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kangshxrtie · 23 hours ago

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Nine | If only

"But when you call me "baby" I know I'm not the only one" - I’m Not the Only One, Sam Smith

huh yunjin (01) let's meet up rn

y/n y/l/n it's 1 in the morning...

huh yunjin (01) and? ur up, right? so let's meet

y/n y/l/n sure, not like i'm busy or anything

huh yunjin (01) what else would u be doing at 1 in the morning

y/n y/l/n i was actually in the process of going to sleep

huh yunjin (01) i'm bored & wanted to do sum

y/n y/l/n call one of ur friends then

huh yunjin (01) but i wanna be with u rn ☹️

y/n y/l/n pick me up then

huh yunjin (01) OK i'll be there soon

you might have been lying when you told yunjin you were getting ready to sleep, but she didn't need to know that. in reality, you were just lounging around in your room, nowhere near tired. you also probably shouldn't have agreed to hang out with her at all, but it had to happen eventually, and nobody could stop you at one in the morning.

after changing into something more presentable and packing a few essentials, you flopped back onto your bed, scrolling on your phone to kill time until you got a text from yunjin that she was outside. you deliberately took your time, letting her wait just a little longer. grabbing your things, you strolled out of your room, locking the door behind you as you stepped outside.

yunjin was standing by the passenger side of her car, her attention fixed on her phone.

"hey," you greeted casually as you approached.

"hi, y/n," she replied, looking up with a smile before pulling you into a hug. you returned the hug but kept it loose. she didn't deserve more than that.

when you pulled away, she moved quickly, opening the passenger door for you like she always did. sliding into the seat, you watched as she jogged around to the driver's side. at least she still did that much for you.

"i was thinking we could just go back to mine and chill there since we haven't really done that in a while," yunjin suggested, her tone casual.

you nodded, agreeing to the plan. without another word, yunjin put the car in drive and headed away from your house.

"how have you been?" yunjin asked after a moment, trying to start some small talk.

"i've been good," you answered shortly, your tone neutral.

"how's your part of the project going? i swear you and nien are always working on it. you must be almost done," yunjin said, glancing over at you briefly before returning her eyes to the road.

"well... our synergy is good," you replied, your voice calm but pointed.

yunjin's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, her knuckles turning white as she forced a small laugh. "synergy, huh? you two have been spending a lot of time together."

you tilted your head, catching the subtle accusation in her voice. "we're just making sure the work gets done properly. we work well together so we've just been

nien's really good at keeping things organized."

"right," yunjin muttered, her jaw clenching. she didn't even try to hide her irritation this time. "it's just... i don't know. don't you think you're hanging out with her a bit too much lately?"

you sighed, leaning back in your seat. "it's not like that, yunjin. she's just helping me stay on track."

"helping you stay on track? that's what i'm supposed to do," yunjin shot back, her voice sharper now.

you frowned, glancing at her. "i didn't realize it was a competition."

"it's not," she said quickly, but her tone betrayed her. she let out a frustrated sigh, her fingers tapping against the steering wheel. "i just... i don't like how close you've gotten with her, that's all."

"why does it even matter?" you asked, your patience wearing thin.

"because..." yunjin hesitated, her voice softening slightly. "because i don't want to lose you."

her words made you pause, a flicker of guilt tugging at your chest despite everything. you couldn't even respond to that choosing to look out of the window.

eventually, yunjin broke the silence. "i just want to spend more time with you. like we used to. i feel like things have been... different lately."

"we've both just been busy," you said, deflecting.

"yeah," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

the rest of the drive was quiet, neither of you knew the right words to say. when yunjin finally pulled into the driveway of her place, she parked the car and turned to you, a hint of hesitation in her eyes.

"let's just have a good time tonight, okay?" she said softly.

you nodded, forcing a small smile. "sure."

you and yunjin were lying in her bed together, both silently scrolling on your phones. yunjin had given up trying to make conversation after your short responses earlier, deciding you were probably just tired. that's what she told herself, anyway. but then, you felt a sudden urge to be petty.

"do you like this picture?" you asked, holding your phone out to her. it was the picture nien had taken of you the other day. "i'm thinking of making it my new profile pic."

yunjin turned her head to look at the screen, her expression softening. "yes! you look so pretty here," she said enthusiastically, sitting up a little. "where were you?"

"at the aquarium," you answered nonchalantly, keeping your tone casual.

"with who?" she asked, still gazing at the photo.

"just one of my friends," you replied, sticking to the vague answers nien advised.

"which friend?" yunjin pressed, her curiosity growing and, you suspected, her jealousy too. it annoyed you. she was questioning you as if you were the one sneaking around.

"you don't really know them," you said dismissively, turning your attention back to your phone.

"was it nien?" she asked, her tone sharper now.

you smirked a little, deciding to push her buttons just enough. "how mad would you be if i said yes?"

yunjin sat up fully, her brows furrowing. "i wouldn't have been mad, but now it feels like you tried to hide it from me, which does piss me off a little."

you rolled your eyes. "because you're already mad about me hanging out with her."

"still, i'd rather you just be honest," she said firmly. then, after a moment, she asked, "is that the only time you've hung out with her?"

"i mean..." you started, knowing exactly how she'd react but deciding to tell her anyway. "we did hang out last night, but it was with our entire friend group."

yunjin exhaled, her jaw tightening before she forced herself to relax. "i guess that's fine," she muttered, though her tone suggested otherwise.

"you don't have to worry, though," you said, deciding to ease the tension just a bit. "because nien and i? we're just friends. she's been helping me with the project, that's all."

"helping you or distracting you?" yunjin shot back, crossing her arms.

"helping," you emphasized, your tone even. "if anything, she's been more supportive than-" you cut yourself off, not wanting to finish that sentence.

"more supportive than who?" yunjin asked, her eyes narrowing.

you sighed, shaking your head. "forget it. i'm not trying to start something right now."

"yeah, well, it feels like you already have," yunjin muttered under her breath.

the two of you fell into a tense silence again, the earlier tension now replaced by a heavy awkwardness. you focused on your phone, scrolling mindlessly, but yunjin occasionally glancing at you didn't go unnoticed.

after a while, you decided you were done with the awkward energy and placed your phone on the charger, setting it on the bedside table. turning away from her, you faced the wall, keeping your distance from her. you wanted to see how she'd react.

minutes passed before you heard her phone click off and felt the bed shift slightly. yunjin hesitated, then carefully wrapped her arm around your waist, pulling herself closer to you. her forehead rested lightly against your shoulder, and you felt her warm breath on your neck.

"are you asleep yet?" yunjin asked quietly near your ear, her voice soft.

"no," you replied, your tone neutral.

"i don't want us to go to sleep mad at each other," she admitted, her grip on you tightening slightly. "so i want to apologize for being suspicious of you and nien when you say nothing is going on. i just..." she trailed off, exhaling deeply. "i guess i've been insecure about us lately."

you stayed silent for a moment, weighing your words carefully. finally, you spoke. "yunjin, it's not just about nien. it's about how you've been acting, too. you get suspicious, when i've given you no reason not to trust me, i've never questioned you like this and honestly you're the more suspicious one out of the two of us."

her arm around your waist stiffened slightly before loosening again. "i know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "i've been messing up, haven't i?"

you turned over slightly to face her, meeting her apologetic gaze. "i'm not saying everything is your fault, but we can't keep doing this... this back and forth. it's exhausting."

yunjin's expression softened, her eyes glistening under the dim light. "i don't want to lose you," she murmured, her vulnerability catching you off guard. "i'll try harder, i promise. just... don't give up on me, okay?"

you sighed, nodding slightly. "okay. i won't"

she nodded in agreement, her fingers brushing against yours as if seeking reassurance. "i'll do better," she said earnestly.

you woke up before yunjin, the early morning sunlight filtering through the curtains and highlighting her peaceful face. you glanced at her, biting back the urge to roll your eyes. god, you really dislike her now.

quietly, you grabbed your phone from the nightstand and snapped a picture of the two of you lying in bed. proof. that's all it was, just another piece of evidence.

a few minutes later, yunjin stirred from the sound of you moving around. her eyes fluttered open, and when she noticed you already awake and looking her way, a soft smile spread across her face.

"good morning," she said, her voice raspy with sleep.

"morning," you replied, keeping your tone neutral.

"have you been up for long?" she asked, her gaze lingering on you as she stretched lazily.

"no, i just woke up," you sat up and ran a hand through your hair.

yunjin propped herself up on one elbow, her smile widening. "so, what do you wanna do today?" she asked, her tone light and hopeful. "we can go out or stay in; i'm down for whatever you want."

you shrugged, pretending to think about it. "i don't know. staying in sounds fine, i guess."

"perfect," yunjin said with a grin, sitting up fully now. "we could watch something, cook together, or even order takeout if you're feeling lazy."

"sure," you said flatly.

yunjin didn't seem to notice your lack of enthusiasm, or maybe she chose to ignore it. she leaned over and gave you a quick kiss on the temple before hopping out of bed. "i'll make some coffee," she said cheerfully.

you watched her leave the room, your jaw tightening. the disconnect between her cheerful demeanor and your simmering resentment felt suffocating, like a weight pressing down on your chest. forcing yourself to take a steadying breath, you picked up your phone and opened the gallery, your thumb hovering over the photo you had just taken.

your whole relationship, all you ever wanted was a single photo with yunjin, just one. something to hold onto, something that felt real. but she'd never let it happen. she was always too scared, too cautious, brushing it off with excuses about privacy and secrecy. even when you promised it would stay between the two of you, she wouldn't budge. at least now you knew the real reason why.

just a little longer, you reminded yourself. you set your phone down and got out of bed, stretching and forcing a neutral expression onto your face. as you walked into the kitchen, you painted on a smile, determined to keep up appearances for now.

yunjin was at the counter, humming softly as she poured coffee into two mugs. she turned when she heard your footsteps, her face lighting up.

"perfect timing," she said, holding out a mug to you. "i made it just the way you like it."

"thanks," you said, taking the cup from her and giving her a small smile in return.

she leaned against the counter, sipping her coffee and looking at you with a softness in her eyes that made your chest ache. you took a sip of your drink to distract yourself, the warmth of the coffee doing little to ease the cold knot in your stomach.

"do you wanna pick the movie we watch later?" yunjin asked, her voice bright.

"sure," you replied, keeping your tone light.

"great! i was thinking we could do a little movie marathon," yunjin said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "you know, pick a theme or something. maybe rom-coms? or thrillers?"

you nodded, keeping your expression calm even as your mind drifted elsewhere. "sounds fun. we'll figure it out later."

yunjin smiled, setting her mug down on the counter. "i'll leave the final choice to you. i trust your taste."

you forced a chuckle. "bold of you."

she grinned, stepping closer. for a moment, her hand hovered near yours, as if she was about to hold it. instead, she leaned against the counter beside you, her shoulder brushing yours lightly.

"so," yunjin began, her tone casual but her gaze cautious, "what do you wanna do until then? it's up to you."

you shrugged, sipping your coffee to buy yourself time. "i'm fine with whatever you want to do."

her brow furrowed slightly, the brightness in her demeanor dimming just a fraction. "you sure? you seem a little... off today."

"just tired," you lied, forcing another smile. "didn't sleep great."

she nodded, accepting the explanation, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes. "okay, well, how about i make us food and you can just sit there and be pretty."

"sounds good," you said, your voice even.

yunjin gave you a soft smile and reached for her coffee again. you turned away, pretending to check your phone, but really, you just needed a moment to collect yourself.

as she started talking about some show she'd been watching, you found yourself zoning out, her words fading into the background. you glanced at her, taking in the way she animatedly described a scene, her hands moving as she spoke, and her words started to blur in your mind. you tried to focus on her, but your thoughts drifted elsewhere. specifically, to nien.

what was she doing right now? it had been a whole day since you'd last talked to her, not unusual for most of your friends, but with nien, it felt off. ever since you became close, you'd texted almost every day, sharing random updates or jokes.

"y/n?" yunjin's voice pulled you out of your thoughts. "are you listening?"

"yeah, sorry," you said quickly, forcing yourself to focus. "what were you saying?"

she tilted her head, studying you for a moment before continuing. "i was asking what you wanted me to cook for you."

you blinked, realizing you hadn't even heard the options she must've given earlier. scrambling to cover your distraction, you shrugged. "whatever you feel like making. i'm not picky."

yunjin frowned slightly, her lips pressing together as she looked at you. "you sure you're not craving anything in particular. you're usually so specific on what you want."

you forced a smile, trying to keep your tone light. "yeah, but i'm good with whatever today. surprise me."

her expression softened, though there was still a trace of concern in her eyes. "alright, i'll make something quick. you just relax."

you nodded and sat down at the kitchen table, pulling out your phone to distract yourself. while yunjin started pulling ingredients from the fridge, you stared at the screen, debating whether to text nien. would she even be awake? was it too soon to check in?

your fingers hovered over the keyboard as you typed out a quick, casual message.

y/n hey, how's your day so far?

before you could overthink it, you hit send and placed your phone face down on the table.

"you really are out of it today," yunjin said, glancing at you as she chopped vegetables. "you're barely even talking to me."

you glanced up, feeling the weight of her gaze. "just tired," you repeated, knowing it was a weak excuse but unable to come up with anything better.

yunjin hummed in response, but the silence that followed felt heavier than it should have. you watched her work, her movements quick and practiced, but even her usual energy seemed subdued.

a soft buzz from your phone broke the quiet. your heart jumped, and you flipped it over quickly, catching nien's reply.

nien pretty good. what about you?

y/n js hanging out w yunjin 🙄 trying not to kms

nien pls don't. i'll miss u too much

y/n don't lie. u don't even know me that well

nien but i thought we were besties now ☹️

y/n ur more of an acquaintance

nien nien will rmbr this

y/n IM JK UR LIKE MY CLOSEST FRIEND RN U WERE MY FIRST THOUGHT THIS MORNING

nien oh 👀

y/n not like that tho

nien okayyy y/n

"who's that?" yunjin asked, her voice casual but her eyes sharp as she glanced at your phone.

you hesitated for a fraction of a second, then tilted the screen slightly away. "just a group chat," you lied smoothly, locking your phone and setting it down again.

yunjin didn't press further, but the tension between you lingered as she finished cooking. as you sat there, pretending everything was fine. because while yunjin was still trying to piece together what felt off, you already knew the answer, and her name was nien.

once yunjin plated the food, you both made your way to the couch, settling in to eat while watching tv. as the background noise of a random show filled the room, yunjin glanced over at you, her eyes lingering.

"is that new? i've never seen you wear that before," she asked, her gaze fixated on the bracelet around your wrist.

you followed her line of sight, rolling up your sleeve slightly to show it off. "yeah, i got it with a friend. isn't it nice?"

"matching?" yunjin's brows furrowed as she tilted her head. "you've never even gotten anything matching with me."

you couldn't stop the dry laugh that escaped your lips. "correction: we've never gotten anything matching because youdidn't want anybody to find out about us."

yunjin's lips parted slightly like she wanted to argue, but no words came out. after a brief pause, she suddenly stood, grabbing your arm. "let's go get couples items then, right now."

her eagerness might've been endearing if it weren't so frustratingly late. if only she had treated you like this before.

"i'm kinda tired, though. plus we're still eating," you said, staying firmly in your seat and pulling your arm gently from her grip.

yunjin blinked at you, her excitement dimming. "that's right," she said softly, sitting back down beside you. "well... maybe tomorrow, then?"

you gave a noncommittal hum, focusing back on your plate. yunjin stayed quiet, playing around with her food, but you could feel the tension radiating from her.

she wasn't giving up easily today, but you weren't in the mood to make it easier for her either. instead, you kept eating, pretending the weight of her gaze wasn't pressing down on you.

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kangshxrtie · 2 days ago

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yall i js had the most college experience night & im soo happy. so much inspiration for party next door. i love my new friends so much!

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kangshxrtie · 2 days ago

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yall haewon is soo goddam fine. like i need to see her on my screen MORE. we shld also all collectively talk abt nmixx more, and write more fics plssss. I NEED THEM

#nmixx #oh haewon

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kangshxrtie · 3 days ago

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bro im scrolling on tiktok again 🥹🥹 NOBODY TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME

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kangshxrtie · 3 days ago

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the last tiktok i sent my friend was a ipad having an orgasm & the last tiktok i saw was gay asf. i rly built that fyp brick by brick! i can’t start over

MYYY SHAYLAAA . COME BACK TO MEEE

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kangshxrtie · 3 days ago

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MYYY SHAYLAAA . COME BACK TO MEEE

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kangshxrtie · 6 days ago

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js absolutely demolished my friend in ddr when we did me gustas tu. i couldn’t let gfriend down.

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kangshxrtie · 6 days ago

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Eight | Why did you never

"If I pulled a you on you What would you do?" - Handle It, Ann Marie

you and nien were standing together outside of the aquarium you just came out of, the breeze light and pleasant. nien smiled softly, glancing at the sky.

"the weather is just so nice," nien remarked, her voice full of peace.

you frowned slightly, the feeling of frustration gnawing at you. "annoyingly..."

nien tilted her head. "why are you annoyed that the weather is nice?"

"because i'm upset," you replied with a sigh. "and the weather just doesn't know what my mood is."

nien chuckled, gently grabbing your arm. "alright, gift shop it is," she declared, leading you back inside.

you let out a skeptical laugh. "i don't think a stuffed dolphin is gonna fix this."

"then i'll get you a shark, or whatever else you want," nien said confidently, glancing back at you with a reassuring smile.

"you really don't have to," you said, feeling a little embarrassed by her insistence.

"i know," she said simply. "i want to."

once inside the gift shop, the two of you wandered through the aisles, surrounded by plush sea creatures, postcards, and trinkets. you scanned the shelves until something caught your eye—a display of "track-an-animal" bracelets.

nien noticed your gaze lingering and picked one up. "what if we got matching ones? like a couples item," she suggested casually, her tone playful.

you blinked at her, surprised by the idea. "couples items? i've never gotten anything like that with yunjin," you admitted, a small frown tugging at your lips.

"then get one with me," nien said immediately, her voice firm but kind.

your heart softened at her words. after a moment, you nodded, and the two of you picked out similar bracelets, matching in design but different in color.

nien held hers up, smiling brightly. "now our friendship is real."

later, you and nien sit together at a cozy café, reflecting on the aquarium visit. the memory brings a genuine smile to your face. "that was really fun, right? nobody is here so it feels like we rented out the place."

"yeah, it was nice," nien agrees. "we did rent the place."

your eyes widen. "huh? are you serious?"

nien chuckles, shaking her head. "no, i'm joking."

you laugh, nudging her playfully. "i really thought you were secretly rich or something."

while you're still giggling, nien discreetly holds up her phone and snaps a picture of you staring out the window.

you catch her in the act. "you can't just take off-guard pictures of me."

nien holds up her phone, showing the screen. "what are you talking about? i'm just taking a selfie. the lighting is nice here"

you study her face for a moment, something stirring within you. "you know... i think you're a nicer person than i first thought."

she blinks, slightly taken aback. "huh?"

"i mean... you're really good at cheering people up, even when it's not your problem," you continue, feeling a bit vulnerable but wanting to express the shift inside you. "it's not even your business, but you still care. i had a bad impression when i first met you. i thought we'd be too different."

nien tilts her head, listening carefully. "really? why?"

"i don't know. you just made me feel uncomfortable... like we wouldn't click. didn't you feel the same about me? didn't i give you a bad first impression?"

nien shakes her head firmly. "no."

just as you're about to respond, your phone buzzes with a message, and a text from yunjin pops up.

huh yunjin (01) class is over, right? are u practicing

you glance at the screen, conflicted. "i should probably reply, right?"

nien leans back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. "maybe in an hour?"

"why an hour?" you ask.

"because she'll done with everything by then," nien says casually.

you laugh, shaking your head. "that's so mean."

"womp womp," nien replies, completely unbothered.

you let out a small sigh. "you're right. i don't even know why i'm feeling bad about this."

"because you're just the better person," nien says, her tone softening slightly. "even after everything they put you through. but it's okay, because i'm here to keep you focused on the mission."

you smile at her, the warmth in her words settling in your chest. "i honestly don't know what i'd do without you."

"i know, right?" nien says with a playful grin. "you're so lucky i decided to invite the random drunk girl who showed up on my doorstep into my home."

you nudge her, rolling your eyes. "i better be the only random person you invite in."

"of course," she replies with mock seriousness. "one was enough. i've learned my lesson."

"don't act like that. you know you love having me around," you say, smirking.

nien laughs, shaking her head but not denying it.

despite joking with nien, a nagging thought lingers: am i really allowed to do this?

nien pulls out her phone and sends you the picture she secretly took earlier. "here, look at this. you look good, right?"

you glance at the picture, feeling a blush creep up your cheeks. "pretty... not me, i meant that the atmosphere is pretty."

"yeah..." nien agrees quietly, her gaze lingering on you. "pretty, you look good with your hair down."

you freeze for a second, your heart skipping a beat. did she just call me pretty? that simple word echoes in your mind, confusing and exciting you. am i really allowed to feel like this?

your thoughts flash back to yunjin. the reason you didn't answer her call... was it because of nien?

you were pulled into a memory, a time when you stood in front of yunjin, showing off your new look.

"what are you doing suddenly?" yunjin had asked, her tone flat.

"just... you know, for a change. for a change in my image," you had said, hoping for some acknowledgment.

yunjin blinked at you, confused. "what?"

you hesitated. why couldn't she just say you were pretty?

"you're really weird today," yunjin added, her words cutting deeper than they should have.

she could've said those few words... that you were pretty.

but here you were, sitting with nien, feeling appreciated in ways you hadn't before. as her gaze lingered on you, you couldn't help but wonder what this all meant.

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kangshxrtie · 6 days ago

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Seven | A recent thing

"How could you play me when the love I gave was real?" -Medicine, Queen Naija

your chest still felt heavy, but sitting here with nien, venting, made it just a little easier to breathe.

"chaewon literally smiles in my face every time we hang out," you ranted, waving your drink for emphasis. "she doesn't know i know and is using it against me, and i've never known."

"don't blame yourself," nien said firmly, leaning forward. "the only people at fault are those two assholes for doing this to you."

"i know," you sighed, shaking your head. "i just hate that it's happening to me."

"you don't deserve it. nobody does."

"i swear i've done nothing to deserve being played with like this!" you groaned, frustration laced in every word.

"sometimes people are just like that," nien replied, her tone calm but sympathetic.

you took a quick swig of your drink, the alcohol dulling the sharp edges of your anger, before launching into another rant.

"'it's for an assignment,'" you mocked, rolling your eyes dramatically. "as if playing with someone's feelings is an actual experiment she needs to do for class. i mean, seriously? and why me? am i just that easy?"

"maybe it's a psychology class," nien offered with a shrug.

"she's not even in psychology!" you shot back, exasperated.

"maybe she is just that evil," nien said.

"this is exactly one of those 'when the devil can't reach you, he sends someone else to do it' situations," you grumbled. "this time, it's some older girl who was apparently sent to ruin my life."

"hey," nien said with a small smirk, "it's okay. maybe an angel was sent to you too."

you raised an eyebrow. "i don't like that you're calling yourself my guardian angel right now."

"just accept it," nien teased, slinging her arm around your shoulder and letting you lean into her.

"i don't think i want to."

"well, you already did when you agreed to this plan," she quipped, grinning.

before you could respond, the front door creaked open, and you froze.

"honey, we're home!" xinyu's voice rang out, loud and teasing.

you and nien exchanged panicked glances. for a split second, you considered hiding, but that would only make things weirder. and judging by the mess of takeout boxes and bottles surrounding you, it was obvious nien had company. the last thing you needed was for them to think nien was secretly your girlfriend.

"i smell food! did you order without us?" xinyu yelled as footsteps echoed through the apartment. seconds later, she appeared in the doorway with mayu and jiyeon trailing behind her.

"y/n?" jiyeon's brows furrowed as her gaze darted between you and nien.

"surprise," you muttered, giving them a weak wave.

"what are you doing here?" mayu asked, clearly confused.

"can't i visit my favorite people?" you replied, trying to play it cool.

"you can," xinyu said, narrowing her eyes, "but why are you with nien, and why didn't you tell us you were coming?"

"funny story," you started awkwardly. "i ran into nien, and we decided to hang out."

"you two?" jiyeon pointed between the two of you, her disbelief obvious.

"yes. what's so weird about that?" nien finally chimed in, crossing her arms.

"i just didn't know you two talked," jiyeon said bluntly.

"it's a recent thing," you explained quickly.

"i see," xinyu said, though the look she gave you said otherwise. you could practically feel the gears turning in their heads as they pieced together their own wild scenarios.

"i just didn't realize you two got this close," mayu added, her gaze flicking to the small distance between you and nien. or rather, the lack thereof. nien's arm was still casually slung around your shoulders.

"we both don't mind physical touch. what's the problem with that?" you said with a shrug, trying to sound unbothered.

"i don't know if that's true," xinyu shot back, narrowing her eyes at you.

"i love physical touch," nien said smoothly, grinning. "always been like this."

"you do. y/n only hugs me when she's drunk," xinyu retorted.

"well, i am a little tipsy," you admitted sheepishly.

"what were you two even doing, anyway?" jiyeon asked, her curiosity clearly piqued.

"just talking and drinking," you replied quickly.

"about what?" jiyeon pressed.

"stuff," you said vaguely, avoiding her gaze.

"what stuff? we're all friends here, right?" xinyu chimed in, clearly fishing for details.

"just classes and life," nien answered smoothly for you.

luckily, the door opened again, and the rest of the group walked in, momentarily taking the attention off you.

"so no one was gonna tell us there was a party?" seoyeon said, raising an eyebrow as she spotted the drinks and food spread out on the table.

"y/n!" dahyun exclaimed, immediately making her way over to hug you.

"just say you hate us," xinyu grumbled. "you've never been that excited to see any of us."

"well, you live here," dahyun shot back, rolling her eyes.

"y/n and nien did all this," jiyeon announced, pointing at the two of you.

"wait-nien and y/n?" seoyeon tilted her head, clearly intrigued.

"they're friends now," mayu said casually.

"and you didn't tell me?" dahyun pouted, looking at nien.

"it's recent," nien said with a shrug.

"how did this even happen?" jiyeon asked, genuinely baffled. "you two never talked before?"

"we're in the same videography group," nien explained. "i asked if she wanted to hang out since we're in the same friend group but never actually talked."

"and now we're basically besties," you added with a grin.

"i don't see y/n for a week, and suddenly she's friends with nien? i can't believe that's all it took," dahyun teased.

"speaking of," xinyu cut in, "i haven't seen you since that day you ran off after your little 'secret relationship' confession."

"oh. yeah... that," you mumbled, looking away.

"are you still with them? that would explain why you've been mia," mayu said, eyes narrowing.

"yes," you stammered, already regretting every decision that led to this moment.

"can you tell us who they are now, or are you still sworn to secrecy?" seoyeon asked, her tone playful but curious.

your eyes darted to nien, silently begging for her help.

"wait," seoyeon gasped, catching on immediately. "does nien know?"

"what? no!" you said quickly, shaking your head. but, of course, no one believed you.

"you told nien but not us?" xinyu asked, her voice full of mock betrayal.

"i also told jiyeon!" you blurted, desperate to deflect.

"you said you knew nothing," mayu accused, turning to jiyeon.

"because i thought y/n wanted to keep it a secret!" jiyeon defended herself.

"i still do! nien just happened to see me with her," you admitted reluctantly.

"so it's a her," dahyun said, smirking.

you cursed internally at your slip-up.

"yes, but i'm not telling you who," you said firmly.

"but nien knows?" xinyu pressed.

"she only knows because she saw us together," you said quickly.

"i get wanting to keep it a secret," mayu said, crossing her arms, "but we're your closest friends. you can't even tell us?"

"nien, you can tell me," xinyu whispered, leaning toward her. "i swear i won't say anything."

"i just became friends with y/n," nien said, raising her hands in mock defense. "i am not betraying her this fast."

"i'll tell y'all eventually," you said, eventually as when you acquire enough evidence to expose yunjin.

"okay, i'll respect your wishes and wait," mayu said, leaning back in her chair with a dramatic sigh.

"you better tell us soon," seoyeon chimed in, giving you a pointed look.

"i will, trust," you reassured her.

xinyu, scanning the room, raised an eyebrow. "so, is there enough drinks for the rest of us?"

"who said you were invited?" you shot back, smirking.

"it's my house," xinyu said, rolling her eyes.

"oh yeah-you right," you conceded.

dahyun, who had been leaning against the couch beside you, suddenly perked up. "i haven't seen you in so long! let's hang out."

"fine. i guess i did miss my friends," you finally said with a sigh sitting up causing nien to remove her arm from around your shoulders.

"guess our time alone is up," she said, her voice teasing but soft.

"it was nice while it lasted," you replied, giving her a small grin before turning to your friends.

the group settled around the living room. nien was still sitting beside you, though she kept a respectful distance now that the others were around. the group grew louder as you all gathered the cards and started to set up a game. laughter filled the room, and for the first time in a while, it almost felt like everything was normal again.

seoyeon, ever the competitive one, was quick to start up a bet on who would win the first round, and xinyu was already arguing over the rules with dahyun.

but even as you laughed and played along, your mind kept drifting back to yunjin. you caught yourself staring off a few times, the memory of what you saw earlier still fresh in your mind. and though you enjoyed the company of your friends, there was a feeling you couldn't shake.

"you good?" nien's voice broke through your thoughts, her gaze soft as she noticed the change in your expression.

"yeah," you said quickly, forcing a smile. "just... thinking."

"you sure?" she asked, her eyes lingering on you for a moment before the others called her attention. you could see the concern flicker in her eyes, but she didn't press.

eventually, the game wrapped up, and the group settled down, catching up on the little things, like schoolwork and random stories. for a moment, you could almost pretend that things were simpler than they were.

later, you found yourself in the kitchen with mayu, refilling your cup while the muffled laughter of the others echoed in the background. she leaned against the counter, watching you curiously as you poured.

"i've come to a conclusion," you said, setting your cup down.

mayu raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "and that is?" she prompted, gesturing for you to go on.

"maybe nien's not that bad," you shrugged nonchalantly.

mayu scoffed, shaking her head. "i thought you said you didn't have to become friends with her just because everyone else is."

"why would i not like her? i never even really got the chance to get to know her properly," you said, putting on an exaggerated, mock-distressed tone.

before you could finish your rant, mayu cut you off, a knowing smirk creeping across her face. "so you think she's hot."

you rolled your eyes but decided to elaborate anyway, trying to sound as casual as possible. "it's not just about that. i mean, yeah, she's cute, but her personality's actually way better than i thought it would be. she's easy to talk to, funny, and... i don't know, not as bad as i imagined at first. she's actually pretty fun to hang out with too."

mayu leaned back in her seat, clearly ignoring everything you said as if she had already made up her mind. "yeah, okay, so you think she's hot."

you groaned, crossing your arms. "seriously, that's all you're getting out of this?"

"i mean.." mayu shrugged, grinning. "it's all you're giving me."

"i'm telling you there's more to it than that!" you rolled your eyes.

"sure," mayu said with a teasing smile, clearly satisfied with her conclusions. "but, like, i'm right, aren't i?"

you groaned again, you weren't getting anywhere talking to her. before you could come up with a retort, xinyu and jiyeon wandered into the kitchen, cups in hand.

"hey, you good tonight, y/n?" xinyu asked, her brow furrowed slightly. "don't think we didn't notice how off you seemed earlier."

you hesitated for a moment before sighing. "i'm fine. i've just been going through it lately. that's why i haven't been around much."

jiyeon placed a comforting hand on your arm, her voice gentle. "you know we're here for you, right? whenever you're ready to talk."

"yeah, seriously," xinyu added, her usual teasing tone replaced with sincerity.

you nodded, giving them a small smile. "thanks, guys. i'll tell you soon, i promise. just... not tonight."

"whenever you want," mayu said softly, her teasing demeanor gone for the moment.

the conversation shifted to lighter topics as you all rejoined the others in the living room. the laughter and warmth of your friends slowly chipped away at the heaviness you'd been carrying. for the first time in what felt like forever, you allowed yourself to relax, to just exist in the moment without overthinking.

at one point, you caught nien's gaze from across the room. she offered you a small, knowing smile, one that felt like quiet reassurance. you returned it, grateful for her presence.

the night faded into the early hours, the group's energy eventually winding down. and as you sat there, surrounded by the people who cared about you, you couldn't help but feel a sliver of hope. maybe things weren't perfect, but they didn't have to be. you weren't alone. not tonight. not with nien. not with your friends.

and for now, that was enough.

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