with You

Dance Again

Day sturned into a steady rhythm for Momo, though it was a rhythm she hated. Between doctor's appointments and physical therapy sessions, the hours seemed to blend together. She spent her time either lying on her couch, reading, or scrolling absentmindedly on her phone. The weight of her thoughts lingered with her, though, a heaviness that followed her around no matter how hard she tried to shake it off.

Most of the other TWICE members had reached out to her, checking in, sending her messages of encouragement, reminding her that she was missed. Momo appreciated the warmth and love, but she still struggled to respond to everyone. It felt like she was wearing a mask, one she barely had the energy to keep up. She only responded to a few people, usually quick replies that let them know she was okay, or at least trying to be.

The hardest part was going to physical therapy, where her trainer gently pushed her through exercises to strengthen her ankle. It was painfu land exhausting, but Momo endured it, gritting her teeth as she fought to recover as quickly as possible. She wanted to be back with the group; she wanted to dance again. But every step reminded her of why she was sidelined in the first place, of the pain that had been distracting her when she slipped. No matter how much she tried to focus, her thoughts drifted to Mina.

After therapy one afternoon, Momo returned to her empty apartment, feeling the weight of loneliness settle over her again. She collapsed onto her couch, feeling drained in more ways than one. She lay there for a long time, staring at the ceiling as tears slowly filled her eyes. She hated feeling like this, hated that her heart hurt more than her ankle ever could. But there was no escaping it—Mina's absence from her life was like a constant ache, a dull throb that only seemed to worsen with each passing day.

The knock on her door came softly at first, and Momo almost didn't hear it. She wiped her eyes quickly, sitting up and trying to pull herself together as she walked over to open it.

Nayeon stood on the other side, a gentle smile on her face as she held up a bag of food. "I thought you might be hungry," she said, her voice soft. "Can I come in?"

Momo forced a smile, stepping aside to let her in. "Of course. You didn't have to, unnie."

"Well, someone has to keep you fed," Nayeon replied with a playful smile, setting the food down on the coffee table. "Besides, you can't get rid of me that easily."

They ate together in comfortable silence, Nayeon occasionally cracking a joke or two, filling the air with lightness. Momo tried to relax, to push her worries aside, but it was hard to ignore the ache in her chest. She could feel Nayeon watching her, her friend's gaze filled with concern, and she knew she wasn't hiding her feelings as well as she'd hoped.

"Momo-ya," Nayeon said gently, reaching over to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You know you can talk to me, right?"

Momo looked down, avoiding Nayeon's eyes as she forced another smile. "I'm fine, really," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's just... been a rough few days."

Nayeon's gaze softened, but she didn't press. Instead, she gave Momo's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before changing the subject, talking about the group's latest practices and updates on the new choreography. Momo listened, nodding along, though her heart felt heavier with each word. She couldn't bring herself to open up, to reveal just how much she was hurting inside.

Later that evening, after Nayeon had left, Momo found herself lying on the couch again, her mind drifting back to Mina. She missed the way Mina always seemed to understand her without words, the quiet support she offered when Momo needed it most. But things were different now, tangled in feelings Momo couldn't admit to anyone else—not even herself, fully.

The next day, Sana showed up at her door, a bright smile on her face as she held up a small gift bag. "I brought snacks!" she announced, inviting herself in. Momo couldn't help but smile, grateful for Sana's easygoing energy, even as her heart ached beneath it all.

Sana chattered away, filling the room with her light-hearted banter, and Momo tried to laugh along, hiding her pain behind small smiles and nods. But Sana was more perceptive than most, and after a while, she grew quiet, watching Momo with a serious expression.

"Momo-chan," Sana began, her voice gentle. "I know it's not just your ankle that's bothering you."

Momo's throat tightened, and she looked away, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. "It's nothing, really. I just... I miss dancing."

Sana reached out, placing a comforting hand on Momo's knee. "You don't have to hide from me, you know," she said softly. "If there's something else going on, something you want to talk about... I'm here." Sana already knew what was going inside of Momo's mind, though she didn't want to push it.

The words hung in the air, but Momo couldn't bring herself to respond. She wanted to tell Sana everything—to let her in on the pain she'd been carrying, to admit the feelings she'd buried deep inside. But the words stayed lodged in her throat, and all she could do was nod, forcing a small smile as she whispered, "Thank you, Sana."

Sana gave her a warm hug before she left, and Momo clung to it, the comfort of her friend's embrace a brief solace in the midst of her turmoil. But as soon as she was alone again, the ache in her heart returned, sharper than ever. She sat in silence, her thoughts consumed by Mina, by the love she'd kept hidden for so long, and the pain of knowing she might never be able to share it.

The days passed in a blur, each one blending into the next as Momo went through the motions of recovery, her heart heavy with intense feelings she couldn't bring herself to reveal. And as she lay in bed each night, staring at the ceiling, she wondered if the pain of her unrequited love would ever fade, or if it would remain a part of her, a quiet ache she would carry with her for as long as she loved Mina.