Mina’s ears were constantly flattened in annoyance the first few times her owner Chaeyoung brought her over to Jeongyeon’s to try socializing with her new kitten, Nayeon.
Nayeon was rambunctious, energetic and outgoing. She wanted to play with Mina so badly, but she was so eager that her attempts came on far too strongly for the other kitten. Instead of playing, Mina found herself hissing or swiping (without claws) at Nayeon whenever she got too close.
“She really doesn’t mean any harm,” Jeongyeon said the first time it happened. She brought out a toy wand with small bunnies and carrots on the strings for Nayeon to chase instead, giving Mina some space as she retreated back towards Chae. “The only other hybrid she plays with is a puppy named Momo. She’s just excited!”
And yet, each time Chaeyoung and Jeongyeon hung out with the kittens in tow, it always ended with Jeongyeon apologizing profusely to Chaeyoung and Mina for Nayeon’s energy.
After two months of weekly playdates, Mina had learned to tolerate Nayeon’s bubbly personality as best she could. Chaeyoung would bring a large cardboard box for Mina to give her a bit of armor. The box was tipped on its side so that Mina could crawl into it, able to watch her surroundings while being protected from behind and above. Time after time, Mina watched Nayeon curiously from afar while she played alone.
Mina didn’t want to admit it, but sometimes it did look fun to play with Nayeon. The older kitten had Jeongyeon wrapped around her little finger, leaving her with an impressive toy collection from her owner’s frequent spoiling.
On one afternoon visit, Nayeon was more mellow thanks to Jeongyeon giving her a bit of catnip before Mina and Chaeyoung arrived. Coming down from her catnip high, Nayeon stretched out in a sunny patch on a rug in Jeongyeon’s apartment. Mina looked on as the other kitten showed off her long legs and pretty tail.
“Mina,” Nayeon said, noticing the dark haired kitten watching her, “Sun’s nice and warm over here.”
Mina perked up a bit at that, sniffing the air cautiously. Feeling more certain that Nayeon wasn’t going to make any sudden moves or pounce, she delicately stepped out of the safety of her cardboard box, leaving the Lego figures she’d been playing with behind.
Nayeon was very sleepy in the warmth of the afternoon sun, and when she stayed still as Mina stepped closer, Mina decided it was okay to take another few steps forward and join Nayeon in the sunny patch of light.
“Look!” Chaeyoung whispered to Jeongyeon excitedly as Mina approached the older kitten. “They’re getting closer for the first time!”
The two peeked at their kittens for another moment before Chaeyoung and Jeongyeon went back to being engrossed in Chae’s new guitar.
Nayeon lazily rolled onto her back and then onto her other side, giving Mina some space in the sun streaming in from one of the living room windows.
Carefully, Mina moved onto the edge of the rug Nayeon was basking on. She “loafed” as Chaeyoung lovingly described the signature kitten hybrid pose: sitting with her knees tucked up to her chest, arms and tail wrapped around her. Mina wasn’t brave enough yet to spread out more, but Nayeon was right– the afternoon rays were warm and comfortable. She’d never been this close to Nayeon before, and as Nayeon drifted off to sleep in the sun, Mina glanced over to get a better look at her.
Before she could process the other kitten’s appearance, her owner’s sudden, gentle touch startled her.
“Sorry Mina,” Chae said softly, not wanting to disturb Nayeon. “We’ll be back in a few minutes. I have to get your old harness back from Jeongyeon’s trunk in the garage and then we can go, okay?”
Mina nodded, turning her chin up at an angle to let Chaeyoung gently pet her before she left.
With Nayeon’s eyes still closed, Mina finally felt brave enough to try laying on her side. She carefully adjusted herself to face Nayeon, ears up and alert just in case the older girl woke up.
As the older kitten continued to cat nap, Mina relaxed a little more and a sudden yawn overtook her, allowing her to show off her small fangs as she settled in. She glanced at Nayeon again, who was still snoozing. She watched attentively as one of Nayeon’s ears twitched. Nayeon was…pretty, Mina realized. Her ears and tail were a little lighter than Mina’s, and her hands were much bigger than hers. She’d never noticed.
As Mina’s gaze lingered on the other kitten’s features, she suddenly became aware that Nayeon’s eyes had cracked open.
The two stared at each other, Nayeon’s eyes still slightly hooded from sleep as she took her time waking up.
“I knew I felt you looking at me,” Nayeon said, a hint of a smile on her face. Mina felt heat rise to her cheeks.
Nayeon stretched, making her claws visible for a moment as she did so. She looked back at Mina, who looked embarrassed but also anxious now that Nayeon was awake.
“I’m not going to make you play, know you don’t want to,” the older kitten mumbled, starting to turn away from Mina.
“…Actually, wait-” Mina’s voice surprised both of them. She hadn’t planned on asking Nayeon anything, but there was one toy of Nayeon’s that had caught her attention a while back.
“Do you…” Mina hesitated for a moment, her voice getting softer, “Do you still have that penguin squeaky toy?”
Nayeon’s tail flicked up, giving away how excited she was that Mina was talking to her, but she tried her best to keep her calm demeanor for the sake of the younger kitten.
“Yeah, I think so,” Nayeon replied, getting up to go search through some of her toys. “In here!” she called after a minute.
Mina got up and padded lightly into the room Nayeon had disappeared into.
This must be Nayeon’s room, she thought as she stepped inside. A messy bed permeated Nayeon’s scent; it was much stronger here. It was kind of…nice, Mina realized.
She found Nayeon sitting on her floor next to a small open shelf with baskets storing some of Nayeon’s belongings.
“This?” Nayeon asked, holding a familiar black and white toy in her hand. She gave it a light squeeze. The squeak reply from the toy made Mina’s ears and tail perk up with interest.
“You like it?” Nayeon asked with a smile, her excitement growing.
Mina nodded, kneeling on the floor to get closer to Nayeon’s level.
As Nayeon handed the soft, small toy to Mina and the kitten took it in her hand, the two of them erupted in sudden purring.
But the sound of each other’s purrs scared them both, causing Nayeon to jump up onto her bed and Mina to leap back, clutching the penguin close to her chest.
Nayeon couldn’t help it— she burst out into laughter. “Wait, was that your purr?”
Mina, for the first time ever, cracked a shy, gummy smile at Nayeon. “Yeah,” she said sheepishly, rubbing her fingers over the penguin’s soft exterior.
“It’s cute,” Nayeon said, beaming at her. “I’ve never heard it before.”
Before Mina could reply, there was a gentle knock on the open bedroom door. Chaeyoung and Jeongyeon were waiting in the doorway.
“Minari, are you ready to go? Oh– what’s that?” Chaeyoung asked.
Jeongyeon’s eyebrows flew up, an amused smile on her face. “Wait, Nayeon is sharing? I’m not used to this.”
Nayeon huffed in response to her owner while Mina went over to show Chae.
“It’s a penguin..!” Mina said, trying to control the excitement in her voice.
“Mina loves penguins,” Chaeyoung explained to Jeongyeon and Nayeon. “How cute! Look at the little mint colored scarf it’s wearing.”
“You can keep it if you want,” Nayeon piped up. She hadn’t moved from her bed. She was excited beyond belief to have finally bonded with Mina, but was wary of scaring Mina. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep herself still.
Jeongyeon almost fell over. “You’ve never liked sharing,” she said playfully, sitting on the edge of her kitten’s bed to give her ears a gentle scratch. “I’m impressed. What do you think, Mina?”
Mina nodded, suddenly shy again in front of Nayeon and Jeongyeon. She ducked behind Chaeyoung and replied with a muffled, “Thank you.” Before they left, Mina peeked out from behind Chaeyoung and smiled shyly at Nayeon. She even offered a little wave.
For the rest of the week, Mina found herself bringing the small penguin toy with her everywhere she went. She even tried to bring it in the bath with her, but Chaeyoung suggested putting it on the edge of the tub to keep it from getting ruined.
“You won’t want to play with it if it’s all sudsy and wet,” Chaeyoung said, and Mina reluctantly agreed, watching as her owner carefully set the little penguin down so it would sit up for her kitten.
“You really like it, hmm?” Chae asked, and Mina nodded. “It was really nice of Nayeon to share with you.”
Mina nodded again, eyes closing when Chaeyoung started working conditioner into Mina’s long, dark hair. She purred, making her owner crack a smile.
“You know,” Chaeyoung said, massaging Mina’s head tenderly, “Jeongyeon said Nayeon asked her if you’d be interested in coming over to play again.”
This was new.
Mina had never been forced to go over to Jeongyeon and Nayeon’s apartment, she went because she didn’t like being alone, and because Chaeyoung and Jeongyeon wanted to hang out, but Mina had never been comfortable with other hybrids coming around frequently.
But now, Mina could decide for herself if she really wanted to be around Nayeon.
She thought about it as Chaeyoung carefully helped rinse her hair and tail. Chae’s tattooed fingers gently guided a brush through both before she helped Mina step out of the tub and into a warm fluffy towel.
Ah, lol, this one has thrown me a bit of a curve ball but i would honestly say GoWon for this, not because i see GoWon as a top herself but because i just dont see ViVi being a top at all that GoWon just gets it
i will assume u mean ViYeol as in vivi and yeojin, because i dont remember ships names and google gave me nothing lol, But i would honestly say its yeojin, vivi doesnt seem like the type to be a top
← previous part﹒• part 3 of be as one
pairings: nayeon x jeongyeon, momo x mina, sana x jihyo
genre: fluff
warnings/tags: au, unnie line as mothers, school meal club as kids, twice reunion, stablished relationships, found family, domestic fluff, past angst
w/c: 11,2k
a/n: we're back with my favorite family
“Are you nervous?” Momo asks while making breakfast.
More than a year ago, Dahyun received her small digital piano for Christmas, and since then she’s been going to a music academy three times a week.
It just happened naturally. Mina isn’t the type of mother who meticulously plans her daughter’s future or expects brilliant achievements to show off in front of other parents. She had been on the other end of that type of expectation and always knew that wasn’t what she wanted for her daughter. Nor was it an option to do so. A few years ago, thinking that Dahyun could take piano lessons wasn’t realistic, at least not without Sana’s help. Now, everything is different. She’s no longer a young, single mother with no one but her busy friend to rely on, doing the impossible to work and care for her daughter.
She found a new family, married a wonderful woman, and together they’ve built a life and a home. She has financial stability and, for quite some time now, hasn’t been struggling trying to balance work and parenting.
And although the passing of time and maturity have shaped her vision of motherhood, it’s never been a priority to turn her daughter into a trophy to show off. Her only concern is to take care of Dahyun, protect her, and make her happy. And the piano makes her happy.
Since she was a baby, Mina had used a colorful keyboard to teach her numbers, colors, and animals. It accompanied her through her early years, followed by a toy keyboard that made sounds of many different instruments. Even then, Dahyun played around creating little melodies, pressing the keys that sounded best together. So giving her a more professional piano was simply the next natural step, just like enrolling her in lessons. At first, it would only be a couple of times a month, but soon she started going three times a week.
Dahyun is really good, and not just because her mothers, who are obviously biased, say so. Mina, with several years of ballet behind her, has enough musical knowledge to recognize talent, and from the very beginning she noticed that her daughter had something special. Her suspicions were confirmed shortly after, when the teacher decided to move her to a more advanced group.
This path is the one that leads Dahyun to become the youngest student to perform a solo during the academy’s summer recital.
“A little… yeah” Dahyun replies, distractedly watching her mom cook.
Mina laughs softly at hearing the conversation and seeing how her daughter can’t keep up the act for long, especially when it comes to Momo. No one understands it better than her. Momo has always had this calming presence that invites you to open up without asking, although many times she doesn’t know how to react to the information she receives.
It’s the first time she admits to being somewhat worried. Since receiving the news about the recital a few months ago, her mothers had noticed how, after coming home from piano lessons, she would sit in front of her keyboard and practice until it was time for dinne – or until she was told it was too late to keep making noise.
It had also become a routine to practice on days when she didn’t have lessons. On one occasion, Momo told her that she had found Dahyun placing the fish themed clock they gifted her in front of the keyboard to keep track of practice time.
But it wasn’t until this moment, a week before, that she said out loud that she was nervous.
This was something new for both of them. Used to seeing Dahyun always playful, like a little ray of sunshine who brightened up everyone around her with her laughter and jokes, now they saw her as more reserved, more serious, and increasingly perfectionist when it came to school or music.
They didn’t feel it was a bad thing. But Mina noticed that sometimes, she could get overwhelmed. Not only because they weren’t used to seeing it in her, but because it forced them to face the reality that their daughter was growing up and with that she would start having new concerns and experiences.
Being Dahyun the oldest of the girls meant that there were stages in which Mina and Momo had to navigate alone, without any examples to follow. But it was no longer like before, when Mina felt she was walking blindly in motherhood with Sana helping as much as the impossible schedules and distance allowed her.
Now she has Momo by her side, not just as support but as a mother for their daughter, and also Nayeon and Jeongyeon with Chaeyoung, who accompany her as well, sharing experiences and feeling understood so many times. In the same way, they had all thrown themselves into being there for Jihyo and Sana ever since they made the decision to adopt.
In fact, it was both of them who now advised Jihyo and Sana with Tzuyu, and even Momo was the one who most often gave them guidance, since she had experienced motherhood in a similar way: overnight, raising a girl who was already several years old.
“You’ve practiced a lot, sweetheart. I’m sure you’ll do really well” Mina chimes in.
“But sometimes I make mistakes, and I don’t want to make a mistake in front of everyone” she replies.
“That can happen” Momo says suddenly, surprising both of them as she sets the plates on the table.
Both look up at the same time, and Mina feels the urge to speak before Momo continues, but she holds back.
“You might make mistakes, and it’s okay” she continues now more softly, focusing more on her daughter than on the food. “You’re learning. If you already knew everything, you wouldn’t be taking lessons.”
Mina loves her wife, but at times like this, she wishes Momo would understand that sometimes you don't have to be so rational or so honest. She's right, of course she is. That's a possibility, and she knows it, but Dahyun is already worrying about it, that’s what she’s afraid of. So maybe all she needs is a little encouragement.
From Dahyun's expression, it's clear that she hasn't managed to calm her down. And Momo seems to notice it too.
“What I mean is... it's your first time playing in front of so many people” she tries to explain. “Do you remember how many times we made cookies until they turned out like the ones from that bakery in Japan?”
Dahyun nods, still unsure.
“We tried about twelve recipes. Every time they didn’t turn out, we learned something new. More butter, less sugar, more chocolate… At first they weren’t perfect, but we learned with each attempt. And in the end, remember? They were even tastier than the originals.”
She pauses to start eating, leaving the two of them watching attentively, and then smiles tenderly.
“So if you miss a note, we do the same as with the cookies. We add the rest of the ingredients and keep going until the end, and we'll know that next time we have to pay more attention to that missing part” she concludes, reassuring Dahyun, but also Mina.
Now she seems calmer, but her mother can tell that she’s still a bit overwhelmed by what’s coming in a few days.
─────────
A month ago Dahyun handed them the invitations to her piano recital.
They had already heard her play during a visit to Mina and Momo’s house, but discovering that their niece was a little piano prodigy was a surprise. Of course they would be there for her first recital. Besides, after Mina had to explain the girl’s unusual family situation to her teacher to get enough invitations, they didn’t really have much choice.
Dahyun had asked them to bring Ryujin and Yuna, she adores them, and she wanted the whole family to be ther. However, since they were just a year and a few months old, taking them to a recital that promised to be long didn’t seem like the best idea. That night they would stay with the grandparents, who would bring them to the theater later so Dahyun could see them.
Although Jeongyeon’s parents never complain about spending time with their granddaughters, and they often offer to look after them so that Nayeon and Jeongyeon can have a break or a date night, this time convincing them wasn’t easy. They didn’t want to miss Dahyun’s recital either. Just like they do with Tzuyu, they treat her as another granddaughter. And for her, they are the closest thing she has to grandparents, whether because some live far away or because others were simply never there.
After Dahyun and Tzuyu’s birthdays, the recital had become the most anticipated date of the month. Jeongyeon had been getting the last details ready for a week, and that’s when they realized Chaeyoung didn’t have anything appropriate to wear.
Her closet was full of cartoon t-shirts, overalls, skirts and dresses, but nothing even a little bit formal. Not even the dress she wore to Momo and Mina’s wedding fitted her anymore. She’s small, and she doesn’t really look like it, but she’s grown a lot since then.
“Jeongie, we have to go shopping. Chaeyoung has nothing to wear to the recital.” Nayeon says, coming out of the girls’ room.
In the living room, Jeongyeon is playing with Yuna and Ryujin, stacking wooden blocks, while Chaeyoung shows up behind Nayeon with a slightly serious face, which brings a small smile to her momma. Her eldest daughter has been trying on clothes for a while, and even though fashion and choosing her outfits seems like something she likes – even giving her mothers advice sometimes – she doesn’t look very happy about having to go shopping now to keep trying on clothes.
“Doesn’t she have a dress she can wear?” Jeongyeon asks.
“The ones she has are very casual or for winter, I think we can find her something a bit more formal that she can wear more often. She’s growing a lot.”
When she hears those last words, Chaeyoung can’t help but smile proudly and crosses her arms with attitude.
“Mom is right, I’m very tall. This year I'm not the shortestin my class” she says, shrugging her shoulders with a smugness that makes her mothers laugh.
Just like Jeongyeon, Chaeyoung has the habit of acting tough when it comes to compliments or displays of affection. But the truth is that things like being told she’s grown, that her drawings are good or that her clothes are cool boost her ego easily. And she’s pretty transparent when that happens.
If that was the case, they would have to go shopping this weekend, since they were only a week away from the concert.
In a little over an hour, they’re all ready to leave.
Nayeon helped Chaeyoung with her shower and getting dressed, while Jeongyeon was in charge of packing the twins’ backpack with everything they needed. Sunscreen, a change of clothes for each of them, animal cookies and water. She also added a pack of cookies and an extra bottle for Chaeyoung, no matter how much she insisted she didn’t need cookies like her sisters.. Jeongyeon knows that snacks are a must to keep spirits up when it comes to going shopping with children anywhere that isn’t the toy shop.
The twins, unaware of the clothes drama, celebrate the idea of going out for a walk with laughter and uncoordinated clapping while Jeongyeon settles them into the stroller.
“Are we all going?” Nayeon asks at the door, putting on her shoes and throwing
“Of course. Some fresh air will be good for Ryujin and Yuna” Jeongyeon says. She never misses the chance to turn anything into a family outing, even if she later ends up complaining about being tired.
Chaeyoung shows up wearing a red cap backwards, a t-shirt with a printed strawberry, jeans and a small matching crossbody bag where she always carries a notebook and some crayons. She didn’t seem very excited at first, but having an excuse to wear her new t-shirt looked like a good incentive, even if the plan is to go shopping.
Nayeon smiles when she notices the cap Chaeyoung added to the outfit they picked out together a little while ago, then looks at Jeongyeon. They both love having such a creative daughter who enjoys trying out her own unique styles.
“You’ll see, we’ll find something that looks beautiful on you” Nayeon says, giving her a soft pat on the head as they walk out the door.
“And comfortable” Jeongyeon adds, raising an eyebrow.
Chaeyoung doesn’t answer. She just shrugs, then goes out holding onto the stroller with one hand and to Nayeon with the other.
When they get to the store, Nayeon takes them straight to the kids’ section where the dresses are. Just like Jeongyeon – and now their daughter– she has a taste for fashion. They like dressing well and being comfortable, with a more casual yet stylish taste. Although unlike the other two, Nayeon doesn’t mind sacrificing a bit of comfort for a good look.
With three daughters, Nayeon already knows that comfort always wins when it comes to children. She knows exactly what she’s looking for, and it doesn’t take her long to find it. In just a few minutes, she manages to get the right size of a simple but elegant dress that could work for a family day out or a more special occasion like the recital.
The dress is red, with short sleeves, perfect for this weather. It has a lovely lace collar and pockets, which is always a plus. With one of the pairs of shoes she already has at home, her strawberry socks and some ribbons, she’ll look adorable.. She might even be able to match her sisters, since their hair is now long enough for them to wear buns.
When she goes back to where Jeongyeon is, she looks pleased, probably because it didn’t take long, which means they’ll be able to do something more fun with the girls than just looking at dresses. And deep down Nayeon feels the same relief, shopping with kids is less fun and much more tiring.
“Chaeyoung, sweetheart, let’s go to the fitting room” she says, taking the little girl’s hand while she’s distracted looking at accessories.
She turns around to follow her mom, but then she sees what she’s holding and freezes on the spot.
“I don’t want to wear a dress, Mom” she says, confident but with a soft tone, like she’s afraid she might be saying something wrong.
Nayeon doesn’t mind the answer, but something in Chaeyoung’s tone, that mix of firmness and insecurity, tightens in her chest for a second. Not because her daughter doesn’t want the dress, but because she’s growing up, and she’s starting to know what she wants… and what she doesn’t.
“Oh, you don’t like it?” she asks. “You’ve got a similar one at home, but we can look for something you like more, okay?” Nayeon offers with a smile.
Chaeyoung nods and takes her hand again, this time so they can choose something together.
Once again, Nayeon heads toward the dresses, looking for something that fits her style better. Maybe the strip of lace at the hem of the skirt was too much. Even if it’s her favorite color, maybe something brighter or with a fun pattern would catch her eye more.
That doesn’t seem to be the case. Seeing that Chaeyoung isn’t showing much interest, she starts thinking a skirt or something else might be a better option, but that doesn’t excite her either. Perhaps, she’s like her in that way. She likes to dress nicely and melts a little when Jeongyeon tells her she looks beautiful, but dressing up for formal events isn’t exactly her cup of tea. She’d rather have a cute outfit for a family day out at the park with the girls than for a movie premiere.
“It doesn’t have to be a dress if you don’t want one” she adds. “But maybe just something a little bit nicer, you know? Because it’s a recital, and it’s a really special day for Dahyun. She’s probably had to get something new too.”
Chaeyoung doesn’t give her answer. She just keeps sneaking glances at the clothes while her mom shows her options that don’t quite convince her. Jeongyeon, who up until now has seemed more focused on keeping Yuna from chasing every sparkly accessory in the store and making sure Ryujin doesn’t tip over the stroller, walks over to them, curious.
“Have you seen anything you like?” she asks Chaeyoung directly, without taking her eyes off the twins playing at their feet.
Even though most of her attention has been on the twins ever since they escaped from the stroller, she hadn’t taken her eyes off Chaeyoung, who’s been looking around the whole store, including the boys’ section.
Chaeyoung shrugs before looking up at her.
“Yes. Before… when you were looking, Mom” she says, talking to Nayeon. “I was looking around and I saw something I want to wear.”
Jeongyeon picks Yuna up and watches her closely, now curious since she hasn’t mentioned it before.
“And what did you like?” she ask, encouraging her to continue.
Chaeyoung goes quiet for a moment. Then she points toward the back of the store.
“I saw a tie… like yours, Momma. And also some pants” she says, looking at Jeongyeon. Still a bit shy but with determination in her tone.
Nayeon opens her mouth to say something, but no words come out. She looks at Jeongyeon, who simply nods, like she completely understands what their daughter is saying, even the things she can’t quite put into words.
“Okay, let’s take a look then” Jeongyeon says, just like that, starting to push the stroller in that direction.
Nayeon stays where she is for a second, then smiles softly. She hadn’t expected that, but it doesn’t really surprise her either. Chaeyoung has always been sure of what she likes and what she doesn’t. And even though a part of her wanted to see her with little ribbons in her hair and some cute dress with embroidery or lace details, the idea of seeing her daughter dressed like a tiny version of Jeongyeon makes her even happier.
“Come on, Chaengie. I want to see that tie” she says happily, taking her hand.
As soon as she sees it, Nayeon recognizes it right away and a smile instantly appears on her face, one that she shares with Jeongyeon. The tie is navy blue with thin red diagonal lines and a subtle white border. Her daughter is right, it’s just like Jeongyeon’s. What she doesn’t know is that this was the first tie Jeongyeon ever owned, and that Nayeon gave it to her for the first birthday they spent together.
In that moment, Nayeon doesn’t just see how her daughter is growing up and making her own choices – even if those choices come in the shape of a tie or the way she wears her cap – she also sees little bits of herself and her wife in Chaeyoung. Realizing they might actually be doing things right fills her heart and makes her feel proud of Jeongyeon, who she can’t help but lean over to kiss.
“I love it. Now show us those pants.”
After that, it doesn’t take long for the three of them to put together an outfit with the tie, a pair of short tailored pants, and a slightly loose white shirt, just like the ones Jeongyeon has been wearing lately.
Chaeyoung starts trying on the clothes and, for the first time all afternoon, she looks at herself in the mirror without making a face of boredom or disappointment. This time she has a huge smile.
Then she takes the tie in both hands, and Jeongyeon crouches down to help her put it on. Even though Nayeon has learned how to tie it after all these years, this time she just watches, while Ryujin and Yuna look at them like they somehow know something special is happening.
─────────
The apartment smells like food. Today Momo managed to leave the restaurant early, leaving Sakura in charge of closing up. She got home a little while ago and, still wearing her uniform from the waist down, she’s in the kitchen serving the freshly cooked dinner.
“Dubu, dinner’s ready” Momo says, raising her voice a little so she can be heard over the piano.
There's no answer.
Not the first, or the second time Momo calls her.
In the living room, Mina is setting the table and glances at Momo with a slightly furrowed brow. She’s not annoyed, just confused. She knows she’s very lucky, and has always tried to teach her kid good manners. Dahyun has always been a very polite and well-behaved girl, so it’s rare to have to call her more than once, especially when it’s for dinner.
“Dahyunnie” Mina calls again. “Dinner is ready.”
But she still doesn’t come out or reply.
That’s when Mina notices she’s been playing the same part of the song over and over again for a while. So she signals to Momo to give her a moment and heads to Dahyun’s room.
When she carefully pokes her head into the room, she sees Dahyun sitting at her piano, playing the same notes very still, her lips pressed together and her brow slightly furrowed. She looks frustrated, and the way she hits the keys, too hard and too stiff, gives her away.
“Sweetheart, take a break and let’s go eat” she says, placing a hand on her shoulder and kissing the top of her head.
“Not yet. I need to get this part right” she replies, eyes still fixed on the piano.
Mina stays quiet for a moment, then decides to sit down on the floor beside her. At first, Dahyun looks at her, not really understanding, until her mother signals for her to play again. She tries once more but hits the wrong key almost at the end.
She can see how focused her daughter is, but the tension is obvious, the kind she doesn’t really remember seeing before. Dahyun’s jaw is clenched and her little fists are closed in her lap.
“I can’t do it” she sighs, exhausted.
So Mina moves a little closer and gently takes her small hands in hers.
“It’s not working right now, probably because you’ve done it so many times in a row and that can confuse you a little” she says softly. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Mom and I have heard you practicing every day and we know you can play the whole song without making mistakes most of the time.”
Dahyun finally looks at her. She doesn’t cry, but her eyes look a bit bigger, as if she’s trying hard to hold back tears.
“I don’t want to make a mistake, Mommy. I’m scared. You, and Mom, Aunt Sana, Chaeyoung, Tzuyu and all the aunties are going to see me.”
Mina listens to her and her heart sinks a little when she sees how overwhelmed her daughter is. She already knew Dahyun was nervous and even stressed, but she didn’t imagine it was this bad. Now she feels guilty.
She isn’t sure if Momo or she herself might have said something during this time that put this pressure on Dahyun. Or if it’s her fault because of her bad habit of keeping everything inside, something she can already see in her daughter too. She usually doesn’t share her problems until they’re really big, until they reach a point where she can’t ignore or hide them anymore.
She wishes Dahyun would talk to her, but she’s afraid of that, for one reason or another, her daughter might feel like she can’t. But how is she going to teach her to share her problems if she herself doesn’t know how to do it?
Maybe this is the moment to be a little more vulnerable with her daughter. Now that her daughter is older, and now that she has proved to herself over these years that she’s more than capable as a mother, she can start being abit more honest about her bad days, while still being the person Dahyun looks to for guidance, safety, and comfort.
She might not find another chance like this, so she decides to bring down her walls and show her emotions.
“Dahyunnie… sweetheart… We’re all going to be there to see you because it’s an important moment and we want to be with you. I’ve heard how you’ve been improving and how good you sound all the time. But if it doesn’t turn out perfect, it’s okay. We’re all going to be proud of you no matter what happens. Do you know why?” she asks.
“Because you love me?” the kid replies.
Mina can’t help but laugh and nod.
“That too, but being on the stage is only the end. It’s just a few minutes. And those minutes have a lot of work behind them” she begins to explain. “Before you even get up on stage you’ve gone to lots of classes, you’ve practiced a lot at home, your teacher chose you to perform, and lastly, standing up there in front of so many people takes a lot of courage. And I know you have it.”
Dahyuns listens carefully and, as she does, her expression slowly relaxes. At the same time, she reaches for one of her mother’s hands. Their hands find each other, and Mina interlocks her fingers with her daughter’s. After a few seconds of silence, she gives her hand a small, affectionate squeeze. She looks at those two little hands holding hers, and no matter how much her daughter grows, they always seem small and warm to her, very different from her own, always cold, with long, thin fingers.
She tries to remember if her father’s hands were like that. She wonders if, among the features the two of them share and the gestures or expressions her daughter has picked up from Momo over the years, there’s still some trace of him, or of her mother. It’s not something she thinks about a lot, but every now and then she can’t help remembering him when she thinks back on her ballet years, the same way she thinks about her family, especially her mother.
Then she takes a deep breath without looking up from their hands.
“I’ve already told you I did ballet. I did it for many years, and I started when I was about your age.”
The kid nods, calmer now. She keeps her eyes on her mother, really focused on what she’s saying, eyes wide and listening to her story.
“I was a bit like you. I got really nervous, and whenever I had a performance or a recital, I practiced a lot. If I didn't get a step right, I’d repeat it over and over, I’d stay extra hours in the dance academy and then I’d keep practicing again at home. I did it so many times that I ended up mixing up the steps, and it was even worse. I got really frustrated, sometimes I wanted to cry… or I ended up with my feet covered in blisters” Mina continues, gently stroking the backs of her daughter’s hands with her thumbs.
“And why did you do it if it hurt you?” Dahyun asks, confused, like there’s something she’s missing. She’s always thought her mother liked ballet. She’s still too young to understand what her mother isn’t saying.
Mina smiles, but there’s sadness in it.
“Because I wanted my mother to be happy. I saw her smile when I did the dance right, and I wanted her to be happy all the time. When I made a mistake she got upset… and I didn’t want that.”
She stops for a moment. She can feel Dahyun watching her in silence, and she’s sure her daughter understands what she actually means, because Dahyun is very smart. Even so, she tries to choose her words carefully and think about how deep the conversation should get, since she wants to teach her daughter that talking about our feelings is okay, without putting a weight on her shoulders that isn’t hers to carry.
“I started getting more and more nervous. I practiced even more, and then I was tired at school, tired when I went out with my friends… and then I didn’t like going to class anymore. I didn’t even like being on stage. Instead of enjoying the music or having fun, all I could think about were the steps, about whether someone would notice a mistake, about whether my mother would correct me afterwards. And that’s when I really started dancing badly.”
“And what happened, mommy? Did your mother get mad at you?” Dahyun asks, surprised and also a little worried.
Mina shakes her head. Maybe she’ll tell that part of the story when she’s older, but now it doesn’t feel like the right time.
“No, sweetie” she says, brushing her cheek softly with her hand. “Something happened and it helped me a lot.”
She pauses, remembering that day, and that’s when a real ans honest smile appears on her face.
“One day, one of my teachers found me alone in a practice room. I had a performance coming up, so I was practicing the same step over and over again because it just wouldn’t come out right… just like you’re doing now. She made me stop, and then she told me something really important” she says quietly, with a little smile, sparking her daughter’s curiosity. “A secret.”
Dahyun’s eyes open wide.
“What secret?” she asks.
“She told me that the only ones who really see the mistakes are us, because we’re the only ones who know every step we’re supposed to do… every key we’re supposed to play, and we’ve done it so many times that it’s all stored in our brains. But the audience doesn’t know the choreography and they don’t have the music sheet either. They’re just going to see a dance or listen to music. And if you make a tiny mistake, they won’t even notice.”
Dahyun opens her mouth, surprised by the revelation.
“When performing on stage, being perfect doesn’t matter. What matters is what we feel. It’s like mom’s cookies. Sometimes we don’t follow the recipe exactly and we put in more chocolate chips, but they’re still delicious, right? Well, with music it’s the same. If you’re too busy counting the steps or worrying about getting everything right, then you forget the most important part, which is having fun.”
She listens closely without even blinking.
“And my teacher was right. Because when I stopped worrying so much and started enjoying it… things got better. I didn’t always danced perfectly, but I always did it with a smile. I was happy, and it showed.”
Mina lowers her gaze to their intertwined hands.
“I don’t want that to happen to you, Dahyunnie. I don’t want you to stop enjoying playing the piano, because when I see you play, I see you happy, and I want the piano to make you happy, not sad. So I promise you that no matter what happens, we’ll all be there, and what will make us happiest is seeing you smile. That’s what matters most.”
Dahyun stays quiet. Then she snuggles a little closer to her mother and lets out a long sigh. She doesn’t say anything else, but Mina can feel her body relax, the tension in her hands slowly fading away.
They both enjoy each other’s warmth without saying a word until Mina is the one who breaks the silence.
“Let’s go have dinner. I promise that if you let the piano rest, tomorrow you’ll play even better” the mother whispers, smiling into her hair.
She nods. This time, she listens. And together, hand in hand, they leave the room and head to the table.
There, in the kitchen, they find Momo reheating the food.
The older woman barely caught any of the conversation, since they had both been very quiet, even more than usual. But the bits she managed to make out made her feel incredibly proud of both. Other wife, for being able to share something she rarely talks about and barely even mentions with her, and of her daughter, for growing up so well.
She hopes that next time, Dahyun won’t fall into those same old habits that Mina is slowly learning to get rid off and that she’s starting to pick up , and that she’ll learn to ask for help and talk about what worries her or makes her feel bad.
Momo watches them approach with their hands still intertwined, and when her daughter climbs onto her chair, she gently rubs her back without saying a word. There’s no need.
─────────
Sana comes back in from the balcony, still holding her phone. Her expression is much calmer than when she took the call and now she’s even smiling, like she usually does. When she walks into the living room, she turns the screen around to show Jihyo and Tzuyu Dahyun’s face on the screen, who greets them with an enthusiastic wave.
They hadn’t noticed it before, but the little girl’s face had also changed throughout the call, and now she’s wearing a smile that matches her cheerful energy.
“Good night, Tzuyu! See you tomorrow. Good night, Aunt Jihyo!” she says with a wide grin.
“Good night, Dahyunnie” the two of them answer at the same time from the couch.
She walks over with the phone and looks for Mina, who takes it and also says goodbye to everyone, not without first thanking Sana with a soft, relieved smile..
After exchanging a few more words with her friend and sending greetings to Momo, Sana is the one who hangs up and goes back to the couch. She settles against Jihyo, who starts gently stroking her hair as soon as she has her in her arms. Meanwhile, on the other end of the couch, Tzuyu is playing with Kaya and Butter, the newest members of the family.
“Is everything okay with Dahyun?” Jihyo asks, half curious and half worried.
“Yes” Sana replies after a few seconds. “It looks like she was overwhelmed about the recital. Mina talked to her, but you know how she is… she seems more and more reserved, just like her mother. It’s hard to get them to talk.”
Jihyo nods. She doesn’t need any more explanation, and she knows her wife doesn’t usually go into detail when she has conversations with Dahyun or with Mina either, since both of them are very private with their feelings. Sana is the exception.
For years, it was just the three of them. Sana was just as much a part of that small family as Momo is now. She had been there since the moment Dahyun was born, and ever since then they’ve always had a special connection. The little girl trusts her like she would her own mother, but with Sana it feels different.
And even though Mina and Sana have been living separate lives for a long time now and have built their own families, there are still days like this. Days when Sana gets an unexpected call or message because one of them needs her. They know that with her, they still have a safe place. Somewhere to come back to no matter what. A family.
Sometimes Sana picks Dahyun up, buys her a chocolate and waits for her to talk about what’s wrong or what’s been worrying her, as if she didn’t already know from Mina. Now that Dahyun has Momo and Sana has Tzuyu, it doesn’t happen as often anymore and has become something more occasional. Lately, a video call is enough so that the problems, if they don’t disappear, at least feel smaller.
Jihyo understands the bond between the three of them well, it’s not much different from the friendship she shares with Nayeon and Jeongyeon. The thing is, they’re all the type to keep things to themselves, so their way of working through issues usually involves a day at the jjimjilbang or trying some new random sport with Jeongyeon.
Luckily for her, when it comes to their kids, they tend to handle things well among themselves. As much as she spoils and adores her nieces, Jihyo mostly sticks to babysitting duties. It helps that Chaeyoung is the most open and expressive child she has ever met, which means the biggest challenge Jihyo faces – as Chae’s aunt, and now as Tzuyu’s mother – is answering all kinds of questions at any moment. Thankfully, that’s something she usually manages quite well, or at least she likes to think so.
The one she has actually had to deal with lately is Momo. After several attempts, their conversations ended up turning into quiet, sometimes awkward gym sessions, so these emotional matters have been left to Sana and Nayeon. With Jeongyeon it’s more or less the same, except instead of the gym it happens around the kitchen.
Their daughter, adored by everyone for being the youngest right before the twins were born, has been in their lives for almost as long as the babies have. Tzuyu is still learning to trust her own mothers, so for now they’re the ones handling these kinds of things. That said, Jeongyeon has a complete soft spot for her. And even though their daughter pretends otherwise, it seems like she has a soft spot for her Aunt Jeongyeon too.
Another difficulty Tzuyu faces, besides trusting people, is doing two things at once. So as soon as she heard Dahyun’s name coming from her mama, she stopped petting the dogs to focus on what they were saying.
Since then, she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her friend, because she doesn’t understand why Dahyun is so nervous since she seemed so happy about the recital. Nevertheless, she wants to do something about it.
The next day, while Jihyo is in the kitchen and Sana has just come out of the shower, they both hear hurried footsteps, drawers opening and closing, something falling to the floor followed by some groans and sighs. The two mothers exchange looks, and Sana is the one who speaks.
“What is she doing?” she asks, more to herself than to Jihyo.
Jihyo just shrugs, just as confused as her wife, since their daughter has been like this practically since Sana got into the shower.
The two of them follow her with their eyes. They watch how she appears again, carrying sheets of paper, colored pencils and stickers. She’s so focused she doesn’t seem to notice they’re watching her. She goes back into her room, comes out again with more materials, and repeats the trip several times. She looks very busy.
“Are you looking for something, Tzuyu?” Jihyo finally asks. “Do you have homework to do?”
She nods at first, then shakes her head.
“It’s not homework” she replies very seriously, like she’s defending herself from a serious accusation.
“So what are you doing, sweetie?” Sana adds, pointing at the colors and the glitter she’s now holding in her hands. “Are you going to draw?”
Tzuyu is a very responsible and independent child, which is wonderful, but she has the habit of always doing things on her own. Even when something is difficult, she tries to find a way to solve it by herself before asking for help. It’s a hard habit to break, and her mothers know it. That’s why, whenever they can, they gently remind her that she doesn’t have to do everything alone, that they’re there for whatever she needs.
“I don’t know” Tzuyu admits, shrugging, confusing her mothers.
“What do you mean, Tzu?” Sana asks. “Then what do you need all those things?”
Tzuyu looks at the things in her hands and then at her mother, but it takes her a few seconds to answer.
“I want to make a surprise for Dahyun… so she can be happy again” she explains.
Jihyo smiles, touched by her daughter’s admission. “Because she’s nervous about the recital?”
Tzuyu nods. “Yesterday mommy said so” she says, referring to what Sana had told her the night before, after the call. “I don’t want her to be sad.”
“Dahyun isn’t sad, sweetie, she’s just nervous. It’s normal to feel nervous because it’s an important day” Sana explains, not trying to discourage her, but to reassure her.
The idea was as good as it was adorable. Maybe what Dahyun needed, on top of hearing the adults around her give advice, was encouragement from her best friends.
"Even so, it's really sweet that you want to do something to cheer her up. What did you have in mind?"
"I don't know. I just want to do something that makes her feel better. The other day she told me that every time she thinks about it she gets a stomachache and I don't want that to happen to her" Tzuyu finishes explaining.
Jihyo strokes her hair gently.
"You could make her a card or a letter. With a drawing and some nice words to encourage her before the performance, or to congratulate her after the performance."
"A card?" she asks. "Like the ones mama and I made for your birthday?"
"Exactly" Sana replies, nodding, touched by the connection her daughter has made.
For every one of Jihyo's birthdays, Sana has written her a card or a letter since the day they met. Over the last two years, Tzuyu has also started leaving her mark on that tradition. She makes the drawings that decorate the card herself and adds a few words with her mother's help, along with her signature. The concept, of course, wasn't new to her, but the many uses a card could have beyond her mothers' birthdays certainly was.
Tzuyu likes the idea, so they sit down together to work on it.
They start by choosing the color of the cardboard they'll use, a task that seems simple enough since Dahyun doesn't have a favorite color. She says she likes all colors, and ever since she learned at school that white light is the result of mixing all colors together, whenever someone asks she says white. It's not a bad choice, and it's certainly a clever answer, but for a card for a girl her age it might be a bit minimalist. After some thought, Tzuyu ends up choosing light blue and, using a white crayon, draws clouds all over it. Dahyun loves looking at the sky and finding shapes in the clouds.
To this sky-like background, Tzuyu adds some other drawings, stickers and glitter, leaving a space in the center for her message.
To: Dahyun
Hwaiting unnie!
You are going to do great and we will clap a lot.
From: Tzuyu
The girl shows the final result to her mothers, who smile and give their approval. None of the three of them have a particular interest in art, beyond Sana's love for fashion and Jihyo's for music, but they're not bad at it either, and it seems their daughter takes after them in that. The truth is none of that matters, because this simple, pretty card, far from perfect as it may be, is a true work of art in her mothers' eyes.
"It's perfect" says Jihyo.
"I love it" Sana adds with a smile. "Besides the card, we could get her some flowers, like I used to do with Mina when she did ballet."
"Ballet?" Jihyo asks, surprised.
"Flowers?" Tzuyu asks, confused.
Seeing them, Sana can't help but laugh. They have exactly the same expression with their eyes wide open, brows slightly furrowed and mouths half open.
"Yes, Mina did ballet for many years, since she was very little. And once we became friends, I always brought her a bouquet when she had recitals. When we moved here together, I always made time to go watch her… once I almost lost my job!" she recalls, laughing nervously, while the other two listen closely.
Sana knows it's not that wild a story, but it's something Mina never talks about, and by extension neither does she. No one would ever guess her friend had dedicated herself to it for over a decade. For Jihyo it was the first time she'd heard anything about it, while her daughter's surprise came from an entirely different reason, so she continued more calmly.
"It’s a tradition, Tzuyu. People give flowers on special occasions. Especially to musicians, dancers, actors… when they have a performance, a premiere or a recital. It's a way of saying 'you did so well', of showing gratitude and also another way to tell someone you love them. That's why mama and I give each other flowers sometimes."
Tzuyu stays quiet for a few seconds, lowering her gaze to the card she's still holding in her hands.
"Dahyun likes flowers…" she murmurs. "And Chaeyoung too. At the park they always look at them and sometimes they pick them" she explains to her mothers.
Then she lifts her head with a sudden idea. In that moment her eyes light up, just like Sana's do when she gets excited. Jihyo smiles seeing it.
"Can we also get her chocolate? It's her favorite thing. I think that will make her really, really happy" Tzuyu asks.
Sana and Jihyo look at each other, melting. Seeing that affection between their children, just like the one they share themselves, always gets to them.
"Of course" Jihyo replies. "Flowers, chocolate and a card. Dahyun is going to be so happy."
While they listen to their daughter excitedly plan which chocolate would be best, Sana feels a small warm knot in her chest.
She remembers perfectly the last bouquet she handed Mina after one of her performances, not knowing it would be the last. The next time she brought flowers was a small bouquet she got from the hospital shop, while Mina was still in bed, exhausted and beautiful, with a newborn Dahyun in her arms.
Now it would be Dahyun who would receive flowers. Flowers from her mothers, her aunts and also from her best friends. Her own daughter would hand flowers to Mina's daughter, something she never imagined possible and that, somehow, is now part of their everyday life, their family.
─────────
The day of the recital comes sooner than expected and nerves are running high.
Mina prepared everything the night before, but she keeps checking over and over that Dahyun has everything ready, from her water bottle to the last detail of her performance outfit. Once she's done she calms down, or at least manages to hide her worry better than her wife. Momo thinks only she can tell how nervous she is, when really it's pretty obvious. Mina hasn't missed the fact that she's been snacking all day. Not unusual for her, but it always gets worse when she's stressed or nervous, like today.
However, in these past few weeks her daughter, though quiet and focused, has seemed to keep her calm. That talk with Mina clearly did something.
Today is her day and she looks radiant. Her hair is tied back with a bow, following Mina's advice so it won't fall in her face while she plays, wearing the dress Momo picked out for her and the same shoes she wore to her mothers' wedding. After the recent growth spurt she's had, they're a bit tight. They'll probably need to get her new shoes for her next recital.
When they arrive there are already a few families waiting at the entrance of the auditorium, and it's clear that, unlike Dahyun, many of the other kids are older. That makes her look smaller than she is, but it also makes her stand out. And maybe it's her mothers biased opinion, but she's also the cutest kid there. They can't help looking at her with pride.
Mina and Momo walk her to the auditorium door where students and teachers are meant to gather. The hallway leading up to it is full of families with that same mix of excitement and nerves, though there are a few who watch the others with a certain air of superiority, something completely baffling to Momo and that Mina, unfortunately, recognizes straight away.
That throws Momo off a little, but she quickly turns all her attention to a smiling Dahyun. Mina smooths out the folds of her dress while reminding her to stay calm and breathe before she starts. Momo takes care of fixing the bow before crouching down, eyes shining, more excited than the girl herself.
"We'll be there when you come out, good luck sweetheart!" she tells her.
Dahyun nods and gives them both a hug before heading in with some of her classmates.
Both mothers stand at the door for a few seconds watching her, until she disappears behind the stage. Then they take a deep breath, link their fingers, and head back to the auditorium entrance, where they're meeting the rest of the family.
The entrance slowly fills with excited voices, words of encouragement and hurried footsteps. The others don't take long to show up and a quick round of hellos begins, hugs for the little girls and everyone asking how Dahyun is doing, before catching up on the week, work, the kids and a bit of gossip, until it's time to go in and get to their seats.
Jeongyeon sets Chaeyoung down in her seat and takes the bouquet the girl has been holding, which is almost bigger than herself. She carefully rests it on her own lap so it won't get in the way and, under her daughter's serious stare, she has no choice but to explain herself.
"This way you can see Dahyun better" she tells her.
That seems to convince her and she nods right away. She settles into her seat and looks straight ahead, fixing her eyes on the piano on the stage. When she realizes there's nobody there yet, she starts looking around, taking in everything happening, with that curiosity that's always with her.
On the other side, Jihyo does the same with the bouquet Tzuyu is carrying and hands it to Sana, careful not to get her trousers dirty. But the card stays in the little girl's hands, pressed against her chest as she smooths out the wrinkles in the paper.
"What's that?" Chaeyoung asks, pointing at the paper Tzuyu is holding so carefully.
"It's a card for Dahyun. Mama and mommy helped me" she answers, showing it to her.
"It's really pretty, Tzuyu" she says with a big smile.
Then she turns to her mothers and whispers something to them. Nayeon nods and pulls a sheet of paper from her bag. Chaeyoung looks back at Tzuyu and shows her the paper her mom gave her.
"I made her a drawing" she says, excited. "Look. This is Dahyun playing the piano. She has a bow. And here are you and me. And Kookeu, Boo, Bobby, Butter and Kaya. All clapping."
Tzuyu looks at it for a few seconds, like she's taking in every word, and ends up nodding, impressed.
"It's so pretty, Chaeyoung! She's going to love it, but dogs don't clap" she adds, laughing.
Chaeyoung looks even prouder hearing that and quickly joins in laughing at the thought of Kookeu clapping. Without noticing, their hands find each other and stay linked over the armrests, each holding their gift for Dahyun in their free hand.
Mina and Momo watch them from their seats, smiling wide.
"Dahyun is going to love them…" Mina murmurs.
"So much" Momo adds, not taking her eyes off the girls.
Nayeon overhears the conversation and smiles too, happy to see how well they’re all growing up, surrounded by so much love.
Between them they take up almost an entire row of seats. They're all there for one reason: Dahyun. Not just to hear the piece she's worked so hard to prepare, but to be there for her, support her and cheer for her, for her and her mothers too.
Mina can't help getting emotional seeing herself surrounded by her friends, who feel like sisters to her, and by all their daughters, who she loves like her own nieces. All together, just like any other family there.
It's one of those moments where she remembers how alone she used to feel at her ballet performances, even when her parents were there. But now she also gets to celebrate that her daughter is going to experience something very different. She'll be surrounded by wonderful people that shes lucky enough to call family.
It’s when she feels Momo's hand wrap around hers that she comes back to the present. She's no longer that nervous little girl, waiting for approval but getting corrections and scolding instead. Now she's a woman with her wife by her side, waiting to watch her daughter perform so she can give her the biggest hug when it's over. Slowly, she comes back to this exact moment, in this auditorium.
A little while later the lights begin to dim and only the light over the stage remains. In the center, the piano gleams under the spotlight. In front of it there’s a bench that, unlike the ones they’ve seen, has a small black step next to it, almost invisible, waiting for the younger children.
As it gets darker, the whispers continue until a woman appears on stage. Many recognize her straight away as Kim Minnie, the piano teacher. She gives a brief introduction and announces the first performance. Some of the kids play the violin or other string instruments, others play the flute or the clarinet and a few play piano. Sometimes they're joined by a teacher playing an instrument or conducting the group. There are solo performances, duets, quartets and even small bands. Each one lasts just a few minutes, giving everyone their moment.
The performances follow one after another, until it’s finally time for the one they've all been waiting for.
"And now, Myoui Dahyun on piano, the youngest student of the evening" the teacher announces.
When they hear the name, Mina feels her heart stop for a second, while Momo straightens up immediately. A few seats away, the little ones, who after a while had started fidgeting and getting distracted, go still and turn their eyes back to the stage.
Seconds later, Dahyun appears from the side of the stage.
Her dress shimmers softly under the lights, and the bow in her hair sways with every step. She stops in front of the piano and gives a small bow, a little unsure, looking at the audience. With the stage lights she can barely make out the faces in the crowd, but she manages to spot her aunts, her friends and her mothers, and doesn't hesitate to give them a little wave with a small smile. The gesture gives away that it's her first performance, and it melts everyone watching. All eight of them wave back, and then she sits down.
Her feet don't quite reach the floor, so they rest on the small step. She places her hands on the keys… and breathes.
Mina recognizes that instantly. It's the same thing she used to do before going on stage, and what she told Dahyun to do before she started.
Momo swallows. She smiles at the same time her eyes fill with tears.
Meanwhile, following Momo's instructions, Jihyo films it on the video camera she gave her a few minutes earlier, so she could enjoy her daughter's performance without worrying about anything else.
The first notes of a soft melody start playing. Dahyun is focused, following the rhythm with small nods of her head, very serious at first, but little by little her expression relaxes and, while keeping the right posture, her shoulders stop being tense. Her small hands move across the keys with more confidence as the piece goes on. Much more than she had just a week ago.
There's a small stumble on one note, almost impossible to catch. Her expression shifts for a second, but she doesn't stop.
Mina smiles to herself.
She understood.
She then feels a hold in her hand. Momo squeezes it gently, it seems she noticed too. When Mina looks at her, she sees tears already running down her cheeks. Momo wipes them away quickly, slightly embarrassed, but she can't hold them back.
Mina squeezes her hand back. She doesn't say a word, instead she brings her hand to her lips and places a kiss on the back of it and another on the ring.
Momo isn't the only one crying. Sana already has a tissue in her hand and Jeongyeon is blinking fast, in an attemp of holding her tears. Tzuyu keeps her eyes fixed on Dahyun, as if the piano doesn't exist, eyes wide open, afraid to miss anything. Chaeyoung, on the other hand, leans forward a little, mouth slightly open, completely amazed. Every now and then their still-linked hands squeeze together with excitement.
The music goes on without any more stumbles beyond a small change in tempo here and there. And if there are any mistakes, they're probably only noticeable to the teacher. For everyone else, like in all the performances before, what they hear is the music of a little girl who has practiced a lot, but most importantly, who is enjoying the moment.
And when the final note comes, she holds it for a few seconds before lifting her hands from the piano, just as a professional would.
The applause breaks out suddenly and echoes throughout the auditorium. Loud, long, and warm.
Chaeyoung and Tzuyu join in a few seconds after everyone else, applauding happily, so caught up in watching their friend that they almost missed it. Jihyo smiles so wide her eyes shine as she keeps filming everyone's reactions, especially Momo's. Sana brings a hand to her chest, as she wipes her tears away without ruining her makeup. Nayeon and Jeongyeon share a quick look, proud, then turn their attention back to the stage.
Momo stopped trying to hide it a while ago, clapping while the tears fall freely. Mina keeps clapping too, but she can't take her eyes off her wife and then, her daughter.
Dahyun climbs down from the bench and looks to one side, following her teacher's instructions. She walks to the center of the stage, takes one last bow, says thank you and gives a thumbs up to her mother.
When she leaves the stage, the performances continue for about twenty more minutes, until the recital comes to an end. For the last time in the, Ms. Kim steps back on stage to congratulate the participants, thank all the parents, families and guests, and explain how the exit will be organized so the kids can reunite with their families, who are eager to celebrate with them.
After the teacher’s intervention, the lights come back on.The murmur returns to the auditorium and parents start getting up to see their kids backstage, as they've been told. The rest of the audience makes their way to the exit.
Mina and Momo are one of the first ones leaving to meet their daughter. The hallway is full of kids and teenagers still buzzing with nerves and excitement, some with their instruments still out of their cases, others looking around the place for their families. The youngest ones wait with their teachers. Dahyun is one of them, standing still until her teacher spots them and points in her mothers’s direction.
The small girl runs off with her bow slightly crooked, her hair a little messy and her cheeks flushed.
Before they can say anything, Dahyun throws herself into their arms and the three of them hold on tight.
"You were incredible, sweetheart" Mina whispers into her hair before kissing her forehead.
"I'm so proud of you" Momo adds, her voice still a little shaky.
As she speaks, she hands her the bouquet they'd prepared for her. Dahyun takes it carefully, looking at the flowers with a mix of wonder and confusion, not quite sure what to do with them or why she's holding them.
"After a great performance, artists get flowers" Mina explains warmly, unable to stop smiling.
Hearing that, the girl smiles so wide her eyes almost disappear, until she suddenly seems to remember something.
"Mommy, Mom! Ms. Kim wants to talk to both of you" she says quickly, gently pulling Mina's hand to lead them.
The teacher is waiting for them a few meters away, watching her students with a proud smile. When Mina and Momo approach, she bows to them and they both return the gesture.
“I wanted to tell you that Dahyun did really well tonight” she says calmly. “She’s still very young and just starting out, I know. But she has something special. What she did today isn’t easy at all.”
She pauses briefly before continuing. Momo and Mina listen closely, a little surprised, having thought they'd only been seeing her through the eyes of her mothers.
"I think you've been able to see that she's at the same level as some of her older classmates. If she keeps enjoying piano the way she does, and holds on to that eagerness to learn, I really think she could have a bright future. No rush. No pressure. But I'd like you to keep it in mind when the time comes."
Mina nods her head slightly in acknowledgement. .
"Thank you so much, Minnie. That means a lot to us."
"Of course" Momo adds, with pride she makes no effort to hide. "She's an artist just like her mother."
Mina blushes instantly and the teacher laughs softly. She congratulates Dahyun once again before saying goodbye.
"Say hi to Sana and Jihyo for me… and from Miyeon" she says before stepping away.
When the teacher leaves, Dahyun takes her mommy’s hand and passes the bouquet to her mom, so they can hold hands as well. The three of them walk down the hallway together, talking about the performance and congratulating her over and over, going over how well she played and how hard she's been practicing.
Making their way through the crowd of families, they reach the exit. Outside the air is a little warmer than inside, summer is already here, adding to the cheerful atmosphere around them, especially with the younger kids already buzzing about summer break. The air is full of laughter, conversations and photos.
They've barely stepped outside when they hear a familiar voice.
"There they are" Sana calls out to the others, who are waiting outside.
The girls can't wait for them to make their way to them and hurry over as fast as their bouquets allow, having taken them from their mothers' hands. Tzuyu walks with purpose, hugging her card against her chest, with Chaeyoung by her side. When they reach Dahyun they show her the flowers and give her their handmade gifts first.
"This is for you" she says, a little nervous.
Dahyun takes the card and reads Tzuyu's words of encouragement out loud, written in small, neat handwriting with little drawings all around. Even though the performance is already over, the words bring a smile to her face and turn her cheeks red.
Chaeyoung waits patiently, listening to her friend read. You can definitely tell she's older because she reads so much better. Once she's done, she wastes no time handing her a slightly crumpled sheet of paper.
"And I made you a drawing. Here you are playing the piano. And here we are. And the dogs too" she explains very seriously, though she laughs right after, making the other two laugh with her.
Her mothers go over to say hello to Jeongyeon's parents, who have brought the twins asleep in the stroller, now being watched over by Nayeon and Jeongyeon, who aren't used to being without their girls except when they're at daycare. Both of them thank them for coming, and Jeongyeon's parents say they're sorry they couldn't watch the performance live, though Jeongyeon filmed it on her phone as they'd asked.
“She looked radiant.”
“A true performer.”
Then Tzuyu remembers something and looks at Sana, who hands her a small wrapped bag.
"And this is chocolate" she adds, looking straight at her. "Your favorite."
Dahyun looks at them one by one, unable to process it all just yet, and then hugs both girls at once. She holds on tight, not saying anything for a few seconds, until she murmurs a quiet "Thank you."
After that, it’s finally Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Sana, and Jihyo’s turn to shower Dahyun with affection, words of love, and congratulations. The little girl laughs and savors the moment, loving the warmth from her aunties.
Just then, Jeongyeon's parents join them as well. Her mother is holding a small, carefully wrapped package.
"This is for you, Dahyun" she says with a warm smile. "It's a little gift from the twins."
The girl takes it with wide eyes and gives an awkward but sincere bow, the first thing that comes to mind. Inside she finds two hair ties with small teddy bears.
"Thank you, grandma and grandpa!" she replies excitedly, running to show them to her mothers.
Everyone talks and smiles as they make their way to the cars. The noise seems to wake Ryujin and Yuna, who open their eyes and sit up, looking around curiously and smiling, caught up in the joyful atmosphere.
The scene fills Momo's chest with warmth as she sees her daughter surrounded by such special people who love her so much. She watches Mina walk arm in arm with Sana, laughing, and quietly reaches for her camera to snap a few photos of a moment she wants to treasure forever.
Sana and Mina talking, Jihyo with Yuna in her arms, Jeongyeon walking with the girls while carrying the bouquets, Nayeon in the middle of her in laws hand in hand with Ryujin, taking clumsy but fast steps,and of course, Dahyun with her hands full of cards and chocolate.
She knows how much this means to her wife, and she's grateful to see her like this and to be part of the family Mina gave her when she came into her life. She didn't just give her a daughter, but also friends she thinks of as family and who treat her the same way. She knows she can count on them just as she would her sister or her parents back in Japan. She completed Mina's family, but this family gave her a reason to stay in Korea, a purpose and a life she never could have imagined.
As if she could feel she was thinking about her, Mina turns around and they share a smile, and seeing the camera in her hands, she poses with Sana.
Sana leans in slightly toward Mina.
"Did you see Minnie? Miyeon told me you're her favorite parents, she says you're adorable" she says quietly, with a knowing smile.
Mina nods with a small smile, still a little overwhelmed by everything, but grateful.
"They're biased."
"Maybe, but there's one thing she's not wrong about, and that's that you make the most adorable family. I'm so proud of Dahyun, but I'm proud of you too, Minari" Sana concludes.
And there, surrounded by flowers, chocolate, colorful drawings and hugs, they celebrate Dahyun's first recital before heading out to dinner together. The whole family.
all of their mothers are really busy women, but they try to make it work. sana is the one looking after them for the most part and she's a really fun mom/aunt
they're doing a special plan once a week. they go to the zoo, the swimming pool, the aquarium, the museum and even the amusement park. they're all sana's idea
i think tzuyu is probably on swimming classes (jihyo's idea), so she's the one teaching the other two how to do it the best she can. her first time experiencing stress btw
chaeyoung spends most of the time drawing and painting. she tries something new like scupting with clay
dahyun starts really getting into music during the roadtrips. she sometimes picks classical music
they spent most of the afternoons at the park with their dogs. when this happens, two adults are needed
they're all well behaved kids, but with no school where they can spend most of their energy, there's a lot of talking and running
nayeon is in charge of movie nights, showing them the best animation movies to ever exist
jeongyeon and jihyo probably take them fishing but everyone ended up screaming and tzuyu cried. they're not repeating that plan
momo is in charge of the bentos. ofc, she remembers everyones likes and dislikes and there's so many animal shaped rice, coreful mochis and fun shapes for the fruits
when the others are tired mina takes out one of the big lego sets to keep them entertained and quiet, while also having a moment for herself
Tags: public sex, undressing, foreplay, cunnilingus, various styles of missionary, lots of kissing, wholesome couple vibes, christmas, festive season.
Your girlfriend, Kazuha, decided to hit you with a surprise return at your workplace after a long overseas schedule—and she happened to be very horny.
***
The faint rustle of the blue tarp over the service door reached you first, followed by the soft jingle of the bells you’d hung for ambiance upon anyone making an entrance. You turned just as she appeared in the hallway, cheeks pink from the cold, that wicked little smile already tugging at her lips. Only a few days of being apart, and yet the sight of her still managed to punch the air from your lungs.
She didn’t walk so much as bounce toward you, arms half-raised like a child demanding to be picked up. You met her halfway, hands sliding under her thighs the second she was close enough. She weighed nothing in your arms; you lifted her easily, spinning once, twice, while she peppered your mouth with quick, laughing kisses.
“Baby, what is going on? I thought you said your flight was tonight,” you managed between her attacks, lips brushing the corner of hers.
“I lied,” she whispered, legs locking around your waist, coat falling open so you could feel the heat of her body through her thin hoodie. “Told my manager I’d die if I had to spend one more night in Paris without seeing you. She took pity on me and helped clear the rest of my schedule.”
“Really, she can just do that for you?” you asked, frowning your eyebrows in playful judgment.
“Yeah, of course she can,” she replied enthusiastically, the smile never left her face. “It was mostly just fun interviews anyway that got cancelled. I already cleared all the photoshoots and fanmeets when I first landed there, so… it’s probably not that big of a deal. Just tell them that you’re sick, and they’ll let you off the hook. Works every single time.”
You laughed into her neck, breathing her in, cold air, vanilla, and the faint trace of airplane coffee. “Wait... so does that mean, when we were texting a while ago…?”
“I was already 8-hours on the plane, squirming in my seat, counting the minutes till I could do this.” She tightened her arms around your shoulders and kissed you properly this time, slow, deliberate, tongue sliding against yours like she’d been starving for the taste.
When you finally set her down, her boots crunched on the thin layer of fake snow carpeting the corridor. You didn’t let her go far; your hands found her waist, pulling her flush against yours while hers slipped under your jacket, palms skating up the warm skin of your back. You both stood there swaying, trading lazy kisses, breath fogging across your faces.
She then tipped her head, taking in the soaring evergreens, the thousands of fairy lights, the bridges and hidden grottos you’d spent six weeks perfecting. “God... you actually did it. It really felt like I just landed in Narnia right now.”
"Well... I guess that's the goal," you said, fishing the small remote you had in your back pocket. "Here, want to see something cool?"
You pressed the button. The entire atrium bloomed into full light: every tree wrapped in gold, the snow machines exhaling gentle flurries, the glass dome suddenly blazing like a snow-globe lit from within. Her eyes went wide, fairy-light reflections dancing in her brown pupils, a look so perfect you wished you could frame it.
"So, what do you think?" you asked, "Pretty cool, right?"
"It's... more than cool, are you kidding me? It's stunning, baby. You're stunning," she said, followed by another kiss on your lips.
You cradled her face dearly, thumb brushing her flushed cheek while tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. For all the awards and magazine covers you had to your name, nothing ever felt as good as an honest awe from the woman you loved.
"So... does this mean that you're all set for the grand opening tomorrow?" she asked softly, looking up at you with her big, sparkly eyes while her hand tugged on your knitted jumper.
"I supposed it does," you said, "I had the guys do the final touch on the deco earlier, and we've also tested the lighting a few times as well; so far everything looks set. Nothing really to be concerned about, not on my part at least."
Her grin turned mischievous. "Well... if that's the case then, does that mean we can go back to your place now, and… you know, spend some good time with each other in the sheets?"
Your smile faltered while you stroked her hair, hating what you had to say next. "Oh, trust me, baby, there's literally nothing more that I want right now other than that. Unfortunately, I can't. Not for another hour at least."
She pouted her lips while leaning against your chest, her gaze lingered everywhere but your face as she tried to make her disappointment visible to you in the cutest way possible, leaving you in both guilt and admiration of her beauty.
"Like I've mentioned in our text earlier, I have to give a final preview for the client before I could call the day off," you said, regret already thick in your voice. You then pulled her closer towards you, kissing the top of her head with a combo of shoulder rub as a means to comfort her.
Meanwhile, her eyes flicked to the enormous analog clock above the entrance, then back to you, pupils blown wide. “Are you sure you can't just reschedule the meeting with them? Maybe push it to after dinner or something?”
"You know I can't do that, babe. These are the people who hired me for this job, so they're the one who set the time, not me," you said, staring at her softly despite her reluctance to meet your gaze. "Look, I'm sorry, alright? You know how much I hate to disappoint you, I really do. But only one more hour, then I'm all yours."
"But an hour is a pretty long time to wait, though," she murmured, fiddling with the worn-out thread of your shirt. "We could've done a lot of things in that span instead of just... standing around... and staring at each other's lips..."
As you waited for her to finish her sentence, she then leaned in carefully towards your face, eyes locked on your lips as she brushed it against hers, just enough to graze and make contact without actually kissing it. Meanwhile, her hand slid down from your chest straight to the front of your jeans, palming the growing ridge there as you felt her fingers lingered in that area.
"Baby, seriously... you're doing this to me now?" you muttered in a soft, deep voice, taking in the guilty pleasure of being touched by your girlfriend in a see-through glass house.
"Do what? I didn't do anything. That was all you," she whispered playfully to your ears, playing the obvious devil's advocate while her palm continued to rest on the throbbing bulge outside your pants, luring you to match her freak and desire.
"In fact..." she paused, looking you right in the eye, "... this was all you either—"
She then grabbed your hand out of nowhere and slid it underneath her pants so you could feel the soaking mess in between her thighs, your fingers were pressed firmly against the drenched cotton as you traced the hot, slick shape of her camel toe.
"Jesus, Zuha... what have I even done so far to make you flood like this? We've literally just kissed."
“Exactly,” she said in confidence. “Now imagine what you could do to me in an hour. Or to us, so to speak.”
She rose on tiptoe, tongue slipping back into your mouth, kissing you breathless while her fingers kept teasing you through the fabric, effectively weakening your moral defense within every seconds that passed that her hand was still there resting on your crotch.
"But you do realize that we're standing in the middle of a glass house now, right?" you managed in between kisses, reassuring her the risk of the business had they decided to explore it.
"Uh-huh."
You frowned at her nonchalance. "That means... people might be able to see us if they had just paid the slightest bit of attention while walking past this place."
“Well, they can have a look all they want,” she cut in, pulling back just far enough to meet your eyes. “But they’re not getting in.”
From her pocket she produced your master keyring; the one you’d left dangling in the service door, and jingled it in front of your face with the smuggest grin imaginable.
You smirked at her with a subtle shake of the head. "Oh, you're such a naughty girl."
***
You lasted about three more heartbeats under her slow, wicked smile before surrender hit you like a freight train. With a low growl, you scooped her up, her legs wrapping your waist on instinct as you carried her off the main corridor. You wove between frosted pines and glowing birch trunks until the west wing opened up for both of you; quiet, half-hidden, lit only by the soft amber uplights you’d buried in the snow.
And there it was—the spot you’d had in mind all along: a long, narrow, backless bench nestled beneath a cluster of glowing birch trunks. A single slab of polished European oak you’d personally sourced from France, no more than forty centimeters wide. Its sleek surface was designed more for a momentary pause than lingering comfort for the weary guests starting tomorrow.
But tonight, with the way things were looking right now between you and your girlfriend, Kazuha, it was going to serve an entirely different purpose—one that you hadn't really put into consideration when you made the order a few months ago.
You landed your arse on it first, pulling her down so she straddled you, knees braced on the unforgiving wood on either side of your hips. Her lips never left your mouth the whole time as the kiss just kept getting messier by every second that passed, desperate and inflamed.
To her own initiative, her jacket and hoodie peeled off her skin in one smooth shrug like she had rehearsed it while on the plane earlier; the grey Calvin Klein sports bra was the only thing left covering her top half, and even that didn’t stay in place for long. You shoved it up, mouth closing over one hard nipple while she rolled against the ridge in your jeans, soaking both of you shamelessly.
And for a moment, you could literally feel her body trembling beneath you—half cold, half raw need. But when you tried to reach for the discarded hoodie to drape over her, she caught your wrist mid-air and guided your hand back to her chilled skin, pressing your palm flat against her ribs like she couldn’t bear even a second of separation.
“I was just trying to keep you warm, babe,” you murmured between soft kisses. “Don’t want you to get sick tomorrow.”
“Then don’t take your hands off me,” she whispered, lips brushing down to your neck, teeth grazing just enough to make you shiver. “They felt a lot better on my skin than any hoodie in this world.”
At the same time, her hips rolled impatiently against yours, slick and urgent, telling you exactly how ready she was. The thought alone—of taking her right here on this ridiculous bench—sent blood roaring in your ears from the sexual adrenaline.
With one arm under her back and the other gripping her waist, you tilted her gently sideways and eased her down onto the narrow oak plank. Her arms stayed locked around your neck the whole time, as if letting go might cause you to slip away from her permanently.
The look she gave you as her shoulder blades met cold wood was pure hunger—eyes dark, lips parted, silently begging. Though despite the mutual temptation, you couldn’t ignore how unforgiving the bench was for her to lay on; no cushion, no backrest, just polished hardwood biting into her skin. Her legs dangled off either side, knees bent so her thighs could rest against yours, feet barely brushing the artificial snow, one wrong shift and she’d slide right off into the fake drifts. It was awkward, exposed, borderline absurd—exactly the kind of risky, reckless thing that made both of your eyes go darker with want.
That being said, you then shrugged off your parka, folded it thick, and slipped it beneath her head like a makeshift pillow. She hadn’t asked for it specifically, but the soft smile that tugged at her lips told you everything.
Only then did you let yourself re-directed the focus on pleasuring her with her needs after making sure of her comfort and safety.
One swift tug and her sweatpants were gone, pooling in the snow. The matching grey Calvin Klein panties underneath were heavily soaked through—dark, clinging patches that made heat surge straight to your cock just by the mere sight of it. A fresh rush of color flooded her cheeks as you stripped the pants away completely; she knew exactly how exposed she was now in front of you, thighs quivering, hips tilted by the bench’s edge, shoulders half-hanging off the narrow plank.
You leaned in, kissing her softer this time, slower. “It’s okay, babe,” you whispered against her mouth, eyes locked on hers. “I want you just as badly right now, if not more. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”
And that was all the reassurance she needed. She yanked you down, tongue plunging deep, kissing you like she wanted to steal your air and keep it. You gave it gladly—dizzy, lungs burning, happier than you’d been in weeks.
When she finally let you up for breath, you didn’t waste another second.
You shifted to the very end of the bench, boots crunching in fake snow, ass perched precariously on the edge—one more inch and you’d topple backward. Then you leaned over her, mouth tracing the taut line of her abs, tasting chilled skin and goosebumps until you reached the soaked cotton between her legs.
You decided to tease first rather than taking it fast; nose brushing the fabric, tongue pressing flat to get the salty taste of her juice through it, adding your saliva to the mess until the dark spot spreads wider. She arched hard, fingers tightening in your hair, a strangled moan catching in her throat.
Pleased by her reaction, you hooked your teeth in the waistband and peeled the panties down slowly. The fabric clung for a heartbeat before sliding free; cold air hit her bare pussy and she hissed, thighs trembling—but her hands dragged you closer, not away.
And so, obliging to her hand’s direction, you found your face buried in between her thighs, tongue flicking her clit in quick, successive strokes before pushing inside her as deep as you could reach. She squirmed instantly the moment she felt it against her walls, ass lifting off the wood, grip turning almost painful on your scalp as she tugged on your hair very firmly. Though it wasn’t enough to make you stop—still licking your way through every shudder until she hauled you upward, eyes moving visibly wild as she provided you with another hole to stick your tongue into.
“Enough teasing,” she panted upon escaping your lips, voice ragged. “I need you inside of me. Now.”
You hit her with a proud, smug look on your face. "As you wish, Ma'am."
You then shot yourself up from the bench and backed off a few steps so you could remove your pants without any obstacles. Your hands worked hastily to unclasp the belt and the button before you allowed it to slide down by itself as it piled around your ankles.
For the first time of the evening, your throbbing bulge was made visible to the room underneath the glowing lights and the tight woven boxer you still had on. And for a second, you almost laughed at yourself; world-famous scenographer, creator of dreamscapes, and here you were with your pants down, about to rail your lovely celebrity girlfriend on a slab of wood designed to prevent guests from loitering.
She must have felt you hesitate as she hooked a leg around your waist, reeling you in.
“Stop thinking,” she whispered, breath fogging between you. “I don’t care if it’s hardwood or concrete. I just want you.”
So you obliged to her request, no more second thoughts. And needless to say, that was about the last coherent thought either of you have had for a while before you took the intimate session to the next step.
***
You clipped your thumbs against the waistband of your boxer-briefs, shoving them down in one single pull until it escaped your ankles, along with the pants and shoes. Consequently, your cock sprang free from its prison, thick and aching, the tip already slick with precum that had been leaking ever since her hand first found you. The cold air bit the bare skin of your buttocks as you stood firm on the fake snow half-naked, nothing but your socks left covering your lower half, but the sight of her spread out on that narrow plank—naked, flushed, waiting—burned it away.
“Do you mind if I keep the jumper on?” you asked, voice rough. “My ass is literally freezing right now, I have no idea how you do this.”
She laughed breathlessly. “Have it your way, baby. As long as you’re still able to put it in me, I’ll have no further complaints.”
You grinned at yourself, slightly ashamed of your high sensitivity towards the coldness as compared to her. And you figured there was only one way that you could redeem yourself in this situation– by giving her the best fucking she ever had in a while.
Unfortunately, that was, of course, easier said than done, given the circumstances that you were working with. Forty centimetres of polished oak, no backrest, barely wide enough to platform her body alone– it was a joke. But regardless, you have forced yourself to adapt to the situation, improvising the juxtaposition for the sake of her pleasure in mind rather than just your own.
Thanks to the generous amount of public sex porn you’ve consumed during your high school years, you were able to crack the code very instantly. You slid your hands under her knees, lifted, and draped both her legs over your shoulders. The shift folded her nearly perpendicular, hips tilting up, only her upper back and shoulders still flat on the wood. The rest of the narrow space was suddenly yours.
You then sat down between her thighs, the fake snow crunching under your boots as you lined yourself up to her opening. The head of your cock brushed her soaked folds—once, twice—spreading your precum through her slickness even though she was already drenched beyond reason. She shivered in pleasure when you nudged her entrance, thighs tightening around your neck, fingers digging into your forearms.
One slow, deliberate thrust and you sank into the hilt.
The angle—her legs high, hips lifted—let you go deeper than you’d planned. Her breath caught hard, back arching off the bench as you bottomed out. You felt her clench around you, hot and impossibly tight, and had to still for a second just to keep from losing it right there.
“Gosh…” she whispered, eyes fluttering, lips parted. A low, helpless moan slipped out—louder than she usually allowed herself—and echoed faintly under the glass dome.
You drew back and drove in again, harder. The bench creaked beneath you both; her ass left the wood for a split second with every thrust, then met it again with a soft slap. The rhythm built fast like a well-conducted orchestra—skin on skin, wet sounds, her breath hitching higher each time you filled her.
It was a proper workout, this position. Your long legs dangled off the end, abs burning as you half-crunched, half-thrust to keep the angle perfect. Alternatively, squatting would’ve been easier on the depth, but it would’ve wrecked your thighs in minutes– which of course, something that you were actively trying to avoid, granted that this was only the beginning stage of the act and you still have a long way to go in pleasing her. You reminded yourself of the sex mantra that had stayed with you for years now since you turned adult; it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Meanwhile, despite your mild suffering on the bench, the opposite could be said for your girlfriend, Kazuha, as you found her very struggling to keep her voice down while you rammed into her, which was something fairly uncommon by her own standard.
After almost a year together, you were already familiar with her style in bed—she hardly raised her voice or at least tried to suppress it with all her might to match her classy looks—but on the rare occasion that she did, it gave you the sense that you were doing something very, very right. And tonight, she was unraveling herself out; soft moans turning sharp, breathy little pleas spilling out between gasps.
“Oh my God, yes—babe—just like that—”
***
You gave her everything you had, pace relentless, hips snapping forward until your thighs shook as sweat beaded under your thick jumper, making you somewhat regretting your decision for not taking it off earlier. Meanwhile, spread in front of you, she clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes squeezed shut, the other hand clutching the edge of the bench so hard her knuckles went white.
When she finally came to her first orgasm of the evening, it was sudden and beautiful; whole body seizing, walls pulsing around you in long, rolling waves, a muffled cry vibrating against her palm. You rode her through it, slower now, drawing it out until she sagged, trembling.
Only then did you let yourself collapse forward—careful, mindful of the narrow plank—bracing on your elbows so you didn’t crush her. Your forehead rested against hers as you locked lips, simply breathing into each other’s mouth like you were introducing the world’s first two-way CPR for people who were critically drowned by lust.
“You okay?” you murmured between kisses. “It’s not too late for us to grab your jacket. Just in case the wood felt too cold, or was causing you too much back pain.”
She smiled, lazy and sated, fingers threading through your hair. “You know what? It actually does,” she said, “But I kind of like it, to be honest. Mattresses are overrated anyways, I’d much rather that you do me on a hard surface once in a while.”
You laughed softly, nipping her bottom lip. “Careful there, Miss. You might’ve just unlocked yourself a new kink now.”
She pulled you down for a deeper kiss, legs still loosely hooked over your shoulders, both of you grinning into it like the reckless idiots you were. Tongues tangled slow and hungry; her fingers threaded through the hair at your nape, tugging just hard enough to keep you exactly where she wanted you. No escape.
The harder you kissed, the closer you leaned, until the heavy length of your cock—still slick from her—pressed hot against her stomach. A bead of fresh precum smeared across her skin, warm and wet, making her shiver and arch up into the contact.
Her free hand drifted down blindly, cool fingers wrapping around you with perfect confidence. She stroked once, twice, slow and deliberate, thumb circling the sensitive head to coax out more precum and spread it in lazy, shining circles. Your cock jerked in her grip, aching, and you groaned into her mouth. She knew exactly what that little twist did to you—always had.
As you had enough recovery of your breath, you pulled yourself back again and shifted into a new position, rising into a squat above the narrow bench with both your feet planted on the crunching snow. The new angle folded her deeper into the mating press: legs still draped over your shoulders, knees nearly to her chest, hips tilted high. Your hands braced on the wood on either side of her head, caging her in. Face to face now—close enough to watch every flicker of pleasure cross her eyes.
She looked up at you, nervous and eager all at once, lips parted, breath already coming fast.
You guided yourself to her entrance and sank in—slow at first, then one smooth, relentless thrust that buried you to the root.
“Oh, fuck—” The words tore out of her as your length cut her breath, soft and broken.
Her back bowed off the hard oak; her hands flew to your face, fingers trembling against your jaw like she was anchoring herself to you. You held her gaze the whole time, watching her pupils blow wide as you filled her completely.
There was literally nothing compared to this. Not the handful of lovers you had before her, not the late-night college experiments—nothing. She was tight in a way that felt almost unfair, her walls fluttering and gripping with every inch you gave her. You could feel her pelvic floor clench in tiny, rhythmic pulses, milking you deliberately, like her body had learned exactly how to ruin you over the past year.
You then started to swing your hips back and forth.The squat actively burned your legs muscle to the core as you kept thrusting—thighs screaming, nothing under your ass for support—but the angle was too devastating for you to make the switch. Every downward drive hit deeper, harder, the head of your cock kissing her cervix on the heaviest thrusts. The bench creaked beneath her; her moans rose sharp and sweet, echoing faintly off the glass dome overhead.
And before you knew it, your thick jumper was already drenched with your own sweat. Your lungs had pushed itself to work overtime as much as the rest of your body in the last five minutes alone that you eventually had to give out your final thrust in that position before collapsing over her for the second time. You buried your face in her neck, panting against damp skin, inhaling the euphoric scent of luxury perfume, sex and cold air, all at once.
“Oh my God,” you rasped, voice wrecked.
Her arms wrapped around your back, palms sliding soothing circles over the straining muscles. “Hey,” she whispered, gentle even while trembling, “let’s just take it slow from here, alright? You’ve done well to please me already.”
You didn’t answer with words. Just lifted your head, kissed the corner of her mouth and her cheek, the sweat-damp strands of hair stuck to her temple. You brushed them away tenderly, tucking them behind her ear like she was something fragile and priceless—because to you, she was.
Also, realizing that your body was now sweating like a pig under the thick jumper, you decided to peel it off in one swift cross-armed tug, letting the cold air hit your damp skin like ice water, nothing between you but heat and breath and the faint glow of fairy lights catching on her goosebumps.
That being done, ignoring her advice for the good sake of your own ego, you adjusted yourself again—one foot planted on the floor for leverage, the other braced on the bench with your knee pointed upward. She read the shift instantly, letting one leg slide down to rest beside you while the other stayed hooked high over your shoulder. It opened her into a deep, flexible horizontal split, the kind of position only a former ballerina like herself could hold without flinching.
And thus, no need for a proper invitation, the head of your cock steadily nudged her entrance, still slick and swollen from everything you’d already done. You eased in slow, deliberate, watching her face the entire time. The new angle let you sink deeper than before—foreheads nearly touching, lips quivering, balls-deep in one smooth glide that stole both your breaths.
Her pupils dilated uncontrollably; she bit her lip to trap the moan, but it escaped anyway, soft and broken. You stole a kiss mid-thrust, nipping her lower lip before pulling back to do it again—harder, faster. Her hands flew to your neck once again, clinging like you were the only thing keeping her tethered to earth.
Every stroke made her wetter than before, her body flooding around you, thighs trembling against your chest. When you finally stilled—buried to the hilt and holding—she was panting, pussy flushed deep pink, glistening like something obscene and beautiful under the atrium lights.
Though you were more ruthless this time around after having lost your shirt, not giving her the space to recover after seeing the opportunity to drown her in even more pleasure.
Two fingers found her clit, circling slow at first, then faster, relentless. She squirmed instantly, hips jerking, a fine spray of her slick splattering the bench and your wrist. Her back arched clean off the wood; eyes squeezed shut, a sharp, sweet cry tearing free before she could muffle it.
You let her ride the aftershocks for only a heartbeat—then hooked both her legs into the crooks of your elbows, stood, and lifted her ass clear off the bench. Her shoulders and head stayed pinned to the oak, spine bowed in a perfect bridge, body folded and open and entirely yours.
You slid back inside with one smooth thrust and started a rolling, wavy rhythm—deep, controlled, every stroke dragging over her front wall until you found that spot that made her lose language entirely. Her hands alternated between clawing your forearms and covering her face, overwhelmed. All she could do was take it, gasp your name in broken syllables, and shudder each time you bottomed out.
After a few minutes, you started to feel the strain in her back, so you slipped one hand beneath her to support the arch, slowing the pace to something almost tender. You leaned in, mouth finding a nipple—sucking, flicking, circling the hard peak with your tongue until she whimpered and tugged your hair, half-pained, half-desperate for more.
Then, in one fluid motion, you flicked her entire body upright—using the tension in her bridge like a spring—until she was suddenly straddling your lap, legs wrapped around your waist, impaled and gasping in surprise.
A startled little scream escaped her, dissolving into breathless laughter when she opened her eyes and found your face sitting an inch away from her like magic. You both grinned like idiots, foreheads pressed together, sharing air.
“You’re fucking insane, you know that right?” she whispered, already rolling her hips in slow, greedy waves while panting like crazy. “How can you still fuck me this hard while we’re on this tiny, little bench?”
You thrust up to meet her, hands gripping her ass, voice rough with effort and adoration. “Well, I guess I’ll make anything work when it comes to you.”
Her smile blazed. She cupped your face, kissed you hard and deep, tongue sliding against yours like she wanted to taste the words you’d just given her. And then she started riding you in earnest—no more words, just the two of you moving together under a ceiling of drifting snow and fairy lights, chasing the edge one last time.
But suddenly, in the middle of that perfect, breathless rhythm—her hips rolling down to meet every slow grind of yours, your mouths fused in a deep, lazy kiss—the soft chime of the front door cut through the atrium like a gunshot.
You both froze.
Every muscle locked at once. Her walls still fluttered around you, but neither of you dared move. The only sound was your shared, ragged breathing and the faint hum of the snow machines overhead.
You turned your head—slow, careful—toward the entrance and saw the couple silhouettes of people entering.
“Oh, shoot—”
***
The soft chime of the door cut through the haze like a knife. Four silhouettes stepped inside; two adults, two small children, all bundled in coats and scarves. The kids’ delighted gasps echoed as they took in the glowing trees and drifting flakes, completely unaware of the naked couple tangled on a bench fifty feet away.
You froze mid-thrust, buried deep inside her, just as the family of four wandered in: parents in wool coats, a three-year-old tugging his mother’s hand, a seven-year-old already darting ahead with a delighted squeal. Obviously, the lights from outside had lured them in; the atrium looked too magical to be closed to the public.
Panic flashed hot and cold down your spine. But beneath it, a ridiculous flicker of relief: thank God it wasn’t the client reps. That would have ended your career in one mortifying headline.
You dropped over her instantly, pressing her flat against the narrow oak plank, your body a shield. The bench creaked; her breath hitched against your neck.
“I thought you locked the door,” you hissed, fighting a hysterical grin.
“I thought I did,” she whispered back, eyes dancing even as her cheeks flushed crimson. “You spin the thumbturn twice to the left to make it lock, right?”
You let your forehead rest against hers in silent despair. Of course she’d got it backward.
Footsteps and childish laughter echoed closer down the central corridor. Clothes everywhere: her hoodie half-buried in fake snow, sweatpants in a heap, your own jeans too far to reach without giving the game away.
“Stay down. Stay quiet. Let me handle this,” you breathed. She nodded, biting her lip to keep from laughing.
You stretched, snagged her zip-up hoodie and sweatpants that were closer within your reach than your own clothes, and somehow you found yourself planking over her like the world’s most desperate push-up as you wrestled the outfit on. She helped zip the hoodie while you wriggled into the pants, the soft fabric clinging obscenely tight to your still-hard cock. A quick, grateful kiss on her lips, then you launched yourself upright and strode through the skeletal trees like nothing was wrong.
“Hey, folks!” you called, voice steady, hands clasped casually low to hide the obvious strain in the borrowed sweats. “Sorry to ruin the family outing– we’re not open to the public yet until tomorrow morning.”
The father blinked. “Is that right? Our apologies then, the lights of this place appeared so inviting from the street, we thought it’d be no harm to give it a look.”
“Yeah, that’s because we’re having a final preview tonight before the big event tomorrow,” you said, introducing yourself as the creative director of the project, all smooth professionalism while praying the kids didn’t stare too hard at the hoodie that barely reached your waist. “This was my fault, by the way, you guys don’t have to apologize. We should’ve posted some signs, or at least locked the door properly if we don’t want the public to enter. But you’re more than welcome to come back here starting tomorrow, trust me.”
You guided them back out with easy charm, promising the full experience tomorrow: mayor, ribbon-cutting, the works. The kids kept sneaking glances at your too-small outfit, but the parents were apologetic and grateful.
The moment the door shut behind them, you spun the thumb turn once; firmly to the right as the lock clacked home.
From the shadows of the central corridor, she peeked out—completely naked, fairy lights catching on every curve, snowflakes drifting lazily around her like she’d stepped out of a dream. She stood with her hands clasped behind her back, swaying innocently, cheeks pink from cold and mischief.
“Everything good now?” she asked, voice soft and teasing.
“Yup… everything is fine,” you said, leaning against the door, drinking her in. The lighting you’d agonized over for weeks turned her skin gold and ivory, every breath making soft shadows shift across her body. Your gaze dropped; hers followed, lingering on the ridiculous tent still straining her borrowed sweatpants.
She then tilted her head, a cheeky grin on her face while she slowly walked towards you. “So… want to finish what we started, Mr. Creative Director? Or should we just give you a blueball for now and call it a night?”
You didn’t answer with words.
You pushed off the door and crossed the distance in long strides, catching her up the second you reached her. She laughed into your mouth as you carried her straight back to that unforgiving little bench: the one that had nearly gotten you caught, the one that now felt like the most perfect spot in the entire winter wonderland.
hi! do u think u could write for le sserafim? kazuha x f r? she's a few inches shorter (should that ever come up🙂↕️) and doesn't speak very good korean or English, mostly getting her knowledge of it from listening to le sserafim songs and interviews (for kazuha lmao)
maybe they've been dating for a few years, before kazuha left to train to be an idol. so they were already doing long distance while kazuha was at ballet school, r still living back where they grew up.
despite wanting to go support her and watch their shows, she never was able to due to work and finances. that's why it's great the first time they preform in Osaka! a few days before the show, they're already there. kazuhas obviously excited to see r and introduce her members to her. she told them about her a few months after le sserafim was formed, getting better at korean and English.
so they go to where r works, which is just a small local shop. cute and kind of run down, but cozyyyy. then boom there they are and there she is, working! r had no clue they were going to be in Japan.
sorry if this is too long😭😭😭
thank you:)
back to you
kazuha x f!reader fluff
synopsis: after years of long distance, missed calls, and watching from behind a screen, you finally get the chance to see kazuha again.
author's note: sorry it took me so long to write this!! i hope you enjoy :)
fluff, kinda angst, long distance relationship, reader meets the members, fluff fluff fluff
2.1k words
kazuha hadn’t been this excited for a performance in years.
a wide grin appeared on her face as the familiar structure of the kansai international airport appeared in her line of sight.
“are you excited to finally see y/n?” sakura asked teasingly, noticing how kazuha couldn’t stop smiling.
kazuha turned to face the older girl from the window and nodded enthusiastically.
“i told her i was going to be really busy this week and couldn’t contact her as much — she has no idea i’m here!” she said rapidly in japanese, her hands moving animatedly.
sakura couldn’t help but smile at the look of pure joy on zuha’s face. the older girl almost felt as if she knew you personally by how much zuha talked about you.
—
you still remembered vividly when kazuha had told you she’d been accepted into her dream ballet academy. you were ecstatic for her — being a ballerina was her lifelong dream — but the netherlands was nearly 8408 miles away from japan. when she announced the news, you immediately embraced her in a hug to prevent her from seeing your face, how a single tear rolled down at the thought of being so far apart.
though your heart felt heavy, you helped her pack her belongings and drove her to the airport, holding her hand tightly the entire way there in fear that she would disappear if you let go.
you gave her one last kiss before she crossed security, pressing your lips hard against hers to memorize the feel of her against you.
you watched her until she disappeared to the other side, squinting to watch her figure until it became just another dot in the crowd.
—
long distance was harder than you’d thought. although zuha sent you countless messages and pictures, it just didn’t feel the same. she was busy most of the time, training and making new friends.
especially with the time difference, the two of you could only afford to call two to three times a week.
you missed her so much — being able to actually see her and hold her. despite how much it hurt, you were proud of her. she was all alone in a foreign land, working hard to fulfil her passion.
—
one night, you’d received a call from zuha.
her voice filled your ears as your half-awake mind scrambled to make sense of her words.
“y/n!! can you believe it? remember the audition i told you about? i actually passed! they liked me! i’m going to korea to become a trainee!”
she rambled excitedly in japanese, talking about how she hadn’t expected this outcome at all — after all, she had just auditioned for fun.
your heart soared at the happiness in her voice. part of you wished to beg her to come back to japan, to come back to you, but how could you? zuha was achieving everything she wanted in life, and all you could do was support her from afar.
—
le sserafim. that was the name of the kpop group zuha had became a part of.
you watched all of their videos, sometimes even scrolling through youtube for hours, smiling a bit sadly at your screen.
she looked so beautiful and happy, laughing in interviews and dancing with passion in her eyes. though it wasn’t exactly ballet, you knew that what kazuha truly cherished was being able to move to the rhythm, to feel the melody in her heart.
through watching so much of le sserafim’s content, you even began to pick up on some korean and english. you couldn’t believe how fast she’d picked the languages, but it was no surprise — zuha had always been good at everything. whenever you called her, you tried to mimic some of the new words you learned, finding it delightful when zuha gushed at your adorable pronunciation and effort.
“i miss you so much,” zuha said moments after she teased your accent.
“do you think you’ll ever come to perform in japan?”
after many of their songs went viral, you’d anticipated them coming to japan on tour. after all, the group had two japanese members out of the five.
“i…. i’m not sure yet,” zuha said a bit hesitantly. “i wish we could though. then i could see you!”
you desperately wished you could see them perform in korea. you wanted to be there for every single performance, waving their lightstick and shouting fanchants. you wanted to be there for your girlfriend more than anything in the world, to see her perform and do the things she loved so much. despite how badly you wanted to see le sserafim and zuha live, you simply didn’t have the time or money to travel to korea.
you were currently stuck between two jobs, doing anything to be able to pay for rent and to pay for your college expenses.
“i wish i could see you too, zuha.”
—
you frowned as soon as you saw zuha’s message. her schedule must be really packed if she texted you beforehand, you thought.
you sighed before putting your phone back into your apron pocket.
you grabbed a towel and wiped down the counter, wiping it clean for the next customers to come.
after juggling your two part-time jobs, you had secured a permanent job at a local restaurant. though it was small, it was a major tourist attraction and was becoming more and more well-known for its delicious food.
you reached over to wipe the corners. the lunch rush had already faded, leaving the restaurant in a state of strange calm and emptiness. sunlight spilled through the front windows, catching on the polished wood tables you’d wiped down only minutes earlier.
in the middle of your thoughts, you heard the soft jingle of the entrance bells. the door swung shut behind the newcomers, a gust of warm air following them in.
from where you stood, you could only see their silhouettes. the afternoon light was almost blinding. you blinked rapidly, trying to adjust your eyes to the sun.
“hi, table for how many?” you asked as a matter of routine, your eyes still squinted. you could see now, that there were five figures standing near the entrance.
you noticed a tall girl shifting her weight, and another whispering something while trying to stifle a laugh. another girl tugged her cap lower towards her face. they looked… oddly familiar, but your mind was too occupied to place your finger on their familiarity.
“five,” one of them answered. her voice was gentle and melodic, like one you’d heard a thousand times before. something about it made your heart skip strangely.
you grabbed a few menus from the front stand, stepping around it as you approached them. “okay, please follow—”
your words died in your throat.
now that you were closer, the details became increasingly clear. the caps, the clothes, the faces you’d seen on your laptop screen countless of times.
your grip tightened on the menus. the shortest girl nudged the tall one with a knowing smile. but you didn’t notice any of them for long.
because your eyes had already locked onto the girl standing in the middle.
her long, dark hair was tucked behind her ear. a baseball cap was pulled low, though it did little to hide her face from you. the brown eyes — the ones you’d fallen in love with years ago — stared back at you, the gaze insistent and full of love.
your heart slammed against your ribs.
“zuha…?” the name slipped out before you could stop it.
for a second, she didn’t move. then, her face broke into the widest smile you’d ever seen.
“i knew you’d recognize me,” she said softly.
the menus in your hands slipped and clattered onto the floor, not that you even noticed. your feet moved before your brain could process anything, crossing the small distance between you and kazuha in seconds.
you crashed into her, wrapping your arms around her body. she caught you immediately, her own arms tightening around your frame as you nearly knocked her backwards. a breathless laugh escaped her as you buried your face into her shoulder. she smelled exactly the same, like that of a flower field on a spring day.
“you’re here,” you said against her, your voice muffled. “you’re actually here.”
“i told you i was busy this week,” she murmured teasingly, squeezing you even tighter. “i never said why.”
you felt a tear roll down your cheeks. you couldn’t believe it, that she was in front of you, holding you in her arms.
behind her, the other members were openly smiling now.
you pulled back just slightly, still gripping the front of zuha’s shirt. your eyes scanned her face, trying to confirm that she was real.
“you didn’t tell me you were coming to japan,” you said breathlessly.
“i wanted to surprise you.”
her expression softened as she looked down at you. then, she leaned down to capture your lips, her mouth moving softly against yours. you stood on your toes to make yourself level with her face, melting into the kiss.
the restaurant seemed to fade away. all you could focus on was how warm she was, how real she felt.
after what seemed like minutes, one of the girls cleared their throat dramatically. kazuha broke away somewhat reluctantly, a pink color dusting her cheeks. she laughed — a sound you’d missed so much — before grabbing your hand.
“ah — right,” she said, her eyes still unable to look away from you. “everyone, this is y/n, this girlfriend. y/n, these are my members.”
your brain short-circulated slightly at hearing her speak korean. you smiled shyly before opening your lips to speak.
“hello, i’m y/n. nice… meet everyone,” you said in korean, pausing slightly in between words.
chaewon giggled at your attempt, her nose scrunching at how adorable you were.
one by one, the members introduced themselves in a mix of korean and japanese. sakura spoke the longest, talking about how much kazuha mentioned you and how excited everyone was to finally be able to meet you.
yunjin suddenly gasped. “you’re right, zuha! she’s so tiny!” she said in broken japanese.
your cheeks immediately warmed.
zuha groaned. “yunjin…”
“you guys are so cute,” chaewon said with a laugh, elbowing yunjin amusedly.
zuha wrapped her arm over your shoulder, pulling you in even closer to her.
“you’re perfect,” she whispered in her native tongue.
—
the restaurant slowly returned to normal afterward. you guided them to a table, your hands shaking slightly from excitement.
since there were no other customers, you sat with them. kazuha sat right next to you, her knee pressing lightly against yours under the table.
despite the language barrier, you found yourself getting more and more comfortable as the conservation progressed.
the members asked you various questions between bits of food, things like how long you had zuha and been together and what zuha was like before coming an idol.
“one time,” you said excitedly. “zuha was practicing her turns during break time at school, and her shoe came off flying and hit the teacher!”
eunchae immediately burst into laughter. zuha pushed you teasingly, a grin on her face.
“zuha!” yunjin gasped in faux seriousness.
sakura leaned back in her chair, smiling to herself. so this was the person zuha had waited for, she thought.
—
the days until the concert passed by in a blur.
you worked during the day, but every evening, kazuha found the time to see you, even if it was just for a few hours.
sometimes you walked around osaka together, reminiscing about the old days.
sometimes you visited various cafes, enjoying desserts and laughing about stories.
other times, you snuck into her hotel room, ending up wrapped in kazuha and her sheets.
and before you knew it, the night of the concert arrived.
—
the arena was enormous. even from backstage, you could hear the roar of thousands of fans.
your hands were nervously twisting the sleeve of your borrowed staff pass when the dressing room door opened.
kazuha stepped out.
she was already in her stage outfit, her hair styled and make up perfect. the moment she saw you, a grin
she crossed the hallway in seconds and pulled you into a hug, bending slightly so her chin rested comfortably on top of your head.
“i still can’t believe you’re here,” she murmured.
“me too,” you said softly. you could feel her heart thumping against your body. “i wouldn’t miss this for anything. you’ve worked so hard, zuha.”
“i love you,” she whispered, her breath catching slightly.
“i love you too. i’m here now.”
a staff member called from down the hallway.
“five minutes until we go on!”
kazuha pulled away slowly. “meet me back here when the show ends, okay?”
you nodded.
she quickly leaned down to press a light kiss to your lips. “i’m so glad you’re here, y/n.”
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