Broken

10

Jihyo had clammed up again, Nayeon was the one to pick her up on her classroom, she noticed Sana had that last class with the girl. And was talking animatedly with a very polite looking Jihyo, the sight irked something in Nayeon, Mina stopped her before she did anything (she was right at the next classroom). Although, looking into the room, the younger's stomach twisted as well.

Making quick work of it, Mina and Nayeon managed to dismiss Sana and guide Jihyo out to the front gate fast. Chaeyoung, Tzuyu and Jeongyeon were talking by the lockers, the smallest one got her cousin to go away once she got what Mina gestured for her to do. They stopped by the market on the way, all knew Jihyo would refuse buying anything from a convenience store, and they could make better excuses for going there instead.

Getting settled up at Mina's kitchen, Tzuyu and Nayeon had sat Jihyo down between them, and Momo and Chaeyoung proceeded to make them dinner. Mina sat across from the other three, all looking very worried, and Jihyo still not talking.

"Jihyo, what happened?" Mina tries, looking straight into the other's eyes.

"Not much. I was waiting for Chaeyoung by the stairs near her classroom, then a girl fell down the stairs, Chae's cousin and I tried to catch her and we all walked away with a few scratches." Jihyo answers, nobody really believes her, but they'll work on that slowly.

"Ji, talk to us? Please." Tzuyu begged.

"I am. I just told you what happened."

"Maybe, but there is more to it. Jeongyeon's buds bloomed, so did Sana's, but they both had a pink Cyclamen that was obviously not for any of the two." Chaeyoung observed in a grimm tone.

"What do you mean?" Nayeon asked, making sure to allow Jihyo to talk.

"Well, Jeong had a yellow Crocus and a pink Cyclamen. Sana, from what I saw, had a purple Iris and a pink Cyclamen. We don't get our own buds, so they couldn't have the same one and have it be for each other." Chaeyoung further explained.

"I have something to show you all, then." Jihyo made to get up, resigned.

The girl got out of her seat, Chaeyoung and Momo came out of the kitchen to see everything closer. The other three sat up straighter on their chairs, all eager for their friend's first voluntary sharing. Jihyo went around the table, to be in a better position, then took off her shirt, her protruding ribs and collarbone in full view. It made the others' stomachs churn and a very bad chill run down their spines. The girl looked frail and greenish beneath the uniform, thin arms that seemed about to break at any moment.

In their trance, they didn't notice Jihyo was afraid, but still turned around, flowers in full bloom, a beautiful purple Iris and yellow Crocus, intertwined magnificently in a heart shape, right behind where her heart should be. The others were mesmerized by the image, but a deep cut was carved through their hearts, they understood what that meant, who those flowers had so beautifully bloomed for, how the girl's heart was so open and full with a love she wouldn't ever allow herself to give.

"Ji-" Nayeon started, but was cut by Tzuyu standing up and marching to Jihyo to envelop the girl in the warmest and most loving hug she could muster.

All the others followed instantly, they couldn't bring themselves to let go, not that any wanted to, Jihyo started crying, for the very first time since she was a child. Violent sobs wrecking the frail body, only held up by the welcoming arms around her, the girls felt their chests burn. The violent wave of love, care, relief, gratitude, worry, acceptance, that surged through their bodies demanded release, so they cried as well. The girls cried for the one in their arms, the one who was, finally, trusting them and showing them her true self.

Mina was the first one to draw back, not letting go, but she took Jihyo's face with gentle hands, taking advantage of her position right in front of the girl, she look deep into those deep chocolate eyes that said so much and kissed Jihyo's lips. An act of pure love, that conveyed just that, her girlfriends looking fondly at the scene, and moving to do just the same, followed by the older couple. That moment was when they all pledged to never let the girl be that broken again, a silent vow that bonded them all. They would fail, yes. But they would try with everything they had.

The afternoon went into the night and Nayeon and Momo decided to go home, Jihyo said she would go with them, taken Nayeon lived just beside herself. The others agreed it would be better, and so they left, the trio staying behind as they would like to talk amongst themselves, Jihyo asked if it would be alright if she went with them, Momo just took her hand and made to the door.

The couple could talk after dropping Jihyo home, none were too hasty for it, just wanted to enjoy the girl's company, maybe give her some affection while at it. The trio accompanied them to the door, and headed to the couch as soon as it closed. Tzuyu, the most sensitive of the three, still felt her heart constricted, Chaeyoung was worried over what she saw, and Mina was just worried over everything.

"Are you hanging on alright, Yu?" Chaeyoung asked, voice soft and careful.

"I am, it's just that it still hurts. I know it shouldn't, not this much, bu-"

"We know. We are feeling the same way." Mina cuts her, pulling both girls into her arms.

"You know, I thought I would get jealous if you ever kissed someone who wasn't the two of us. I'm ashamed to admit I was jealous of Jihyo at first, but when I saw you two kissing her today, all I could feel was love and be proud of the both of you. I don't know if this is something that I should be thinking, but I think I'm a little bit in love with Jihyo." Chaeyoung admits, low voice and face flushed.

"I think we all fell in love with her.... A little bit." Mina answers, and Tzuyu lets out a wet chuckle in agreement.

After seeing Jihyo home, Momo followed Nayeon so they could talk today through. Jihyo had composed herself before getting inside, if one looked at her at that moment, it wouldn't be possible to tell she had a breakdown that afternoon. The couple never said anything, both just left jihyo with warm hugs and a soft kiss, heading, then to their own time, so they could understand each other about the developments of the day.

"Yeonnie, is it bad that I think I might have fallen for Jihyo a little?" Momo asks, as soon as she sits on Nayeon's bed.

"I was about to ask the same thing. But I would say it's normal? At least for us, the five of us, I mean. I think we are all in love with her the same way." Nayeon answers as she hugs her girlfriend.

"So it's alright that I don't feel like there is something wrong with giving her hugs and kisses like we did today?" Momo asks innocently, not a hint of malice in her.

"I think it's alright. I want to do the same thing, so it would be a problem if you thought that wasn't alright." Nayeon answers in a chuckle and just kisses her girlfriend.

They end up in a very heated make out session, a much different type of love being shown to each other. The trio was in a very similar situation, still learning how to make it work with three people. Jihyo went to sleep with warmth spreading through her whole body, a sincere smile on her face and a lightness in her heart that he had never felt before.