— Could she?

The nine girls just done shooting their latest comeback, everyone in the venue claps and thanks each other. Some are exhausted and some are not, Yujin stretches her body as she saw Xiaoting walking near her.

"Xiao—" she didn't finish her was about to say as the girl just walked pass by her and grab her phone then flop herself on the chair.

'I was just gonna ask if we could grab some soda'

Still not taking her eyes off Xiaoting, she saw her smiling while looking at her phone, proly chatting with someone, Yujin could only sigh as she sat.

"Yeseo"

"Yes unnie?"

"Could you bring me some water?Thank you." Yeseo nod and left. Meanwhile Youngeun sneaks behind Xiaoting.

"Ooh that's why"

"Gosh Youngeun you scared me. Yah, don't eavesdrop on my phone." She tilted her phone sideways, Youngeun smiled teasingly as she poke Xiaoting's side.

"That's why you're giddily smiling here, chatting with your long distance—"

"Hey, Xiaoting unnie chatting with who?" Dayeon suddenly arrived as she put her arm around Youngeun's shoulder.

"Chatting with the girl who ranked 14 at—" Youngeun stops talking as she saw Xiaoting glaring at her, Dayeon claps her hands as she laugh.

"Ooh I get it, I get it HAHAHAH!"

"Not so funny you two" Xiaoting rolled her eyes.

"Ssh! Guys lower your voices." Yujin said which caught the attention of the other members. Dayeon and Youngeun looks at each other then shrug. Xiaoting on the other hand just mouthed 'sorry' to their leader, which responded a nodding Yujin with a small smile. She don't know but it suddenly annoys her on what she heard over Xiaoting, Dayeon and Youngeun's conversation.

Yeseo arrived as she gave the bottled water to Yujin.

"Unnie I'll just go with Hikaru to buy some snacks."

"Okay, be careful okay?Wear facemask." With that Yeseo just nod and smile as she make her way on waiting Hikaru not far from them. Hiyyih sat down beside her.

"Hey Hiyyih"

"If I didn't know you unnie, I could say that you look like a jealous gf right there earlier" Hiyyih said chuckling.

"What are you saying?" Hiyyih then pointed over Xiaoting using her lips, Yujin doesn't reacted to it.

"Why so grumpy unnie?"

"I'm just exhausted" Yujin said as she plays with the bottled mineral on her hands.

"Hmm so not you, well before you don't care how much loud we are."

"Argh Hiyyih"

"Okay okay I'll stop" Hiyyih said as she laugh.

"Hiyyih!" Dayeon called her as they approached them.

"Wanna grab some snacks?" Youngeun asked.

"Right, let's follow Yeseo and Hikaru" Hiyyih responded as she stood up

"What about you Yujin unnie?" — Youngeun. She then glance over Xiaoting who's still sitting across not far from them.

"Xiaoting unnie said she won't go because she's busy chatting with her soulmate." — Dayeon

"Shh she might hear you." Youngeun said as they both chuckled, little they didn't know Xiaoting was now standing behind them.

"I told you to shut it already" — Xiaoting. The two could only jump as Dayeon held her chest.

"Ow shit." — Dayeon

"Language Dayeon" — Yujin

"Sorry" Dayeon could only pout as Youngeun drag her away while surpressing her laugh.

"Unnie shall we grab some soda?" Xiaoting asked as she stood infront of Yujin.

"Why, are you done chatting with someone?" She asked that made Xiaoting's eyebrows to furrow.

"Uhh yeah, why?"

Hiyyih was now looking back and forth at the two, on that cue she decided to just go follow Dayeon and Youngeun who still keeps bickering waiting for Hiyyih at the door.

'She lowkey being obvious'   Hiyyih shook her head as she walks away.

——

Time flew fast as it was already night time around eleven it was only Yujin sitting at their balcony with a canned beer and a snack on the table infront of her. She doesn't know to herself but she suddenly wants to drink, alone.

"Unnie?" Yujin got startled as she look at her side.

"Hikaru?Why are you still awake?"

"Same question for you unnie." She said as she sat beside Yujin. "I woke up feeling thirsty and I suddenly saw you here, so.." Hikaru then noticed the canned beer and snacks resting on the table.

"You're drinking?Unnie we have a schedule tomorrow morning"

"It's just one can, besides I can't sleep"

"Why?"

"Xiaoting's having a video call, you know I can't sleep when someone's being loud inside the room"

"Ehh? She could just go outside if that's the case"

"I dunno, she's too engaged talking to her to the point that she doesn't bother going outside." Yujin said as she sips on her canned beer.

'Her? I think I know who'   Hikaru could only look at her unnie worriedly.

"Unnie, are you really fine with that?"

"Fine with?"

"I mean, are you really fine with Xiaoting unnie almost like that everynight, talking with Yurina unnie?"

"Ahh" Yujin chuckled bitterly. "I'm used to it, she's my roommate anyways"

"You could switch roommate with Mashiro unnie, you can be my roommate for awhile unnie."

"It's fine Hikaru, as if she's aware on what I'm feeling." Yujin said as she gave Hikaru a reassuring smile.

"But unnie, I can't stand it, seeing you getting hurt because of Xiaoting unnie." With that, Yujin immediately stops drinking and looks around them making sure that there's no one overhearing their conversation.

"What?Stop talking nonsense Hikaru"

Hikaru sighed "You don't need to hide it unnie, I already know that you like Xiaoting unnie." Yujin's gazed suddenly became soft as she looks at Hikaru.

"How?"

"You're somewhat being obvious unnie"

"Argh gosh sorry, am I really?"

"Don't be sorry unnie, being obvious and liking someone doesn't need to be sorry for. I notice almost everything in you, well because you're my favorite unnie."

"I don't know Hikaru, I really don't know." Yujin said as she shook her head. " I'm still trying to get rid of liking her but.. But I think it's not a good idea when you're in the same group with someone you like." She said as she lower her head.

"Unnie..."

"Because.. It makes me like her even more, it makes my feelings for her went deeper."

"Then unnie, why don't you confess?" Yujin slowly shook her head.

" I can't and I won't, you know it won't be easy right? Especially she's happy with someone, and I might confuse her when I confess to her"

"But unnie you'll just continue hurting yourself"

"As long as it's me who's hurting, it will be fine. I can't lose her, I'm afraid. I'm afraid that one day with my confession, it will make her avoid me, it will make us awkward, to our group. So please, I can't bare that." With that she speaks, Yujin's eyes starting to get teary.

"Hikaru, do you think if I ended up at the same cell with Xiaoting way back on our Girls Planet 999 days, could she.. Could she possibly love me the way she love Yurina, until now?" Yujin asked as her voice cracked, she's now crying.

"Shh unnie, stop talking about it now, you're hurting." Hikaru said as she caress Yujin's back.

"Answer me first, do you think so?"

Hikaru was hesitating wether to answer or not, but if she didn't answer, Yujin will still continue asking it. She sighed, looking worriedly at her favorite unnie who's now staring at the night sky.

"Well maybe, just maybe unnie"

Yujin chuckled.

"It makes my hopes up you know. Didn't know this shit will hurt like this."