Once is a Coincidence

Part 8

Mina's eyes widened upon hearing the first part, "Wait, hold on... Momo's dating Dahyun?"

Jihyo chuckled, "Where have you been? You know, we should probably just go down to lunch. Our groups are most likely together, talking about them at this very moment."

Jihyo was right. As Mina and Jihyo arrived at the cafeteria, Momo's group was already at their table. The awkward tension filling the whole scene. Mina didn't really want to approach them, knowing how awkward she was even just observing from afar. However, Jihyo enthusiastically grabbed Mina's hand and headed over to the table.

"Guess we're late to the party. What's the commotion about?" Jihyo awkwardly smiled. Momo just smirked at the sight of Mina's crumbling expression of discomfort. Nayeon's eyes went from Mina to Momo, noticing the obvious tension between them. She suspiciously eyed Mina's wandering eyes, not able to meet Momo's.

"Well, since Dahyun's my girlfriend now..." Momo swung her arm around Dahyun, who was sitting next to Nayeon. Momo remained standing near the table, along with Tzuyu and Sana right behind her. Their positions note that they arrived not long ago. 

"...I think our groups should hang out more. To start it off, maybe we could sit together during lunch?" Momo proposed. Mina became anxious at her bold suggestion. She felt like something was off. It didn't feel right. She had never seen Momo and Dahyun talk and everything just seemed so... rushed. 

Nayeon raised an eyebrow, "Why do we need to? You and Dahyun could date outside of school. But to join our two groups? Isn't that unnecessary?"

Momo's eye twitched, "Unnecessary? Why, Nayeon? Do you have a problem with us wanting to be near each other during lunch?"

Dahyun could literally feel the ice forming between the glaring competition of the two older girls on either side. She bit her lip in the dilemma. Momo secretly kicked Dahyun's foot from under the table. Dahyun looked at the blonde who just gave her a 'help-me-out' look.

Dahyun took a breath and nodded, "Nayeon unnie, Momo's right... We don't have any classes together, so lunch is the only time we get to see each other. Since all of us have the same lunch, we should all just sit together because..." Dahyun looked at Momo who gave her a look of approval, "...we don't want to choose between our friends and each other. It would be like choosing between your family and lover."

Jihyo, Chaeyoung, and Mina looked to Nayeon. The latter was obviously still disapproving with the whole setup, but nonetheless, she decided to go against her will, "Fine, but only because I care for Dahyun. I'd do anything for her happiness."

Mina frowned. What was this feeling? She felt her heart being crushed to pieces by those words that weren't even directed towards her. Was she perhaps... jealous?

Momo smiled gratefully until Nayeon spoke again.

"Don't you dare hurt her, Momo. I'm watching you," She muttered between her gritted teeth. Momo smirked, "You can count on that," She smiled at Mina, who just forced a smile back. 

Dahyun shot a secret glance at Nayeon, but immediately looked away when she saw the latter already staring at her. She felt shy all of a sudden. If only you knew why I was doing this... Dahyun thought.

Flashback:

"Y-you..." Dahyun's tears slowly dried as she stopped crying. 

"Finally, you stopped crying. I tried to tell you that people were giving us weird looks. They probably thought I was making you cry," The girl shook her head in shame as she wiped Dahyun's tears with her bare fingers.