i won't share you / purinz

the people's will

Chaewon sighs, setting down the last folded slip of paper and marking the final tally. She and Yena have again stayed in the meeting room long past the rest of the SGA, this time to count nominations for Prom Court, and Chaewon thinks she's losing her mind. As distracting as it was when Yunjin was missing from class, having her back in class is ten times worse. Chaewon's hair has finally grown long enough to style in little braids that end at her shoulders, and Yunjin has taken to tugging on them just gently enough so it doesn't hurt but it's still extremely annoying. Chaewon knows it's just a ploy by the younger girl to get her attention, but there's something about Yunjin that robs her of all her self-control. Chaewon turns around to scold her every time, and every time Yunjin just grins back at her, so proud of herself for getting Chaewon to notice her. Now, an hour later, Chaewon still can't get Yunjin's smile out of her mind. It doesn't help that every other slip of paper she checks has Yunjin's name on it.

"Damn," Yena says, looking over the sheet of tally marks, "Yunjin basically got a clean sweep. She has no competition.

Chaewon frowns, "There must have been a mistake."

"What, 'cause she's a junior?" Yena raises her eyebrows, "Look, you were right, Yunjin's a douchebag, but you have to admit she's popular. I don't think she's winning by mistake."

Chaewon shakes her head, "No, I mean, they all nominated her in the wrong category. Yunjin can't be Prom King."

"Why not?" says Yena.

Chaewon blinks, "'Cause she's a girl."

"So?" Yena shrugs, "The person with the most votes for Prom King should be Prom King. Isn't this about executing the people's will?"

Chaewon opens her mouth to argue, but her conversation with Sakura and Kazuha flashes into her mind. If Yunjin wins Prom King, however bizarre it would be, wouldn't it be a point for her in Mr. Kwon's book? Doesn't it show that she's a valued community member, a role model to the younger students and a friend to the older? Chaewon's musings are interrupted by a knock at the door and she gets up to answer it.

Of course, there is only one person who makes it a hobby to show up to SGA meetings uninvited. Chaewon barely has time to react to the younger girl's dizzying presence before Yunjin is already striding into the room with a large white box in her arms.

"We're having a meeting in here," Chaewon manages to squeak.

"I'm sorry for interrupting," Yunjin sets the box on the table, "It's just that your meeting was supposed to be over half an hour ago and I'm missing Jurassic World: Dominion on HBO." She opens the box and Chaewon leans over to see its contents: a messy, pink lump of a cake with the words 'I'm Sorry' piped clumsily on top.

"I made it myself," Yunjin says proudly. She holds it out to Yena, "It's for you. To say I'm sorry for, um, you know."

Chaewon expects Yena to laugh in her face, or at least to roll her eyes and kick Yunjin out of the meeting. She certainly doesn't expect Yena to blush and turn towards the floor, accepting a hug from Yunjin with reddened ears.

"I forgive you," Yena says softly, "Thank you for the cake. You really didn't have to."

Chaewon can't believe her ears. Yunjin beams, turning around to give one of Chaewon's braids a tug, "I'll see you around, ChaeChae." And just like that, she's gone again.

Yena stares at the floor for a quiet moment, before sitting back down at the table and holding her head in her hands.

"The cake is pretty gross, huh?" Chaewon tries.

Yena ignores her, "She really likes you, doesn't she?"

Chaewon blinks. She'd been trying her best to act as if nothing had changed between them, surely Yena couldn't have figured everything out from the couple of seconds Yunjin was in the room.

"All I've wanted her to do since that night is say she's sorry and give us another chance, but even when she's apologizing she can't keep her eyes off you," Yena lifts her head from her hands to turn towards Chaewon, "You like her too, don't you?"

"What?" Chaewon squeaks.

"You're all red when she talks to you," says Yena, "As soon as you saw her at the door you were getting shy. I know what she's like, Chaewon. I know how she...she makes it hard not to like her."

"You're right," Chaewon admits, "I do. Like her, I mean. I'm so sorry, Yena."

Yena is silent for a moment, then shakes her head, "You don't need to be sorry. Just promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise," Chaewon agrees. She holds her arms out to Yena and the two girls embrace.

The next day, Yunjin shows up at the end of Chaewon's mathletes meeting with an equally unappetizing cake, this time presenting it to Yuri and lifting the tiny girl off the ground into a bear hug. After Yuri has fled the scene, red in the face and cradling the box in her arms, Yunjin and Chaewon walk hand in hand down to the parking lot, Chaewon checking over her shoulder every few seconds to ensure there are no witnesses.

"So, how many more cakes do you have left to make?" Chaewon teases, "There are, what, 800 girls at this school?"

"Aw, come on," Yunjin ducks her head, "I'm not that bad. Lots of girls here like me, you know."

"Oh, I know," Chaewon rolls her eyes.

"I didn't mean it like that," Yunjin protests and Chaewon laughs at her, their walk coming to a stop as they reach Chaewon's car.

"I get it, you're popular," Chaewon teases, "You're a shoo-in for Prom King, you know."

"Yeah, um, about that," Yunjin leans against the car, trying her best to look casual but unable to stop her fidgeting hands, "I was wondering if, um, maybe you would want to go with me? It can be just as friends if you want but, um, it might be fun if it was as not-friends. I mean, not not-friends but more than friends. I promise I won't embarrass you or do weird dances or anything. I'll just be cool and-"

"Yunjin," Chaewon lays her hand on Yunjin's chest to stop her babbling, "I really am touched that you asked me, but I can't. I'm not going to prom."

Yunjin blinks, "You're not?"
Chaewon shakes her head, "I can't stand that kind of thing, all sweaty and crowded and random guys trying to grind on you."

"I won't let anyone touch you," says Yunjin, "If a guy goes near you I'll say, 'Watch it, Buster! You don't want to mess with the leading candidate for Prom King.'"

Yunjin flexes her muscles ridiculously and Chaewon smiles up at her, "I'm sorry, Yun, but it's just not fun for me. You're going to have a great time, okay? You're going to be the coolest Prom King ever and I'll cheer you on from home.

Yunjin grins, leaning back against the car, "I guess there's no shame in going stag. This way I can bust all my moves without embarrassing anyone. Except me, I guess."

"Come on, weren't you just saying how many girls like you?" Chaewon plays with the collar of Yunjin's shirt, "I'm sure there'll be people fighting to be your date."

"But I don't want to go with anyone that isn't you," says Yunjin.

Chaewon does a quick glance-around to check that their surroundings are clear, then strains onto her tiptoes to wrap her arms around Yunjin's neck. "It's okay," she says softly, "I don't mind you going with someone else, as long as you like me best."

"Of course I do," Yunjin wraps her arms around Chaewon's waist, looking down at her with a gaze that makes Chaewon shy all over again. "Why do you never want anyone to see us together?" Yunjin murmurs.

"I don't know, it's like..." Chaewon trails off, having a hard time keeping her thoughts in order while their faces are inches apart, "I spent so long complaining about you and telling everyone I hated you. I guess I'm having a hard time admitting I was wrong."

"I want people to know about us," says Yunjin, "I mean, pulling on your hair is pretty fun, but I'd rather be able to hug you. Or at least hold your hand a little."

"I want that too, but we- we don't even know what we are to each other," says Chaewon, "This is all so confusing and I just need more time." She reaches up to brush Yunjin's hair out of her face, "Will you wait for me?"

Yunjin smiles that annoying smile that means she's about to say something corny. "If it's you, I'll wait as long as it takes."