Citrus

Chapter 37

"Are you fucking serious!? Why does it have to rain!? Jeez!" Momo whined as they ran back inside the stall. Their uniforms got damped from the rain, especially Nayeon, who slowly walked as she sulked.

Inside the stall, Jihyo was compensated on what charms she would buy: strengthen relationship charm or long lasting beauty charm. Sana glanced over her, who was also confused on what to buy. Nayeon, on the other hand, was leaning on the wall at the corner away from her friends.

I'm lying to myself about my feelings and also constantly questioning how Jeongyeon feels.  She remembered what happened last night when they talked. She remembered that she was about to confess when Jeongyeon cut her off. Of course empty words would never reach her. Then, she remembered Jeongyeon's question to her, "What do you think of me?"

She hesitated at first, but she finally built her courage to confess and stood up from leaning on the wall with determined eyes. I have to tell Jeongyeon!

Just when she was about to go out, a string with a red charm attached to the end appeared in front of her. When she looked at who was holding it, she frowned.

"Hey, Nayeon-ah." "Im Nayeon-ssi"

Momo and Jihyo called at the same time. Jihyo was holding the charm in front of Nyeon's face while Momo was holding her left hand, sneaking a charm beneath it. Jihyo did the same with the the charm she's holding.

"It's matching charms." Jihyo explained after giving Nayeon the long lasting beauty charm as she held hers up. "It says our bond will be strengthened if you each keep a part of the pair. Nayeon looked at them confusedly, especially Jihyo since she thought the pigtail girl hated her. "Don't assume things. I accidentally purchased too many, so I suppose I'll give you one, too!" She defensively exclaimed.

"God, Park Jihyo, listen to yourself!" Sana interfered as Mina and her approached them.

"You purposely picked a pattern that would match Nayeon unnie's style." Mina added and the Japanese trio laughed.

"N-no! I-I did no such thing!" She stuttered and blushed. "I didn't pick it out! I just realized that I already happened to buy a charm with a pattern that would look good for Nayeon unnie!" She added and glared at the three.

Nayeon was flustered. She didn't know Jihyo actually cares for her (that she gave her a charm that would make her more beautiful). She glanced at the four before she checked the charms she received. Momo gave her a friendship charm that she chipped in with Sana and Mina as they also bought theirs. Basically, five of them, including Jeongyeon, had the relationship charm since Jihyo bought one for the latter.

"Yeah, yeah. We get it." Momo teased the flustered Jihyo.

"Thank you, girls!" Nayeon said that made the four look at her. She smiled. "This really gives me courage!" Momo, Jihyo, and Mina smiled back at her. "Where did Sana go?"

~~~~

On the other side of the stall, Jeongyeon was standing while holding Yeonie when someone called for her.

"Jeongyeon-ssi! There you are!" Tzuyu waved while running towards her. Jeongyeon quickly hid Yeonie in her pocket and faced the tall girl. "Everyone's on the other side so I was looking for you over there. " Tzuyu panted and stood up straight. "You're not praying for any relationships?" She asked.

"No. I just don't believe in such unreliable things." Jeongyeon simply answered and hung her head low.

"I'll go straight to the point, Jeongyeon-ssi. Chaeyoung likes you." The older girl quickly turned her head to Tzuyu after hearing what the tall girl uttered. "So if you're not with anyone, then would you consider having a relationship with her?" Tzuyu genuinely smiled as she asked.