Chapter Text
Jihyo tapped her pen against her mousepad, the rhythmic sound punctuating the tense silence. On the other side of the screen, Mr. Lee fidgeted under her unflinching gaze.
"I'm sorry, but what you're suggesting doesn’t align with anything we’ve discussed. You’ve had months to prepare this contract, and now, suddenly, there’s a problem?" She said, her voice firm.
"You have to understand where we're coming from too, Jihyo." Mr. Lee’s words faltered, the nerves in his voice betraying him.
"Mrs. Park." She corrected him, her eyes narrowing just a little.
"Right, Mrs. Park..." He stammered, his sweaty palms rubbing on his equally sweaty forehead. "Our higher ups, well, there are external pressures we can’t ignore."
Jihyo’s lips parted slightly, and she leaned back. She wasn’t fooled by the “higher-ups” excuse. She'd seen it all before.
"Oh, please. We all know who's behind these external pressures." Jihyo let out an exasperated scoff. "Should I talk to Mr. Kim himself?"
The man's eyed widened. "No! No no no, I can… uhm, I'll see what I can do."
Jihyo stared at him for a few moments. "Didn't know your company was a puppet of Cyde."
The comment had the desired effect. "N-no. We're an independent platform."
"Uh-hum." Jihyo replied, her tone cold. "Right."
She let the silence stretch for a moment, making sure he felt the weight of her words before she spoke again. "I think we both know where this is headed, and you’re not in the position to make excuses."
She waited, the quiet tension settling between them. She had him cornered.
"I want the deal finalized. Now. You either make it happen, or we’ll have to reconsider the partnership altogether."
His face paled. "I- I’ll see what I can do."
Jihyo sat back, her expression unreadable, then gave a small nod. "Good. I’m looking forward to hearing from you."
She ended the call with a click, her gaze lingering on the screen for a moment longer before she leaned back in her chair with a sigh.
The pressure of the deal sat in her chest like a weight she couldn't shake. This wasn’t just about securing streaming rights, it was about her future. If this deal fell apart, everything she’d worked for could crumble.
She glanced at the documents in front of her, then shook the thought away. There was no time for doubts. She would make this work, no matter what it took.
* * *
Jihyo tossed her bag onto the couch and collapsed into the cushions. She was exhausted. It was past ten, and the thought of cooking dinner felt overwhelming. Instant ramen it was, maybe eaten straight from the pot while some mindless TV show filled the silence.
As she walked towards the kitchen, her eyes landed on the box of chocolates that had been sitting on the counter for days. Nayeon had given them to her for her birthday just a few days ago and she'd had one each night since Saturday, the small ritual bringing some sweet comfort.
She reached for one, unwrapping it and making it melt in her mouth, letting her taste buds work to identify the flavor. Strawberry, she thought, as the familiar sweetness filled her senses. She leaned against the counter, allowing herself just this brief pause, this tiny indulgence.
The sharp ring of her phone jolted her out of the moment. She frowned, glancing at the screen. Sana. Her stomach tightened. It wasn’t like Sana to call this late.
“Sana?" Jihyo answered, her voice tinged with concern. "Is everything okay?”
A choked sob was her only answer. Jihyo straightened.
“Sana?" She repeated, heart starting to race. "What’s wrong? Are you crying?”
“I… I broke up with Miyeon.”
Jihyo’s eyebrows shot up. “What? When? What happened?”
More sobs, then a shaky inhale. “Just now. She… She came over, and we got into a fight, and… and I just… I couldn’t…” Sana trailed off, dissolving into tears again.
Jihyo’s chest tightened with a deep ache. She knew how much Miyeon meant to Sana. “I’m coming over.” She said firmly.
“I… I don’t…” Sana hiccuped. “I don’t want to be alone right now.”
“I’m coming.” Jihyo repeated, already reaching for her keys. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there soon."
* * *
The next few days blurred together in a stream of late night calls and useless reassurances that could do little to help a heartbroken Sana.
"It’s for the best" was all Sana would say about the matter, over and over, as if trying to convince herself.
And Miyeon wasn’t of much help either. At least, that’s what Jihyo gathered from the messages she exchanged with Minnie. What started as an effort to piece together what had transpired between their friends leading to an unexpected breakup, soon became a thread of mutual frustration.
Sana still won't say anything more than 'it's for the best' and cries every time I try to bring it up
Jihyo’s fingers hovered over her phone, adding a frustrated emoji before hitting send.
Miyeon keeps saying it's her fault and that she messed up. I'm trying to press but she's so tight lipped
Their attempts to understand were futile. The conversations went in circles, and eventually, they shifted to other topics. Jihyo wasn't sure when texting Minnie every night had become a little routine, yet here she was, updating her on her day and headaches at work, more than their friends' breakup.
Maybe if you went to bed at a normal time, you wouldn't be as stressed
Jihyo rolled her eyes at Minnie's message and she typed back readily.
Sleep is overrated
Sounds like someone needs to relax
any suggestions?
Plenty
Jihyo laid on her bed, the latest episode of her favorite dating show playing in the background as she texted mindlessly.
like what?
Meditation? bubble bath? a massage? I can offer an excellent back rub, by the way
Jihyo blinked at her screen.
Are you licensed?
Certified, by satisfied friends
such selfless service huh?
just being helpful. call if you need
Jihyo paused, thumb hovering over her keyboard.
i'll stick to chocolates and junk food for now, but keep the offer open
Always
Jihyo smiled as she tossed her phone on the bed, letting the conversation end naturally. Texting Minnie was easy, too easy. There was no expectation and no second guessing. And maybe that's exactly what she needed right now.
* * *
Sana's mood had noticeably shifted in the following days. But instead of being relieved, Jihyo was even more worried. You couldn't simply go from being a sobbing mess to pretending like everything was fine and that you were the happiest you had ever been overnight. That kind of forced cheerfulness only led to disasters, and Jihyo knew that well.
So when Sana had started texting her early on Friday morning, Jihyo had tried to dismiss her. That is, until her phone started ringing incessantly as soon as 5 pm hit and she was supposedly out of work hours.
"Absolutely not." Jihyo said, her phone connecting the call as she pulled out of the office parking lot at about 7 pm.
"I didn't even say anything yet!" The pouty voice on the other end responded.
"Sana."
"Please?"
Jihyo sighed. "Can't you ask Jeongyeon?"
"Already tried. She’s busy." Sana grumbled, the betrayal in her tone almost theatrical.
Jihyo's eyebrows raised in question. Jeongyeon was definitely not busy, but she was a much more convincing liar for sure.
"So I'm the backup now?"
Indignant protests bubbled from her phone and Jihyo couldn't help but smile, despite herself.
"You know you're my number one and that's why I'm asking you." Sana countered, knowing how much Jihyo loved hearing that. It was a carefully chosen tactic, and it rarely failed.
Jihyo didn't want to give in too easily. "What about Chaeyoung? Clubbing is her thing."
More whining. "She's taken now and I don't want to be third wheeling. Besides..."
Jihyo tapped her finger on the steering wheel as she listened to Sana's rambling. She tried to think of someone else she could suggest. Dahyun was out of the question, and so was Tzuyu. Nayeon was on another work trip. And Momo-
"…and you know Momo can't drive so you don't want us taking a taxi, right?"
Jihyo's fingers stilled. "Momo is coming too?" She asked, trying to keep her tone even.
"Yeah, I had to beg her for three days." Sana complained, the exasperation clear in her voice.
Three days? Jihyo felt a twinge of annoyance. Momo could have, should have, agreed straight away to make her best friend happy, especially at a time like this.
"Fine." Jihyo conceded at last, resigned. "What time, princess?"
Squeals and something unintelligible followed. She wasn't sure she picked up on the hour but Sana made sure to tell her to dress to impress because they were going to their favorite lesbian club downtown.
* * *
Jihyo hadn’t expected to spend her night playing babysitter to Sana in full rebound phase and a surprisingly composed Momo. But when she’d picked them up, Momo had greeted her normally and they'd even chatted about the weather on the way. Jihyo had been caught off guard even because it felt like she was talking to the old Momo. Their talk had finally cleared things up. For Momo at least, apparently.
Jihyo sat at the bar, nursing a non-alcoholic drink as she kept an eye on Sana, who was already several drinks in and no amount of convincing could slow her down. When she'd called Jihyo, that was one of her conditions, to go all out and forget about everything for the night. And Sana was doing just that, dancing with random women, and laughing too loudly, like she hadn’t spent the past week crying. Momo had dragged her onto the dance floor for this exact reason. At least, for now, Sana seemed happy.
And Momo was, well, Momo was a good dancer, Jihyo could give her that. Not that her judgment was needed. Her friend had practically been a professional dancer once. Perhaps, that was why Jihyo's eyes kept getting drawn to the way her body moved with such ease and confidence. Or to the way her black tank top clung to her toned stomach and rode up slightly as she danced. Maybe Jihyo's gaze lingered on the way her defined abs flexed under the flashing lights because she was admittedly a little bit jealous. She had always envied Momo's athletic body, a gift that came down to genetics, unlike her own rigorous five-day-a-week workout routine.
It had nothing to do with the fact that Momo was objectively attractive, Jihyo could admit that much. Momo was hot. And she was not the only one who thought so, judging by the amount of looks she drew. But recognizing that didn’t mean Jihyo was attracted to her. There was just no way, because Momo wasn’t even remotely her type.
Jihyo’s eyes drifted back to her drink, trying to shake these thoughts away.
"You were saying you've been busy?" A voice asked from behind her.
Startled, Jihyo turned halfway around on her barstool.
"Yep!" She smiled readily at Byul, the bartender. "Work and all that."
Byul and Jihyo had known each other for years, but hadn't become friendly until Byul's brief fling with…
"No wonder. Haven't seen Nayeon around here either."
Jihyo let out a loud laugh. "You two still talk?"
"Nah. She used to come often, though. With Chaeyoung."
Jihyo nodded. Her friends were the club regulars.
Byul wiped down the counter, glancing over Jihyo's shoulder. "Seems like your friend still dislikes me." She commented, amused.
"Huh?" Jihyo turned, following Byul's line of sight, a little confused. "Who?"
"Nayeon's friend."
"Momo?" Jihyo turned back to Byul, genuine curiosity etched on her face. "Why?"
Byul chuckled. "She used to glare at me. Like an angry puppy who had just gotten her snack stolen. Thought Nayeon and I were serious or something."
Jihyo glanced back toward the dance floor, catching sight of Momo for a moment. Momo was indeed looking their way, but Jihyo quickly shifted her focus back to the bartender. She gave Byul a light laugh. "You weren't?"
"Nope. Just fun. We didn't really match." Byul laughed. "Told Nayeon to reassure her friend I wasn’t stealing her away."
Jihyo's eyebrows raised slightly. "I don't think Momo is a possessive friend, though?" She said, more as a question to her own self than anything.
"Don't tell me you don't see it?"
Jihyo paused. Was it that obvious to everyone? "Seems like everyone thinks that."
"Right? I told Nayeon as well."
"Really?" Jihyo asked, intrigued. "And what does she say?"
"Doesn't believe it. Says they're like real sisters." Byul snorted.
"Sisters?" Jihyo echoed, holding back a laugh. "That's what she says?"
"Yep." Byul confirmed. "Don't think she sees her that way. Your friend, though? A lost cause."
Jihyo felt the sudden urge to come to Momo's defence, even if there wasn't really anything to defend her from. Momo had a girlfriend. Of sorts. It was unlikely she was hung up on Nayeon of all people, her best friend of five years. Even if everyone thought so, and Jihyo was starting to believe it too, it didn't mean it was real.
"Momo dates other women, though?"
"Dates…" Byul started, looking ahead again. "Or sleeps with?"
Jihyo felt heat raise to her ears. She cleared her throat. "She has a girlfriend, I think."
"Oh?" Byul asked, surprised. "Does she know that?" She nodded towards something behind Jihyo.
Jihyo followed her gaze, her eyes widening slightly when she saw a tall woman standing next to Momo at the edge of the dancefloor, trying to chat her up. Jihyo squinted her eyes, trying to get a better look at the short haired woman, but the dim lights and the distance didn't help. All she could see was Momo smiling politely as the woman was leaning in to say something in her ear.
Jihyo averted her gaze and turned fully on the stool to face Byul. "Who is she?"
"Don't know her." Byul shrugged, disinterested.
Jihyo took a large sip of her fruity drink. She needed to stay alert. Keep an eye on Sana. And Momo too, apparently. She stole a quick glance back at that thought. The woman was still there trying to get an opening despite Momo's clear disinterest. Or so Jihyo thought.
For a moment, she considered stepping in but shook it off. Wasn't that the point of coming to a club, to meet people? And Momo could handle herself.
She shifted her attention to the dancefloor, looking for Sana's bright pink top. She caught her swaying to the terrible mix of music, some Taylor Swift mashup, laughing too loudly, a carefree smile on her face, the kind only alcohol could bring.
She let out a heavy sigh, it was going to be a long night.
* * *
Jihyo's gaze lingered on the dark path where they had disappeared, barely noticing Sana scurrying over and plopping down next to her.
"They're gone." Sana said, leaning over, her words slightly slurred.
"Hm." Jihyo acknowledged, finally turning her attention from the empty path to Sana, whose head had fallen against her shoulder.
"Too bad she's not Momo's type." Sana giggled, leaning her whole body weight against Jihyo now.
"Ok?" Jihyo tried to help Sana stand upright. "No more drinks for you, by the way."
"I barely drank-" Sana protested, a hiccup interrupting her attempt at a coherent sentence.
Jihyo shook her head, her gaze drifting ahead again.
"Momo will be fine." Sana said, following Jihyo's line of sight. "It doesn't seem like it, but she can handle herself, don't worry." She added, giggling.
Jihyo blinked, caught off guard. She hadn’t meant to linger on that thought. It was normal to care about her friends, right? "I'm not." She said firmly. "She can do whatever she-"
Before she could continue, Jihyo noticed tears well up in Sana's eyes and her expression dropping, the cheerful facade crumbling. "Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong?" She asked softly, reaching out to brush the dropping tears away.
"M-miyeon would have l-liked this song." Sana sobbed between the tears.
Jihyo flinched inwardly. Here we go. The song itself was questionable, but that was beside the point. After the high of the past three days, the emotional crash was inevitable. She wrapped her arms around Sana, pulling her in a tight hug. "You'll get through this." Jihyo tried to reassure her.
Sana’s crying softened. "I miss her so much." She choked out, her voice muffled against Jihyo's chest.
Jihyo patted her back in silence, giving her the time for her tears to subside. It wasn’t long before Sana pulled back abruptly, blinking up at Jihyo with red, swollen eyes. "I'm sorry for ruining the night." She mumbled, a faint pout forming on her lips.
"Don't be silly." Jihyo reassured her, squeezing her shoulder. "You're not ruining anything."
"I just..." Sana sniffled. "I just want to have fun tonight." She finished lamely, her voice small.
Jihyo sighed. "Let's get some air." She said, , grabbing their jackets and gently pulling Sana toward the exit, weaving through the crowd.
Once outside, the cool night air felt refreshing against Jihyo’s overheated skin. "Better?" She asked, holding out Sana's jacket.
Sana nodded, slipping her arms into the sleeves. "Thank you."
Jihyo gave her a gentle pat on her shoulder, then she turned her attention to the area around them. Small groups of smokers were gathered, as well as couples wanting some privacy. It didn't take long for her to spot who she was subconsciously looking for. She felt a strange sense of relief wash over her at the sight of Momo leaning against a lamp post, eyes fixed on her phone.
Sana seemed to notice her too. "Momo?" Sana called out. "Are you okay?"
At the sound of her name, Momo looked up and walked over, her strides quick but relaxed. "Hey. I'm good, yeah."
Jihyo studied her closely. Momo did seem perfectly fine, if not a little contemplative.
"Where did miss tall and gorgeous go?" Sana asked, looking around.
Momo shrugged. "To get us drinks."
Sana giggled, noticing her doubtful expression. "You can say you're not interested, you know?"
"It's not that." Momo sighed. "I just... I don't know."
You just have a secret girlfriend. Jihyo finished the sentence in her mind. She was observing Momo with curiosity. There was just something about her that made her so incredibly hard to read. Her gaze drifted from Momo's face down to her shoulders. She was wearing only that thin tank top out in the freezing cold.
"Here." Jihyo offered suddenly. She had taken Momo's jacket along with hers and Sana's. "You're shivering."
"Thanks." Momo offered a shy smile. "You're shivering too." She remarked once she managed to pull the sleeves onto her arms, her eyes flicking to Jihyo's state of undress.
Jihyo squirmed under the scrutiny of Momo's gaze. Her eyes had traveled down and Jihyo felt the cold then for the first time, a reminder of her own thin top covering barely anything at all. She crossed her arms over her chest, noticing how quickly Momo averted her gaze.
Sana, oblivious to the subtle exchange, swayed slightly beside Jihyo, humming to the song that could be heard from inside the club.
Before either of them could say anything else though, the tall woman emerged from the entrance, two drinks in hand. Her eyes scanned the crowd, quickly finding them, and she began making her way over.
"Here you go." She said, handing Momo what looked like a gin tonic.
"Ooh, thank you." Sana intercepted the drink, taking a big sip, before giving it back to a nonplussed Momo.
"I can get you a drink too, you know?" The woman said, her eyes lingering on Sana for a moment longer than strictly necessary. Sana giggled in response, clearly enjoying the attention.
The woman's gaze shifted to Jihyo then, her eyes sweeping over her form in a deliberate, evaluating glance. Then, she turned to Momo, a playful smirk on her lips. "This the girlfriend?"
Jihyo’s breath hitched. Her eyes darted to Momo. What girlfriend?
She heard Sana laugh heartily beside her. "Yes, isn't it obvious?" She played along.
Momo didn't deny it, offering a shrug to her new friend. And Jihyo felt the annoyance surge within her. Her protest was cut short as the tall stranger pulled Sana inside to get her the promised drink.
Jihyo couldn't contain the glare she shot in Momo's direction. Then, she finally put on the jacket she'd been holding. She felt Momo's eyes on her again, studying her. It was unnerving. “Care to explain?” Jihyo asked, her voice tight.
“Explain what?” Momo was fiddling with the straw in her drink.
“Don’t play dumb. Why didn’t you correct her?” Jihyo zipped up her puffer jacket up to her chin, but it did little to repel the cold that seemed to emanate from Momo herself.
“Does it matter? She doesn't know you.”
Momo’s nonchalance grated on Jihyo’s nerves. She paused. It did not matter indeed. She was just bothered because it was… well, it was a lie.
"I guess it doesn't." Jihyo finally said. "You could have simply said you weren't interested, what's so hard?"
Momo shrugged. "She's nice." She took a final sip from her drink, finishing it way too quickly.
"Nice? Those are your standards?" Jihyo's voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Not really." Momo's face was flushed under the street lights, probably from the alcohol getting to her. She held Jihyo's gaze. "I actually find it more attractive when they're not so nice to me." Momo added as an afterthought, chuckling self-deprecatingly to herself.
Jihyo's eyebrows twitched. What kind of candid confession was that?
“Right.” Jihyo said flatly, unsure how to respond to that. “And since when do you drink?" She asked in an attempt to change the topic. "Thought you were done with alcohol for good. Your words."
"Uhhh… yeah. Guess I needed an extra energy boost tonight. To keep up with Sana."
Jihyo observed her flushed face, and the way she was swaying on her feet to keep upright. She was still holding eye contact and if Jihyo had counted, it would have probably become a new record by now.
"Hopefully it won't end up like last time, though." Momo added, a light laugh escaping her lips.
Jihyo wasn't sure if the ending she meant was the morning-after hangover or… Gosh. "Hopefully not." She said, her voice clipped. "We don't want you regretting stuff like last time."
The words hung in the air. She couldn't resist the opportunity to land the jab. For a brief moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something unreadable cross Momo's face, only to be quickly replaced by her usual impassive expression. The shift was so subtle, Jihyo wondered if she'd imagined it.
What she wasn't imagining, though, was the intensity of Momo's gaze. It was unnerving, the way Momo's eyes refused to let go of hers. Jihyo didn't want to be the one to break eye contact first, so she held her ground, a challenge she hoped was evident in her own gaze, not realizing she was holding her breath in the charged silence between them.
"Hey, you two!" Sana's cheery voice broke off the moment. She skipped over, handing Momo a new drink.
Momo finally tore her eyes away from Jihyo. "Thanks."
"Let's get back inside, Yeonkoung is getting us more drinks!"
* * *
Dancing everything off turned out to be fun, and maybe the tall stranger wasn't so bad. If she wasn't actively trying to hit on Jihyo too, that is. But she was harmless, that much Jihyo could tell. As the night went on, she found herself moving with the music, drawn in by Sana’s excitement. After what felt like hours, they had drifted towards the bar, taking a break from dancing.
A burst of laughter from Sana drew Jihyo's attention as she was ordering their refill drinks. She turned, noticing the tall woman looking between her and Momo with curiosity, a slight grin tugging at her lips.
“You two.” The stranger said loudly enough to cut through the fading music, nodding between them. “Definitely not a couple.”
Jihyo blinked, caught off guard. Beside her, Momo let out a soft snort.
"What gave it away?" Momo asked, her tone light.
The woman shrugged, a casual dismissal. “You don’t vibe together.” She simply said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Momo laughed. "Yeah, you could say that." She stole a glance at Jihyo, who stiffened beside her.
Jihyo forced a small smile. Of course they didn't vibe. "Right."
Sana laughed brightly, leaning into the bar as she chimed in. "Aw, they’re just a little awkward! Seriously, you two need to loosen up a bit!"
Jihyo turned toward her, frowning slightly. "We’re not awkward."
Sana raised an eyebrow, grinning like she didn’t believe a word of it. She opened her mouth to retort but caught the sharp look Momo shot her.
"Alright." Sana said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "I’ll leave you two to figure it out yourselves." She grabbed her fresh drink from the counter, giggling as she turned to skip away, dragging the stranger along with her.
As Sana disappeared into the crowd, Jihyo slid onto a barstool, sinking into it, trying somehow to avoid the silence that ensued. She caught herself watching Momo without quite meaning to.
Momo sat on the stool next to her, taking a sip from her glass before putting it down on the counter. They leaned at the bar in silence, close enough Jihyo felt their shoulder brushing as Momo leaned in beside her, mumbling something Jihyo didn't hear at first.
"Hm?"
"Sana…" Momo started again, leaning closer. "I've never seen her like this after a break up."
Jihyo gave a small nod, her posture shifting instinctively to create some space. "I'm worried too. But she'll be okay." She said, keeping her tone steady, though her mind was focused on the faint weight of Momo’s shoulder against hers. Momo didn’t seem to notice, or if she did, she made no effort to move away.
"Mm." Momo hummed in agreement. "I wish-" She trailed off, losing her balance as she shifted, one hand bracing on the bar while the other landed lightly on Jihyo’s thigh.
The touch was obviously unintentional but Jihyo felt her pulse quicken. She tried to keep her expression neutral, willing herself to focus on what was being said instead. So she tilted her head to the side, to catch Momo's gaze.
"Oh. Uh…" Momo’s confidence slipped as their eyes met. "Sorry, I didn’t mean-"
"It’s fine." Jihyo said casually. The steadiness of Momo’s hand on her thigh felt anything but casual, and for a second, she wondered if Momo felt it too.
Jihyo caught Byul's eye, as she served her the glass of water she'd ordered earlier. Byul's gaze flickered between them for a brief moment, curious, and Jihyo realized how it may look to people who did not have the necessary background context. Because with the right context, it wouldn't look as it probably did.
With that in mind, she reached for Momo's hand, gently lifting it to place it back on the bar.
"You might need this hand to keep yourself steady." Jihyo said, keeping her tone light.
Momo chuckled softly. “Yeah. Maybe I do.” She took a quick sip from her drink, avoiding Jihyo's gaze.
"And maybe ease up on the drinks, hm?"
* * *
By the end of the night, or more like morning at that point, Jihyo had practically dragged Sana out of the club. Sana had found a new best friend in the tall woman who promised her tickets to her next game. And just like that Sana had suddenly become the biggest basketball, or was it volleyball?, Jihyo wasn't sure, fan.
But it was all good, because the stranger had managed to keep Sana distracted. Not even sobering up seemed to remind her of the heartbreak that had sent them to the club in the first place. It was a relief, really. No tears, no spiraling, just laughter and that infectious energy Sana always carried.
Pulling up to Sana’s building, Jihyo parked the car and turned to her, her expression softening. “Are you really sure you don’t want to stay over? You can crash at mine if you don't want to be alone.”
Sana shook her head, a sleepy but content smile on her face. “Nah, I'm good. I just need my bed.” She leaned in from the passenger seat to wrap Jihyo in a quick hug. “Thanks for tonight. You’re the best, Ji.”
Jihyo returned the hug, giving her a light squeeze. “Anytime. Call me if you need anything, alright?”
Sana nodded. "I will. Night, Momo!”
From the back seat, Momo mumbled something unintelligible.
Jihyo waited until Sana disappeared inside her building before she let out a small sigh, leaning back against her seat. The car fell into a loaded silence, the absence of Sana’s bubbly energy making it feel heavier somehow. She glanced briefly back at Momo, who had her eyes closed, seemingly asleep.
Starting the car again, Jihyo focused on the road. Momo hadn’t said much since they’d left the club, and Jihyo couldn’t tell if it was exhaustion, the alcohol, or something else entirely.
When they finally pulled up to Momo’s building, Jihyo put the car in park but didn’t immediately move. She hesitated, her fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel. "Do you need help?” She asked, turning her head to face Momo, her tone casual.
Momo met Jihyo’s gaze with a faintly incredulous look. “I’m not that drunk.”
"You tripped three times just getting to the car." Jihyo pointed out.
"That was-" Momo paused. "The ground was uneven." She unbuckled her seatbelt, her hand resting on the door handle, but she didn't move.
"Ok then, as long as I'm not liable..."
Momo did not respond, her eyes looking toward the window before settling back on Jihyo. The silence stretched long enough to feel deliberate.
“What?” Jihyo asked.
"Uh…" Momo cleared her throat, shifting slightly. "Your hoodie."
Jihyo blinked, caught off guard. “What hoodie?”
"You know, the one I, uh, borrowed?" Momo gestured vaguely toward the building, her voice hesitant. "It’s upstairs. You said you wanted it back."
Jihyo tilted her head, eyeing her suspiciously. "That’s your excuse to get me upstairs?"
Momo’s eyes widened slightly, looking flustered. “What? No! I just… thought you’d want it back.”
Jihyo just stared at her, a muscle in her cheek twitching. There was something endearing about Momo’s tipsy awkwardness, a stark contrast to her usual nonchalant behavior.
Momo shuffled in her seat under the scrutiny, picking up her bag and reaching for the door in a hurry. "If you don't want it, fine. I'll go-"
"I didn't say that." Jihyo responded without missing a beat. She unbuckled her seatbelt, shaking her head before sighing. "Let’s go get the infamous hoodie."
* * *
The elevator ride was quick and silent. Momo lived on the 5th floor in a small, old building, where having an elevator felt like a rare luxury.
Jihyo kept an eye on Momo as she was facing the elevator doors. She wasn't sure if she found her contrived, tipsy, excuse funny or if she was just trying to make sure Momo didn't trip and fall on her face, but the hint of a smile tugged at her lips nonetheless.
When the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, they walked down the narrow hallway to Momo's apartment.
"So." Jihyo began, het tone light and teasing. "Does this usually work?"
“Huh?” Momo murmured distractedly, focused on punching in the code on the keypad lock.
"Inviting women up to your place?"
Momo glanced at her, brows furrowing as if she hadn’t fully processed the question. "What? No, I don't invite anybody." She said simply, the lock clicking open.
Jihyo followed her inside, glancing around the small studio apartment. She had only been here a couple of times before, but it was still as she remembered, small and cluttered, though not messy. There was something about the place that was so undeniably Momo.
"Not even Park Jiyeon?" Jihyo asked casually, stepping aside to let Momo take off her shoes.
Momo paused, one shoe halfway off. She straightened up, the space between them shrinking in the cramped entryway. "She doesn't come here." She said simply, her tone flat.
Jihyo raised an eyebrow, the bluntness catching her off guard. "Oh? How come?" She asked, not entirely sure how to read the response.
Momo shrugged, avoiding her gaze. “I go to her place.” She kicked off her remaining shoe and turned away quickly.
"Very convenient."
"It’s not like that." Momo didn't turn around.
"Right." Jihyo murmured, as she watched Momo's back disappear toward the living space and go up the stairs to her loft bedroom. "No need to lie to me!" She shouted to the retreating figure.
“I’ll get your hoodie, wait.” Momo called back.
Jihyo lingered at the entryway, not taking off her shoes on purpose, hoping this was going to be quick and painless. She crossed her arms as she listened to the faint creak of Momo’s steps as she moved around. The whole situation felt beyond ridiculous.
"Are you ok?" She asked when the wait stretched a little too long.
"Yeah, I found it!" Momo’s voice came down, followed by the sound of her footsteps descending the stairs.
She appeared a moment later, moving slowly, her balance a little off. Her jacket was gone, leaving her in just her tank top. She stopped a couple of steps away, suddenly hesitant.
Jihyo's eyebrows rose. "You’re hot?" There was a trace of disbelief in her voice as she pulled her own jacket tighter around herself. It was freezing in the apartment.
Momo smiled sheepishly. "No, I’ll change in a sec. Are you cold? I can turn the heater on if-"
"No, it’s fine. I’m leaving soon, anyway." Jihyo responded quickly, her eyes darting to the hoodie in Momo’s hand.
But Momo didn't seem to get the hint. Instead, she shifted on her feet, her eyes dropping to the ground. "Did you…" Her voice faltered. "Did you like the gift?"
Jihyo blinked. "What gift?"
"The chocolates..." Momo murmured.
Jihyo’s brow furrowed as she made the connection. "Wait… you made those?"
Momo nodded. "Nayeon thought it’d be… thoughtful. Or whatever."
Jihyo stared at her, caught off guard by the admission. “I’ve been eating them every night." She admitted before she could stop herself. "They're good. Delicious."
Momo’s eyes lit up briefly. "Really?"
"Hm." Jihyo said simply.
The silence that followed felt heavier than it should. Momo's eyes glanced down to the hoodie she was holding in her hand, then her eyes flickered over Jihyo’s face, her gaze unfocused and hesitant. Jihyo felt her chest tighten, the air between them too still.
Jihyo cleared her throat. "With all this chocolate and takeout, I need to hit the gym more often." She let out a nervous laugh.
Momo stared for a moment in silence, as if she had bugged. "You're fine."
Jihyo huffed softly. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
Momo shrugged. "You don’t need to… work out. Maybe just eat a proper meal now and then."
Jihyo crossed her arms. "Are you worried about me or something?"
"No." Momo deadpanned, though her eyes gave her away. "Just giving advice."
“Right.” Jihyo teased, the corner of her mouth twitching up. "Now you’re holding my hoodie hostage and playing nutritionist?"
Momo blinked, as if startled out of a thought. She looked down at the hoodie in her hand, her cheeks flushing. "Oh. Right. Sorry." She extended it but didn’t step forward.
Jihyo didn’t move to take it immediately. "Thanks." She murmured, her voice softer now.
Momo hesitated, her hand lingering in the air. Her eyes darted to Jihyo’s lips, just for a moment. Not for the first time, Jihyo caught it and for whatever reason, she felt it, an unspoken pull.
Before she could say anything, Momo seemed to catch herself. She blinked, snapping out of whatever thought had taken hold. Her cheeks flushed deeper, and she abruptly shoved the hoodie into Jihyo’s hands. “Here. You should get going.”
Jihyo paused. Then a scoff escaped her lips. "What, can't look a woman in the eye?"
Momo froze, her cheeks turning a deeper pink. She opened her mouth to respond but stopped, her gaze lifting to meet Jihyo’s, raw and unguarded.
Jihyo’s breath caught. "Because what's up with-"
Her words faltered as Momo leaned in.
Their lips met softly. Momo moved so slowly, almost hesitantly, like she wasn’t sure she should be doing it but couldn’t stop herself. Jihyo’s fingers curled tighter around the fabric of the hoodie, her mind blanking out, her senses completely focused on the warmth of Momo's lips against hers, and the faint taste of alcohol lingering there.
There was time to move, pull back, to stop this before it went any further. But she didn’t. Her body leaned in instinctively, the space between them dissolving. Momo's hand finally steady, cupped her cheek and Jihyo felt her breath falter.
The kiss deepened just enough to feel blood rushing to several parts of her body at once.
Then, the sharp buzz of her phone shattered the moment.
Jihyo jerked back, her heart pounding as she fumbled to pull the phone from her pocket. Sana’s name flashed on the screen.
"Sana!" Jihyo picked up the call, her voice unsteady. "Is everything ok?"
Jihyo's brows furrowed as she listened to what Sana had to say, trying all the while to shrink against the door to get some space from Momo who was standing still, looking at her intently.
"I'll be there in five minutes, ok? Wait for me." Jihyo clicked the phone call off. Then, she looked up at Momo, who had not moved an inch. "I have to go, Sana doesn't want to be alone." She said, trying her hardest to keep her tone of voice even and not give away any nervousness.
Momo nodded slowly. "Okay." She said, finally stepping back. She shoved her hands in her jeans pockets awkwardly, not sure what to do.
Jihyo glanced down at the hoodie she was still holding, a sense of urgency settling over her. Without thinking, she hung it on the jacket rack by the door.
"Keep it." She said before turning fully around, her hand finding the doorknob. She stepped out without glancing back, the door clicking shut behind her. As she walked down the hallway, she finally released the shaky breath she'd been holding. And as her lips pressed together unconsciously, she did not stop to think why the still tingled the way they did.