The Nine Dancing Princesses (TWICE FF)

4. Differences

Tzuyu entered the assigned classroom and looked over. There were almost ten desks. She had never shared a classroom with anyone, her father had appointed a private teacher who taught her in the study room of the palace. Her father had always kept her safe, away from most of the people. Even her half siblings were not allowed to come near her. All she had to talk with were her maids who were much older and her Mother. She had a very hard time figuring out her feelings and an even harder time expressing them. But thankfully her mother understood her and convinced her father to send her to this university. It had taken almost a year of convincing, but her mother did it.

And now almost everything was different. It felt as if she never had to talk that much in her entire life how much she talked in past two days. There were things she had to adjust to and there were things she felt a bit inconvenient, but there were things that were refreshing. And she still couldn't figure if she liked the changes or not. She just felt... different.

Her eyes travelled through the empty desks, first two desks were already occupied but on the last two desks two familiar people sat chatting among themselves. Although technically she did not knew anything about them, but she had seen them sneaking a bit late into the dining hall, and found it thrilling. She wanted to talk to them and seeing them in her class, she decided to make some new friends. So she went and sat in front of Dahyun.

Noticing her, suddenly their chatter felt silent. It was not that they didn't wanted to talk to her, they were just being cautious. They did not wanted to make her uncomfortable by any means. Knowing that their cultures were very different.

But Tzuyu had made her mind to talk to them, she liked them already. So she turned around before smirking a little and said

" I saw you both sneaking into the dining hall" Both of them were shocked and Chaeyoung let out a gasp.

"So ... Are you going to complain about us?" Dahyun asked a bit serious.

"No.. but I have one condition." Tzuyu said firmly

. "And that is?"

Chaeyoung asked. "I don't have any friends, and... Well I was thrilled by the idea of sneaking.... And I was wondering if.."

But before she could continue, Dahyun cut her "wait.. you liked the idea?" Tzuyu nodded and smiled.

"Then we can get along well, do you want to hangout with us?" It was like the first time in her entire life that someone talked so informally to her and she really loved it.

"I was wondering the same thing" she said with a smile.

By now the whole class was almost full, except the desk next to Tzuyu. She suddenly remembered about Mina. It was her first year too, then she should be in this class too.. but where was she. Tzuyu was already feeling bad about her crying and now if she didn't attend the first class Tzuyu would surely feel guilty.

But her thoughts were interrupted by the door opening, and there she was! Mina scanned the classroom and sat on the only empty desk, the one beside Tzuyu. She glanced at her and gave a timid smile. If Tzuyu hadn't seen her crying.. she would not even know.

Just then Chaeyoung placed a hand over her shoulder " hey are you okay?  You were crying in the corridor right?" Mina was a bit flustered as she turned but she gave a  small nod, and just then their professor entered.

For the whole lecture Mina said nothing, she did not even glanced at Tzuyu. It was because she was feeling sad.. really sad. The overheard conversation was running through her head and she was barely controlling herself from bursting into tears. she was beyond exhausted and it wasn't helping at all. After what seemed like forever the lecture finally came to an end. Everyone started leaving  and Tzuyu followed Mina while Chaeyoung and Dahyun followed her. Tzuyu was about to call her when Mina came to an abrupt stop.

And then she suddenly collapsed...