Chapter Text
Sophia had never felt like this before. She was careful with people, measured, intentional, yet somehow Manon had unraveled her in minutes. The exhilarating feeling of kissing a stranger. Feeling like you’ve known someone your whole life when you’d just met them.
Then her phone buzzed. Sophia immediately stiffened. Her phone had been on Do Not Disturb, with only Yoonchae and Daniela able to bypass it. She reached for her phone as she pulled back and saw Yoonchae’s name flashing across the screen.
“Shit,” she muttered, already knowing her time with Manon had just been interrupted.
Manon raised an eyebrow. “That bad?”
Privately, Sophia hoped not. Still she swallowed and said, “I-I need to take this.”
She stepped back, just far enough to break the bubble they’d built. The festival's noise came rushing back in full force, blaring speakers, shouting crowds, laughter, the scent of food stalls and mud, all at once.
“I’ll be right back,” Sophia said quickly, already lifting the phone to her ear. “I promise.”
As soon as the call connected, she heard Yoonchae’s voice speaking rapidly. Sophia clocked the panic immediately, her focus snapping into place, even if part of her resented it. Turning away from the dark-haired beauty, she told Yoonchae to slow down and tell her where they were.
She took a step toward Le Sserafim’s stage, then hesitated. After a beat, she turned back and stole one last taste of Manon’s lips. Her taste was addicting. It was a mix of wine coolers and cigarettes, her lips were full of heat and impulse.
She didn’t want to stop and that realization unsettled her more than the interruption ever could.
But she turned away anyway, following Yoonchae’s directions through the crowd toward where she and Dani were waiting.
After walking for what felt like ages, Sophia slowed as her eyes spotted Yoonchae hunched over, supporting Dani’s weight as she was throwing up into a bush ahead of them. Her mind immediately began to race, her face became etched with concern.
Dani hadn’t thrown up since freshman year when the three of them had tested their limits during preparation for their first college party. They’d all hated the mess and the way their stomachs rolled at the sight of food the next day. She immediately sped up as her mind caught up to her thoughts.
“Yoonchae! What’s going on?” Sophia exclaimed as she got closer, taking in the scene. “Why does Dani look like she wants to pass out?”
“I don’t know,” Yoonchae said, frustration tight in her voice. I told her I was going to the bathroom for ten minutes. When I came back she was dancing with some guy. She looked fine, so I stayed nearby but didn’t interrupt.”
Yoonchae paused, exhaling. “I got distracted by Le Sserafim performing Antifragile, and then I heard Dani talking in Spanglish.”
Sophia winced. They both knew Dani only slipped into Spanglish when she was angry, drunk, or more often both.
“By the time I turned around, she was yelling at the dude at full volume. That’s when I called you. After you hung up, I went over and she was practically green. Then she started throwing up.”
Sophia bent down to help Yoonchae support Dani’s weight. Dani’s skin felt clammy under Sophia’s hand, and that scared her more than the vomiting. Dani’s head lolled to the side as she slurred, “Guys, I’m tired. I wanna lay down.”
“Dani, hang on,” Sophia said firmly. “We’re going home.”
Sophia and Yoonchae moved quickly toward the exit. As they walked, Sophia pulled out her phone to order an Uber and suddenly Manon’s face flashed through her mind. She shook her head hard, forcing herself to focus. She told herself that she’d think about her later. Right now, all that mattered was getting Dani home safely.
Once they clambered into the Uber Sophia leaned her head back onto the headrest and closed her eyes. She could picture Manon’s curly hair tucked under the Dodgers cap. Her abs peeking out beneath her white crop top. Her baggy jeans riding low on her hips.
Sophia pressed her lips together. She could still taste the bitterness from the tobacco on her tongue. She was pulled from her thoughts when Yoonchae spoke quietly, curiosity laced into her voice.
“Sophia… why were you gone so long? You said you were going to the bathroom and then grabbing a snack. You were gone for over an hour.”
Sophia hesitated, torn between wanting to share and wanting to keep whatever she and Manon had untouched, private.
“I ran into…someone,” she said finally. “Her name is Manon. I-” Sophia cut herself off, shaking her head. “Sorry. She was just…really beautiful.” The smile that crossed her face was small, but it carried the weight of a hundred unspoken words.
Yoonchae studied her in the quiet, assessing way she’d grown to love over the years. Then she nodded softly. Her hand reached over Dani’s slumped form, squeezing in quiet reassurance.
When the Uber pulled up outside their apartment, Sophia and Yoonchae carefully gathered Dani, who had passed out completely at this point. They struggled through the lobby, into the elevator, and eventually into the apartment, depositing Dani gently into her bed.
Yoonchae leaned against the kitchen counter while Sophia searched for Advil to leave on Dani’s nightstand for the morning.
“Soph,” Yoonchae started, then hesitated, clearly circling the elephant in the room.
“I think so, Yoonchip,” Sophia replied softly.
“What do we do?” Yoonchae asked, worry etched into her face. “How do we help?”
“I-I don’t know,” Sophia admitted. “Right now, let’s just be grateful nothing worse happened. Tomorrow, we’ll talk to Dani. We’ll be there for her in whatever capacity she needs.” Sophia stated firmly, like a promise, before heading to Dani’s room to place the glass of water and Advil.
When Sophia finally settled into bed that night, her thoughts refused to quiet. At the forefront of them all was Manon. The guilt hit sharper than she expected, for wanting someone else while her friend had likely been drugged earlier. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from reaching for her phone.
She opened her messages, thumbs hovering as she searched for Manon’s name.
Nothing.
Panic bubbled up as she opened Instagram, convinced they must have exchanged handles. But there was nothing there either. No username. No message. No trace.
She had no way of contacting her. The realization struck hard, knocking the air from her chest.
The next morning Sophia moved through the kitchen like a zombie. When she heard a door open down the hall, she took a deep breath and plastered a smile on her face.
Dani shuffled in, swallowed by an oversized hoodie, plaid pajama pants tied loosely at her waist. Her hair was twisted into a messy bun, thick black-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. Yoonchae followed close behind her, hair loose down her back, dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt and fuzzy light-blue pants patterned with little ducks throughout.
They both collapsed onto the stools at the kitchen island. Dani rested her head leaned on her crossed arms while Yoonchae leaned her cheek into her palm. Sophia placed coffee in front of them and moved back to the stove, plating eggs, toast, and bacon.
Silence settled over the kitchen until Dani finally broke it.
“Okay,” she said. “What’s wrong? Why do you both look so tense?”
Yoonchae glanced at Sophia.
Sophia sighed. “What do you remember from last night, after I left?”
Dani frowned, thinking. “I remember Yoonchae and I walking around for a bit. Then she went to the bathroom, and I didn’t want to go near that smell again because absolutely not.”
Yoonchae groaned.
“I was dancing,” Dani continued, “and this guy came up to me. He was cute. We danced, and I think Yoonchae came back at some point. Then he offered me a beer. I took a few sips.”
Sophia stiffened.
“After that, things become a bit blurry,” Dani finished quietly. “Then I woke up here.”
Dani’s fingers tightened around her mug.
“Did…did something happen to me?”
The question landed softly but heavily.
Sophia answered immediately. “No. You’re safe. We were with you the whole time.”
Yoonchae nodded. “Nothing like that happened.”
Dani let out a breath, shoulders loosening. “Okay.”
There was a beat of silence that was broken by Yoonchae.
“Why would you take a beer from him?” Yoonchae snapped.
“It was sealed!” Dani shot back. “I’m not stupid!”
Sophia rubbed her temple. “Did you not pay attention to our first-year seminar?”
Dani shrugged. “Not really. I saw my childhood best friend in the audience and kind of spiraled.”
Sophia froze.
“Wait,” Yoonchae said slowly. “Your childhood best friend goes here?”
Dani hesitated. “We haven’t talked in three years. I didn’t even know she went here. I messed up, and it cost me my best friend. I don’t really like talking about it.”
She glanced at Sophia. “Anyway, why do you look like someone just stepped on your cat?”
Sophia looked away.
Yoonchae immediately jumped in. “She met a girl last night.”
Daniela perked up instantly. “Has she not answered you yet?”
Sophia swallowed. “I didn’t get her number.”
Dani and Yoonchae blinked.
“When Yoonchae called, I thought I’d be right back,” Sophia continued. Everything slipped my mind until I was laying in bed. Then I realized.”
Her voice cracked. “I cried myself to sleep last night.”
Yoonchae and Dani frowned. Sophia never cried.
Dani reached for her hand. “Oh Soph. I’m so sorry. Did you get any information?”
Shophia shook her head. “Just her first name. I don’t even know if she’s a student. We met at the festival.”
Yoonchae leaned back, thoughtful. “You never meet people like this. Trust that it will work out.”
Sophia held onto those words, because you didn’t have a connection like that just to never meet again.