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“Don’t mind me; my tears are pearls.” Keyin sniffs as she shakes away the dark spots invading her vision as she tries to finish the MAMA dance routine.
Keyin catches her breath and watches as sweaty Vicky pulls a half-asleep Zihan out of the studio, and Xinwen returns to her spot in the formation for the choreography. Noticing that the older woman hadn't left the studio, Key gently began ushering her out the door, "Jiejie, please get some sleep.”
Letting Keyin tug her towards the Xinwen toward the door, she stopped. “What about you?”
“Jiejie, I’ll be fine,” Keyin said while waving dismissingly and continuing to push Xinwen out the door.
Keyin shot her a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Xinwen huffs at Keyin’s stubbornness but gives her a tight hug before leaving. She didn't notice Keyin’s ears flushing a bright red from the close contact and heard Keyin's heart rate pick up.
/
“Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine; you go first; you need your sleep. I think I’ll hug the ground for a bit longer,” Keyin says as she flops down on the studio floor while trying to convince Keran to leave. Keran lightly chuckles and gathers her things before running off to shower.
Finally, alone, Keyin exhales and slowly rolls up her pant leg, grimacing when it reveals a large bruise on her knee.
/
“Keyin, wake up. The lights were off and it’s past your practice time. Are you waiting for someone?”
“I’m fine, Princess Jiejie. Let me get up and you can have the studio to yourself... and Yuxin.” Keyin grumbled as she sat up, taking note of Xueer's blush at the mention of her crush's name.
Glancing back at Keyin sprawled on the floor, Xueer let out a gasp upon seeing the purple and black bruise painting Keyin's skin.
“Keyin! Why didn’t you get help?!” Keyin winces at the sudden volume coming from the hair-flip queen and tries miserably to hide her leg.
“I’m the leader, and everyone is counting on me.” Keyin tries to reason from her spot on the floor.
“You can’t take care of everyone else if you can’t take care of yourself first.” Xueer clicks her tongue and shakes her head in disapproval. Seeing Xueer in her Jiejie mood, Keyin lets her stubborn walls crumble. Xueer easily helps carry her to the medical dorm down the hall.
Silently grateful for a jiejie like Xueer, Keyin can’t help but think, What if it was Xinwen? The sudden thought caused a heat wave to travel up the back of her neck and up to her ears.
But how could someone like her love someone like me?
/
Taking a deep breath, Xinwen enters Keyin's dorm and does a double-take; Keyin looks so small in the pile of blankets.
“Keyin, you in there? Xueer told me about your knee.”
Groaning and shifting from the blankets was the only response. Before, a very tired Keyin emerges from the fort of blankets. Xinwen has to take a moment before settling against the headboard, scanning Keyin for any additional physical discomfort.
“Why are you here anyway, I told you to go get rest.” trying her best to sound annoyed, Keyin couldn't hide her contentment as Xinwen began to run a finger through her hair.
Xinwen rolls her eyes and lightly swats at Keyin as she pretends to be annoyed. But the tiny smile that creeps across her face says otherwise.
“I couldn't rest well knowing you’re not taking care of yourself either.”
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Xinwen’s voice is laced with concern, and Keyin wants nothing more than to crawl into a dark hole.
“I-”
‘I can’t watch you be eliminated, and goodbye to you again.’
Keyin’s breath hitches as reality hits her, her heart pounding aggressively as she struggles to keep breathing.
Keyin hyperventilating is gut-wrenching. Pulling her into a side hug, Xinwen whispers words of encouragement.
“It’s gonna be okay.”
Keyin manages to huff out a quiet “Stay?” I love you; I can’t lose you again flashed through Keyin's mind.
Xinwen looks down only to see an exhausted Keyin, clinging to her shirt like a lifeline.
“I promise, I’ll stay.” Relaxing slightly, Keyin nuzzles into Xinwen’s light brown locks and falls asleep.
Xinwen can’t help but feel her heart race as she leans down and places a kiss on Keyin’s forehead before falling asleep. I wish I could tell you, I love you.
/
“It was worth it!” Keran grins as she gathers everyone into a tight hug.
It’s done. Keyin felt like a whole weight had been taken off her shoulders.
Zihan leans over to Keyin and whispers through tears, “Thank you for looking after us.” Keyin sends her a watery smile and squeezes Zihan a bit tighter.
Xinwen beamed with pride, knowing how much time and energy Keyin had put in. Her dedication to the battle and the team just made Xinwen's heart swell with love.
/
On the way back to the waiting room, Keyin let her cool rapper composure melt away. The adrenaline high started to fade as her limping became more apparent
“You did it!” Keyin turns just in time to see Xinwen sprinting towards her before being tackled into an enthusiastic hug. Stumbling on her good leg, Keyin barely catches Xinwen with the help of the wall.
“We did it!” Keyin corrected, giggling as she tried to balance Xinwen in her arms. Basking in the warmth of the hug, Keyin reluctantly pulls away to see Xinwen’s dimples on full display.
Keyin locked eyes with Xinwen, quickly searching for something, that she wasn't sure even had a name. Suddenly overcome with a need to be closer, Keyin tilted her head up, closing the gap between them.
Xinwen lets out a small sound of surprise before recovering and gently cradling Keyin’s face in her hands. Keyin, in response, begins to tangle her hand in Xinwen’s hair while her other wraps around Xinwen’s waist protectively.
Despite being a soloist, Xinwen’s lungs started to burn in need of air. Begrudgingly, she pulled away, panting as she leaned against Keyin’s forehead.
“Keyin, I-” Xinwen paused when she felt Keyin tighten her hold on her waist, bracing herself to hear the worst.
“I’ve wanted to do that for years.” Xinwen felt Keyin let out a sigh of relief before a smirk appeared on her face. “Well, why didn’t you, Xinwen?” Xinwen scuffles weakly, “I was scared.” A new hue of red colors her cheeks from the small confession.
Keyin corked an eyebrow at her “You were scared?” A new wave of tenderness tugged at Keyin’s heartstrings; she couldn’t help but pull back and look at Xinwen's flushed face with full love and adoration.
“Shut up and kiss me again." Xinwen bashfully replies before leaning her forehead against Keyin's again.
“I promise, not even eliminations could make me leave you,” Keyin answers smugly, hands landing on Xinwen's shoulders before pulling her forward again.
“I love you.” Xinwen gently whispers before cupping Keyin's face and smiling into the gentle kiss. Between kisses, Keyin whispers, “I love you too.”