Rivals Since Birth // PpoToz (tripleS)

Take 21

Seoyeon and Hayeon were enjoying a meal at a bustling open-air noodle shop, their conversation was lighthearted, punctuated by the clinking of chopsticks against bowls.

As they were about to start eating, Yooyeon and Felix entered the shop, scanning for a spot. They eventually settled at a table diagonally across, with Yooyeon and Seoyeon ending up directly in each other's line of sight.

Seoyeon's eyes briefly met Yooyeon's before darting away, her chopsticks hesitating in midair. Meanwhile, Felix and Hayeon, seated with their backs to one another, remained unaware of them in the shop.

Seoyeon laughed softly to herself. 

"Here you go, perfectly matching chopsticks," she said to Hayeon with a teasing smile, her gaze flickering toward Yooyeon. The glint in her eyes made her intent clear.

Yooyeon caught the look, her expression betraying the slightest flicker of annoyance before she masked it with indifference and focused on the waiter who approached them. 

'Can I have a noodle soup with 3 wontons, please? And one noodle with less soup, extra fried garlic for him please.' Yooyeon said.

Felix looked up in mild surprise. 'Wow Yooyeon, you remember how I like it?'

Yooyeon turned to him with a casual shrug but then shifted her gaze toward Seoyeon, a sly grin tugging at her lips. "Because I care," she said pointedly.

Seoyeon's chopsticks paused mid-air as she narrowed her eyes at Yooyeon. With an exaggerated smile, she turned her attention to Hayeon. "You don't have water yet? Let me pour it for you. Drink lots of water, okay? It's important to stay hydrated."

'Thanks?' Hayeon replied, hesitantly.

Not missing a beat, Yooyeon tilted her head toward Felix, her voice a touch louder than necessary. "Can you unscrew this bottle cap for me? I can't do it."

Felix chuckled and grabbed the bottle. "Really? It's so easy. Here," he said, twisting it open effortlessly.

"Thanks, my friend," Yooyeon said with a saccharine tone, deliberately shooting a challenging look at Seoyeon, her grin widening.

"Hayeon, the meatballs here are the best. Here, have some," Seoyeon said with a sweet smile, lifting a meatball toward Hayeon with her chopsticks.

Not to be outdone, Yooyeon chimed in moments later. "Felix, try these meatballs. This shop makes them the best," she said, echoing Seoyeon's tone as she held a meatball up to Felix's mouth with a practised nonchalance.

Seoyeon's eyes narrowed. "Hayeon! Here, take another one. I know they're good," she insisted, quickly lifting another meatball to Hayeon's already occupied mouth.

Hayeon looked at Seoyeon with a mix of confusion and exasperation. "What are you doing? You said you'd stop flirting with me! My mouth is already full—stop feeding me," she mumbled, struggling to chew and speak at the same time.

Yooyeon snickered quietly, clearly amused.

"Here, take it back," Hayeon muttered, handing the meatball back with an awkward flick of her chopsticks. "There. Eat your food. Go on," she added, shaking her head before resuming her meal.

Seoyeon let out a resigned sigh, leaning back slightly in her chair. She glanced across the table to find Yooyeon grinning at her, a triumphant sparkle in her eyes that only deepened Seoyeon's frustration.

...

Seoyeon knocked firmly on Yooyeon's door, her knuckles rapping against the wood in quick, deliberate taps. She waited, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

The door creaked open moments later, revealing Yooyeon on the other side. Her eyes briefly widened in surprise before she leaned against the doorframe, one eyebrow arched.

"What?" Yooyeon asked, her voice carrying a hint of tiredness. "Why are you here? I'm not in the mood to play today."

'Hey, I don't always come to play.' 

Yooyeon nodded, letting Seoyeon in. 'Why are you here then?' she asked, sitting back down on her desk, continuing her painting.

Seoyeon dragged a chair over, placing her cleansing water and cotton pads on the table with a grin. "I thought I'd ask you to clean my face for me. But now that I see you here looking all glum, it seems like you're the one who needs a face cleanse."

"None of your business," Yooyeon replied flatly, not looking up. "My face is clean."

Seoyeon picked up one of Yooyeon's paintbrushes, twirling it mischievously before jabbing it lightly against Yooyeon's cheek.

Yoouyeon flinched, making her shudder. 'Damn it Seoyeon! What are you playing?'

Seoyeon chuckled, leaning back smugly. "Your face isn't clean anymoreee," she said in a sing-song voice. "Can I clean it now?"

'Do you really need to do this?' she groaned.

'I want to clean your face.' 

'I can clean it myself.'

'Put the cotton pad down. Let me do it.' Seoyeon replied, grabbing the cotton pad from Yooyeon's hand. 

After a pause, Yooyeon sighed in defeat. "Fine. Bring your face closer to mine, and I'll clean your face first."

"No, you get closer."

"Fine," Yooyeon muttered, leaning closer. But before she could protest further, Seoyeon grabbed her face gently, pouring a small amount of cleansing water onto the pad and dabbing at Yooyeon's cheek.

 'You're good at this now aren't you?' Yooyeon teased.

'Well my teacher taught me well.' she smiled.

Yooyeon picked up another cotton pad and brought it to Seoyeon's face, carefully wiping her skin in slow, deliberate strokes. She paused and smirked as she traced a shape.

"Hold on," Seoyeon said, narrowing her eyes. "What was that? Did you trace something on my face?"

"It was a triangle," Yooyeon replied nonchalantly.

"Oh really? I thought it was a heart."

"Which one do you prefer?" Yooyeon asked, her grin widening.

'What about you?' Seoyeon replied, wiping Yooyeon's chin. 'Just give up, I know you like me.'

"You say it first," Yooyeon challenged, their faces now just inches apart.

"No, you say it first."

"You do it, dimples," Yooyeon shot back, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yooyeon's cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink, her confident demeanor wavering slightly. Before anything more could happen, a loud knock at the door startled them both.

"Yooyeon! I need to pee!" Chaewon's muffled voice called out from the other side. "Seoyeon's not home—can you open the door for me?"

Seoyeon burst into laughter as Yooyeon groaned, reluctantly pulling away from her. "Perfect timing, Chaewon," Yooyeon muttered under her breath, heading for the door.

///

their new Japanese tracks are so gooooooood omg