6 Chapter 5

The air inside the studio was heavy but Sakura felt light as she watches Chaeyeon dance. Her eyes couldn't move away from the girl to the other dancers beside the feather and she wondered why Chaeyeon ever thought she was unnoticeable. It's Friday and this is their last go of the choreo. Sakura decided to spend time with her best friend because she wouldn't be able to tomorrow with her attending the class she missed.

Sakura was a second late in noticing that the song had finish so did their dance. Her eyes stuck to Chaeyeon like a leech and she certainly didn't miss the way her best friend's shirt raise up as she try to wipe her face with the collar. She registered the lines of Chaeyeon's abs. A heat crawled up her spine, to her head, then back down on the lower portion of stomach. Her brows furrowed at the new feeling. She forced herself to look away and took deep breaths when she succeeded.

"Wow... Chaeyeon-unnie is really amazing," Chaewon whispered beside her. Sakura gave her a glance before averting her eyes to Chaeyeon.

"She is."

The said girl walked up to them with a shy smile. As if on instinct, she took Chaeyeon's towel placed atop her bag and began patting Chaeyeon's face. Only then she realize what she'd done when Chaeyeon held her hands to take over. She dropped her arms and ignored the gaze she can feel from Chaewon. She can almost see at her peripheral that the girl is smirking.

Eunbi appeared and patted Chaeyeon's back. "You did great there, as always. We can go home now. No need for you to stay." Eunbi faced Sakura. "Make sure she heads home."

Sakura nodded repeatedly at Eunbi with an approving hum. She faced back Chaeyeon to give her a pointed look. The woman replied with a sheepish smile.

"Why don't we all go together," said Momo, emerging out of nowhere. Her muscly arms visible in her loose black tank top.

They all agreed and after cleaning up the studio they headed home. After arriving at the house building of the dance majors, Eunbi and Momo said their goodbyes to Chaewon and Sakura. Chaeyeon lingered.

"Meet me at the vending machine over there," said Chaewon and walked away to give the two some privacy.

"No goodbye hugs for now," said Chaeyeon. "I didn't change." She scrunched her face in a way Sakura found adorable.

"It's not like I mind... but okay." Her eyes raked over Chaeyeon's physique and her stomach involuntarily tightened as she remember Chaeyeon's abs. She took a step forward, planted her hands there and tiptoed to kiss Chaeyeon on her cheek. "Take care of yourself. Don't want you getting sick again."

"I assure you, it won't happen again." Chaeyeon averted her eyes away as she mumble, "The only reason I got sick because I slept with you."

Sakura jerked back to gauge Chaeyeon. "What?" she asked with not-so-innocent thoughts running in her mind. She didn't miss Chaeyeon's blush.

"I... after you fell asleep, I took a nap beside you. I guess that's why I got sick."

"Oh..." It was Sakura's turn to blush. She looked away when Chaeyeon took in her face. "Ne–never do that again–I mean sleep beside me when I'm sick. You can–you can always sleep with me but uh... just, when I'm not sick."

"Okay..." Chaeyeon moved closer to Sakura. "Are you okay, Saku-chan? You look pinkish, you're not falling back to sickness aren't you?"

"No, I'm fine!" Her voice cracked in higher pitch when Chaeyeon leaned forward. Oh no she's doing the Japanese way and my heart won't stop beating fast.

With their foreheads joined, Chaeyeon whispered, "You smell nice, Saku-chan."

"Tha–thanks..."

Chaeyeon moved away a little before planting a kiss on Sakura's forehead. "You're a little bit hot but you'll be fine."

***

Chaewon was wearing a smirk when Sakura met up with her. "What?" she asked in faux tired voice. Her insides are jumping and her heart hasn't stopped beating fast yet.

"You two looked intimate there," said Chaewon, her voice oozed with tease. She handed Sakura a carton of strawberry milk.

Sakura poked in the straw then took a heartfelt sipped. "What part?" she asked.

"Tell me, how did Chaeyeon unnie's abs feel?"

The milk went up in a wrong pipe. Sakura coughed and glared at Chaewon.

"What? You think I wouldn't notice?" Chaewon raised her brows at Sakura before throwing an empty bottle of apple juice inside a trash bin. Then she started their path to their dorm.

"Should I answer that?" Sakura asked behind Chaewon.

"It's fine, I'll save you from embarrassment."

***

Sakura's locker rattled as she close it with rush. She smiled remembering Chaeyeon's text message.

Chaeyeon-chan: Good morning, Saku-chan. I hope your supplementary class goes well. Anyways, if you can finish early, let's say in the early afternoon, text me. I'm visiting home today, and I would like for you to accompany me. My sisters are dying to meet you.

"What's with the rush, Miyawaki-san?" Sakura faced Hwang Kwanghee and gave him a smile she had been holding. He and his partner also did a makeup class.

"I have somewhere to go," she said through her smile. Her hands itched to take her phone as she waited for his reply.

"Well, I don't like to hold you back any longer but I was wondering uh... if you're available tomorrow?"

"For?" Sakura asked but she already know what for. It's not new for her to be ask out on date but it never gets easy nor comfortable. She recalled the last love letter she received, she forgot to talk to Chaeyeon about. She decided she would try not to forget later.

Hwang rubbed his nape. His eyes fleeted nervously. "We can watch a movie or eat somewhere fancy, my treat."

Sakura was about to give an excuse when Chaewon butted in. "Unnie! I think it's the time of the month, help me!" She dragged Sakura away from the man who she gave an apologetic smile.

Outside the lab, Sakura bowed to Chaewon gratefully. "Thank you so much, Chaewon-ah."

"It's my pleasure honestly. I don't want you to go on a date other than you know," Chaewon winked and waved her brows but failed.

"Well, I don't know how to feel about that. Thank you for your help but I hope next time you don't do it because of that reason, please don't obsess with the idea of me and Chaeyeon... I don't know if we'll still be together in the future." She sighed sadly. She looked at Chaewon and felt a rush of guilt seeing the girl with a solemn expression.

"You're right. My bad. But please cheer up, you've got somewhere to be remember?" Chaewon patted Sakura's shoulder who instantly lit up.

Sakura took her phone from her pocket and sent a text with rapid fingers. When she faced Chaewon, her smile went up to her ears. "Gotta go!"

***

"Saku-chan," said Chaeyeon when she opened her door. They were wearing identical smile even though Sakura is catching her breath. She gestured for Sakura to go inside. "You should rest in a minute, you didn't have to run you know." Chaeyeon chuckled.

"But I'm so excited!" She jumped into Chaeyeon's arms when the door closed behind her. She leaned back to look at Chaeyeon. "Tell me, what are they like? Are we talking about the same house you grew up with? Are Eomma and Appa Lee going to be there?"

Chaeyeon giggled and lifted Sakura who squealed in delight. She let Chaeyeon carry her to the stool. She sat down but kept her arms closed around Chaeyeon's shoulders.

"Chaeryeong is kind of shy at first and Chaemin will ask you a lot of question. Sadly, no, it is our new house. And yes Eomma and Appa will be there. And don't forget about Chaeri, my beautiful baby." Chaeyeon squeezed Sakura's arms before removing them to get a glass of water for Sakura.

"Baby? Chaeri?"

Chaeyeon laughed seeing Sakura's adorable confused face. "Chaeri is my dog."

"Ahh... I'm excited to meet Chaeri." She accepted the glass of water and drank it quickly. "Let's go!"

"How many times have you ridden the subway?" Chaeyeon asked as they sat inside the subway train. Sakura rested her head on Chaeyeon's shoulder comfortably. She also hugged the dancer's arm. They receive glances from now and then but they ignore it.

"This is my second time," Sakura whispered. Her breath hitting the side of Chaeyeon's neck.

"Really?"

"Really." Sakura took Chaeyeon's hand and intertwined it with hers. She knows that they probably look like a couple from other's perspective but she didn't care and was too comfortable to move. Chaeyeon doesn't seem to mind also, giving Sakura's hand a squeeze in acknowledgement.

"I haven't got the chance to ride it until now," said Sakura a while later. Her eyes were closed, highly aware of her sense of touch. Chaeyeon is warm and soft and Sakura never want to move away nor let go of her hand.

Chaeyeon's voice was gentle when she replied. "You're free to go home with me anytime."

Sakura lifted her head and looked at Chaeyeon with hooded eyes. "Hontou ni?"

"Yes." She gently urged Sakura to lay her head back down on her shoulder. "Maybe we could watch a movie someday, but I think you would prefer PC Bang don't you?"

"That's right. I would like to go out with you."

Sakura meant what it usually meant. She waited for Chaeyeon's reaction but the woman was indifferent. Maybe she didn't think about it the way I did.

"Hello, Eomma!" Chaeyeon was engulfed in a hug as soon as the door opened.

"Chaeyeon, my child. Oh! You brought a friend. And she's very pretty!" Chaeyeon's mom pulled away to hug Sakura. Chaeyeon gave Sakura an apologetic smile behind her mother. Then the woman looking very much like her daughter gauge Sakura, then she hummed in recognition. "Are you Sakura?"

Sakura nodded and answered, "Hai."

"Finally, I got to meet you. My daughter talks about you a lot." She gestured for Sakura to come inside. "Go meet you father in the living room with your sisters, I'll just check the cafe." Chaeyeon's mom step outside and gave Sakura a smile before closing the door.

"Cafe?" Sakura asked as she remove her shoes.

"Yup, we have a cafe. We can visit it later before going back to school."

"I'm thrilled," Sakura smiled and let Chaeyeon take her hand.

"Appa!" Chaeyeon called as soon as they entered the living room.

A kind looking man stood up with a fond look on his face. "Chaeyeon-ah, my pride and wonder!" She embraced her daughter in a hug that made Sakura think about having a father. She quickly repealed the thought and forced a smile as she watch them. Seeing Chaeyeon's delighted face, her smile turned genuine.

Then she heard, "Chaeyeon noona!" A small girl popped behind Chaeyeon's father. She was cute and also identical to Chaeyeon.

Chaeyeon knelt down and hugged the girl. "Chaemin-ah, I miss you." She peppered the girl's face with kisses and her cute giggles filled the room with joy. When Chaeyeon let go of Chaemin, the girl stared at Sakura with awe. "Beautiful woman!"

Chaeyeon chuckled as Sakura knelt down beside her with a blush. "Hello, my name is Sakura. Nice to meet you, Chaemin, you look much cuter than your sister had described you." Sakura's smile grew when Chaeyeon playfully bumped her shoulder.

Chaemin covered her face in adorable shyness. "Thank you, pretty unnie."

"Sakura, huh?" Chaeyeon's father spoke. Sakura stood up and took in his warm smile. "You're my daughter's besteu chingu?"

"Ah... hai!"

"I see... Nice to meet you. Thank you for being kind to my daughter." He said and held out his hand.

Sakura shook his surprisingly soft and warm hand. "She's also been very kind to me, sir. She had helped me a lot without expecting something in return and is always there for me when I needed her. I would be very proud if she was my daughter, sir, she's truly an amazing person."

The smile of Chaeyeon's father widened and he looked back and forth between her daughter and Sakura then nodded. "I'll get something we can eat and drink at the cafe, be right back."

"Thank you, Saku-chan. You didn't have to say those things, but I appreciate it. I think you're amazing too."

Just as Chaeyeon and Sakura sat down on the comfy sofa (Chaemin sat beside Sakura, still enamored with her beauty). Chaeryeong appeared going down the stairs. "Unnie!" she beamed and quickened her steps but stopped when she realized they have company. "He—hello..."

Sakura stood up. "Hi, thanks for having me. I'm Sakura, Chaeyeon's friend."

"Best friend," Chaeyeon added as she stand up and went to hug her sister.

"Nice to meet you, I heard a lot of things about you." Chaeryeong gave an uneasy smile. Chaeyeon led her to sit next to Sakura, she gave her unnie a nervous look.

"Sakura...san? You are Japanese, right?" Chaeryeong asked as she continue to send Chaeyeon help me glances.

"Yes, but don't worry I can understand Korean." Sakura gave her a reassuring smile.

Sooner than later, Chaeryeong grew comfortable with Sakura. She learned that Sakura has trouble making friends even though she's not as shy when meeting a person. They talked easily even when Chaeyeon had to use the bathroom.

"How did you meet noona Chaeyeon?" Chaeryeong asked.

An automatic smile blossomed on Sakura's face as she recall their first interaction. "I was new at the university. With, you can say insufficient, skill in Korean. I got lost and in a verge of hyperventilating, always happen to me at difficult situations, but then your sister appeared like an angel coming down from heaven and helped me. I was surprised by her fluency in Japanese, she took her time to explain everything to me as she tour me around the school. I was touched by her kindness. She gave me a good impression of Koreans, I thought it was normal for Koreans to do such thing, but I soon discovered that it was only Chaeyeon. She's the only one who would do such kind and generous thing. I'm still amazed by her skill in Japanese language. I don't know how she got that good."

Chaeryeong stared at her with a proud expression. "Chaeyeon unnie, has always been that kind and there are times when I get worried that it will put her in disadvantage but then I thought, Chaeyeon unnie wouldn't worry about such thing because to her everybody deserves kindness from the world, I hope that includes herself. And about Chaeyeon's fluency in Japanese, we actually went to Japan when I was still a baby. She spent two years of her childhood there."

An image flashed behind Sakura's eyes. The similar zeal, the similar feeling of being pulled, is Chaeyeon...the girl in her dreams?

"How old was she?" she asked her voice wavering.

"Hmm... about 7 to 9, I guess."

Sakura gasped. Chaeryeong gave her a questioning look then Chaeyeon showed up beside Chaeryeong. "Wanna check out my room, Saku-chan?"

Sakura stared at her. The smile on Chaeyeon's face looked way too familiar. Her vision started to wither and she watches Chaeyeon hold her hand out to her. "Come."

She took it and as soon as she stood up, her knees buckled and she blacked out.