Invisible String || PURINZ

05 • memory lane

Chaewon kept her eyes pinned on their hands. "They're... fine. Sometimes I miss them too. But I see most of them around, really. Just last week Sakura, Wonyoung, Yujin, Chaeyeon and I went out for–" She paused.

The girl finally looked at Yena. The adoration in her eyes had disappeared. "That was the day you had promotions, otherwise I'd have–"

"It's okay, I know." The other whispered, turning her head away.

They spent the next half hour chatting away about things that she wouldn't even remember the next day.

That was until Sakura texted Chaewon. She'd have given the girl a million kisses if she was here: the changing rooms were starting to feel claustrophobic.

Miyasaki: We're about to leave. Are you tagging along?

Chae: are u paying for my ice cream?

Miyasaki: I'll think about it.

Chae: expect a +1, love you!

"The girls are leaving. Do you want to come along to the park?" Chaewon asked, looking up from her phone.

She was met with Yena's eager face. She seemed happy that she was finally being asked to come along. Chaewon wished she could share the feeling.

"Yeah, of course. I've missed Sakura." Her girlfriend smiled.

So have I, the other thought.

"I'm sure she's missed you too. She asked about you the other day," Chaewon hummed.

She got up and pulled Yena along with her. "I think she'll be excited to see you." She added.

The girl behind her hummed. They turned the very same corners that Chaewon had already explored when she was searching for the changing room until they met her members.

If she hadn't been dating Yena for this long already, she'd have wished to sink into the ground. The girls were in the hallway having a heated discussion about who did and did not wear socks inside the dorms.

Chaewon cleared her throat. She felt Yena's grip tighten around her hand, and understandably so: they looked incredibly intimidating during a debate.

Yunjin was the first to look at their leader. "Oh, Chae-chae, tell them I always wear socks! I hate having cold feet." She groaned.

"Chae? Yena! Oh, how have you been?" Sakura sang, almost jumping into the girl's arms.

Chaewon was still stuck on 'Chae-chae'.

"Oh, I've been fine. I was just telling Chae how much I missed our IZ*ONE days." Yena laughed gently and politely.

A few pats on her shoulder from Kazuha snapped Chaewon right out of her trance. "I heard you're paying for the ice cream?" The Japanese girl hummed, wiggling her eyebrows.

"That wasn't the deal!" Chaewon growled, her head snapping towards Sakura.

The girl simply shrugged. "You decided to bring a guest, you're paying." She smirked.

Before she could object, the girls hurried out the hallway and towards the main hall– and exit.

—x—

If she had to pick one word to describe their current situation it would be 'awkward'. Yena clung to Chaewon's side as they walked through the narrow walkway of the park. Sakura and Eunchae didn't seem to pay much mind to them, but Kazuha and Yunjin were occasionally whispering.