Chaeyoung gazed out of the car window. The sky today wasn't particularly cheerful, and a light drizzle fell intermittently. This kind of weather carried a touch of romance, but it could easily lead to melancholy.

For Chaeyoung, however, it stirred a certain restlessness. Her sensitive, artistic soul was moved by the smell of rain and the refreshing air that always accompanied it. Today, she wasn't overly cheerful, nor was she gloomy.

Unlike Son Chaeyoung, the person sitting next to her seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood. Myoui Mina kept glancing at Chaeyoung, then at the scenery outside, making Chaeyoung wonder what might have brightened her spirits.

Suddenly, Mina leaned over and took hold of Chaeyoung's hand, which was resting on her lap. The warmth of Mina's palm against the cool back of Chaeyoung's hand awakened her senses. Chaeyoung turned to Mina, puzzled, but Mina simply smiled without saying a word.

Mina's thumb gently traced the ridges of Chaeyoung's fingers before giving a soft squeeze, as though trying to transfer warmth to her. It was a subtle yet intimate gesture, a language of affection only the two of them shared. Mina must have noticed Chaeyoung's unease and wanted to reassure her.

But the weather wasn't the sole reason for Chaeyoung's unsettled mood. Yet at the moment, she didn't want to dwell on it. She leaned against the car window, hoping to steal a short nap.

In the backseat, Nayeon's mood was far worse—perhaps even unbearable—because of what she had just witnessed between the two in the front. Every time she opened her eyes, she saw things she wished she hadn't. And every time she closed them, images of a certain someone reappeared.

"Myoui Mina, why do you always find a way to hide in my thoughts? I'm exhausted. I can't keep chasing you anymore."

When will this torment end? Nayeon wondered. It felt as though everything was spiraling out of her control. If either of them discovered her feelings, their relationship would hit an impasse—a scenario she desperately wanted to avoid. Only God knew how many times Nayeon had berated herself for foolishly "indulging" her heart.

Who started it all?
Im Nayeon.
Who's blaming the one who started it all?
Im Nayeon.

This ridiculous internal conflict was driving her mad. If only she could escape her own judgment, life might be a little easier.

The seemingly endless ride to the airport finally came to an end. Im Nayeon reminded herself that she couldn't show this face to the reporters waiting outside, so she tried her best to pull herself together. Professionalism as an idol was one thing she had in spades.

Myoui Mina stepped out first. Dressed in a trench coat and heels, she exuded an air of elegance. Standing beside Son Chaeyoung, who wore flats and looked more like a university student, they seemed a mismatch. Chaeyoung even appeared smaller next to her.

Seeing Chaeyoung's slightly tense expression, Mina gently tugged on her arm. Chaeyoung, noticing Mina's smile, lightly placed her hand around Mina's waist. Mina said nothing but walked off with a soft grin. Moments later, however, she reverted to her usual composed and sophisticated demeanor.

No one knew why Mina was in such a good mood today—not even Mina herself. Perhaps it was because her birthday was approaching? Or maybe it was the thought of spending this special day with her members and, more importantly, with Son Chaeyoung, on the other side of the globe that excited her?

"There's an open seat by Nayeon. Mind sitting there so I can sit next to Chaeyoung?"

Mina texted Tzuyu, who looked up just in time to see Mina walking toward her. Naturally, Tzuyu didn't mind. Mina rarely made such requests, so there had to be a reason. Besides, Tzuyu had no intention of playing the third wheel.

"Hey, where are you going?"
Chaeyoung was scrolling through her iPod for a song that matched her mood when she noticed Tzuyu grabbing her bag and standing up.

"Guess."

Two seconds after Tzuyu answered, Chaeyoung saw Mina appear. She neither expressed surprise nor joy, acting as though nothing unusual had happened.

Chaeyoung went back to her iPod, unsurprised by Mina's desire to sit next to her. It was typical of Mina during long flights.

Yet, for some reason, Chaeyoung didn't feel like talking to her at that moment, even though Mina hadn't done anything wrong. Was it because she still remembered Mina's erratic heartbeat that one time?

Chaeyoung didn't believe Mina felt anything for Nayeon. But if that were the case, why had Mina reacted like that? And what was Mina to Nayeon? What exactly had happened between them? These questions had lingered in Chaeyoung's mind ever since.

"Is something bothering you?" Mina finally asked, unsure if Chaeyoung even heard her.

"Nothing."

Chaeyoung's voice was soft, and she didn't glance at Mina even once. When people sulk, they often say "nothing's wrong," but the more concern they receive, the more they want to reveal how upset they truly are.

"You seem different today. I hope I'm not the reason you're upset."

"And what if you are?"

Chaeyoung murmured, but it was clear Mina heard her. Mina looked surprised, unsure of what she might have done to upset Chaeyoung. She always treated her with care, so what could it be? From shock, Mina's expression shifted to one of helplessness.

"I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for?"

Son Chaeyoung finally turned to look at her girlfriend. Her large, lively eyes now seemed sharp and cold. Her intense gaze made Mina feel uneasy, though she was certain she had done nothing wrong. When Chaeyoung wasn't smiling, she exuded an intimidating aura, and Mina had always found it unnerving.

"I don't know. I really don't. But if apologizing will make you feel better, I'll do it."

"Then your apology means nothing."

"That's because I don't know what I've done wrong. Could you tell me? I don't want you to be upset with me. It's very..."

Mina trailed off, lowering her eyes in a pitiful manner.

"Very?"

"Uncomfortable."

Chaeyoung sighed. She genuinely felt bad for putting Mina in such an awkward position when she hadn't done anything wrong.

Was Mina's pounding heart really such a big deal? It was just a natural response to worry, nervousness, or surprise—not necessarily some stupid emotion like love. It didn't prove anything. Chaeyoung didn't know if she was mad at Mina or at herself for being so unreasonable.

"Relax. I was just teasing. I'm not mad at you."

Mina still wasn't entirely convinced, but she knew pressing further wouldn't get her anywhere.

"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't keep it to yourself; you know it'll create a distance between us."

"I don't have anything on my mind. You're just being overly sensitive. Sometimes, our mood just dips for no apparent reason."

"Really? I'm too sensitive, huh?"

"Hmm, or maybe you're feeling guilty about something?"

Myoui Mina thought she had escaped the situation, but Son Chaeyoung wasn't ready to let it go. Chaeyoung's tone was clearly probing, and Mina couldn't help but notice. However, she knew this wasn't the right time to deal with the mess that had unexpectedly landed in her lap.

She pretended not to understand, using silence and her expression as her response. She could only hope Chaeyoung would see her awkward reaction and blank face as a reason to stop asking questions that sent chills down her spine.

"I'm just kidding. If I were mad at you, I wouldn't have cared about you at all earlier."

The truth is, Mina was quite sensitive when it came to understanding this younger girl's emotions. Even though she knew Chaeyoung wasn't the type to sulk without reason, Chaeyoung had never taken advantage of Mina's affection by acting spoiled.

Chaeyoung might be childish, but she was still perceptive enough to read the room and recognize boundaries. She knew that Mina would endure and accommodate her without getting upset—or at least without complaining—but Chaeyoung didn't want to wear her out.

This made Mina feel endlessly grateful. Having your partner upset with you was never pleasant. That's why, whenever Chaeyoung seemed unhappy, the first thing Mina would ask was, "Are you mad at me?"

And if she found out it wasn't her fault, she'd let out a relieved sigh. She also didn't have to worry about running away because Chaeyoung never took out her anger on innocent parties. She was genuinely good-natured.

But she wasn't mild.

Mina was sure of that—just look at her eyes. If Chaeyoung were mild, Mina would walk on her head. No one should mess with what truly mattered to Chaeyoung or poke at the deepest parts of her heart.

Mina still remembered the time she, Jeongyeon, and Jihyo teased Chaeyoung to make her jealous during the Signal era. Before that, Chaeyoung had been ignoring her at fansigns, avoiding interaction, and staying distant.

Mina just wanted to grab her attention, but Chaeyoung's reaction was far more intense than she expected. Mina genuinely feared Chaeyoung might lose her temper and "deal with" her and the accomplices right then and there.

However, if Chaeyoung had done that, Mina might have felt better because, in the days that followed, she became completely invisible in Chaeyoung's eyes. What was worse, Chaeyoung only punished Mina, while treating Jeongyeon, her partner-in-crime, as if nothing had happened.

Yet, from that moment, Mina deeply realized that she was someone Chaeyoung held close to her heart. That thought filled Mina with pride and satisfaction. Even so, she told herself that was enough; that "love experiment" had given her a taste of bitterness. She wouldn't repeat it, nor did she want to get involved in a similar situation with someone else.

Everything would go as Mina wished—if she were lucky enough.

"Unnie, you've been staring at them for nearly fifteen minutes now. Aren't you tired of craning your neck?"

Chou Tzuyu glanced at her watch as she spoke to the person who had been turning her head to watch a certain couple.

Im Nayeon deliberately ignored Tzuyu's comment. To avoid the embarrassment of being caught spying, she leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, as if to say, "I'm sleepy; don't bother me." But Chou Tzuyu wasn't one to let it slide. She nudged Nayeon.

"Unnie, are you upset because I'm sitting next to you? At least look at your airplane buddy once, won't you?"

When Im Nayeon finally opened her eyes in annoyance, she was greeted by the sight of the younger girl flashing a charming dimpled smile.

"There, I looked at you. Happy now?"

"Not yet. You need to smile to show how happy you are sitting next to me."

The eldest put on a polite, practiced smile, which faded in under three seconds.

"You should rephrase that to 'stuck sitting next to.'"

"If you weren't sitting next to me, you wouldn't be sitting next to the person you like either."

Chou Tzuyu responded, swaying her head playfully in a way that was infuriatingly adorable. Why was she suddenly so talkative today? And worse, every word felt like a dagger.

"The person I like? I don't like anyone."

"If you don't like anyone, why were you staring at them just now?"

"I have eyes, so I look. Do I need your permission?"

"Look at me instead. My beauty isn't any less than theirs. Plus, I'm right beside you and not doing anything lovey-dovey like them. It saves you from neck strain and irritation. Yet you haven't even glanced my way once—you've hurt my pride."

Chou Tzuyu cupped her face like a little flower and rattled on. Ironically, she wasn't wrong. Why was Nayeon paying attention to what those two were doing? It was exhausting physically and emotionally.

"What's wrong with you? I'd rather sit alone than sit next to you, let alone look at you."

"If you sat alone, you wouldn't have been caught spying on those lovebirds. I get it."

"You..."

Im Nayeon was truly at her wit's end. The usually reserved girl had somehow managed to leave her speechless today. But that wasn't all; the real issue was that Tzuyu's every word hit the mark. More importantly, Chou Tzuyu had figured her out.

Seeing Nayeon's frustrated expression, with even a vein bulging on her forehead, Tzuyu chuckled. Truthfully, it was sheer luck that she discovered Nayeon's secret. And since she knew, she couldn't bear seeing her eldest unnie downcast over it. Besides, it wasn't often she got the chance to tease her, so Tzuyu seized the moment to shift her attention.

"What do you know?"

Nayeon asked in a low voice, her head bowed, feeling both embarrassed and conflicted. She was crushing on her friend's lover. Im Nayeon felt like she was no better than someone who didn't know right from wrong—especially since she was the oldest.

"Unnie, that doesn't matter. What's important is that you haven't done anything wrong. This could happen to anyone."

Tzuyu gently placed a hand on Nayeon's shoulder, speaking slowly as if carefully choosing her words. Her sudden change in tone surprised Nayeon. Somehow, it felt like Tzuyu genuinely understood what she was feeling and empathized with her. But how?

"How do you know I'm not wrong?"

"I have a brain, unnie."

Tzuyu raised her eyebrows, tapping her temple. Then, she took Nayeon's hand.

"My hands are cold, right? But my heart is warm."

"So?"

"So, I use my brain to analyze and my heart to empathize, and I know you're not wrong."

Im Nayeon sighed, shaking her head. Meanwhile, Chou Tzuyu remained calm as ever.

"Then what should I do now?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know."

"Do you want to be Mina unnie's lover?"

"Do you have a way to help me?"

"Of course not."

Tzuyu's blunt response left Nayeon dumbfounded. However, she thought she heard Tzuyu mutter something like, "If I knew, I'd help myself first," but she wasn't sure.

"I was just asking. Even if there were a way, I wouldn't do it. I can't hurt Chaeyoung."

"I wouldn't let you do that either."

"Huh?" Nayeon was surprised.

"First of all, stop turning around to watch them. There's nothing special about it. They're just talking. Save your energy for when they start fighting; then you can gossip."

Chou Tzuyu didn't respond to the elder's question. Instead, she casually gave her answer and closed her eyes to rest. In some way, she truly was an interesting kid, the eldest thought to herself.

Perhaps Tzuyu was right—Nayeon was the one making things harder for herself. MiChaeng wasn't intentionally showing off their love in front of her. It was Nayeon who chose to observe them and then wallow in her own pain afterward.

With that thought, Nayeon decided to follow Tzuyu's advice. She leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes, and tried to drift into a nap.

The first hour of the flight passed peacefully as everyone enjoyed their personal space. Chaeyoung, who had woken up from a short thirty-minute nap, glanced to her side and saw Mina sound asleep. She smiled softly before getting up to head to the bathroom.

When Chaeyoung returned, what caught her eye was Im Nayeon intently watching Myoui Mina as she slept. Nayeon, in turn, noticed Chaeyoung standing there. The two locked eyes for about five seconds, a heavy silence hanging in the air.

Finally, Son Chaeyoung broke the tension with a faint smile. Im Nayeon returned the smile with a subtle, relieved expression. But it didn't last long because she thought she caught Chaeyoung squinting her eyes slightly at her. Nayeon wasn't sure if she had imagined it—it happened so quickly. That small, almost imperceptible squint was like a dragonfly skimming the water. Maybe it was her guilty conscience playing tricks on her, she told herself.

Chaeyoung sat back in her seat and looked at Mina, who was sleeping soundly. A strange sense of frustration welled up inside her, catching her off guard. She turned to face forward and took a deep breath. Once she felt more composed, she exhaled, grabbed her pillow, and gently lifted Mina's head to place it under her neck without waking her.

But unfortunately for Chaeyoung, Mina slowly opened her eyes.

"Chaeyoungie? I'm fine, you keep the pillow to sleep," Mina said as she tried to remove the pillow from her neck.

However, Chaeyoung quickly stopped her hand.

"No, I want you to use it," Chaeyoung insisted.

"What about you?"

"I've slept enough. Besides, if I want to sleep more, I'll lean here."

Chaeyoung pointed to Mina's shoulder. Her cheeks turned a faint pink, but she quickly turned away, pretending not to notice that Mina was now staring at her intently. Suddenly, Chaeyoung felt a warm sensation on her cheek—it was Mina caressing her face.

"Can you lean on me now instead?"

"I'm not sleepy yet. Be good and go to sleep," Chaeyoung replied.

Even though her lover said so, Mina kept looking at her with all the affection she could muster. Her gaze made Chaeyoung feel shy, so she avoided direct eye contact.

"Wish me goodnight, then!"

When Mina leaned closer to her, Chaeyoung realized what she wanted. Carefully scanning their surroundings to ensure no one was passing by and that the people in their row were all asleep, Chaeyoung finally placed a gentle kiss on Mina's forehead and whispered, "Goodnight."

Everything happened quickly, but the sweetness of that kiss lingered and followed Mina into her dreams. Meanwhile, the younger girl wasn't as at ease.

Son Chaeyoung put on her earphones and listened to "It's Alright, It's Love" by Davichi. The scene in the karaoke room replayed in her mind—the voice and gaze of Nayeon, the rapid thudding of Mina's heartbeat, and everything that followed. It all resurfaced, leaving a dull ache in her chest.

Chaeyoung naturally linked her arm with Mina's, and the two leisurely returned to the company. In front of them, Nayeon also linked arms with Momo and leaned close to her. Everything had returned to its original order. And for some reason, Son Chaeyoung felt relieved about this.

"Give me a smile."

Mina poked Chaeng's cheek and spoke as if giving an order. Very quickly, the younger girl's deep dimples appeared.

"Chaeyoung."

"Hmm?"

Chaeyoung replied, but not too loudly, and without looking at the person beside her.

"Chaeyoungie."

"What is it?"

Chaeyoung replied for the second time, but Mina still didn't say anything. This time, she turned to look at her. The other person's expression didn't seem like she was joking. So she waited to see what she was going to say.

"Chaengie..."

"What is it, unnie?"

"...mine."

"Yes, I'm here."

"It's so good that when I call you, I can hear you reply."

Mina suddenly becoming so affectionate in such a cheesy way surprised Chaeyoung, but she also realized it was probably because of what she had just done.

"What's wrong with you all of a sudden!"

Chaeng said while wrinkling her nose at her, which made the older one unable to resist lightly pinching her nose.

"Chaeng should sing for Mina more often."

"Why should Chaeng do that?"

"Because Mina likes listening to Chaeng's voice."

"Then Mina should also do something for Chaeng, right?"

"What does Chaeng want Mina to do?"

"Love Chaeng even more, for example."

"That's a given."

Son Chaeyoung smiled happily, tightening her hand around the other person's arm. Sometimes they were like this, calling each other by name and not caring about age differences.

It was quite silly if others heard it, and this had actually been used by the older members to tease them once by imitating them exactly. But who cared? As long as they were both comfortable with that way of addressing each other, because it was like a kind of teasing, as well as doing aegyo with each other.

Returning to the practice room at nine o'clock, everyone didn't seem tired after a whole day of practicing and playing. Dinner had also been at a braised beef rib soup restaurant, the dish that Chaeyoung wanted to eat at noon. So all four of them seemed to be replenished with energy.

The practice was still going smoothly, however this time they didn't joke or chat like in the morning. Perhaps everyone wanted to go home early.

Actually, it wasn't that they didn't want to talk, but everyone felt something strange about the oldest member, so they all remained silent.

Hirai Momo was the one who felt this most clearly. Nayeon had been silent or only mumbled replies to Momo throughout the journey back to the company. Hirai was very curious but didn't dare to ask the reason.

"Oh, you really suit this concept, Nayeon,"

Momo exclaimed when they finished their nth rehearsal. She had wanted to say this many times, but only now had the opportunity. In Hirai Momo's eyes, the oldest member was truly a perfect idol. The way she managed to adapt to every concept was amazing. Or perhaps Im Nayeon didn't need to "adapt" because she was born to be an idol.

"No way."

Nayeon quickly retorted, but Momo didn't let her say anything more by immediately saying.

"I think so. If I say it is, then it is. Unnie, don't argue with me."

"Woah, it seems Momo likes me a lot, huh?"

"Of course, in my heart, you're number one."

"Come here."

Momo happily rushed to the oldest member and let her hug her. The other two didn't say or react to the scene in front of them. Myoui Mina only silently watched them, while Son Chaeyoung silently watched Myoui Mina.

Chaeyoung tried to analyze what her lover's eyes contained, but she couldn't figure it out. However, this clearly showed that Myoui Mina was paying attention to Im Nayeon. Was she being too sensitive and unreasonable?

Honestly, Chaeyoung didn't want to see herself become so suspicious, so she told herself that Mina and Nayeon should stop these "ambiguous" actions immediately.

"Mina, I'm a little thirsty and hungry. Can you go buy some drinks and snacks?"

Son Chaeyoung intentionally spoke loudly and successfully attracted the attention of both Im Nayeon and Hirai Momo. She looked at Mina and smiled slightly, waiting for her to agree because she knew the other person wouldn't refuse her anything.

When Chaeyoung asked "Can you?", it wasn't a question; it was a request that Mina had no "no" answer to choose, only "yes or yes." Chaeyoung liked this in their relationship.

She enjoyed that pampering in every smallest thing, feeling like she could freely roam and if she "forgot" Mina, she would still be standing there waiting for her to return.

At the same time, Chaeyoung also cherished that feeling of being loved very much, to the point that she was unwilling to share even a single glance from Myoui Mina with anyone.

"Let me go with Mina. I also want to buy some snacks."

Nayeon quickly spoke up and was about to go to the sofa to get her coat, but Chaeyoung extinguished her intention.

"Let Momo unnie go buy it for Nayeon unnie. Momo ah, you said Nayeon unnie is number one in your heart, don't let her go out in the cold. Right, Minari?"

"That's right, if you said that, you should show it to people, Momo."

Chaeyoung took advantage of her lover's support by calling Mina's name with a nasal voice and tightly linked her arm with hers, swaying it. Of course, Myoui Mina didn't have any objections and easily agreed with Chaeng.

"Okay, what do you want to eat, Nayeon?"

"Anything is fine."

"Then spicy rice cakes, okay?"

"Sure."

The oldest member winked at Momo, trying to appear not regretful for missing the opportunity to be near Mina or worried that Chaeyoung had noticed her. If Mina had said so and Momo also agreed, then Im Nayeon had no reason to bargain.

When Momo and Mina had left, the atmosphere in the room suddenly cooled down unusually quickly.

Im Nayeon tried to focus on her phone, even though she was only unconsciously swiping on it and wasn't really interested. While Son Chaeyoung, who was usually addicted to smartphones and the internet, didn't even touch her phone at this time. She was struggling a lot to be able to utter her question, or perhaps a way to start a conversation that she thought was extremely interesting.

"You look different than usual today. Is something wrong?"

The oldest member was surprised to hear the maknae ask her. It was a good way to start a conversation.

"Is it that easy to tell?"

"Because I care about you, so I noticed. It's not necessarily easy."

"Indeed, you're lovers. You and Mina have the same answer."

Chaeyoung was about to say something, but she hesitated a little when she heard the other person mention Mina's name. Could this be the content of their conversation on the way to the karaoke room?

"Mina unnie? She gave the same answer as me?"

"Hmm, I also asked a similar question, and she said it wasn't easy, but because she cared, she knew."

Nayeon felt a little relieved when she saw the younger person's pensive expression. She didn't know that she had just planted an invisible fear in Chaeyoung's mind. But even if she knew, what could she do? Because everything Im Nayeon had just said was not half a lie but completely true. What was wrong with being an honest person?

"If that's the case, then we are very compatible, right?"

Son Chaeyoung, after a moment of silence, said that and gave a dimpled smile. The person opposite looked at her and seemed to suddenly understand why Myoui Mina loved her so much.

"That's right, the two of you caring about me at the same time makes me happy but also a little scared."

"Why scared?"

"Well, you two are both taken, of course, I'm afraid I'll get into trouble with one of you," Nayeon shrugged, her usual nonchalant look reappearing.

"Are you really uncomfortable?" Chaeyoung lowered her head to look at the other person and asked in a teasing voice.

"What? Of course, I am," Nayeon brushed her hair back, a gesture that told Chaeyoung that she wasn't as natural as her voice.

"I mean, don't pretend like you're not enjoying being cared for by us," the "strawberry princess" chuckled, seemingly very happy.

"You make it sound like I'm craving your attention," The older one pouted, looking dissatisfied.

"That's exactly it."

Son Chaeyoung and Im Nayeon burst out laughing, even though they didn't understand if they were truly happy.

"I won't be suspicious, so you don't need to worry about that. Feel free to interact with Mina unnie. Because before being my lover, Mina is a member of TWICE."

Nayeon felt warmth in her heart when she heard the younger girl say that, but immediately after, Chaeyoung threw a weighty question at her.

"Moreover, Nayeon unnie probably isn't interested in Mina, right?"

Chaeyoung's curious gaze told Nayeon that she really didn't mean anything. And she felt relieved because of that.

"Why do you think so?"

"I just have that feeling. I think the two of you aren't compatible. You're energetic and bright, while Mina unnie is calm and a little reserved."

"Haven't you heard people say opposites attract?"

Son Chaeyoung raised an eyebrow when she heard that, a little surprised that Im Nayeon could say that in front of her.

"That's also true, like me and her. We're opposites, so we attract each other." Chaeyoung nodded, as if she completely agreed with Nayeon.

The older girl didn't know how to respond appropriately. Chaeyoung had reminded her that she and Myoui Mina "attracted" each other because they were opposites, so the fact that she and Mina were also opposites was no longer important. Perhaps for opposite magnets, two or three magnets could stick together at the same time, but this was a completely different matter. Love with a third person would become meaningless.

"But even if you're interested in Mina, so what? I know you would never do anything wrong to us. I believe you're not that kind of person."

The practice room was dead silent, making Son Chaeyoung's words echo everywhere, even in Im Nayeon's mind. This kid was really overthinking, Nayeon thought, that's why she was being so cautious.

Son Chaeyoung was right. She wasn't brave enough, wasn't strong enough to do anything, not even give up on the person in her heart.

"Chaeyoung ah, you know. Anything can happen. But from my perspective, it's not as important as from Mina's perspective. Even if I'm interested, even if I love her, or I use tricks like in dramas, if Mina doesn't love me, then she still doesn't love me."

For the first time, Nayeon could utter these words. Although she knew it very well before, she couldn't even say it to herself. Nayeon's voice was calm, as if she was talking about an obvious fact and there was nothing surprising.

"What I mean is, why should you be worried? Everyone can see that Mina loves you very much. There's no way you wouldn't know that yourself."

"Really?"

"Really, but on the other hand, I don't seem to see the same thing," Looking into Chaeyoung's round eyes, the older one said lightly, but the younger one felt like she was being accused.

"Are you saying I don't love Mina or don't love her enough?"

"Smart."

Chaeyoung suddenly wanted to laugh at Nayeon because she knew clearly that what she said was not true at all, however she still stopped herself because the older one continued:

"However, you're only almost right. Exactly, I want to say that people don't clearly see your love for Mina, but I can't measure how much you love her, nor do I have the right to judge you."

Nayeon understood very well what she was saying. She believed that Chaeyoung would find some of it true, even though her intention was more than just judgment. She only wanted to know if the other person had a reasonable explanation for this. In fact, Nayeon was also curious, even though she understood that Chaeyoung did love Mina.

"Thank you for telling me this. It might be very helpful." Chaeng winked playfully.

Although she was a bit dissatisfied with what the oldest member had just said, Chaeyoung couldn't deny that it was true. Perhaps it was because she was an optimistic and positive thinker? But she would understand this as sincere advice for their relationship, that Im Nayeon was simply wondering about her feelings and didn't intend to meddle.

"Helpful?"

"Well, it will help make our relationship stronger."

Chaeyoung giggled and then, as if she didn't want to continue the conversation, focused on her phone. Nayeon wasn't sure if Chaeng was angry with her for saying that or not, but she knew for sure that she had been put in the little tiger's sights, at least she would pay more attention to Nayeon from now on.

Chaeyoung stirred awake on the shoulder of the person next to her, and she saw Mina looking at her with affection.

"Did you sleep well?"

Chaeng didn't reply, she only smiled softly and pushed away the finger that was poking her cheek.

"My Chaengie needs to eat and sleep a lot to grow up quickly. You're such a good girl."

Mina intentionally ruffled the younger one's hair, making her already messy hair even more tangled. She chuckled with amusement while Chaeyoung rubbed her face against her shoulder and whined like a spoiled child.

"Are you hungry?"

The Japanese girl gently stroked the small head, her concerned voice stopping the "strawberry princess'" whining. She looked up at her and nodded.

"But we're almost there, right? So let's eat later."

"Yeah, when we get off the plane, let's not separate. There might be a lot of people, and it will be crowded, so let's stay close for safety."

"Minari will protect me?"

"No, if something happens, it will be easier for me to run first if I'm with someone small like you."

The eyes that were sparkling at Mina suddenly darkened, and she glared at her fiercely. Chaeyoung raised her hands as if she wanted to scratch Myoui Mina, but luckily, the other person managed to grab her wrists.

"If you stay close to me, you'll see if I do that or not."

Chaeyoung lowered her eyes, retracting her "claws," looking very much like a Persian cat with its noble but sharp and irritable demeanor. Mina felt that at certain times Chaeng was exactly like a cat. She also found this logical because people often said she resembled a tiger, and cats were also called "little tigers," generally speaking, they were related.

Mina was a dog person; she wasn't very interested in those sharp, spoiled creatures, but if it was a cat like Son Chaeyoung, Mina was willing to take care of her for life. How wonderful, so Mina now had both a dog and a "kitten" to pamper.

Thinking this, Myoui Mina didn't hesitate to gently pinch the "little cat's" cheeks. The "cat" growled as if wanting to scratch her, but still let her pet her and leaned into Mina's arms. Mina was head over heels for this "cat."

When the plane landed, MiChaeng kept their promise and always walked side by side. Sometimes when she saw something interesting, Mina even pointed it out to Chaeyoung. Perhaps because they had left Korea, they also relaxed some of their guard.

Just as Mina said, the airport was packed with fans waiting to greet the group. All of them made TWICE feel very warm because they didn't expect such a warm welcome on the other side of the world. Of course, the excitement of the fans was uncontrollable when they saw their idols walking close by, so the situation at that time was a bit chaotic.

Mina walked closely behind Chaeyoung when they exited the airport. Of course, she knew that. So even though she was surrounded by people, loud shouts, and pushes that felt like they could knock her down at any moment, Chaeng's face didn't show any discomfort or fear. But the person behind her was still worried that she wasn't comfortable, so she put her hands on Chaeng's shoulders, making her unable to stop herself from smiling. As for Mina, of course, she didn't feel uncomfortable at all; on the contrary, she was in a very good mood and even smiled slightly as she moved.

When they were safely in the car, they still didn't leave each other's side for a moment. Son Chaeyoung didn't hesitate to hug the other person and complain about being hungry, while Myoui Mina also hugged her tightly and said she was too.

Suddenly, Chaeyoung heard Jihyo's voice from the row of seats above:

"Unnie, are you okay? You're alright now, don't be scared."

Chaeyoung realized that the person sitting next to Jihyo was Nayeon, so she continued to listen attentively.

"Yeah, I'm okay, just a little tired."

The little girl looked up and saw her lover closing her eyes, not seeming to care about the conversation of the two people, but honestly, Chaeng still didn't dare to breathe a sigh of relief. Who knew if Myoui Mina had hidden her worries in her heart. Everyone knew that the oldest member was very afraid of being stuck in such chaotic crowds.

That thought made Chaeyoung's heart suddenly turn cold, however, she told herself that even if Mina cared about Nayeon, it was only because they were in the same group, which was reasonable.

But suddenly from somewhere, Chaeyoung "smelled" a strong sour scent. Jealousy was like eating vinegar, never pleasant.

Son Chaeyoung never wanted to become a petty and jealous girlfriend. But it seemed that the conversation between her and Nayeon that day had made Chaeng feel threatened, and she thought she had enough reason to be suspicious of the oldest member. But for now, Chaeng wouldn't say anything; she would pretend not to know anything.

Moreover, what Chaeyoung noticed most was not Nayeon's actions, but the expression of the person right next to her. Son Chaeyoung completely understood what Im Nayeon had said. Everything would be fine as long as Myoui Mina's feelings remained the same.

"Don't disappoint me."

Chaeyoung looked at the person who seemed to be sleeping and thought to herself. Then she also closed her eyes, letting herself rest in Mina's arms. These random thoughts had made her very tired.

The room assignments at the hotel were still as random as usual; two people who were close to each other would share a room. However, although MiChaeng was still next to each other, it wasn't the case this time because their standing order was number 4 and 5, and 4 had to share with 3, and 5 had to go with 6.

She didn't know if it was fate or not, but Mina's roommate was Nayeon, while Chaeyoung stayed with Tzuyu. When she found out about this, Chaeyoung was a little unhappy but didn't show it. She was very calm on the outside, not objecting or suggesting a room change. If Chaeng wanted to do that, she only needed to say it, and Nayeon and Tzuyu would agree because they had no reason to refuse. But she didn't want to do that. In the dorm, Mina also shared a room with that person, so it wasn't a big deal.

Im Nayeon didn't have any special expression about the room assignments. Partly because she was tired from the long flight, partly because she knew she should restrain herself. Nayeon couldn't say if this was luck or misfortune; she would have to let time tell. But she did feel happy.

The oldest member glanced at the person walking next to her on the way to their room. Mina still had a calm expression, which made someone feel strange. Did Mina not feel anything when she almost shared a room with Chaeyoung?

"Why are you so calm? Don't you feel any regret?"

"Why should I regret it?"

"Well, you almost..."

"We're only here for two nights. Besides, do you think this room assignment can stop me from going over to Chaeng's room?"

Nayeon knew beforehand that Mina would say that. Sometimes she felt how this clever person could hide under such a perfect facade. Although she knew that saying anything to Mina about what she had decided was useless, moreover, this was also related to Chaeyoung, but Nayeon still wanted to ask a question that she was wondering about:

"Aren't you afraid of bothering Tzuyu?"

"She can come to this room, or if she doesn't mind, she can stay there."

"You think Tzuyu is gentle, so you're taking advantage of her?"

Im Nayeon thought to herself that Mina's face was too thick. But normally, even when Mina was with her girlfriend, she wouldn't be so disrespectful to others.

"This isn't taking advantage. I'm giving Tzuyu a choice."

"What kind of choice is that that is disadvantageous to her and beneficial to you?" Nayeon grumbled while unpacking her luggage.

"You think Tzuyu would easily agree, right? I just said that..."

"Why wouldn't Tzuyu agree?"

Nayeon saw that Mina seemed to be somewhat dissatisfied. She spoke when her eyebrows were about to touch each other. What was wrong?

"Well, I'll go take a shower first."

Mina let out a long sigh and walked into the bathroom. Sometimes Nayeon couldn't understand what the younger person was thinking.