Archive of Our Own

Sunday

Megan felt uneasy.

She’d been feeling this way for a while, but this was a compounded uneasiness, settling into her abdomen and nesting there, uninvited.

The descent of the airplane always did this to her. Like falling or the drop on a rollercoaster, she groaned as eventually the feeling went away.

This just left the original uneasiness that had been consuming her insides for the past four months.

Glancing to her right, she noted that the two people sitting next to her, a young couple, had slept through the plane’s approach to South Florida. She was jealous of them for multiple reasons. Sleeping through the plane’s descent being one of them. Another was their clasped hands.

She looked to her left and saw the approaching Miami coastline out the plane’s window.

She pulled out her phone and opened the group chat that had made a surprising return to being a constant in her life. She remembered a time when she used to have it pinned to the top of her messages app. Now she had to scroll to find it. 

She opened it and scrolled up. Past the reminders, past the booking confirmations, past the links to different hotels and restaurants, back to the first initial messages that brought a deserted group chat back to life.

Four months ago...

Megan was laying in bed, doomscrolling through Instagram reels. Although she loved rotting in bed, Megan herself found it rather unusual that she hadn’t gone out with her roommates to celebrate the end of the semester.

An inexplicable feeling just told her to stay inside tonight.

In hindsight, maybe she should’ve gone out, because she definitely could’ve used a drink if she knew the emotional whirlwind of what was coming. Her eyes widened as she clicked on the message with the familiar group chat name practically blinding her.

✨ KATSEYE ✨

Sophia: hi.
Sophia: I miss you guys…

Megan held her breath. Of course, it was Sophia. She was like the mom of their little group back in high school. Always dotting after the five of them. Always offering aid and advice and whatever the girls needed from her purse. Megan remembers every Friday night at the Filipina’s house when they would all sleepover.

She closed her eyes and tried to remain calm. The memories had flooded back to her. Her junior year spent with her five best friends. Flashes of eating meals together, singing karaoke, watching movies, playing at the arcade... it felt like a lifetime ago. 

Daniela: omgggg!

Daniela: it’s been so long! I miss y’all too!

Megan smiled. Daniela, the loud Latina. Fierce and loyal. Always moving, always smiling. Analytical, but laid back, all at once. She loved dancing and Megan remembered all the times Daniela begged her to recreate a TikTok dance with her. Megan had frowned from the memory, the realization sinking in that she hadn’t danced in so long.

Lara: yes!

Lara: three years! 💔

Lara. A quote, unquote, boss bitch. Strong. Independent. She was actually the person who helped Megan come to terms with being bisexual, and even helped her when she decided to come out. Pushing her to just be herself. She was someone Megan looked up to and Megan missed her guidance.

Lara took shit from nobody. Except one person.

Manon: I guess you guys are still alive after all...

Manon. Unapologetic. Chaotic. But she was also the person you wanted in your corner when you needed help. She threw herself fully into whatever was asked of her. Whether it was gluing together a project at 2am. Or staying up late to console Daniela when her high school boyfriend broke up with her. Or throwing toilet paper at the house of the boy who made fun of Megan’s acne. She never asked for anything in return. So naturally, thinking about her made Megan feel guilty.

Manon was Lara’s girlfriend- or ex girlfriend. Their breakup was the main catalyst that broke their friend group in the first place. Distance already made things hard. But finding out that two of your best friends had started dating in college, and then finding out that they fought and broke up almost a year later had given the girls whiplash.

Nobody chose sides, but the group simply started to disappear. The group chat remained silent. Private messages started slowing down until everyone had slowly lost contact with each other.

It was everything Megan was afraid of at the end of her junior year when four of the six girls graduated and left for college. Granted, for the following year, the girls still updated them in their group chat and they would all hang out whenever they came back home during breaks in the school year. Everything was fine… and then it wasn’t.

Remembering senior year had brought about the current uneasiness that now resides in Megan. It started after she remembered, not that she could ever really forget, that she wasn’t alone her senior year.

Yoonchae: Unniessss 💕

Yoonchae. Megan had too many words to describe the Korean girl. After all, she was someone she once considered her closest friend. She was close with the other girls of course, but nothing could compare to what she had with Yoonchae.

She was bright. Innocent. Caring. Curious. Serious. Funny. Lovely. Pretty-

Megan stopped herself. Three years. She had had three years to move on from this… feeling, and yet she found herself transported back.

“No.” She had mumbled to herself back when she first read the texts.

Present day…

“No.” Megan mumbled again, on this plane that was supposed to land in Miami in the next ten minutes.

She had a feeling she knew what the uneasiness was. She just didn’t want to name it. Megan feared naming it would make it true.

Sophia didn’t know what compelled her to send the first text. She was contemplating this thought as she walked through Miami International Airport towards baggage claim.

She had a few theories. Boredom? Nostalgia? Curiosity? But one theory kept popping up in the back of her head, rearing its fangs like a venomous snake.

Loneliness.

Not that Sophia didn’t have friends. She had plenty.

She lived in the city that never sleeps. New York always had something to do. Yet, Sophia always felt like there was nothing to do. Nothing to look forward to.

She had recently graduated from NYU and even had a job already at a big tech firm doing data analytics. It was unexpected but it was something she was good at, something she tolerated enough for the big paycheck, and yet… she still felt it.

Emptiness.

She thought about the first night she felt it.

Three years ago…

Sophia was alone in her dorm. Her roommate had gone out to get ice cream. She had asked if Sophia wanted anything but she declined. Sophia was in a mood that night.

She thought of her best friends. Her little group. KATSEYE. 

Megan and Yoonchae had just finished their senior year of high school back home. Sophia felt guilty about leaving them alone but they all had to grow up. Whenever Yoonchae called, which was becoming more and more rare, she sounded happy and gave her updates on her and Megan’s lives without the others. Sophia was glad that at least they had each other.

Thinking of them made her think of Daniela, her ‘other half,’ as they liked to call the Latina. Daniela was busy trying to make it big in a dancing program back in Atlanta. The last time they spoke, Daniela told her that she even found a boyfriend that wasn’t a total drag like that boy she dated in high school. She was happy for her but sad they talked less and less. 

Thinking of dating, she thought of the couple in their group.

Lara and Manon had gone to college together. She still remembers the first spring break when the four girls went back home. They decided to have a sleepover at Sophia’s house just like old times. Imagine Sophia’s surprise to find the two girls full on making out in her bathroom when they were suppose to be getting ready for bed.

She smiled at the memory of the chaos and teasing that night. It felt so different to the current status quo.

Manon had sent a simple text that changed the whole dynamic.

Manon: Lara and I broke up.

There was no explanation. No follow up. No real response to Sophia’s attempt to console either side. They used to tell her everything. Now she had to pry information out of any of the girls. Their group chat remained silent. A delicate peace, achieved through non-communication.

And that’s when the emptiness inside her first appeared, scrolling through their dead group chat.

She locked her phone and placed it face down. She felt tears begin to prick out the corners of her eyes. Her chest felt heavy. Then the door to her dorm began to open and she quickly composed herself.

Her blonde roommate walked in. She had an ice cream cone in each hand. She took a lick from the one in her right hand and offered the one in her left hand to Sophia.

“I said I didn’t want one.” Sophia said, her mood making the statement harsher than she meant. The Korean girl just shrugged, unfazed.

“And I didn’t care.”

Sophia looked at the girl who looked at her without backing down. She reminded Sophia of the other members of her failing group, which albeit, made her feel a little better.

“Thanks Jen,” Sophia smiled as she took the cone. She watched her roommate walk back towards her own bed, taking time to examine her figure and backside.

Sophia felt her cheeks heat up with a realization of what she was doing. But she felt it, a distraction to fill the void so she spoke without thinking.

“Do you want to go do something?”

Present Day…

Daniela fidgeted in the back seat of the uber as her driver swerved through traffic towards the hotel the girls had chosen.

The Latina was pleasantly surprised when Sophia had opened up the floodgates on their old group chat.

Of course they all exchanged pleasantries. 'How are you’, and 'what have you been up to’, and 'it’s been so long'. Followed by brief updates on their lives that didn’t really share any information.

Nobody really said what they were feeling or shared any real details. It was obvious to Daniela.

But it was just the distraction that she needed. School had overwhelmed her completely. She was about to graduate and she suddenly felt the pressure of applying to grad schools and figuring her life out already.

She had made the switch from dance to pre-medicine after their group dissipated. She felt like she had lost that spark that inspired her to dance in the first place. So she decided to make her parents happy and try becoming something they "could be proud of" rather than then have them judging her for wanting to dance.

But as she racked up good grades and hard science classes, she was forced to decide what she wanted to do with her future. Was she willing to go to med school? Pharmacy? Physical Therapy? Dentistry? So many options. None of them really seemed fun.

She never realized how many choices there were until she actually researched. And now she had a semester left before she was supposed to just decide everything? She had application deadlines approaching and shadowing hours and interviews and her parents questioning what she decided on and just… drowning.

She felt like she was drowning.

So when the opportunity presented itself, she scrambled for the distraction.

Three months ago…

Daniela: we should meet up for spring break!

She held her breath and counted to ten after she sent that message. It was a coping mechanism she found online that helped reduce her anxiety when studying.

She hoped at least one of them would say yes. She figured Sophia would, since she was the first to reach out.

Plus, in a fond way, Daniela remembered that Sophia always had her back, even when she didn’t know she needed someone to have it.

Sophia: hell yeah!

Yeah, some things never change. Her 'other half' still had her back. 

Yoonchae: let’s go somewhere fun.

Daniela smiled. Yoonchae still texted the same. A coin toss between too many emojis and a period at the end of every statement.

Lara: what do you mean by fun?

Sophia: how about the beach?

Manon: the beach 👀

Megan: I’m from Hawaii 🙄

Yoonchae: and I’m from Seoul.

Lara: lol

Manon: what about Miami? I have a few friends there

Daniela raised an eyebrow at that. She knew Miami. She lived there briefly before moving to the town they all met. Since when did Manon have friends there? She never mentioned it before.

Although, she hadn’t spoken to the Swiss girl since she showed up in Atlanta after she ran away from the remnants of her relationship almost three years ago.

Daniela then compartmentalized that thought. She was already drowning, she didn’t need to add another bucket of water. She chose to focus on the messages at hand.

She didn’t remember Miami all that well. All she knows is that it didn’t sound like school or work or her future.

Daniela: I’m down.

Her message was followed by the other five girls agreeing and for the first time in three years, she felt like she was floating, even if for a moment.

Present day…

Manon scrolled through her phone as she waited in line to check into the hotel.

She opened the group chat ✨KATSEYE ✨ to look for the confirmation screenshot that Daniela had sent for the shared room.

She had accidently scrolled too far.

Lara: what airport are we supposed to fly into?

Manon: M.I.A

Daniela: missing in action?

Sophia: Miami International Airport 😂

Lara: thanks mother.

Manon remembers the feeling of hurt. She was the one who said the airport, not Sophia. She got irrationally angry at the Filipina but she knew the real reason she was upset.

Manon’s life had become very interesting the last three years. She quit school, floated around for a while, and then someone asked her to model and it all snowballed from there.

Events ranging from extravagant parties, to absolute debauchery, to long nights at the club, to quiet mornings watching the sunrise. Her life the past three years were filled with memories. Some she cherished. And some she regretted.

But nothing she regretted more than what she did to Lara. She came to terms with this regret a year ago. And then, four months ago, she jumped when the chance came.

She laughed at the earlier feelings she had of irritation with Sophia when she was practically praising the girl when she read her first message.

She wouldn’t have had the guts to message Lara or the group. Not that the other girl would respond. Manon had kept quiet tabs over the past year.

They still followed each other, but Lara never viewed her Instagram stories. She never liked her posts. Or left any comments. At least the other girls sent her a like every now and then.

Guilt filled her stomach. It was her fault they all stopped talking. And she never even tried to reach out to the others. Except initially when she went to Daniela in Atlanta.

As she stepped forward in line, she closed her eyes and breathed in deep. She would fix this somehow. She had to believe that she could.

Lara watched the elevator numbers rise as it climbed floors. The room she was sharing with Sophia was located on the 18th floor. If she was lucky, the other girls would be located on different floors.

Nothing against any of them… except maybe one.

She never really explained to anyone what had happened. She never really got the chance.

By the time she was ready to talk, it felt like the moment had passed. The girls had already stopped talking to each other.

But now, she had a chance to go back. To have her old friends again, before she fell in love, before she got hurt, before Manon.

She just had to ignore the fact that Manon would be here. She was determined. She told herself it didn’t affect her. She really tried to believe it too.

She was scrolling on her phone and opened the group chat. She scrolled up two months ago when they had chosen the hotel.

Manon: this is the hotel I usually stay at in Miami
Manon: it’s near the beach
Manon: nice pool
Manon: my friends’ bar is nearby and can get us a good discount on rooms

Yoonchae: are you in Miami a lot? 🤔

Manon: just every now and then for work 😋

Lara remembered being skeptical. Work? What did Manon do for work now? After they broke up, she had dropped out of school. She disappeared along with most of her stuff. Save for the few things she left in Lara’s closet.

Sophia: always so popular
Sophia: you and all your friends

Daniela: I swear dude, you always know somebody

Back in high school, Manon was the popular girl. Everyone knew who she was. And by extension, the rest of them were known. It was useful whenever they needed something. Like weed or alcohol. Manon could always get them what they needed.

Megan: I bet she still has the same weirdo rizz 💀

Manon: stfu 😂

Lara had snorted at that comment. She was the one who dubbed Manon’s rizz as just her being a weirdo. You just never knew what was going on in her head. But she just had a certain charisma, a certain charm.

Lara knew this charm all too well. After all, she went and fell in love with her.

But that was the past. The elevator dinged as it opened on the 18th floor and Lara stepped out with her suitcase.

That was the past and she was in the present. She had moved on. She would be cordial for the sake of her friends, but that was it. She drew her boundaries now. She wouldn’t let anyone step all over her anymore.

Especially not her ex-girlfriend.

Yoonchae stood in front of the hotel room door.

She knew who was standing on the other side of it so she didn't understand why she was so nervous.

Megan was her best friend. Her true best friend. Yes, she was close to Sophia who practically adopted her when she first transferred to their high school, but the bond between her and Megan was something else. After all, they were all each other had after the other girls graduated a year before them.

They spent senior year together. Almost every waking moment. So then, why did Yoonchae feel so nervous to see her?

She’s been feeling this way since they booked the hotel last month.

One month ago…

Manon: update
Manon: Ally said she can get us three rooms for basically the price of one
Manon: I said mf yes cause thats a good deal

Sophia: sweet!

Daniela: we love being frugal

Megan: so we have to share?

Lara: separate beds?

Sophia: it’s not like we haven’t all slept in one bed before

Lara: yes but you had a Cali king girl
Lara: we had enough room to make snow angels

Megan: not that Dani ever let us with her cuddly ass

Daniela: excuse me
Daniela: sorry my love language is physical touch

Megan: so is mine
Megan: just not with you.

Sophia: oof.

Yoonchae: she ate 🔥

Megan: and I’d do it again.

Daniela: ok, fuck yall.
Daniela: I’m rooming with Manon then.

Manon: yes, you’re welcome to cuddle and fall asleep 😌

Sophia: don’t worry Lara, I’ll make sure we get two beds.

Lara: thanks mommy

Megan: kinky.

Megan: guess it’s you and me Yoonchip.

Yoonchip. Megan hadn’t called her that in years. Probably because Megan hadn’t spoken to her in years.

It was a nickname Megan gave her one random sleepover when she made chocolate chip cookies.

(Flashback (within a flashback)…

“Not bad, but again, way too many chocolate chips, Yoonchip.” Megan had said, finishing her third cookie of the night. Yoonchae had felt embarrassed but she was glad Megan still liked them.

“You don’t have to pretend.” Yoonchae sighed picking at one of the cookies.

“Pretending counts as lying.” Megan said with a shrug. Yoonchae nodded, remembering the odd vow Megan took when it came to the Korean girl.

“Don’t you have pre-diabetes?” Yoonchae giggled as she asked, teasing the other girl. Megan shrugged.

“Worth it.” She reached for another cookie.)

Present day…

Yoonchae shook her head free from the flashback, returning to the present. Her nervousness had settled thanks to the memory.

This was Megan she was talking about here.

The one who helped her study for her English exams (although it was more like Yoonchae helped Megan get through the work due to the Chinese girl’s dyslexia). The one who took her to the park on the weekends when she was bored. The one who picked her up every morning to drive to school. The one who sucker punched the first boy to ever make her uncomfortable at their high school.

The one who vowed to her later that same night, “I won’t ever lie to you.”

Yoonchae smiled as she knocked on the door. It opened slowly, revealing Megan. She looked immediately different; older, different hair, different look in her eyes, and yet it was almost as if nothing had changed at all. She was still so beautiful.

“Hello Yoonchip.” Megan smiled softly. Yoonchae let her heart settle before she answered. Pausing before she felt familiarity take over.

“Hi… Meiyok.”

Sophia grinned widely as she pulled Lara into a hug. The Indian girl actually let out a squeal of joy at seeing her old friend. They pulled apart to examine each other for the first time in three years and laughed.

Eventually Sophia released the girl and helped her bring her suitcase inside.

“Thanks Soph,” Lara said looking around the room. True to her promise, Sophia had made sure they got two beds.

“Did the others also get two beds?” Lara inquired and Sophia nodded her head.

“Yup! I made sure to include it on our reservation but also got here early to double check with the reception.” Sophia said proudly.

“Always the leader,” Lara just nodded opening up her suitcase. Daniela had texted earlier saying to get ready to meet downstairs at the hotel restaurant for dinner.

Sophia’s smile dropped for a split second. Over the past three years she got plenty of complaints from her friends and co-workers that she never really took initiative. She doesn’t know why being around the girls brought this side out of her again.

“Damn. I was hoping to see Megan and Yoonchae’s reaction to sharing a bed.” Lara sighed as she held up two different dresses to her body at the full sized mirror in the room.

Sophia sat on her bed and pondered out loud, “Are you still on that? I told you, nothing was happening between them. They’re just- or were just- best friends.”

Lara hummed to herself, mentally noting that she knows something Sophia doesn’t.

“So, how have you been?” Daniela asked as the two got ready at the mirror in the bathroom. Each girl had their own sink and had spent the last ten minutes putting on make up.

“Actually… I’ve been really good.” Manon said, using the mirror to make eye contact.

“Listen, about the last thing I said to you-“ Daniela began but Manon put up a hand to stop her.

“No. You were right.” Daniela shut her mouth, not expecting that.

“I was out of line, and you were absolutely right. What I did, what I was doing, it wasn’t good, for anyone.” Manon continued quietly. “It took me a while to realize I needed help. I just wish that I listened to you at the time. I’m so sorry and I hope one day you can forgive me.”

Daniela hummed contemplating all the questions she had. But, she figured it wasn’t the time for that. Besides, Manon quickly changed the subject.

“I love your hair.” Daniela grinned at that, tossing her heavy curls around. Back in high school, she would straighten her hair and dye it often.

“Figured I needed to just stop fighting it and just be me. Plus I never have time to do all that shit to my hair anymore, even if I wanted to.” Daniela spoke, briefly panicking when she remembered all the deadlines and work she would have to do once spring break was over. She took her deep breath and counted to ten. 

Manon was going to respond but her phone chimed. She glanced at it.

“Dani, let’s go. Meichae are on their way downstairs.”

“Oh my God, I forgot about their ship name.”

The first greeting was tense, for lack of a better word. Everyone had smiled and laughed and hugged each other tight, that was until Manon and Lara made eye contact.

Manon directed a soft smile to the Indian girl but Lara just returned it with a curt nod and left it at that. Manon inhaled sharply.

The others immediately caught this and didn’t know what to say. They had all been curious about this interaction but didn’t know how to act around the two.

The hostess then came and showed them to their seats, a big round table for six people.

Megan sat first with Yoonchae sitting down next to her. Sophia took the seat next to the Korean girl. Daniela made a move to sit next to the Filipina, but Lara sat down first, not wanting to be stuck next to her ex-girlfriend. Daniela understood this and sat down next to her, leaving Manon to sit down last. 

A very charged silence encompassed the table. They were all pretending to read the menu but actually they were stealing glances at each other examining how everyone had changed over the last three years. It was mostly little things, like hair and more defined features from growing up.

Megan, who had black hair when they’d known her in junior year and ginger hair the last time they saw her during her senior year, had returned to black hair but with streaks of pink and pink bangs. Daniela had curly, brown hair now. Manon was rocking a septum piercing and new tattoos.

They all looked different, but also the same, but not. They had grown older. They all looked more settled into themselves.

Sophia wanted to say something but didn’t know what. She caught Daniela’s eyes who found her easily. Daniela glanced sideways at Manon with her eyes, signaling to Sophia who noticed the way Manon kept glancing at Lara. Lara was doing everything in her power to avoid the other girl.

Megan decided to brave the tension and spoke up.

“You all look really good.”

“That’s gay.” “Gross.” “Fuck off.” “Thank you.” Lara, Daniela, Manon, and Sophia replied instantly.

Yoonchae just smiled and rolled her eyes as everyone laughed and began teasing Megan who was now turning red.

“Damn, I can’t even complement my friends. You guys are rude.” Megan said returning to reading the menu with a pout. Yoonchae just giggled and poked her side. Megan swatted her hand away.

“You guys still as close as ever?” Manon asked curiously after watching this interaction. All eyes were on them now.

Yoonchae coughed as she composed her thoughts. “Oh, um, no.”

“We actually stopped talking a bit after we graduated.” Megan spoke quietly. Not angry but also not happy. Neutral.

“Not since I went back to South Korea.” Yoonchae explained.

“Wait, you went back?” Sophia asks surprised. The girl nodded in response.

“After high school, my parents moved back cause of my dad’s job. I decided to go back for a bit. Then I moved back to America for school.” Yoonchae explained.

“You moved back?” Megan asked surprised. Yoonchae nodded.

“Yeah. I tried to tell you a bunch of times… but you never picked up the phone.”

Megan looked at Lara before glancing down.

“Yeah… sorry. I was probably busy with school and stuff.” Megan explained poorly. She knew she wasn’t busy. She actually ignored the other girl’s calls on purpose.

Megan thought about why and memories flooded her mind.

Three and a half years ago…

Things were not going the way Megan had intended.

They were supposed to be flying to California together, for college. Not this.

“Megan.” Yoonchae pulled the other girl from her thoughts. She was serious here, she used her name instead of any nicknames.

Megan looked back at the other girl. They were standing in the airport.

To Yoonchae, she was staring into the eyes of her best friend. The girl she had been inseparable from for two whole years.

To Megan, she was convinced she was watching the love of her life leave her. She didn’t even realize she had fallen in love until the start of their senior year.

Lara had laughed at her over FaceTime. She still remembers her words: “Girl, you’ve been in love with her a lot longer than that. You just refused to say it out loud.”

Megan had been working up the courage to confess. To tell Yoonchae that she was what she thought about every night before she fell asleep and the first thing she thought of in the mornings. That the reason she made sure to make coffee just the way she liked it, and pick her up every morning for school, and dropped her off home, and how she never ever lied to Yoonchae, was because she was hopelessly in love with her.

Thankfully, to Megan, Yoonchae never asked because her vow would make her tell the truth.

The vow was a stupid thing she decided the first week she met Yoonchae. After she sucker punched a boy who was about to make Yoonchae cry from borderline harassment.

Megan had felt bad for a second before Daniela told her what the boy had said in Spanish and she had to be held back from bruising his other eye.

The vow had gotten her into some trouble since then though.

(“Megan, who took my last piece of chocolate?”

“Manon”

“Megan, you bitch- Yoonchae I’m sorry, I can explain-“

Manon is still scared of Yoonchae to this day.

-

“Megan, why are we at the park instead of with the girls?”

“They’re throwing you a surprise party.”

“Oh. Ok.”

“Act surprised.” Megan sighed in defeat.

“Ok, Mei.” Yoonchae said after grabbing her hand with a soft smile making Megan turn a shade of pink.

-

“Why aren’t you downstairs with the others?”

The two girls were sitting on the roof this time. Sophia’s window was open and they sat on the tiles of the portion of the roof that they could access from the windows. Megan, Lara, and Manon would come out here to smoke every now and then, much to Yoonchae’s disgust.

She didn’t know that Megan would quit if the Korean girl just asked.

Megan glanced at Yoonchae who had tear stained cheeks. The girl was feeling extra home sick today.

“Because you’re crying. And sad. And I wouldn’t be your best friend if I didn’t at least sit here with you.” Megan shrugged looking back up.

She began to explain the concept of constellations and their meanings to Yoonchae who slowly got too invested to cry anymore. After about ten minutes of Megan pointing out different ones, Yoonchae noticed a shooting star fly by and gasped.

“Quick! Make a wish!”

Both girls closed their eyes.

Megan simply wished that Yoonchae would be happy. She also subconsciously wished that she could be the one to make Yoonchae happy.

When they both opened their eyes, they realized they were already looking at each other.

That was the first time Megan realized that she might have feelings for the other girl. Yoonchae was curious about what Megan wished for.

She knew if she asked, Megan would tell her. But Megan had begun to look nervous already so she spared her and just looked back at the stars.

“Tell me more about the stars please.”)

The girls fell into an easy embrace, holding each other tightly. They were both fighting back tears. The plan was to attend UCLA together. But Yoonchae was instead going back to Korea with her parents.

When Megan had asked for how long, Yoonchae didn’t have an answer. That led to a little fight but Megan realized she would always regret if she didn’t get to say bye to the girl she loved.

“I‘ll call you a lot.” Yoonchae said simply. Megan nodded. “You better.”

“Good luck in California. You will have fun.”

“Yeah. But you won’t be there.” Megan spoke softly. She was trying her best to keep her composure.

“I love you.” Yoonchae said, just like she’s said it one thousand times before.

“I love you too…” Megan said, but she knew that she meant it differently than Yoonchae.

There was a pause. She opened her mouth to say more. This was it, this was the moment.

“Yoonchae.”

Yoonchae turned to see her dad, staring at his watch, tapping his foot impatiently. Her mother stood next to him indifferent. Megan knew they didn’t really like her, she figured they knew the truth behind her ‘I love you’s to their daughter. So she stepped back, just like she’d always done.

“You should go. I’ll… I’ll see you soon.”
Megan decided on that phrase. Because she wanted to believe that it would be true. She would manifest it.

Yoonchae nodded before walking towards her parents. She turned around one last time.

“Bye, Meiyok.”

“Bye, Yoonchip.”

Megan cried herself to sleep that night. And several nights after. And the first few nights in college. She missed the Korean girl that much. So much that it physically hurt her chest. She felt like she was sinking constantly.

For six months, they tried to talk. They tried to text and call each other just like they said they would. But distance and time zones and plans always made themselves evident.

They felt like they were slipping away from each other. And then for a week Yoonchae lost internet connection and Megan needed her best friend after a particularly bad week at college. It didn’t help that Manon and Lara broke up and now nobody was responding.

No offense to them though, but they weren’t the ones Megan wanted to talk to.

Megan felt so hurt afterwards that she blocked Yoonchae. “I need to move on.” She had told herself. "This is the only way."

Yoonchae recieved a bunch of messages after she finally got her internet connection back. But she couldn’t reach Megan no matter how many times she tried to reply. Eventually, Yoonchae stopped trying to get a response from Megan.

She began to get worried until she saw several Instagram stories. Megan at parties, Megan with different friends, Megan living her life.

Yoonchae doesn’t remember why this pissed her off but it did. She cried herself to sleep that night.

She also started researching applications to culinary schools in America. Helping out at her uncle’s restaurant back home had inspired her to go to culinary school.

Another six months later, she was standing in California. Her parents didn’t understand why she wanted to study in America, specifically California. But she had finally stood her ground and said it was just something she had to do. Her parents relented.

The first week, she tried to call Megan three times. No answer. She tried to text her a few times and no answer.

She saw another story on Instagram and almost replied to it, to tell her that she was here and that she wanted to see her. But Megan looked happy. Like she had moved on with her life. Just like the other girls.

So Yoonchae stopped trying. But the hurt in her chest never stopped existing.

Present day…

Yoonchae shrugged again. Now feeling awkward. Being around Megan had just felt like old times, so… simple. Easy. She forgot about the hurt she felt and now she realized that it had just settled and she’s gotten used to it.

Obviously it didn’t affect Megan as much because she was still acting the same (at least from Yoonchae’s point of view).

Meanwhile, Megan was fighting her own internal battle.

She had moved on. Yoonchae was just a friend. They could be friends again. She was fine. She was ok. They were fine. It doesn’t mean anything. She was-

Sophia looked around. Yoonchae and Megan were now just staring blankly at the table, zoning out. Manon and Lara were playing their own game of avoidance. She looked at Daniela desperately who quickly raised her hand catching a waiter’s attention.

“Can we order some drinks?” Daniela asked batting her eyelashes. She figured they needed it to get through this dinner. Sophia smiled at her and the Latina responded with a wink.

Drinks and food were ordered. The arrival of drinks was like a breath of air, allowing the girls to loosen up a bit more.

Sophia raised her glass, “To the return of KATSEYE!”

The girls all laughed and clinked their cups together.

Conversation flowed a bit easier now. Sophia spoke about her tech job. Daniela shocked everyone saying she switched from dance to pre-med. Yoonchae surprised everyone with the revelation she was finishing culinary school. Megan spoke about sound production and how she was interning with a record label.

“That’s so cool!” Sophia exclaimed, her cheeks a bit red from the alcohol. Megan blushed as well, embarrassed.

“I was worried at first cause it’s so hard to make it in the field but it’s something I just really love so why not?” Megan shrugged.

“Manon, what about you? What are you studying?” Yoonchae asked taking a sip of her margarita. She still grimaced at the alcohol flavor. Megan noticed and sent her a sympathetic look.

Manon was playing with the straw of her cocktail when she answered shyly. “I-um- actually dropped out.”

Everyone except Lara was surprised by this information.

“But you’re working?” Megan asked curious. Manon nodded. “Yeah, I was uh, floating around for a bit and then one of those random TikTok photographers saw me at a party and asked me to do a photoshoot. Turns out it was a scam, the dude just wanted me to pose naked so I said no and threw his camera into a lake.”

“Girl.” Sophia groaned as the others laughed.

“Yeah but someone else, an actual photographer, saw me and offered me an actual photo shoot and I just kept getting calls. So yeah, I guess I’m like a model or something.” Manon said a bit self conscious. Lara scoffed and Manon glanced at her.

“That’s awesome babes. Figured it was only a matter of time with your good looks.” Daniela said sincerely ignoring Lara’s outburst.

“Oh please, you’re all just as gorgeous.” Manon batted back. She received a chorus of ‘thank you’ from everyone except Megan and Lara.

“Oh so she can compliment you guys but I can’t?” Megan asked exasperated. The girls laughed in response.

“You just give off fuckboy vibes dude.” Lara explained.

“I resent that.” Megan deadpanned before Manon turned to Yoonchae. “What do you think?” She asked.

“Very fuck boy vibes.” Yoonchae confirmed nodding. Megan’s mouth gaped at her.

“Et tu, Yoonchip?” Megan feigned annoyance. The other girl just giggled, her face also heating up from the alcohol and the pink haired girl’s attention on her.

“Lara, what are you studying?” Yoonchae asked, quickly changing the subject. Lara just shrugged, sipping her espresso martini.

“You guys know the plan, same as always. I actually have a few interviews for law school next month.” Lara said casually. Lara always had the same career plan since high school. Go to law school, become a lawyer, and then become a judge.

She worked hard towards her goal. After all, she was the valedictorian of their high school class and it surprised nobody that she had stuck with it.

Her reply was met with a chorus of cheers but only one person’s response had her attention.

“Congrats.”

Lara stared at Manon hard. As far as she can tell, Manon was being sincere.

Lara had been trying all night to be cordial. Reacting to her instead of initiating. Even though she was confused and pissed as hell about being near her ex-girlfriend, the tiny bit of alcohol in her system let her act without thinking too much.

“Thanks.” Lara said, acknowledging her with a nod. Manon let out a breath. It wasn’t everything she was hoping for, but it was something.

Daniela and Sophia looked at each other when they noticed this interaction. Sophia sent her a smirk causing the Latina to grin.

“Anyone seeing anyone? Like dating? Boyfriends?… Girlfriends?” Daniela asked curiously. She was met with a chorus of no's, shaken heads, and one girl in particular freezing at the implication of the word ‘girlfriends,’ but it went unnoticed.

Food arrived and drinks continued. As a group, they were loud, they were chaotic, but they were free. They were themselves. And that’s all they ever asked of each other.

It was nearing one in the morning as the six girls stood in the elevator as it climbed to different floors.

Yoonchae and Megan were red faced and giggling into each other. Lara was holding a wobbly Sophia steady. While Manon kept a very drunk and very loopy Daniela upright.

“Why can’t we go dancinggggg” Daniela whined.

“Tomorrow, love. We’re all exhausted and you’re quite hammered.” Lara replied in her fake English accent. Megan laughed following along in her own.

“As are you Lara dear!” She shouted causing Yoonchae to groan and throw her head back, slightly bumping the wall.

The girls giggled. “Yoonchae why’d you just groan like that?” Before the girl could answer, the elevator stopped on their floor.

“Our stop.” Yoonchae said grabbing Megan’s wrist.

“See you tomorrow ladies!” Megan slurred and she was getting pulled out of the elevator. She made peace signs and little finger hearts at them as they watched them walk down the hallway. They all shook their heads, used to Megan’s antics.

Yoonchae was dragging her feet, exhaustion finally kicking in. They made their way down the hallway, her eyes drooping closed. She didn’t even notice as she almost ran into a man with his suitcase exiting his room.

Thankfully, Megan had grabbed her hand and pulled her into her side, preventing any collision.

“Sorry about that.” Megan said briskly. The man just grunted and made his way toward the elevators.

“Dick.” Megan said under her breath.

Yoonchae muttered something sleepily in Korean.

“Huh?”

“Be nice.” Yoonchae said again, focusing for a second before losing it. She didn’t realized she had interlaced her fingers with Megan’s. The other girl didn’t mind though. She told herself it was just so that Yoonchae wouldn’t swerve into the wall.

“You’re swerving Chae. Just walk straight for a bit more. We’re almost there.” Megan encouraged. She wasn’t as intoxicated as the other girl. Once Yoonchae had ordered a third drink and was speaking more Korean, Megan slowed down her own drinking, but the alcohol she had in her system let her mind drift more than she wanted to.

‘You missed this.’

‘You missed her.’

‘You always have.’

Megan clenched her jaw but kept walking. She told her brain to shut up and focus on anything else. The carpeted floors. The soft illumination of the hotel lights. The softness of Yoonchae’s hand in hers-

They finally reached their room and Megan pulled out her keycard to unlock the door.

Yoonchae immediately walked in and flopped down onto the bed, face first. Megan chuckled. She slipped her own shoes off and nudged Yoonchae’s legs.

“Take your shoes off and get ready for bed properly you dork”

The response was muffled by the blanket.

“Can’t hear you.” Megan stated peeling off her shirt to change into pajamas.

Yoonchae groaned and lifted her head to give Megan a dirty look but caught a glimpse of Megan’s toned stomach instead.

“What?” Megan said meeting her eyes, unaware of what Yoonchae was staring at.

“I said… um… Mean girl.” Yoonchae muttered. Her accent stronger than usual.

“Mean girl?” Megan asked approaching the bed. Yoonchae gulped but nodded her head.

Megan hovered over Yoonchae who immediately flipped over onto her back.

“You should speak to me formally.” Megan said seriously. Before Yoonchae could respond she felt Megan’s fingers digging into her side.

Her eyes widened as she began to laugh.

“M-Mei stop! No tickling!” She screamed cursing the other girl for remembering her weak points. Megan let out a loud laugh but then felt Yoonchae’s strong hands on her arms.

Then she was suddenly flipped onto the bed, Yoonchae sitting on Megan’s hips. Her hands now attacked Megan’s sides, exposed due to her lack of shirt. Her torso only being covered by her bra.

“Wait, I’m sorry!” Megan got out through laughter. After a minute, Yoonchae took pity on the girl and stopped. Her hands were placed on each side of Megan’s head. It was then she realized she was hovering, face to face with her former best friend. They were both out of breath now.

A warmth settled into her chest. Familiarity, nostalgia, and something else that she couldn’t even fathom naming.

Megan’s eyes glanced down quickly, unnoticed by Yoonchae. She brought her eyes back up a gulped air nervously before gently pushing Yoonchae off who understood and rolled off onto the empty space of her bed.

“Let’s get ready for bed.” She said quietly before getting up and walking into the bathroom.

Yoonchae, confused, just nodded to nobody in particular since the room was now vacant.

‘What was that?’ She asked herself.

Megan closed the bathroom door and felt herself slide down. She sat, her back against the door, and took deep breaths to settle her rapidly beating heart. She closed her eyes and tilt her head back which gently hit the door.

“Fuck.”

Sophia was cackling. Like full on chaotic laughing. Lara and Manon, stood on opposite sides of the elevator, were both shaking their heads, too tired to be amused, as Daniela was full on twerking to the elevator music.

The elevator stopped on their floor and Daniela stopped and shouted. “Our floor!” She tried running forward but Manon grabbed her.

“At least wait for the door to open, dummy.” Manon reprimanded her while laughing. The doors opened and Manon helped Daniela walk out, holding her steady.

Lara watched as the two swayed and without thinking too much her hand reached out and held the elevator doors open.

“Manon.” She called out.

The girl looked up, surprised Lara had addressed her again.

“You need help?” Lara asked, glancing at Daniela. Manon sent her a soft smile.

“I got it.” She said but Lara shook her head.

“You drank just as much.” Lara argued. She was only concerned for Daniela. That’s what it was.

“Yeah,” Manon shrugged, “but none of my drinks had any alcohol.”

“What-“ Lara started before she was cut off by her ex-girlfriend. “Goodnight Lara. Goodnight Sophia.” She turned around and continued supporting Daniela who turned around and blew a kiss to both girls earning a chuckle from Sophia as the elevator doors closed.

“She wasn’t drinking?” Lara asked surprised after a few seconds. Sophia nodded. Her eyes were closed and she was leaning against the walls of the elevator.

“Yeah. I noticed she only ordered mocktails.” Sophia had no reason to lie. Plus, she was the one who covered the bill.

“That’s… odd. She used to drink. Too much.” Lara spoke guarded.

“Sometimes people change.” Sophia yawned as she tried to help Lara with her thoughts.

Maybe Manon had changed. And that thought pissed Lara off.

Monday

Knocking was not a part of the plan of waking up. They were on vacation. That was a supposed to mean sleeping in.

“Make it stop.” Lara whined from her side of the room.

“Whoever it is, I’m going to kill them.” Sophia said sitting up. Her hair was all over the place and she could feel dried drool on the corner of her mouth but she didn’t care because she was willing to murder for more sleep.

“What?” Sophia screamed swinging the door open.

Daniela grinned at her unfazed, even with the Filipina’s disheveled appearance.

“Well good morning beautiful, I thought I’d wake you guys up for breakfast.” Daniela said cheerily.

Sophia groaned, rubbing her eyes. “Dani, don’t you know it’s sleep over hotel breakfast? That’s like proper vacation etiquette.”

Daniela just chuckled. “The old Sophia would’ve had all of us downstairs in line before 8am. It’s already 10am so I’m nothing compared to her.”

“And I would’ve had to drag the old Daniela kicking and screaming out of bed.” Sophia said, suddenly feeling self conscious about her appearance.

“I guess some things really have changed. I’m used to getting up early for class.” Daniela shrugged. Sophia just nodded. “Right. Medical classes.”

“Pre-med.” Daniela corrected. “Haven’t gotten into med school yet.”

Sophia leaned her head against the door frame.

“I still can’t believe it. I mean, you were a dancing goddess. And now you’re this pre-med baddie?”

Daniela’s grin almost dropped for the first time that morning. She nervously played with the hem of her jean shorts and shrugged her shoulders.

“I guess I figured my future needed to be a bit more… stable.” Daniela shrugged again. She was doing that a lot. Sophia just smiled sleepily at her. “Come in and wake Lara up while I get ready.”

The Latina followed Sophia who quickly entered the bathroom. She heard the sink running as Sophia began to brush her teeth.

Daniela skipped over to Lara’s bed and pounced on the sleeping girl.

“Get the fuck off me” Lara groaned.

“Get up girl! We only have six more days in Miami!” Daniela shouted shaking the girl awake.

“How are you not dead after last night?” Lara complained smothering her face into her pillow. Daniela just perched herself on the edge of Sophia’s bed.

“Manon gave me a lot of water before bed and left me water and meds for when I woke up.” Daniela revealed.

“That was nice of her.” Sophia said coming out of the bathroom. Not that Daniela would call her out but Sophia looked one hundred times better than she did when she opened the door.

“Yeah. Super.” Lara said finally sitting up.

Sophia and Daniela exchanged a silent look. One that screamed that they were already over the situation.

“Where is Manon and Meichae?” Sophia asked walking to her suitcase and opening it to find an outfit for the day.

“Meichae wouldn’t open the door. I assume they’re either dead or fucking.” Daniela said matter-of-factly causing Lara to shriek and Sophia to gasp.

“Ew dude, those are my children, I don’t want to think of them like that.” Sophia shouted throwing a bunched up t-shirt at Daniela who let it smack her in the face. She pretended that the impact sent her flying backwards onto Sophia’s bed.

“Manon-“ Daniela said, bring her arms above her head, getting comfortable. “-went to sunrise yoga on the rooftop this morning. She actually accidently woke me up turning on the shower when she came back.”

“She does yoga now?” Lara asked skeptically, rolling her eyes. Daniela sent her a soft gaze but nodded.

“Yeah. She claimed that and mediation are very good for the soul.”

Lara yawned and stretched her arms above her head. “She’s full of shit. I’m gonna shower and meet you guys downstairs.” The girl got out of bed and walked into the bathroom.

She sound of the shower and Lara singing soon appeared next.

“So…” Daniela began, sitting up. Sophia was applying lip-gloss in the mirror and Daniela was staring at the tube. She was surprised that even after all these years, Sophia still used the same one.

“What do you think of Manon and Lara?”

Sophia raised an eyebrow.

“They’re our friends?” Sophia questioned. Daniela just stared at her.

“No, you dork. I mean… do you think they’ll ever… get back together?” Daniela approached the subject quietly. Sophia sighed and sat down next to the questioning girl.

“I think Lara is still hurting. Even after all this time. I mean, we don’t even know what happened-“

“I do.” Daniela said simply. “Manon, she came to see me after they broke up. She told me everything… well her side at least.” This was new information to Sophia.

“Wait, so what happened-“

“That’s not my business to tell. Trust me, I want to-“ Daniela gave Sophia a pointed look. “-but that wouldn’t be fair to either of them. Let’s just say, I understand why Lara is acting the way she is. But I see Manon’s point of view too. I can also see that Manon has changed and I think she’s trying to figure out a way to apologize.”

“So what are you proposing?” Sophia asked turning towards the Latina. She didn’t realized how close they were until Daniela was staring back, their faces inches apart.

“I think we should…” Daniela muttered, losing concentration for a brief moment before turning away. “We should nudge them in the right direction. I mean, not like force them together but just let them talk it out properly.”

“Oh no, I’m not getting caught up in another one of your schemes. We had to do community service and detention for a week after the flooded gym fiasco.” Sophia shook her head but Daniela laughed. She knocked her knee with Sophia’s apologetically.

“C’mon please,” she said with a pout, “you’re the best at lying and manipulation. You’re always so sincere so when you do lie, it’s believable. Megan and Yoonchae are going to be too busy realizing they’re still in love to help me.”

“Ok ok, put that damn thing away.” Sophia said covering Daniela’s face with her hand to stop her pouting. Daniela giggled and grabbed Sophia’s hand and held it in her lap. She didn’t want to let go for some reason. It had been a long time since she could just sit and talk to someone so easy and familiar like this that wasn’t about school or her future.

“You really think Megan and Yoonchae are gonna fall in love?” Sophia asked curiously.

“You don’t?” Daniela asked surprised. She thought all of them shipped the two girls together.

“I always figured they were just best friends.” Sophia shrugged.

“Best friends fall in love all the time! It’s a classic trope.” Daniela spoke firmly. Sophia still wasn’t convinced.

“We were… are… best friends. Doesn’t mean we’re gonna fall in love.” Sophia said quietly. Daniela felt a warmth in her chest at Sophia calling them best friends, even after all this time. She squeezed her hand that still sat in her lap.

“Yes, but Megan clearly has feelings for Yoonchae already. Probably since she made her stupid little ‘I'll never tell you a lie’ vow. So unless you’ve been hiding some deep romantic feelings for me-“ Daniela spoke before she was cut off by Sophia who laughed.

“I’ve never thought of us romantically before. Have you?” Sophia asked, being honest. Daniela looked at Sophia, then at her lip-gloss, then back to her eyes that were inches away.

“N-no. Of course not. I’m straight, remember?” Daniela said steeling herself from sounding unconvincing. It wasn’t a lie. She never thought about Sophia as anything more than a friend before.

So why was she so nervous saying that?

“Fine. I’ll help Manon and Lara have their conversation. And I’ll keep an eye on Megan and Yoonchae. Although, I still don’t think anything is there.”

“Twenty bucks says you’re wrong, Laforteza.”

“You’re on, Avanzini.”

Megan’s phone has been buzzing for the last ten minutes. Yoonchae knows because she’s been staring at the light it gives off for the past five minutes since she woke up.

She meant to wake Megan up but the other girl looks too peaceful. Yoonchae’s head hurts but she decides to get up herself rather than force the pink haired girl to wake up.

She gets up as quietly as she can and sees Megan’s phone clearly now. Manon’s contact photo, a picture of her laying on the floor at a supermarket, fills the screen.

Yoonchae picks up the phone and whispers.

“Hello?”

“Open the door please!” Manon says cheerily.

Yoonchae’s eyebrows furrow in confusion but she walks to their room door and opens it. Manon is standing there, drinking a pink smoothie. She’s holding a paper bag and looks way too refreshed for someone who used to not be a morning person.

“Morning!” Manon greets with a smile. Yoonchae just shrugs and turns around, leaving the door open. Manon takes it in stride and follows her inside, closing the door behind her.

Yoonchae was sitting on her bed, checking her phone while Megan still slept in her bed.

“Oh, you guys got two beds too.” Manon sounded slightly disappointed.

“Yeah? We’re two people.” Yoonchae said confused, rubbing her temples. The headache from her hangover was increasing by the minute.

“Yup. Right. Two people. Separate beds.” Manon said biting her lip. She reached into her bag and pulled out some over the counter pain medicine as well as two water bottles.

“Here. For you and Meg when she decides to get off her ass.” Manon said tossing the items to the Korean girl who scrambled to catch them.

“I’m awake asshole.” Megan mumbled stretching her arms. Yoonchae opened the pill bottle and took one with a sip of water. She then took another pill and walked over to Megan.

“Here Mei Mei,” she held out the pill but Megan just opened her mouth.

Yoonchae rolled her eyes but still placed the pill in the girls mouth and helped her take a sip of water.

“Thanks. You should use the bathroom first” Megan mumbled, still rubbing sleep from her eyes. Yoonchae nodded. She grabbed stuff to change and glanced at Manon before entering the bathroom.

Once the shower was on, Manon turned to Megan.

“You still down bad for her?” This caught Megan and her recovering brain off guard.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Megan argued weakly.

“Oh please,” Manon took a sip of her smoothie, “Megan, I know.” Megan’s eyes went wide.

“I was with Lara when you told her.” Manon said gently. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

Megan quickly glanced at the bathroom door. They both still heard the shower running.

“That was years ago. I’ve moved on.” Megan said firmly. Manon just gave her a disbelieving look. They stayed silent for a few minutes, staring at each other, daring each other to break.

“Ok.” Manon said, accepting defeat.

“Let’s pretend that’s true for now. I won’t say or do anything. But in return, I’d like a favor.” Manon started sitting down on the edge of Megan’s bed.

Megan raised an eyebrow. “What is this? Blackmail?”

“No!” Manon laughed, “Well, not really. I mean, you don’t need to help me and I won’t air out your business if that’s what you mean.”

Megan nodded, curious about what the other girl wants.

“I want a chance to apologize to Lara. For the way things ended, for what I said and did… for everything.” Manon spoke softly, shamefully.

“What exactly did you do?” Megan asked curiously. Manon sighed. She contemplated for a minute before speaking.

“It’s… it’s a lot. I know I hurt her-“

“You hurt all of us.”

The two girls looked over at Yoonchae. They hadn't noticed she finished showering. She was dressed in loose clothes, a towel wrapped around her hair. She had heard the last part of the conversation and decided to speak up.

“What?” Manon asked confused.

“The group. We all stopped talking because you and Lara broke up.” The Korean girl said bluntly. “And if its because you hurt Lara, then it’s really just your fault.”

“Chae- that’s a little harsh-“ Megan started but Manon interrupted her by standing up.

“What happened to the cute and innocent girl we had to defend in high school.” Manon asked with a raised eyebrow. Megan was caught looking between the two girls, unsure of what to say here.

“She had to grow up eventually.” Yoonchae said not backing down.

“Especially when your best friends,” she looked at Megan when she said that, “decide to just ghost you.”

Megan’s breath hitched at this. “Yoonchae-“

“Save it.” Yoonchae ripped the towel from her hair and walked out of the room. Manon huffed, frustrated from being reminded of her mistakes. But she felt worse for Megan who sat on the bed frozen, processing.

Manon opened her mouth to say something but Megan spoke.

“That was kind of hot.”

“Girl.” Manon chuckled disapproving but her anger dispersing a bit.

Megan groaned and threw her head back against the pillow. Hoping this was all just a dream and Yoonchae was definitely not upset with her. It hadn’t even been one day yet and she already messed it up.

Manon gave the girl another sympathetic look before she took a deep breath and said to the remaining girl.

“I guess I should tell you what happened.”

Yoonchae huffed as she waited for the elevator. She was close to tears but she wouldn’t allow herself to cry, not in public.

The elevator doors opened revealing Sophia and Daniela huddled around Sophia’s phone, a TikTok playing.

They both looked up and saw Yoonchae and Sophia immediately paused the video.

“What’s wrong sweetie?” Sophia asked instantly able to tell something was wrong with the Korean girl.

Suddenly, it was like three years hadn’t passed. Yoonchae quickly entered the elevator and ran into the other two girls, who embraced her quickly despite their shock.

“Um, Sophia, miss ‘doesn’t like physical touch’ is hugging us.”

“Yes Dani, I can see that.” Sophia said soothingly patting the other girl’s back.

Lara made her way down to the first floor and out the back door of the hotel lobby into the pool area.

Dream Hotel, their home for the week, had a lot of nice amenities. From the massive pool, full service restaurants, snack bars, regular bars, a gym, and several other options of entertainment, it cost a pretty penny to stay here.

Luckily, the girls got a good deal thanks to Manon, not that Lara was in the mood to thank the girl.

She glanced around the large pool deck until she found the girl that had texted her.

Yoonchae and Sophia sat at a high table. Sophia was sipping an iced coffee while Yoonchae was quietly cutting and taking small bites from a stack of pancakes.

“Hey guys.” Lara said greeted sitting down. Sophia gave a look of acknowledgement towards Lara but Yoonchae remained staring at her food.

Lara understood from Sophia’s text that something had upset Yoonchae, but Sophia was too worried about how the Korean girl might act to ask.

That never stopped Lara before though.

“You going to tell us what’s wrong, or you going to keep being a brat?” Lara asked. Sophia gaped at Lara while Yoonchae narrowed her eyes.

Lara returned the stare with a smirk, not backing down either. Eventually, Yoonchae slowly explained what had gone down in her hotel room that morning between her, Manon, and Megan. At least, what she overheard.

“You guys… abandoned me. My girls. The family I choose. I needed you, and you guys stopped talking to me. So I left, I went back to Korea because I missed home but I missed you guys too. So I came back.” Yoonchae concluded.

The other two girls carefully thought about what they should say before Lara spoke up.

“Thanks for uh- for sticking up for me I guess. Manon did hurt me and that’s why the group kind of stopped talking.” Lara started, feeling awkward now with the other’s attention on her.

“But you’re right. I… I didn’t reach out. To any of you.” Lara looked down sadly. Sophia shook her head and reach across the table to grab her hand.

“Hey, no. You were hurting. I should’ve checked up on you better. I should’ve tried harder.” Sophia said, blaming herself.

“And Yoonchae, I took you under my wing and then I graduated and went to college and just got so distracted. I figured you would be fine without me.” Sophia spoke to Yoonchae just went back to staring at her pancakes.

“It’s not your fault Sophia.” Yoonchae said eventually.

Lara nodded. “You can’t shoulder this blame alone… it’s on all of us. We should’ve been better.”

“Can you tell us what happened?” Sophia asked quietly. Yoonchae looked up at Lara.

“I would’ve preferred not to do this on vacation but, but I guess you guys deserve to know.” Lara started.

Three years ago…

Lara was frowning at her phone as she left the library. She had sent several texts to her girlfriend but had gotten no reply.

She responded to a few texts from Sophia and Megan but soon went back to her text chat with Manon.

Lara: babe?
Lara: I’m finished at the library
Lara: are you home?

She began walking to their apartment. They shared it with two other girls so the rent wasn’t bad. But it was much more spacious so they had so much more room than the freshman dorms from the year prior.

She had to remember to tell Yoonchae and Megan to really consider where they wanted to live for college, maybe they could get a head start and find an apartment together. Lara snorted at the thought.

If that were to happen, Megan would confess the first week.

She had to remember to let Megan know that Manon was listening to her rant when they were on FaceTime last month. It was an accident but still, letting her know would’ve been the right thing to do. After all, ninety percent of the rant was about how frustrating Yoonchae was, which Lara could’ve played off, until Megan pronounced at the end that she was unfortunately still in love with the Korean. (not that Manon was really shocked).

When Lara entered the apartment, she found no sign of Manon. Her roommates claimed they hadn’t seen her all night.

Lara frowned as she pulled out her phone once again. It had been half an hour and still no reply. She tried checking her location, and it said that Manon’s location was unavailable.

She frowned and went on Instagram. She didn’t see a post from Manon but she did see a close friend’s story post from one of Manon’s friends. Sophie.

Why was Lara on her close friends’ list?

Sophie was Manon’s closest friend on campus besides Lara. The two had met in an introduction class during first semester.

Now, Lara didn’t like Sophie. But she tolerated her, simply because Lara loved Manon.

The story showed that Sophie was at one of the clubs downtown. She didn’t mean to seem crazy but it looked like she could make out Manon in the background of the photo even though she wasn’t tagged.

Lara quickly grabbed her keys and called for an uber.

The club she arrived at was, for lack of a better words, popping. Lara was immediately repulsed.

She noticed the huge line of people trying to get in but didn’t want to waste her time. She then remembered something the other girls had told her once.

‘When you channel your inner diva, you can do whatever you want.’

‘Type shit.’

‘Yes Yoonchae.’

Lara smiled as she strutted over to the bouncer. He gave her a look over, Lara not even faltering despite still being in her school clothes. She wished she had changed but she didn’t plan on needing to look ready for the club.

She raised a challenging eyebrow at him but remained silent, trying her hardest to exude boss bitch energy.

She succeeded because the bouncer stepped aside and flicked his head to the side signaling her to go ahead. Lara grinned at him appreciatively as the people in line complained.

Inside made Lara feel even worse. It was dark, sticky, everyone was sweaty and there was way too much touching.

Lara had no idea how she was going to find her girlfriend in this mess but she was determined. She was methodical. She started near the bar and worked her way back and forth through the crowd, like a shark.

Her heart sank when she finally found her. They were in what appears to be a closed off section in the back of the club, next to the DJ booth.

There was even a velvet rope and a bouncer, very stereotypical.

Manon was seated on a red velvet couch. Lara felt her blood boil because some random guy had an arm resting around Manon’s back and Sophie sat perched practically on her girlfriend’s lap. Sophie giggled at something the man said and started playing with Manon’s hair who leaned into the touch.

Lara huffed and tried to approach but the bouncer put his hand out.

“VIP only.” He said in a deep gruff voice.

Lara glared at him but he was unbothered.

“Babe?” Manon looked up shocked.

“She with you Ms. Bannerman?” The bouncer asked. Manon stood up, gently pushing Sophie off who shrugged and continued talking to the guy.

“Yeah, Rob. That’s my girlfriend Lara!” Manon slurred, grinning wildly.

The bouncer let her pass and Lara stomped over to Manon.

“I thought you were at the library studying-“

“Manon, I finished two hours ago.” Lara stated. She looked into Manon’s bloodshot eyes and realized the girl was gone. Probably drunk and high on what Lara could only assume was alcohol and weed. Hopefully nothing else.

“I tried calling. And texting. And checking your location. But none of it worked.” Lara explained, still visibly upset.

“What?” Manon asked slowly, her inebriated brain trying its best to keep up.

“Yo, do any of you have my phone?” Manon asked the other people on the couch who shrugged and shook their heads.

“How can you be this irresponsible?” Lara asked incredulously.

“Babe, it’s no big deal-“

“It is a big deal Manon. I’ve spent all day studying my ass off, stuck in class, stressed out of my mind. All I wanted was a night in with my girlfriend but instead I spent two hours tracking her down through Instagram stories, hoping nothing bad has happened to her.” Lara was getting louder and louder.

Manon, in her intoxicated shape, had enough of getting blamed.

“Yeah? So I’m only needed to you when you’re not so busy with school, right? I’m just some lazy ass who can’t do anything. You just want me to sit around all day waiting for you to call me to do something?” Manon argued.

“What? What does that even mean-“

“I’m sorry that I actually want to hang out with people that want me to just be me.” Manon said, clearly not grasping a concept of an argument. Sophie had given her some pill earlier and she couldn’t form a true coherent thought.

“They don’t want you to just be you. They just want you, period, you know that right? Sophie wants you so bad and I’ve told you time and time again.”

“And I told you it doesn’t matter!”

“It does if she’s sitting in your lap! And playing with your fucking hair! And you spend more time with her than me! Your own fucking girlfriend!” Lara was shouting now.

The rest of the club was too loud to notice but the VIP section could see it. Manon was started to visibly shake.

“You don’t trust me? I’m sorry that I’m not perfect like you. At least Sophie makes time for me.” Manon spoke, choosing not to raise her voice like Lara.

“I don’t trust that bitch-“

“Don’t call her that.” Manon said firmly. “The only person being a bitch here is you.”

Lara felt tears in her eyes. She couldn’t believe what her girlfriend just called her.

“We’re done.” Lara said. Manon eyes widened in shock.

“Fine.” Manon said, she stopped fighting against the drugs in her system and let them dull the edges of her mind.

She raised her finger, summoning Rob the bouncer.

“Get her out of her please.” Manon said sweetly. Lara gasped as the big man gently grabbed her arm.

“Don’t touch me.” She wrestled free before turning around.

“Fuck you Manon! We’re finished! I never want to see you again!” Lara shouted crying, as she was pulled away gently.

Manon was already walking away. She looked unfazed as she went back and sat between Sophie and the guy, both people leaning into her.

But deep down inside something in Manon broke. Probably her heart. But she had made her decision.

“I need another drink.”

Present Day...

“Wow, that’s…” Megan started.

“That’s intense.” Daniela spoke, finishing the other girl’s sentence. Daniela had knocked on the door while Manon was explaining her side of the story.

“I’m not proud.” Manon nodded.

She had also revealed what’s happened since she and Daniela last saw each other.

“Why didn’t you reach out? After?” Daniela asked softly. Manon looked down, the guilt riddling her stomach still lingering. “I mean, I know I wasn’t the nicest when I saw you, but-“

“You just wanted what was best for me. I know. I see that now.”

“I have a lot of regrets. But losing you girls, not just Lara, but the rest of you as well, that’s what I regret the most. I was ashamed. Of my actions, of who I was, of my struggles.” Manon reasoned.

“If Sophia had texted us two years ago, I wouldn’t have answered. I would’ve stayed far away.”

Megan, ever the emotional one, got up and hugged Manon. Daniela followed. Manon laughed, crying as well. The three screamed as they toppled on the bed.

“I’m okay.” Manon spoke, not to anyone in particular but she felt good being able to speak about this.

“And I’m sorry. I’m sorry my actions led to this and I want to fix it. That’s why I’m here, on this trip.” Manon explained.

“Well, I forgive you.” Megan said smiling. Megan was never very good at holding grudges and she believed that Manon was being sincere. That was enough for her.

“And I forgave you yesterday, when I realized you had changed since the last time I saw you.” Daniela said quietly. ”Honestly? I just want all of us to be together again.”

“Do you think Lara and Yoonchae will hear us out then? I figure Sophia would cause she’s still mother.” Manon asked earning a giggle from Megan. Daniela quickly whipped out her phone.

Daniela: I’m with M&M
Daniela: you think Yoonchae and Lara will listen to their apologies?

Sophia: idk
Sophia: we’re currently chilling by the pool
Sophia: they still mad
Sophia: maybe give them some time?

Daniela: 😔 fine

Sophia: I’ll miss you
Sophia: I feel like SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs in that one episode

Daniela: your actually such a loser
Daniela: but I’ll miss you too

Sophia: you’re*
Sophia: maybe we can trick the girls into seeing each other at dinner or something

Daniela: good plan
Daniela: ok mother

Sophia: I’m going to block you

Lara, Yoonchae, and Sophia spent the day by the pool.

Sophia spent it reading some cheap romance novel she found last week. It was light and an easy read.

Yoonchae and Lara were either grumbling to themselves or each other or worse, to Sophia.

She did her best to try and be nice, to listen, because that’s what the girls really wanted. Someone to listen to them complain.

‘Is this the cost of love?’ Sophia wondered.

For a long time, love eluded her.

Not that she didn’t have prospects. She had some experience. But she was never in love with any of them.

In the past two years, she had two “relationships” that might’ve been fruitful, but Sophia cut it off when she realized she didn’t see a future with either of them. It wasn’t fair to either of them.

And yet, Sophia still wondered if that’s what was missing. Why she felt so empty all this time.

Love.

“Hey, let’s go out tonight. Let’s go dancing or something. No point in sitting around here, upset.” Sophia asked. The other two girls instantly agreed. Sophia smiled as she texted Daniela the plan.

“I’m assuming you don’t want to meet up with the others for dinner?”

They both gave pointed looks at the Filipina who put her hands up defensively.

“I was just checking.”

Manon, Megan, and Daniela spent the rest of the day at the hotel spa. After their earlier cry session they wanted some rest and relaxation.

They were all currently sitting in the sauna, getting said rest and relaxation.

Daniela’s phone vibrated and she automatically smiled before speaking.

“Sophia says the others are going to go dancing after dinner.”

“I’ll send you a place. Send it to Sophia.” Manon replied grabbing her phone.

“Make sure they think it’s Sophia’s idea. Not ours.” Megan added, not opening her eyes.

“Got it. You know, you can be sneaky sometimes Meg. Just not around Yoonchae.” Daniela giggled.

At the mention of the other girl’s name, Megan frowned.

“Do you think I made a mistake by ignoring her when she came back to America?” Megan asked out loud. The other two exchanged glances.

“Megan. Did you ever tell Yoonchae how you feel about her?” Daniela asked, figuring this was a safe space.

Megan sighed. “Did someone tell you or am I just super obvious?”

“I’d like to think I’m pretty observant.”

“You’re like, the ditziest person I know and I hang out with literal models.” Manon laughed.

“I will fight you right here, right now Manon.” Daniela claimed.

“Guys. Focus.” Megan said, serious. The two stopped laughing.

“I think you were just protecting yourself.” Manon pulled her knees to her chest, adjusting her towel. The other two girls listened intently.

“You held on to your feelings for so long, probably because you were too scared to lose your friendship if she didn’t feel the same way. But in the end, you felt like you lost that friendship anyway because she left…” Manon continued.

“Did she ever talk to you about leaving?” Daniela asked, Megan shook her head.

“Right, so that wasn’t fair to you.” Daniela nodded reaching out and rubbing Megan’s shoulder.

“Ok but who am I to have stopped her? It was her choice to make. And she made a decision,” Megan asked, still feeling hurt.

“Her best friend. Someone who loves her. Not just the way we love her, but more profound. That bond between you two isn’t nothing. I see it in the way she lets you touch her-“ Manon was cut off.

“Woah-“

“Not like that Dani!”

“I mean, she hates physical contact. Except when it comes to you. Or how she always talked about the things you taught her. Or how she always ordered food making sure she can share it with you and your thousands of allergies.” Manon explained, Megan grew more and more contemplative.

“What are you saying?” Megan asked nervously.

“Maybe she needed you to fight back for her to realize it. Maybe you need to finally tell her the one truth you’ve avoided telling her.” Daniela finally said what Megan was scared of.

“But if she doesn’t feel the same-“

“Then that sucks. But at least you’ll finally be free.” Manon rested a hand on Megan’s knee supportively.

“And you have to trust your bond is enough that you won’t lose your friendship over this. Or you go back to how things have been the last three years anyway. What do you have to lose?” Daniela agreed.

Megan closed her eyes and leaned back against the sauna wall.

“Ok... I’ll tell her tonight.”

Sophia, Lara, and Yoonchae were eating dinner at a small sushi restaurant within walking distance from the hotel.

For most of the day, Yoonchae remained relatively quiet. She had been trying to find the right words to describe how she was feeling.

Eventually, she spoke up while they were eating.

“I’m sorry for earlier.” The other two girls stopped eating, confused.

“What for?” Sophia asked.

“You guys… you guys didn’t abandon me. You guys just grew up. And were dealing with your own stuff too. I was just being selfish.”

“Totally bratty,” Lara nodded earning a playful shove from Yoonchae. “But understandable. I mean, you moved here and we were an integrated part of your life and then we just left.”

“Yeah, we tried to keep in touch but then everything happened and we just stopped. All of us.” Sophia sadly told the truth. “I should’ve checked up on you more. Made sure you were really fine.” Sophia directed to Yoonchae who shook her head.

“I was fine at first… I had Megan. We had each other while you guys were gone. But she… then I…” Yoonchae started before she gasped and spoke in Korean dropping her head until it hit the table.

“Um, what?” Lara asked confused.

“I also abandoned. I left. I left Megan alone.” Yoonchae said, squeezing her eyes. Why didn’t she realize what she had done earlier?

For the past three years she felt upset that the others left and then she felt upset with Megan for not responding to her but she was skipping a crucial fact. She left Megan first. So why on Earth would Megan have replied to her when she came back?

Sophia gave her an understanding look. “Maybe we all have something to apologize for.”

“I need to go.” Yoonchae said standing up. “I will send you money.”

She got up quickly and started running to the hotel.

“She didn’t even finish her food.” Lara laughed. Sophia just shrugged as she took the rest of Yoonchae’s sushi and put it on her plate.

“Guess she really doesn’t play about her girl.”

Megan had returned from dinner with Daniela and Manon. The plan was to get ready and “accidentally” run into the others at the club tonight.

The thought made Megan nervous because she would have to find a way to get Yoonchae to talk to her, preferably alone.

She was so fucked. Like genuinely fucked.

She didn’t anticipate to find Yoonchae waiting for her in their hotel room, sitting on her bed.

“Oh. Hey.” Megan greeted, shocked. Yoonchae looked at her carefully before standing up.

She slowly made her way over to Megan until they stood face to face.

“Can we talk?” Yoonchae asked shyly. Megan nodded opening her mouth.

“Yoonchae, I’m so sorry-“ Megan started but a hand covered her mouth.

Megan looked at the other girl confused until she spoke. “Tell me the truth?”

Megan’s reply was muffled by Yoonchae’s hand who giggled softly and removed it.

“Always.” Megan repeated.

“I’m sorry Megan.” Megan was confused. What was she sorry for? Did she know? Was she about to get friendzoned all these years later?

“When I left… when I went back to Korea, I hurt you.” Yoonchae said, her tone was questioning but it was more a statement. Megan’s eyes widened in realization what this conversation was about. She internally let out a sigh of relief. But then also realized the gravity of the situation.

Looking into Yoonchae’s wide eyes, Megan wanted to deny it. To lie. To ease the girl’s pain. But even though they hadn’t really spoken in three years, she still didn’t plan on breaking her promise.

“Yeah. You did.” Megan said, confirming Yoonchae’s fear.

“The rest of the girls left. It sucked. The only reason it didn’t suck so much was because at least I had you. We had each other. But then I didn’t, because you went back.” Megan explained.

“Why didn’t you tell me to stay?” Yoonchae asked, Megan laughed.

“Because you didn’t ask me what I thought. Because then I would’ve had to have been selfish. But you were always good at not pushing, not asking me to tell you things if you knew I really didn’t want to say it.” Megan said, her tone becoming a bit sharper. This was new to Yoonchae, Megan rarely spoke to her like this before, but now she understood why Megan was being like this.

“Then tell me now. The truth-“ Megan instantly thought she was talking about her feelings “-about me leaving.”

‘Oh thank God’ Megan thought. She took a deep breath.

“You hurt me. We had these plans. Plans for school. Plans to be roommates. Plans to go to the beach on the weekends. Plans to find all the Asian food in LA and rank it all on a tier list…”

“I thought we would be best friends… forever really. And I know it bummed you out that we lost the others. I know it bummed you out when they missed big events or parties or even our graduation. It bummed me out too, cause I missed them. But I felt like…” Megan paused, her breathing becoming heavier.

Yoonchae noticed and grabbed Megan’s hand softly. Squeezing it for encouragement.

“It felt like I wasn’t enough. That you left because I wasn’t enough to keep you here.” Megan reflected on the insecurity she had been holding onto since Yoonchae’s departure back to her homeland.

Combine that with the small detail that Megan had been in love with Yoonchae, it developed into feelings of anger and pain. Which is why she thought the best thing was to cut her off, to never speak to her again. To save herself from any more pain.

Yoonchae was crying now. Megan didn’t even realize that she herself was crying too.

“I’m sorry Megan. I’m so sorry. You were more than enough. I was genuinely happy my senior year because I had you. But I let my sadness about the others and my homesickness blind me so much that I didn’t even realize until now how I hurt you. You didn’t deserve that. You deserve so much better than me-“

“Nothing could be better.” Megan interrupted.

Megan knew the truth.

She had known it four months ago when she saw Yoonchae’s text in the group chat.

She had known it from the moment the uneasiness inside her first settled what it was.

She had known it from the moment she couldn’t, wouldn’t name what the feeling really was.

She had known it from the moment she opened the hotel door the previous day and saw Yoonchae again.

Megan was still in love with Yoonchae Jeung.

Daniela and Manon had just confirmed it for her earlier.

Her feelings were still there. They never really left.

She had never moved on. She had told herself that she did but all she did was bury it, deep inside. Behind insecurity and resentment and blocking on Instagram.

But all it took was twenty four hours and the Korean girl had broken down every wall she built. She would always be her weak spot. Her first love. She hated it. She loved it.

“Yoonchae. I forgive you.”

“Megan-“

“I’m serious. Have I ever lied to you?” Yoonchae shook her head.

“You hurt me. But even after all these years, you’re still the best friendship I’ve ever had. Don’t tell the other girls but I’m sure they know already, but just in case.” Megan said, earning another giggle.

“You’re sorry. And for me, that’s enough. Because I’d rather we have a chance to be friends again than lose you all over.” Megan said before Yoonchae pulled her into a hug.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I stopped replying. I’m sorry I never answered when you came back to America. I saw it, but I was also angry and hurt and confused and figuring my own shit out.”

“But one thing I know for sure is that I’ve missed you. I’ve missed you so damn much.” Megan mumbled this into Yoonchae’s ear. It tickled but Yoonchae felt every word she said. It seared itself into her brain.

“I’ve missed you too Meiyok.”

She was going to do it now. She was going to tell her how she felt. How she really felt. Megan felt herself dissociate.

She had been rehearsing what she was going to say but now, in the moment, it’s like she forgot how to talk.

“Can we be best friends again?” Yoonchae asked innocently before Megan could confess.

Megan squeezed her eyes shut. She wanted more than that. So much more. But Yoonchae only wanted friendship.

“Of course.” Not a lie. She genuinely wanted to be Yoonchae’s best friend. She just also wanted to love her romantically, but minor details. Lying by omission never counted, right?

Yoonchae pulled away from the hug and looked at Megan. And then she smiled. And then she laughed. Megan mirroring her actions until they were both a laughing mess.

“We’re going dancing tonight. Want to come with?” Yoonchae asked, playing with Megan’s fingers.

“Actually, we’re all going dancing. Manon and I were going to find you guys and apologize tonight.” Megan revealed.

“But Manon-“

“Do you trust me?” Megan interrupted. Yoonchae paused but nodded, “Of course.”

“Manon is sorry. Not just to Lara but to you and Sophia and all of us. You just need to hear her out. Can you do that? For me?” Megan asked staring into Yoonchae’s eyes. They were close now. Almost as close as last night.

Close enough that Yoonchae could count Megan’s eyelashes if she wanted to. Not that she wanted to.

She swallowed nervously. “Y-yeah. I can do that.”

“Thanks” Megan said, placing a sloppy kiss on her cheek cause Yoonchae to shout in disgust and Megan to laugh.

They separated and started getting ready for the night, both feeling significantly lighter and also happier than they had in years.

Sophia and Lara were surprised when the elevator doors opened on Yoonchae’s floor and said girl was standing there talking calmly to Megan.

“Hey guys!” Megan said cheerily. The two girls looked confused at Yoonchae who just smiled shyly as they entered the elevator.

“Everything good?” Lara asked with a raised eyebrow. Yoonchae sent her a warning glare.

“Yeah. Me and Yoonchae talked it out. We’re good now. She invited me dancing, I hope that’s ok.” Megan said pouting.

“Of course,” Sophia said instantly, aware of the younger girl’s plan already thanks to Daniela.

They made it downstairs and began to walk. They would’ve called for an uber but it was a nice night in Miami and the bar Manon had told Sophia about was only a ten minute walk.

However, the walk itself still sucked. Sophia reminded herself not to wear heels the next time they came.

When they arrived, they found a dark, three story building. In glowing letters, the name of the club shone against the dark Miami night.

Harmony.

Oddly enough, there was no sound coming from the building, but a huge line was wrapped around it.

Lara groaned, “This place is packed, we’re not getting in here.”

Megan smirked as she walked up to the bouncer, following Manon’s instructions.

“Four members of KATSEYE.” She said smoothly to the bouncer who checked his iPad and nodded when Megan flashed her ID.

He opened up the door and gestured for them.

The other girls gaped at her but she just winked. Once inside they walked through a double door that led to a nightclub. The walls must be soundproof because the music was definitely loud inside.

Sophia glanced around absorbing the situation.

There was a dance floor in front of the DJ booth. The DJ was a young, tall woman with big blonde hair who was bouncing up and down to the beat of the music.

There were a few tables where people stood around drinking and talking. And of course, the bar.

“Shots?” Sophia asked and the three other girls nodded, following her to the bar. She sneakily sent a text to a certain Latina, confirming their arrival.

At the bar, they instantly got the attention of the bartender. A woman with striking green eyes.

“What can I do for you guys?” She asked politely.

“Wow, fast service. I love it.” Lara said.

“Do you guys have soju?” Yoonchae asked curiously. The bartender shook her head.

“Not usually, but we actually have some on the second floor. I can call someone to bring down a bottle-“ the bartender started, holding on to the microphone of the earpieces that all the employees were wearing.

“No it is ok, whatever you guys want is fine.” Yoonchae stopped her, not wanting to cause any trouble.

“You sure?” Megan asked as the Korean girl smiled at her and nodded.

“We’ll do four shots of tequila please.” Sophia decided for them. The bartender nodded and lined up four shot glasses.

“What’s on the second floor?” Lara asked curiously.

“Second floor is the lounge area. It’s usually quieter where we have karaoke or performances and stuff like that.. Third floor is the kitchen and our restaurant. We have a rooftop area coming soon but there’s some construction at the moment so it’s closed off.” The bartender explained.

“Oh cool.” Lara raised an eyebrow. “You found a cool spot Fifi.” Lara said to Sophia as she passed out the shots.

They cheered and took the shot, the alcohol burning their throats. They returned the shot glasses to the bartender.

Yoonchae paid for the shots since she didn’t pay for her dinner earlier.

“Thank you,” Yoonchae began, reading the bartenders name tag, “Lauren.”

“No problem,” Lauren smiled as the Korean girl was dragged away by Megan towards the dance floor along with the other two girls.

“They’re here.” Lauren said into her headset microphone.

The DJ was actually pretty good at her job Lara decided.

I mean, pleasing a drunk crowd was easy. Just play the bangers and let the energy fuel the set.

However, she was throwing in some surprises here and there. Throwbacks that scratched the back of Lara’s mind that earned praise from Lara. The DJ smiled at her at one point.

‘There’s no way she heard me, right?' Lara thought to herself. Yet she could not shake the feeling that the DJ kept glancing at them. 

The four girls were dancing along steadily. Megan and Yoonchae were mainly just spinning and giggling instead of actually dancing.

But they were happy, and that was enough for Lara, for now. She felt a tinge of jealously when watching them.

She was dancing with Sophia, and while she considered all the girls her best friends, she knew that technically, Sophia was closest with Daniela. And she used to be the closest with Manon.

Seeing her ex-girlfriend this trip was complicated. Lara knew this coming in, but her desire to see the other girls outweighed her desire to never see Manon again.

Still, she felt a level of guilt from splitting the group today. Especially, separating her current dancing partner from her best friend.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the DJ speaking into the microphone.

“Harmony, how we feeling tonight?!”

The crowd shouted, even Megan joined in earning laughs from Sophia and Yoonchae.

“I’m DJ, the DJ, I know very clever.” DJ said, earning laughs. “Let’s switch things up a little shall we? Do we have any kpop fans in the crowd?”

This earned Yoonchae’s attention as the girls heard the intro that was seared into their memory.

“How about some Blackpink!?” DJ shouted into the microphone.

“Oh no.” Lara said as Megan and Yoonchae exchanged looks.

Megan laughed as the intro to Pink Venom started played. She playfully started herding the crowd, clearing a small circle and the drunk crowd obliged, confused but willing.

“C’mon guys.” Yoonchae said with a pout dragging the two girls to the middle of the makeshift circle. The crowd began to cheer for them.

Megan searched the crowd before she found who she was looking for. She dramatically grabbed Daniela and Manon out of the crowd which should’ve surprised Lara, but not really. She rolled her eyes because figured something like this would happen. The girls weren’t as clever as they thought.

“I can’t believe you guys are making us do this.” Daniela said laughing but locking in quickly.

“Who is making you?!” Sophia screamed before they fell into the choreography that Yoonchae had forced them to learn years ago.

They started off rusty but eventually they found their rhythm. Smiles and laughs graced their faces as they danced in sync as if no time had passed between the six. The alcohol in their systems and the drunk audience also helped.

“Taste that pink venom, taste that pink venom
Taste that pink venom (get 'em, get 'em, get 'em)”

One of the many kpop dances that Yoonchae and Sophia forced them to learn back in high school. Megan and Daniela agreed to learn because they used to love dancing, they didn’t really need an excuse. Manon and Lara followed along only because their best friends were doing it, so why not. They had fun with it.

By the end of the song, they were breathing hard as they posed for the crowd who cheered, confused, but ecstatic.

“That was sick!” DJ shouted pointing at the six girls, nodding in approval, before she started playing another kpop song. The crowd, inspired by the girls, began to move and dance filling in the circle again.

The girls laughed and hugged each other.

“That was so much fun!” Daniela shouted, instantly earning a nod from Megan.

“Hell yeah! It’s been so long since I did actual choreo.” Megan revealed. “Same.” Daniela solemnly agreed.

“You having fun?” Megan asked Yoonchae quietly who nodded quickly. “I love Blackpink.” Yoonchae shrugged. “I know.” Megan replied with a fond smile.

“You were killing it Dani.” Sophia complimented the former dancer. “Thanks Soph. You did pretty good yourself.” Daniela responded while blushing.

Lara and Manon exchanged glances but didn’t speak.

The girls continued to dance, this time more freely however the two exes remained on opposite sides of their friend group.

Lara had made her way up to the second floor of the building. It had been about an hour and a half since they started dancing. Her legs had started to hurt, she needed water, and she needed to use the bathroom.

Lauren the bartender had directed her up here because the bathrooms were cleaner, bless her soul.

After she was done, as she was on her way back downstairs, she decided to exam the “lounge” level of this building. She was met with a vast room filled with tables and little booths. There was a stage with a DJ booth next to it and screens for people to read lyrics on.

A few people sat around at the various tables, sharing drinks and just talking as opposed to the raging night club going on downstairs.

Lara turned around to leave when she noticed a familiar figure sitting at the bar on this level.

Manon had disappeared about fifteen minutes ago. Not that she was keeping track of her ex.

Here she was, sitting at the bar, exchanging words with the bartender.

Said bartender glanced at Lara and made eye contact. She said something to Manon who turned around and looked at Lara. Manon said something to the bartender who nodded and filled up another glass with ice and water, matching the one Manon was drinking, and placed it down. Lara didn't want to seem rude. 

“Thanks.” Lara said approaching. She took a sip of the refreshing water.

“You must be Lara. Manon has told us so much about you-“

“Camila.” Manon warned. “Right. Sorry.” The bartender, Camila, said awkwardly. She glanced between the two, rocking on her heels.

Finish the water and walk away, that was Lara’s plan.

At least, until a girl came out from the door behind the bar.

“Mila, Ally asked if you could run some bottles of wine upstairs. They’re running low.” Camila quickly put her headset back on.

“Heading up now.” She said into her microphone. She grabbed two bottles of red wine and glanced at Manon, giving her a nod. Manon returned it before the girl walked away.

Lara finished her water and turned around to leave before Manon spoke up.

“Lara, wait.” The Indian girl stopped in her tracks.

“Lara, I-“ Manon started, ready for her grand apology that she had been thinking of the past few months since Sophia’s first text.

“Stop.” Manon shut her mouth.

“I don’t want to hear it. Honestly, I’d rather not even talk to you but… we hurt the girls. Us. Us breaking up, we broke the group.” Lara spoke, looking everywhere except at the other girl.

“But I miss the girls. And I’m sure you missed them too. I think… I think we’re all better when we’re together.”

“I mean, the six of us. So we won’t force them to choose sides. At least, I won’t. I can be cordial. I won’t ignore you when we’re with them. But I don’t want to hear whatever it is you’re about to tell me.”

Manon tried to get a word in but then Lara looked up and they locked eyes. She was deathly serious.

“Let me just say this, Manon. What hurt me most wasn’t the partying, or the drinking, or the lying, or even the fucking cheating.” Lara spoke harshly, causing Manon to flinch, but the other girl continued to talk before Manon could defend herself.

“It was the fact that you left. I waited that whole weekend for you to come back, for you to beg for my forgiveness so I could cry and you could cry and we could try and figure it out. Because that’s what you do when you love someone. But you packed your shit without telling me and ran away. A week passed. I would’ve settled for a simple ‘I’m sorry’ or any form of apology really. Instead, I was scared that you were fucking dead in a ditch somewhere.” Lara raised her voice slightly.

“At least, until Daniela told me you were alive. Just on the other side of the fucking country.” Lara revealed, dropping her voice again. “So it’s too late. Save your apologies for the others. I don’t care if they’re friends with you, because as much as I hate to admit it, the truth is that KATSEYE isn’t the same if you’re not in it. So again, I’ll play nice. But you and me? We’re done.” Lara concluded gesturing to the gap between them, “I’m setting the boundary right here.”

Manon wanted to argue. To fight back. To say what she needed to say three years ago. To tell her she’s sorry and that she never stopped thinking about Lara and she would never forgive herself for hurting her.

But Lara was correct. She had no right to say such a thing. She lost that a long time ago.

“Ok.” Manon said quietly.

“Ok.” Lara mirrored.

“There you guys are!” Megan greeted them, appearing with the others.

“Oh cool,another bar. Bathroom first and then another round.” Sophia said walking away, Yoonchae following.

Daniela and Megan both looked at Manon who shook her head. They gave her a sympathetic look before claiming some seats.

The girls soon returned and all six of them now sat at the bar in order: Lara, Sophia, Daniela, Yoonchae, Megan, and Manon.

The newly arrived girls were looking at the cocktail menu when Manon spoke up.

“I’d like to get some stuff out in the open.” Manon said with a sigh.

“I’m sorry.” She started, looking at each girl individually before settling her gaze on Lara.

“I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry that my actions caused the group to split. I’m sorry we all lost each other for the past few years. It was my fault and I own up to it. Truly.” Manon spoke with a degree of seriousness that hadn’t seen from her this trip.

Lara stayed silent, after all this time she finally got the apology she wanted from Manon… but it felt weaker than she expected. Probably because she had denied her earlier personal apology.

“No. Like I told Yoonchae,” Sophia started, “I should’ve tried harder-“

“We all could’ve been better to each other.” Megan interrupted.

Daniela nodded. “We were supposed to be friends. Best friends. But things change, and maybe so did we. Stuff happened for each of us and it sucked.”

“But we’re all here now right?” Yoonchae said quietly. The other girls nodded in agreement. Lara still had her jaw clenched and Manon noticed.

“Yoonchae, I’m sorry.” Manon finally said to the Korean girl.

“I’m sorry too, I was being…”

“A brat.” Lara finished earning some laughs. Yoonchae rolled her eyes but nodded.

“Yes. That. But I just really missed my unnies.” The girls awed.

“But I’m your favorite unnie right?” Megan asked and Yoonchae smiled awkwardly. “Yes.”

“So we’re all sorry right?” Sophia asked just to make sure.

“Yes mother.” They all replied in unison.

“Ok, I walked into that one.”

“Well this must be the rest of KATSEYE.” Camila said, appearing once again.

“Guys, this is my friend Camila. She helps run this place along with some of my other friends.” Manon revealed.

“Ah, it all makes sense now.” Sophia spoke, putting all the pieces together. She was wondering why certain people, like the green eyed bartender and the DJ downstairs seemed to notice them immediately.

“A little birdie told me that you guys wanted soju shots.” The bartender said pulling out the familiar green bottle.

Yoonchae excitedly clapped her hands.

“Yes, six shots please.” Yoonchae said with a smile.

“And what are the rest of us going to drink?” Megan teased earning a shove from Yoonchae.

“Um-“ Manon started before Camila interrupted her with a nod, “I got you, babes.”

Camila poured out five shots of soju and filled the last cup with pineapple juice. Manon looked at her thankfully.

“You’re not drinking again?” Sophia asked curiously.

“Yeah, are you pregnant?” Yoonchae asked causing Daniela and Megan to snort and Lara to sit up.

“No, no. Definitely not.” Manon chuckled. “I actually quit drinking… after everything happened-“ Manon continued, sending a brief look to Lara, “- I’ve been sober for about a year now.”

“Oh wow,” Sophia said surprised.

“That’s awesome girl.” Megan said patting her on the back.

“We’re proud of you.” Daniela said holding her up her cup to her friend.

“Thanks guys,” Manon and Lara made eye contact before Manon looked away, embarrassed.

Sober? Lara had questions. A lot of them. But she refrained from asking. She drew her boundary and she was determined to keep it.

“건배 (Cheers!)” Yoonchae cheered holding up the shot glass. The girls echoed her cheer and they downed the shot.

Camila went to refill their glasses as she asked.
“So what’s up with the whole KATSEYE thing anyway?”

“Oh, that’s a fun story.” Sophia immediately said looking at Megan who grew flustered.

“It’s my favorite. It’s about how we all met, or well, how I met all of them.” Yoonchae nodded.

“You met in high school, right?” Camila asked Manon who confirmed it. “Yeah. But the name didn’t really exist until Yoonchae came along.”

“Our little baby” Sophia teased.

“Tell it from your point of view Yoonchae!” Lara recommended.

“Fine but someone help me if I forget English again.”

Five years ago…

Yoonchae felt uneasy.

She had been ever since her parents told her they were moving to America.

Everything happened so fast, the packing, the move, and now she was standing in her new high school. About to start her junior year.

Technically, she was starting late. The school year had started a few weeks ago but they said she could catch up easily. Ironic considering everything made her feel uneasy.

The uneasiness had only intensified when all the eyes of her new homeroom class were on her.

“This is Yoonchae. She’s new.” Her homeroom teacher, someone who definitely was over their job, said out loud.

Most of the class ignored her, save for a few boys that she could just tell were talking about her.

“안녕하세요 (Hello),” Yoonchae said with a bow before remembering she was in America.

“Hello. G-Good morning.” She spoke again with red cheeks, her accent thick.

Nobody paid her any attention, which she was thankful for.

“Megan, can you show Yoonchae around?”

Yoonchae found the girl her teacher was talking to.

She had dark hair, glasses, and she was some kind of Asian, but she couldn’t exactly tell from where.

Megan immediately objected. “Ms. Harris, I’m not even Korean-“

“I didn’t say you were Megan.” Ms. Harris replied, pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance.

“Well, we’re not just gonna start speaking Chinese to each other.”

“Yoonchae, go sit next to Megan. She’ll show you to your next class.” Ms. Harris said, ignoring Megan's comment.

Yoonchae walked over and sat next to the other girl who didn’t seem very happy.

“Hello.” Yoonchae greeted her. Megan side eyed her and then spoke.

“Hey.”

They didn’t speak for the rest of homeroom. Not because Yoonchae didn’t try, but Megan effectively ignored her.

She took Yoonchae’s schedule as they walked out of homeroom and sighed.

“We have lot of classes together.” Megan said bluntly. No smile. No emotion. Just… words.

This confused Yoonchae, who was used to people being more expressive. She herself was shy, but even being reserved was better than this, bluntness.

They walked to their next class. Yoonchae tried to memorize the path they took to get to each class but the school was quite large and confusing.

Every class, Yoonchae was assigned a seat either next to, in front of, or behind Megan. This clearly pissed the girl off more because as soon as the bell rung for lunch she turned around.

“Your last class is in the library. It’s on the top floor, just take the big staircase all the way up.”

That was all she said before disappearing. Yoonchae stood confused. Where was the cafeteria? Where were the bathrooms?

She never felt so overwhelmed and frustrated and alone. But she maintained her stoic facade.

She followed the crowd around until she found the cafeteria and saw the signs for the bathroom.

After she did her business, she looked around the cafeteria, all the tables were full and people kept looking at her funny.

She quickly exited and saw some students at tables outside. She saw Megan sitting with four other girls. She was laughing. Yoonchae remembered thinking she looked prettier like that, when she was smiling and laughing.

She avoided eye contact with the girl and sat at a table by herself. She pulled out the lunch her mom packed for her and ate in silence.

She didn’t notice the glances Megan kept sending her.

After lunch, Yoonchae found the staircase that led to the library. Her last class was ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages.

She had been taking English lessons back in Korea but actually applying it and using it in real time was harder than expected. Because the school didn’t have that many ESOL kids, they were placed in regular classes and given a free period at the end of each day to work through the normal school work.

Yoonchae entered the library and spotted the ESOL students. There were two tables, one full of boys and one full of girls.

The boys table was rowdy and loud and they talked to each other in what sounded like Spanish.

The other table had five girls, one of them being Megan. Yoonchae was surprised to find her there because Megan spoke perfect English from what she could tell.

One of the boys gestured to Yoonchae, pulling up a chair for her next to him, and patting it with his hand. She hesitated but she also didn’t want to bother Megan any more by sitting at her table.

Before she could move though, one of the girls stood up. She had straight, bleached hair, and spoke Spanish in a thick accent.

Whatever she said to the boy must have been embarrassing because the other boys laughed as the boy who was gesturing to Yoonchae turned super red and mumbled under his breath.

The girl sitting next to the Spanish girl gestured her over, in a much nicer way than the boy did, and she walked over.

“Hi. I’m Sophia, that’s Daniela.” Sophia motioned to the girl who spoke up, who was still glaring at the boys.

“That’s Lara and Manon” she gestured to the other two girls at the table.

“You must be Yoonchae.” Manon said while Lara just waved at her.

“How do you know that?” Yoonchae asked slowly and Lara spoke now.

“Megan told us.” They all looked toward Megan who didn’t even look up from her school work.

Yoonchae just nodded.

“So you’re from Korea right? I love Kpop, sorry if that’s weird.” Sophia started talking to her way too fast but she just nodded again dumbly.

“In Korea, we just call it pop.” Yoonchae said quietly. The other girls, except Megan, laughed (although Megan did give a slight smile).

“Oh she’s funny. I like her.” Daniela spoke up.

Yoonchae learned that they were all in ESOL because they knew another language besides English and grew up outside the US. However, since they weren’t really struggling with English they just used it as a free period to goof off and finish school work early.

Except for Lara who used it to work on her dual enrollment and AP classes. Manon explained proudly that Lara was at the top of their class.

Yoonchae felt slightly better at the end of the school day because all the girls actually spoke to her more and gave her advice for school work and school in general.

Except for Megan. She just stayed focused on her own work.

The rest of the week passed by and every day Yoonchae was convinced more and more that Megan hated her.

She never said anything straight up but Yoonchae could feel the animosity from every short answer and every look Megan would give her.

Yet, Megan still waited for Yoonchae to make sure she found her way to class, which confused Yoonchae.

‘She probably just doesn’t want to get in trouble for losing the new kid,’ Yoonchae reasoned to herself.

That Friday, the last day of her first miserable week at school, Yoonchae decided to ask Sophia for her opinion.

“Megan hates me.” Yoonchae whispered to the Filipina. Sophia looked at her confused glancing at Megan who was buried in a textbook.

“Why do you think that?” Sophia asked concerned.

“Just a crunch.”

“Hunch.”

“Yes, that.” Yoonchae nodded embarrassed.

“She’s a bit… complicated.” Sophia replied quietly. “But she means well, I swear. She’ll warm up to you.”

“Anyway, we’re all going to hang out at my house tonight. You should come.” Sophia extended the invitation. Megan perked up, having heard the whole conversation but choosing not to react.

Yoonchae bit her lip, “I will think about it.” She just had to tell her mom who she knew would be ecstatic that she had made friends.

After school that day, Yoonchae was walking out the entrance typing out a text to her mom, when she felt a heavy arm land around her shoulders. Yoonchae instantly stiffened. She despised physical contact. Especially from strangers.

She looked up and saw it was the boy from their ESOL period. His friends were following close behind, laughing. He said something to her in Spanish but she didn’t understand.

“What?” She asked confused.

“I say, you es muy Bonita- you are very beautiful.” The boy said in a heavy accent.

“Oh -um- thank you?” Yoonchae replied awkwardly.

“We should have dinner together, no?” He asked, his arm still around Yoonchae shoulder.

“Oh. Uh, no. N-no thank you.” Yoonchae tried removing his arm. He ended up grabbing her wrist, causing her to yelp in surprise and pain.

“Why so rude-“ he started to speak before another hand grabbed his wrist. Yoonchae saw the hand’s nails digging into skin, drawing blood, causing the boy to release Yoonchae's wrist.

“Puta! (Bitch!)” The boy screamed, holding his wrist looking at Megan who was unfazed.

Sophia soon arrived, followed by the other girls, shielding Yoonchae from the boy. “Leave her alone.”

In response his friends also stood by his side, clearly not having an issue getting into a physical confrontation with girls.

They all stood, sizing each other up. Megan stared fiercely at the boy who held onto his wrist still. He then started laughing mockingly.

“Cuidado. Estos gatos tienen garras. (Careful, these cats have claws.)” He said through laughs.

“Yeah, these cats have fucking claws-“ Daniela started before she was cut off by Megan running up, surprising everyone, and proceeded to sucker punch the boy, who crumpled to the ground.

“This fucking cat just gave you a black eye!” Megan shouted standing over him. The boys quickly crowded around their downed friend while Megan quickly ran back and grabbed Yoonchae’s hand, grimacing slightly.

“Run.”

The girls frantically ran to Daniela’s and Lara’s cars, quickly piling in, and driving away.

Daniela and Sophia watched through the review mirror as Megan breathed heavy, her head resting against the window. Yoonchae sat next to her, she still held Megan’s hand in her own.

Yoonchae could already see the bruise forming along with a few scratches along her knuckles.

They arrived at a big house a few minutes later. When they got inside, they entered the kitchen where the rest of the girls put their stuff on the counter all while talking about how crazy the whole encounter was.

Megan released Yoonchae’s hand and walked deeper into the house, already knowing where the bathroom was.

Yoonchae hesitated, she wanted to follow but she was in a stranger’s house. Sophia pressed an ice pack into her hands. The older girl gave her a soft smile and a nod.

Yoonchae walked down the hallway that Megan used and followed the sound of running water. She heard a hiss of pain behind a door that wasn’t completely closed the entire way. She pushed it open and was met with Megan, sitting on the sink, running her hand under the water.

A first aid kit sat unopen on the other side of the counter.

Megan glanced up at Yoonchae and quickly looked back at her hand. Yoonchae didn’t say a word. She just silently took Megan’s hand out of the water.

Megan watched the Korean girl as she put the ice pack down, then washed and dried her own hands. She then opened the kit, took a clean sterile gauze and used it to dry Megan’s knuckles. She then took an antiseptic solution and dabbed another gauze with it, before proceeding to carefully clean the cuts with it.

It stung but Megan ignored it by finally talking to Yoonchae.

“괜찮으세요? (Are you okay?)”

Surprised. Yoonchae looked up and made eye contact with Megan for the first time since they met. She had a small, stupid grin on her face and blush on her cheeks.

Yoonchae nodded her head. “예. (Yes.)”

“Ok, that’s all the Korean I know from kdramas so don’t expect more.” Megan said quickly. Yoonchae giggled as she wrapped a bandage around Megan’s knuckles. She then placed the ice pack on top, hoping to alleviate any swelling or bruising.

“Why?”

Megan raised an eyebrow. “Why what?”

“You get hurt. For me. Why?” Yoonchae asked quietly.

Megan closed her eyes and leaned back against the mirror.

“Because that guy was being a dick. Because you were clearly uncomfortable and not interested. Because he wasn't taking no for an answer. Because I ... wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you. Because I don’t… I don’t hate you.” Megan said finally.

Yoonchae’s cheeks turned pink.

“You heared me.”

“Heard.”

“Yes, you heard me.” Yoonchae said again, a bit embarrassed. But Megan didn’t seem to care about her slip up.

“Yeah. I heard.” Megan bit her lip. “I don’t hate you. I just… I have my own shit going on and I took it out on you. That wasn’t very fair, and I’m sorry.”

“You lie.” Yoonchae accused suspiciously. Megan shook her head.

“I swear, I’m telling the truth. I have… dyslexia, so I can’t always read things correctly. So I was upset cause the school put me in ESOL for that even though I can speak English perfectly fine. Then I find out that they assigned me to help the new, pretty foreign exchange student-“ Megan shut her mouth. She wasn’t exactly sure that now was the moment to reveal she was questioning her sexuality.

“Truth is, I was getting upset with you for things that weren’t really your fault. I’m sorry.” Megan spoke but Yoonchae still looked at her slightly unconvinced.

“Here.” She took her bandaged hand and looped her pinky with Yoonchae’s holding it up.

“I swear, I won’t ever lie to you. Pinky promise.” Megan said with a smile. Yoonchae couldn’t fight the grin that graced her mouth.

“Ok Megan.”

“Come on. I’m starving.” Megan said standing up, still holding pinkies with Yoonchae.

Yoonchae usually hated physical contact. But she found out then that with Megan, she didn’t really mind.

Present day…

“After that, when we saw the boy the next week, he had a really bad black eye.” Yoonchae explained.

“So to mock him, we start calling ourselves KATSEYE.” Lara explained.

“He never bothered us again.” Daniela continued.

“He knew better.” Megan said, dramatically punching her open palm with her fist.

All the girls, including Camila, laughed. “I can’t believe you had beef with the girl that barely spoke English.”

Megan’s cheeks heated up.

“Dude, she just clocked your shit.” Manon laughed. Yoonchae looked at her confused.
“What does that mean?”

Megan sighed but whispered the explanation in Yoonchae’s ear who gasped and nodded.

“She did. She clocked your shit.” Yoonchae giggled, repeating the phrase.

“Oh great, I’m just gonna go back downstairs” Megan rolled her eyes, getting up. She really intended to go downstairs and come back after a few minutes, just to mess with them and to avoid any more teasing.

“No no no-“ Yoonchae said grabbing her arm.

“Aw she wants me to stay.” Megan teased. The rest of the girls were used to these antics but Camila raised an eyebrow.

“They’re cute.” Camila said quietly to Lara, Sophia, and Daniela.

“They’re best friends.” Sophia replied easily.

“Is that all?” Camila asked skeptically.

The shrug that the three girls gave her answered all her questions.

They spent the next hour sipping drinks and talking more with Camila.

“So what are your plans for tomorrow?” Camila asked them.

“I was thinking the beach?” Manon asked and the girls instantly agreed.

“Good choice. Ally said to please come have dinner here. Plus it’s karaoke night so this floor will be a lot more exciting than tonight.” Camila spoke smoothly. The girls looked at each other in silent conversation before Sophia spoke.

“Sounds good. We’ll be here.”

Manon paid the tab this time. She noted that Camila gave her the employee discount. She rolled her eyes and left a generous tip.

They took an uber back to the hotel rather than make the walk.

The memories of their origin story and the apologies they shared help ease the tension surrounding the group, leading to a peaceful night of rest for the six girls. 

Tuesday

Miami Beach lived up to its hype.

They swam in the warm water.

They relaxed and tanned under the sun.

Most importantly, they just enjoyed each other’s company.

Megan and Yoonchae collected pretty sea shells together. Sophia and Daniela brought everyone ice cream from a nearby store. Lara and Manon stayed under the two umbrella’s they had set up reading and relaxing, respectively.

True to her word, Lara wasn’t avoiding Manon, but she also wasn’t initiating conversations. There was a distance between them. Both physically and emotionally.

Manon was struggling to stay on her side, but she wanted to respect Lara’s wishes.

As the sun began to set they packed up and walked back to the hotel to rest a bit and get ready for dinner.

About an hour later, they sat at a round table on the third floor of Harmony.

“It’s so cozy,” Daniela commented looking around. It’s gave off a very friendly, ‘mom and pop shop that’s been around for 50 years’ vibe.

You’d have no idea that this level under was an increasingly active lounge with karaoke and underneath that level was a just as busy nightclub.

“Manon! You guys made it!”

The girls turned to see a short woman running up to the table. Manon quickly stood up and hugged the girl, actually lifting her up off her feet.

The rest of the girls chuckled as Manon put her down.

“Guys, this is Ally. She runs this floor. Her husband is the one of the managers at Dream, which is how we got our hotel rooms.”

They all stood up to shake Ally’s hand but she pulled each of them into a hug. Even Yoonchae, who wasn’t much of a hugger (she had time to mentally prepare herself when she saw the others get hugged and how sweet the shorter woman seemed).

“The girls told me you were here yesterday on the lower levels. I would’ve came down to see you but we were swamped up here.” Ally explained why they didn’t meet her the previous day.

Manon just waved her hands. “It’s ok. We loved it and definitely wanted to come back.” The girls all agreed.

“Did you see all the girls?” Ally asked and Manon nodded.

“Everyone except Mani. But Dinah said she was feeling sick?”

“Yeah but she should be back today on level two. She’s DJ’ing karaoke night. You guy should definitely check it out after dinner. We have a celebrity performer today actually.” Ally teased as a surprise.

Manon raised an eyebrow.

“We’ll be there, especially cause Sophia loves karaoke. She said she’ll sing like twenty Disney songs.”

Sophia almost spit out her drink at getting put on the spot as the others laughed as Daniela patted her back.

“Manon.” Sophia scolded, holding back a cough but the model giggled.

Ally beamed at how happy Manon seemed.

“Yoonchae,” Ally spoke to the Korean girl.

The younger girl looked up at her name being spoken.

“Manon tells me you’re finishing culinary school. Would you like to check out the kitchen later, see how everything runs?” Ally asked. Yoonchae looked around as if asking the other girls for permission.

“You weirdo, you don’t need our permission.” Sophia laughed. Yoonchae blushed but nodded her head.

“Yes, please. Thank you.” She replied shyly.

“Perfect. I’ll send a server to take your orders now if you guys are ready?” The girls nodded. A young man came over and took their orders almost immediately.

The conversation flowed between the girls, mainly just recapping the crazy stuff they saw in South beach.

Ranging from topless woman, to men in speedos, to kids buried up to their necks with their parents freaking out.

Soon their food was brought out. Harmony’s kitchen served hearty American classics such as meatloaf, mac and cheese, roast chicken, etc.

As soon as the girls started eating, they were all impressed (with the exception of Manon who had eaten here before).

“Wow, this is freaking amazing.” Daniela practically moaned as she devoured the food.

“How does this place even exist?” Lara asked, meant to be rhetorical but Manon answered.

“Ally and her best friends. They… they were like us. Friends in high school. They all kind of drifted apart until they came back together and started this place up. It used to just be a restaurant but then they figured if they were in the middle of Miami they could do so much more.” Manon explained.

“And how did you meet them?” Megan asked curiously. The rest were wondering the same.

Manon smiled faltered a tiny bit, only Lara was really able to tell.

“Ally is actually my sponsor.” Manon chuckled awkwardly.

“Like a brand deal?” Megan asked confused.

“No dummy.” Manon replied to Megan who scoffed, pretending to be offended. “Like an AA sponsor. She sponsored me through the program.”

The rest of the girls didn’t know how to respond so she continued.

“After… yeah… I kept floating around from city to city. After the whole modeling thing took off, I actually had a modeling friend down here. I told her I wanted to get help and she mentioned Ally’s church had an AA program and things just went from there.” Manon briefly explained.

Everyone had so many more questions but decided not to ask because Manon seemed uncomfortable.

“Again, we’re just happy you’re okay.” Sophia said softly.

“Agreed.” Yoonchae nodded. The rest nodded with smiles. Even Lara gave a slight nod.

“Thanks guys. But let’s not ruin the good mood anymore. I’m in a good place now. Especially with you guys here.”

“Oh my God.” “Gross.” “Fuck off.” “You suck.” “I’m gonna throw up.”

“Does this have cinnamon in it?” Yoonchae asked Ally as she presented them with dessert. A chocolate chip soufflé.

Ally shook her head. Megan sent the Korean girl a shy, knowing smile. The rest of them rolled their eyes.

“This might be the best thing I’ve ever eaten.” Megan said as she scarfed down the dessert.

She stopped chewing as soon as she made eye contact with Lara and Manon who were both about to say something absolutely vile.

“Don’t.” Both Daniela and Sophia scolded them.

Once they were done eating, Ally offered them all the tour of the kitchen. Ally ran a tight kitchen, and the rest of the girls didn’t really understand what was going on, but Yoonchae seemed impressed.

She kept asking questions that seemed to impress Ally. She would answer and ask her own questions back.

The girls felt an odd sensation watching their youngest act so professional. Megan was practically drooling.

“After you’re done with school, contact me.” Ally said easily, handing her a business card. Yoonchae quickly nodded, taking the card graciously.

Suddenly, Ally put her hand up to her earpiece.

“Oh shoot, you guys need to go downstairs to level 2. Our special guest is performing her first song.” Ally started rushing them out the door.

The girls quickly made their way to the elevator.

“Who do you guys think the special guest is?” Daniela asked.

Manon shrugged. “Every now and then someone famous rolls through. Last year they had Halsey come for a few days.”

“Oh cool-“ Megan started before she was cut off by the elevator doors opening.

They were met with a soothing voice filling the air of the second floor.

“I don't want none, I just want you
If I can't have you, no one will”

On stage was a Korean woman with dyed orange hair singing a sultry cover of SZA’s song Kill Bill.

Yoonchae looked at the girl on stage, wide eyed and surprised, practically jumping up and down.

The other girls looked at Yoonchae confused, not knowing who the person on stage was, except for Sophia.

The Filipina just stared at the girl, mouth open slightly, like she had just seen a ghost.

“I (I might)
I might kill my ex, not the best idea”

As the girl sang this line she made eye contact with Sophia, recognition instantly flashing in her eyes, but she didn’t stop singing.

“Shit.”

“Yoonchae, who was that?” Manon asked as the singer finished her song and there was a lull before the next singer took the stage.

They were all standing by the bar now, Camila was preparing them drinks.

All eyes were on Yoonchae, except for Sophia’s who glanced around nervously.

“That was Huh Yunjin! She’s a member of LE SSERAFIM. A kpop group that debuted last year.” Yoonchae spoke excitedly.

“I wonder what she’s doing all the way out here?” Lara thought out loud.

“Well, it's spring break plus Miami does have pretty nice weather.” Sophia heard the voice directly behind her and internally cringed.

The six girls turned around to find Huh Yunjin not only looking at them but addressing them. The Korean girl was staring directly at Sophia though. 

“Sophia.”

“Jennifer.”

They stared each other down for a moment. Daniela looked between the two, unsure of what was going on or if she should intervene somehow before Yunjin laughed.

Sophia laughed, a bit hesitant at first, in return before Yunjin stepped forward and hugged the girl.

“Unnie? You know Huh Yunjin?” Yoonchae asked surprised. Yunjin greeted Yoonchae in Korean and the younger girl returned the greeting.

“Oh, Jen and I were roommates back in college.” Sophia explained.

“And they were roommates” Megan imitated the classic meme. “Sorry.” She instantly apologized but Yunjin laughed.

“You know, apparently that video was about a gay couple.” Lara interjected.

“Funny you should mention that actually. Sophia and I-“ Yunjin started before Sophia covered her mouth using her hand, staring at her with wide eyes.

The girls looked at Sophia confused. She hadn’t really thought that this would come up during their trip but there was no point in hiding it. Not from these girls. Sophia sighed, figuring it was time. 

“Jen and I weren’t just roommates in college. We may have… dated for a while.” Sophia said quickly.

There was a pause when everyone was just staring at Sophia.

“What?!” They all shouted at once, getting the attention of everyone on the second level.

“Surprise?” Was all Sophia could respond.

“Interesting.” Camila said, her hand on her chin having overheard everything.

“So let me get this straight.” Megan start.

“She’s not straight.” Lara reminded Megan who nodded along.

“Right. My bad. Let me get this not straight-“ Megan continued.

“-who would’ve thought Sophia would be the tiebreaker.” Manon interrupted.

“What?” Daniela asked, still kind of in shock the whole situation.

“The tiebreaker. After Megan came out as Bi, our group was fifty percent girl kissers. But now it’s four out of six. You guys are out numbered.” Manon explained to Daniela and Yoonchae who just exchanged glances.

“Guys, that’s not important.”

“Thank you Yoonchae-“

“You’ve dated an idol. That’s like fanfiction stuff right there.” Yoonchae interrupted causing Sophia to facepalm.

“So these are you friends?” Yunjin asked from Sophia’s right side, an amused look on her face. Sophia just groaned and nodded as an answer.

“So how exactly did this happen?” Daniela asked from Sophia’s left.

“Should I tell them the nice version?” Yunjin smiled deviously which was picked up by Lara and Manon who happened to be sitting next to each other. But they didn’t really care because they were learning some very important lore about their leader.

“No, please. Be mean.” Lara egged on to Sophia’s horror who simply gave up.

“Nah, there’s nothing mean to say. We were just college roommates and then we tried dating but then I got a call to go back to Korea to be an idol so we called it quits after six months. Wasn’t that exciting.” Yunjin shrugged, sipping her cocktail.

Sophia mouthed a ‘thank you’ to the idol who just nodded. The only one that seemed to notice this interaction was Daniela.

The conversation flowed, mainly around Yunjin who was mainly answering questions from Yoonchae and Megan about being an idol.

They told Yunjin stories about Sophia in high school and in return she told stories about Sophia in college, much to the older girl’s dismay.

A little later in the night, Yunjin was singing a cover of Laufey’s ‘From the Start’. Sophia was standing by the bar, waiting for a drink while also listening to her ex finish the song.

“Hey.” Sophia turned to look at Daniela who had approached her. “You okay?” The Latina asked.

Sophia nodded instantly.

Daniela mirrored her nod as she used one hand to stir her drink, a piña colada, and the other hand twirled a strand of hair.

“You’re doing that thing.” Sophia said watching Camila make her drink order.

“What thing?” Daniela asked, stopping both things she was doing.

“You always play with your hair whenever you have something on your mind but you’re not sure if you want to say it.” Sophia explained. She thanked Camila who handed off her drink.

“Put both of ours on my tab please.”

“Wait, it’s my night to pay.” Daniela remembered and Sophia shrugged.

She saw Yunjin return to their table earning high fives from the rest of the girls. They fell into an easy conversation that Sophia didn’t feel like being a part of yet.

“Come with me.” Sophia said using her free hand to grab Daniela’s wrist.

Daniela allowed herself to be guided to the elevators but instead of hitting the button, Sophia walked a bit past it to the staircase.

Daniela followed as Sophia went up but she didn’t stop on the third floor, she kept climbing up.

“Um, Soph, I don’t think we’re allowed to go up here.” Daniela paused her steps.

“You think too much.” Sophia replied, as she didn’t stop climbing stairs. She heard a door open and close. Not wanting to get left behind, Daniela followed.

She opened a door to reveal the rooftop of Harmony. There were string lights that were half put up. Tables and chairs scattered around. A bar was half installed. When put together, Daniela was sure it would be another successful level to the building.

She spotted Sophia, leaning against a railing that overlooked the street in front of the building.

The soundproofing of the building made the night eerily quiet, save for the sound of cars and the people waiting in line down below.

“Ok,” Sophia began as Daniela took the spot next to her. “What’s really on your mind?”

“Are you really okay?” Daniela asked again. “I’m sure it wasn’t really your plan to just get outted like that.” Daniela tried to ease into the conversation she was about to have. Sophia shrugged as she took a sip of her drink.

“Would you have told me- I mean, told us, eventually?” Daniela asked, a bit confused why Sophia would hide this about herself.

“Of course.” Sophia replied turning to the Latina. “It’s not like I thought you guys would have a problem with it.”

“If anything, I figured you guys would’ve figured me out way before I figured it out. I mean I’m constantly flirting with all of you.” Sophia resigned.

“Maybe we just didn’t want to assume anything.” Daniela said quietly. “And you’re not that big of a flirt.”

Sophia gave her a pointed look. “Dani, I flirt with you the most.”

Sophia thought for a while before asking. “Does it make you uncomfortable now that you know I’m…”

“Not straight?” Daniela asked and Sophia nodded in confirmation. Daniela shook her head quickly, a little too quickly.

“Of course not. It doesn’t change anything about you or what I think of you.” Daniela replied.

“I don’t care that you guys know though. I mean, like Manon said, half of us were already gay, so why would I be worried about telling you. I just figured it would come up later down the line. Not on this trip.” Sophia explained.

“Down the line? You see us all still talking after this trip?” Daniela asked. The thought made Daniela’s heart feel fuller.

“Oh yeah. You’re stuck with me now. I mean, I am the one who messaged the group chat in the first place. I guess my life has felt a little… lonely. So lately I’ve been thinking about how much I wanted the connection I had with you guys. And then I realized why chase after some connection with strangers when I can try and get back what we lost, if that makes sense.” Sophia reasoned.

“I guess I’ve been so busy with school and deadlines and applications that I never really thought about how much I missed you guys until now.” Daniela spoke, stirring her pina colada before taking a sip. That thought made her sad. 

“I guess it’s a good thing I could remind you then.” Sophia said watching the cup touch and leave her lips. She hesitated for a second before her hand cupped Daniela’s jaw.

Daniela’s breath hitched as she felt Sophia’s thumb wipe the corner of her mouth. She must’ve realized what she’d done because her hand instantly left Daniela’s jaw.

“Sorry. You had something there… it was… distracting.” Sophia stuttered. But then Sophia, with nowhere to wipe the excess drink, stuck her thumb in her mouth and sucked the liquid off the surface savoring the pineapple flavor.

Daniela short circuited briefly.

“Yeah. Definitely not straight.” Daniela laughed it off, but she felt the heat rise up her neck as Sophia shoved her.

“Shut the fuck up.” The Filipina said with absolutely no bite behind it. Daniela just smiled at her. Happy. She was happy that Sophia was happy. There was a moment of comfortable silence.

“And Yunjin?” Daniela inquired quietly.

“What about her?”

“What’s the real story there?”

Sophia remained quiet. Daniela just watched her. She looked… ashamed.

“That’s complicated.” Sophia said turning away. Daniela turned her back around with her hand on her chin, just like Sophia had done to her earlier.

“Hey.” She stared into the other girl’s eyes. “We’re not Megan and Yoonchae. You don’t have to tell me the truth all the time. But I can see that something is bothering you. I’ve known you long enough.” Daniela explained.

They had been friends the longest, both of them met their freshman year of high school. The others had come along steadily until they were a group of six. Although they weren't romantic, or whatever the hell you would call what Megan and Yoonchae had, the two had their own significant bond. 

Daniela saw the look on Sophia’s face when they first saw Yunjin. She saw the way Sophia cringed anytime Yunjin mentioned their past. She saw the way that Sophia was pulling further and further away the more Yunjin talked to their group.

“I’m scared that if I tell you, you’ll look at me differently.” Sophia whispered.

“Sophia.” Daniela said, grabbing the other girls hand and locking pinkies. “I promise you I won’t.”

Sophia stared at their interlocked pinkies and chuckled. “This is very Meichae coded.”

Daniela still gazed at her intently. Sophia swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Jen is… a nice person. She could’ve ripped me to shreds in there. She could’ve told you guys the truth.”

“What truth?” Daniela asked furrowing her eyebrows.

“The truth is, we were never really in a relationship. Not officially. We just used to… ya know.” Sophia said and Daniela didn’t understand at first until she did. Her cheeks turned red.

“Yeah. Except she had real feelings for me. But I didn’t feel the same for her, even though I told her I did. All I really wanted was a distraction.” Sophia revealed.

“A distraction from what?” Daniela asked, shocked at what she was hearing.

“From losing you- And the girls. From this emptiness and loneliness I feel sometimes.” Sophia said finishing her drink and leaning against the rail. She looked up at the sky.

“I took advantage of her feelings for me for six months until she got called to Korea to become an idol. The first time she came back home to visit, we tried to hook up but I couldn’t take it anymore. I felt guilty. So I told her the truth. She told me she knew it all along, she just hoped I would change my mind. But I never did.”

“I only felt worse after telling her. The emptiness inside me grew. I still felt lonely. And I felt guilty. I tried dating one person after Jen. I didn’t mean to use him too but he was also really just a distraction. He was a nice guy, one that treated me right and did all the right things. But I couldn’t see a future with him. I couldn’t love him. So I broke his heart too.”

“I’m not a good person, Daniela. And I’m scared that if you and the others learn this, the emptiness will take me again. It’s been two days and being with you guys have made me feel better than I have in the past three years.” Sophia concluded her little monologue.

She expected to hear Daniela berate her. Or get mad at her. Or slap her if she was really feeling it. But instead, she felt Daniela’s hand taking her own.

“You’re not a bad person Sophia, just because you hurt someone. You made mistakes and you regret it. You apologized and took accountability. That regret makes you human. It shows compassion. I’d be more concerned if it didn’t bother you.” Daniela replied, still softly holding Sophia’s hand.

“Jen- Yunjin, she seems like a good person. She clearly is okay. You didn’t mess her up that bad. Maybe she wasn’t even that into you. I mean, what’s up with that big ass ego of yours?” Daniela joked earning an eye roll.

“But stop beating yourself up. And stop being afraid that you’re going to be alone. Because I won’t let you be alone anymore.” Daniela said with confidence.

“You won’t?” Sophia asked with a raised eyebrow. Daniela nodded.

“What? Are you going to move to New York?” Sophia teased.

“Maybe. They have plenty of schools I can apply to in New York.” Daniela shrugged. She was joking, until she thought about it and considered all her options. She subconsciously started playing with her hair as she ran through calculated simulations in her head. She had visions of moving to New York. Going to school in the city. Coming home everyday to Sophia and asked about her day. Sophia cooking her dinner-

“Hey.” Sophia grabbed her hand pulling her from her overthinking spiral.

“Don’t overthink my joke. You don’t have to move to New York. Just promise me that you’ll come visit me.”

Daniela interlocked their pinkies once more.

“Promise.”

Megan was jealous.

It was obvious to Lara and Manon, who watched the girl amused.

Yoonchae was talking to Yunjin in Korean, lost in their own little world. Megan, feeling left out, was pouting like a sad puppy. She only understood every other word but they were speaking too fast.

This had been going on for at least twenty minutes and Megan was getting more and more irritated.

Lara and Manon felt pity on the girl before she suddenly stopped pouting and smiled shyly.

Both girls were confused. Manon “accidentally” dropped her phone and saw that underneath the table, Yoonchae had taken Megan’s hand and was squeezing it every now and then.

Manon quickly got back in her seat and coughed while saying “whipped”. Lara actually laughed at that before catching herself and stopping.

Megan just sent them a middle finger but she was still smiling.

“Manon!” A dark-skinned, beautiful woman approached their table.

“Mani!” Manon stood up and hugged the new approacher.

“Girl, how have you been? You look great,” the girl said to Manon who laughed. “I’ve been good. How are you? Ally said you were sick.”

“Yeah I just have this lingering cough but nothing too bad. None of the others could cover me and Dinah couldn’t come in until now.” She gestured towards the DJ booth where Lara recognized DJ, the DJ, who was now hosting the karaoke night.

“Guys’s this is Normani. Normani, this is Lara, Megan, Yoonchae, and Yunjin.” Manon pointed out each girl. Sophia and Daniela were still missing after leaving to get drinks. She wasn’t too worried because they must be together which meant they would take care of each other.

“Of course you’re friends with Yunjin already. Yunjin, thank you for coming and singing tonight. Amazing covers.” Normani spoke to the Korean girl who smiled back.

“Thank you for having me! I definitely want to come back before I leave.”

“You should come back. We do karaoke on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Saturdays are when the real big shots come out.” Normani explained.

“Sounds like a good time.” Daniela said as her and Sophia appeared.

“This is Sophia and Daniela, guys this is Normani.” The three girls greeted each other after Manon introduced them.

“Should we be concerned that all your friends are pretty girls?” Sophia teased Manon.

“Oh you should be the last one complaining now.” Lara teased back and Sophia turned red.

“Mani, get back here, I want to have fun too!” DJ said over the microphone as there was a lull since no new singers approached the stage.

“Hold on, I’m just gonna put on one of our sing-a-long playlists.” Normani said leaving.

“Where’d you guys go?” Yoonchae asked Sophia and Daniela.

“We snuck onto the roof but it’s not done yet. It only like half finished,” Sophia shrugged casually skipping a few details from their conversation.

Soon, easily recognizable music started playing. The crowd started singing along to the lyrics of ‘Sweet Caroline’, while Normani returned with DJ in tow.

“Ladies, this is DJ, or Dinah Jane. Dinah, these are my friends.” Manon introduced each other girls. When it got to Lara though, Dinah and Normani exchanged a look.

It became apparent to Lara then that if they were close enough friends with Manon, they might know about their past, including their former relationship.

She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. So she just sipped her drink watched the chaos of the two different girl groups collide.

“So like, what was with the choreographed dancing yesterday? Is that normal for you guys?” Dinah asked Manon who laughed.

“Oh no, Yoonchae forced us to learn that choreography when we were in high school.” The Swiss girl explained.

“Yeah, our little baby wanted to be an idol when she grew up.” Sophia spoke to the group.

“Sophiaaa” Yoonchae whined, glancing at Yunjin who was smiling.

“What song?” Yunjin asked amused.

“Pink Venom.” Dinah answered instantly.

“Interesting. I didn’t know you had it in you.” Yunjin directed at Sophia who shrugged. There was something unreadable in Yunjin’s eyes that made Sophia tense up.

She felt Daniela’s hand grab her own and squeeze gently, grounding her. She thought about the rooftop and relaxed.

The night continued on. Dinah and Normani returned to their job eventually.

The rest of the girls continued to drink, chat, and belt out songs alongside the performers.

They tried to convince each other to go up and sing but they denied it.

“Maybe another day.” Sophia said after Yunjin tried to force her to perform.

“Maybe we can do a duet then.” Yunjin replied to her with a smirk. Daniela narrowed her eyes at the Korean girl. In her drunk state she couldn’t quite name why this bothered her.

Eventually, near one in the morning, Manon decided it was time for them to go.

Yunjin had left a bit ago, promising to see them soon.

Yoonchae was falling asleep on Megan’s shoulder. Lara, Sophia, and Daniela had gone from loud laughter to quiet mumbling. They all had sleepy smiles on their faces which was enough for Manon.

She approached the bar where the staff was washing cups.

“Hey Lauren,” Manon greeted the green-eyed girl who was by the sink. “when did you come up?”

“I came up to help close up. You guys heading out?” Lauren said over the running water.

“Yeah, they’re dying over there I’m afraid.” Manon gestured to her table where Megan almost fell out of her chair earning a drunken laugh from the other girls except Yoonchae who just groaned.

“They seem nice. As chaotic as you always described them.” Lauren said happily.

“Yeah but it’s like… a beautiful chaos. Everything I went through. It was to get back to this. To them.” Manon spoke, not really to Lauren, but just out loud. Lauren understood.

“I’m proud of you. We all are.” Dinah said who just so happened to be walking by carrying a box of supplies.

“Did you apologize to Lara?” She asked. She was never good at being subtle about these kinds of things.

Manon shook her head. “She said she doesn’t want to hear it. And I don’t blame her. I don’t deserve someone like her. I’d rather have her in my life like this, even if we don’t talk directly, than to have her hate me and never speak to me again.”

Dinah and Lauren gave her a sympathetic look.

“You deserve so much better than you give yourself credit for Manon. Just keep being you, she’ll have no choice but to come around. Show her with your actions.” Dinah advised. Lauren agreed with a nod but Manon just held a tight smile.

“I’ll see you guys later.” She walked over to the table and began collecting the girls.

“Aw they’re leaving? I wanted to mess with them.” Camila said appearing from the back.

“Camz, behave.” Lauren scolded lightly but Dinah and Camila shared a mischievous look.

“They just need a push in the right direction.”

Wednesday

The girls were lounging by the pool, nursing a comfortable hangover. They had spent a lazy morning chilling around the hotel, using its amenities. Now they were hanging out by the pool.

Sophia and Daniela each sat on loungers, sunglasses on, soaking up the sun.

Manon was curled up on the lounger next to Daniela, reading the book Sophia had abandoned.

Lara was on the lounger next to Sophia, scrolling through her phone.

Megan and Yoonchae were in the pool directly in front of them, occasionally splashing each other but were otherwise just floating.

“Holy shit.”

All five girls look towards Lara who had taken her sunglasses off to read her phone more clearly.

“What’s up?” Daniela asked confused.

“I… I… I…” Lara stuttered out. Sophia used her hand to drop her sunglasses as she stared at the struggling girl.

“Use your words.” She poked fun but Lara was too busy freaking out to be offended.

“I got into Harvard.”

The girls froze. There was a pause. The sounds of the other people using the pool filled the silence before a loud “what?!” Filled the air.

Megan and Yoonchae scrambled out of the pool as the others also made their way to Lara until all six were staring at Lara’s phone.

“I hate your stupid privacy screen.” Megan complained but even she was able to make out the top of the email.

‘Congratulations on your admission to the Harvard Law School-'

“What the fuck?!” Daniela screamed crushing Lara into a hug.

“But I thought you had interviews next month?” Yoonchae asked confused and Lara nodded.

“I do. But I actually did the Harvard one a couple weeks ago. I didn’t mention it because it felt like such a long shot. But one of the guys I interviewed with texted me and said he got a decision so I checked my email.” Lara explained, still in shock.

“I didn’t think I’d get in. I mean, do you know how many people try to get into Harvard.”

“Yeah but none of them can be better than the great Lara Raj.” Lara looked at Manon after she said this. No harsh look. No glare. Just gratitude.

‘It’s just the shock,’ Lara told herself.

“Thank you.” She said scrolling through and reading the rest of the email.

“We should go out to celebrate.” Megan suggested.

“Oh I saw something on TikTok about Miami. Some big twenty four hour nightclub called Club Space?” Lara said with wide eyes. Manon felt uneasy. She hadn’t been back to Club Space since her party days, since the night she ended up in the hospital.

It was trashy, it was loud, it was everything Manon wanted to forget.

“Why don’t we go back to the club at Harmony?” Daniela asked. Manon internally thanked the Latina.

“It’s a bit… no offense, too clean.” Lara laughed. “Is that okay?”

Manon was surprised that Lara was asking her. So were the others. So they stayed silent.

Manon bit her lip nervously, but nodded. It’ll be fine. She can manage.

“Yeah, why not?”

Manon could not manage.

Club Space was an overwhelming experience. It was loud, crowded, and dark. There were too many people, too many rooms, and too much happening.

Everyone was drunk, on drugs, or both. Her head was pounding. She was sweating, cursing her decision to wear a jacket.

They’d been there an hour and a half already. They had pre-gamed a bit so everyone was a bit tipsy so they didn’t mind the chaos.

Except for Manon, who was sober, so she had to push through it.

She stuck around through, mainly because Lara was jumping around and dancing and having a good time. She was telling anyone and everyone she could that she had gotten into law school. That led to more cheers, more congratulations, and the occasional celebratory shot. Manon lost count after number seven.

The other girls continued to get drunker and drunker. This left Manon to keep an eye on them, which was exhausting.

Eventually she was able to leave them in a corner while she went to the bar to get some water.

“You’re so hot.” Manon turned to find a middle aged man talking to her.

“Oh. Um. Thanks.” Manon said awkwardly, turning back to the bartender.

“Can I buy you a drink?” He slurred his words out. Manon shook her head

“No, thank you. I don’t drink.” Manon held firm. The guy would not take no for an answer.

“You don’t have to lie. I have other stuff too if you’re interested.” The guy said showing Manon a little bag full of pills and another with white powder.

Manon felt her heart sink. She hadn’t used anything else since the night she and Lara broke up. Just alcohol and the occasional joint, which was enough to have almost had ruined her life once.

Memories she didn’t want flooded her brain. She spent a lot of nights in clubs like this. A lot of nights getting offers from sleazy guys like this.

She was lucky she made it home safely every day during those dark years. Especially with how evil the world could be in this day and age.

There were a few close calls, but she thankfully had people watch out for her. Part of Manon’s personal shame was that she couldn’t even remember their names, she wished she could thank them for keeping her safe.

She felt sick as this random man, probably with ill intentions, tried to speak with her.

“Oh there you are.”

Manon turned to find Lara behind her. She felt the familiar hand creep around her waist, practically setting it on fire, as Lara addressed the guy.

“Sorry, we’re celebrating tonight and I need her.” She firmly turned Manon away and walked towards the corner where their friends were waiting.

The man just shrugged and looked for a new person to bother.

“Thanks.” Manon let out a shaky breath she didn’t know she had been holding. Lara nodded, letting her hand slip away from Manon’s waist.

“He was giving you this weird look and you didn’t like it.” Lara said, her inhibitions deleted while under the influence. “Even though we’re… this. I don’t want to see you uncomfortable or see anything bad happen to you. I’m not a monster.”

“I never said you were.” Manon replied easily.

Manon felt very overwhelmed in that situation. She knew Lara was drunk, but she still wanted to believe she meant everything she said. However, she knew better than anyone how much alcohol can make you say anything.

“I have to pee.” Lara said suddenly.

Manon nodded. “Sophia, you’re in charge!” Manon yelled at the Filipina who smiled at her lazily and gave her a thumbs up. She was with Daniela, leaning against the wall as Megan and Yoonchae continued to dance. Daniela narrowed her eyes at the two as they walked away.

The pair walked to the bathrooms. Luckily the line was short enough. It was only a one person bathroom so Lara went in while Manon waited outside just in case she started throwing up and needed help.

Thankfully the hallway with the bathroom wasn’t as loud because the pounding in Manon’s head was getting worse.

She was texting on her phone so she didn’t notice the familiar person approach her.

“I knew it.”

Manon looked up from her phone and froze.

Sophie hadn’t changed much since the last time she saw her.

“What are you doing here?” Manon asked, feeling nauseous. Destiny seemed to be arriving for her early because her sins felt like that were catching up to her.

“Partying? What else?” Sophie asked incredulously. “What about you? You kind of fell off the face of the earth.”

The way she said all this so nonchalant pissed Manon off.

“Yeah, because you ruined my life.” Manon narrowed eyes at the girl in front of her.

“How?” Sophie asked genuinely confused.

“How? Maybe because you stole my phone that night? Maybe because you posted that story of me, adding my girlfriend to your close friends list so she would see it? Or maybe it was because you gave me drugs that night, hoping I would slip up and do something like sleep with you.” Manon said angrily stepping into Sophie’s space.

“You’re still upset over that nerd?” Sophie asked and it took everything in Manon to not slap her.

“Her name is Lara, she wasn’t a nerd-.”

“She was holding you back. She was always busy. How many times did you complain to me she always had class, or needed to study, or didn’t have time for you? How many times did you get drunk and cry your eyes out so I had to make sure you got back home in one piece?” Sophie said, backing Manon into the wall.

“Face it. You were miserable with her. You just didn’t have the guts to tell her. I’m sorry that I just wanted you to see that. We could’ve had fun together. We could’ve been great.” Sophie said shaking her head.

After a few moments, Manon spoke.

“You’re right.”

Lara felt her heart clench as she held onto the doorknob. She had been about to walk out but stopped when she heard Sophie’s voice. She didn't expect Manon to keep speaking.

“I should’ve said something. I should’ve talked to her. I should've told her how I was feeling. Because that’s what you do when you love someone. You communicate, you figure it out.” Manon echoed the words Lara said to her a couple days ago.

“I loved her. She was my best friend. But I felt suffocated by the pedestal that I put her on. I blamed her for wanting to achieve great things. I blamed her for my own insecurities. And yes. maybe it would’ve ended the same way, or maybe we could’ve fixed things. But I’ll never know because you pushed me. You pushed me to hurt her. So just like I won’t ever forgive myself, I won’t forgive you. I’ll regret letting her go for the rest of my life.” Manon said standing up straight again.

“Leave." Manon said seriously.

There was a moment before Lara heard Manon speak again. "I hope you have a good life Sophie, I really do. I hope you figure out what it is you want in this life. Because I have and fortunately, it doesn’t involve you.”

Lara doesn’t hear a response. For some reason, she pictured Sophie running away with her tail between her legs, leaving Lara with a satisfied feeling in her chest.

She walked back to the sink and pretended to wash her hands again, making as much noise as possible so Manon doesn’t know that she was eavesdropping.

Once she walked out the bathroom, she spotted Manon leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

“You good?” She asked Lara neutrally. Lara just nodded.

“I celebrated enough, I think we should go home.” Lara responded. She could see the tension release from Manon’s shoulders as she nodded. They corralled their little group of six back together and went outside to wait for the uber.

Lara began to shiver as a random wind chill blew through the Miami night. Immediately, Manon took off her leather jacket and placed it on Lara’s shoulders.

She went to object but Manon was already standing on the other side of the group, lost in thought, unfazed by the cool night, even though goosebumps started forming on her arms.

Lara grabbed the collar and pulled the jacket closer to her neck, hiding the flush that creeped up her neck.

Twenty minutes later they were in the elevator. Manon was texting someone on her phone. Lara couldn’t help but be curious. She didn’t even realize she was staring at her until Daniela cleared her throat, only loud enough for Lara to hear. She quickly looked away.

Manon’s words had been echoing in her head since they left the club. She was half convinced it was an auditory hallucination. But her heart knew they were real. They swirled in her head, they asked questions.

Who was the real villain of their story? 

For the past three years, Lara had believed it to be Manon and solely Manon. But Lara never acknowledged the role she played, she never through about the way she treated Manon. 

But what did she do with this information now? Is this why she was struggling to stay away from Manon after setting the boundary in the first place? Did she subconsciously want forgiveness? Closure?

Being drunk was not the best time to have these thoughts, Lara decided. 

Yoonchae and Megan got off the elevator first. The two seemed closer and closer each passing day. Lara figured it was only a matter of time.

Next was Daniela and Manon.

As they walked down the hall, Lara found herself stopping the elevator door from closing with her hand.

“What?” Sophia asked, half asleep.

“Manon.” Lara called out. Both girls stopped and turned around. Lara walked forward carefully. Each step felt like a mile. Her thoughts were erratic. When she finally reached the two, they both watched her carefully.

A second passed. Then two. Then Lara shed the leather jacket and handed it back to its original owner.

“Thanks.” She said quickly, turning around and heading back to the elevator which Sophia kept open by lazily pressing the button.

“You okay?” Sophia asked out of habit.

“Nope.” Lara replied as the elevator doors closed.

Thursday

Daniela: are you guys awake

Sophia: yah

Daniela: good.
Daniela: I’m coming over to yell at Lara

Sophia: kk

Sophia opened the door to an adorably pouty Daniela. She raised an eyebrow.

“What’s up with you?” The Filipina asked.

“Manon is sick.” Daniela said walking into the room.

“She is?” Lara asked. She was sitting in her bed, on her laptop.

“She was coughing all night. And every time she coughed, I couldn’t fall asleep. But she doesn’t cough in her sleep, so I finally fell asleep when she fell asleep. But then she woke up and started coughing again and woke me up and we couldn’t go back to sleep so now I’m super cranky.” Daniela explained quickly, sitting on Sophia’s bed.

“So you came here?” Sophia clarified. Daniela nodded.

“Why?” Lara asked again.

“Because when I’m done yelling at you, I’m going to fall asleep right here.” Daniela stated like it was a fact, patting Sophia’s bed. Lara raised an eyebrow.

“And why are you going to yell at me?” Lara questioned.

“Because you’re torturing Manon and I’m done with it. You didn’t want to hear her out on her apology. Fine, I get it. She messed up before, but you don’t get to set a boundary and then play jump rope with it.”

Daniela was tired. And when she was tired, her brain went into an overdrive mode that made her say and do things she wouldn’t normally because of overthinking.

“She spent all night at that club because you wanted to, even though she felt like shit, and she was uncomfortable as fuck. I mean, she was surrounded by the shit that ruined your relationship and she spent a year rehabbing from.” Daniela explained.

“I didn’t ask her to-“

“You didn’t have to.” Daniela cut her off simply.

“She’s so sorry. She’s more sorry that I think I’ve ever seen anyone and I once got Sophia a week of detention because I set off sprinklers that flooded the school gym and our basketball team almost had to forfeit their tournament.”

Sophia chuckled at the memory before she returned to the seriousness of the conversation.

“She came to see me after you guys broke up. She told me everything. She knows she messed up. But that girl… she worshiped the ground you walked on Lara. She put you on a pedestal. I mean, you always knew what you wanted for yourself and your future and she didn’t know what she wanted in life. She felt insecure and buried it in partying and drinking. It’s no excuse but she regrets it.” Daniela ranted.

Lara remained quiet, thinking, the words she heard the previous night between Manon and Sophie replayed in her mind.

“What do you want me to do?” Lara asked, swallowing the dryness in her mouth.

“Just hear her out.” Daniela said, eyes focused.

“You don’t need to get back together. Or be best friends. You don’t even need to forgive her. But she has things she needs to say to you. And I think you have things you need to say to her. I think she’s physically sick now because of this. So just go, please.” Daniela practically begged.

Lara hesitated. She thought for a minute. Daniela just huffed and flopped backwards on Sophia’s bed.

“What… what kind of symptoms does she have?” Lara asked.

“Coughing. She was complaining of a headache last night. I figured she caught the flu or whatever Normani had, but she didn’t have a fever. I think it’s just stress honestly.” Daniela said, her right arm was covering her eyes.

Lara bit her lip. “Give me your room key.”

Daniela dug in her pocket and pulled out the magnetic key card. She held it up with her free hand.

Lara walked over and grabbed it. She glanced at Sophia who sent an encouraging smile. She nodded and left the room.

“That was messy.” Sophia said a minute after the door closed.

“I don’t really care.” Daniela huffed, but she smiled.

“You know, Lara’s bed is free now.” Sophia raised an eyebrow.

“I’d rather stay here.” Daniela said firmly, as she lifted her arm and made eye contact.

“Do you want me to move to Lara’s bed?” Sophia stuttered out.

“No.”

Sophia felt heat rise up her neck.

“I’d rather you cuddle me so I can fall asleep.” Daniela shrugged. Sophia nodded. They repositioned. Sophia now held Daniela from behind under the covers.

The position made Daniela’s heart race. Her overdrive mode had finally ended and now she was back in overthinking mode.

As close as Sophia and Daniela are, they weren't really the touch type of friends. Nothing like Megan and Yoonchae or even Lara and Manon (when they were dating). They hugged and sometimes held hands when the moment called for it, but Daniela can count the amount of times they actually cuddled on one hand. Yet overdrive Daniela craved touch so now overthinking Daniela had to deal with the consequences. 

What the fuck was she thinking? And she can’t just back out now, she was literally trapped against Sophia. Daniela could feel the girl's steady heartbeat against her back. She prays Sophia can't feel how fast Daniela's heart is beating. She might as well be doing a cardiac stress test. 

“Gonna be hard to sleep if you keep thinking that hard.” Sophia’s voice husked into her ear.

Daniela gulped. “I was just thinking about what I said to Lara.” Daniela lied.

“I’m honestly impressed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so… assertive.” The tone was teasing but the implication made Daniela blush.

“They were going to take too long to figure their shit out. It’s inefficient. I’m impatient. I got annoyed and figured I would just take matters into my own hands.” Daniela argued.

“Since when? You were always the easygoing, free spirit type.” Sophia asked gently. Daniela felt Sophia’s hands on her abdomen, holding her close.

“I guess since I switched majors. I had to just get things done. And I ran into a lot of people who didn’t do what they were supposed to do. So I would always just do it myself. Homework, assignments, group projects…” Daniela trailed off.

“Can I asked you something?” Daniela nodded at the question. Sophia could ask her anything.

“Why’d you quit dancing? I mean, you were really into it, and you were good. I figured you would try to turn it into a career.”

Daniela started playing with Sophia’s fingers that held her while she thought of an answer.

“I tried… but I just lost the spark.” Daniela remembered when she first started college in Atlanta as a dance major.

“Dancing for a grade with a bunch of strangers just didn’t feel the same as when were all dancing in your living room for fun.” Daniela explained.

“So why not just do it as a hobby? You said you stopped completely.”

Daniela considered it for a minute. She knew why, but never really had anyone to explain it to that would actually understand.

“I didn’t laugh the same way I used to when I would watch Yoonchae take it so serious. I didn’t get to admire your facial expressions, or have fun making TikToks with Megan, or help Lara and Manon before Yoonchae yelled at them for messing up. I guess when I lost you guys, I lost the things that I associated with having fun while dancing.”

“Don’t get me wrong, as much as school sucks, I’m glad I’m almost done and I am proud of what I’ve done. But there are so many options for different careers in healthcare, it’s a bit overwhelming to be honest. I wish it were as simple as being a dancer.” Daniela chuckled.

“First, I’m really proud of you because I can tell you work hard and you’re going to be successful.” Sophia spoke and Daniela felt a bit embarrassed.

“But just remember there’s no need to rush or panic. You’re still so young. You're smart. You’ll figure it out. I truly believe that. And I'll- We'll support you every step of the way. So just… breathe.” Sophia spoke earnestly. Daniela had heard it all before, from the people she asked for advice from. But hearing it come from Sophia just felt different. It felt like her head was above the water. 

Daniela squeezed the hands over her abdomen. Her chest felt warm and full and more that she couldn’t explain. Except the feeling made her want to dance.

“Thanks Soph,” Daniela yawned. Sophia laughed.

“Get some sleep. We still have two and half more days… and hopefully more.” Sophia mumbled that last part.

A thought like that usually would’ve sent Daniela on a spiral but when Sophia said it while holding her, she just smiled and drifted off to sleep.

Yoonchae often dreamt about cooking.

Whenever she did, the food would stay in her mind until she actually made the dish featured in her dream.

Right now, she was dreaming, and she knew it. Whenever she was aware that she was dreaming she just let it run its course because that’s how she would find her inspiration on what to cook next.

In this dream, she was in her kitchen back home in Korea. She was cutting the vegetables. Marinating the meat. Putting it all together. This part wasn’t abnormal.

What’s abnormal was that she didn’t skip straight to the eating portion of her dream (this usually made her hungry and ready for breakfast.)

Instead she took the dish and walked towards the table where a lone woman was sitting. She couldn’t see her face yet. Who was it? Her mother? Her sister?

Then she saw the black and pink hair and the wide eyes and the smile and the whisker dimples.

“That looks really good, aegiya (baby).” Megan spoke to her in her dreams.

“Thank you, jagiya (honey).” Yoonchae heard the dream version of herself respond.

Dream Megan took a bite of the food and her face lit up.

“It’s delicious.”

Yoonchae felt her dream self blush. “Thank you," she heard her dream self mumble shyly.

Dream Megan then stood up and leaned over the table, taking both Dream Yoonchae’s cheeks in hands.

“I mean it.” She said seriously, before beginning to slowly lean in for a kiss.

Before their lips touched and before Yoonchae could even process how this made her feel, she heard her phone ringing.

Yoonchae woke from her dream startled. Her phone was ringing on the nightstand. She groggily grabbed it and answered, pressing the phone to her ear.

“Hello?”

Her mother answered her in Korean.

Yoonchae quickly checked the screen of her phone. She actually answered a FaceTime call and was now looking at her mother’s amused face.

She had been keeping quiet contact with her parents since she moved back. This was because they weren’t too thrilled about her moving back so she had been giving them the cold shoulder.

But when she met Yunjin the other night, they spent a lot of time speaking in Korean and just talking about home. Yoonchae had come to realize how much she missed it, and her parents.

So in her drunken state, she sent a message to her parents saying she missed them and wanted to talk soon. She just didn’t expect this.

“안녕, 딸아. (Hello Daughter.)”

“어머니, 아버지는 어디 계세요? (Mother. Where’s father?)” Yoonchae replied.

“바로 여기. (Right here.)” Her father appeared on the screen.

“어디에 있어요? 당신 방 같지는 않은데요. 그리고 머리 위에 있는 그 분홍색 물체는 뭐예요? (Where are you? That doesn’t look like your room. And what’s that pink thing on your head?)”

Yoonchae’s eyes widened as she looked in the bottom screen of herself. There was indeed some pink stuff on her head. More specifically, it was strands of Megan’s pink hair that fell over from where she was sleeping, currently cuddled into Yoonchae.

Yoonchae quickly panicked and ended the call.

Megan stirred but squeezed her arms around her tighter and went back to sleeping. If Yoonchae wasn’t so embarassed about her parents almost seeing them on FaceTime, she would’ve found the action endearing.

It’s not like she and Megan never shared a bed before. But it was the first time this trip, so the first time in over three years.

They came back so drunk and exhausted from the previous night that they must have simply fallen asleep in the same bed.

They definitely didn’t have time or the state of mind to change into their pajamas or put their phones to charge.

There must be some other logical explanation why Yoonchae was in her comfortable pajama set and her phone was plugged in.

Like the housekeeping at this hotel was just really good.

She quickly peeled the sleeping girl off her and stepped into the hallway, ready to call her mom back when she saw Lara walking towards her.

“Hey-“

“I need Ally’s number.” Lara said, purpose in her eyes.

‘I have enough problems.’ Yoonchae thought when she considered asking why. She just nodded and forwarded the contact she had copied off the business card.

“Thanks.” Lara said walking away.

Yoonchae shrugged and FaceTimed her mom back.

“미안해요, 엄마. 여기 연결 상태가 안 좋아서 전화가 끊긴 것 같아요. (Sorry mom, the connection here is bad so the call must have dropped.)” Yoonchae lied to her parents.

“문제없습니다. 어디 계신가요? (No problem. Where are you?)” Her mom replied.

“저건 호텔처럼 보이네요. (That looks like a hotel.)” Her father instigated, leaning forward to see the background.

“아, 네. 사실 친구들과 여행 중이에요. (Oh. Yes. I’m actually on a trip with some friends.)” Yoonchae explained, hoping they wouldn’t ask any more questions.

“친구가 있어요? (You have friends?)” Her mother asked surprised.

“엄마! (Mom!)” Yoonchae whined, a bit insulted as her parents laughed.

“제 친구들 아시죠? 그 여자애들 말이에요. 소피아, 라라, 다니엘라, 마농…… 그리고 메건이요. (You know my friends… the girls… Sophia, Lara, Daniela, Manon,… Megan.)” Her parents looked shocked. “아직도 그분들과 연락하고 지내시는 줄 몰랐어요. 정말 오랜만이네요. 다들 잘 지내시나요? (We didn’t know you still talked to them. It’s been so long. How are they?)”

“그것들은 좋습니다. (They’re good.)” Yoonchae replied vaguely. She wasn’t about to go into details about their personal lives, in the middle of the hallway, in Korean, with her parents who were on the other side of the world.

“그럼 메건은요? 잘 지내나요? (And Megan? How is she?)” Her father asked, confusing Yoonchae. She was under the impression her parents weren’t exactly fond of Megan.

Despite how close the two girls were, her parents never seemed thrilled about her presence in their daughter’s life.

“그녀가 잘하나요? (She’s good?)”

“음, 그녀에게 우리가 안부 전한다고, 그리고 보고 싶다고 전해 주세요. (Well. Tell her we say hi and that we miss her.)” Her mother responded. Yoonchae narrowed her eyes.

“무엇? (What?)”

“내가 말했다- (I said-)“

“아니요. 당신이 무슨 말을 했는지 알아요. (No. I know what you said.)” Yoonchae cut her mother off. “너희들, 그녀를 안 좋아하는 줄 알았는데. (I thought you guys didn’t like her.)”

She watched her parents exchange a knowing look before her dad started speaking.

“딸아... 네 우정이 좀... 남다르다는 건 우리도 알고 있단다. 그리고 솔직히 인정할게. 예전에는 우리가 그 점을 별로 지지해주지 못했다는 걸 말이야. (Yoonchae… we know that your friendship is… different. And we admit that in the past we weren’t very supportive of that.)” Yoonchae was definitely not mentally prepared for this conversation.

“하지만 당신이 이곳으로 돌아왔을 때, 무언가를 잃어버렸습니다. 우리는 그게 무엇인지 알 수 없었죠. 그러다 당신은 다시 이사를 가고 싶어 했습니다. 구체적으로는 캘리포니아로 말이죠. 그리고 굳이 우리에게 그 이유를 말할 필요는 없었습니다. (But when you came back here, you lost something. We couldn’t figure it out. But then you wanted to move back. Specifically to California and you didn’t have to tell us why.)” He continued. Yoonchae was speechless.

What were they taking about?

“당신이 행복하다면, 그것이야말로 우리가 진정으로 바라는 전부입니다. 그리고 만약 그 행복이 메건과 함께하는 것이라면, 저희도 그녀에게 용서를 구할 기회를 얻을 수 있기를 간절히 바랍니다- (If you’re happy, that’s all we really care about. And if that’s being with Megan, than we would love for the chance to ask for her forgiveness-)“

“잠깐만요. 제발요. (Wait. Please.)” Yoonchae interrupted again. Her mind was going a thousand miles per hour.

“너희들 무슨 얘기하고 있어? (What are you guys talking about?)”

Her parents exchanged confused looks. “너랑 메건이랑 사귀는 사이 아니야? 그러니까, 연인 관계 말이야? (Are you and Megan not together? Like romantically?)” Her mother asked.

Yoonchae’s cheeks heated up.

“아니에요! 아니에요. 우린 아니에요. 전 아니에요… (No! No. We’re not. I’m not…)” She started to deny but her mind drifted back to her dream.

Suddenly, the door behind her opened revealing Megan, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

Her hair was all over the place and she wore a white tank top and boxers. Definitely not what she wore to the club last night so she definitely changed before they went to bed last night but Yoonchae wanted to live in denial a bit longer.

“Chae, everything ok?” Megan asked, having been awoken by the sound of Korean being spoken in the hallway.

She noticed Yoonchae, frozen, staring at her. Her parents on FaceTime on the phone in her hand.

They were waving at her excitedly.

“안녕하세요 (Hello),” Megan bowed instantly. Before they could talk more Yoonchae ended the call.

“Everything okay?”

“Yup. Fine. Just checking up on me, usual parent stuff, man I’m tired, back to bed.” Yoonchae said quickly, walking past Megan back into their room.

Megan stood for a moment, too tired to process what happened, and just shook her head. She closed the door and walked back to the bed.

For a moment, Yoonchae thought she would lie down in the empty bed but Megan crawled back into bed with her instead.

Yoonchae’s heart raced as Megan held her from behind again and went back to sleep.

Back in South Korea, Yoonchae parents stared at the phone screen.

“메건 머리가 분홍색인 거 보셨죠? (You saw that Megan’s hair was pink, right?)” 

Manon hated being sick. She was aware that she had a crappy immune system. She was also aware that she had a tendency to push herself too hard.

She pushed herself by going out yesterday. She had already started to feel bad in the morning. She had blamed Normani for getting her sick. Manon knew she should’ve stayed in and rested.

But Lara asked to go out.

And Manon also knew just how bad those clubs can be, especially to young pretty girls. So she wanted to be there, because she knew she would be the sober one to take care of the others. So she didn’t regret it.

Except now she feels like shit. Both physically and emotionally because she’s pretty sure she kept Daniela up late with her coughing.

The girl stomped out of the room about two hours ago.

She heard the door opening and sat up.

“Dani, I’m sorry-“ instead of the fiesty Latina, she was lookin at her ex-girlfriend. Daniela’s room key in one hand and a large brown paper bag in the other.

“Hey.” Lara said walking over to the little hotel table and placed the paper bag on it. She began to open it.

“What are you doing here- is that what I think it is?”

Lara looked at the food containers she had just opened. Vietnamese pho broth and fufu.

Manon always had that specific combination of food when she was sick because it simply made her feel better.

“Dani told me you were sick.” Lara began talking.

“I called Ally to find the best places to get this stuff. She actually sent me to your favorites. It wasn’t far but neither place do delivery. So I went and picked it up.” Lara explained pulling out a chair.

“Eat. Then we… should talk.” Lara said awkwardly.

Manon coughed and nodded. She sat down and ate. The rich pho broth always filled her with warmth. The fufu always reminded her of home.

She could feel herself getting better as she ate but she was still worried about what Lara wanted to talk about.

Lara occupied her time while Manon ate by cleaning up the room. Mainly making the beds and picking up random objects strewn across the floor.

Once most of the room was neat, and Manon had finished eating, they each sat on a bed just looking at each other.

Lara had two hours while she picked up the food to come up with a plan on what she was going to say. Two hours to make contingencies to what Manon would say. She was going to be a Harvard law student, surely she could handle this conversation.

She had spent three years thinking that she hated Manon with every fiber of her being but that went out the window some time this past week.

Now she doesn’t know what she feels for the girl in front of her. It’s complicated.

“Thank you. For the food.” Manon said quietly. Lara nodded. One second. Two seconds.

“I’m sorry.” Both girls said at the same time. Manon put up her hand, and Lara nodded, allowing her to go first.

“Lara, I hope you know how sorry I am. For everything. For the partying and the drinking and the lying and everything else I did that made you feel I didn’t love you-“

“I made you feel the same though.” Lara cut her off. “I never made time for you. I was always thinking about class or projects or studying. I didn’t treat you any better.” Lara spoke about what she had realized.

“Yeah but you were doing something with your life-“ Manon tried to argue but Lara shouted.

“Stop!” Lara was standing up now, which startled Manon.

“…Sorry.” Lara spoke quietly while she sat back down. “Manon, stop praising me. Stop thinking that I was better than you. I wasn’t. I’m not. You have feelings too. You deserved better. You were right, and I’m sorry.”

Manon swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Remember how you used to tutor me in high school so I wouldn’t fail anything?” Manon questioned. Lara nodded. “I never needed tutoring. I understood everything. I just wanted to spend time with you. Not with the other girls. I just wanted time alone, with you. That was before I even knew I had feelings for you.”

“I always admired you. You had this vision of your future, of what you wanted to do with your life, and I just… didn’t. I felt like a bum. So I admired you, and then that turned into love… and somehow you loved me back and it was the best thing in the world…” Manon said fondly which caused Lara to smile.

“but then it turned into resentment.” Manon hesitated but she continued.

“I always thought you were better than me and I loved you but I started to resent you after a while. It was my own fault because, to me, you were this perfect being that I was lucky to breathe the same air as.”

“But I was scared to tell you, because in my mind, I could never do better than you. But then Sophie invited me to a party one night when you had to study for a test and I discovered that drinking made that pain go away, so I kept doing it, and yeah, you know how that all went down.”

Manon stood up and sat next to Lara.

“Lara. I need you to know I never cheated on you. Sophie-“

“I know. I heard you talking to her last night.” Lara revealed. Manon laughed in disbelief. Of course she did, but she was sort of glad she didn't have to explain it all again.

“Tell me about what happened after we broke up. How you got to… this.” Lara hesitated but she took Manon’s hand.

“After you left the club the day we broke up, I waited. Waited until I knew you fell asleep. Then I went and packed my shit. Daniela was the only one with her own apartment. And admittedly I figured I could find somewhere to party in Atlanta if I decided to crash out.” Manon explained carefully.

“Dani was nice enough to let me stay with her. That’s when I broke down. I cried for like three days straight.” Manon said with a sad chuckle.

“On the fourth day I got angry. So I got drunk. Dani came back from school and I was wasted in her apartment. I think I broke her tv or something. I… I don’t really remember much.” Shame and embarrassment filled this story.

“Dani and I fought. She told me I was ruining my own life and I told her to just mind her business. I called her a bitch. And that I didn’t need her or you or any of the others.”

“I left shortly after. Stayed at the airport and flew back home. Dropped out of school. I thought about talking to Megan and Yoonchae since I was home but I didn’t want their pity. So I just drank in our hometown. Some of Sophie’s friends invited me to Miami to party and I agreed as long as she wasn’t there. So I came and kept drinking. That model thing I talked about before happened and I got lucky. Modeling gave me money and more opportunity to just drink.” Manon had started to cry at some point. Lara just let her continue, wanting to know all of it.

“At some point it got too much. I fainted at some point one night at Club Space. Ended up in the hospital. They told me I had to stop. And I just felt… worse overall. Like it was killing everything inside me. I had a friend in modeling, her name was Lucy, she introduced me to Lauren and in turn Ally and I just… I wanted to get better.”

“Because money, and partying, and fame? None of it compared to when I had you guys in my life. So I wanted to get better.” Manon slowly revealed.

“The withdrawal was crazy and I wanted to give up plenty of times but then I thought about… I thought about you. About how much I wanted you to forgive me.” Lara could feel the tension release from Manon as she said this, what she’d been really wanting to say all this time.

“It took me a year but I did finally start getting better. I stopped drinking. I stopped smoking. I started yoga. Journaling. Doing things I wanted to do again. And then Sophia texted us and yeah…”

Lara sat and pondered everything she had just heard for a few minutes while Manon waited patiently. Manon's occasional cough the only noise that filled the silence. 

“I never meant to make you feel like I was better than you. I didn’t ever feel like that. In fact, you were the one thing I let myself feel outside of my academic plan. You let me be myself, not the valedictorian or law student hopeful. Just myself. But I took you for granted. If anything, you were always the stable one. You were the one I leaned on for support but I never considered that I was leaning too much without thinking about its affects on you." Lara said, and Manon, finally seeing that as well, nodded.

“You hurt me with your words that night but you only said what I pushed you to. Not to mention the lifestyle I pushed you to with my neglect. I almost ruined your life. I almost ended it... I should be the one asking- no begging you for your forgiveness.” Lara said solemnly.

“I made my own choices. If anything, it’s both of our faults.” Manon concluded shaking her head at Lara's words. They sat in silence for several minutes, processing.

“So you’re sorry. And I’m sorry. Where do we go from here?” Manon asked leaning back on her hands. Even though the topic was so heavy, the air felt lighter now that everything was out in the open between them. 

Lara stood up suddenly once again. 

“Hi.” She said extending her hand. “I’m Lara.”

Manon smiled. She reached out and grabbed the girl's hand, understanding what Lara was implying. They could start over, have a fresh start. 

“I’m Manon.” The girl thought for a moment before she decided something else.

She proceeded to pull Lara onto the bed with her earning a surprised shriek.

“I don’t want us to restart.” Manon said as Lara fell on top of her. Lara had both hands on either side of Manon’s head in order to hold herself up.

“I want us to remember our past. I want us to learn from our mistakes. If we don’t, then what was the point of going through all of it?” Manon said, face to face with Lara.

Lara glanced down at Manon’s lips. Manon licked her lips.

“Although, maybe we shouldn’t rush-“ Manon tried to stop her but was cut off.

Lara had her hand over Manon's mouth. She was resting her forehead against the hand and she was basically straddling the girl now.

“I need time. I mean…” Lara spoke but not really sure how to say how she was feeling.

Lara raised her forehead and looking into Manon’s eyes which held nothing but understanding, which made Lara want to kiss her even more.

“Stop looking at me like that.” Lara complained. Moving her hand to cover Manon’s eyes instead. Manon spoke up.

“I get what you mean. We’ve been apart for a while. And we weren’t in the healthiest of relationships. It doesn’t really make sense for us to rush back into being with each other.” Lara nodded to Manon’s assessment.

“I know we said we weren’t going to restart, but I do think we should try being friends again.”

It was Manon’s turn to nod in agreement.

“I agree. That’s all I’ve wanted since we started this trip.” Manon responded.

“Oh yeah?” Lara asked with a raised eyebrow, “Then how come you’ve been looking at me like you want to kiss me?”

“In my defense, I think I’ve always looked at you like that.”

“Ok. Calm down there lover girl.” Lara rolled her eyes. But the soft smile and the fact that she was still straddling her said it all.

“Whatever happens from here with us, promise me one thing.” Lara said and Manon nodded.

“We’ll always communicate. Whether we’re enemies. Friends. Best friends. Or…” Lara trailed off glancing down quickly. “Or more.”

“I agree.” Manon said like it was the easiest thing in the world.

“Good. Because now I get to say that I’ve missed you out loud now. I’ve missed you so much.” Lara said, now beginning to cry.

“I’ve missed you too.” Manon said as Lara buried her face into the crook of Manon’s neck. Her arms instantly came up and wrapped around the girl.

✨KATSEYE ✨

Sophia: what are we doing for dinner guys
Sophia: Dani is gettin hungry

Manon: you mean you didn’t give her lunch

Megan: Lunch by Billie Eilish

Lara: preach

Daniela: no.

Yoonchae: I don’t get it
Yoonchae: nvm Megan explained it
Yoonchae: haha

Sophia: 🙄
Sophia: is everyone done making up and shit

Lara: yeah

Manon: we Gucci

Daniela: finally

Megan: honestly

Yoonchae: Im ordering pizza.

Daniela: damn no vote?

Sophia: maknae eats first

Lara: lmaoo I forgot about that

Manon: Megan pls make sure she orders enough

Sophia: toppings?

Daniela: pepperoni

Megan: Hawaiian 🤪

Manon: blocked.

Lara: reported.

Yoonchae: done.

Sophia: whipped.

Megan: come to our room when you guys are done being dumb bitches 😌

Yoonchae: so never?

Lara: damn

Manon: damn

Daniela: damn

Sophia: damn

Megan: damn

Forty five minutes later, the six girls sat in Megan and Yoonchae’s room.

Yoonchae, Sophia, and Lara sat on one bed. Across from them, Megan, Daniela, and Manon on the other.

The groups mirrored the same groups they formed at the beginning of the trip except it happened by chance, not because of animosity.

For the first time all trip, there wasn’t any awkwardness between the girls.

“I can’t believe she actually ordered Hawaiian.” Lara groaned, she was chewing on a slice of cheese pizza.

Megan shrugged as she took a bite of the pineapple and ham pizza. “Nobody is forcing you to eat it.”

“Are you planning on eating the whole thing alone?” Daniela asked, taking a bit of her pepperoni pizza.

“If I have to.” Megan nodded.

“I’ll have some. I like pineapple.” Sophia said passing her plate to Yoonchae who gave her a slice. Daniela stayed silent at this comment, her mind thinking of a rooftop and a pineapple flavored drink.

“Yoonchae, aren’t you in culinary school? They should fail you for ordering pineapple on pizza.” Manon joked. Lara laughed the loudest and the longest earning a few amused stares from the others.

“So… you guys good now?” Daniela asked curiously. She was a bit worried that she had pushed them too hard.

Manon and Lara smiled at each other before turning to Daniela.

“Yeah. We’re all good now. Thank you, for pushing.” Lara said genuinely. Manon bumped Daniela appreciatively.

“I was just getting tired of watching you guys. And tired from the lack of sleep.” Daniela replied.

“Did you get any more sleep?” Megan asked, having been caught up on the situation earlier when the girls arrived.

“Yeah, we stayed in bed all day.” Sophia said without looking up from her pizza slice.

Four girls exchanged looks while Daniela looked down and blushed.

“How are you feeling now? Still coughing?” Daniela asked to change the subject.

As if summoned by the mention of it, Manon coughed at that moment.

Lara laughed, then apologized, “Sorry, I just find it funny whenever you cough.”

“I’m glad my health is a joke to you.” Manon rolled her eyes.

“Just every now and then. Not as bad as last night.” Manon directed her comment to Megan.

“Maybe we shouldn’t go out tonight.” Sophia suggested.

“Yeah, I am pretty tired from all the going out,” Lara sent an apologetic look to Manon. “Why don’t we do something chill around here?”

“Megan and I wanted to check out the hotel arcade.” Yoonchae started and Megan nodded excitedly.

“Yeah, I passed by it. I thought it was going to be something small but it’s like a whole ass Dave and Busters in there.”

Hearing this, the other girls instantly agreed. They all felt a sudden wave of nostalgia. They meant business.

The girls finished their food and washed up, making their way downstairs.

“Ok,” Megan said as they walked through the doors revealing the big arcade. “You guys remember the rules?” The girls nodded enthusiastically.

This was another lost tradition amongst them. They used to go to arcades and places like Dave and Busters and host a little completion amongst their group.

They would split into pairs and compete against each other in multiple arcade games. The pair with the most losses would have to accept a punishment decided by the whole group.

“I have the punishment.” Yoonchae said raising her hand.

“Losers have to sing a duet at Harmony on Saturday. And winners get to pick the song.” Yoonchae explained with a smirk.

The other girls all cringed internally at the thought. Which also made them smile because it was perfect. None of them thought they would lose.

“Five minutes. Everyone find your games.” Megan said seriously before the girls burst into a fit of laughter and dispersed.

Each girl was responsible for finding an arcade game for the competition. Six games total. Of course, they all knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

After five minutes, the girls reassembled at the middle of the arcade.

Megan pulled out her phone and opened a dice rolling app.

“Call it!”

Each girl called out a number from one through six.

The dice landed on number 4, the number Lara called out. Manon gave her partner a high five.

Lara led them to the first game.

“A classic.” Lara said presenting the game with both arms stretched out in front of the two skee ball machines.

“Alright. Pairs go at the same time. We tally up the scores. Lowest score takes the loss.” Sophia reminded everyone.

Lara and Manon lined up first.

“You better not miss.” Lara spoke as she focused on the game in front of her.

Manon just smirked. She rolled the ball down and each girl watched as it hit the little ramp and flew perfectly into the hundred point hole.

Everyone’s mouth flew open in shock. Manon just winked and did it again. Lara followed up.

After their nine attempts each, Lara scored 320 points and Manon had 700 giving them a score of 1020.

Megan and Yoonchae went next. They scored 420 and 500 points, respectively. Yoonchae rolled her eyes when Megan and Lara high fived over Megan’s score.

Sophia and Daniela went last.

“C’mon Dani, we can’t lose!” Sophia shouted as she rolled a ball too hard and it almost flew off the ramp, out of her machine.

Everyone burst into laughter except Sophia who turned red. Turns out, Sophia was still just as bad at skee ball.

To make her feel a bit better, Daniela rolled her next ball and purposely sent it towards the ten point hole. She sent a purposeful pout at Sophia who returned the pout.

They ended with an embarrassing low score, however, everyone’s cheeks hurt from laughing so much.

Sophia rolled her eyes as the girls teased her, “Ok ok, we lost this one. You guys pick.” She directed towards Megan and Yoonchae.

They shared a look having an internal conversation. Megan nodded and led them over to air hockey, her choice of games. Everyone rolled their eyes.

“Alright, we each go against each other once (except your partner). So everyone play four games. Worst team records loses.”

Megan and Yoonchae didn’t lose a single game.

Daniela was able to beat Lara and Manon while Sophia managed to beat Manon but not Lara.

Final scores: Megan and Yoonchae went 8-0, Daniela and Sophia went 3-5, Lara and Manon went 1-7.

Manon pouted, having lost every game. “Hey, don’t worry about it.” Lara said patting her back.

In the background Megan pointed dramatically at Yoonchae who nodded, accepting her challenge. The two started a game against each other as Sophia and Daniela cheered them on.

“You carried my ass in skee ball. We’ll get em in the next game.” Lara turned and spoke quietly into the older girl’s ear as they watched Yoonchae score a dramatic goal against Megan.

Megan returned and instantly scored her own goal.

“Do you guys just practice air hockey for fun?” Sophia heckled as the two didn’t break concentration.

“Dorks!” Lara teased, earning laughs from Manon and Daniela.

“Sorry that we have lives!” Daniela shouted at the two but they ignored the girls' comments and kept up with the puck as well as each other. It was tied four to four, the next score wins.

“You’re going down Yoonchip!” Megan screamed as she hit the puck super hard but it got blocked by Yoonchae.

“In your dreams Mei Mei!” Yoonchae replied with a grin.

For a brief second, the light of the arcade machines glowed behind Megan. A beautiful laugh had settled on her face. Yoonchae always admired how fast Megan could go from deadly serious to puppy adorable.

Yoonchae thought about her dream and how the natural light of her kitchen back home in Korea had made Megan look angelic. But here, in real life, she thought Megan looked even better.

The next thing Yoonchae knows, the puck flew past her hand, into her goal.

She had lost, but not really, because Megan was literally jumping for joy. She watched as the girl tried to jump into Manon’s arms who scrambled to catch her with Lara’s help.

Yoonchae just smiled softly until her eyes were met with Sophia and Daniela’s who had on matching smirks.

“Pick your game.” She said to them quickly while turning red. They both had seen her little lapse in concentration but decided to stay quiet for now.

Sophia surprisingly led them to the knockout challenge machine. A simple machine with a punching bag and a clear objective.

“One try each. Lowest combined loses.” Sophia explained simply.

Each girls went, punching as hard as they could.

Yoonchae and Megan went first. Yoonchae’s punch was solid but Megan slipped on her approach and almost completely missed the bag, barely tapping it, and registering a low score.

“No! Let me try again!” But the others laughed and Sophia stood firm.

“Nope. One try.” She said sticking her tongue out.

“It’s ok Megan, we’ve already seen your best punch.” Manon said comforting her friend. Yoonchae smiled at the memory.

“This cat just gave you a black eye!” Daniela shouted loudly, imitating Megan that day back in high school, before punching the bag as hard as she could.

“Holy shit, it worked!” The Latina laughed loudly hugging Sophia. She ended up with a higher score than Yoonchae, much to her surprise.

Next was Sophia, who had been the one to choose this machine, much to the other’s girls confusion.

They watched shocked as she loaded up and punched the bag so hard the machine vibrated. She almost beat the high score set on the machine, which seemed to irritate her because she was a few points off.

“Mother? More like mommy.” Lara laughed in shock.

“Sophia, what the hell girl” Manon chuckled.

“I work out.” The Filipina casually flexed her arms. Daniela couldn’t help but stare at the definition in her arms.

“Well, we’re fucked.” Megan groaned. Manon and Lara barely had to touch the bag to score higher than her.

“We’ll win the next one.” Yoonchae said with determination in her eyes following Manon who led them to their next game. Lara walked by Megan and closed the Chinese girl’s jaw.

The next game was a simple ball throwing to knock down pins. Megan and Yoonchae dominated. Turns out, Yoonchae meant business when she was determined.

Sophia had good strength but crappy aim. Her and Daniela couldn’t keep up with Lara and Manon.

“Let’s go!” Lara held up both hands for Manon to high five as they beat Sophia and Daniela’s score.

Daniela just laughed but Sophia was irritated, she grumbled under her breath. She didn’t like losing. Daniela grabbed her hand instantly getting Sophia’s attention.

“We won’t lose.” Daniela promised as they followed Yoonchae to a basketball game.

Yoonchae chose this game for a reason. She beat the high score on the machine by a good ten baskets. She was oddly good at arcade basketball.

Megan got a solid score too and the two high fived, aware that they probably avoided having to sing a cringey duet together.

But while they stood next to each other, watching their friends shoot mini basketballs into mini hoops, they both thought it wouldn’t have been so bad.

Lara and Manon got a solid score. They each made twenty baskets in the ninety seconds they were given.

Sophia looked laser focused but Daniela had a feeling she was going to use too much power like she had previously.

When the game started, Daniela immediately stood behind Sophia and held her arms.

“Gently, ok? You don’t need to go full ‘dommy mommy’ on the ball.” Daniela whispered into Sophia’s ear. The rest of the girls sent hoots and hollers while Sophia turned red.

But instead of throwing the ball hard she gently tossed it and surprisingly scored. She turned around with her tongue between her teeth, eyes bright and stared into Daniela’s eyes.

She got lost in them for a second before Daniela shouted at her “Soph! Focus!”

The Filipina turned around and kept shooting. She scored eighteen points. Thankfully Daniela was able to score twenty four baskets.

They beat Manon and Lara by two baskets, irritating the pair.

“Oof. Two losses each.” Megan taunted.

“How about we sweeten the deal?” Yoonchae taunted alongside her partner, walking up and putting her arm around Megan’s shoulders.

Four girls raised their eyebrows at them.

“If we win the next game-“ Megan started.

“-all of you have to perform on Saturday.” Yoonchae finished.

They felt confident they knew what game Daniela would pick. And they figured they could win.

“And if you two aren’t the sole winners?” Manon asked with a raised eyebrow. She could tell the other girls were about to agree but she wanted Megan and Yoonchae to feel some pressure here.

“Then we’ll perform a song together.” Yoonchae replied.

“Wait, what-“ Megan stuttered out.

“But we pick what song.” Daniela bartered.

“Yoonchae, stop-“ Megan tried again.

“Deal.” Yoonchae agreed instantly.

Yoonchae just smiled at Megan confidently and squeezed her hand briefly. “We got this.”

They followed Daniela to the final game. A pair of classic DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) machines.

“Ok. Pairs play together. Whoever has the highest average grade wins, lowest grade loses.” Daniela explained.

Megan and Yoonchae went up and showed why they were confident. They were in sync with each other and if anything, pushed each other to be even better. They both ended with match “A” grades. They fist bumped, out of breath, but happy.

Nervously, Manon and Lara went up next.

“Maybe we should just accept our fate.”

“Shut up and dance Bannerman,” Lara said. Not trying to be outdone, they danced. Halfway through, they actually started to enjoy the game rather than think about winning.

They both ended with “A-“ grades. They both flicked off Megan and Yoonchae who stuck their tongues out at them.

Sophia dreaded going up there. She was always the worst at DDR. But Daniela was always the best.

“It’ll be just like riding a bike.” Daniela said as they started the song.

Sophia screamed as she tried to keep up but her desire to not let Daniela down kept her going. Daniela just laughed watching Sophia try so hard. She found it adorable.

Sophia got an “A-“ while Daniela got an “A+”.

Daniela held Sophia in a side hug as they watched Megan tease Lara and Manon.

“Guess who is singing on Saturday? You two. We need to think of songs, like now.” Megan said to the others.

“You guys didn’t win though.” Manon said calmly.

“No but our grades average out as a tie with Soph and Dani.” Yoonchae argued.

Lara caught on to what Manon was insinuating.

“Yes, but you two weren’t the sole winners.” Lara said with a grin, her arm resting on Manon’s shoulder. Her partner had chosen her words carefully.

Yoonchae realized this and cursed in Korean.

“She makes a good point.” Sophia said smirking at Yoonchae. Daniela just grinned at Megan.

“Wait, but our grades were better than Sophia’s!” Megan argued.

“That’s a first, unlike high school.” Sophia muttered earning a laugh from Daniela.

“Oh fuck off.” Megan rolled her eyes before focusing on the contest results.

“Let’s settle this. Dani, let’s one v one, right now, please.” Megan asked desperately. Yoonchae had already accepted her fate but was having fun watching Megan freak out.

The other four girls thought for a moment, they mumbled to each other before grinning.

“Nah, we came together and decided. Guess you guys are performing too.” Manon patted Megan on the back. Megan began arguing with her and Lara.

“I just hope it’s cringe.” Daniela spoke out loud, happy but strangely sad she wouldn’t have to perform with Sophia.

“To be cringe is to be free.” Sophia said as she led them to a racing game.

“Six way race! Loser pays for ice cream!” Sophia called out as the girls stopped arguing

“I guess Megan is paying!” Yoonchae yelled back getting into a seat. The other girls followed along.

“Girl. I know where you sleep.”

Except, where was Yoonchae going to sleep?

Megan sat in the middle of her bed. Yoonchae was currently in the shower and Megan was thinking about how they woke up this morning.

Sure, in their drunken state they had fell asleep in the same bed last night. And this morning she was so tired that she instinctively crawled back into bed with the Korean girl.

She heard the hair dryer going and knew that her time in solitude was ending soon. She felt her heart beating in her chest.

Although she had come to terms with her feelings still existing, that doesn’t mean she was necessarily comfortable.

As the week progressed, she felt more and more. Every look, every touch, every word. They set her heart on fire.

And she knew she would get burned soon. The familiar ache in her chest had started forming.
The ache of wanting more but not wanting to lose what they had.

Megan closed her eyes and leaned back against the headboard.

Yoonchae was having a similar internal conversation. She stared at herself in the mirror as she dried her hair but her mind was thinking about Megan.

It had been doing that a lot lately. As the week progressed, it’s like no time between them had passed. Except Yoonchae doesn’t remember their friendship feeling so… intense.

She suddenly became self aware of how much physical contact happened between the two. Or how often they checked up on each other. Or how pretty Megan had looked-

Yoonchae shut off the hair dryer.

“It’s nothing. You’ve just missed your best friend.” Yoonchae told herself. This was true. She wasn’t very good at making friends after the group dissolved. She mainly kept to herself. It was easier that way.

She thought about toning down their friendship but Megan didn’t seem uncomfortable. If anything, Megan seemed like she welcomed it. She decided that she’d only tone it down if Megan was uncomfortable.

She took a deep breath before exiting the bathroom. Megan appeared as if she were mediating on her bed, her head leaned back, eyes closed.

“Hey, thanks for paying for the ice cream.” Yoonchae teased.

Megan scoffed playfully. She would’ve paid anyway but she did lose the race.

“I’m just sad you actually beat me. You kept running into walls.” Megan commented without opening her eyes. She knew how the Korean girl beat her, Megan had lost on purpose. She kept driving off the map on turns so Yoonchae could catch her.

She didn’t appreciate the knowing looks the other girls gave her.

“You’re soooo bad at driving” Daniela had teased.

Megan had just flipped her off in response.

She was willing her heart to slow down until she felt her bed dip. She opened her eyes and looked up to see Yoonchae crawling toward her.

Yeah, she was definitely going to have a heart attack now.

Yoonchae looked at Megan nervously. She saw the pink hair girl look towards Yoonchae’s empty bed that housekeeping had neatly made.

“S-sorry. I just assumed after last night-“ Yoonchae started speaking quickly, embarassed. How could she be so stupid-

“No! I mean,” Megan interrupted just as quickly, “No! it’s fine, I don’t mind.”

Megan slide over to give the other girl room. Eventually they both settled side by side on Megan’s bed, both girls felt too warm to be under the covers but they didn’t want to admit that to each other.

“So, where are you living in California now?” Megan asked, trying to keep her composure.

“Oh. I rent an apartment in LA. Near my school.” Yoonchae revealed.

“Oh. You’re in LA too.” Megan was surprised. Yoonchae didn’t know why she was surprised. She moved there for her, even if she never admitted that out loud.

“Where do you live?” Yoonchae asked now.

“In an apartment near UCLA. I met some girls my freshman year and we just keep rooming together cause it’s easier than finding new, random roommates each school year. But yeah they’re cool. Their names are Emily and Adela. I mean, we’re not that close, I just go out with them sometimes-“ Megan rambled on but Yoonchae was more distracted by their legs tangling together.

She felt comfortable. She slowly felt Megan’s tension leave her body as she kept talking and Yoonchae settled against her body.

Eventually Megan noticed that Yoonchae wasn’t replying and found the girl softly asleep, cuddled up into her.

Yeah, she was screwed.

🍒 MEICHAE SHIPPERS 🐚

Sophia: yall saw them tn right

Daniela: omg
Daniela: I forgot about this group chat

Lara: are you a believer now??

Manon: Sophia was a hardcore denier ✋

Sophia: I just didn’t really see it
Sophia: but the way Yoonchae looks at Megan

Lara: WHAT
Lara: DONT YOU MEAN MEGAN LOOKING AT YOONCHAE??
Lara: YOU MEAN THAT BRAT IS YEARNING TOO

Sophia: wdym yearning TOO

Daniela: oh yeah Megan’s been in love with Yoonchae for years
Daniela: she told us

Sophia: WHAT

Manon: Sophia
Manon: there’s no way you don’t know

Daniela: she can be a bit clueless sometimes

Lara: true
Lara: remember when that guy kept trying to ask her to prom
Lara: but she kept like completely missing his hints

Manon: until he showed up with the sign 💀

Daniela: poor guy
Daniela: Sophia was about to go with him out of pity!

Sophia: I felt bad!
Sophia: arrest me!

Daniela: good thing you didn’t.
Daniela: I didn’t want to go alone.

Sophia: fuck that guy for breaking up with you literally a week before prom.
Sophia: I wish we would’ve wrapped his car in bubble wrap like Lara wanted.

Manon: yeah but you and Megan popped it all.

Sophia: good times
Sophia: stop talking about me and focus on Meichae

Lara: yes mother

Manon: yes mother

Daniela: yes mommy

Sophia: when I’m done killing Lara, I’m coming for you two.

Sophia set her phone down and glared at Lara who just laughed.

Sophia was deciding whether it was worth the effort getting out of her bed to kill Lara before she decided to do so another way.

“So… you and Manon.”

“Y-yea. What about us?” Lara asked nervously.

“Us? Oh do tell.” Sophia said, turning her body to face Lara’s bed.

“There’s nothing to tell. We’re friends again.” Lara stated simply. She hoped that being straightforward would stop the questioning.

“Do you want to get back together with her?”

That question made Lara choke.

“Woah- Sophia what the fuck-“

“Dani told me about the food containers. That was cute. But I don’t know if that’s just a whole ‘sorry for being a dick’ apology or a ‘you’re still the love of my life’ kind of apology.” Sophia shrugged with a smile. She meant to over exaggerate the scenario to mess with Lara.

She wasn’t expecting Lara to pause and think so long.

“It wouldn’t make sense anyway.” Lara said before turning and facing the opposite direction, away from Sophia.

Sophia’s smile dropped. “Wait, Lara.”

“Just leave it alone Soph. Forget I said anything.” Lara asked nicely.

“But-“

“Keep pushing and I’ll ask about you and Dani cuddling all day yesterday.” Lara replied harshly.

“Goodnight.” Sophia said, more afraid to think about what Lara just said than anything.

Lara had not dated anyone after Manon. She didn’t see the point. She used hatred and pain to move on from the other girl after all these years.

She poured all her time an effort into her studies. And pushed away anyone who tried to get too close. She had spent years trying to forgot her ex-girlfriend.

But now? After learning Manon’s side of the story plus seeing this version of her, she couldn’t exactly deny she wouldn’t be interested if they started dating again.

It didn’t help that she was still gorgeous (she was a model for goodness sake). But Lara had noticed the way she paid attention to everyone throughout the trip.

She noticed the way other people gravitated towards her positive energy. Like Ally and all the people at Harmony.

She noticed the way Manon took care of them on their night out, letting them get drunk and getting them back to the hotel, even though she was uncomfortable.

And although they just agreed to be friends again, it’s hard to be just friends with someone who once claimed territory in your heart.

But again, it wouldn’t make any sense. They tried to be together and it didn’t work. Plus time had passed and they were different people. They don’t know each other anymore. They could just stay friends. 

Lara was in a spiral.

Manon stared at the ceiling. She held back a cough and peeked at Daniela who had knocked out.

Her phone sat next to her face, still open to her text chat with Sophia. Manon rolled her eyes but smiled. She noticed the subtle signs.

Things were changing between Sophia and Daniela. Even if they didn’t see each other like that before, maybe they just didn’t understand it yet.

But time had passed and they were different people. But deep down, they still knew each other better than anyone.

Manon took a chance and pulled out her phone.

Manon: twenty bucks says Sophia and Daniela get together

Lara: no shot
Lara: not on this trip

Manon: so you think after this trip

Lara: I heard Sophia mention Dani visiting her in nyc
Lara: they’ll wait until then 😌

Manon: nah
Manon: they kissing before we leave

Lara: bet.

A minute passed.

Lara: why are you still awake?

Manon: can’t sleep
Manon: trying not to cough
Manon: Dani sleeping

Lara: take the cough medicine loser

Manon: what cough medicine?

Lara: the one I left on the nightstand.

Manon used the light of her phone to inspect the night stand next to her bed.

Sure enough, there was a little bottle of cough medicine.

Manon: where did this come from??

Lara: I left it when I was cleaning your room
Lara: before our talk…

Manon: well
Manon: thanks

Lara: anytime

Manon took the cough medicine and a sip of water. She settled back under the covers. She doubted it would work. But her mind drifted to thoughts of Lara always taking care of her and others.

Maybe her admiration had turned into inspiration, because she always wanted to take care of others the way Lara did.

It’s one of the many reasons she fell in love with her in the first place.

Manon: just took some
Manon: goodnight

Lara: sleep tight
Lara: see you tomorrow

Friday

Daniela was not awoken by coughing but by the hotel phone ringing which puzzled her. Manon was not in her bed so Daniela yawned and picked up the phone.

“Alo?” Daniela answered, rubbing her eyes.

“Good morning! Is Manon there?” A cheery, male voice answered.

“No. Who is this?” Daniela asked, sleepy, confused, but still guarded.

“This is Will. I’m a friend. Can you tell her to call me when she gets back?” The voice asked.

“Sure.”

✨KATSEYE ✨

Daniela: Manon
Daniela: some dude named Will called the room looking for you
Daniela: said to call him back

Megan: whose Will 👀

Yoonchae: ooo

Daniela: idk but if any of you see her can you tell her to come back

Megan: maybe she met up with him already

Yoonchae: scandalous

Sophia: calm down you two

Sophia glanced over at Lara who was typing something on her laptop, the tapping of the keys harder than before the messages were sent.

“Lara, relax.”

The girl looked up at Sophia with furrowed eyes.

“I’m fine.”

“Girl. Don’t lie to me.” Sophia said sitting down across from Lara. Lara sighed and put her laptop to the side.

She explained their talk the previous day as well as the thought process spiral she went on last night after they went to “sleep.”

“Like, I shouldn’t, right?” Lara asked. Sophia thought of an answer. This was a tough situation.

“I’m going to be honest. This is a tough situation.” Sophia started. “I mean, I love you both. And I loved when you were together. But we all know how toxic it became. Plus, it’s been three years. Even if you guys were close back then, I mean, that gap is still there.”

“Right? I’m about to start law school and be even busier than before. I’d just end up neglecting her again. Why would I jump back into a relationship with her if I know I’m just going to hurt her?”

Sophia raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to jump back into a relationship with her?”

Lara pondered long and hard. Did she?

“I don’t know. We agreed to be friends again. And that should be enough. Right?”

They were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Manon entered her room sweaty from yoga. She was surprised to find her roommate already awake.

“Hey.” Manon said, sipping the cherry smoothie they gave out after class.

“Hey. You see my texts?” Daniela asked looking up from her phone. Manon shook her head.

“No, I left my phone here to charge.” Manon said walking over to her bed and taking the phone out that was hidden by the covers.

“That’s what was vibrating over there. I was scared to check in case it was something else.” Daniela said out loud.

“Dumb ass.”

“I will fight you Bannerman.”

Manon ignored her as she read the texts. She then went to her contacts and called Will.

“Hey, sorry I was at yoga… uh huh… really?… no that would be great… yeah just put the rest on my card… perfect, thanks. Yeah, probably tomorrow… cool, see you then!” Manon hung up the phone.

“Boyfriend?” Daniela teased and Manon threw a pillow at the girl.

“Pack your bags.”

Sophia opened the door to reveal Daniela.

She was dressed, but also had her suitcase and a huge grin.

“Um, Dani. We’re not leaving until Sunday.” Sophia tried to remind the girl.

“I’m here to help you pack.” Daniela said stepping around Sophia. The Filipina watched as she entered, then looked at her suitcase standing in the hall. She brought it inside as Daniela spoke to Lara.

“Pack up. We’re moving.”

“To where?”

“Surprise.”

“What surprise?” Sophia asked joining the conversation.

“It’s a secret.” Daniela said with a smug grin. Lara rolled her eyes.

Sophia gave her a pout and the best puppy dog eyes she could pull. Daniela almost awe’d out loud. Almost.

“Almost got me Laforteza. But put those eyes away and just trust me.” Daniela said softly. Sophia quietly sighed but nodded and began packing up her stuff.

Lara hadn’t budged though. Daniela raised an eyebrow at her who returned her own challenging eyebrow.

Then Lara’s phone chimed and she read the new texts.

Manon: do what Dani says
Manon: pleaseee
Manon: 🫶

Lara glanced at Daniela but sighed like Sophia did and got up to pack.

Manon smiled as she knocked on the younger girls’ door.

She was met with a sleepy Megan.

“Goodmorning sunshine!”

Megan just grunted and walked back into the room, Manon followed her and shut the door.

She heard the faucet running in the bathroom and figured that’s where Yoonchae was, while Megan returned to the messy bed.

Manon stood in the empty room and glanced over at the housekeeping made, neat bed next to Megan’s. The sheets were still tucked in.

Yoonchae stepped out of the bathroom, she was startled by Manon’s appearance but softly smiled.

“Unnie, hi.” She greeted until she saw Manon staring at her made bed that was definitely not used last night. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

“Uh huh. I need you girls to pack up.”

“Why?” Megan asked, muffled by the pillow. Her hair was splayed everywhere and Yoonchae found it adorable.

“It’s a surprise. I promise, it’s nothing bad.” Manon said holding up her hands.

“Hmmm, I don’t wanna” Megan groaned.

Manon send a pleading look to Yoonchae who walked over to Megan and leaned down.

“Meiyok, get up please.” Yoonchae asked quietly.

Megan’s body froze, Yoonchae was whispering directly in her ear. Her brain was frying and it was only nine in the morning.

“Please, for me?… Jagiya…” the nickname had just slipped out before Yoonchae could think of it.

Megan didn’t understand at first but the intimacy of the word got her attention.

“Ok ok, I’m getting up.” Megan said pushing herself up. When she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth, Yoonchae saw the smirk Manon sent her.

Yoonchae just smiled to herself.

All six girls stood in the elevator with their suitcases. All but Manon and Daniela were confused.

Their eyebrows rose as the elevator rose higher and higher until the bell finally dinged as they reached the top floor.

“Soooo, I’ve been thinking,” Manon started as she led them out of the elevator.

“Today is Friday, and we haven’t had a proper ‘KATSEYE Friday night sleepover’ since ya know, we stopped talking.” She led them down the long hallway to the solitary door at the end.

“So the other night I texted Ally’s husband, Will, to see if he had a room big enough for all of us for the last few days. And since he owed me a favor, no big deal I just sang at their wedding, he got us-“ She opened the door revealing a large room. The girls could see a kitchen, a living room with a massive TV, and doors to three individual bedrooms.

“The penthouse.”

The five other girls stared at her with their mouths open.

“Surprise?”

They explored the penthouse suite for a solid twenty minutes before Yoonchae spoke up.

“Unnie, there’s only one bed in each room.” Yoonchae pointed out to Manon.

“Yes but that bed is bigger than the bed y’all have been sharing.” Manon countered.

“They’ve been sharing a bed?” Lara asked excitedly and the two girls turned red.

“It’s not like we haven’t shared beds before.” Manon spared them. “Besides, it’s Friday night. I know it’s kinda lame and last minute but… I’d love to just, pull the mattresses into the living room and watch movies and eat junk and just talk, like old times.” Manon rambled, her cheeks turning rose colored.

“Aw, someone missed us.” Daniela cooed, pinching her cheek. Manon instantly swatted her hand away.

“Ok, so first things first. Food?” Sophia asked. The girls started listing out different fast food places.

Yoonchae’s eyes lit up, her brain was already fixated the moment she saw the kitchen.

“I want to cook!” Yoonchae said but it easily got lost in the chaos.

“Guy, listen to Yoonchae.” Megan got everyone’s attention. Yoonchae sent her a grateful look.

“I want to cook. Can we find a grocery store with Asian stuff?” Yoonchae asked. Lara nodded.

“Actually, there’s an Asian supermarket next to the pho place I went yesterday.” Lara revealed.

“Oh yeah, that place has good snacks.” Manon nodded.

“So, shopping trip, then Yoonchae can make us lunch, and junk food and snacks for dinner while we watch a movie.” Daniela summarized. The girls nodded.

“Ok, everyone get ready. Lara order an uber. Make sure you bring your wallets and phones guys.” Sophia said after clapping her hands together.

“Yes mother,” The rest of the girls replied in unison.

“I will end everyone in this room.”

The girls took an uber to the Asian supermarket. When Megan offered to go with Yoonchae to get the stuff she needed to cook, she surprisingly shook her head.

“No. Surprise. Sophia?” Yoonchae asked and the older girl nodded.

Megan looked like a sad puppy as the two girls walked away towards the produce section before Daniela put an arm around her shoulders.

“Dude, it’s literally for like an hour. You guys share a bed. You can survive this.”

Megan glared at Manon. “Did you really have to tell everyone?”

“You’re acting like we’re surprised. If anything we’re more surprised you haven’t spilled your heart out.” Lara said as they walked down an aisle putting random things in the cart she was pushing.

“What happened to your whole little honesty vow?” Manon questioned holding up a bag of chips that caused Lara to nod, Manon throwing them in the cart right after.

“It’s still there. I don’t lie to her. I just never told her how I feel. But, in my defense, she’s never even asked. If she did, I guess I would tell her.” Megan said quietly.

“What if we just tell her to ask you how you feel about her? Or is that too much?” Daniela asked holding up a container with jello. The three girls shrugged but she threw it in the cart anyway.

“Please don’t.” Megan pleaded weakly.

“Nah, I think that’s too much. Let nature run its course.” Lara countered, Megan sent her a thankful smile.

“What did she even say to you this morning? She whispered something in your ear and you got right up.” Manon spoke as they turned the corner into the next aisle.

They grimaced as it was all preserved spices so they walked to the following aisle.

“It wasn’t what she said. It was just the way she said it…” Megan said dreamily. “But she did call me something in Korean.”

“What did she say?” Daniela asked intrigued, twirling her hair. She was wondering if her partner in crime was questioning Yoonchae the same way.

“Jagiya.” Megan repeated.

“Honey.”

“No, thats peanut butter.” Manon corrected pointing at the shelf and Lara rolled her eyes. “No, jagiya means honey in Korean. Like when couples call each other a pet name.”

“And why do you know that?”

“Some of us like to know other languages and cultures Dani.”

“I know Spanish!” Daniela defended herself.

“Yes, I know. We had ESOL together.” Lara laughed along with Megan and Manon.

“You should call her a pet name too. See how she reacts.” Manon continued the conversation.

“Yeah, call her 'baby' in Korean. I’m sure she’d love that.” Daniela said, mentally noting to update Sophia on this stuff later.

“I don’t remember how to say that. Do you know?” Megan asked Lara.

“Aegiya? I think, I don’t know. Google it.”

“That’s correct.” The four girls looked up from Megan’s phone to spot a familiar kpop idol, sipping a boba tea.

“I was actually just thinking about you guys…” Yunjin said with a grin.

“So what are you making?” Sophia asked. Yoonchae was being unusually more quiet than normal, which was hard, but apparently possible.

“I had this dream…” Yoonchae just muttered as she began collecting ingredients.

“Chicken thighs, onions, garlic, ginger, gochujang…” Yoonchae muttered to herself as she looked through the aisles for the ingredients.

Sophia was accustomed to seeing the Korean girl focused but this was something else.

“And why didn’t you want Megan to see?” Sophia asked curiously.

Yoonchae froze. She didn’t want to mention the dream to anyone, let alone Sophia. Sophia would tell Daniela. And Daniela would tell everyone.

And everyone included Megan.

“I already said. Surprise.” Yoonchae said quietly.

“Yeah, so you don’t want it to be a surprise for me?” Sophia countered as they walked to the spice section.

Yoonchae grabbed the stuff she needed and shrugged. “Do you really care?”

“Have you always been this sassy?” Sophia muttered to herself.

“Yes.” Yoonchae replied causing Sophia to laugh.

“I feel like… even though we all changed, we sort of didn’t.” Yoonchae tried to explain suddenly.

“Like with each other, we act the same. But like I usually don’t go out this much but I have fun going out when I’m with you guys. Like it makes me actually want to.” Yoonchae followed up. Sophia nodded.

“I actually don’t boss people around so much in the real world. I’m much more laid back now.” Sophia proclaimed. Yoonchae gave her a look of disbelief.

“It’s true!” She laughed. “But I get what you mean. I can see it in the others. Dani’s an overthinker still but she used to be so passive. Now she’s pretty assertive. Lara used to be more social but now she’s a bit more guarded, I mean, for obvious reasons. Manon used to be like fiercely loyal to only those around her but I feel like she’s gotten even nicer to everyone.”

“Megan hasn’t changed.” Yoonchae smiled fondly. “She’s still the same.”

Sophia watched as Yoonchae absent-mindedly examined a bag of cherry candies.

She should ask her. If she feels something for Megan. Maybe she just needed a push.

“Chae-“

“BOBA TEA!” Sophia was interrupted by the appearance of the other four girls. Their cart had a variety of snacks from chips, to cookies, to fruit, to pre-made items like sandwiches.

Daniela was holding out a purple drink to her.

“Fifty percent sugar, just the way you like it.” Daniela said with a grin that made Sophia’s heart stutter.

“You get everything you need?” Megan asked Yoonchae, her back to her.

“Yes? Why are you turned around?” Yoonchae asked suspiciously.

“You said it was a surprise. So I’m not looking.” Megan said, sipping her drink.

Yoonchae giggled. “Babo.” (Idiot).

She quickly turned Megan around who responded by holding out a drink for Yoonchae along with a straw.

Yoonchae tried to put the straw through the lid but it ended up denting it, earning a laugh from all the girls.

“That happened to me too, don’t worry” Lara explained as Megan fixed it for her.

Yoonchae took a sip and made eye contact with Megan who just sent her a silly wink.

As Sophia led them to the check outline, Yoonchae grabbed that bag of cherry candies on her mind.

Back at the hotel, Yoonchae declared the kitchen off limits. Megan pouted.

“But I want to see you cook.”

“Another time.”

“Promise?” Megan asked hopefully. Yoonchae’s response was holding out her pinky.

The other rolled their eyes.

“How long do you need?” Sophia asked the girl who was opening the cupboards looking for tools she could use.

“About an hour? I have some stuff to marinate and put together.”

Sophia nodded. “I’m gonna check out the sauna. Anyone want to come with?” She asked, indirectly but also directly staring at Daniela.

The Latina glanced at Megan before replying.

“Actually, we went to the sauna earlier this week. We’re just gonna chill in the living room.” Daniela gently let Sophia down.

“I’ll go with you.” Lara spoke up. “I didn’t get to go with these bitches so it’ll be just us.”

“Perfect.” Sophia said sticking her tongue out at the others. Manon replied with a middle finger as they went to their room to change.

“You gonna help us learn the dance, Manon?” Megan asked as the girls walked into the living room area of the suite.

“Yeah. I’ll pull it up on the TV once Sophia and Lara leave.” Manon said as the other two girls began moving the furniture around to make space.

Fifteen minutes later, Yoonchae had prepped everything she needed to make lunch when she heard music from the living room.

Since it was still a bit early she decided to peek in and see what the other girls were up to.

She leaned against the wall as she watched Manon try and coach Megan and Daniela through some choreography.

“Do I want to know?” Yoonchae spoke up. The three girls turned around. They looked to Megan to explain.

“Actually, we could use some help.”

Sophia and Lara felt relaxed as they rode the elevator up after their sauna trip.

“I can’t believe all this shit is included with the hotel. I don’t know how I’m going to go back to normal life next week.” Sophia sighed.

“Ugh, don’t remind me.” Lara groaned. “I’m nervous to start school. And you know, go back to the real world.”

“Yeah, but you’re going to Harvard. That’s fucking awesome Lara.”

“Thanks Soph.” Lara said proudly.

“And Harvard is pretty close to New York. I’m sure you can take a train and come visit. You and Dani can visit at the same time!” Sophia shouted excitedly.

“Yeah, no thanks. I don’t like to third wheel.” Lara chuckled.

Sophia furrowed her eyebrows. “Don’t be silly.”

“Oh please. What were your plans with Dani for her visit?” Lara asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t know. Central Park? Dinner? Broadway show? We haven’t really talked details.” Sophia thought about it. They weren’t questions. Those were things she actually wanted to do.

“Yeah, its totally a date. I’m not third wheeling that.” Lara said as the elevator doors opened and she walked out.

“It’s not a date!” Sophia shouted trying to catch up.

Lara opened the door to their room and the first thing they heard was Yoonchae’s voice.

“No! It’s step and turn in the opposite direction! Take this seriously! Dani why are you laughing?”

Some kpop song was playing in the background but Sophia just wanted to savor this moment. Daniela was doubled over laughing while Megan was lying on the floor holding her stomach while Manon was practically draped over the couch. Yoonchae was glaring at all of them.

“We don’t want to know.” Sophia said shaking her head but made eye contact with Daniela who had a sparkle in her eye.

“Is lunch ready?” Lara asked, checking on Manon who giggled when Lara scratched her scalp.

“Yeah it’s on the stove. Just need to add last part.” Yoonchae said shutting off the TV.

A few minutes later the girls sat at the table as Yoonchae brought the pot out and set it down. She opened the lid dramatically revealing…

“Dakgalbi with cheese.” Yoonchae presented. She took her seat next to Megan as the other girls inspected her dish.

“This looks so good Yoonchip.” Daniela complimented.

“It smells amazing.” Manon nodded.

“Look at you, being a chef and shit.” Lara began serving everyone.

“This is so good.” Sophia said after taking a bite.

“Thanks guys.” Yoonchae said shyly before she glanced at Megan who was chewing.

“Mei… what do you think?” She asked softly, afraid of the answer. The other girls could just be being nice. She knew Megan would always be honest.

Megan swallowed the food and thought for a second. She smiled softly.

“It’s delicious… aegiya.” (Baby)

Yoonchae’s eyes widened and her cheeks flushed, her lips parted. Her mind instantly flashed to her dream.

“Thank you… jagiya.” (Honey)

Megan and Manon had announced they wanted to nap before their sleepover tonight knowing that not a lot of sleep would be happening.

Lara needed to do some work on her laptop for school.

Yoonchae wanted to clean up and prepare something special for the sleepover so she was in the kitchen.

This left Sophia and Daniela alone.

“Movie?” Daniela asked the Filipina who nodded. They settled on the couch as Sophia flipped through the movies included.

“Oh my God, have you seen this?” Sophia asked, hovering over a movie.

“The Greatest Showman? I’ve seen clips.” Daniela shrugged.

“We have to watch it.” Sophia decided clicking play.

“So you’re still into musicals. I guess some things don’t change.” Daniela just smiled at Sophia. She responded by resting her head on her shoulder.

The movie played peacefully until it got to the part where ‘Rewrite the Stars’ was being sung.

Sophia was full on belting the lyrics while Daniela just giggled.

When it was done, Sophia collapsed back into Daniela out of breath.

“I forgot that you have a really nice voice.” Daniela commented. She poked Sophia’s stomach.

“You should sing at Harmony on Saturday too.” Daniel suggested. Sophia was a former theater kid so she would have no issues singing to a crowd.

“You should sing with me.” Sophia said quietly, pausing the movie.

“What- there’s no way-“

“Please?” Sophia asked with wide eyes. Daniela rolled hers in response, already feeling her resolve cracking.

She didn’t want to perform in front of people, but if Sophia was with her, she would probably do it.

“I’ll think about it.” Was all Daniela said.

Sophia took this as a win. She was about to play the movie again until Yoonchae walked into the living room and literally face planted onto the sofa next to them.

“Girl, what the hell was that?” Daniela asked confused. The Korean girl said something but it was muffled by the couch.

“What?”

Yoonchae picked up her head. “I need advice.”

The other two girls exchanged a glance.

Ten minutes later the three girls sat at a table by the pool, sipping on tea from the drink bar. There were only a few people lazily floating in the pool at this time.

“What’s on your mind?” Sophia asked as Yoonchae took a sip. She hesitated at first.

“This stays between us.” Yoonchae said, looking directly at Daniela.

“I’m offended.”

“You have a big mouth.” Yoonchae defended herself. Daniela gaped at her surprised.

“She’s got a point.”

“Sophia?!” Daniela gasped.

“You’re the one that got us in trouble for the flooded gym thing.” Sophia reminded the Latina.

“That was high school.” Daniela shook her head.

“Some things don’t change.” Sophia mocked Daniela’s words from earlier. She looked at Yoonchae.

“This stays at this table.” Daniela said grabbing Yoonchae’s hand. Sophia mirrored her. The Korean took a deep breath.

“I had this dream.”

Sophia nodded. “Yeah you mentioned it at the store. You dreamt about the Dakgalbi.”

“Yes. No. I mean, the dream had Dakgalbi. But I keep thinking about it because… because Megan was in it.”

The other two girls sent her a confused look.

“I mean, that’s not unusual. When we were in high school one of you popped up in my dreams on the daily.” Daniela shrugged.

“Oh really? Was I there often?” Sophia asked with a smirk.

“Yeah, in like ninety percent of them.” Daniela returned the smirk.

Before Sophia could respond Yoonchae interrupted them. “Guys.”

They both mumbled an apology.

“Megan was there but it was different. She was different or I thought about her different.”

“I think… I think I have a crush… on Megan.” Yoonchae said quietly. The other two girls looked at each other shocked.

Not shocked by her feelings, it was impossible to not see it from an outside perspective, but shocked that Yoonchae was admitting this.

“Thats great because Meg-“ Daniela started before Sophia grabbed her knee. She looked over at the Filipina who shook her head.

She was right. That was Megan’s secret to tell. She held back her desire to just force them to admitting their feelings for each other.

“Are you gonna tell her?” Sophia said.

“I don’t know.” Yoonchae shook her head.
“We just became friends again. And it’s my fault we stopped being friends in the first place. I don’t want to mess that up all over again.”

Daniela sent her a sympathetic look. Sophia sent Daniela a knowing look.

“I doubt you’d mess it up. You guys have something special. Trust that. Trust that your bond can survive something like this.” Daniela said. It wasn’t exactly the truth but she’ll save that part for Megan to tell.

After all, it’s been almost five years in the making.

Megan, Manon, and Lara soon joined them by the pool and they decided to swim for the rest of the afternoon.

When they got back to the room, they split up amongst the two bathrooms to shower and change. Manon was scrolling through her phone, waiting for her turn when she heard the door opening.

She looked up and was met with Lara wrapped in a towel who paused when she noticed Manon.

“Oh hey. Sorry. Left my clothes in my room.” Lara explained quietly.

“No worries.” Manon said, trying her best to keep her mouth dry. She was also doing her best to avoid looking at any part of Lara’s body.

“You’ve literally seen all of this before.” Lara giggled. Manon’s face felt hot.

“Yeah but that was a different time.” Manon said quickly. They stayed quiet for a moment before Lara spoke up.

“Doesn’t this situation remind you-“

“-Of when the girls found out about us.” Manon finished for Lara.

Four years ago…

All the girls were back in town for the first time in what felt like ages.

They were currently at Sophia’s. She invited them over for a pool day and sleepover just like old times.

They had all been a bit busy so it was nice to get to see each other and catch up.

“So how’s senior year going?” Sophia asked, sitting in a donut, floating in the pool. Yoonchae and Megan were sitting on the steps of the pool.

They shrugged in unison. “School is school. Megan just copies off my homework.” Yoonchae replied.

“Just Math and English! You copy off me in everything else.” Megan defended herself.

“You’re literally copying off the girl who barely knows English.” Daniela said from the lounger where she was tanning. Sophia glanced at her body appreciatively before looking back to the two younger girls.

“For real.” Yoonchae deadpanned.

“Mean girl.” Megan pouted and Yoonchae giggled before mocking her “Mean girl.”

“So, you guys find dates to prom?” Manon asked knowing that the school event was coming up.

The two girls exchanged a look before shaking their heads. But they were smiling.

“Nah, we just decided to go together. There’s no decent guys at school anyway.” Yoonchae said picking at the hem of her bathing suit. Not that she ever even considered dating any of the boys at school.

“And girls?” Lara asked Megan. Megan just laughed, having come out thanks to Lara a few months ago.

“Nope. Only decent girl at school is Yoonchip since you bitches left.” Megan said, which was the truth. But only Lara was aware of what she meant behind that.

“Besides. Girls are much harder to talk to than boys.” Megan sighed, and sent Lara a look. Lara then exchanged a glance with Manon who was laying next to Daniela on her own lounger.

“The guy I’m dating now is decent enough.” Daniela spoke up and Sophia nodded.

“Yeah. He’s doing the bare minimum like knowing your name and not cheating on you.” Sophia spoke and rolled her eyes dramatically but smiled. Daniela had texted her updates about her relationship and had seemed pretty happy.

“I know. A miracle. There are decent guys out there.” Daniela deadpanned.

“The bar is in hell.” Lara shook her head but laughed.

“How about you guys? Dating anyone?” Yoonchae looked to Sophia, Lara, and Manon.

Sophia quickly shook her head. “Not really interested in dating right now. Plus everyone I meet lowkey sucks.”

“Good. You deserve the best. Don’t waste your time.” Daniela nodded.

Meanwhile, Lara and Manon hesitated. They both agreed they would tell the girls and they had just served them an opportunity on a golden platter but then Lara spoke.

“Nah.”

“Same.” Manon quickly played along.

They both glanced at each other. They were on the same wavelength but Manon felt confused why Lara wanted to hide any longer.

She spent the rest of the time at the pool conversing with everyone except her girlfriend.

After the girls got tired of swimming, they took turns taking showers and changing into pajamas for the night.

Manon waited as Lara showered. She was scrolling through her phone and didn’t notice the door opening until she felt a wet hand pull her into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

Manon looked up to see Lara, a towel wrapped loosely around her, still soaking wet. The shower was still running.

“What are you doing?” Manon whispered.

“They can’t hear us. They think I’m still in the shower. You’re mad at me.” Lara spoke.

“No, I’m not.”

“You’re lying. You’ve been avoiding me since earlier. I know why, and I’m sorry baby.” Lara said, grabbing Manon’s hand.

“Are you… ashamed of being with me?” Manon asked quietly and Lara shook her head, surprised.

“Of course not.”

“Then why deny it?” Manon asked confused.

“I want them to know. And I want to tell them. But I got nervous.” Lara wasn’t looking at her eyes when she said this, she was scared of Manon’s response. “I mean, we’re all so close to each other. We’re entangled in each other’s lives. Adding the fact that we fell in love-“

“Oh we’re in love now are we?” Manon said with a smirk. Lara just smacked her arm.

“As if you don’t already know.” Lara smiled amused. Manon grinned.

“I do. But it wouldn’t hurt to hear you say it. Officially.” Manon pondered.

Lara finally made eye contact, sensing the serious tone their conversation took.

“I love you, Manon Bannerman. You’re my best friend and I wouldn’t want to lose what we have. I’m just scared of the other girls and what they’ll say. They can be ruthless.”

“I love you too, Lara Raj. And whatever teasing they do is because they love us. And we can be much crueler to them. But we can do it together.” Manon replied.

Lara smiled as she cupped Manon’s face and leaned in to kiss her.

Manon gladly met her halfway and they collided. Lips. Tongues. Teeth.

They lost track of time. Eventually, Manon was sitting on the counter with Lara between her legs. Her wet hair dripping onto Manon’s dry clothes but neither girl cared.

They didn’t notice the knock on the door or Sophia calling out.

“Lara! Lara! I need to grab the first aid kit. Megan fell and scraped her knee! Hello?! Fine. I won’t look. But I’m coming in!”

Sophia did not expect to find two of her best friends making out in her bathroom.

Lara and Manon looked up horrified, realizing that they had been caught. Sophia blinked twice before shaking her head.

“At least turn off the shower and stop wasting water.” Sophia said without missing a beat and taking the first aid kit from the drawer.

“Seriously.” Sophia said reaching into the shower and turning off the water before leaving.

“Lock the door next time!”

Manon bit her lip while Lara just laughed. Like full on laughed. She planted a quick kiss on Manon’s lips.

“Hurry up and shower so we can save face before Sophia starts being dramatic.”

Manon played with the towel that was wrapped around her girlfriend. “Join me?”

Lara smirked. “I would baby, but I don’t think Sophia would appreciate us defiling her bathroom.” Manon just pouted but nodded.

“You can just watch then.” Manon smirked as she gently pushed Lara off and started stripping.

Lara’s reply was to lock the door.

Thirty minutes later, the couple walked into Sophia’s bedroom. Yoonchae and Megan were laying on Sophia’s giant mattress. Megan had her leg elevated on a pillow, two Band-Aids over her knee.

Sophia and Daniela sat on the floor at the foot of the bed, painting each other’s nails. The TV was playing random music videos.

“Hey Meg, done tripping over air and hurting yourself?” Manon snorted earning a glare from Yoonchae.

“Done fucking in Sophia’s shower?” Megan replied in an overly sweet tone. Yoonchae giggled at her reply.

Lara and Manon just rolled their eyes but bit back smiles.

“Dani. Do you think the church will bless a bottle of bleach for me?” Sophia asked without looking up.

“Holy water won’t be enough?” Dani asked not looking up.

“Ok, we get it.” Lara said holding her hands up before sighing.

“When did this happen?” Yoonchae asked curiously.

“We kissed on prom night.” Manon revealed and Lara confirmed with a nod.

“But you both had dates.” Sophia frowned.

“Yeah but those guys sucked. Anyway, we didn’t start dating until we got to college. We went out one night, we kissed again, and in the morning we revealed our feelings for each other. The end. What’s for dinner?” Lara explained.

“Wait, that’s it?” Daniela asked confused.

“What?” Manon asked.

“That’s so… simple.” Megan replied thoughtfully.

“Our story doesn’t have to be dramatic. We love each other.” Lara shrugged and Manon smiled at her.

“And we love and support you both.” Sophia smiled, finally looking up at them. “But please don’t fuck in my house anymore.”

“Or at least do it away from us.” Yoonchae nodded.

“Anyway, you guys are buying us dinner since you took the longest to shower. I vote Chinese.” Megan said sticking out her tongue.

Lara had half a mind to poke her knee but she didn’t want to get clawed by Yoonchae.

“Fine. Babe can you grab my phone from downstairs.” Manon asked sweetly.

“Sure thing baby.” Lara said without blinking an eye. They were met with a chorus of fake gagging, followed by laughter.

It was going to be a long night.

Present day…

“They talked so much shit that night.” Lara laughed.

“Way too much.” Manon smiled fondly.

“But… I think that was one of the best nights of my life.” Lara smiled back. This surprised Manon.

“Really? How come?”

Lara leaned against the door as she spoke. “I mean, it was the last time we felt so… free. We were all together and there wasn’t a care in the world. I mean, after that trip, school kind of took over my life and then we…” Lara trailed off with a sad smile.

“Plus that was the night I finally told you that I- “ Lara cut herself off.

“That you loved me. And I told you that I loved you.” Manon finished for her. She nodded in response.

“That was a good night.” Manon declared stepping closer.

“It was?” Lara said, quickly glancing down at the girl’s lips. Manon nodded.

“It was an even better shower.” Manon said stepping into Lara’s space. Before Lara could reply they heard Sophia’s voice approaching.

“Manon, is Lara done yet? She left her clothes in our room.”

Manon took a step back as Lara composed herself. Sophia appeared holding Lara’s pajamas, already dressed in her own.

She eyed the two girls suspiciously.

“Thanks Soph, I was just on my way to get these.” Lara said taking the pajamas from Sophia. The Filipina nodded but kept glancing between the two girls.

“No problem.” Sophia said, amusement laced in her voice.

“Hurry up and shower, Manon. Before we eat all the snacks.” She said as she walked down the hall and out of sight.

Lara stepped aside and gestured to the door.

“All yours.” Lara said, not breaking eye contact with Manon.

“Thanks.” Manon said, trying not to read any hidden meanings Lara might’ve sent.

She closed the bathroom room door and rested her back against it.

“Fuck” she spoke the single word, tilting her head back to hit the door.

The girls had pulled all the mattresses from the beds and placed them all next to each other in front of the TV. They stacked the pillows against the couch so they could all see the TV.

In front of the beds were all the snacks they had bought.

They were currently watching the new season of Single’s Inferno while passing around a package of Hi-Chews.

“He’s stupid.” Lara spoke up about one of the girls.

“Which one?” Daniela said mid chew.

“That one!” Lara said, pointing to one of the men participating this season.

“What’s wrong with him?” Yoonchae asked curiously.

“He’s so single minded focused on one girl. Like there’s other people in the game. Why not look around?” Lara responded.

“Maybe he thinks she’s the one. I mean, it’s easy for us to see it from an outside view. But there, on the inside. Sometimes you just meet someone and you have an instant connection with that you can’t seem to shake. Even if the world is screaming at you that it doesn’t make any sense.” Manon said quietly. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and she was resting her chin on them.

Lara looked over at her softly next to her. They were sharing the bed in the middle because Megan and Yoonchae were splitting one because if they were apart for too long they would explode (probably) and Sophia and Daniela had already claimed one together since they were the first two to shower.

All the girls had one person in mind when Manon said this but nobody wanted to say names out loud.

“Like us.” Megan spoke up. Yoonchae immediately turned to her but she was still looking at the screen.

Yoonchae’s heart started racing thinking about her earlier conversation with Daniela and Sophia.

“The six of us. We came together in each other’s lives and we had that connection. I mean, some of us knew each other longer. Like we knew each other for a few weeks before we met Yoonchae. But Dani and Soph, you guys have known each other since freshman year.” Megan spoke evenly.

“As soon as we met Yoonchae, it’s like our little world clicked. We hung out outside of school more than just eating lunch and a sleepover here and there. It was like, constant. Consistent. And I don’t know about you guys, but I loved it. Every minute of it. Even the bad times.” Megan said solemnly.

“When we all stopped talking…” Sophia spoke up now. “I felt lost. Like I didn’t know what to do with myself anymore. I went through the motions. Went to class, went out-“

“Got a girlfriend.” Lara giggled. Sophia felt Daniela squeeze her hand reassuringly, knowing the truth, and reminding her that it was okay.

“Even with that. I still felt it. Even after I graduated. It felt like I was just existing. I never had anything to look forward to. I don’t think my heart has felt this full in a while.” Sophia concluded.

“I stopped wanting to dance. But I think I just missed dancing with you guys. I missed having fun. Throwing myself into school and thinking about my future just gave me a purpose and a distraction. I always wondered if you guys were doing well.” Daniela followed up. She looked over at Manon.

“I mean, I always wondered if you were okay. I hoped, prayed, that you were okay after our fight. I’m sorry I didn’t follow up better.” The Latina apologized but Manon shook her head.

“Girl. You were mad. I broke your tv. I was drunk and outta control. I should’ve been more careful, but I made sure I was safe. I should’ve told you I was fine. Even if you were upset with me. I’m sorry too.” Manon apologized again.

“And I’m sorry again Lara.” Manon said turning to Lara. “I know you said we’re good now. But I’ll spend the rest of my life telling you I’m sorry-“ Lara covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.

“I will literally beat your ass right here, right now if you apologize again. We both did wrong. We’re both sorry. We’re here now, and that’s what counts.” Lara said.

Manon looked at her again with those eyes that made her want to kiss her.

“I love you guys.” Yoonchae spoke up. The group collectively cooed and awed which caused her to blush and hide in Megan’s shoulder.

The Chinese girl just laughed and wrapped her arm around the shy Korean girl. She placed a tender kiss on the top of her head.

A relative silence filled the air now. They were happy. They were content.

Of course, they couldn’t maintain silence for very long.

“I want to take a bite of this jello.” Daniela spoke up randomly, holding the jello container.

“So do it.” Sophia raised an eyebrow.

“Fine.” Daniela said opening the package and literally biting a chunk of the jello while the other girls just laughed.

She grimaced. Sophia held out her hand, in case the Latina wanted to spit it out, which was sweet of her but kind of gross. Daniela just shook her head and swallowed the jello.

“Meh.” Was all she answered.

“What other stuff do we have to eat?” Manon asked and Yoonchae lit up.

“Oh! I made surprise. Come help?” She asked Megan who nodded. The duo got up and walked to the kitchen.

They each brought back a plastic container with a variety of tanghulu.

The girls literally screamed and scrambled to grab some.

“You guys are feral!” Lara shouted.

“You made these?” Daniela asked surprised and Yoonchae nodded proudly.

“They’re really good.” Sophia said biting into a grape. The girls agreed chewing carefully.

Daniela’s grapes had started to slide down the skewer so Sophia used hers to help push it up. Daniela just smiled at her in thanks.

“We should make sandwiches.” Lara spoke up when they were done with Yoonchae’s tanghulus.

“But we have the inkigayo sandwich that idols eat at the music show.” Megan said holding said sandwich up and giggling.

The girls just stared at her blankly until Yoonchae’s face lit up.

“Wait yes, I actually know this.” Yoonchae replied starting to laugh.

The other four girls rolled their eyes as the two girls just cracked up by themselves.

Megan took one out and they both bit into each end.

A chorus of fake gagging noises commenced but Megan and Yoonchae were too busy giggling and being in their own little world to notice.

Eventually they moved to the kitchen and started making sandwiches with the supplies they bought earlier.

Thankfully Manon had been responsible and bought actual food instead of all junk food like they originally planned.

The girls were running around the kitchen, looking for ingredients. They ended up just making random sandwiches and forcing each other to try theirs and rate it against the others.

It was a mess. It was loud. It was fun.

Sophia and Daniela were washing the dishes while the others went back to the living room.

Sophia washed while Daniela dried. It was simple. Very domestic.

“I agree with what you said earlier.” Daniela said taking another plate from Sophia to dry.

Sophia hummed in response. “About my heart feeling full. With you guys. I haven’t even thought about life outside of this week. It’s… refreshing.” Daniela explained.

“Can I promise you something?” Daniela asked. Sophia paused and turned off the water before looking at the girl.

“What’s up?” She asked confused.

“I’m going to try and promise to be a better best friend to you. The other girls had their reasons to stop talking but you and I didn’t.”

Sophia never really thought of this but she nodded along. “If that’s the case then we’re equally responsible. So I promise to try and be better too. Cause I want you to stay in my life this time.”

“Ditto.” Daniela replied. There was something in the way that Sophia smiled at her.

Had her eyes always looked this inviting?

“Sophia! Daniela!” Manon called from the living room. Sophia just blinked, as if she were in a trance of her own.

“Coming!” She called out. She grabbed Daniela’s hand who squeezed hers in response as they walked toward the living room.

“Manon found a song for their punishment duet.” Lara explained as they looked at the best friends staring up at them from their mattress.

“What’s the song?” Daniela asked, curious.

“Supercut by Lorde.” Manon said. Sophia raised an eyebrow, not expecting that one.

Megan pulled up her phone and started playing it. She held it up so both her and Yoonchae could listen to it.

While they did this, the others pulled out their phones.

🍒 MEICHAE SHIPPERS 🐚

Sophia: isn’t that like a break up song?

Daniela: I’ve never heard of it

Lara: I read the lyrics, it sounds cute

Manon: hear me out
Manon: the lyrics will get them thinking about literally all their happy memories together

Sophia: so?

Lara: I get her
Lara: she wants them to have a memory montage in their heads and commit to saying they’re in love

Manon: bingo

Sophia: am i watching the summer i turned pretty???

Daniela: fuck it, if it works, I’m down.

Sophia: man you really want to win that bet

Lara: what bet

Sophia: Dani bet me $20 that they get together this trip

Manon: babes
Manon: that’s easy money

Lara: ya Soph
Lara: get scammed

Sophia: they are my children
Sophia: I didn’t think of them being like that before

Daniela: either way
Daniela: get ready to pay up
Daniela: loser

Sophia: fuck you

Daniela: maybe later princess

Lara: 👀👀👀

Manon: 🍿🍿🍿

Sophia: gross.

They all looked up when the song finished.

“Oh we can kill this as a duet.” Megan said excited. Yoonchae looked a bit more nervous.

“Unnie, does Harmony get busy on Saturdays?” Yoonchae asked Manon. The older girl nodded.

“Oh yeah, the weekends are hella busy. Especially Saturday karaoke. The whole crowd gets into it.” Manon explained.

Yoonchae bit her lip but nodded. Megan looked at her excitedly. “We need to discuss what parts we’re singing.” Megan said with big wide eyes and a huge grin. She was genuinely excited.

“How are you not scared?” Yoonchae asked confused. She was the one who made this bet for them and she’s terrified. Megan was the one who was against it first.

“Oh I’m scared. But I’m coping very well.” Megan shrugged.

“How?” Daniela asked impressed.

“Lexapro.” Megan laughed.

“What’s that?” Sophia frowned while Manon, Lara, and Daniela laughed.

“My anti-anxiety medication.” Megan replied taking Yoonchae’s hand.

“Oh. Good for you.” She patted Megan on the head and walked over to her bed.

“Hey. We’re gonna do great. If you get nervous, just look at me. We’re going to be up there together.” Megan spoke softly, but honestly.

“I don’t want to embarrass myself. Or you.” Yoonchae whispered. Megan shook her head.

“Who cares? This is all for fun anyway. I just care that we get to do it together.” Megan smiled.

“Plus, you could never let me down, aegiya.”

Yoonchae’s breath hitched and her chest felt warm.

“I’ll try my best, jagiya.”

Megan felt her heart skip a beat.

Meanwhile, Sophia and Daniela turned to Lara and Manon.

“I think you should perform Love on Top by Beyoncé.” Daniela said to the former couple.

“And I think you should perform Lovely by Billie Eilish and Khalid.” Sophia countered.

They had been discussing this earlier while washing the dishes.

“Well, we’re only doing one. So pick.” Lara raised an eyebrow. Manon just shrugged. She could do either song.

The other two kept arguing for a moment before Daniela got an idea.

“What if we make a deal?” Daniela said out loud gaining Megan and Yoonchae’s attention.

“We’re listening.” Manon said, arms crossed.

“If you perform both songs,” Daniela said glancing over at Sophia, “Soph and I will sing a song too.”

“Wait, really?” Sophia asked excited.

Now they had Lara’s attention.

“What song?” Lara asked, curiosity getting the best of her.

Daniela hesitated but her mind drifted to this afternoon, watching a movie with Sophia.

“Rewrite the Stars.” Daniela said confidently.

“Deal.” Manon said instantly and Daniela grinned, feeling accomplished.

“Excuse me, but now we have to sing two songs.” Lara complained.

“Yes but,” Manon whispered, “I’m trying to win our bet.”

Lara just narrowed her eyes at Manon before rolling them.

“Fine.”

Eventually, the girls got tired and began falling asleep. The TV was still playing some random movie.

Yoonchae and Megan were disgustingly cuddled up into each other, snoring away softly.

Sophia had lost the battle to sleep first, falling asleep on Daniela’s chest while the Latina was playing with her hair while they watched the movie. 

Manon and Lara kept a respectful distance between them. They hadn’t slept in the same bed for three years.

They were both pretending to sleep, eyes closed, on their backs, trying to control their breathing.

Pretending to sleep was hard. Even harder when other people are in the room and you don’t want to wake them up. Even harder when you’re pretending to sleep next to your ex-girlfriend that you may or may not still have feelings for, depending on the time of day and mindset.

Lara was already struggling. After remembering a bit of their past, she couldn’t help but be drawn back to Manon.

She wanted to call it curiosity. And attraction obviously. But it was stupid. It was dumb. It was-

Lara felt something touched her hand. She glanced over at Manon but the other girl was maintaining the facade that she was sleeping.

She felt Manon’s pinky hook her own. Then slowly put their palms together.

Lara decided to interlace their fingers. She saw Manon smile. So yeah, here they were.

Ex-girlfriends, in the middle of their four best friends, holding hands at two in the morning instead of sleeping.

Lara couldn’t find the urge to smile back and relax.

Sleep claimed them a little easier this time.

Saturday

It was the last full day of their trip. They would be leaving tomorrow morning. The girls knew this and promised they would make the most of it.

Manon’s body naturally woke itself up. She tried to be stealthy. But she had to release Lara’s hand which woke the Indian girl up. She groaned which woke up Megan, who woke up Yoonchae. Who spoke in Korean, confused, waking up Sophia who up on Daniela’s chest.

“Oh my God, I’m sorry!” Sophia shouted embarrassed. Daniela just shrugged it off, not really bothered.

“It’s too early.” Megan grumbled.

“Sorry. I was just heading to yoga.” Manon explained sheepishly.

“You don’t skip do you.” Lara asked sitting up rubbing her eyes and Manon shook her head.

“I actually really enjoy it. It’s very calming and helps me stay properly centered.” Manon explained.

“You guys should come with!” Manon said excitedly. The rest of the girls looked around at each other.

Lara, of course, was the first to respond.

“Sure. How bad could it be?”

Twenty minutes later, the girls stood on the roof of the hotel, confused.

“Manon…” Sophia started, concern laced in her voice.

“Why the hell are there baby goats here?” Daniela finished for the Filipina who screamed when one approached her.

“My hair smells like goat.” Yoonchae complained as they sat down for breakfast.

“Wait let me smell it.” Megan said immediately.

“Weirdo.” Sophia said under her breath causing Daniela to laugh. They enjoyed a light breakfast and causal conversation.

“So what’s the plan today. I know tonight we’re going to Harmony.” Manon said putting her fork down.

“It’s our last full day here. Should we go back to the beach?” Sophia asked, everyone agreed.

They all agreed and went back to the room to change into swim suits.

The walked over to the beach. Luckily it was a beautiful day out.

Daniela and Manon were lounging under the sun. Lara and Sophia were sitting under their umbrella. Yoonchae and Megan were building, or attempting to build, a sandcastle.

“Careful!” Megan shouted as Yoonchae tried to adjust a wall. The girl just sent her a playful look.

They exchanged stories during the three years that they were separated.

Yoonchae spoke about Korea and how it felt weird to go back after two years.

“I feel sad that I left. But also sad that I left here. That doesn’t make a lot of sense.” Yoonchae pondered.

“Both places can be home.” Sophia shrugged. “That’s how I feel about the Philippines.”

“Manon, where are you living now?” Daniela asked curiously. “Or are you more like a wandering traveler?” Manon laughed.

“Nothing that exciting. I’m based out of New Orleans right now. But I did live here in Miami for a while. I mean, whenever I get work I usually have to travel for the shoot so it’s not like it matters where I settle down.” Manon explained.

Lara hummed but caught Manon’s eye briefly.

“Are you going to stay in Atlanta?” Megan ended up asking Daniela who shrugged.

“Wherever school will take me I guess. I’ve got some places I’m thinking of applying to though.” Daniela glanced at Sophia.

“Med school?” Sophia asked curiously. “

Among some other stuff. I might want to have a life outside of grad school.” Daniela replied.

“Ugh, don’t remind me.” Lara groaned. But she knew it would be worth it in the end, she had a plan and she would always beat herself up if she didn’t stick to it.

“It’ll be worth it in the end. You would beat yourself up if you didn’t see your plan through all the way.” Manon spoke up surprising Lara. Was she mind reader? Or did she just still understand Lara and how her brain works.

“What about you, Yoonchae?” Manon asked. “Ally looked ready to give you a job. Would you move to Miami?”

Megan perked up when she heard this. She honestly couldn’t predict what Yoonchae’s answer would be, which frustrated her.

Yoonchae tried to distract herself by playing with the same. Drawing shapes and patterns with her finger while answering.

“I’m not sure. I never really thought about where I would go after. I just think about now.” Yoonchae shrugged. “About how I don’t want this to end.” She finished her thought sadly.

“Let’s do this, when you guys start your schooling again, let’s compare schedules and determine when we can take another trip like this. Doesn’t have to be a week long thing. Even if it’s just a weekend.” Sophia declared.

The others nodded in agreement immediately.

They picked up some subs from a local shop and ate on the beach. After some time in the water they decided to head back to the hotel to shower and rest before their last night out in Miami.

Sophia and Daniela went to shower first so Megan asked Yoonchae to rehearse. Lara and Manon helped critique and gave advice.

“I don’t understand.” Yoonchae frowned as they read through the lyrics again.

“What do you mean?” Megan asked pausing the music.

“What is the song even about?” Yoonchae asked plopping down back on the couch.

Lara and Manon looked at her amused.

“It’s technically a break up song.” Manon explained. “It’s about a toxic relationship that doesn’t really exist anymore but she still remembers all the good times. So when she thinks about this person she just sees like a montage of all the times they had together.”

Lara looked at Manon while she analyzed the song. She wondered if she related the song to their failed relationship.

“But me and Megan are not toxic?” Yoonchae asked and Manon laughed awkwardly.

“I actually just really love the song and thought it would be a cute duet for you guys. I’m sure you have a lot of memories together.” Manon pivoted the conversation.

“Like I said before aegiya,” Megan was using the pet name more frequently and Yoonchae felt her heart skip a beat each time. “Let’s just have fun. Don’t read into the lyrics too much.”

Megan’s smile made Yoonchae forget her worries, even if only for a moment.

When Sophia and Daniela finished showering, Megan and Yoonchae went next. This is because Lara and Manon usually took the longest so they always went last.

“Do you want to be the boy or the girl?” Sophia asked Daniela as they settled into the living room.

She was sitting at the table, brushing her hair.

Lara snorted at the question. “Are you asking if she’s a top or a bottom?” Manon almost spit out the water she was drinking.

Sophia just narrowed her eyes. “I’m talking about our rendition of Rewrite the Stars you idiot.” She noted Daniela’s red cheeks but didn’t call it out.

Manon noticed though, she just winked at Lara who rolled her eyes.

“I guess I’ll be Zendaya?” Daniela answered.

“Cool. I’ll be Zac Efron.” Sophia casually said. She sang the opening line.

“You know I want you
It's not a secret I try to hide
I know you want me
So don't keep sayin' our hands are tied”

Manon nudged Lara to look at Daniela who was gazing at Sophia while she sang.

“Evidence.” Manon whispered and Lara shook her head.

“Circumstantial at best.”

After more rehearsals the girl eventually started getting ready, putting on their final outfits for this trip.

“You’re going to regret those heels later.” Sophia commented to Daniela as they each stepped out of their bedrooms.

“I’ve been dancing in heels since I was ten.” Daniela challenged with a raised eyebrow. Sophia just shrugged her shoulders.

“Don’t cry when I say I told you so.” Sophia said stepping closer to Daniela.

“Queen never cry.” Daniela replied.

“Ladies, stop flirting already. We’re gonna be late.” Manon said stepping out of her and Daniela’s room.

“That was weak flirting to be fair.” Lara said stepping out of the other room.

“Where’s Megan and Yoonchae?” Sophia asked ignoring their comments.

“Living room!” Megan called out.

Megan and Yoonchae were slouching on the couch, the perfect picture of relaxation.

“Let’s go lazy butts.” Daniela said walking up to the couch and gently kicking it. Sophia watched concerned but Daniela did seem to have good balance in those heels. And they made her look good.

“Reservation is in fifteen minutes. Uber will be here in five.” Manon said looking at her phone.

“Do we really need a reservation? You know the owner?” Daniela asked.

“Do you want to pay full price for stuff?” Manon countered.

“Good point.”

“It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve been here.” Sophia said as they sat in the dining room of Harmony’s third floor.

“Dramatic ass.” Daniela mumbled sipping her water.

Sophia just took the wrapper of her straw, balled it up, and threw it at Daniela who stared at her with her mouth open.

“Sophia.” Manon scolded picking up the trash.

Sophia sent her an apologetic smile. But then she looked at Daniela and stuck her tongue out.

“Ladies, welcome back!” Ally said approaching. “How was your meal?”

“Delicious as always.” Manon said and the rest of the girls nodded quickly in agreement.

“Are we doing dessert today?” Ally asked and the girls all groaned. “I think we’re all full.” Lara said apologetically.

“That’s never a bad thing to hear at a restaurant. Trust me.” Ally laughed. “I’ll bring your check out. I hear we can expect some special performances tonight on the second floor later.”

“Oh God Manon, what did you tell them?” Megan asked.

“Yes, we’ll be performing some stuff. But we’re gonna check out the first floor a bit.” Manon ignored Megan. Ally nodded and was about to step away before Yoonchae stopped her.

“Ally!” The short girl stopped and turned around.

The five girls watched as Yoonchae got up and spoke to the older woman. After a few minutes Ally nodded excitedly and directed her to the kitchen.

“Everything okay?” Megan asked and Yoonchae nodded.

“Nothing bad. Promise.” She said holding out her pinky. Megan took it with a tight smile and watched the girl walk away.

“So would you or Yoonchae drive the UHual down here?” Lara asked Megan when Yoonchae disappeared into the kitchen.

The pink-haired girl snapped her eyes towards Lara, “What?”

“If Yoonchae moved here for work,” Manon said amused, “would you move here too?”

“Jesus, guys. We’re not married.” Megan said turning red.

“Yet.” Daniela muttered. She was hit with another paper ball.

“Megan.” Manon scolded, although she was holding back a chuckle. She picked up the trash, again.

“Megan, be honest.” Sophia said turning her attention to said girl. “You’re really in love with her?”

Megan sucked in a breath. This was the first time she’s been asked so directly about the subject, and by Sophia.

“Yeah. Yeah I am.” Megan said strangely confident about her feelings after this week.

“Then make a move already.” Sophia shrugged, leaning back and sipping her drink.

“For real. It’s exhausting.” Daniela said mirroring Sophia’s motion with her own drink.

“Don’t make me intervene like I did with these two.” Daniela pointed at Lara and Manon who both glanced at each other before throwing paper balls at the Latina.

The check came and Sophia tried to grab it but this time it was Lara.

“My turn.” She said but she frowned when she saw the bill was zero.

“Oh I already paid. My bad.” Manon said with a smug grin.

Lara just sent her a glare. “Pay me back when you start making attorney money.” Manon gigged while sipping her mocktail.

“Ooooo” the remaining girls commented. Lara just smiled.

The first floor was bumping. Instead of Dinah or Normani however, the girls saw that the first floor was being DJ’d by two guys instead.

“Those are the twins.” Manon explained. “DJ and Mani are probably covering the second floor tonight.”

Just then the twins started playing salsa music which was enough for Daniela who grabbed Sophia and dragged her to the dance floor.

“Wait, I don’t know how to dance salsa!” Sophia screamed while Daniela laughed.

“Move those hips, Laforteza!” She may have been a bit tipsy from the drinks at dinner.

Lara, Manon, and Megan made their way to the bar. However, their friend, Lauren, was not there.

“I don’t think I know her.” Manon said of the blonde bartender.

“Well, she seems to know you. Or wants to know you.” Megan replied as the blonde girl made her way over and had her eyes all over Manon.

“What can I get you?” The blonde said biting her lip, looking her up and down.

Lara squinted at the girl. “We’ll take two gin and tonics and a mocktail.” Lara said harshly.

The blonde shifted her gaze to Lara briefly but she noticed the way Manon was gazing at the Indian girl. She nodded and stepped away to prepare the drinks.

“She’s totally spitting in our drinks.” Megan sighed, slightly depressed because Yoonchae was still upstairs.

“I don’t even like gin.” Lara muttered and pulled out the cash to hand to the girl.

“Then why’d you order it?” Megan asked and Manon looked at Lara for her reply.

“It was the first thing that came to mind. Shut it.” Lara said glaring at Manon.

She put on a sweet smile when the girl returned with their drinks and handed her the money.

“Jealousy, jealousy,” Manon said with a sly smile as she sipped her drink.

“Again. Shut it.” Lara said sipping her drink. Luckily it wasn’t that bad and didn’t taste like spit.

The music changed to something a little more poppy and they watched as Sophia was forced to keep dancing with Daniela who was practically twerking on her.

“Twenty dollars they kiss tonight.” Yoonchae said appearing next to them.

“Manon already made that bet.” Lara spoke up.

“I bet they would kiss this trip.” Manon clarified to the little group.

“Welcome back.” Megan said perking up instantly. Yoonchae’s response was to take the drink from Megan’s hand and take a big gulp of it. Manon and Lara looked at Yoonchae slightly impressed but more concerned than anything.

“That’s not bad.” She said licking her lips. Megan shrugged, wide eyed.

Yoonchae needed the drink. She needed the courage for the night.

“We gonna stand around all day, or are we gonna dance?” Lara asked setting her half finished drink down. The rest followed and joined Sophia and Daniela on the dance floor.

They danced for a bit until Lara heard Ariana Grande’s voice fill the dance floor.

“I didn't think you'd understand me
How could you ever even try?”

She couldn’t help but look at Manon, jumping around with their friends, smiling, laughing, moving her hips.

“I don't wanna tiptoe, but I don't wanna hide
But I don't wanna feed this monstrous fire”

Lara knows that she’s been struggling to maintain her distance. Even before she and Manon talked everything out, she was struggling to maintain the boundary she had set.

But after everything was out in the open between them, it left her with this huge feeling of regret for the way things ended. But it also left her asking ‘what if?’

“Just wanna let this story die
And I'll be alright”

They were broken up. It had been three years. That’s a long time. Right? Their story was over.

Although Lara felt this sense that they never got closure. And now, it felt like new evidence had been submitted and the cold case was being opened.

As she watched Manon, eyes closed in bliss as she danced along to the music, Lara realized something.

“We can't be friends”

Manon opened her eyes to find Lara but the other girl was already watching her. Manon sent her a knowing grin. She knows it’s stupid of her but she can’t help it.

She still loved her even after all this time.

“But I'd like to just pretend”

Lara was her first love. Her first and only. She was the one who got away. How could she not love her? A part of her probably always will, no matter what happens between them from this point on.

“You cling to your papers and pens”

They both made mistakes. They both apologized for those mistakes. And those were forgiven right? So why are they over thinking this? Manon thought to herself.

“Wait until you like me again”

Lara wanted to smile back. She did. But she couldn’t. Because she knew that they could never be friends. And she didn’t think they could ever go back to being more than that, as much as she wanted to.

“Wait for your love
Lo-love, I'll wait for your love”

Manon watched Lara frown and then walk away quickly. She felt her heart drop into her stomach.

She swiftly followed Lara as she walked to the bathrooms. Before she could stop herself she caught the door to the bathroom that Lara was trying to close.

The girl just let Manon squeeze inside before Manon shut the door herself.

They found themselves in the quiet bathroom. The club music nothing but a far-distant thumping which made the room seem even more quiet than it actually was.

“Lara, what’s wrong?” Manon asks instantly.

Lara was hugging herself, holding back tears. She sniffled. Manon took a step towards her but Lara backed away, causing Manon to pause.

“Sorry. I just… we can’t Manon.” Lara spoke quietly.

“We can’t what?” Manon asked confused.

“We can’t just pretend like there’s nothing between us. I mean, I can’t. I feel it, I feel drawn to you. Even after all this time. I can’t explain it.” Lara was close to sobbing. Manon paused for a second.

“Why do you make it sound like that’s such a bad thing?” Manon questioned, a bit hurt.

“Because… I’m only going to hurt you again. If you think it was bad back then, it only gets harder from here. I’ll never have time for you, and I’ll neglect you again, and you’ll resent me all over again. I can’t choose between still being in love with you or wanting to chase after my future. I don’t want to. I don’t want to hurt you by wanting you.” Lara said, tears were definitely falling.

“Lara,” Manon said slowly closing the distance between them. Lara let her approach. Manon used the sleeves of her jacket to wipe Lara’s tears, being careful not to ruin the girl’s makeup.

“We don’t have to be together.” Manon finally said sadly. Lara looked up, conflicted.

“Even though I want to. God, I still love you and I want nothing more than to be with you.” Manon said shocking Lara with her straightforwardness.

“But you’re right. It wouldn’t make sense and it would only hurt us more.” Manon whispered. She rested her forehead on Lara’s forehead. Lara could feel her breath on her lips.

“Honestly? It hurts to just be your friend. To see you, exist, and not be able to say that you’re mine and I’m yours.” Manon continued talking. Lara nodded, understanding the feeling well.

“We can’t be friends.” Lara said sadly. This was what Lara had realized.

“After tomorrow… we’ll go back. Back to our lives. Back to not being involved with each other. This time we can go back to being cordial, for the sake of the girls, if we have to interact.” Lara spoke up.

“Right… For the sake of the girls.” Manon nodded.

“At least let me have tonight.” Manon said wrapping her arms around the girl.

It would be easier this way.

Right?

When they returned to the dance floor, they only found Sophia and Yoonchae.

“You guys okay?” Sophia asked instantly and the two girls nodded.

“Yeah, Lara needed to pee and I felt like having a cough attack.” Manon lied easily.

“Where’s Megan and Dani?” Lara changed the subject.

“They headed to the second floor to check something out.” Yoonchae shrugged but exchanged glances with Lara and Manon.

“We should go now. They just announced something special would be starting soon.” Sophia said leading them to the elevators.

When they arrived on the second floor, they were met with a huge crowd. Manon wasn’t kidding when she said Saturday nights were busy at the lounge.

“All the tables are full.” Lara frowned but Manon stepped out first. “Come on.” She said walking with intention. The others followed her until they got to an empty table in the middle of the room that had a sign that read:

RESERVED FOR KATSEYE

The table had a perfect view of the stage and wasn’t too close or too far. It had to be the best table, which is probably why it was reserved for them.

“Perks of knowing people.” Manon smiled smugly as the girls sat down.

“Let me text Dani so they know where we are.” Sophia said pulling out her phone but then the lights dimmed.

“Ladies and Gentlemen!” Dinah’s voice echoed from the DJ booth.

“Theys and thems!” Normani’s voice joined her.

“Welcome to the Harmony Lounge, Karoke Night! I’m DJ the DJ and that’s my partner in crime Normani. We’ll be your hosts this evening.” Dinah explained, there was a round of applause and cheers.

“If you haven’t already received a drink, please head to the bar where our good friends Lauren and Camila can assist you.” Normani said pointing out the familiar bartenders.

“But why don’t we start off the performances strong?” Dinah asked as a very familiar beat started playing.

Sophia instantly found it familiar.

“Wait, Yoonchae, isn’t this the song you were helping Megan and Daniela learn? They’re going to miss it-” Sophia turned to ask the girl but found her recording the stage with her phone.

“Harmony! C’mon, it's gonna be fucking hard”

None other than Huh Yunjin appeared in the middle of the stage as the spotlight found her. She was wearing sunglasses and was flanked by Daniela and Megan who were wearing matching sunglasses.

“What the-“ Sophia exclaimed.

“Special edition and your AI couldn't copy
I'm leaving clues in the fitting room and it's hot tea”

Sophia watched confused as her ex-situationship sang with two of her best friends as backup dancers.

“No. I'm not thinking 'bout no exes know they miss me”

Yunjin literally walked right past their table pointing at Sophia, lowering her sunglasses and winking, as she sang this which caused the Filipina to cackle and flick her off causing Yunjin to grin.

Sophia saw that Yoonchae was already filming her reaction and understood that this was planned so that Yunjin could mess with her with that one line.

“I got the whole room spinning like it's tipsy”

Sophia didn’t mind though. Because she got to see Daniela dancing again. Not just dancing like they were in the club downstairs but dancing with actual choreography and precision and intent.

“Don't bore us
Take you to the chorus

Who wanna rock with Jennie
Keep your hair done, nails done like Jennie
Who else got 'em obsessed like Jennie
Like like like
Jennie Jennie Jennie”

Sophia laughed and cheered watching them perform. The others joined in cheering them on as the crowd got into it.

When the song finished, the three stood in the center, breathing heavy. Yunjin waved to the crowd.

Megan sent a finger heart to Yoonchae who blushed. Daniela blew Sophia a kiss who also blushed and rolled her eyes.

The three girls approached the table as the next performer got set up.

“What did you think Soph?” Megan asked with a laugh.

“Really? All of that just to mess with me?” Sophia asked Yunjin while giving her a hug.

“Excuse me. I could go by Jennie, it’s my English name.” Yunjin explained. “But I really did want to mess with you with that exes line so I asked your best friends for help. Plus I wanted to see them dance.”

“It was fun.” Daniela said uncharacteristically quiet. Sophia immediately noticed but Yunjin interrupted before she could say anything.

“Thanks again guys, that was a lot of fun! I’m gonna go say hi to some others but let’s talk later?” She said to the group who nodded and watched her go.

“You guys did amazing.” Manon said proudly and the two girls thanked her.

“I need water.” Megan slouched in her seat.

“I’ll grab some.” Sophia said standing up. “Me too.” Yoonchae stood with her.

They made their way to the bar where Camila and Lauren were working side by side.

“KATSEYE! Well some of them.” Camila greeted them.

They greeted the two bartenders.

“Can we get six cups of water?” Yoonchae asked.

“Any other drinks?” Lauren asked.

“Not sure yet. Have to talk to the others.” Sophia replied but Camila had an idea.

“We’ll have some stuff sent to your table. I’m going to make a Katseye themed cocktail.” Camila said with a fire in her eyes.

Lauren rolled hers. “That means she’s going to pour a shit ton of alcohol and sugar in them.”

Yoonchae nodded. “Yes, that works. Can you somehow add cherries?” Yoonchae asked. Sophia raised an eyebrow.

“See. I knew I liked that one.” Camila said to Lauren. Sophia pulled out her card but Camila declined.

“Sorry. It’s on Manon’s tab. Her special orders.” Camila spoke.

“No, she already paid for dinner.” Sophia frowned.

“Take it up with the boss.” Lauren shrugged handing over the six cups of water she prepared.

“You called?” Ally said appearing. She hoped up and sat on the back table.

“When are you guys performing? I left Will in charge upstairs so I can see this.” Ally asked excitedly.

“You guys are performing?” Camila asked surprised.

“Yup. Manon says that they’re all performing duets.” Ally nodded along.

Sophia laughed but Yoonchae got super nervous hearing this.

“Loooo, can we sing later? It’s been so long.” Camila whined.

“Camz. We’re working.” Lauren said focusing on another customer.

“She’s so mean to me.” Camila pouted to Sophia and Yoonchae who chuckled. “I heard that.”

“Go sit. I’ll have Ally bring your drinks to your table when they’re ready.” Camila said as she began shaking a cocktail shaker.

Sophia and Yoonchae nodded and grabbed three cups each, balancing them carefully.

“Lauren and Camila say hi. Ally’s also over there.” Sophia said as they returned to the table and put the cups down.

“Thank you.” Daniela said gently as she took the cup from Sophia and drank steadily.

Megan on the other hand chugged her water, almost choking.

“Careful babo.” Yoonchae scolded her lightly.

There was a man on stage singing his rendition of ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra. He was pretty good too. The applauded as another performer took the stage.

“The KATSEYE special.” Ally said appearing with six colorful drinks. “This one is yours.” Ally handed Manon her designated drink.

“Are the performances usually this good?” Daniela asked after the following performer finished. It was a woman who performed Rehab by Amy Winehouse.

Ally nodded. “Saturday usually brings a lot of regulars that come here to perform their covers. Celebrities make appearances. Music producers looking for talent. The works.”

“Ah so we’re going to look super cringe up there.” Lara sighed.

“To be cringe is to be free.” Sophia replied downing her drink, standing up. It was sweet and full of alcohol. Just what she needed to be extra dramatic. She took off her leather jacket and hung it on the back of her chair.

“Let’s get this over with.” She smiled holding her hand out to Daniela. The Latina shyly took it.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

"This was your idea?!"

Sophia stood alone on the stage with her back turned. She raised the microphone and sang into it acapella.

“You know I want you
It's not a secret I try to hide”

The music finally started and built up as Sophia turned around slightly to face the crowd and sang over her shoulder.

“I know you want me
So don't keep sayin' our hands are tied”

She turned around fully now and faced the crowd, pretending to look for something, or someone.

“You claim it's not in the cards
And fate is pullin' you miles away
And out of reach from me”

Sophia spotted what she seemed to be looking for and walked towards the end of the stage where she took the stairs down.

“But you're here in my heart
So who can stop me if I decide
That you're my destiny?”

The spotlight followed Sophia as she made her way to the table where Daniela was waiting for her. Leg crossed over the other, casual, devastatingly beautiful.

“What if we rewrite the stars?
Say you were made to be mine
Nothing could keep us apart
You'd be the one I was meant to find
It's up to you, and it's up to me
No one can say what we get to be
So why don't we rewrite the stars?
Maybe the world could be ours
Tonight”

Sophia sang to Daniela at the table. Yoonchae was recording the whole thing on her phone while Manon and Megan watched, trying to hold back their laughter.

“So dramatic.” Lara whispered as she rolled her eyes light heartedly.

Daniela then stood up and picked up her microphone from the table.

“You think it's easy
You think I don't wanna run to you
But there are mountains
And there are doors that we can't walk through”

Daniela walked around the room towards the bar where she leaned against it. Lauren and Camila watching them amused as Sophia chased Daniela like a lost puppy.

“I know you're wondering why because we're able to be
Just you and me within these walls
But when we go outside, you're gonna wake up and see
That it was hopeless after all”

Daniela then sprinted towards the stage and Sophia dramatically waited a moment before following.

“No one can rewrite the stars
How can you say you'll be mine?
Everything keeps us apart
And I'm not the one you were meant to find
It's not up to you
It's not up to me
When everyone tells us what we can be
How can we rewrite the stars?
Say that the world can be ours
Tonight”

They were on the stage now. Daniela was circling Sophia who watched her with loving eyes.

Lara couldn’t help but glance at Manon while listening the lyrics. Their conversation from downstairs still echoed in her mind, but Manon’s last request remained the loudest.

‘At least let me have tonight.’

Lara took Manon’s hand under the table.

“All I want is to fly with you
All I want is to fall with you
So just give me all of you
It feels impossible
It's not impossible
Is it impossible?
Say that it's possible”

Sophia and Daniela were now singing together. And it was beautiful. The other girls watched proudly, mentally noting just how perfect they played the longing star crossed lovers role.

But they were the most “normal” of friends in their group. At least, that’s what they thought.

“How do we rewrite the stars?
Say you were made to be mine?
Nothing can keep us apart
'Cause you are the one I was meant to find
It's up to you
And it's up to me
No one can say what we get to be
And why don't we rewrite the stars?
Changing the world to be ours”

Megan glanced at Yoonchae who turned to her. Her phone still focused on their best friends on stage. They didn’t say any words. They didn’t have to.

Eventually Sophia left the stage and returned to the table, sitting in the seat Daniela was sitting at the beginning of the performance.

Daniela walked off the stage this time, spotlight on her, and she sang as she approached Sophia.

“You know I want you
It's not a secret I try to hide
But I can't have you
We're bound to break and my hands are tied”

The song ended with them staring longingly into each other’s eyes at the table as the crowd erupted into cheers.

But they didn’t hear any of it. They only saw each other.

Huh Yunjin watched from a different table with her friends. “Interesting.” She mused with a smile on her face as she clapped.

“You’re such a fucking theater kid.” Lara shoved Sophia after they got back to the table after returning the microphones.

“You guys sounded so good. I got the whole thing on video.” Yoonchae said proudly holding up her phone. Daniela stared at it wide eyed wondering what it looks like from their POV.

She sort of blacked out during the performance. She had an out of body experience and just let instinct take over. She hoped it was good. She also hoped it wasn’t too embarrassing.

She started playing with her hair but her hand was stopped by Sophia who took her hand and interlaced their fingers. She held her hand under the table as she used the other to take a sip of water.

She squeezed reassuringly to stop any overthinking and Daniela nodded.

Another performer had taken the stage and Manon leaned over to Lara.

“We don’t… we don’t have to perform, if it’ll make things weird-“ Manon whispered but Lara shook her head.

Lara stared into Manon’s eyes as she spoke. “We can have tonight.”

Manon nodded in understanding.

“Ok so next on stage we have Lara and Manon. Lara specifically wanted me to point out that ‘they refuse to be as dramatic as the other losers at my table.’” Dinah said over the microphone.

The girls’ instant response was to all flick off Lara and Manon who were standing on the stage earning a laugh from the crowd.

“Boring!” Daniela shouted.

“Lame!” Megan shouted as well. Yoonchae just laughed next to her but nodded.

“We want cringe!” Sophia shouted.

“Cowards!” Yoonchae screamed.

Lara and Manon narrowed their eyes at them, but as the opening notes to ‘Lovely’ started playing they decided to give them what they want.

“Ok. Lara.” Manon said into the microphone as Lara stepped forward and began pretending she was doing ballet.

Manon stood in place but was also doing exaggerated interpretive dancing.

The girls immediately began laughing and pulled out their phones to record as the duo on stage began singing in harmony.

“Thought I found a way
Thought I found a way out (found)
But you never go away (never go away)
So I guess I gotta stay now
Oh, I hope some day I'll make it out of here
Even if it takes all night or a hundred years
Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near
Wanna feel alive, outside I can't fight my fear”

Manon let Lara lead but supported her beautifully as if they’d been doing this forever. She knew how to blend and harmonize with Lara’s voice better than anyone.

They used to do karaoke all the time back in high school. This was second nature to them.

“Isn't it lovely, all alone?
Heart made of glass, my mind of stone
Tear me to pieces, skin to bone
Hello, welcome home”

They kept up their dramatic dancing and Lara walked forward off the stage towards the table. She pulled the girls up who laughed but played along and followed her on stage.

“Walkin' out of time
Lookin' for a better place (lookin' for a better place)
Something's on my mind (mind)
Always in my head space”

The girls had now become their impromptu back up dancers. The crowd just watched amused.

“But I know some day I'll make it out of here
Even if it takes all night or a hundred years
Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near
Wanna feel alive, outside I can't fight my fear”

Yoonchae and Megan were pretending to play imaginary violins while Sophia and Daniela tried to match the dramatic choreography of Lara and Manon.

“Isn't it lovely, all alone?
Heart made of glass, my mind of stone
Tear me to pieces, skin to bone
Hello, welcome home
Whoa, yeah
Yeah, ah
Whoa, whoa
Hello, welcome home”

During the deep run, Lara could see Manon getting emotional. She was too. Singing together had always been evidence of their amazing chemistry.

Even three years later the proof remained.

She signaled to Normani.

“Bring the beat in!”

Normani had cut off ‘Lovely’ and immediately switched into ‘Love on Top,’ as per Manon’s instructions.

Sophia and the others now paraded around the stage clapping, getting the audience to clap along to the tempo change.

“Honey, honey
I can see the stars all the way from here
Can't you see the glow on the window pane?
I can feel the sun whenever you're near
Every time you touch me I just melt away”

Their voices blended together, even stronger this time. They were avoiding direct eye contact because they both knew they would break if they looked at each other now.

“Now everybody asks me why I'm smiling out from ear to ear
They say love hurts
But I know it's gonna take a little work
Nothing's perfect
But it's worth it
After fighting through my tears
And finally you put me first”

Lara put her arm around Manon as they sang. It was a bittersweet feeling. Knowing that tomorrow this would all be over. It would all be gone. They would be strangers again.

But she had to believe it was for the best. She didn’t want to risk hurting Manon again.

"Baby, it's you
You're the one I love
You're the one I need
You're the only one I see

Come on, baby, it's you"

They sang the rest of the song, at one point parading around the room getting the whole crowd riled up.

Camila, Lauren, and Ally watched amused.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this happy.” Ally commented on Manon. But Lauren shook her head. Lauren had always been good at reading Manon.

“I think she’s sad.”

Lara and Manon bowed as they finished. They walked through the crowd, receiving high fives and compliments, back to the table.

Manon smiled softly before excusing herself to the bathroom.

She stood in front of the mirror, trying to control her breathing. She ran her hands under the warm water, trying to ease her body.

“Nice performance.” Manon glanced up to catch Lauren leaning against the door.

“Thanks.” Manon said quietly. Lauren walked over and leaned against the counter next to Manon.

“What’s wrong?” Lauren asked. Technically speaking, Manon was the closest to Lauren. They had been the first to meet after all.

One of Lauren’s best friends (outside the girls at Harmony) was a model that Manon became friends with. She introduced her to Lauren and the others. Although Ally was her AA sponsor, Lauren was the one she had confided in the most.

Manon sighed but recounted the conversation she had with Lara in the bathroom downstairs.

Lauren furrowed her eyebrows when she was done as Manon kept talking.

“And it sucks. She’s right, but it sucks. I mean, I came here to fix things with us and I thought we did but after tonight I have to pretend like I don’t want to be with her. Pretend like I don’t understand how important her future is and want to support her through school. Pretend like I don’t want to try.”

“So tell her that.” Lauren had always been blunt. That’s why a lot of people thought she was mean or scary, but she just told the truth.

“Manon, you’re still doing whatever she wants and bending to her will. You need to be selfish and tell her that you want to fight for her. Fight for her like you should’ve done three years ago.” Lauren spoke clearly.

“I thought you didn’t like her.” Manon chuckled. She was remembering how against Lauren was of her ex-girlfriend when Manon explained to her and the other girls at Harmony that Lara and the other girls were coming for spring break.

“She’s a cool person. I can tell. I just don’t agree with the way she treated you before and clearly she doesn’t agree with it either. She’s willing to sacrifice what she wants, which is you, on the chance that the past will repeat itself and she hurts you. But you both need to be a little selfish if this is going to work. You need to be a little selfish and tell her this stuff like wanting to fight for her instead of beating around the bush and holding it in.”

“You’ve never looked happier than this week. With them. With your friends. Especially her. We can all see that. But on stage now, I can tell you were ready to break at any moment. You want to be with her, so just tell her that. What do you even have to lose now?”

“You went through hell to get to where you’re at in life and for what? To just give up? No. Go get your girl.” Lauren finished her little speech.

Manon bit her lip, contemplating everything the green eyed girl had just said. Deep down she knew she was right. But she was desperate to stay on Lara’s good side so she agreed with what she wanted.

It would be easier in the long run, that’s true.

But she didn’t want easy.

Meanwhile, Yoonchae and Megan left the table to discuss the game plan for their performance.

Yunjin appeared. “Dani! I have some dance people I want you to meet.”

The Latina frowned. “What? Why me?” Daniela asked curiously. Yunjin just pointed at Sophia.

“Soph told me once you were really into dancing and choreo. That’s why I asked you to help me with ‘Like Jennie’ earlier. They want to talk with you about some upcoming events they have in Atlanta.”

Daniela looked at Sophia incredulously. The other girl just held her hands up.

“I told her that a long time ago.” Sophia defended herself. She was surprised when Daniela stood up, a shy smile gracing her lips.

“Sure, let’s go.” Daniela reached for Sophia.

“Guess we’ll be right back?” Sophia said to Lara who nodded as the Filipina was dragged away.

She was sipping on a cup of water when someone sat down next to her.

Lara looked at Dinah, “shouldn’t you be DJ’ing?”

Dinah just laughed. “Mani can handle herself.”
“I actually wanted to talk to you.”

“Me?” Lara asked confused and Dinah nodded, her smile turning slightly serious.

“First, you should know that I know about you and Manon’s history.” Dinah said bluntly, catching Lara off guard.

“I say that because you guys remind me a lot of me and Mani.” Dinah said gesturing to the dark skinned girl at the DJ booth.

“You guys are a couple?” Lara asked surprised. Dinah shook her head.

“Exes. We dated in high school. Funny, because I found out that most high school sweethearts don’t really stay together. Eventually we fell apart. We spent a long time playing the ‘should we, shouldn’t we’ game of getting back together.” Dinah spoke quickly, Lara tried to keep track.

“I take it you guys settled on not being together then.” Lara managed to say. Dinah nodded.

“We just didn’t make sense anymore.” Dinah said what Lara was afraid of. She seemed to deflate at the blonde’s answer.

“I say this because based on what I saw from your performance, you’re in that ‘should we, shouldn’t we’ stage.”

Lara shook her head. “No. I decided that we shouldn’t. But…” Lara hesitated but she found it easy to talk to Dinah surprisingly. She was older and had experienced this before.

“But I also told her we can’t be friends right now. I know it’s messed up, but it’s all still there, all these emotions. I'm just scared of hurting her. But it’s also like you said, we don’t make any sense together now. I just hope one day we can be cool like you and Normani seem to be.” Lara said sadly.

“Can I give you some advice?” Dinah asked after a minute and Lara surprisingly nodded.

“Who cares what I said?” Dinah asked and Lara just looked at her confused. “What-“

“Fuck what I said.” Dinah shrugged. “Even if it doesn’t make sense, if you want to be together, then be together. Love doesn’t have to make sense. You just need to be willing to work for it. It doesn’t always come easy.

“You don’t need to use me and Mani as some blueprint. You guys are your own people. We’re just high school sweethearts that didn’t work out. That doesn’t mean you guys can’t beat the odds and be high school sweethearts that eventually work out.” Dinah smiled, placing a comforting hand on Lara’s shoulder.

“So what are you going to do?” Dinah asked, standing up to return to work.

Lara waited a moment before replying.

“We’re not high school sweethearts. We started dating in college.” Lara implied in a determined manner. Dinah grinned.

“Atta girl.”

Manon returned to the table to find Lara talking with Sophia and Daniela. It was getting late and they were finally preparing for the last performance.

“Hey, you were gone a while. Everyone keeps complimenting us-“ Lara started.

“Lara we need to talk.” Manon cut her off. Lara noticed she looked different. Since their earlier talk, Manon would look at her unsure, avoiding eye contact. But now, Manon looked determined.

Lara nodded, ready to talk it out, again.

“Okay. But Yoonchae and Megan are about to go on.” Lara said pointing towards the two girls who were standing by the stage. Megan was smiling and laughing but Yoonchae looked super nervous, biting her nails.

Manon nodded and occupied a seat next to Lara, determination still running through her veins. She sent the two girls a thumbs up. They returned it awkwardly.

“You’re going to be fine Yoonchip.” Megan reminded Yoonchae for the fifteenth time in three minutes. Yoonchae nodded blankly.

“Why did we wait so long? Now we’re last. Everyone is going to be watching us. Oh my God-“ Yoonchae began to spiral.

“Well, you’re the one who kept saying, ‘okay, after this one’ ‘No, I meant after this one.’” Megan mocked trying to lighten the mood but Yoonchae started pacing.

“Hey.” Megan reached forward and grabbed Yoonchae’s hand. The Korean girl looked up finally and caught Megan’s eyes.

“I’m right here with you. Just have fun. And if you get scared or nervous, just find me. Pretend if just you and me.” Megan reassured. She linked together their pinkies. Yoonchae nodded, feeling a bit better.

Megan stood on the tips of her toes and kissed Yoonchae’s forehead, earning a blush.

“Now let’s go show these bitches who the real drama queens are!” Megan shouted, causing Yoonchae to giggle, embarrassed.

“In my head, I play a supercut of us
All the magic we gave off
All the love we had and lost”

Megan sang as the spotlight found her on one side of the stage. She walked towards the middle.

“And in my head
The visions never stop
These ribbons wrap me up
But when I reach for you, there's just a supercut”

Yoonchae sang now, from the other side of the stage, a spotlight following her. She walked towards the middle where Megan was waiting who gave her a wink.

They both began to sing together.

“In your car, the radio up
In your car, the radio up
We keep tryin' to talk about us
I'm someone, you may be my love
I'll be your quiet afternoon crush
Be your violent overnight rush
Make you crazy over my touch
But it's just a supercut of us”

Lara, Manon, Sophia, and Daniela were standing now. Clapping along to the beat and shouting for their best friends. Sophia was holding up her phone, recording them like a proud mom.

“Supercut of us”

When Megan sang this next part something weird happened to Yoonchae.

She saw Megan sitting on a sink, Yoonchae was cleaning her hand with antiseptic solution.

It was the day she punched that kid back when they were in high school.

“Oh, it's just a supercut of us”

Yoonchae sang, shaking her head slightly to try and clear her head.

But now she saw high school Megan again, still sitting on the sink. She heard her voice. “Because I don’t… I don’t hate you.”

“Supercut of us”

She heard Megan’s voice twice. One singing and the other in her memories.

High school Megan had now locked pinkies with her and spoke, “I swear, I won’t ever lie to you.”

“So I fall
Into continents and cars”

Yoonchae sang, confused but also slightly aware of what was happening. 

Yoonchae was back in Megan’s old car, they ate fast food and shared fries while listening to music.

“All the stages and the stars
I turn all of it to just a supercut”

Megan smiled as she watched Yoonchae sing the verse proudly. Yoonchae couldn’t take her eyes off Megan. Present and past versions.

Yoonchae was back in Megan’s old room. She was curled up into Megan as they watched kdramas.

“'Cause in my head (In my head, I do everything right)”

Megan sang the main vocals and Yoonchae sang the backing vocals.

Yoonchae was back in Lara’s old living room trying to win a Mario Kart race but Megan kept trying to cover her eyes with her hand.

“When you call (When you call, I'll forgive and not fight)”

Yoonchae was back in her bedroom, holding her phone as Megan had FaceTimed her from Hawaii. Megan was showing her where she grew up. “Next time you should come with me.”

“Because ours are the moments I play in the dark”

Yoonchae was back in Sophia’s old bedroom. She was hiding with Megan under the covers in the dark, just giggling and sharing inside jokes that none of the other girls could ever understand.

“We were wild and fluorescent
Come home to my heart, uh”

Yoonchae was back at prom. Her and Megan were dancing together. Spinning and laughing more than anything. Megan wore a beautiful red dress, matching the shade with Yoonchae’s own dress. Yoonchae caught a glimpse of the corsages they bought each other, sitting on their wrists as their hands were clasped together.

“In your car, the radio up
In your car, the radio up”

Yoonchae was back in the passenger seat of Megan’s old car. Megan was driving with the top down. Not a care in the world between them as the wind kissed their faces and blew their hair back.

“We keep tryin' to talk about us
Slow motion, I'm watchin' our love”

Yoonchae was back at the park. She and Megan sat on a bench in oversized hoodies, feeding squirrels and filming stupid TikToks.

“I'll be your quiet afternoon crush
Be your violent overnight rush”

Yoonchae was back in her room, late at night, sitting at her computer. Megan was next to her on her laptop, crashing out after dying in Valorant. Yoonchae laughed and tried to cheer her up by poking her cheek, gasping when Megan tried to bite it.

“Make you crazy over my touch”

Yoonchae was back at a music festival that she and the girls had attended. Megan literally held her hand the whole time; through every performance, while they walked to each stage, even while they ate. Yoonchae didn’t mind one bit.

“But it's just a supercut of us”

Yoonchae was back at their high school. She was hiding behind a wall with Manon and Sophia. They were all holding spray cans. As soon as Megan, Lara, and Daniela turned the corner, they began spraying the surprised girls with pink silly string. Thirty seconds later she was sprinting as Megan chased her while laughing, the pink silly string clashing with Megan’s black hair.

“Supercut of us”

Yoonchae was putting a Band-Aid on Megan’s scraped knee, scolding her for not being careful.

“Oh, it's just a supercut of us”

Yoonchae was sitting down. Megan was standing behind her, swaying her side to side and Yoonchae was making noises pretending to be an airplane.

“Supercut of us”

Yoonchae was helping Megan learn a TikTok dance and was getting mad at her for being distracted (Megan kept staring at her face when Yoonchae tried to give her instructions.)

“But it's just a supercut of us”

Yoonchae was back at Manon’s house. She and Megan were helping the girl practice for a theater project which involved a play fight. She almost broke Megan’s nose. “If she did it for real, then I mean, I wouldn’t be mad. It’s Yoonchae.”

“Supercut of us”

Yoonchae was back to holding onto Megan for dear life and the other girl just screaming in fear as they rode a rollercoaster when they all went to an amusement park.

“Oh, it's just a supercut of us”

Yoonchae was back in the library. Megan was teaching her new English phrases.

“That was big brain energy.”

“Type shit.”

“Supercut of us”

Yoonchae was back on Daniela’s couch, being shielded from the TV by Megan that one time the Latina made them watch four scary movies in a row.

“'Cause in my head
In my head, I do everything right”

Yoonchae was back in her kitchen, baking cookies with too many chocolate chips because that’s the way Megan claimed to like it after the first time she made them. “Why do you think I call you Yoonchip?”

“When you call, I'll forgive and not fight”

Yoonchae was back at the Halloween store with Megan. They were trying on animal ears and masks and just laughing and being silly.

Megan tried on these fox ears that made her look super adorable. Yoonchae paid for them five minutes later.

“All the moments I play in the dark”

Yoonchae was back in her bed room. There was a knock on her window at three in the morning.

“What are you doing here?” Yoonchae asked confused.

“It’s your birthday. Let’s go get Taco Bell,” was all Megan responded.

“Wild and fluorescent
Come home to my heart, uh”

Yoonchae was resting her head on Megan’s shoulder after the other girls officially left for college.

“Let’s go to college together.” Yoonchae heard herself say.

“'Cause in my head (In my head, I do everything right)”

Yoonchae kept singing with Megan, smiling at her even though her head was spinning. The song slowed down and the visions got more intense.

Yoonchae was back at their high school graduation. She was posing with her diploma, next to Megan, who proudly held her own diploma as their families took pictures.

"When you call (When you call, I'll forgive and not fight)”

Yoonchae was back at the airport when she left to Korea. They were hugging.

“I love you.” She heard herself say.

“I love you too…” Megan had replied. And she had meant it, and Yoonchae knew it.

“Because ours are the moments I play in the dark”

Yoonchae was back in Korea. It was the week she lost internet connection so she couldn’t call Megan. She remembered how miserable she felt. How she had already lost the other girls but losing Megan felt like her soul had been ripped in half.

“We were wild and fluorescent
Come home to my heart, uh”

Yoonchae was back to crying herself to sleep when Megan didn’t respond. She sent plenty of messages and apologies. She read all the updates Megan had sent her. Megan was having a really bad week and Yoonchae wasn’t there to cheer her up.

That’s when she decided then and there she needed to go back. To America. To California. To Megan.

“'Cause in my head (In my head, I do everything right)”

Yoonchae was back at an airport after getting off a plane in California. Her finger hovered over Megan’s contact. The line rang. No answer. She tried again. Two times. Three times. Each time, no response. She remembered the tears that fell.

“When you call (When you call, I'll forgive and not fight)”

Yoonchae was back to the start of this week. To the moment Megan opened the hotel door and Yoonchae saw her again and how beautiful she looked. “Hello Yoonchip.”

“Because ours are the moments I play in the dark”

Yoonchae was back on Sophia’s roof. They were looking at the stars. Megan was explaining a constellation to distract Yoonchae from her homesickness when the Korean girl sat up.

“A shooting star! Quick, make a wish.” Yoonchae shouted, closing her eyes.

Her mind wished before she could even process the thought.

‘I wish I could go visit my home in Korea… and I wish I could bring Megan with me.’

She opened her eyes and found Megan was already looking at her.

Nothing but love in her eyes.

“We were wild and fluorescent
Come home to my heart.”

Yoonchae sang the last part and all she saw was Megan. Present day Megan, standing infront of her, breathing hard.

Nothing but love in her eyes.

As the song outro played, the crowd erupted in cheers. Their best friends stood clapping, Sophia looked ready to cry.

Megan stood next to Yoonchae and waved at the crowd. Yoonchae held up her hand forming half a heart.

With a grin, Megan completed the heart with her hand. The crowd cheered harder.

Oh.

That’s when it hit her. The truth.

It wasn’t just some little crush. It wasn’t sudden. It didn't start on this trip. It was so obvious. It had been obvious for years. She was just done living in denial.

Yoonchae was in love with Megan Skiendiel.

Megan and Yoonchae returned to the table to a chorus of cheers from the girls. They all laughed and hugged each other.

Yunjin appeared suddenly. “I was just heading out. I have to fly back to Korea early in the morning.” Yunjin explained, they all hugged her goodbye.

“You guys were all amazing though. Like seriously, that was insane. Honestly, it wouldn’t shock me if you guys became a girl group.” Yunjin laughed.

Yoonchae grinned at the idea, at her long lost dream of becoming an idol. Maybe in another life.

“We could join forces.” Lara said with a laugh.

“Eleven people. We’d be unstoppable.” Yunjin nodded. She then turned to Sophia.

“Can we talk for a second?” Yunjin asked Sophia. The Filipina nodded.

“We’re leaving!” Lara shouted to Sophia who gave her a thumbs up as she and Yunjin walked towards the back. Daniela frowned but followed Megan and Yoonchae to the bar where she could watch Sophia and Yunjin from afar.

Manon waved at the girls at the bar. They all waved back.

Manon and Lara stepped out of the building. Most people were waiting for Ubers or just hanging out and talking.

“Where to?” Lara asked quietly.

“The beach?” Manon asked and Lara nodded.

They walked in silence.

Sophia followed Yunjin until they were standing by the empty DJ booth.

“What’s up?” Sophia asked confused. Yunjin just looked at her for a moment.

“It was good to see you.” Yunjin simply said. Sophia nodded. It was nice to see the girl too.

“Same, Jen. I was worried at first to see you, but I’m so happy you found success. You deserve it.” Sophia spoke truthfully.

“Thank you. That means a lot coming from you." Yunjin said. She smiled.

“Listen. I have a show coming up in New York. You should come.” Yunjin proposed.

Sophia’s eyes widened. “Oh. Um sure. Listen, just so you know, I’m not really looking-“

“Relax, it’s not like that.” Yunjin laughed. “Just come to the show. Bring your girl. She’ll love it.”

“My girl?” Sophia asked and Yunjin nodded.

“Daniela.”

“We’re just friends.” Sophia said shaking her head. Why did people assume there was more between them?

“So were we.” Yunjin shrugged. “But then we were a little bit more. We had a good time, in those six months.”

“Yeah, we did.” Sophia smiled fondly.

“But in those six months, I never saw you smile the way you smile when you’re with her. I’ve never seen you laugh the way you laugh with her. I’ve never seen you as happy as you are when you’re with her. Shit, you never even sang karaoke with me and I’m finding out now that you’re all dramatic and can dance choreography and shit.” Yunjin laughed.

“And I’ll admit, that stung at first but it made me happy.” Yunjin started speaking sincerely.

“I knew during our time together that you were lost. That you had lost something. I tried to fill that void, be the distraction you would fall in love with, but I don’t think I even scratched the surface.”

“I just missed my friends. And you just said we had a good time together. I agree!” Sophia tried to defend. Yunjin just smiled at her.

“That can very well be true. But you’re still different with her than you and I ever were. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just different. Even if you guys were just friends before, I think the potential is there. Just because you got your old friendships back, that doesn’t mean everything has to stay the same as they used to be Sophia. You just have to be willing to acknowledge it.”

“You always mentioned feeling lost but did you ever consider what exactly you were looking for?” Yunjin asked, Sophia bit her lip in deep thought.

“Do me a favor and don’t let her go this time. Those choreographers definitely want to see her again. And I want to see what happens with you two. Consider me a 'Sodani' shipper. I’ll send you the info and the tickets for the show.” Yunjin said walking away, waving her hand above her head goodbye.

“Good luck!” She shouted one last line, leaving Sophia standing, lost in thought.

As soon as they got to the bar, Yoonchae walked over to Ally who was sitting at the end.

Megan and Daniela watched as Yoonchae said something and Ally nodded. Yoonchae bowed graciously before walking up to them.

“Dani unnie, we’ll see you later at the hotel. Tell Sophia we’re okay.” Yoonchae said firmly. Daniela just raised an eyebrow but nodded. Megan looked on in confusion but Yoonchae just dragged her towards the elevators.

“They’re cute.”

Daniela looked up to find Camila, who was focused on a little tablet, closing someone’s tab out.

“They are. Just a little dumb.” Daniela replied earning a snort from Lauren who was listening.

“How come?” The green eyed girl asked.

“They both have feelings for each other. They’re both just too chicken to say anything more.” Daniela explained.

“Wait, they’re not even dating? I had twenty bucks with Normani on them getting engaged tonight.” Lauren deadpanned.

Daniela laughed loudly but got embarrassed as one of the patrons at the bar gave her a side eye.

Camila noted this and decided to switch to Spanish.

“¿Y tu novia? (And your girlfriend?)” Camila asked.

Daniela raised an eyebrow but responded in Spanish.

“¿Qué novia? (What girlfriend?)”

“La otra, con el que siempre estás. El que tiene una exnovia. (The other one, the one you’re always with. The one with the ex-girlfriend.)” Camila said swiftly.

“Sophia? Ella no es mi novia (She’s not my girlfriend.)” Daniela stated clearly. “Ella está allá, hablando con su ex. (She’s over there, talking to her ex.)”

“Ah, perdón. Es que pensé que ustedes tenían toda esta vibra. (Ah, sorry. I just figured, you guys have this whole vibe going on.)” Camila apologized.

“No hay ninguna vibra. Solo somos mejores amigos. Mejores amigos normales. No mejores amigos secretamente enamorados, ni mejores amigos que solían salir juntos. Solo somos... nosotros. Llevamos años siendo así. (There’s no vibe. We’re just best friends. Normal best friends. Not secretly in love best friends or best friends that used to date. We’re just… us. We’ve been that way for years.)” Daniela explained. Camila nodded.

“Así es como empezamos mi esposa y yo. (That’s how me and my wife started.)”

“¿Estás casado? (You’re married?!)” Daniela shouted surprised.

“Por desgracia. (Unfortunately.)” Lauren answered in Spanish as well. Camila stuck out her tongue at the woman.

“Wait, you guys are married?” Daniela was so shocked she reverted back to English.

As if rehearsed, the two bartenders reached under their black work shirts and held up a silver chain with a wedding band hung at the end around their necks.

“More tips this way.” Camila explained.

“Plus Camz kept losing it.” Lauren added on.

“She didn’t need to know that. It was one time.”

“Babe, you lost it seven times. Three times in the ice machine.”

“You’re making me look bad.” Camila pouted.

Daniela watched them amused.

“Look. I don’t know if you even like girls,” Camila started. Daniela held back her usual ‘I’m straight’ reply because she was curious as to what the older Latina was going to say.

“But you can’t deny the connection you and Sophia have. In my opinion, that’s worth exploring. Right babe?” She asked her wife.

“Nope. Leave me out of this. I already meddled in one of their relationships. I met my quota.” Lauren answered.

“Same.” Dinah said walking by with Normani who shook her head in disapproval.

“Same.” Ally said walking by in the other direction.

“Think about it.” Camila said to Daniela as Sophia approached.

“Hey, ready to go?” Sophia asked rubbing Daniela’s shoulder. Camila gave her a pointed look.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Camila and the others watched them leave.

“Can we sing now?” Camila asked excitedly. Lauren sighed but nodded, not being able to say no to her wife.

“Mani, Can you play a track for me please?” Camila asked with puppy dog eyes.

“What do you want?” Normani sighed, walking back towards the DJ booth.

Camila thought for a moment before smiling, settling on her girl, Taylor, and her boy, Ed.

“Everything Has Changed.”

Lara and Manon sat on the beach. It was a little past one in the morning now. They sat in silence listening to the waves crash against the sand.

“When you chose that song for Megan and Yoonchae…” Lara suddenly asked, earning Manon’s attention.

“Did you ever have that montage moment in your head that you were talking about?”

Manon nodded. “Every time. Every time I listened to it, I guess I had a little clip show in my head of all the times we had together. That’s why it’s one of my favorite songs.” Manon said quietly.

“Sounds like torture.” Lara replied and Manon just nodded sadly.

“Did you see one too? When they sang it?” Manon asked curiously and Lara shook her head, pulling her knees up to her chest.

“No.”

“Oh.”

“I had it earlier when we were in the club. Before our bathroom talk. During ‘We can’t be friends’.” Lara responded simply.

“Oh.” Manon repeated.

“It’s what freaked me out. Thinking about us. Thinking about wanting there to be an us.” Lara started the topic but Manon beat her to it.

“I want to fight.”

Lara scrunched her nose. “Fight? Like a fist fight?”

“Girl, no. I want to fight. For us. Like I should’ve done three years ago.” Manon said turning to face Lara completely.

Illuminated by only the moonlight, Lara’s breath hitched.

“I’m sorry Lara, but I want to be with you. And I will fight like hell to make that happen. I don’t care if I have to wait for you through law school. I don’t care if I have to wait until you finish classes to talk to you, or get ignored while you study for exams, or stay up late with you or help you research shit, or anything I have to do to support you.” Manon confessed.

Lara let out a shaky breath.

“I don’t want to give up on us. But I don’t want to hurt you again-“

“Please stop using that as an excuse.” Manon cut her off. “We promised. Remember? We promised to communicate. Well this is me, communicating.”

“I want to try. Even if we have to start from square one, I want to try again.” Manon begged.

“You’re crazy.” Lara said but she had a smile on her face. “After everything, you still want to be with me? You’re crazy.”

“I am. But so are you.” Manon countered. Manon reached and tucked a hair behind Lara’s ear. She leaned into the touch.

“I am. I am crazy when it comes to you Manon Bannerman. I want to try too but I’m scared. I don’t want to neglect you again. I want to be better. But I’ll need help. I’ll need you to talk to me, to guide me through it…” Lara said, abandoning her pride for the chance of something better.

“I’d love nothing more Lara Raj… we’ll figure it out. Together.” Manon promised. They both smiled softly, understanding passing between the both of them.

“Well then.” Lara said after a moment of them staring at each other longingly.

“Are you going to kiss me or what-“ Lara started before she was basically tackled to ground as Manon’s mouth finally met Lara’s for the first time in what felt like eternity.

“Square one?” Lara panted against Manon’s lips after a few moments. The older girl just took her lips between her teeth before releasing it.

Their foreheads rested against each other as they breathed slow and heavy. Manon smiled. She got up and pulled Lara up, heading back to the hotel.

“I think we can skip a few steps.”

Megan sat confused at a table on the empty third floor of Harmony. Yoonchae had disappeared into the kitchen a couple of minutes ago.

It was odd, being in a restaurant alone.

Megan heard cluttering and suddenly, Yoonchae appeared. She was holding two plates with a metal dome covering each.

Megan raised an eyebrow as Yoonchae set them down on the table.

Yoonchae lifted the metal domes to reveal Ally’s chocolate chip soufflé. Except, something was different.

“It’s my version. I doubled the amount of chocolate chips. Used less sugar because of your pre-diabetes.” Yoonchae explained. Megan smiled sweetly.

“It looks delicious Yoonchip.” Megan said, taking her spoon.

Yoonchae watched as Megan took a bit of the dessert. Her eyes lit up.

“Don’t tell Ally, but it’s even better than hers.” Megan commented. Yoonchae laughed.

“I begged her to teach me how to make it. You really liked it the last time we were here.” Yoonchae explained, her cheeks red.

Megan nodded. “You shouldn’t have told me that. Now I’m going to force you to make this for me all the time.” She emphasized by eating another spoonful.

Yoonchae just smiled as she ate a spoonful of hers. “Why do you think I learned in the first place?” She replied quietly. Megan’s chest filled with warmth at the answer.

When they were done with desert, Yoonchae took the dishes to the kitchen then returned.

Megan led them to the elevators but Yoonchae interlaced their fingers and pulled her towards the staircase instead.

“Come with me?” She asked even though she figured she didn’t have to.

They found themselves on the half finished rooftop. There were way more string lights placed than when Sophia and Daniela came up.

“They look like stars.” Megan commented looking up as they made their way toward the ledge overlooking the street below.

“Do you remember,” Yoonchae spoke, “the night you taught me about constellations?”

Megan laughed, “Yeah. You were feeling homesick so I just said whatever I could that would distract you. I’d never been more thankful that I could remember the random bullshit I saw about stars online.”

“Do you remember the shooting star?” Yoonchae asked. Megan’s eyes went wide but she nodded.

She remembered everything about that night. Because by the end of it, she realized she had feelings for Yoonchae.

“I wished that I could go back and visit Korea.” Yoonchae revealed. Megan gave her a sad smile.

“Oh. Well I guess it worked?”

“I also wished… that you would come with me.” Megan felt her cheeks warm this time. Her imagination ran through visions of visiting Korea with Yoonchae. Sightseeing. Eating food. Yoonchae in a hanbok-

“Well maybe next time I can-“

“What did you wish for?” Yoonchae asked, a knowing smile on her face as she cut Megan off. The older girl froze for a second.

“I wished… I wished that you would be happy.” Megan finally said. Yoonchae slowly smiled, her heart fluttering. She had a feeling Megan's wish had to do with her.

“Well, your wish came true too-“

“I wished that I could make you happy.” Megan cut her off. Her tone had shifted so she was a bit more serious now. Yoonchae paused.

“You did make me happy,” Yoonchae smiled, then thought for a moment. “You do make me happy.” Yoonchae corrected herself.

Yoonchae was leaning against the railing, her back to the street. Megan was facing forward, toward the street.

In the glow of the string lights, Yoonchae looked angelic.

Alcohol, desire, despair, regret, adrenaline, and love flowed through Megan’s veins. Suddenly, five years of restraint disappeared because Megan couldn’t take it anymore. She leaned in, surprising Yoonchae.

She gasped as Megan’s lips met her own but Yoonchae didn’t hesitate to reciprocate.

It was everything Megan dreamed of, maybe even better.

Megan groaned as Yoonchae’s hands flew to her hair. Her hands moved to Yoonchae’s hips and held her tenderly.

They separated after what felt like an eternity.

“Oh shit. Oh no. No no no.” Megan’s eyes widened, realizing what she had done. She took a step back and moved, leaning against the balcony again, now a few feet away from Yoonchae.

Yoonchae just giggled and followed her, moving next to her.

“Meiyok… relax.” Yoonchae whispered but Megan was full on spiraling.

“I’m sorry. That was impulsive. And rude. And I don’t know what I was thinking. And I’m sorry. Stupid. Did I mention I was sorry-“ Megan was cut off by Yoonchae laughing. Loudly. Like a full body laughter that Megan hadn’t seen Yoonchae experience since high school and Yoonchae had covered her in silly string.

Yoonchae didn’t seem mad.

‘She didn’t throw me off the roof so that was a good sign,’ Megan thought to herself. She decided it was time to be brave.

“Yoonchae, I need you to do me a favor.” Megan said breathing heavy.

The Korean girl just hummed.

“I need you to ask me how I feel about you.” Megan commanded and Yoonchae nodded in understanding.

“Megan, how do you feel about me?” Yoonchae asked smugly, already knowing the truth. The kiss just confirmed it.

Megan hesitated for a second. This was it. She was ready. She was going to say it. She had to. She vowed to never lie to Yoonchae.

“I’m in love with you.”

…

“Wait, what did you just say?” Megan asked, shocked.

“I said,” Yoonchae looked her in the eyes, “I’m in love with you, Megan.”

“Oh. Yeah. That’s what I thought you said.” Megan said, staggering back a little bit.

Yoonchae watched amused as Megan began to breathe heavy again. Yoonchae grabbed her head in her hands to steady the girl and force her to look at her eyes.

“Tell me the truth?” Yoonchae asked and Megan nodded dumbly.

“Always.” She replied, like she always did.

“Megan, how do you feel about me?” Yoonchae asked, kinder and softer than the previous time.

“I’m in love with you too, Yoonchae.”

“I’ve been in love with you before I even knew what love was.” Megan replied, stopping Yoonchae’s world. Her chest filled with excitement hearing Megan say it out loud.

“Before I could understand why I don’t want to lie to you, or why I was drawn to your presence, or why I can’t stop holding your hand or hugging you, or why I punched that kid for you back in high school.”

“I didn’t understand what being in love was until I met you and now you’re the only romantic love I’ve ever known. Every memory I have with you, every joke, every touch, every second, I’ve loved you.” Megan said, her chest heaving at this point with her confession.

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize my feelings sooner.” Yoonchae said, using her hands to take Megan’s.

“And I’m sorry I didn’t tell mine you sooner.” Megan countered. She couldn’t explain it but she was practically floating off this rooftop.

“I know it’s not really lying but I guess the only lie I ever told you was lying by omission.” Megan was crying now, but her smile was devastating.

“I love you, jagiya. I think I always have. I just know now that it’s more than just being my best friend. I think you’re my other half. The piece of my soul that I didn’t even know I was missing.” Yoonchae mused.

“I love you too, aegiya. I really wish I paid attention in English class instead of copying your homework so I can come up with something as poetic as you but I’m literally going to pass out. I spent three years thinking that I didn’t love you anymore. After one week I don’t think I ever stopped. I don’t ever want to lose you again.” Megan said dramatically causing Yoonchae to giggle.

“You won’t.” Yoonchae said, sniffling. She’d never cried from happiness before but if there was ever a first time for it to happen.

“Can I… can I kiss you again?” Megan asked softly.

“Please.” Yoonchae pleaded.

Megan grabbed the collar of Yoonchae’s shirt and pulled her in close. Yoonchae’s eyes fluttered closed as she felt Megan’s lips on her own for the second time.

They were soft and tasted like cherry, even better than she imagined or dreamed of.

They both smiled into the kiss, somehow knowing in their bones that this was just right.

Somewhere down below, a photo of them making out on the balcony was being taken.

🍒 MEICHAE SHIPPERS 🐚

Daniela: red alert 🚨
Daniela: the ship has sailed !!!
Daniela: *blurry photo of Megan and Yoonchae kissing*

Daniela and Sophia walked out of the building. They were met with a chilling breeze that caused Daniela to shiver.

“I don’t understand why it’s always fucking windy when we leave this place.” Daniela complained.

Sophia didn’t say a word as she shed her leather jacket and placed it around the Latina’s shoulders.

“Thank you.” Daniela whispered quietly.

Sophia nodded. Her thoughts still in her conversation with her former roommate. They slowly started walking towards the hotel.

“No way.” Daniela gasped looking up.

Sophia quickly frowned and looked up as well to see two figures making out on the rooftop balcony. The same place she and Daniela had spoken a few days ago.

“Is that…”

“Yoonchae and Megan? Yup.” Daniela said holding up her phone and zooming in to take a picture.

“Let’s fucking go! Lock the fuck in!” Daniela shouted earning a few stares from strangers but she didn’t care. Sophia looked at her amused but decided to join her.

“Those are my kids! I gave birth to them! Woof woof woof!” Sophia started barking, gaining even more stares but Daniela’s loud laughter was more than worth it to the Filipina.

The two girls on the roof separated from their embrace and noticed them. Yoonchae hid into Megan’s neck while Megan just flicked them off.

“Use protection!” Daniela shouted one last time before turning back towards the street. An easy atmosphere surrounded the two.

“I guess things do change…” Sophia said. Daniela hummed as they continued walking.

At one point they had to cross the street. Sophia just grabbed Daniela's hand and guided her across. However, when they were on the other side, Daniela interlaced their fingers and placed their conjoined hands in the pocket of Sophia's jacket. The older girl stayed quiet but smiled. 

“So… what did Yunjin want to talk to you about?” Daniela asked a few minutes later, trying not to sound jealous.

“Oh. She just wanted to say how good it was to see each other again.” Sophia shrugged. “She also invited me to her show in New York.”

Daniela’s jaw clenched. “Are you going to go?”

“Depends.” Sophia smirked. Daniela stopped walking, releasing their hands. “On what?” She had to ask.

“If you want to go. She invited you too. I figured we could plan your visit around her show if you want.” Sophia said stopping too.

“Oh.” Daniela’s cheeks tinted pink.

“Why’d you stop walking?” Sophia asked knowingly.

Daniela’s eyes widened as she looked for an excuse. “My - uh - my feet hurt. You know, these damn heels.” Daniela said, shuffling her feet to prove a point. They did kind of hurt from all the dancing and walking actually.

“I told you to wear flats.” Sophia said shaking her head. Suddenly she was leaning over in front of Daniela.

“Hop on.”

“Soph, what?” Daniela blushed.

“Piggy back ride. I can handle it. I’m strong remember.” Sophia said.

“It’s fine, I can walk-“

“Dani. It’s okay. I got you.” Sophia said, glancing over her shoulder. Daniela caved. Her arms looped around Sophia’s neck and then she felt strong hands on her thighs as Sophia guided her legs around her waist.

Her cheek was pressed against the older girl’s shoulder as the Filipina began walking again.

Daniela’s heart thumped with every step Sophia took. Sophia could feel Daniela’s warm breath on her neck.

Some people glanced at them as they walked by. But Daniela’s mind didn’t seem to care for a change. Her brain was focused on Sophia.

Her strong hands on her thighs. The way her hair brushed against her arms. The faint smell of lavender from the perfume she always seemed to wear.

Daniela felt safe and supported here. And suddenly, her conversation with Camila and Lauren crossed her mind.

When they got back to the hotel lobby, Sophia gently put Daniela down.

“Thank you mi amor.” Daniela said quietly.

Sophia let out a breath in surprise before responding. “You’re welcome.”

They made their way back to the penthouse suite in comfortable silence. Once inside, they didn’t see any signs of life.

“I guess we’re the first ones back.” Sophia shrugged.

They passed by Sophia and Lara’s room first. Sophia held the door knob as she looked at Daniela.

Daniela stared back and bit her lip. Her eyes traveled to Sophia’s lips. She thought of Sophia’s lip gloss and suddenly wondered what it tasted like.

Sophia figured she was imagining things. She figured she should say something. Do something here. Show Daniela what she was thinking and feeling. But she didn’t really know how to cross that line.

She stepped forward quickly and planted a kiss to Daniela’s cheek.

“Goodnight Dani.”

“Goodnight Soph.” Daniela replied breathless.

Sophia smiled softly before entering her room. She closed the door and leaned against it.

Maybe in a few months when Daniela came to visit New York. She would have more time to come to terms with what she wanted to do. The things she wanted to say to Daniela.

There would be time-

Suddenly the door was being pushed open and Sophia was forced to step forward.

Daniela entered the room and shut it, her back now against the door.

“Dani?”

“Yeah. So. Manon and Lara are home. They beat us here. There’s a sock on my door.” Daniela said quickly and quietly.

“A sock?” Sophia asked confuse, before realization hit her, “Oh shit, no way-“

“Yes way. I thought it was weird but then I heard noises Soph. Noises.” Daniela sounded traumatized.

Sophia just laughed loudly. “Shhh, they’ll hear us.” Daniela scolded.

“Dani, I think they have other things on their minds. They’ve been apart for three years.” Sophia reminded the girl.

“Well I’m not sleeping in there after that.” Daniela said crossing her arms.

“You’re always welcome here” Sophia said crossing over to her bag. She pulled out some sleeping clothes and handed them to Daniela.

Daniela excused herself to the bathroom where she washed up and changed. Afterwards Sophia did the same.

Now they laid in the queen sized bed. A noticeable distance between them. They heard the front door open and close and the sounds of Megan and Yoonchae giggling as they made their way towards their room.

“Maybe we should’ve invested in earplugs.” Daniela whispered and Sophia chuckled.

“Surrounded by couples.” Sophia said adjusting so she was sleeping on her side facing Daniela.

Daniela mirrored her position.

“Just like the good old days.” Daniela nodded.

“Some things never change.” Sophia replied.

Daniela thought for a long moment.

“And some things do. But that’s okay. Sometimes they change for the better.” Daniela whispered, definitely looking at Sophia’s lips.

Sophia noticed. She was right. Some things do change. And Sophia was ready to acknowledge it.

“Dani.”

Daniela looked up and met Sophia’s eyes. She realized she had been caught.

“When you come to New York, let’s go out.”

Daniela frowned in confusion. “Yeah, that was the plan.”

“No, I mean,” Sophia said nervously. “Let’s go out on a date. Like… romantically.”

“Oh.” Daniela said softly. A moment passed.

“Look, I don’t know how you feel. But I want to know if there’s something here… between us. I feel like there is. Something more than just being friends. And I know you’ve always said you were straight, but I mean, hey so was I or at least I used to claim I was. But anyway, if you don’t feel the same way then that’s fine. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable-“

Daniela clamped a hand over Sophia’s mouth. Daniela was used to being an overthinker. That was her thing. She could tell Sophia’s brain was moving one hundred miles per hour.

But for once, she felt sure about something.

“Okay.”

Sophia looked at her with wide eyes.

“Really?” She asked when Daniela removed her hand. The Latina nodded.

“You better bring your A-game though Laforteza. I expect to be swept off my feet.” Daniela mumbled, scooting closer.

Sophia nodded vehemently. “I’m a theater kid, remember? I’ll make it amazing.” Sophia said scooting closer.

“You better. I trust you.” Daniela said softly yawning.

“Go to sleep, mahal.” Sophia said pulling her close. Now Daniela was laying on Sophia’s chest.

“Yeah, I can see why you like slept so well like this last night.” Daniela smiled sleepily.

“Shut up.” Sophia said with no bite at all. A full smile taking over her face.

“Never.” Daniela said letting her brain shut up and fell asleep.

Sunday

The six of them stood in a circle in the middle of Miami International Airport.

Packing up this morning had been embarrassing but bittersweet.

Lara and Manon walked out embarrassed knowing they exiled Daniela from her room.

Yoonchae and Megan stepped out of their room in bliss, probably happier than they’d ever been.

Sophia and Daniela stepped out of their room, a secret hiding comfortably between them.

But they knew it was the last time they would all be together for a while.

Now it was sadly time for goodbyes.

“I love you guys. Seriously.” Manon spoke up first. “If you ever need anything from me, please ask. And just know if I’m ever in your city for a shoot, I am coming to see you.” She said looking at each one of them.

Lara grabbed her hand and squeezed.

“So what exactly are you guys? Back together? Friends with benefits?” Megan asked curiously.

Lara and Manon exchanged glances. “We’re talking through it. But we’re going to try to be together and that’s what counts.”

“Well good luck.” Daniela spoke up happy for their friends. The others echoed her sentiment.

“I’ll be in law school soon. But every chance I get I’ll update you guys.” Lara said looking at each of them.

“Can I hire you if I ever need a lawyer?” Megan asked and Yoonchae smacked her arm lightly. 

“Why would you need a lawyer?” Yoonchae asked incredulously.

“You never know! It’ll be good to have one in our back pocket!” Megan defended herself.

“Ridiculous.” Yoonchae said but she was smiling and looked at Megan with such tender love.

“You guys are gross.” Daniela fake gagged.

“Don’t be jealous.” Megan said sticking her tongue out.

“I’m sure there’s a girl out there for you somewhere.” Yoonchae commented earning laughter from everyone except Daniela and Sophia.

They shared a knowing look but didn’t say anything more. They decided to keep their planned date a secret.

“So what exactly are you two?” Sophia asked Megan and Yoonchae, relieving attention away from Daniela.

“Girlfriends?” Yoonchae asked Megan who nodded.

“Girlfriends.”

“That simple?” Lara asked raising an eyebrow and Megan took Yoonchae’s hand in her own.

“Yeah.” She said smiling.

“Yeah. I’m gonna barf.” Manon said, pretending to vomit behind Lara.

“Any final words?” Lara asked, they all looked to Sophia.

“I’m sure you guys feel the same way, but the six of us, KATSEYE, were better when we’re all together. Even if we’re far apart, even if we haven’t talked in a while, we carry each other inside and I think that’s what matters most. I love you girls and I know you all love me back. I know you all love each other. So even if time keeps us apart again, I hope you know that we will be there for each other. Through the good times, and the bad times.” Sophia said looking at each girl individually. They all crowded around each other in an awkward group hug that results in a good laugh.

“Thanks mother.” Yoonchae deadpanned. Sophia just nodded, accepting it.

“Flight 242 to Atlanta is now boarding…”

The girls looked to the Latina who nodded sadly.

“That’s my cue girls.” She hugged each one of them goodbye. Finally, she got to Sophia.

They hugged for what felt like forever, yet for the two girls, it wasn’t enough.

They pulled away slightly and yes, Daniela looked at Sophia’s lips. Did she have to use so much damn lip gloss?

“See you soon?” Sophia asked quietly and Daniela nodded before pulling away.

She waved once more before walking towards her gate.

Sophia watched her go sadly.

“Dude. You totally should’ve kissed her.” Sophia turned and looked at Lara. The rest of them were nodding.

“She was definitely giving you ‘kiss me’ eyes” Megan nodded.

Sophia shook her head, playing it off before they all heard the sound of a dropped suitcase and running.

Sophia turned around in time to see a flash of curly hair before hands were on her cheeks and lips were on hers.

Daniela kissed her. She kissed her like she was stranded in the desert and Sophia was a cup of water. She kissed her like she was poisoned and Sophia was the antidote.

Daniela kissed her like she was drowning and Sophia was a boat coming to save her.

Daniela kissed her because her brain was overthinking and questioning why she hadn’t kissed her yet. She was happy to know that Sophia’s lips were the only thing that could ground her.

When they finally pulled apart, Sophia was left breathless.

“See you in New York.” Daniela said before walking away again, picking up her fallen suitcase.

Sophia had the stupidest grin on her face. She didn’t even hear Manon whisper to Lara.

“You owe me twenty bucks.”

Sophia’s stupid grin never left her face. Even when she was saying bye to the other girls and walking to her gate. Even when she was boarding her flight. Even during takeoff.

She was excited.

She had something to look forward to.

“For a straight girl, that was pretty gay.” Manon said after Sophia walked away to her gate in a daze.

“I didn’t think Dani had that in her.” Megan said impressed.

“True. But it’s Sophia. I’m surprised she resisted for so long.” Yoonchae replied to her girlfriend.

“Preach, Yoonchip.” Lara said. Her flight was called next. She hugged the remaining girls and planted a kiss on Manon’s lips.

“Text me when you get to London. And send pictures.” Lara said, softly jabbing a finger into Manon’s chest.

The Swiss girl just laughed and nodded.

“Hopefully this shoot only takes a few days and I can come see you. I’ll text you updates.” Manon said. They kissed again.

“You okay Manon?” Megan asked curiously as they watched Lara leave.

“Yeah. I’m okay. More okay than I’ve been in a long time.” Manon said, smiling.

“You guys on the same flight?” Manon asked and Megan nodded.

“Yup. Changed my flight a few days ago so we’d be next to each other.” Megan said proudly and Yoonchae smiled and kissed her cheek.

“Ugh. You guys are gross. I’m gonna leave before you guys start making out again.” Manon said rolling her eyes. She hugged both of them tight.

They waved as she walked away towards the international flight terminal.

Megan and Yoonchae walked hand in hand to their gate.

They were flying back to LA, back to their lives.

When she started this trip, Megan didn’t anticipate she would be returning with a girlfriend. She definitely didn’t anticipate it being her former best friend and love of her life.

But hey, life is crazy sometimes. She had other things on her mind seven days ago.

But none of it seemed to bother Megan anymore. When they sat down in their seats on the plane, Megan leaned over and kissed Yoonchae, earning an embarrassed smile from the girl. Yoonchae just squeezed her hand, causing Megan to grin at their clasped hands.

Megan finally felt like she was at ease as she pulled out her phone and opened up the group chat she had pinned to the top. 

✨ KATSEYE ✨

Megan: keep in touch!

-

The End.