There's a game that Dahyun and Momo like to play with each other. A game where Dahyun smiles as Momo's warm embrace envelops her from behind, as Momo's sweet perfume starts to tickle her nose. She turns her head to look at Momo fondly, only to jump in surprise and quickly retreat when Momo leans in with bright red lips in search of a kiss. Dahyun squeaks and Momo laughs. It's all just part of their game. Well, Dahyun thinks it's a game to Momo and more like torture to her.
In this so called game, Momo likes to push Dahyun as close to the platonic edge of their friendship as possible. She will hug Dahyun and hold her close, bring teasing lips within centimeters of Dahyun's and stare at the girl as though absolutely enamored by her.
What's the point of the game? As Momo tells it, the goal is to alleviate boredom and to make Dahyun blush. Momo has claimed that she loves seeing a rosey red blaze across Dahyun's porcelain white skin. And more than that, Momo loves being the reason behind Dahyun's blush.
That's why she plays with Dahyun often, this little game of limits. It happens in waiting rooms as they're resting before music show performances. It happens in their apartment when the members they are off work. It even happens in front of thousands of people during ISAC events when all the cameras are rolling.
Basically anywhere that has downtime is an opportunity for Momo to play with Dahyun, regardless of having an audience or not. Since it's just a game, Momo doesn't care who's watching the admittedly heated looking displays of affection.
Dahyun on the other hand, she cares. Momo's goal is to kill time when they play, but Dahyun's goal is entirely differently and infinitely harder to achieve with cameras rolling or people watching. Dahyun's goal when they play is simply to not show any signs of wanting Momo to actually go further. It's not easy to hold back a whimper when Momo pulls her closer and all Dahyun can think about is Momo's scent. When Momo presses her lips against Dahyun's neck, it takes all of Dahyun's willpower to not pull Momo further down her neck. That would surely change the trajectory of their friendship forever.
But Dahyun always holds back. She can't lose the game, can't lose the comfort in their frienship, so every time they play the game, Dahyun pulls away at the last second. The actions aren't honest, but the blush is always sincere. Same as the laugh that comes from Momo's lips every time she wins their game. And somehow that's good enough for Dahyun. It has to be.
Dahyun promises she'll never let Momo know about the heated feelings that are bubbling just below the surface of their fiery skinship. She'll never let on that she wants Momo in a way that is definitely not platonic, that she sometimes wakes up from vivid dreams of Momo kissing her and touching her. Momo doesn't need to know, shouldn't know, will never—
"Hey, Momo."
The summer heat stifles the pair, the sun beating down on them even as the glow of the sun begins to fade into the night, leaving their clothes sticking to their backs and their water bottles empty.
"Yes?" Momo's voice is lovely as always in response, a smile on her face.
Dahyun tilts her head to the sky and lets out a sigh. "Why'd you do it?"
"Do what?" Momo tilts her head to face Dahyun.
Damn this heat, Dahyun thinks to herself. Not only does she have to deal with her shirt sticking to her back and her pants being awkwardly rolled up as high as she could get them, but also with Momo sitting with her hair tied in a high bun, a few strands falling to frame her face alongside her bangs and a crop-top which, even more unfortunately for Dahyun, reveals the curve of the older one's neck into her shoulders, into muscular arms.
Dahyun shakes her thoughts off. "At our last performance. When you and I were together for the ending pose."
Momo doesn't respond, only looking upwards to the sky. Perhaps she is remembering their performance, how many hours they had put into perfecting the dance and reaching the high notes. Or perhaps she is avoiding answering. She taps her fingers on the bench.
