Work Text:
December 28 ᯓ★
The evening had been magical, marked by their electrifying performance at the NTV Music Awards. Still riding the high of their success, Sophia had opted for a quiet moment to prepare for their departure later—until her members decided otherwise.
The girls burst into the hotel room, breaking the serene focus Sophia had while carefully repacking her luggage for her trip back to the Philippines.
“Surprise!” Dani hollered as she charged toward Sophia with a party popper, sending a confetti explosion right into her face. Sophia instinctively flinched, then broke into laughter, shaking her head at her members’ antics.
“Oh my goodness!” Sophia exclaimed, half-laughing, half-recoiling from the streamers now stuck to her hair. Before she could fully recover, Megan appeared with a bright grin, deftly placing a glittery party hat on her head.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” Sophia said, her amusement betraying any mock annoyance.
Yoonchae stood off to the side, phone in hand, documenting the chaos with a knowing smile. “This is gold,” she murmured, angling her phone to capture the perfect shot as Lara suddenly stole the spotlight, wielding a portable microphone like a seasoned pop star.
“Happy birthday to youuuuuu!” Lara sang, drawing out the notes with extravagant vocal runs that filled the hotel room.
Meanwhile, Manon hovered in the background, holding a gorgeous mini strawberry cake that looked almost too perfect to eat. Her steps were slow and deliberate, though her dramatic wobbling made it clear she was milking the moment.
“Girls, oh my god! You don’t need to scare me like that!” Sophia finally managed through her laughter, swatting lightly at Dani, who was now gleefully tossing bits of confetti in the air towards her face.
Lara paused mid-run to declare, “We had to surprise you!! With our schedules being so crazy, this is the only chance we have to celebrate before we all go home for the holidays. It’s now or never!!!”
“Where did you even get that microphone? Oh my god,” Sophia asked, wiping stray bits of confetti from her hair as she grinned at Lara.
Lara gave a cheeky shrug. “A true diva never reveals her secrets.”
Dani, still grinning mischievously, nudged Sophia toward the cake. “Come on, Soph, make a wish before Manon drops it!”
“I won’t drop it,” Manon chimed in, though her exaggerated wobbling continued. “But seriously, hurry up. My arms are dying over here.”
Sophia moved closer to the cake, her expression softening as she closed her eyes to make a wish.
When she opened her eyes, they immediately met Manon’s, and in that fleeting moment, the noise and chaos of the room seemed to dissolve into silence. It was as if the world had paused, leaving just the two of them suspended in their own universe. There was no need for words. The depth of their connection spoke volumes in the way Manon’s gaze softened, mirroring the unspoken emotions in Sophia’s heart.
It was a quiet, intimate understanding, a promise exchanged without a single sound—just a profound sense of love and belonging that only they could share.
But then Lara’s loud runs picked up again, jolting the moment back to reality. Dani began twerking in exaggerated fashion, earning cheers from Megan, who clapped along, laughing uncontrollably with Yoonchae still recording.
“Okay, okay, let’s put down the cake before Dani breaks something,” Sophia said, her cheeks aching from smiling so much. The girls erupted into laughter as Manon set the cake on the table with a dramatic sigh of relief.
“So, what do you girls have for me? Any gifts?” Sophia asked, her tone playful as she leaned back into the bed.
Dani rolled her eyes. “Our gifts are back in LA, so you’ll just have to wait,” she said as she sat next to Sophia on the bed.
Lara chimed in, grinning. “Why would I need to give a gift when my mere presence is already a blessing?”
Sophia groaned, playfully tossing a crumpled tissue at Lara. “Oh, please.”
“I already gave you my gift earlier,” Yoonchae added, stifling a yawn as she leaned against Dani. “You can’t ask for more.”
“Oh no,” Manon said, her voice teasing. “I think I forgot to get a gift. Is my presence enough, too?”
Lara smirked, giving Manon a playful nudge. “Come on, Manz. We both know she loves my presence more. Stop trying to steal my line.”
The room dissolved into laughter, their banter a reminder of how close they had become over the years. Sophia took a moment to look around at her friends, her heart swelling with gratitude.
From their grueling days training at Dream Academy to their triumphant performances at events like the MAMA Awards and Jingle Ball, they had been through everything together.
“Thank you for this surprise,” Sophia said, her voice trembling slightly as emotion welled up. “For standing by me, for sharing this incredible journey, and for dreaming with me. You all keep saying I’m your anchor, but honestly, you’re all my anchor—my greatest gift.”
A quiet, tender moment followed her words. Megan reached for Sophia, pulling her into a warm, heartfelt hug. Soon, Lara joined, wrapping her arms around them both. Dani, now visibly sleepy, leaned into the embrace, and Yoonchae found herself squished in the middle, laughing softly.
Manon was the last to join, placing a gentle kiss on Sophia’s temple before hugging her tightly. In that moment, Sophia knew that no matter where their future took them, this bond would remain unbreakable.
—
“Sleep well, okay? See you next year, girls. Love you all!” Sophia whisper-shouted down the hotel hallway as Lara, Megan, and Dani headed to their respective rooms.
Yoonchae followed shortly after, leaving with her manager to visit a nearby convenience store to buy ramen, as she wasn’t allowed to go out alone.
As Sophia closed the door, she felt warm hands encircle her waist behind her, accompanied by the familiar sensation of a chin resting on her shoulder.
“I was a bit sad we couldn’t celebrate exactly on your birthday, but… advance happy birthday, baby,” Manon murmured sweetly, planting a gentle kiss on Sophia’s shoulder. Sophia closed her eyes, leaning into the comforting embrace of her girlfriend, finally having their own solace.
“We both know we have to use this time wisely,” Sophia sighed, breaking the momentary silence. “It’s a rare chance to spend the holidays with our families. Once we start preparing for our comeback and tour, we won’t have much time left together.”
Manon’s lips brushed gently against Sophia’s shoulder, sending a shiver of warmth coursing through her body. With a loving intent, she traced soft kisses up to Sophia’s neck, where her breath hitched in anticipation. As Manon lingered at the delicate curve behind her ear, the sweet caress felt both intimate and electrifying, igniting a profound sense of closeness that made the world around them fade away.
“But I’ll miss you,” Manon whined playfully, “and once we’re back in LA, they’ll probably have us working the moment we land. I just wish we had more time together.” she added, tightening her embrace.
Sophia let out a soft laugh, her voice vibrating against Manon’s embrace. “We’ll have our time, love,” she reassured, turning to meet her gaze, which now bore a dramatic pout.
With a gentle, loving smile, Sophia took her time to bridge the gap between them, her heart pounding with anticipation as their lips finally connected. The kiss was soft and deliberate, filled with an unspoken promise, allowing them to savor the moment.
It’s a quiet promise shared between them, as though she could will the world to stop turning and hold them in the stillness of this fleeting, perfect moment.
When she finally pulled away, it was only enough to plant a delicate kiss on Manon’s cheek, her touch filled with warmth and love.
“Now go,” Sophia said playfully, nudging Manon toward the door with a gentle touch. “Get some rest—we all have early separate flights tomorrow.”
Manon grinned, stubborn as ever. “I’ll message you. See you soon.”
As Manon closed the door behind her, Sophia shook her head fondly at her girlfriend’s antics. Returning to her luggage, her eyes landed on something she hadn’t noticed before—five sticky notes attached to the box of the cake on the table.
She walked over, her gaze falling on the handwritten notes from her members. A wave of emotion washed over her, and she had to fight the rising urge to cry.
With a trembling hand, Sophia carefully peeled each note off, her heart swelling as she read the heartfelt words, each one carrying a piece of their love and gratitude.
“Dear Sophia,
My queen ❤️
I love you more than you know ❤️
You are my big sister and best friend for life!
Thank you for always being there for me and getting me.
I love you, angel ❤️ – Lara”
Sophia laughed emotionally, her heart warmed by Lara’s sweet message.
“Happy birthday, Sophia!
Thank you for being our anchor!
ILY, I love you!! – Megan”
Megan’s note, complete with two big hearts and two “ILY”s, was unmistakably her. Sophia smiled fondly.
“Happy 22th birthday, Sophia!
Thank you always for being a good roommate ❤️ and a good Unnie ❤️
I love you so much.
I hope you have a perfect day!! – Yoonchae”
Sophia burst out laughing at their youngest. “22th? Oh my god,” she said to herself, shaking her head affectionately. “My baby,” she muttered, still grinning.
Next was Dani’s note, which was placed just under Lara’s. Sophia rolled her eyes and not being able to stop her laughter again this time, suspecting Dani had deliberately copied Yoonchae’s mistake or she herself didn't notice it either.
“Happy 22th birthday!
I love you :)
I wish you the best b-day ever!
You will always be like a big sis to me. – Love, Dani ❤️”
Despite their usual banter-filled dynamic, Sophia smiled warmly. It wasn’t often that Dani showed this much affection.
Finally, her eyes landed on Manon’s note at the top right corner of the box. The dim light of the room had kept it hidden until now. Sophia brought it closer to the lamp and read it, tears quickly welling up in her eyes.
“Dear Sophia,
Happy birthday my lovely talented and unstoppable partner-in-crime!
I honestly don’t know how I’d survive this journey without you.
Being in Katseye together has been such an adventure, and I feel so lucky to have someone as inspiring and real as you by my side.
I hope this year brings you even more success, happiness, and all the things your beautiful heart deserves.
Love you to the moon and back,
Manon”
Sophia covered her mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks as she smiled. ‘This girl really never fails to surprise me,’ she thought, holding the note close.
She carefully placed the sticky notes back on the box and the cake inside, staring at the heartfelt messages left by her sisters. They weren’t just her members—they were her home.
Each note represented not just words, but a testament to the love and support that defined her journey, highlighting the strength they derived from one another.
“I’ll always keep them close to my heart.”