Xinyu ordered everyone to queue in line in front of the dining table where she sat, with a deck of tarot card spread out on the table.
“Okay next member, what’s your question.” The Chinese girl didn’t bother to look up while waiting for an answer.
“Will I get rich anytime soon?” It was Chaewon, a member that dreams of owning a strawberry farm after the group becomes inactive to earn a lot of money from supplying the red little fruit.
“Sorry, no time related questions.” Chaewon just sighed and walk off, allowing the next member in line to scoot closer to the table.
“Next, what’s your question?”
“Are there any real couples in our group?” Xinyu looked up to the member with a surprised face, curious that who would ask such an interesting question.
There haven’t been any real couples in the group (or at least they though), some members would point out the closest and the sweetest ‘couple’, Sohyun and Xinyu as a real couple but in the end, they are just really really close best friends who umm…kisses each other.
And of course, it’s Soomin the curious child of the group that asked that question.
“Oh umm, okay I’ll read it for you…” Xinyu started the reading process, picking out cards and read them one by one then came to a conclusion that even the Chinese girl herself was shocked.
The members started surrounding the table after Xinyu gasped out loud, waiting for the news that everyone was interested in.
“OH MY GAD!!!” Xinyu paused before continuing. “Okay there is, but they are really careful with keeping their relationship a secret that none of the members have ever noticed nor getting suspicious of them. Besides that, it’s an unexpected pair.” Gasps and whispers started filling Modu Haus, half of them was still processing and another half was already discussing.
“Guys I think we should not discuss or pinpoint any two members, let them keep it a secret.” Seoyeon spoke a little too loud which made the 22 other members turned around and look at her. “Plus, they might feel uncomfortable.”
“Seoyeon unnie is right, okay guys let’s continue with the reading.” Jiyeon calmed everyone down.
However, what the members didn’t noticed is that, there’s two members staring at each other nervously the whole time.
Lynn and Shion aren’t considered as the two closest members of the group, some members might even think that they are closer to other members than they are to each other despite debuting and getting revealed in the same subunit.
Yes, they may be close since they are both the same age and all, but not to the point where the members or even fans would think of them as a couple. In the end, it’s just the public’s opinion.
They had been a thing even before the ot24 Assemble24 promotions, with the Japanese confessing first, they had been digging out times out from their busy schedules to hang out and spend time with each other secretly without suspicions from the 22 other members. The couple didn’t even expect that their relationship is still going strong since they had been promoting in different subunit and worse, in different countries too after the group promotion.
On an off day, which some of the members would go back and visit their families or hang out with their friends or with the other members, Shion had decided to stay back.
The three hauses were only housing members who were either foreigner, or the exhausted girls who just wants to spend the day off sleeping in their bed. Lynn had mentally thanked Nakyoung, her roommate for being one of the members who’s still down for a hang out.
The Japanese opened her messaging app and asked Shion to sneak into her room, which could be done easily since the other five of their housemates are all out.
: come to my room pls :(
The door creaked open after the message bubble gained two blue ticks, which indicates that Shion had read it. Standing outside of the room, was none other than the bread lover.
Shion climbed to the top bunk and laid down beside her other half, who immediately spooned her. Lynn inhaled the sweet warm scent of her girlfriend and smiled widely, at the same time when Shion turned back around to face her, giving her a kiss on the cheek which the Japanese had been yearning for.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
“Me too.” Shion said and snuggled further into the crook of Lynn’s neck and the both of them stayed like that for a moment until one of them broke the silence.
“Do you think they’ll eventually find out about us?” Shion asked, with a worried tone in her voice. She was worried that the members might not accept them, or even the idea of LGBTQ+ members existing in the group.
“Don’t worry, I’ll fight for us if anything happens.” The Japanese rubbed her girlfriend’s shoulder to reassure her that nothing in their relationship would go wrong. “I am confident about this; we are still going strong after eight months.” The comforting words from Lynn made Shion smiled genuinely.
“Do you think we are actually the only couple in the group.” Shion asked curiously.
“It’s possible, Xinyu unnie didn’t said how many couples!”
“You’re right, I wonder if they are also an unexpected pair too…” The couple continued to focus on cuddling, the atmosphere of the quiet room was however filled with love and warmth.
Until someone suddenly barged into the room.
“Oh.” Nakyoung’s word was caught in her throat, she looked at the couple cuddling on the bed. Even though they’re in the top bunk, the older girl can definitely see their head peeking out.
Lynn shot up from the bed in shock, while Shion started sweating beside her, both of their eyes wide opened. The Japanese gulped hardly and glanced at Shion.
“Y-you guys can continue! I’ll pretend I saw nothing.” Nakyoung quickly turned her head 360 degree away, almost breaking her neck from the flash speed turning then quickly walked off. The couple quickly get off from the bed and out of the room.
They arrived at the kitchen, drank water and pretended that nothing had happened. Nakyoung was glancing at them from time to time, when another member, Yooyeon was not focusing on her. Lynn cleared her throat and sat down at the couch.
“Eh? Why did you and Yooyeon unnie came back so early.” Lynn asked Nakyoung who’s sitting beside her softly.
“Wait, what was all the noise about just now?” Yooyeon questioned the both of them, remembering how Nakyoung was yelling “I’ll pretend I saw nothing.”
“Ah! Lynn w-was…” Nakyoung made an eye contact with the Japanese, desperately asking her help.
“I was changing, nothing more.” Yooyeon nodded at the answer and continued gluing her eyes to the TV screen. “Wait, so why did you two came back so early?”
“The 07z and Yeonji almost caught us on a date.” Nakyoung explained and Lynn was shocked at the mention of ‘date’ but she kept quiet. The older girl quickly excused herself from Yooyeon and pulled Lynn away into their room for a talk.
“Hey, don’t tell anyone else about that, okay? Not even Shion.” Nakyoung closed the door behind them. “And yes, me and Yooyeon are dating actually…however the tarot card…” Lynn politely cut Nakyoung’s sentence off.
“I saw you thinking about it too that afternoon, you thought you and Yooyeon unnie might be an expected couple instead right.” Lynn smiled and Nakyoung shyly nodded. “Unnie, I’m sure majority of the other members are suspicious of you and Yooyeon unnie.”
“Yea…that’s why I thought there’s another couple in the group too, and I am kinda relieved for that, you know, at least us four can support each other.” Nakyoung fidgeted with her fingers and looked at the younger member.
“How long have you and Yooyeon unnie been dating? If you don’t mind answering.”
“Six months.” Lynn covered her mouth, expecting them to be dating for a longer time than her and Shion is. “How about you guys.” Now it was Nakyoung’s turn to ask.
“Eight months.” Nakyoung smiled and hit Lynn on the shoulder.
“Kids are moving faster than adults these days.”
“Hey, we are eighteen-year-old.”
Lynn returned back to the kitchen and back hugged Shion which Yooyeon coincidentally turned her head towards their direction. It didn’t stop the taller one to buried her face into the crook of her girlfriend’s neck.
“You two…” Yooyeon pointed at them and Lynn nodded.
“Yes, yes we are.”
“You guys are planning to reveal your relationship to the members?” Shion asked Yooyeon and Nakyoung who’s holding each other’s hand tightly.
“Yes, it’s about time, it’s really hard to keep it a secret you know…especially when some of them had been constantly being suspicious about us.” Yooyeon recalled back when Soomin was bombarding her with questions about her relationship with Nakyoung.
“Unnie come on I won’t be heartbroken; you know I don’t actually like you that way, right? So don’t worry about me.” Soomin loud voice pierced through Yooyeon’s ears. “Come onnnnn are you and Naky unnie dating? It’s so obviousssss.”
“We are planning to do it during our group practice tomorrow.” Nakyoung squeezed Yooyeon’s hand.
The 24 members were all presented in the practice the next day. They were finally given a break time and the staff team left the members alone in the practice room for other works and Nakyoung nervously called out everyone.
“Everyone, one moment please.” Nakyoung’s voice was shaking, earning worry stares from the members but Yooyeon rushed to her and wrap an arm around the younger’s waist. “M-Me and Yooyeon have something to say…”
Lynn and Shion stood close to each other, watching the situation unfold, while getting impressed by the older couple’s brave move.
“What is it?” Sohyun asked and Nakyoung looked at her girlfriend before speaking.
“M-Me and Yooyeon are dating.” The black cat looked down with her eyes shut close and said it out loud. Whisper sounds roamed around the air of the big practice room until one member spoke loudly.
“OMG!!! THAT MEANS THAT MY TAROT READING WAS ACCURATE.” Xinyu almost jumped up and down in joy but Soomin disagreed with her.
“No wat they are not the closest member or an unexpected couple.” Xinyu’s excitement died down and felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Unnie, your tarot reading is very accurate.” It was Lynn, Nakyoung saw the move and got what Lynn was trying to do in a second. Xinyu turned around, confused then saw the Japanese holding hands with Shion.
“H-Huh…” Now the members are all looking at the younger couple.
“After discussing with Nakyoung unnie, me and Shion have decided that we no longer want to hide this from you guys…” The members were still stunned, never in a million years they would expect Lynn and Shion to be the couple, but the tarot card said otherwise after all.
“Holy shit…” Yubin had both of her hands on her head, her mouth wide agape. “Okay every single couple here, reveal yourself.” Everyone laughed at Yubin’s action which embarrassed the girl.
“ANYWAYS CONGRATS YOOYEON AND NAKY UNNIE AND LYNN AND SHION UNNIE.” Soomin’s yelling echoed through the practice room.
“Look, we don’t have to hide anymore.” Lynn approached Shion in the corner of the practice room after the practice is over. The taller girl then proceeded to give the shorter one another back hug.
“I love you.”