with You

Prologue

The headline had splashed across every major entertainment site, and the air in the room felt thick as Momo read it, her fingers trembling slightly as she clutched her phone. "TWICE's Mina reveals relationship with Japanese model!" Her heart dropped. She blinked, unable to tear her eyes away from the photos: Mina, hand-in-hand with a tall, handsome man, both of them dressed in chic, casual outfits. They looked...happy. Mina's shy, beautiful smile—the one that had always felt like it was just for Momo—was on full display for the whole world. For him.

She felt a surge of emotions she couldn't name, an unsettling blend of frustration, sadness, and something dangerously close to jealousy. She'd known Mina for years; they'd shared late nights talking until dawn, inside jokes, and little moments that no one else could understand. But now, Momo felt like she was staring at a version of Mina she'd never known, one that was slipping away.

"Hey,  Momo-chan!" Sana's cheerful voice broke her thoughts as shebounced into the room, plopping down beside her on the couch. "Did you see the news?" Sana's eyes sparkled with her usual energy, but her gaze softened as she took in Momo's expression. "Oh... I guess you did."

Momo tried to smile, but her mouth barely moved. "Yeah, I saw it." Her voice came out quieter than she wanted, tinged with a vulnerability she hadn't meant to show.

Sana's eyes narrowed, her expression serious for once. "I thought you'd be excited for her. You know how shy she's been about dating. This is a big step."

"Of course I'm happy for her," Momo lied, forcing a smile. "Mina deserves someone who makes her feel special."

But even as she said the words, they tasted bitter. The truth was, Mina already had someone who thought she was special. It was her. And Momo had been waiting for the right time, the right moment, to say something... anything. Now, it seemed, she'd waited too long.

Once Sana left the room, Momo slumped into the couch, her hands gripping her phone tightly. She replayed every memory she had of Mina in her mind: all those shared glances, soft laughter, the way Mina's hand would linger on her shoulder a second too long. Had she been imagining things? Had Mina never felt the same way? She couldn't accept that.

Momo knew she had to do something. She wasn't the type to back down—not in dance, not in life, and definitely not in love. Mina might be with someone else now, but Momo wasn't about to let go of her feelings that easily.

A plan began to form in her mind. It was risky, and maybe even a little foolish, but Momo didn't care. She was going to make sure Mina saw her—not just as a friend, not just as a fellow member of TWICE, but as someone who loved her deeply. And maybe, just maybe, she'd find a way to show Mina what they could have together.

Momo's heart was pounding as she thought it through, but a determined smile crept onto her face. If there was one thing she knew, it was that she wasn't giving up on Mina.