Manager Maknae (ChaeTzu / ChaeYu)

Chapter 9. The Unavoidable Aftermath

Tzuyu was miserable.

She woke up the next morning at 11AM with memories of what occurred the night before. She really hoped it was all a dream but the hangover said otherwise. She saw that before Jihyo left, she put a little note with a cup of water and Advil. She slowly arose from her bed and noticed she was still wearing her clothes from last night but it seemed that Jihyo wiped the make up off her face. She took the water and Advil before getting up and changing out of the get up that kept reminding her of what she had done. After she changed into more comfortable clothes, she dragged herself to her main living area and saw that the clothes that Jihyo brought were gone so she probably took them with her.

Thank god...I don't need more things to remind me of last night...Tzuyu thought as she took out a bowl, a box of Cheerios, and poured milk into both the cereal and a glass cup. She walked over to her couch, turned on the T.V, and ate even though she wasn't really hungry. She did her best to ignore the lingering memories and thoughts in the back of her head but nothing worked...

"Why...why did I do that? Why did I do that?" She quietly sobbed, the regret and fear that consumed her finally let out in tears that dropped onto her lap.

Just as she was about to break down even more, she heard a knock on her door. She wiped her tears and made her way to the door, she looked through the peephole and saw it was Mina and Jeongyeon. She opened the door and they smiled sympathetically.

"How are you feeling, kiddo?" Jeongyeon asked as Tzuyu quietly let both of them in. 

"...I don't know...fine I guess..." Tzuyu said quietly as they all sat on her couch.

"We brought donuts," Mina said, showing her a bag, "That is, if you want some...I see you've got your cereal."

"No, no, it's ok, I can eat both," Tzuyu sighed and they gave her a chocolate glazed donut. 

"...so...do you remember last night?" Jeongyeon asked cautiously and when she did the memories of last night came back again.

"I...yeah..." Tzuyu managed to say as a lump of emotions yelled up in her throat.

"I see...here," Jeongyeon said as she gave her friend a hug, Mina too, "Everything's going to be alright."

"You ran out pretty fast," Mina said softly, "Chae was confused and quiet for the rest of the night."

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...I just got caught up in the moment...and I shouldn't have just dropped it on her," Tzuyu shook her head and her hair covered her face, "She probably doesn't think I mean it too...I was drunk...she was drunk..."

"Oh no, she told us everything and we confirmed that you like her," Jeongyeon said and Tzuyu groaned.

"Great...now this will probably ruin our friendship because she doesn't feel the same way!" Tzuyu began to sob again and the others just held her tighter.

"Hey, hey, hey, you don't know that!" Jeongyeon said, "Here, how about this, we spend the rest of the day having fun, huh? Distract your mind a little until you can fully process everything."

"...Okay," Tzuyu relucatantly agreed and the three of them spent the rest of the day binge watching all of the Avengers movies and ordering take out.

The next few weeks were torture. 

Tzuyu actively avoided as much interaction with Chaeyoung. The shorter girl seemed to be trying to talk to her but Tzuyu always made up an excuse or just plain ran. She knew what she was doing was dumb, stupid, and maybe even a little rude...but she was too afraid. The one time she was as bold as Chaeyoung would be the last time. She was out of "bold" for the rest of the month. They got through the comeback, it was awkward and tense in the dressing rooms but they all managed. Nayeon was understanding of the situation at first but she finally voiced her annoyance by the third week.

"Jihyo, I can't take it anymore," Nayeon entered the CEO's office, unannounced but Jihyo didn't mind.

"They still haven't talked or anything?" the young CEO sighed and Nayeon shook her head exasperatedly. 

"I really just want to lock them in a room again and force them to talk but Tzuyu doesn't hangout as much anymore," Nayeon groaned.

"I think I have an idea..." Jihyo stood up, "You have that mini tour around SOuth Korea, right? Let's make them have the same hotel room."

"Oh? But they can get out of their own hotel room," Nayeon stated and Jihyo shook her head.

"Not if all the rooms are booked and we confront them!" Jihyo waved a finger in the air.

"Eh...I guess it could work, we've tried everything else," Nayeon stated and Jihyo raised a skeptical eyebrow at the idol, "everything else" could mean anything from asking them to talk to faking to be the other person when it comes to Nayeon.

"It'll work," Jihyo nods as she sits back down, "It has to."

And so, Nayeon and the others endured the tension for another few weeks until her national tour. When they arrived in Busan, Jeongyeon immediately gave everyone their room keycards and numbers. When Tzuyu looked down at her keycard she saw the number 218, she glanced over at Chaeyoung and saw the same number. Feelings of anxiety and dread swirled within her as she approached the smaller girl.

"Hey...uh...I guess we're sharing the same room...I can ask Mina to switch if you want..." Tzuyu said quietly and she avoided Chaeyoung's eyes. 

"Nope, not happening," Nayeon interrupted and the two looked to her, "You're staying in the same room and talking this out."

"We tried looking you in a room again; didn't work. We tried making you guys walk into each other at HQ; didn't work. We tried kidnapping Chaeyoung and dropping her off at Tzuyu's; didn't work," Jeongyeon started and Mina, Sana, and Tzuyu frowned at the last one.

"Wait, you guys were kidnapping me last week?" Chaeyoung asked, "We were but then Jihyo called and yelled at us."

"It was our last try," Nayeon shrugged, "Now you two are going talk about this whole shabang and share whatever feelings and thoughts you have like adults!" 

And so, their unnies walked off with their heads held high. Before the elevator doors closed, Nayeon gave them a stern look and then a thumbs up with a confident smile.

"I guess...I've avoided this long enough," Tzuyu sighed, and they quietly entered another elevator to their floor and room.

Tonight was going to be very interesting.