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5

The scent of coffee pulled me from sleep.  Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air.  Oh, right.  The sofa.

"Hey, good morning," a voice said, soft as a whisper.

I opened my eyes, the sight of Chaeyoung sitting on the arm of the sofa a welcome surprise.  She held two steaming mugs.

"Good morning," I replied, a smile warming my face.

"Coffee?" she offered, her eyes sparkling.

"Thanks," I murmured, taking the mug.  The familiar aroma was a comfort, a grounding presence after the unsettling events of the past few days.

She settled beside me, the warmth of her body a subtle comfort.  The first sip of her coffee was pure bliss; the rich, smooth taste banished the lingering unease that had clung to me.

"Sorry I slept in your room," she said, her voice barely a whisper.  "Guess I drank too much last night."  She looked down, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"You were really wasted last night," I said, my voice gentle. "And your room was locked, so I let you sleep in mine."

"Yeah, I guess it's tiger instinct?" she joked, a playful glint in her eyes.

I chuckled. "The hell is that?"

"Thanks for changing my clothes, and sorry," she murmured, her embarrassment palpable.

"Ah... um, no problem," I mumbled, looking away to hide the blush creeping up my neck.

She laughed, a melodic sound that chased away the lingering shadows.

"I miss this," I said, lifting my mug.

"What?"

"Your coffee," I clarified, a hint of something more in my voice.

"Oh, I thought it was me," she replied, her smile playful, yet tinged with something deeper.

"Idiot," I laughed, the sound light and carefree.  Yes, I miss you too, Chaeyoung.

I wanted to ask her so many questions – about her drunken arrival, the whispered word "tired," the mysterious visitor – but fear held me back.  I didn't want to push her.

After breakfast, we settled on the sofa.  She wanted to watch a movie she'd seen online.  My heart leaped when I saw the title: Happy Feet, a penguin movie.

"Seemed like you'd like it," she said, watching my reaction as the intro played.

"Oh my God, I really like penguins, you know," I exclaimed, my smile wide.

"Yeah, 'cause girl, you look like one," she teased, her eyes twinkling.

"I'll take that as a compliment because penguins are cute," I retorted, earning a chuckle.

A knock at the door interrupted our movie.  Before we could answer, Dahyun and the others burst in.

"Heyya!" they chorused.

Sunday... I hadn't asked Chaeyoung about the girls visiting yet.

"Come in, girls," Chaeyoung said, rising from the sofa.

"Wah, daebak! Your place is huge, girl," Nayeon exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder.

Tzuyu caught my questioning gaze.  "I texted Chaeyoung that day, that's why she knows," she explained.

I nodded, relieved, and returned to the sofa.

"Hehe, let's watch a movie! Do you have beers?" Jihyo asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Chaeyoung retrieved beers and snacks from the fridge.  Momo and Sana arrived with more food.  Sana, upon seeing Happy Feet, exclaimed, "Wah, they're already watching! Oh, it's Mitang!"

We laughed, the tension of the past few days melting away.

Later, we moved to the veranda.  The night air was cool and crisp, the city lights twinkling below.  We grilled marshmallows and meat, the aroma mingling with the laughter and chatter.  Chaeyoung returned from her room carrying a guitar.

"Whoa, you know how to play guitar?" I asked, my surprise evident.

"Well, yes, surprisingly," she chuckled, settling between Tzuyu and Dahyun.

"Chaeyoung's a composer, too!" Dahyun announced, her voice brimming with pride.

Chaeyoung's smile faltered, a flicker of bitterness in her eyes.  "Was, Dahyun," she corrected softly, tuning her guitar.

Dahyun fell silent.  Tzuyu glared at her.

Chaeyoung began to sing, her voice a haunting melody that filled the night air.  The song, "Echo" by Jason Walker, resonated with a raw emotion that mirrored the unspoken tension between her and Dahyun.  As she sang, I saw a pain in her eyes, a vulnerability that tugged at my heart.

When the song ended, Momo and Nayeon erupted in applause.  Jihyo grabbed the guitar and launched into a Twice song, the others joining in.

I stole glances at Chaeyoung, sometimes catching her eye.  She'd smile, offering me a roasted marshmallow.

By nine, the girls were leaving.  As the door closed behind them, an impulse took over.  I hugged Chaeyoung from behind.  She stiffened, then relaxed, her hands resting on my arms.

"What's the matter, Unnie?" she asked, her voice calm, yet her touch gentle.

"You can tell me what's bothering you, Chaeyoung," I whispered, my forehead resting against her hair.

The hug felt different with Chaeyoung – not sisterly, but something deeper, something that stirred a longing in my heart.

"Can you let go of me?" she asked, her tone flat.

Her words, and the uncertainty in her voice, made me hesitate.  I released her.  She faced me, her dimpled smile bittersweet.

"Mina Unnie, I'm not worthy of your affection and care. I'm not the person you think I am," she said, her voice thick with emotion.  She gently cupped my face, wiping away my tears.  "So, don't cry for me."

I hadn't realized I was crying.  She pulled me into a hug, her embrace a haven of comfort.

"No, don't say that. I'm here. We're here," I whispered, burying my face in her shoulder.

We stayed like that for a long moment, the silence filled with unspoken emotions.  When we finally pulled apart, we both chuckled, the shared laughter a fragile bridge across the chasm of unspoken words.