The Secret Christmas Confession

Tzuyu felt uneasy when PD-nim announced that Nayeon was the first one up for the 1:1 battle. I don't feel too good about this...

"Nayeon, please choose the person whom you want to challenge in Major." Nayeon immediately gave Tzuyu a glance as she raised the microphone so that she could speak.

"I... want to take Tzuyu's spot." Pausing, she turned slightly to face Tzuyu. "You, come out."

The colour in Tzuyu's face drained and shifted her gaze to look into Nayeon's eyes. The judges laughed for some reason, and Tzuyu stood and walked over to stage beside Nayeon.

- During rehearsal -

"Tzuyu-ah, do well~" Nayeon cheered when it was Tzuyu's turn to rehearse and the latter simply responded with a small bow.

Jiwon nudged Nayeon, laughing and half-serious. "Don't say things you don't mean," because she'll take them seriously.

- Present -

"Is there anyone else who wants to take Tzuyu on?" PD-nim asked, eyeing the Minor members. None of them moved. "Since there isn't anyone else, we will start the 1:1 battle."

The both of them moved backstage where Nayeon started to prepare for her performance. Tzuyu stared at her with an almost unnoticeable uneasy smile, and Nayeon continued to warm up her voice, drinking lots of water.

If they just look at singing and I can't go up, I might as well be eliminated. Nayeon thought to herself. But well, that isn't really the whole point of picking Tzuyu as my opponent. This isn't supposed to be a time to play around but there isn't another way around it.

Tzuyu stared at the screen before her, thinking of what Jungyeon had said to her during practice.

"Take note of the lyrics."

[Santa, tell me if you're really there
Don't make me fall in love again if she won't be here next year
Santa, tell me if she really cares
'Cause I can't give it all away if she won't be here
Next year]

Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande. Chaeyoung's favourite artist. Christmas themed. What's up? Tzuyu tried piecing whatever she knew about anything related to Nayeon's song, but to no avail.

[Feeling Christmas all around
And I'm tryna' play it cool
But it's hard to focus when I see her walking 'cross the room
"Let It Snow" is blasting out
But I won't get in the mood
I'm avoiding every mistletoe until I know]

Her. Huh? Isn't the song supposed to be 'he'?

[It's true love that she thinks of
So next Christmas
I'm not all alone, girl]

[Oh, I wanna have her beside me like oh-oh-oh
On the 25th by the fireplace, oh-oh-oh
But I don't want a new broken heart
This year I've got to be smart]

Nayeon unnie's talking about someone...

"Take note of the lyrics."

Huh? Wait, is she looking at me?

[Oh, baby
If ya won't be, if ya won't be here!]

[Santa, tell me if you're really there
Don't make me fall in love again if she won't be here next year
Santa, tell me if she really cares
'Cause I can't give it all away if she won't be here next year]

Unnie, you know you can't just play around with all the competition that's going around now... Tzuyu sighed, bringing a hand up to her forehead. She let out a small smile, clapping for Nayeon's performance.

The interviewer saw this, and looked at her, concerned. "She did well... I'm nervous." Tzuyu gave an uneasy smile to the camera. "Fighting." She whispered to herself, bringing up a fist and leaving for the stage after drinking some water.

She passed by Nayeon on her way and slapped her shoulder, giving her a frown and Nayeon just laughed quietly to herself.

- Minor Team, a week ago -

"Have you guys decided who you want to bring down?" Dahyun asked.

"Jihyo, Jihyo unnie has to be the one to bring Chaeyoung down. She has to experience Minor at least once." Minyoung points to Jihyo who laughs.

"I want Tzuyu."

All heads turn towards Nayeon who unknowingly said her thoughts out loud.

"You want Tzuyu as in, you want her as your opponent for the 1:1 battle?" Momo asked.

"No, I want Tzuyu." Nayeon replies before she realizes what she said and slapped a hand to her mouth.

"Nayeon unnie, do you..." Nayeon squeezes her eyes shut, biting on her lower lip and turning away in frustration. Stupid Im Nayeon, did you really have to say that? What the heck! "... do you like Tzuyu?"

Ah, there it was. The question she never wanted to be asked. Nayeon let out a sigh. What's the point of hiding it?

"... Yes. Yes, I do. And I want her."

All Minor members let out a gasp, completely surprised by the eldest's confession.

"Well..." Jihyo broke the silence, but didn't finish her sentence. "I'm going to pick Tzuyu as my opponent, and confess with the performance." Nayeon announced, glaring at the other Minor members. "So no one takes Tzuyu."

"We get it. Good luck." Jihyo sighed, and they continued their discussion on who's going to take who.

- Present -

Tzuyu's performance ended and the judges ended up putting her back in Minor. With a small sigh, she let her necklace get taken by Nayeon but found that she didn't really mind.

After filming, the members of SIXTEEN went backstage to rest.

Tzuyu was with her usual group of friends - Chaeryeong, Somi, Minyoung, Natty, chatting. Meanwhile, Nayeon was with Jihyo, Jungyeon, and Jiwon.

"Hey, if you want to confess, you better do it now. That song wasn't official." Jihyo nudged Nayeon who was staring at Tzuyu's back. "Yeah, you should. She's waiting." Jiwon pointed out Tzuyu holding her elbow with her left hand, finger tapping it. Jungyeon simply pushed Nayeon towards Tzuyu, and she bumped into Tzuyu's back.

Surprised, Tzuyu got knocked off balance for a while and looked back to see Nayeon. "Yes, unnie? Is there anything you need?" Tzuyu looked at Nayeon who was rubbing her head.

"Yeah, could you... come with me for a few minutes?"

Tzuyu gave her friends a look. "I'll be back soon."

They both headed somewhere empty, and Nayeon stood in front of Tzuyu, nervous. I didn't know confessing would be this hard. Surprisingly, Tzuyu was the one who broke the silence.

"So, unnie. What was that about?" Tzuyu had her arms crossed, a frown on her face. "It was my.. um. Confession." Nayeon looked away, rubbing her neck.

"You do know we can't play around with the matches, anyone could get eliminated at any mission. I could get eliminated. You could get eliminated. I don't know. I'm worried, unnie."

"I'm sorry about that. But I like you. I've liked you from the moment you came into JYP, from the moment PD-nim introduced you to the other trainees. So, um, would you like... go out with me?" Nayeon looked at Tzuyu apologetically, a hopeful smile on her face.

"Don't do that again, alright?" Tzuyu sighed, and Nayeon looked down. She walked over and pulled Nayeon into her arms, resting her chin on the top of her head. "Yes, I will. I like you too, Nayeon unnie."

The two spent a few moments there before going back to the other SIXTEEN members, not noticing that someone was watching them.

"Now I wish I didn't tell her to confess..." Jiwon walked away, going back to the members.

That's the end of the story, I'm so sorry if it feels weird. I feel sorry for Jiwon but well... it's life. Anyways, hope you enjoyed the story and please let me know if I need to correct anything :)

eewie