Let's Not Falling In Love (1st Book) (FIXED)

I don't know what to do

​"Is it okay if I tag Momo along with us?" Jeongyeon asked, smiling nervously.
​"Hmm, no..." Nayeon muttered under her breath.
​"Eh?" Jeongyeon wasn't quite sure what she had just heard.
​"You don't need to pay for her, you just pay for my meal," Jeongyeon tried to convince her.
​It's not about the money, Nayeon thought. I thought this was going to be our first date, but then... ah!
​"Nayeon eonni?" Jeongyeon stared at Nayeon, who had gone completely silent. Nayeon snapped back to reality, realizing she couldn't act like this.
​"I mean, no problem at all!" she said, forcing a smile.
​"So, should we head to her campus first?" Nayeon asked, keeping her eyes fixed on the road.
​"Yup!" Jeongyeon nodded.
​Momo was waiting at the bus stop near her campus when a familiar car pulled up in front of her.
​"Is that Nayeon's car?" she murmured, raising an eyebrow.
​Jeongyeon stepped out of the vehicle and walked over with a wide smile, waving her hand. The blonde girl simply furrowed her brows.
​"Is that Nayeon's car?" Momo asked. She had no idea why Jeongyeon was arriving with another girl when this was supposed to be a date for just the two of them.
​"Yeah, she's coming with us," Jeongyeon said, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. She noticed Momo's face instantly fall into a frown.
​Shifted by the awkward tension, Jeongyeon opened the backseat door for her. "Hop in, princess."
​Momo completely ignored her gesture and opened the front passenger door to sit beside Nayeon instead. Left with no other choice, Jeongyeon climbed into the back. The air in the car was suffocatingly tense.
​"It'll be much more fun if we eat with more people!" Jeongyeon offered cheerfully, staring out the window.
​Nayeon rolled her eyes. Fun? Why didn't you invite Sana and Mina, or your entire class while you were at it? She stole a quick glance in the rearview mirror at Jeongyeon, who was grinning broadly.
​"Idiot," Nayeon spontaneously muttered under her breath.
​"Who?" Momo asked. Nayeon merely tilted her head back toward Jeongyeon.
​The blonde girl let out a soft laugh. "Did you really think I couldn't hear both of you?" Jeongyeon leaned forward between the two front seats, looking at them both as they struggled to hold back their laughter.
​"You're the real idiot here-the one who fell on her knees crying like a little kid," Jeongyeon teased Nayeon.
​"Eonni, you did that...?" Momo looked at Nayeon, surprised.
​"No! She's lying. She just refuses to admit that she is the idiot here." Nayeon raised a hand and gently shoved Jeongyeon's face backward. "Go sit properly."
​"Ouch! You're going to ruin my pretty face."
​"Pretty, my ass," Nayeon scoffed, clearly annoyed.
​"Woah, miss, watch your language! You're a lecturer," Jeongyeon kept poking the bear.
​"Shut up, Yoo Jeongyeon, and get out of my car. We've arrived."
​"But the restaurant is still a few blocks away!"
​"The parking lot is right here, so get out. Momo, you go with her too," Nayeon said, flashing an unnoticed wink at Momo.
​"Okay," Jeongyeon said innocently. She stepped out and waited for Momo to join her. But before Momo could step away, Nayeon rolled down her window.
​Both girls were wearing mischievous smirks. "Bye! We'll meet you there!" Nayeon called out, speeding off into the distance.
​Jeongyeon stood there, her mouth agape in utter disbelief. "Oh, shit. They pranked me!"
​By the time Jeongyeon walked into the samgyeopsal restaurant, she found the two girls already eating happily, feeding each other like close sisters. She made her way over and slid into the empty booth seat right beside Nayeon.
​"I'm starving," Jeongyeon declared, immediately helping herself to the remaining meat on the grill and a full bowl of rice.
​"Excuse me, who are you?" Nayeon asked, completely emotionless. The gray-haired girl merely gave her a puzzled look.
​"Excuse me, could you move to another table? You're ruining our date," Nayeon added, pretending to be utterly exasperated.
​"Whatever. I won't say a word, I just want to eat. Enjoy your date," Jeongyeon replied without looking up, entirely focused on filling her plate.
​"She only cares about food," Momo chuckled.
​"Yoo Jeongyeon, do you know what?" Nayeon folded her arms across her chest.
​"What? I don't know," Jeongyeon mumbled around a mouthful of rice.
​"We know. We know this was supposed to be a date with only one of us."
​"Oh... okay, I get it," Jeongyeon said, resting her chin on her hand while munching on a piece of pork belly. She stared back at them with an unimpressed look. "So that's why you two pranked me." She offered a goofy grin and went right back to eating. "Sorry about that."
​"Oh Lord, why did I have to fall for someone like this?" Nayeon muttered, watching Jeongyeon eat without a single care in the world. "It's exhausting."
​"She's kind of cute, though," Momo whispered, her eyes glued to Jeongyeon.
​"Are you blind? She eats like an old man," Nayeon whispered back, watching in equal parts amusement and disgust as Jeongyeon shoved four large pieces of meat into her mouth all at once.
​"You know my type-someone who eats well," Momo said with a smile.
​"Yeah, but she eats like she hasn't seen food in a week."
​"Woah, I'm stuffed!" Jeongyeon patted her stomach with deep satisfaction. "Thanks for the meal!" She smiled brightly at both of them.
​"Are you finished?" Nayeon asked cold-heartedly.
​"Yup, all done."
​"Sir, check please!" Nayeon called out to the waiter. She dropped her cash on the table with a firm click. "You pay for yourself. I'm covering Momo."
​"Momoring, should we head to our next stop?" Jeongyeon asked the blonde girl, turning her back on Nayeon.
​"Eh? But you just said you were full," Momo raised her brows.
​"No, come on! This is our date." Jeongyeon stood up, grabbed Momo's hand, and pulled her toward the door. "Uh, Miss Nayeon, you can head home first if you like."
​Nayeon stood frozen in place, looking down hesitantly. "Let me come with you too," she said softly.
​"Are you sure?" Jeongyeon challenged her. "We're going to eat more and walk everywhere on foot. You won't be able to rely on your car."
​"I'm sure," Nayeon said, lowering her head with a quiet nod.
​"Wait, what about you, Momoring? Is it okay if she tags along?"
​Momo offered a warm smile and nodded.
​"Hmm, you're so sweet," Jeongyeon pinched Momo's cheek playfully, making the blonde giggle. Meanwhile, Nayeon stood by, watching them with a faint, sorrowful smile.
​"Let's go!" Jeongyeon wrapped her arm around Momo's shoulder, leading the way.
​As they began walking, Jeongyeon felt a light tug at her sleeve. She looked back and saw Nayeon shyly pinching the fabric of her hoodie. A soft smile crept onto Jeongyeon's face-she knew Nayeon just wanted the same affection. Reaching down, Jeongyeon took Nayeon's small hand into her own, holding it gently.
​"Where should we go first?" Jeongyeon asked Momo.
​"I want chicken feet!"
​"Chicken feet it is!"
​They wandered from stall to stall, with Jeongyeon letting Momo pick whatever caught her eye. Nayeon did her best to pretend she was enjoying the outing. In truth, she couldn't help but notice how seamlessly Momo and Jeongyeon fit together. They shared the same taste in almost everything-they really did look like a great couple.
​Jeongyeon's left arm never left Momo's shoulders, yet her right hand remained tightly clasped around Nayeon's. Even when Jeongyeon had to briefly let go to grab another skewer of chicken feet, pork feet, or fish cakes, her hand always found its way back to Nayeon's.
​"Guys, can we go to a karaoke room?" Nayeon asked eventually.
​Jeongyeon glanced over at Momo, raising an eyebrow in question.
​"Oh, yeah! Why not?" Momo chimed in. "We've been going everywhere I wanted, so now it's your turn."
​Suddenly, Momo clutched her stomach, her face pale. "Wait a second... I need to use the restroom."
​"Momo-yah, what's wrong?" Jeongyeon followed her attentively to the door of the restroom, with Nayeon trailing just behind.
​"I'm fine... I just feel like throwing up," Momo muttered, handing her bag to Jeongyeon before disappearing into a cubicle.
​"Do you need my help?" Jeongyeon called out, her heart sinking as she heard the sound of gagging from inside.
​"Don't worry, she just ate too much," Nayeon said, rolling her eyes as she leaned against the wall.
​Jeongyeon glanced at her, remaining at her post near the door. "Really?"
​"Yeah, it happens to her all the time."
​"Why didn't you warn me? I wouldn't have let her eat so much," Jeongyeon said, her eyes fixed worryingly on the stall door.
​"Yah..." Nayeon began, annoyed that Jeongyeon was only paying attention to Momo. But her frustration melted away when she noticed a young mother walking into the restroom carrying a tiny baby.
​"Omg, so cute! What's his name?" Nayeon cooed, gently touching the baby's chubby cheek.
​"Thank you! His name is Daebak... say hi to the pretty noona," the mother replied warmly.
​"Hello, Daebakk~" Nayeon babbled in a sweet baby voice. Jeongyeon turned around, her mouth slightly agape in surprise at how overwhelmingly cute Nayeon looked in that moment.
​"Oh, I'm so sorry, but could you hold him for just a minute? I really need to use the restroom," the mother asked unexpectedly.
​"Is that really okay?" Nayeon gasped, astonished that a stranger would hand her baby over so freely.
​"I trust you," the mother smiled, quickly sliding into an empty stall.
​Nayeon cradled the baby gently in her arms, swaying back and forth to keep him entertained. Jeongyeon stepped closer, looking down at the child.
​"Annyeong," Jeongyeon whispered, lightly stroking the baby's hair. "You really love kids, don't you?" she asked Nayeon, her eyes softening.
​"I do. I love them so much," Nayeon smiled from ear to ear.
​"Why don't you make one, then?" Jeongyeon joked, keeping a completely straight face.
​Nayeon chuckled, reaching up with one hand to ruffle Jeongyeon's hair. "You talk about making a baby as if it's as easy as making tteokbokki."
​"Do you want to make one with me?"
​Jeongyeon froze, completely startled by Nayeon's casual words. "What the hell are you talking about? I'm a girl!"
​"That's precisely why I'm asking you," Nayeon smirked.
​"What?" Jeongyeon furrowed her brows, completely lost.
​"Because you're a girl."
​"You're weird," Jeongyeon mumbled, shaking her head.
​Just then, the stall door opened, and a pale Momo stepped out. Jeongyeon immediately rushed to her side, pressing a palm against her forehead to check her temperature.
​"Are you okay? We don't have to go to karaoke anymore, let's just go home, okay?" Jeongyeon said gently, completely forgetting about Nayeon, who was still standing nearby holding the baby.
​Nayeon looked down at the floor, a quiet sting in her chest.
​"I'm fine, Jeongyeon-ah. We already promised we'd go," Momo insisted. She glanced over at Nayeon, unable to bear the sad, lonely expression on the older girl's face.
​"If you're sure..." Jeongyeon offered a small, hesitant smile.
​The baby's mother returned shortly after, thanking Nayeon profusely as she took her child back into her arms.
​"Bye-bye, Daebak!" Nayeon waved cheerfully, pretending as though nothing was wrong.
​"Eonni," Momo called out gently, stepping forward to pull Nayeon into a warm hug.
​"Shall we go now?" Nayeon looked down at her, and Momo nodded.
​"Jeongyeon, you really have to hear her sing. Her voice is absolute perfection," Momo praised as they walked out together.
​On the way to the karaoke venue, Momo and Nayeon walked arm in arm, while Jeongyeon lagged a few paces behind. She listened quietly as the two girls chatted about cosmetics and beauty routines, feeling very much like the lone guy trailing behind two young women.
​Eventually, their conversation shifted to the latest celebrity crush-actor Jung Hae-in, who had recently starred in a popular drama they were both watching.
​"Flirtatious girls," Jeongyeon grumbled under her breath. "Just because he has a six-pack..."
​She glanced down at her own stomach with a quiet chuckle. "I could easily make a one-pack just by eating enough."
​When they finally arrived, Jeongyeon paused. The place didn't look like an ordinary karaoke lounge; it was one of those hybrid venues that doubled as a motel.
​"Miss Nayeon, are you sure we're in the right place?" Jeongyeon asked as they approached the reception desk.
​"Of course. I come here all the time with Momo and our friends. It has great facilities," Nayeon answered nonchalantly.
​They booked a room, and Nayeon ordered a round of beers and snacks to kick off the night. Jeongyeon silently prayed that neither of them would get too drunk and cause trouble.
​Nayeon took the microphone first. Just as Momo had promised, her voice was ethereal. She sang Tori Kelly's Paper Heart, her sorrowful eyes locked directly onto Jeongyeon the entire time. Jeongyeon's chest ached with an indescribable pull. She tried to look away, but she couldn't tear her eyes from Nayeon's face.
​"Your turn!" Momo snapped her out of her trance, pushing the microphone into her hands. "Sing for us!"
​Jeongyeon selected Daniel Caesar's Best Part. She hadn't chosen it with the intention of swooning anyone, but the moment her low, soulful voice filled the room, both girls fell silent, feeling as though every single lyric was meant exclusively for them.
​When Momo took her turn to sing Beyoncé's End of Time, dancing rhythmically and playfully close in front of Jeongyeon, the gray-haired girl couldn't help but stare, her mouth slightly open.
​"Woah!" Jeongyeon cheered, clapping wildly when the song ended.
​Not to be outdone, Nayeon immediately took the stage next, belting out Ariana Grande's Greedy.
​A few songs and several drinks later, the alcohol began to take its toll on the two girls. Drunk and giddy, they put on Candy in My Ear and dragged Jeongyeon to her feet. With no escape, Jeongyeon wrapped her arms around their waists as they danced close against her, laughing and moving to the beat.
​It wasn't long before the alcohol caught up with them completely, and both girls collapsed asleep on the couch.
​Jeongyeon stood over them, utterly bewildered. Leaving for the dorms was out of the question, and while she could technically drive Nayeon's car, the parking lot was too far away to carry them both. Deciding it was best to stay put, she booked a motel room down the hall for the night.
​One by one, she slung Momo and then Nayeon over her shoulders, hauling them down the corridor and laying them gently side-by-side on the king-sized bed.
​Drenched in sweat, Jeongyeon collapsed onto the edge of the mattress, resting between their legs.
​"Carrying two full-grown girls... feel like I just did a full-body workout," she panted, unzipping her jacket and undoing the top two buttons of her shirt. She sat there in the dim light, staring at the two women sleeping peacefully before her.
​How on earth did two breathtakingly beautiful girls fall for an imperfect mess like me? she wondered. She had overheard their quiet confession at the restaurant earlier, and their actions spoke louder than words ever could.
​Her eyes drifted to Momo first. Double eyelids, that tiny mole on her nose, those high cheekbones... she's so beautiful. Her sweetness makes me want to protect her forever. With her, I can just be myself-eating like a pig without worrying about judgment. And she knows exactly how much of a pervert I can be, Jeongyeon thought with a quiet laugh.
​Then her gaze shifted to Nayeon. Just looking at her face makes my heart expand. She's older, yet she has this adorable, clingy, whiny side to her... Wait, both of them are so needy. Why do I love that so much?
​Her gaze wandered down their silhouettes, and her breath caught in her throat. Momo's body was toned from years of dancing, while Nayeon was soft and full in all the right places.
​"God, they're so beautiful... I want to touch them so badly," Jeongyeon blurted out before she could stop herself.
​Panic instantly seized her. She slapped a hand over her mouth, face burning. Stupid pervert! she scolded herself, smacking her own forehead.
​Suddenly, she froze. A warm pair of hands gently touched her back, stroking up and down her spine.
​"Oh, God..." Jeongyeon squeezed her eyes shut.
​"Hey... open your eyes, baby," Nayeon's soft, raspy voice whispered.
​Jeongyeon slowly opened her eyes to find Nayeon sitting up beside her, her white shirt unbuttoned to reveal the soft slope of her collarbone.
​"You said you wanted to touch us," a voice purred from her other side. Jeongyeon whipped her head around to see Momo sitting up in just her sports bra.
​Jeongyeon practically scrambled off the bed, standing wide-eyed in front of them. "No! No! I... I was just kidding!" she stammered, raising her hands defensively.
​"Really?" Nayeon tilted her head, a playful spark in her eyes.
​"Y-Yes!"
​"Then why are we here?" Nayeon asked, narrowing her eyes playfully. "If you weren't planning on doing something mischievous?"
​"Oh God! I couldn't carry both of you all the way to the parking lot! It was too far!" Jeongyeon explained frantically.
​Nayeon gaped at her in utter disbelief. "I thought Momo was the foolish one, but you are on a completely different level."
​"Ouch, that's harsh," Jeongyeon whined, pretending to be wounded.
​"Yah, you didn't need to carry us to the car," Nayeon said, shaking her head in exasperation. "You could have walked to the car, driven it here, parked in front of the lobby, and then loaded us in!"
​Jeongyeon scratched the back of her neck, her cheeks burning red. "Oh... yeah. Heh. I didn't think of that."
​Momo chuckled softly. "Eonni, we should be grateful she didn't just leave us stranded at the karaoke bar."
​"Thank you, Momoring!" Jeongyeon beamed at the blonde.
​"Alright then, come here," Momo said, patting the empty space on the mattress right between herself and Nayeon.
​"Eh? Seriously, I won't touch you guys, I swear," Jeongyeon said, waving her hands in frantic denial.
​"We're just asking you to sleep," Momo laughed softly. "You're exhausted, Jeongyeon-ah."
​"No, I can sleep on the..." Jeongyeon looked around the compact room, but there was no couch-just the single king-sized bed, a TV, a desk, and the bathroom.
​"Come on. Just sleep," Nayeon urged with a knowing smile.
​"O-Okay," Jeongyeon surrendered nervously.
​She slid into the middle of the bed. Almost instantly, both girls snuggled tightly against her sides, resting their heads on her shoulders. Jeongyeon's breathing hitched as she felt the warm weight of their bodies pressing against her.
​"It feels so warm," Momo murmured comfortably.
​"Momo, you can put your sweater back on if you're cold," Jeongyeon squeaked.
​Momo looked up at her with a gentle pout. Unable to resist, Jeongyeon pulled the thick blanket over all three of them, wrapping one arm around Momo's shoulders and drawing the blonde close against her chest.
​"I'm so sleepy..." Momo mumbled.
​Jeongyeon gently stroked Momo's hair, letting the blonde rest against her heart. She stared softly down at Momo's face, leaning down to bump her nose against Momo's in a series of sweet, affectionate Eskimo kisses.
​On her other side, Nayeon lay watching them quietly, a shadow passing over her eyes as Jeongyeon seemed to completely forget her presence.
​"Do you love her?" Nayeon asked quietly, cutting through the silence.
​Jeongyeon paused, looking over at Nayeon with wide, blank eyes. Her mind searched for an answer, but the concept of love felt so distant, so difficult to define. "I... I don't know."
​"So... do I still have a chance?" Nayeon whispered, reaching out to gently stroke Jeongyeon's cheek.
​Jeongyeon averted her eyes. She wasn't sure what she was feeling. All she knew was that whenever Momo was near, her heart felt anchored. But as she looked down at Momo sleeping peacefully, her chest suddenly constricted, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.
​What is this? she thought in panic. I should go to the hospital tomorrow... maybe I have a heart condition.
​"Jeongyeon...?" Nayeon called out softly, waiting for the answer to the question she had asked.
​Jeongyeon turned her head back to look into Nayeon's eyes, desperately trying to make sense of the chaotic storm inside her chest. But as her gaze fell upon Nayeon's face, her heart began to race just as wildly, beating with the exact same terrifying intensity it did for Momo.
​"What's wrong?" Nayeon asked softly, framing Jeongyeon's face with both hands. She noticed Jeongyeon's eyes dropping instinctively to her lips.
​"I guess... the answer is yes," Nayeon whispered.
​Before Jeongyeon could process the words, Nayeon leaned in, her hand moving to the back of Jeongyeon's head to pull her close. Their lips met in a soft, intoxicating kiss.
​Jeongyeon's brain screamed at her to pull away, but the sweetness of Nayeon's mouth melted her resolve entirely. Instinct took over, and Jeongyeon kissed her back-deeply, tenderly.
​Yet even as she surrendered to Nayeon's kiss, Jeongyeon's left arm remained tightly wrapped around Momo. With gentle care, she raised her left hand to cover Momo's eyes, shielding the sleeping girl from witnessing the betrayal unfolding right beside her.
​God, what a monster I am, Jeongyeon thought, a wave of guilt crashing over her. Kissing my own lecturer while holding another girl in my arms.
​Jeongyeon pulled back from the kiss, gasping for air, and quickly turned her head away from Nayeon.
​"Forgive me..." she whispered, her voice trembling. She felt so terribly wrong-kissing her lecturer while holding the girl who had always been there to patch up her broken heart.
​Nayeon's expression crumpled. She had thought, for a fleeting second, that she had won Jeongyeon's heart. But in the end, Jeongyeon's body always leaned toward Momo. I'm just her lecturer after all.
​"You don't have to apologize," Nayeon said, her voice laced with a deep, aching sadness. "I'm the one who kissed you first."
​Nayeon shifted closer, wrapping her arms around Jeongyeon's waist from behind, pressing her forehead against Jeongyeon's back.
​"I just want you to look at me the way you look at her," Nayeon whispered softly into the quiet room. "Forget about us being a student and a lecturer. I know Momo wants to fix you... she wants to erase the trauma from your past. But can you let me try, too? You can rely on me, Jeongyeon-ah."
​Jeongyeon lay frozen between them, utterly lost in the darkness.
​She pulled Momo tighter into her chest, burying her face into the blonde's soft hair as if trying to shield herself from the world.
​What am I supposed to do? she whispered into the quiet night, receiving no answer at all.