Waterfall

Chapter 24

"Chaeng, you coming?" Dahyun asked as she held the door open for the younger.

"I finally got you to agree to go walk around the streets of Japan, of course I'm coming." She laughed as she picked her phone up from the table, and swiftly left the hotel room she shared with Dahyun and Nayeon.

"You promised we'd go buy snacks!" Dahyun exclaimed, feeling like Chaeyoung was going to betray her.

"Right. That's what we're doing."

"Chaeng..." Dahyun warned, as she locked the door, since Nayeon wasn't in there either. "You better keep your promise."

"Or what?" The younger tested, nudging Dahyun slightly.

"Or..." Dahyun said, threateningly pointing a fist at Chaeyoung, motioning her head towards it.

Chaeyoung unintentionally laughed right at Dahyun's face, who pouted. "Okay, Dubu. Whatever you say." She chuckled.

Linking their arms, Chaeyoung guided the two of them out of the hotel and onto the streets while the older followed hesitantly.

"Chaeyoung, I'm not too sure about this." Dahyun said after a while of walking and small talk.

"Why not? We're safe, just trust me."

"Okay but... I'm not seeing any grocery stores anywhere. Do you know where we're going?" She asked carefully.

"Nope." Chaeyoung said with no concern in her voice as she swung their hands back and forth.

"What?!" Dahyun stopped abruptly, standing a few steps behind the younger.

"I'm kidding." Chaeyoung laughed, motioning with her hand for Dahyun to keep moving, putting an arm around her shoulders when the older finally reached her. "The manager told me it's safe here, and that there is a store near."

Sighing, Dahyun walked besides Chaeyoung awkwardly, as she had to bend slightly so the girl's arm could reach around her. It made her laugh, and Chaeyoung instantly swatted at her arm, already knowing why the girl was laughing.

"So... How are things with Tzuyu? Have you two talked?" Dahyun asked after a while.

Their walking was slow and Dahyun felt like they were walking for hours. Chaeyoung insisted on slowing their pace, mumbling something about how they'll sleep better. The older rolled her eyes at that, but let it happen anyway since she couldn't stop it. This relaxing walk was really helping ease her mind anyway.

"Uhm... Not really." Chaeyoung scratched the back of her neck a bit, a sign Dahyun knew meant she was either confused, sad or uncomfortable. "We're both really just finding reasons to avoid each other without it being straight forward. I can't just start up a conversation about that with her, and it doesn't seem like she will so... It's like this... Awkward, and.. I don't know."

"I know." Dahyun said, giving her a side hug as they walked. "So you're not going to do anything about that?"

"If she doesn't, I don't think I can. I've had my talk with her many times. There's something we don't know, and if she's not ready to talk about it, I don't want to force her. I'll have to wait for her to open up to me. But until then, we're gonna be like this. And I hate it."

Dahyun said nothing. She really didn't know what to say to comfort the younger. The only thing she could do was give strength and reassurance through the closeness that moment brought them as they walked listening to the silence of the night.

On their way back they were munching on the snacks they bought while talking about anything and everything. Both just opting for a casual conversation rather than a sensitive topic that would make both of them feel bad.