Invisible String || PURINZ

05 • memory lane

Yunjin was dead-set on ignoring Yena. In fact, she hadn't even looked back once. It annoyed Chaewon relentlessly when she was like this: was it that hard to just play pretend for an hour?

Every time she brought her girlfriend along, she felt like her best friend was slipping away. But each time they arrived home, Yunjin acted like she hadn't ignored her all day long.

"You okay, babe?" Yena asked softly.

Chaewon looked to her side. She gave a small nod and put up her best smile. "Yeah. We're almost there, which flavour did you want?"

When she looked up at the path before them, she paused. They had been walking for a while, and Chaewon finally understood why.

This used to be her favourite ice cream shop.

"Hazelnut and... pistachio." Yena decided.

The store still looked the same. Their table was still in the far corner, and Chaewon could feel how it was to meet Huh Yunjin the second time.

She followed the others inside. They ordered (Chaewon had to ask for Yena's order again because she wasn't listening), and sat down at the table that used to be theirs. The shop owner was pleased to see them again.

"Remember when Kazuha was new and Wony started telling her all about Yunjin's group? We didn't even recognise you at first." Sakura chuckled, patting the girl's shoulder.

Yunjin sighed dramatically. "I recognised you guys. I don't blame you, though. I'd been in America for a while."

"It's because you were always hiding your face!" Chaewon protested.

Her best friend shrugged. "I lived incognito."

"No fair!"

"So fair!"

The bickering went back and forth until Chaewon decided it was time to eat her mint chocolate ice cream.

After a few bites, the girl stuck her spoon in her ice cream and looked around the table. Sakura had finally gotten her 'Rainbow Road' ice cream, and Eunchae was enjoying the very same flavour. Kazuha had a mango sorbet, and Yunjin was eating a spoonful of Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream.

Chaewon was eyeing her best friend's delicious-looking ice cream. Turns out, Yunjin was doing the very same. Their eyes locked, and all they needed was a nod.

Yunjin took the spoon from Chaewon's ice cream, and took a large bite.

"Oh, that is good." She hummed.

"Oh, brain– brain freeze, that's too much. Oh, ouch."

Chaewon let out the ugliest snort known to man. It was followed by a fit of laughter from the others, except Yena– who seemed to be fixated on Chaewon's spoon in Yunjin's hand.

The short girl had to wipe away tears of laughter before she could snatch Yunjin's cup of ice cream from her. "My turn." She said.

Whilst she savoured the flavours, Sakura was smiling widely. "Remember when you guys couldn't stand each other? You told her we'd be trying out for auditions. I'm pretty sure her whole world came crashing down," She chuckled.

"Can you blame me? She's a heathen, she's taken five bites out of my ice cream!" Yunjin complained.

Chaewon shrugged before giving it back. "I was only snappy because you were. I always thought you were–"

She paused.

This floor's 'hot girl' was what Chaewon always told Wonyoung.

My hallway crush was what she told Sakura.

Thank God they never found out she meant Yunjin.

"Go on, butter me up." The girl urged, wiggling her eyebrows.

She earned a slap on her arm from Chaewon. "Don't be so vile!" She groaned.

Her ears were noticeably pink. She focused on her ice cream, praying her girlfriend wouldn't notice. Or anyone, for that matter.

Once they were done discussing their trainee times, Sakura chatted with Yena about her solo career.

Then it was time to say bye.

"It's been fun, thank you," Yena gave a small bow. They were outside the shop, and she had ordered an uber. The girls had decided on walking back.

"I'll see you soon, Chae?" She asked.

Chaewon nodded. The girl pecked her cheek, since kissing in public spaces was off-limits. Or a death wish.

They waved her off until she looked like an ant in the far distance. The road back wasn't too long, which Chaewon was grateful for because her feet were killing her.

The first five minutes were quiet. Chaewon and Yunjin were a little behind the others.

"About... back then," Yunjin started softly.

"You do know I never actually hated you, right? I couldn't. Not you."

Chaewon looked up. She felt... weird. It was like her heart was beating slower, and more comfortably. It was just them in their little bubble.

"I never hated you either." She quietly replied.

"You just... you scared me. Ever since Produce, there's just been this..." Chaewon watched Yunjin struggle to find the words she wanted to say.

Without any thought, she took her best friend's hand in her own. "It's okay, Jin, really. It's in the past, it wasn't even bothering me. We're here now, right?" Chaewon smiled.

Yunjin chuckled softly. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

The smile on Yunjin's face was something that always burned itself into Chaewon's mind whenever she saw it. It was the smile she loved seeing the most.

"You're corny," Chaewon grinned.

"You love it." Yunjin stuck her tongue out.

They didn't let go of each other until they reached their front door.

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