the power of puppy eyes and pout
“Chaeng, wanna come to the practice game?” Jeongyeon asks, her voice muffled by the black hoodie she’s trying to wear.
The blonde who’s sitting on the couch just shook her head while munching on some popcorn, eyes glued to the TV. “I see. Trouble in paradise?”
Putting down the bowl, Chaeyoung looked back to the taller girl, “I don’t want to see her today, unnie. Rain check?” Jeongyeon catches the glint of misery that passed on her roommate’s eyes, so she doesn’t push.
“Alright, hope you two figure it out.” Chaeyoung just nodded and returned her gaze on the screen, mindlessly eating the contents from the bowl.
If anyone was to ask her what has happened the past few minutes on the show that she was “watching”, she’d probably just shrug, because she doesn’t give a single shit about this series.
This is just for distraction, supposed to keep her from thinking of the most beautiful girl ever, but her mind keeps on drifting back to Tzuyu and how she possibly ruined her relationship with the brunette.
Jeongyeon reaches for the knob but looks back to remind Chaeyoung of her intent for the day, “I'm staying at Sana’s tonight so... just heat up some leftovers on the fridge. Eat, okay, cub?” she’s worried for her roommate, especially when she’s upset.
The blonde didn’t even utter a reply, as if she didn’t hear the noirette’s attempt of reminding her to eat her meals for the day. Maybe I should cancel on Sana?
Deciding that she should give Chaeyoung some space, she left for her girl’s dorm. She frowned as soon as she saw a couple of suitcases piled on the side of Sana’s widely opened door. An unknown woman with pale skin and platinum blonde hair emerged, desperately pulling the big suitcases altogether.
Jeongyeon being Jeongyeon, she immediately offered assistance. “Here, let me help.” The pale girl looked up and was quick to offer the Captain a bright smile. “Thanks!”
“Jeongie!”
The ginger head ran towards Jeongyeon and threw her arms around her neck. Balancing heavy luggage on each of your hands and the impact of an adult woman throwing all her weight at you isn’t really that easy. Jeongyeon almost lost her balance and would’ve fallen down to the floor if it weren’t for the mystery girl who caught the both of them.
“Sana-ya!” Jeongyeon exclaimed, which made the Japanese pout. "Sorry,” the taller of the two just closed her eyes and sighed. My girlfriend is a kid. A kid that I adore so much.
When Jeongyeon opened her eyes, she smiled her signature, the lopsided one, and leaned down for a peck,“It’s okay, baby.”
“Jeongie, this is Kim Dahyun.” the Korean set the luggage down to the side to properly meet the pale girl. “Yoo Jeongyeon.” as she stretched her hand for Dahyun to shake, “Nice to meet you, Sunbaenim.” Dahyun took it and bowed with a smile, before excusing herself to finish unpacking her things.
Jeongyeon pulled Sana to the kitchen to ask a very important question. “That’s your new roommate?” the Japanese frowned at the inquiry as the answer is too obvious, but Jeongyeon’s pout means that question isn’t just that.
A new roommate could only mean one thing. No more staying in on her dorm, no more Netflix and Chill.
“Aww, don’t be sad, Jeongie. You’re not gonna go on a drought,” Sana clings onto the taller girl’s neck, her lips hovering closely, tauntingly brushing it on the other’s, “What do you say we convince her and Chaeyoung to switch so we could have a dorm all by ourselves?” she suggested but it doesn’t seem to register on Jeongyeon’s mind as she is lost.
Lost on Minatozaki’s spell.
She can’t think of anything but kissing her and taking her on this kitchen table.
It’s as if Sana has read Jeongyeon’s mind because not a moment has passed, she’s already pulled down the Captain and ravished her lips, not giving a damn if her new roommate comes in. Nothing really matters to the two, other than each other, that’s for sure.
Snapping out of the trance, Jeongyeon remembered why she went to her girlfriend’s dorm. She broke off the heated kiss but not without one last peck. She really couldn’t get enough of the Japanese beauty. “Ready to go?”
At Sana’s nod, they head for the door. Their tracks were paused when the ginger head tugged on Jeongyeon’s hand, “Can we invite Dahyun?”
“Sure.” the Captain just smiled at the sight of her retreating girlfriend. Despite losing the only place where they can do whatever they want, she feels ecstatic. Baseball season is upon them.
-----
Jeongyeon, Sana and Dahyun arrived at the dugout just as the team’s coach had finished giving out instructions and discussing plays with the rookies and juniors. Nine of them ran off to the diamond, greeting the rookies of Kyung Hee University as they pass them.
The girls made their way to where the two seniors sat, “Momo, Tzuyu, this is Dahyun.” both girls looked up at the introduction.
Tzuyu nodded as a greeting, but fixated her eyes on the field after. Things are definitely not okay with Chaeng and Tzuyu, sheesh.
Jeongyeon opted not to seat Dahyun near their pitcher as she looks really pissed and she doesn’t want the pale girl to get intimidated. Momo, on the other hand, offered a smirk at the newcomers, “Hi, I’m Momo.”
“Hi, Momo-chan!” Sana hugs the Japanese with jet-black hair. “Sana, hi,” she struggled to pry off of the ginger head’s embrace, “but I'm trying to welcome Dahyun, so if you could just—”
“Momoring, you aren’t allowed on my dorm anymore.” the red head scowled when she leaned back. “Why would I even go to your dorm, Satang?” Momo just made a face but managed a smile to the new girl.
“Because this pretty ball of sunshine is my new roommate.” Sana revealed proudly.
Momo scrunched her nose, “Why do you always get pretty girls as roommates? Ugh.”
Dahyun couldn’t help but blush, the sudden indirect compliment wasn’t what she anticipated the pretty girl would answer. Really pretty… “Hi, I’m Kim Dahyun. Nice to meet you, sunbaenim.”
“Pfft, drop the formalities, Dahyun-ah. Just call me Momo.” she patted the space beside her, “Come, sit beside me. You wouldn’t want to sit beside Chewypoo right now,” she spoke in low volumes, careful not to upset her teammate more.
Tzuyu side-eyed their Vice at the mention of the nickname, to which the latter just laughed off. Apparently, that wasn’t subtle enough.
The game has started and the couple beside the blonde just couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.
Three more innings have passed and they’re already making out.
Dahyun can sense the awkward atmosphere on the whole of the dugout, so she tried to look around, and she was right. Everyone was avoiding to look their way; all they’re focused on was the plays that’s happening right in front of their eyes.
Either they’re too absorbed at the game or they just don’t want to gawk at the make out session. Thank God, the coach wasn’t here.
“So, what’s happening now?” a few seconds later and no one has answered. She started to regret asking because it seems like no one is going to indulge her.
“Beside you or in the game?” the Japanese turned her head, her face all serious, while the blonde was bewildered. Why would I even ask what’s happening beside me?!
“Kidding.” Momo softly laughed. “As you can see, there’s nothing really going on. This is just a practice game between the rookies and juniors of KHU and SNU. We’re just here for moral support and such.” she explained, “What’s your major, by the way?”
“Oh, Music.” Rookies and juniors?
Dahyun muses but still tried to elaborate, “You know, piano and other musical instruments and stuff.” So, they’re what to this team? Seniors? Reserve?
“It seems like you’ll never ask me back so I'm just gonna overshare.” Momo chuckled before continuing, “Jeongyeon and I are Culinary students. Tzuyu here is on her way to being a Vet.”
“No, I was gonna ask!” Dahyun looked a bit guilty but she was really gonna ask her, she was just a bit side-tracked with the thought of their positions on this team. “I was just thinking why you three weren’t subbed in to the field until now. Are you a reserve?”
Tzuyu who was brooding earlier slowly turned her head to the pale girl’s direction and shook her head, a smile was threatening to make its way to her lips, but she holds it in.
Momo was a bit startled at what Dahyun thought of them but quickly recovered, “Jeongyeon, Tzuyu and me are, well...” she pursed her lips, feigning hurt, “I guess, in a way, we are, indeed, reserves.” she ended with a sad smile.
“Oh.”
Welcome to another episode of things Kim Dahyun should never had asked but did.
Dahyun wanted to disintegrate. She never intended to rub it in their faces, even if it is the truth. Now, she’s panicking inside her head. Should I apologize? But why would I? I was just asking!
“Sorry.” against her better judgment, she still apologized. She knows it’s stupid but she did it anyway, she doesn’t want to hurt their feelings.
Deafened by the sudden silence of the three, the couple finally decided to take a break from eating each other’s faces and looked on to the girls.
Ever curious, Jeongyeon asked, “What happened?”
“I was just asking them if you three were reserves and Momo unnie said in a way you guys were and I apologized and now they’re...” Dahyun rambled, horrified yet apologetic.
Jeongyeon looked on to her teammates and instantly knew, just from the look of their eyes, that they’re pranking the newcomer. The pale girl stood up and bowed, “I’m sorry, I should have been more sensitive!”
The players broke into a fit of laughter while the ginger head just sighed. Disapproval already written on her face, but that didn’t stop the trio from laughing their asses off. “Dahyun-ah, come here,” she reached for her roommate’s hand and sat her down next to her.
To say that Dahyun was confused was an understatement. “Unnie, why are th-” Sana cut her off, “Those three giants are the stars of the team,”
Giants? Although bewildered with whatever’s happening, Dahyun couldn’t miss the thought. What does that make me?!
The pale girl immediately dismissed it. Now’s not the time. “Jeong’s the Captain, believe it or not, Momo’s the Vice and Tzuyu is the star pitcher.”
As her roommate explains, Dahyun didn’t know what to feel. I just got played, and on my first day!
Momo was the first to apologize, “I’m so sorry, Dahyun-ah, it just seemed too good of a joke to let pass.”
The Japanese stood and went to where the blonde was, she bent and leveled her head down to match that of Dahyun’s, “Don’t get mad at me, please.” Momo may or may not have used the most adorable puppy eyes she has just to prevent the other girl from feeling furious.
She wasn’t sure whether it would work or not, heck, she wasn’t even sure why she even cares if this girl would get mad at her.
As if the puppy eyes weren’t enough, Momo added a pout. Dahyun gulps, there are only three things on her mind right now.
One statement, two questions.
Pouty Momo is cute, no doubt. But why is her heart reacting like this for a girl? I'm straight... right?