with You

Behind The Curtain

The members of TWICE had gathered at the dorm for a rare night off together. Tzuyu had ordered pizza and chicken, Dahyun was mixing drinks (mostly non-alcoholic, as they had a schedule the next day), and Nayeon was buzzing with excitement, clearly holding something back. Everyone was talking and laughing, the energy filling the room in a way that only happened when all nine of them were together. But as soon as Mina entered the living room, she could sense a shift in the atmosphere.

Nayeon grinned mischievously, nudging Jeongyeon. "Sooo, Mina," she started, drawing out Mina's name with a teasing smile. "I heard you've been making headlines. Anything you'd like to share with the class?"

Mina's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, but she kept her smile steady. "Oh, come on, unnie," she said, waving a dismissive hand. "You guys already know everything."

"Not everything!" Sana chimed in, eyes gleaming. "What's he like? How did you meet? I want details!"

Jihyo jumped in next, resting her chin on her hands with a soft smile. "We're all really happy for you, Mina. We just want to know more about the guy who's won your heart."

Mina chuckled, feeling a little embarrassed under everyone's gaze. She glanced around, trying to find an escape, but there was no getting out of this conversation. "His name's Reiji," she said, her voice gentle but guarded. "He's... a model, and we met while I was visiting home a few months ago."

"A model, huh?" Chaeyoung's eyebrows shot up with interest. "Fancy, Mina! I didn't know you had such high standards."

The room filled with laughter and playful cheers, but Momo sat in silence, her eyes fixed on a spot on the floor. Her face was tense, and every mention of Reiji's name seemed to deepen the faint scowl on her lips. She was trying to hide it, but it was impossible for her discomfort to go unnoticed, especially to Mina.

Tzuyu, who'd been sitting beside Momo, nudged her playfully. "Momo, aren't you going to congratulate Mina too?" she teased, completely oblivious to Momo's discomfort.

Momo forced a smile, her voice strained as she replied, "Of course, congratulations, Mina. I hope... I hope he treats you well." The words felt heavy, insincere, but she hoped no one would notice.

Nayeon tilted her head, picking up on Momo's mood, and shot her a curious glance, but she didn't say anything. Meanwhile, Sana had already launched into another question about Reiji, clearly eager to dig deeper into Mina's new relationship.

"So, does he know you're Mina from TWICE, or did he fall for you first?" Sana wiggled her eyebrows. "Was he a fan? Like, did you tell him, 'By the way, I'm kind of famous'?"

Mina laughed, though it sounded a bit nervous. She felt Momo's tension beside her like a weight pressing against her, and a strange, uncomfortable feeling settled in her stomach. "He didn't know at first, actually," she said, looking at Sana and trying to keep her voice light. "He figured it out pretty quickly, though."

"Aww, so he likes you for you, not just because you're an idol!" Dahyun exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "That's so sweet!"

The girls kept talking, each chiming in with jokes and questions, and Mina felt herself being swept up in the good-natured teasing. But every now and then, she glanced at Momo, whose expression grew more and more strained. The smile Momo wore was tight, her jaw clenched, and Mina could tell that Momo was struggling with something beneath the surface.

Finally, unable to stand it anymore, Mina interrupted a particularly nosy question from Chaeyoung, changing the subject as smoothly as she could. "Hey, speaking of relationships, what about you, Sana?" she asked, giving her best mischievous grin. "You're always asking about our love lives, but what about yours?"

Sana's eyes widened, and she laughed, flustered by the sudden attention. The rest of the group quickly shifted focus, piling questions onto Sana instead, and Mina could feel the tension ease. She glanced at Momo, who gave her a small, grateful nod, her expression relaxing just slightly.

But as the night wore on, Mina couldn't shake the feeling that Momo's discomfort wasn't just a fleeting moment. She couldn't explain why, but something in her chest tightened whenever she saw the lookin Momo's eyes—the hint of sadness, the tension she tried so hard to hide. And Mina realized, with a pang of guilt, that her happiness might be causing her best friend pain.

Later that night, when the gathering finally wound down and the girls began drifting off to their dorms, Mina lingered in the living room, waiting until Momo was alone. She walked over, sitting beside her on the couch. Momo glanced up, her expression guarded but exhausted, and Mina reached out, touching her shoulder gently.

"Momo," she said softly, her voice filled with concern, "are you... okay?"

Momo hesitated, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Of course," she replied quickly. "I'm really happy for you, Mina."

But Mina didn't miss the sadness in her voice, the weight of something unnerving hanging between them. She squeezed Momo's hand gently, searching her face for an answer. "If you ever need to talk... you know I'm here, right?"

Momo's eyes flickered, the hint of vulnerability she'd been holding back all night flashing across her face. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know, Mina. Thank you."

They shared a small, fragile smile, a quiet understanding passing between them. And though neither of them said another word, Mina couldn't shake the feeling that things between them had changed, a fragile thread of something unsaid now binding them tighter—and pulling them further apart.