Babymonster One Shot

A Gentle Push | RUCHIYEON

The hospital room was filled with the gentle beeps of the heart monitor and the muffled sounds from the hallway. Ahyeon lay on the bed, her cheeks a little flushed and her eyes slightly tired but still full of warmth. She looked up at Ruka, who was fussing over her with a gentleness that Chiquita had never seen before. Ruka smoothed the blankets over Ahyeon, brushed a strand of hair off her forehead, and spoke to her in a soft tone that made Ahyeon laugh, even as her voice remained weak.

Chiquita sat on the other side of the bed, watching the two of them closely. Something about Ruka's movements felt... different. She'd seen Ruka be affectionate with the other members before, but this felt more intimate, more special. Ruka's every touch seemed careful, and her every glance was filled with an emotion Chiquita couldn't quite name. As Ruka leaned in close to whisper something to Ahyeon, a pang of jealousy hit Chiquita like a wave, unexpected and intense. She watched as Ruka's head lowered slightly, blocking her view of Ahyeon's face, and for a brief second, it looked as if Ruka had pressed a kiss to Ahyeon's lips.

Chiquita's heart seemed to stop. Were they... more than friends?

The thought rattled her. She'd had a crush on Ahyeon for as long as she could remember, keeping it buried deep, hidden behind friendly smiles and silly jokes. Ahyeon had always been out of reach, and Chiquita had accepted that in her own quiet way. But now, the idea that Ahyeon might be with someone else - with Ruka, no less - made her chest ache in a way she hadn't expected.

After a few tense minutes, Chiquita couldn't take it any longer. She cleared her throat, her voice soft and a little unsteady. "Ruka-unnie... are you and Ahyeon-unnie... dating?"

Ruka turned to look at her, her expression a mix of surprise and amusement, with that familiar mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, yeah," she said, nodding with exaggerated seriousness. "Ahyeon and I are totally dating."

The words hit Chiquita like a punch. She tried to keep her face neutral, but her shoulders slumped, and her gaze dropped to the floor. She had always suspected that Ahyeon and Ruka were close, but hearing it confirmed like this was a different kind of pain. Beside her, Ahyeon looked just as surprised, her mouth slightly open as she looked from Ruka to Chiquita, clearly not expecting this either.

The silence stretched, heavy and uncomfortable. Chiquita felt her stomach twist, the weight of her unspoken feelings pressing down on her.

Then, out of nowhere, Ruka burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she shook her head. "I'm just joking, Chiquita! We're not dating!"

Chiquita blinked, her mind struggling to catch up. "What?" she stammered, feeling her cheeks turn red as relief and embarrassment flooded her.

Ruka grinned, reaching over to ruffle her hair. "Come on, don't look so sad. It was just a joke," she said, her voice gentle now. She gave Chiquita a knowing look, her smile a little softer. "But seriously, if you like Ahyeon that much, you should just tell her. Or else someone else might beat you to it."

Chiquita's mouth fell open, her heart pounding as she stared at Ruka in shock. "Wait... you knew?"

Ruka shrugged, a teasing smile on her lips. "It's not exactly a secret. The way you look at her... it's pretty obvious, Chiquita."

Beside them, Ahyeon watched the scene unfold with wide eyes, her own smile growing as she glanced at Chiquita, a glimmer of warmth in her gaze that made Chiquita's heart flutter. She looked down, feeling bashful, but for the first time, hope stirred within her.

As the laughter faded, Chiquita hesitated, then finally managed to ask, "But... then why did you kiss her? I mean... on the lips?"

Ruka raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Jealous much?" she teased, her smirk playful. "And by the way, I didn't kiss her on the lips - just a little peck on the cheek."

Chiquita flushed, a mix of relief and lingering embarrassment washing over her as Ruka and Ahyeon both laughed, their teasing laughter filling the room. With a small smile, Chiquita glanced shyly at Ahyeon, feeling a little braver than before, grateful for Ruka's encouragement and the hope she had unknowingly rekindled.

As the laughter died down, Ahyeon gave Chiquita a gentle, reassuring smile. There was a softness in Ahyeon's eyes that seemed to encourage her, and for a moment, Chiquita felt a surge of courage bubbling within her.

The three friends fell into a comfortable silence, with Ruka leaning back in her chair, arms folded behind her head, clearly pleased with herself for stirring up all the drama. Ahyeon, now visibly more relaxed and comfortable with her friends by her side, glanced between them, her own smile lingering. Chiquita looked at Ruka, who gave her a wink, as if to say, Now's your chance.

Chiquita's cheeks flushed, but she took a deep breath and scooted her chair closer to Ahyeon's bedside. She glanced at Ruka, who simply smirked, clearly aware of what was going on and giving her the quiet encouragement she needed.

"Ahyeon," Chiquita began, her voice just above a whisper, "I... I want to tell you something." She glanced nervously at Ruka, but Ruka was already getting up, stretching as if she'd just remembered something important to do.

"Oops, look at the time," Ruka said, feigning surprise. "I think I'll grab some coffee from the cafeteria. I'll leave you two alone for a bit." She winked again at Chiquita before slipping out of the room, leaving Chiquita and Ahyeon in the quiet, intimate space.

Chiquita's heart pounded, the silence now feeling heavy, but she took a deep breath, looking up at Ahyeon's curious expression. Ahyeon tilted her head, a gentle smile on her lips. "What's on your mind, Chiquita?"

Chiquita hesitated for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. "Ahyeon, I... I think I've liked you for a while now," she said, her cheeks burning. She couldn't look Ahyeon in the eyes, so she stared at her own hands instead. "I don't know when it started, but... I wanted to tell you, even if it's just to get it off my chest."

There was a beat of silence, and Chiquita feared she had overstepped. But then, Ahyeon reached out, gently taking Chiquita's hand in hers. Chiquita looked up, surprised to see the soft smile on Ahyeon's face, her eyes bright with warmth.

"Chiquita," Ahyeon said softly, her fingers giving Chiquita's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I... I think I might have liked you too. Maybe even for a while."

Chiquita's heart raced as she stared into Ahyeon's eyes, disbelief and joy mingling as Ahyeon's words sank in. She felt the lingering doubts and insecurities fade away, replaced by the gentle happiness of finally sharing her feelings.

Ruka's head popped back into the room, a mischievous grin on her face. "Did I miss anything?" she asked, looking between them, clearly hoping for some drama.

Ahyeon rolled her eyes, but her smile never faltered as she looked back at Chiquita. "Only the best part," she teased.

Chiquita laughed, her shyness melting away as she looked at Ruka, feeling a surge of gratitude for her friend. "Thanks, Ruka-unnie. For, you know... everything."

Ruka flashed a proud smile. "Hey, what are unnie's for, right?" She winked, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe. "But don't forget - you two owe me a coffee date. As payment for being the best wingwoman ever."

Chiquita and Ahyeon shared a smile, their fingers still intertwined, grateful for the gentle push that had finally brought them closer together.