with You

Cry For Me

The photoshoot set was buzzing with energy as TWICE prepared for the next group project, the team bustling around with outfits, lights, and cameras. The members were in high spirits, joking and laughing between shots as they worked through the different scenes. Momo, however, found it harder to keep her mind in the present. She forced herself to smile, slipping between poses, but she felt distracted and restless. She tried to shake off the feeling, to stay focused, but her attention was constantly being drawn back to Mina. She couldn't sleep at all last night. Having to mask—or attempt to mask—her feelings kept her on edge. Her body wasn't used to this kind of emotional turbulence.

Every now and again during the day, Mina would check on Momo and sit together when they had time, in between each member's shoot. Mina would bring a small dessert from the catering table over to her best friend, and feed her small bites. By the way Momo had been, Mina could tell she wasn't eating well recently.

This is the kind of behavior that Momo always finds surprising, even in the decade of knowing her. She knows Mina cares a lot, but for Momo—seeing is believing. Being taken care of by someone younger—even if it is a short gap—is definite proof of love.

The photoshoot day had been going smoothly—until Mina's boyfriend, Reiji, showed up.

Mina's eyes lit up the moment she saw him, a smile spreading across her face as she rushed over to greet him. Reiji held a large bouquet of flowers in his arms, the vibrant pinks and whites echoing the kind of affection that seemed meant for a movie scene. Mina's cheeks flushed as she accepted the bouquet, their fingers brushing in a way that felt almost too intimate in front of everyone.

"Oh my gosh, Reiji, these are beautiful!" Mina gushed, her voice soft with delight as she held the flowers close. The rest of the members let out a collective "aww," their faces lighting up with excitement and teasing smiles as they watched the scene unfold.

"Mina, he's so romantic!" Nayeon called, her voice full of playful admiration. Sana joined in, clapping her hands together. "You two are adorable!"

The crew and members swarmed around the couple, fawning over Reiji's gesture, peppering them with questions about how they met and plans for dates. Mina's happiness was infectious, her laughter filling the air as she answered them, her hand occasionally brushing against Reiji's arm.

Momo felt her heart sink. She tried to avoid looking, but she could see Mina's smile in her peripheral vision, her body language showing just how smitten she was. Momo's hands clenched into fists as she took a shaky breath, willing herself to keep it together. The longer she watched, the more unbearable it became—the laughter, the soft glances, the warmth radiating between Mina and Reiji. It was like salt in a wound that refused to heal.

The cheerful atmosphere seemed to close in on her, each laugh and smile feeling like a weight pressing down on her chest. She could feel tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, and the last thing she wanted was for anyone to notice.

Silently, Momo slipped away from the set, finding a corner where she could pull herself together. She leaned against the wall, inhaling deeply, fighting to keep her emotions under control. But the pain was too raw, too close to the surface, and she couldn't hold back the overwhelming ache that had been building up inside of her.

After a few moments, Momo decided she couldn't stay there any longer. She straightened, taking slow, steady breaths, and quietly walked to the manager, keeping her voice low as she spoke. "I'm not feeling well. I think I have a stomach ache," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I should probably go back early."

The manager nodded, concerned but understanding, and made arrangements for her to leave. With a quick glance to make sure no one had noticed, Momo made her way to the waiting car, grateful for the excuse. She slipped into the back seat, closing the door quietly, and as soon as they were on the road, the tears she had been holding back spilled over.

Momo covered her mouth with her hand, trying to muffle the sobs that escaped her, but she couldn't stop herself from crying. The pain, the jealousy, the heartbreak—it all came crashing down on her, and for once, she didn't try to push it away. She let herself feel everything she'd been hiding, each tear a release of the emotions she had buried deep inside.

"Why does this hurt so badly?" Momo weeped in her mind.

The city lights blurred as they passed by, and she leaned her head against the window, the cool glass a small comfort as she tried to calm herself. She thought about Mina, about the way she'd looked at Reiji, about how happy she was—and it broke her heart, knowing that she would never be the one to make Mina smile like that. The reality of it all hit her like a wave, and for the first time, Momo allowed herself to accept the truth: she was in love with Mina, and it hurt more than she could bear.

By the time she reached her apartment, she had wiped away her tears, her face blank as she stepped out of the car and thanked the driver quietly. But inside, the ache remained, a constant reminder of the one person she couldn't have, no matter how much she wished otherwise.

After settling down for the night, Momo finally checked her cell phone. Message notifications were the only thing to read on the home screen.
"Momo they said you left the shoot early, are you okay??" Mina, of course, was the most prominent one for her. "I can bring you something if you're not feeling well. Let me know, I'll be awake."
While the offer sounded nice, this occasion wasn't the type to have company around. It hurt Momo knowing that Mina wouldn't know how to help unless she told her the truth.
She stared at her screen for a while until she realized that there was nothing to reply with here.

Momo lied down on her mattress as the tears were pleasing to return. She stared at her ceiling in the darkness of her room. Exhausted, she tried to fall asleep. The heaviness in her eyes from crying earlier helping in her attempt.

"I love you, Mina." Momo's words dispersed like a secret into the quiet air, as if this was the response to her text messages.

She knew there was no escaping this feeling. It was too late to pretend, not when it affected her work. The tension was too extreme. How is Momo going to find a way to tell her?