Chapter 11
"Yujinnie! Xiaoting didn't mess up, did she?"
That was Seola's first question when she got back to her apartment and saw that Yujin was lying down lazily on the sofa. She was worried Xiaoting chickened out at the last minute and didn't proceed with the plan.
Yujin immediately sat down at one corner of the sofa. "Hi, unnie." She greets, waving her hands in tiny. "No, no. She didn't. It was-- Wait... you knew?" She was surprised but immediately realized that the two probably planned this out, considering her member prepared it at her friend's apartment. "Oh, silly me. Of course, you knew."
Seola sat down beside Yujin. "Yes. If it's not obvious yet, I helped her prepare that. She's such a romantic soul, isn't she?" She remarked.
"Yeah. Xiaoting likes romantic stuff." Yujin smiles. "Since when did you talk about this?"
"Uhm... well, that was... ah, during our last night in Gwangju. Yes, that time. We talked... and... and yeah, she asked for my help." Seola avoids Yujin's eyes, afraid she'll get caught lying. After all, it was she who told Xiaoting she needed help with the confession.
Until the younger accidentally (and finally) revealed to her in one of their meetings that she always liked Yujin. Seola still remembers how Xiaoting panicked and quickly said she wouldn't do anything about it. It was her cue to tell the girl that what she was doing was making her realize what it would be for her if she didn't move. She told her she noticed that Xiaoting just needed a little push. Lastly saying that she doesn't like Yujin the way Xiaoting does, to convince the younger girl to continue with the date they already planned.
It was another lie of course. She likes Yujin the same way, maybe even more, enough for her to let her go silently. When she told Xiaoting that she'll make Yujin the happiest girl and that she'll do whatever it takes to make it happen, that was what she meant. Pushing Xiaoting a little. So Seola, always competitive, completely concedes to Xiaoting, even without them knowing.
"Unnie." Seola turns to see the girl she likes crawl towards her to rest her head on her shoulder. "Unnie," Yujin calls again. Her voice sounds sad and worried. She also started to fidget with Seola's fingers.
"What's bothering you?"
"I don't know. I feel overwhelmed. It never occurred to me that I'd hear her say those words. You know how I always tell you I just wanted to know why she was doing that... and I got that now and also she... she confessed. Imagine, she has liked me since then. It was crazy!"
Yujin sighed heavily after. There must have been so much going on in her mind right now.
"Well, Xiaoting was obvious that she likes you." Seola points out.
"She was?" Yujin moves back to check Seola's expression.
"Yes! From how she stares at you with those eyes, to how she acts around you, and how she reacts when someone gets close to you. That kid wanted you for herself."
Supporting the person your crush likes is not what Seola thought she'd ever do. But here she is, doing it exactly. She's slowly accepting her role with the two. She's not supposed to meddle in between, but to push them to each other.
"What if she takes it back again? I mean... she promised she wouldn't but... she has done that before. What if she realized she was just lost in the moment and--"
"Yujin, relax. She wouldn't do that." Seola assures. She has to. It's evident from Yujin's face that she's worried.
"How could you tell, unnie?"
How can't she NOT tell? In those times she talked to Xiaoting, Seola observed how the girl was ready to give her all for Yujin, but was just governed by her fears. And fear, it's an emotion that is difficult to win over. It's like going a step forward and then wanting to take two steps behind to be roofed with comfort again.
So when Xiaoting told her she wanted to take her shot as well, it was the start. When she finally confessed, Xiaoting already sprinted past her comfort zone. There wouldn't be any taking back.
"Because she knows what awaits her if she does that. She knows what she'll lose. She knows it's her one chance to make things right. Trust me when I say she'll be ready to give her all."
That is all Yujin has to hear to rest her worries for a while. "We'll see that." She said and scooted over Seola again, before resting her head on her shoulders.
Now, as much as Yujin is easing the nerves of her concerns, Xiaoting indulges with hers. Even though she joined the members' movie night to distract herself from thinking, the thoughts continue to fly around her mind.
It doesn't help that the girls' comments earlier are about how Yujin and Seola might have started dating. Chaehyun instigated the idea by referencing their Gwangju trip as the two look like a happy couple. They are getting convinced as they know that their leader has gone on a date with Seola. Not aware of the fact that Yujin was with Xiaoting at that time, and that whole apology- confession happened.
However, Xiaoting couldn't lie to herself that she was not worried. If Yujin still likes her, she could have told her right then. She could have come with her to the dorm and not wait for Seola.
Maybe, she really came in late already. Maybe that confession was long overdue. Maybe there's someone else the leader is considering. Maybe it wasn't her that Yujin liked anymore.
As the movie is getting to its happy ending, so is Xiaoting wishing for their story to have the same ending.