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Soyeon didn’t tell anyone.
She just showed up at the practice room one afternoon with a hoodie over her head and sunglasses indoors. That alone should’ve raised red flags, but the girls were used to Soyeon’s eccentric entrances.
Yuqi was sprawled on Minnie's couch (that for some reason the company still kept), snacking, when Soyeon quietly stood in front of her.
“Hey,” Soyeon said.
Yuqi looked up lazily, then froze mid-chew.
Soyeon pulled the hoodie down.
Yuqi gasped.
She sat upright so fast the chips flew.
“You—You—” Yuqi pointed dramatically. “WHAT DID YOU DO?!”
Soyeon raised an eyebrow. “I got a haircut?”
“That’s not a haircut, that’s– THAT’S A HEAD REVEAL.”
Soyeon blinked. “What?”
Yuqi jumped up and circled her like a shark. “You’ve had long hair since forever. I mean you did have a bob and your hair was shorter for the past few months but THIS! I didn’t even know what the back of your ear looked like until now. This is– this is revolutionary.”
“Are you okay?” Soyeon asked, half-concerned.
“No,” Yuqi whispered, gently cupping Soyeon’s now-exposed head with both hands like she was holding a sacred relic. “You look like a little prince from a dreamy K-drama. It’s criminally cute.”
Soyeon rolled her eyes, but her ears were turning red. “Stop exaggerating.”
Yuqi leaned in, eyes wide. “I can see your scalp. I can feel the shape of your brain. Do you know what this means?”
“What does it mean?” Soyeon deadpanned.
Yuqi grinned. “This changes everything.”
From that moment on, the head-patting never stopped.
-
Ever since Soyeon cut her hair, Yuqi hadn’t been able to keep her hands to herself. It was as if the shorter hair had unlocked a new level of fascination, Yuqi always found a reason to touch her head.
“Yuqi-ah…” Soyeon sighed, exasperated, as the younger girl ruffled her hair for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
“What?” Yuqi grinned, her hand still lingering on Soyeon's scalp. “Ever since you got this haircut, I can actually feel your head now. Like, your actual head. Did you know that when you walk through a really bright place, I can see the shape of your skull?”
She gave her another affectionate pat. Soyeon let out a groan.
“It’s just a head shape. Why are you so obsessed with it?” she said, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.
Yuqi shrugged, her smile softening as she gave one final pat. “I don’t know. It’s just… cute.”
-
The obsession didn’t stop there. One lazy afternoon, Soyeon was lying on the couch, half-asleep, when Yuqi slid in beside her and gently rested her chin on top of her head.
“Yuqi…” Soyeon murmured without opening her eyes. “What now?”
“I’m testing if your head makes a good pillow,” Yuqi said matter-of-factly. “Verdict: surprisingly comfy. Very compact.”
Soyeon cracked one eye open. “You’re so weird.”
“And you’ve got a perfectly shaped noggin. It would be a waste not to appreciate it."
-
Another time, while they were brushing their teeth side by side, Yuqi paused mid-brush and stared at Soyeon’s reflection in the mirror.
“What,” Soyeon asked, toothbrush hanging from her mouth.
Yuqi reached over and traced the back of Soyeon’s head with a soapy finger.
“It’s just so round,” she said, in awe. “Like... geometric perfection.”
“You’re literally brushing your teeth with your other hand,” Soyeon mumbled around the foam. “Focus on your mouth.”
“Can’t. Your head is distracting.” Soyeon just sighs.
-
Even in public, Yuqi’s fascination slipped through.
At the grocery store, Soyeon bent down to check the lower shelves. Without hesitation, Yuqi gently rested a hand on the back of her head like she was guarding it.
“What are you doing now?” Soyeon whispered, glancing around.
“Just shielding the treasure,” Yuqi replied, dead serious. “This head is priceless.”
Soyeon turned red. “You’re going to be the reason I get banned from this store. I swear to God Yuqi."
-
And then there was the night they were lying in bed, lights out, nothing but soft breathing between them.
Yuqi reached over in the dark and gently cupped the crown of Soyeon’s head with both hands.
“You’re doing it again,” Soyeon muttered sleepily.
“I think I’m in love,” Yuqi whispered.
“With me?” Soyeon asked, barely audible.
Yuqi smiled. “With your head. But yes, also you.”
-
Then…the girls got involved. It started off subtly.
Miyeon was sitting beside Soyeon during practice break when Yuqi walked by and, without a word, gave the top of Soyeon’s head a light pat.
Soyeon didn’t even flinch anymore. “You have a problem,” she muttered.
“Head’s just really nice today,” Yuqi shrugged.
Miyeon watched, eyebrows raised. Then, ever so slowly, she reached out and gave Soyeon a cautious poke on the side of her head.
Soyeon stared at her. “Not you too.”
Miyeon giggled. “It’s surprisingly firm? I get it now.”
-
The next day, Minnie joined in.
Soyeon was tying her shoelaces when Minnie casually walked by, gently ruffled her hair, and walked off like nothing happened.
Soyeon stood up and yelled after her, “YAH! I am still your leader!”
Minnie called back without turning, “You’re also Yuqi’s favorite plush toy now.”
-
Even Shuhua wasn’t immune.
They were in the dressing room, and Soyeon was fixing her makeup when she suddenly felt a pair of fingers lightly press into her temples.
“...Shuhua.”
“What?” Shuhua blinked. “I just wanted to see if it really is as satisfying as Yuqi says.”
Soyeon swatted her hands away. “What am I, a stress ball?!”
Yuqi, sitting nearby, burst into laughter. “You kinda are, though.”
-
That night, Soyeon walked into the practice room with a beanie pulled snugly over her head.
“Don’t even look at my scalp,” she said, glaring at everyone.
Yuqi raised both hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. But just know... that head is our group's national treasure now.”
Minnie nodded solemnly. “We must protect it.”
“And touch it,” Miyeon added.
Shuhua was already reaching out again.
Soyeon groaned and flopped onto the couch, pulling a pillow over her head. “I regret cutting my hair.”
Yuqi leaned over the pillow and whispered, “Too late. You’ve unlocked a whole new level of affection.”
-
After yet another long day of dodging rogue head pats from her own members and even a manager who claimed he was just “curious,” Soyeon had had enough.
That night, she sat on the edge of the bed, arms crossed, wrapped in a blanket like a sulking burrito. Yuqi peeked in, holding a cup of tea and her most innocent expression.
“I made you chamomile…” Yuqi offered.
Silence.
Yuqi sat beside her slowly, setting the cup down. “Still mad?”
Soyeon finally turned to her, eyes narrowed. “Do you love my head more than me?”
Yuqi blinked.
Then she burst out laughing. “Wait, are you jealous of your own head?”
Soyeon didn’t respond, just tightened the blanket around herself.
Yuqi sobered up, leaned in close, and gently rested her forehead against Soyeon’s.
“I love all of you,” she whispered. “But yes. Your head might be my favorite part of you.”
“Yuqi.”
“Okay, okay! You're my favorite. The head just… comes with the package.”
Soyeon huffed. “Unbelievable.”
Yuqi grinned and kissed her temple. “But only you get the headpats. That’s exclusive. No one else gets the VIP treatment.”
“…Fine,” Soyeon muttered, eyes fluttering shut as she let Yuqi run a hand over her scalp once more. “But if Miyeon touches me again I’m going bald.”
Yuqi laughed softly. “Deal.”