“no, i…” thought it was nice. dahye from school, not dahye from tv. thank you for being someone who asked me out without the sole purpose of being your arm candy. “he seemed cool.” she settles, finally. “does- did he like my group?” the present tense is a dumb slip of the tongue. two years have passed, and she seems to be the only one still stuck in memories, unable to move on. there’s still a gap in her chest that she hasn’t been able to fill, which is stupid, she knows, but for two years, she’d been able to make do with yihoon and hyeju.
then along comes eunsuh. slips through the cracks and whatever distance dahye’s put between herself and everyone else. her deceptively tiny’s stature’s made up for in personality, and she seems to become the life of the party in whatever room she’s in. eunsuh’s the heroine, and dahye’s more than glad to be a supporting role; that is, only if she’d allow it.
she’s been staring at the same coffee bun for far too long for it to be normal. she hates the taste of coffee, but she places it on the tray she’s balancing on one hand anyway. “do you have any recommendations to brighten my monday up, then?” as if there was anything in the entire world that could darken her day. eyes skim over rows and rows of bread, and settle on eunsuh.
she doesn’t hide the smile that quirks her lips up this time. “today’s on me. ‘s thanks for introducing me to my personal haven.”
her face? deadpan. the bread? anticipatory pan. “girl... i’m not sure who didn’t.” a small heh meets the space between them, eunsuh’s shoulders taut as she pauses in front of one of the clear cases. her thoughts are almost out loud, not quite when she remembers how much more bummed juyeon had been about their disbandment than herself. it’s nothing that can be held against her now though. they’re has-beens, and this is today. present tense. something tells her dahye’s just as fixed on moving forward as she is.
eunsuh titters behind her hand watching the other ogle over the bun she’s so gladly choosing. “seems you’ve got good taste all by yourself. i say go wild in the rest of your selections?” her eyes go wide, hands spreading as she makes a rainbow-shape in midair. “i’d be lying if i said i have a least favorite here.” not that she’s the type to lie in the first place. withholding information is different and rightfully so! is her excuse anyway. a small smile’s quick to respond to that last sentiment, that smile she’s not sure she even deserves in the first place. “either one of you would be missing out if i hadn’t let you tag along.” and then a wink. or whatever blinking your two eyes one at a time in ninja-like succession is.
seeing as how juyeon isn’t back from tidying up the kitchen yet, eunsuh takes the liberty to ring up all the items on dahye’s tray. “obviously this isn’t for free, but i’d be more than happy to indulge you in a ten-percent discount.” she punches in a few numbers, doing the math and a quick count of the pastries before prepping a small box. “for... being a family friend.” she’s careful to not bring up the whole idol thing, god forbid it’s the one thing she’d like to hear in a cozy space away from the world they both know. her eyes flit up from the cash register to steal a glance at the other’s soft features. there’s a bloom from she has no idea where it starts then, mouth slightly agape, words still with time.