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12

Mina was watching TV, quietly waiting for Chaeyoung so they could have dinner.  A smile touched her lips when she heard the key in the lock, but it quickly faded as she saw Chaeyoung—busted lip and all.

"Hey, what happened?" Mina asked, hurrying to Chaeyoung, concern etched on her face.  She gently cupped Chaeyoung's face.

Chaeyoung hung her head, avoiding Mina's gaze.  She gently nudged Mina's hand away.

"I'm fine…just gonna crash, Unnie.  Goodnight," Chaeyoung mumbled, a forced smile twisting her lips. She disappeared into her room, leaving Mina standing alone in the hallway, a sigh escaping her lips.

 

"Unnie, can you tilt your head a bit?" Chaeyoung asked, gesturing with her palette knife.

They were back at it – Chaeyoung's art project.

"Like this?" Mina tilted her head, following Chaeyoung's instructions.

Chaeyoung nodded, then faked a cough, returning to her work.  Days blurred into a whirlwind of painting and posing.  Chaeyoung's deadline loomed.

Finally, Chaeyoung let out a long breath, stepping back to admire her almost-finished work.  It was afternoon. She stretched, cracking her back, and noticed Mina fast asleep on the couch, still draped in the white sheet.

A smile touched Chaeyoung's lips. She knelt beside Mina, carefully covering her with a blanket.  Even asleep, Mina was…elegant, she thought.

Chaeyoung went to the kitchen, deciding to cook dinner.

Mina woke to the weight of a blanket.  She was still on the couch, stiff and sore.  So that's what being a model is like, she thought, groaning.

She quickly dressed and went to Chaeyoung's room, finding her in the kitchen, wearing a ridiculously cute tiger-striped apron, arranging dishes on the table.

"Whoa, new apron?" Mina said, leaning against the counter.

"Finally awake! Come eat," Chaeyoung said, setting down the plates.

Chaeyoung took off her apron and sat opposite Mina.  Mina picked up her chopsticks, eyeing the various dishes.

Chaeyoung watched intently as Mina tasted the food, her expression anxious.  Mina fell silent, and Chaeyoung's brow furrowed.

"Um…does it taste…bad?" Chaeyoung asked, her voice almost pouty.

Mina found it adorable, but she was still savoring the taste.  She swallowed, then looked at Chaeyoung.  They held each other's gaze for a beat too long before Mina sat up straight.

"I'm taking over cooking duty. You're doing dishes," Mina declared.

Chaeyoung groaned, and Mina laughed.

"It's not that bad," Mina said, trying to soften the blow, but she couldn't help but giggle.

"Yah, don't eat it if you don't like it," Chaeyoung protested, but Mina kept eating.

"It's edible," Mina mumbled through a mouthful of food.

Their dinner was filled with laughter and playful teasing, stretching late into the night.

"When's the deadline?" Mina asked, as Chaeyoung watched TV.

"Hmm?  Probably in two days," Chaeyoung mumbled, eyes glued to the screen.

"Good. You owe me a drink for this," Mina said flatly.

"Yes, ma'am," Chaeyoung replied, equally deadpan.

They settled into a comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company, giggling at the TV show.

 

"Unnie, I won't be home tonight," Chaeyoung said, passing Mina, who was putting books in her locker.

"You're going to…?" Mina asked, a knowing look on her face.  Jeongyeon's situation was still a secret.

"Nope!  Finishing touches on the painting at the art department.  Submission's tomorrow," Chaeyoung said, flashing a smile.

"Oh, okay," Mina replied, nodding.

Jihyo and Nayeon appeared. "Hey, girls!"

"Hey, Unnies," Chaeyoung greeted.

Jihyo's eyes went to Chaeyoung's lip. "What happened to your lip, Chaeyoung-ah?"

Mina, worried, quickly jumped in. "Uh…she accidentally bit it last night while we were eating."

"Y-yeah…" Chaeyoung confirmed, a little too quickly.

Jihyo chuckled. "Geez, you're even clumsier than Sana."

Chaeyoung and Mina breathed a sigh of relief; they hadn't been suspicious.

"So, what's up?" Nayeon asked.

"Chaeyoung won't be home tonight," Mina said, closing her locker.

Jihyo laughed. "You two sound like an old married couple."  Nayeon grinned.

Chaeyoung and Mina exchanged a look, then shrugged. Mina felt a little weird, but dismissed it.

"Do we?" Chaeyoung asked, amused.

"Yeah, but it's cute," Nayeon said, still grinning.

Jihyo asked again about Chaeyoung not being home.  They explained that the others were planning a sleepover at Chaeyoung's place.

"At least Mina Unnie won't be alone," Chaeyoung said, smiling at Mina.

Jihyo checked with Mina, who nodded, and they said goodbye.

 

"Yah, Dubu, where's the food?" Nayeon asked Dahyun, who was engrossed in choosing a movie.  The girls had arrived an hour ago, and it was getting late.

"Not me, ask Momo Unnie!" Dahyun replied, still facing the screen.

"Yah, Momo, where are the chips we bought?" Nayeon asked Momo, who was sprawled on the sofa.

Momo shrugged, only to be busted when Tzuyu pulled a pillow Momo was using to hide the chips.

"Oops," Tzuyu said casually, settling down beside her.

Momo and Nayeon bickered good-naturedly.

Jihyo plopped down on the floor, carrying drinks.  "Here are the drinks, you two!  Beer tonight?"

"Beer's my appetizer," Jihyo declared, downing a whole can.

Sana squealed, "Harry Potter!"

Dahyun started the movie.

Mina went to the kitchen for more drinks, then paused.  She went to Chaeyoung's room, but it was locked.  She wondered about the painting, but shrugged it off, assuming Chaeyoung had already gotten it.

She returned with the drinks, and they settled in to watch.  A few hours later, there was a knock.

"I'll get it," Tzuyu said, and returned a few minutes later, carrying two boxes of chicken.

Chaeyoung grinned. "Surprise!"

"I thought you were staying at school," Mina said, smiling as she took a box from Chaeyoung.

"We finished early.  So I came home," Chaeyoung said, her smile warm.  Home… Mina thought, the word feeling oddly comforting.

Momo yelled, "Okay, old married couple, hand over the chicken!"

Chaeyoung and Mina laughed.

After the movie, they all decided to sleep in the living room.  Chaeyoung and Mina handed out blankets and pillows.

"Goodnight, gays," Sana yawned.

"I'm straight…" Jihyo mumbled before falling asleep.

Everyone laughed.  Jihyo was definitely drunk.

Mina lay down next to Chaeyoung. Chaeyoung put down her phone and looked at Mina.

"Sleeping already?" Mina whispered.

"How about you?" Chaeyoung whispered back.

"I dunno.  Looks like it's gonna be a long night," Mina chuckled.

"You drink?" Chaeyoung asked.

"Nope."

"Hmm…"

A comfortable silence settled between them.  They exchanged smiles, a silent conversation passing between them.

"Wanna run away with me?" Chaeyoung suddenly asked, catching Mina off guard.

"What do you mean, Romeo?" Mina chuckled, quickly covering her mouth as Momo stirred.

They stifled their laughter.

Chaeyoung smiled. "Let's run away, Mina."  The casual use of her name, instead of "Unnie," sent a shiver down Mina's spine.

"L-let's just sleep, Chae," Mina tried to deflect.

Chaeyoung chuckled. "Just kidding, Unnie."

"Whatever, Son Chaeyoung," Mina said, smiling.

Another comfortable silence settled, their gazes meeting.

"Come here, Chaeng," Mina said, surprising Chaeyoung.

Chaeyoung smiled and scooted closer. Mina pulled her into a hug, using her arm as a pillow.

"Your arm might get numb," Chaeyoung whispered, burying her face in Mina's neck.

"It's fine," Mina said, closing her eyes, resting her arm on Chaeyoung's.

"Goodnight…Mina," Chaeyoung murmured, drifting off to sleep.

"Rude girl," Mina chuckled before falling asleep herself.