Senpai [Michaeng]

12. Surprises

~The Day Before Mina's Birthday~

[Chaeyoung's POV]

After school, Tzuyu and I went shopping for Mina's birthday gifts. Dahyun couldn't join us, so it was just the two of us wandering through the shops. After some deliberation, I decided on chocolates and a penguin plushie. I hope she'll like them.

"What time did Mina unnie call you?" I asked Tzuyu ."In the evening," she replied. "Okay," I said, mentally preparing for tomorrow.

~Next Day~

I took a shower and got ready, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. On the way, I picked up a bouquet of flowers. Upon reaching Mina's house, I took a deep breath to steady myself.

dingdong!

[Mina's POV]

Bambam arrived early, which was a relief as he helped me with the preparations. I opened the door when the bell rang, expecting another guest. To my surprise, it was Chaeyoung. "CHAENGIE!" I exclaimed, rushing to hug her.

Her smile, with those adorable dimples, made my heart swell. "I didn't expect you to come," I said, still holding her. "I asked my dad if I could stay, and he agreed," she replied, making my day even better.

[Chaeyoung's POV]

I awkwardly handed Mina the bouquet. "Happy birthday, Mina unnie." "That really wasn't necessary. Thank you so much," she said softly, her eyes twinkling with gratitude.

"It's nothing. I hope you like it, but please open it after I leave," I said shyly."

Come in, Chaeyoungie," she said, leading me inside. As I entered, I was greeted by Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, and Jihyo, who nearly suffocated Mina with their enthusiastic hugs. Not long after, Dahyun and Tzuyu arrived as well. Her parents greeted us warmly, their kindness a reflection of Mina's gentle nature.

As we moved to the living room, I noticed a familiar face. BAMBAM! I screamed internally. Why is he here? He even arrived before me. Are they that close? Are they dating? My heart ached with jealousy and uncertainty. While the others chatted with him, I tried my best to avoid him. Dahyun and Tzuyu seemed comfortable enough.

Despite my initial discomfort, I couldn't help but enjoy the celebration. Mina looked genuinely happy, and I found myself frequently stealing glances at her. Occasionally, she caught me staring, and I'd quickly look away, blushing. We indulged in so much food that I could barely breathe. As the evening wore on, Mina turned to me and said, "So, does this mean you're alone at home tonight?""Uh, yeah." "Wanna come for a sleepover?" I joked, my heart racing.

Before I could say I was kidding, she replied, "Sure," catching me completely off guard."O-Okay," I stammered, trying to stay calm.

[Mina's POV]

I agreed to the sleepover, thinking Chaeyoung was joking. But when she replied seriously, I couldn't back out. This is going to be interesting. It was getting late, and the others started to head home, except for Chaeyoung. I quickly took a shower and asked my parents if I could sleep over at her place. They agreed since it was my birthday.

We hailed a taxi, and I found myself feeling a bit nervous. "My room is a mess," Chaeyoung said as we arrived. "Duh... mine's messier," I lied. I always kept my room tidy.

Entering her room, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't messy at all. Her room was really nice, with pictures of Justin Bieber on the walls indicating her fandom." You take the bed. I'll jus—" she began, but I cut her off.

"Your bed can easily fit two people. We'll sleep together," I said firmly. She froze for a moment, looking flustered. It was endearing. After brushing our teeth and getting ready for bed, it was already 11 PM. Tired from the day, we laid down beside each other.

[Chaeyoung's POV]

My heart raced as I lay beside Mina unnie. Being this close to her was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. We faced each other, talking about random things.

Her voice was soothing, and I found myself lost in the moment. I wondered what it would be like to be with someone like Mina unnie. We stared into each other's eyes, the world around us fading away until I broke the eye contact, feeling overwhelmed.

[Mina's POV]

I was captivated by her eyes, feeling a connection that was hard to describe. When she broke the eye contact, I realized I might have made her uncomfortable. Blushing, I wondered if I had crossed a line. Chaeyoung got up to switch off the light and hurried back to bed. We ended up cuddling each other. It felt right. She didn't seem to mind, and I found myself falling for this cute little cub even more.