Chaerin has also grown so much. She thought of a highly aesthetic rebellion compared to her hyung. It was so intricate, no one would know what hit them.
Well, Jaeyeon is undeniably stealthy too. She finished the last world tour stop with tears of joy pertaining to the locals' famous pizza. As if she survived a long battle and could finally live humanely.
However, those same tears successfully masked exhaustion and longing for Rina who got sick and was left behind. Jaeyeon was so angry at their company EASE, she started a Stream without the company knowing.
She didn't mind how the company would get back to her. She even taunted about getting beers on broadcast. Little did she know, nor anyone for that matter, the company would do so by Jisoo.
While still making sense of it all, Rina admires this fighting spirit of her members that's why she's enduring.
"Chae Chae", Rina gently wakes her. "Hmmmm~ five more minutes Rina unnie."
*I'm sorry Chae for still waking you up like this. This is the only thing I could do for now. To help you succeed with the plan.*
"Chae, an hour has already passed."
Chae shoots up and slaps herself to consciousness. She looks around and finds Dahee nowhere. "I'm still lucky to not be up that early."
"Yep, very lucky." Rina giggles. "Food is ready Chae. I've yet to pack your stuff so I'll go ahead."
Chaerin catches Rina before she can leave, "I miss you."
"Eh? I'm already here baby, what are you talking about?" Rina in confusion.
"Yeah. Still, I miss us together."
Rina smiles and turns to Chaerin for a proper hug. "It sucks I won't be able to watch you guys shoot arrows this time. Bet you'd look sexy on the outfit." She traces Chae's newly done neck tattoo.
Chaerin winces, "T-that's not it! I- I'm sending a message."
"Yep and it's a powerful one. Let's make it for Jisoo!" Rina pats Chae as she leaves.
"This is not just for Jisoo unnie though", Chae mumbles and sighs.
In the living room, Rina sees Chewy almost done packing. She joins her. "Unnie I miss you", Chewy breaks the silence.
"Wha- Chae just told me that."
"Yeah but me too! ~We all do." Chewy halts her task and hugs Rina. "Feels empty when we're not together, all the nine of us."
They break off upon hearing a cough. It's Nana. Chaerin is behind her. "Uuhm, we've just finished packing up. Yey!" Chewy clarifies. Rina as well, "I- am giving my best wishes. Lunch Box Club Fighting!"
"Only Chewy needs to do well as usual." Chaerin reviews the plan.
"Eh? Isn't this our chance to get gold? Fruit Cake sunbaes won't be able to attend. We could go viral just like your plan", Chewy asks.
"Would've been easier if there's a match between you and Jihyun sunbaenim again. Also, Dahee-yah still has MC duties. Must be tiring for her to go for the finals", Nana reasons outs.
"That's why I'm winging it. My neck tatt should get people curious."
"It will be covered up though. They'd censor it", Rina reminds Chae. "Exactly." Chaerin assures.
Maknaes proceed to Goyang Gymnasium for the recording of Idol Olympics Chuseok leaving Nana and Rina to have a conversation.
"How are you today Rina-chan?" Nana initiates.
"Are you okay, Nana-chan?" Rina asks back.
"Darling, I asked first." Nana puts up a sweet defense but Rina does not break her gaze.
"I am not okay", Nana confesses with nervous laughter. "I thought I'm gonna lose Once just a few months ago. And then, you. Seems fate is trying to take something. This time it's Jisoo!"
"I'm not the right person to talk to you about this", Rina tells her. "But we know, especially you two have been through a lot. The nine of us have been her world and you are her favorite person. Isn't that why she calls you partner?"
"I- it's just another name. Like Nana-chan but, Partner."
Rina sighs, "For what it's worth, I'd think you guys are the ones dating."
"Except we're not. I don't have rights. And the articles are very convincing it's almost legally binding", Nana is dejected.
"They are not yet married and people divorce too!" Rina is impatient. "Look, even if they date, who do you think does she spends more time with?"
"She's known as a god. She has time for everything." Nana refutes Rina.
"She spends more time with us. She spends more time with you." Rina receives a blank look. "I'm basically saying he got nothing on you."
"And would you just let Jisoo be with someone who, on a personal note, didn't pertain anything about her nor their 'relationship'?" Naeun arrives.
"Oh, Naeun unnie!" Surprised, Rina thought Naeun is still resting after filming her parts for their new music video.
"What do you mean, Naeun-ah?" Naeun brings out her phone and shows Nana something. Nana takes the phone and gradually widens her eyes as she reads the letter.
*We are idols and fans are our priority. I understand that he would cater to his fans more than his girlfriend especially at this early point of solo career.
Because without fans, us idols are nothing. But this issue involves another idol who has fans to console, too!
Yet, there's not a single hint of clarity nor honesty about his decision to date. Where is the empathy for Jisoo who was written as actively meeting him despite crazy sched?
Her self-respect is sacrificed for this! I must wo-man up. He didn't. Who else will?*
"I heard he's our fan. He even liked Signal. So, shouldn't he be at least considerate if not ecstatic about 'dating' Jisoo? It sucks Jisoo is disregarded like this", Naeun expresses.
Nana picks herself up. "Nana-chan?", Rina notices.
"I'm going."
"Eh? Where are you going?" Before Rina and Naeun could receive a feedback, Nana has left them.
In a gym, Jisoo is a resident goer spending 4 hours of training to maintain godly live performances. This time, she's seeking refuge. With every step on the treadmill, she is drowned on her thoughts.
*Look after me from afar? Then, that kiss. T-that's not a goodbye kiss. This is confusing than it already is!*
Jisoo shuts her eyes in surrender, "Ugh, just… what are you up to?"
"That's your man's song."
"kApchAGE~" She almost tripped when Nana suddenly appears.
"Seems really inspired by you", Nana mocks. "Keep thinking about him, he might just drive to you this time."
*It's not him I'm thinking about, Nana.*
"I'm not the only busy girl out there. Also, I have nothing to say to him. To you, have lots." Jisoo slows down and off the treadmill. Nana offers her a bottle of water, "me too. It's a date then?"
Jisoo accepts.
They settle down in a Soul Full café with iced drinks and some snacks. Jisoo delivers Nana's share. Nana, on the other hand, pierces the straws into their drinks. Both sip on theirs. Their eyes meet.
Jisoo asked for this moment to make peace with the imagery that got her on a loop. But catching Nana catch her in similar position doesn't help. The loop is inviting. She backs off as an attempt to stop herself and gulps.
"Not now, Jisoo. People are watching." Nana mouths it while shaking her head.
*Omo, this girl. SHE KNOWS.*
A serious Nana is scary. She is dangerous. Dangerous Nana doesn't miss a thing. She knows what every flinch means, what every silence says. Jisoo got nothing to hide.
She could only snoop around to check onlookers as she ventriloquizes, "Wha- No! T-there's nothing to see" then emphasizes to her, "TAKE RESPONSIBILITY" while pointing at her lips.
"I am." Nana assures.
*Girl, how exactly are you doing that? By weird wet kisses at random?*
Jisoo drops her eyes then back to Nana. She scours the table of their belongings and leads Nana out with her.
"Should have done this from the beginning." Nana tells Jisoo as she's taken to the van. The pair continues to banter. "You said it's a date. Hence, a café."
"We're not new to each other. And we have something to spill!" Door slides. They get in. Closes. "Now, talk."
"What are we, Nana ssi?" Jisoo asks intently.
Nana raises her fingers one by one, "I like you. You like me. I claimed you early this year. You're even proud about it. In short, we-" slowly recalls "the Dating article".
Particularly, "It was January 17th when you became Nana's Jisoo… Jaeyeon is the unnie who drove when we visit their nice place once a week… You recycle soju bottles the morning after…"
*To avoid me because you keep asking me of something really embarrassing when you're drunk. Something I prefer granting when you are conscious and sober.*
Nana then realizes, "We're the ones dating." Just like what Rina-chan said to me Jisoo-yah. "It's us. The issue, i-it's to keep us."
*I have no words. Nana and I are very much in the moment that we didn't know 'us'. We didn't care what we are. Well, it didn't matter as long as we're happy. God knows I've been asking for someone dependable and it's her who's always beside me. I myself didn't notice that that someone is in the shape of Nana.*
Jisoo reaches for Nana's arm and gently strokes it with her thumb, "we failed to acknowledge 'us'. What more the others? The company's doing means it may be best to keep us secret."
"So, we really can't play like we used to huh." Nana holds her. Jisoo is sulking. "Alright then."
This would become another loop for Jisoo. But this time, it's rather painful than an inviting one. She grits her teeth at the thought of it. With that, she has to endure a supposed stunning Laud cosmetics evening promo.
*How will I be able to smile?*
"I think I'm gonna throw up", Jisoo says. It doesn't help that it's also her first appearance after the issue was released. The recovery time leading up to this wasn't good to her.
"Here, I'm offering my hands this time." Naeun is returning the favor to Jisoo who was ready to catch her vomit back in the day.
"Unnie, I'll ask the stylist to make me look really pretty. Me and my bangs will try to get the attention away from you", Chewy offers.
"Thanks, Naeun-ie and Chewy-ah. But I'll still try my best. How's this for a smile?" She shows them.
That evening, the world barely witnessed Jisoo's perfect teeth. Lips were sealed like Mona Lisa. Is she truly smiling? Or is she frowning? Nonetheless, this is Jisoo who's known for bright smiles.
Out of all her smiles thus far, this was rid of radiance. She needs her sun. But since then, Nana can only be seen from afar.