyoung. They got ready for school, with their plaid skirts and ironed shirts. Dahyun almost forgot her blazer but Chaeyoung grabbed it for her. Once outside she hurried to her. "You forgot your blazer."
Dahyun turned and laughed at her, taking the fabric and passing it over her shoulders as she got closer to Chaeyoung. "And you," she said. "Still don't know how to tie a tie." She grabbed Chaeyoung's poorly executed knot and did it all again quite seamlessly. The proximity and the tender gesture, made Chaeyoung feel butterflies. "There."
"Thanks," she breathed out. "Let's go." They were on time. They always were on time.
The day passed rather slowly, even though they ended classes earlier, at home, both of them were excited about later. When the sun starts setting, they should get going. Until then, they were enduring a warm afternoon, which was unusual for the season. Chaeyoung took it as a good sign.
The thing was going to start, there were going to be couples doing an official organized dance, a waltz. And then after some words from the principal, everyone could do whatever, the music playing was going to be whatever the administration felt was trending and it would all be over in some hours.
She had planned to dance with Dahyun, dismissing their friends and just being honest. She didn't have flowers or anything of the sort, just her sincere words. The sun finally set, both girls were ready to go. Dahyun wore the most beautiful red dress, which went really well with her long loose silver hair, Chaeyoung was finding it hard not to stare. Although she was not far behind, with her shiny black hair and black short dress, she looked just as flawless.
It was informed to her not long after having arrived at the gym nicely decorated with a bunch of flowers and lights. "Son Chaeyoung you look stunning," Momo approached both girls and gave them hugs. Momo is their senior friend, but she always hangs out with younger people. Chaeyoung really enjoys her company despite her jokes about her obsession with her calendar. "Oh, my, red is your color!"
Dahyun chuckled and compliment her as well. Chaeyoung felt comfortable. They greeted more people, classmates and acquaintances, everyone looked stunning and soon enough it went just as Chaeyoung had expected. She couldn't deny that the more time she was inside that room, the more nervous she got. Was she making the right decision? Of course. There was no doubt, they were soulmates.
When the old man finished her speech and the lights changed, she knew it was time to start her mission.
"Here," she had left Dahyun's side to get drinks and hurried back to her, "Sparkling pink lemonade, what a drink, right?"
Dahyun took the green cup and laughed. "They do know how to innovate. Thanks, though, you're being extra nice today."
The innocent comment made Chaeyoung stand straighter but she played it cool. "Am I not always?"
"Well, right, you're the best." Dahyun took a sip of her pink lemonade and passed her arm over Chaeyoung's shoulders. The younger girl hated that. Yeah, she liked the contact, the proximity, but it made her feel small and you know, more friendly than what she had planned for tonight. She was going to change their position just when someone joined them.
"Pink lemonade! Where did you get that?"
"Tzuyu!" Dahyun let go of Chaeyoung to hug her late comer friend. "Wow."
"You're late," Chaeyoung stated the obvious. More obvious to her than how gorgeous Tzuyu looked in her yellow dress.
"I know, our car broke down, bummer," Tzuyu explained fast. "It's okay now, I'm here, what are you doing? Should we dance?"
'no' Chaeyoung thought just as Dahyun happily accepted. She watched them walked away with a sad smile. 'it's okay, there's time' She could have the next dance, preferably a slow song.
So she let a song pass and another one and she got more lemonade and when she finally felt it was time, she turned to locate her friends, only to not like what she was looking at one bit. Tzuyu walking away, leaving Dahyun to be held by some guy she had never seen before. Yes, the song had changed. Yes, it was slow. Why? It couldn't be. She started walking rapidly in that direction, ready to interrupt them no matter how embarrassing it might be. But the night was not helping and as Dahyun's figure seemed closer, cold liquid was felt all over her chest.
"What the-"
"Changie!" Momo's voice got to her ears. "I'm so sorry, you appeared out of nowhere." Momo used napkins in her attempt to dry Chaeyoung.
'Damn' Chaeyoung thought. She couldn't confess with some random guy dancing with her girl and she couldn't do it all sticky either.
Think. She had clothes in her locker, that would do.
"No worries, put an eye on Dahyun, be right back!" She ran fast to the inside of the building. She didn't even think why would she ask Momo to put an eye on their friend but oh, well. She needed to act fast. But her luck, her stupid locker wouldn't open. Was she forgetting her combination? That couldn't be, she knew her numbers.
"Five... Twenty eight—Gosh!" She couldn't deal with that right now. She took a step back and in a swift second threw a punch at the cold blue metal. It was a dumb idea. It hurt. It hurt a lot. But she barely had time to complain because it had worked. She put on her hoodie, ignoring her red knuckles, and ran back to the gym.
How long it took her? More than one song, apparently. She walked back to where Momo was, now with Tzuyu and couldn't believe her eyes. Dahyun had her head supported on the guy's shoulder. He was surrounding her waist. Chaeyoung felt sick.
She started heading to their direction but Momo held her wrist. "Where you going?"
"Can't you see them, I'm stopping them, obviously."
"Obviously?"
"Chaeng, let them dance, she looks happy," Tzuyu said.
Happy? Chaeyoung couldn't understand. She had never felt this jealous.
"But—"
"You always dance with her, come on, let someone else."
Maybe Momo was right. But it couldn't be, Dahyun was her half, not that guy. Not anyone. Chaeyoung started panicking. That was it. That was Dahyun exploring, it hurt. "One song," she accepted through gritted teeth. "Then I'm going."
What was the worst that could happen in a song. Momo and Tzuyu felt that was fair enough and disappeared somewhere else. Chaeyoung used the time to get her phone from where they had left their purses and returned to her spot. She grew nervous in her corner as the song advanced.
She started playing with her fingers, holding her breath, releasing it slowly, avoiding glances at Dahyun, drinking more and more lemonade she was going to have to go pee soon. She looked so nervous, yet everyone seemed to be doing their own thing perfectly fine.
She grabbed her phone with a hand on her hoodie pocket and tried to focus mumbling, "Dentist appointment, Momo's presentation, Dahyun's haircut appointment— Dahyun. Okay, okay, I'll go, Dahyunnie, I have— Dub, I need to tell you—"
"What are you doing?"
"Sorry?"
"You've been mumbling things, are you okay?"
Was she okay? That was a good question. She was okay, for sure. "Yes."
"Then what are you doing?"
"I'm gathering courage."
"Why?"
"Because—" Then Chaeyoung realized she had no idea who she was talking with, she had not stopped looking at Dahyun being all lovey-dovey. When she turned around to the curious voice, she saw this blonde senior raising her eyebrows at her. "Why are you asking?"
"I'm bored," she shrugged. Chaeyoung shook her head and focused once again on what was important. "Then... courage for what?"
"I'm going to confess my feelings." Chaeyoung saw no danger in being honest with a stranger.
"Oh, bold, who's the lucky guy?"
"Girl."
"Oh—" The unknown senior seemed surprised, Chaeyoung didn't mind. "That's... great."
"Thanks?"
"No, I didn't mean to make it weird, it's actually really great." She sounded glad, even. Chaeyoung couldn't care less.
"Okay," the song was about to end, "I'm going." She was ready. She walked slowly but with determination. She felt watched, though, that senior must be watching. She just needed the song to stop and they would stop holding each other and she could take the next dance or maybe even ask her to go outside, they could watch the stars or something. Only the song ended but they didn't separate. Chaeyoung stopped dead in her tracks. They were not letting go, they were getting even closer. So close. Her heart felt heavy and if she had thought earlier she had felt jealous, she couldn't even describe the way her blood was boiling now.
They were kissing. Passionately kissing. She couldn't look away. Who even was that guy? She made a fist out of rage, but she couldn't punch him, that wouldn't make sense, she couldn't but oh, how badly she wanted to. And then he whispered something leaning to her ear, Dahyun laughed and he walked away.
Chaeyoung wanted to get close but she was not moving. Then she realized Dahyun had spotted her and walked to her.
"Chaeng! I just had the best dance ever, did you see? I— It's a bit embarrassing but—"
"Who was that guy?"
"Angelo, he is new this semester, I talked to him the first day, he's thinking of joining the debate team."
"He thinks trash," Chaeyoung didn't realize what she was saying. She had been so determined to confess her feelings, why was this happening.
"Chaeng..."
"I'm sorry," she said perceiving Dahyun's worried tone. "Uh, Angelo," the name didn't feel nice in her mouth. What kind of name even was that, "you danced..."
"We kissed! Ugh, I told you it was the perfect night to experiment, I'm so glad he asked me to dance and he is so tall and strong." Well, Chaeyoung had one of those.
"Are— Are you happy? Did... did you like it? Him?" Chaeyoung feared the answer.
"He is really nice, I can't say that I like, though, he dances wonderfully but I can say that he kisses awfully, I mean," Dahyun tilted her head, "it's not like I have experience but I'm sure it's not supposed to be like that..."
At her words. as painfully as it was, Chaeyoung replayed in her head the images of seconds ago. She had not thought about it then but it was true, she didn't have experience either but it was not supposed to look like he was devouring her mouth. "Ew," Chaeyoung let out loud.
But Dahyun barely heard her. "Well, not everyone is a good kisser, I did want a proper kiss but, well, I guess he can get better, right? If we go out again and..."
Chaeyoung stopped hearing. That meant Dahyun was willing to keep going out with him. It was not just a thing for tonight. Why. How could it be?
"Dub, I," she interrupted Dahyun's explanation, "tonight I— I needed to uh..."
"Are you okay? Do you want to leave?" Chaeyoung couldn't believe words were not leaving her mouth, but she was in shock, and honestly what good would be confessing now?
"No... no, just, let me know when you want to leave, okay?"
Dahyun smiled and left a kiss on her cheek. "You're the best." That was her last sentence before disappearing through the crowd, probably looking for that Angelo fella.
She was the best. Yet she felt defeated. Completely trashed. Tired, embarrassed and let's not forget, sticky. She needed air. That's why she walked out again, this time really outside, and walked until she reached the nearby bleachers of the field outside.
"What a joke," she said out loud. She couldn't grasp the idea of anything that had just taken place. She had been sure everything was going to be just fine, how was it that it got so bad. Could she fix it? Maybe. She could still be honest, right? Only it got harder and she was not made of steel no matter how nice her muscles were. She felt like crying, but the thought of crying alone outside the dance only made her feel worse.
"There you are."
Chaeyoung looked up. It was that senior again. Without permission, she sat next to her. Not that she needed it but it was weird.
"Here I am." Chaeyoung figured company was not the worst that could happen to her.
"How it went, then?"
"Didn't you see?"
"Well, you didn't tell me who to look at."
"She was kissing someone."
"Oh! Oh, it was your friend, wow, that's..."
"How'd you know? That she is my friend."
"Well, you guys do everything together."
"Yeah, but, why would a senior know that?"
"Am I not allowed to know?"
"No, it's just... I don't really know any senior apart from Momo that cares about— you know what, whatever."
"Okay, well, impossible to miss a silver-haired girl." That made Chaeyoung remember the motive of her mood. She sighed and hid her face. "Hey, no, come on," the girl said. "Here, this will cheer you up." She handed her a cup. Chaeyoung had drunk enough lemonade but it was a nice gesture so she took it and tried a big gulp. Only to spit it out in an instant.
"What was that!?"
"I'm sensing you're not a big fan of vodka."
"I've never had vodka!"
"Shit, sorry, my bad."
Chaeyoung stared at her. She had accused the girl to be a senior therefore not knowing anyone, but she in fact knew her and Dahyun and it was in fact Chaeyoung the one that didn't know her instead. She has blonde long wavy hair and delicate features, her dress was white and she couldn't help but notice her marked collarbone as well as a little mole on her lips and nose.
"Who are you?"
"You should know your seniors."
"Sorry," Chaeyoung said honestly. She felt that was true, she was failing again.
"I'm joking," The girl smiled. "My name is— Did you hit the guy?"
The girl suddenly held Chaeyoung's right hand and examined it carefully.
"What? No." Chaeyoung had forgotten about her injured knuckles. "Ugh," the girl was distracting her from her fury, she started ranting again. "I should've, though, oh he would've lost so badly, who the hell does he think he is? We are not even a month into classes and— Why would he dare to even ask her to dance I mean Dahyun is— But— And he kisses awfully, how could she have let him do that, it's so disgusting, I can't believe— I don't understand, I don— I don— I—" The air, suddenly was nonexistent for Chaeyoung. "I—"
"Hey, hey," the girl said. "Breathe."
And Chaeyoung did but along with her respiration, tears appeared going down her cheeks, she felt so embarrassed. "So- sorry."
"Hey, no, no," the girl got closer and held Chaeyoung's chin. "It's okay, you..."
Chaeyoung was not sure what she was going through, so many emotions were messing with her brain. "It's so embarrassing, I—"
But she couldn't finish, because the mysterious senior was getting closer and closer, holding her chin in place, making her face her, how could that be? Chaeyoung was not dreaming. 'is she— is she about to kiss me? Is she about to kiss me?!'
Her eyes moved rapidly from her eyes to her lips, how could that be happening. Chaeyoung thinks everything. She knew she could get rejected tonight. But out of all the outcomes possible, she couldn't have guessed this senior would try to kiss her.
You can never catch Chaeyoung unprepared, yet, there she was, like a whole mess under that cute senior's gaze. If Chaeyoung plans everything, what was this?