Chapter Text
Returning to the dorm from Jeju Island felt like stepping back into a different reality. The peaceful, sun-drenched bubble they had inhabited for three perfect days popped the moment they walked through the front door, replaced by the familiar, chaotic energy of their shared life. They hadn't told the other members about what had happened, not really. There was no grand announcement about them becoming official. They simply slipped back into the dorm's rhythm, hoping to keep their newfound bliss to themselves for just a little while longer.
They were not successful.
The change in them, though subtle to an outsider, was as glaring as a neon sign to the six girls who knew them best. It was in the way they moved, a new, languid confidence in their closeness. It was in the soft, almost secret smiles they would exchange across the room, smiles that held the weight of shared memories. It was in the way they seemed to glow from the inside out, a radiant happiness that couldn't be faked. They were closer than ever, a solid, unshakable unit, and the other members, who didn't know about their island getaway, were utterly baffled and intensely curious.
The gossip started almost immediately.
“Okay, something definitely happened,” Jeongyeon declared one afternoon, watching from the kitchen as the trio sat on the couch, supposedly watching a drama but clearly more interested in each other. Momo’s head was in Sana’s lap, and Dahyun was leaning against Momo’s side, their hands all intertwined in a complicated, comfortable knot. “They’ve gone from ‘figuring things out’ to… this. This is a whole new level of domesticity.”
“They’re definitely glowing,” Jihyo confirmed, her gaze analytical. “It’s like they went away for a weekend and came back from a spa retreat on another planet. The ‘Happy Vibe’ radiating off them is almost blinding.”
“I don’t know, but they’re all wearing matching necklaces now,” Chaeyoung pointed out from her spot on the floor, squinting. “I saw them this morning. They’re, like, little leaf things. It’s a couple item. A… throuple item?”
Mina, ever the quiet observer, offered her analysis. “Their energy is different,” she said softly, not looking up from her book. “It’s more… settled. Before, there was a tension, a sense of unresolved longing. Now, it’s just… contentment. It’s like they’ve all exhaled.”
“So what happened?” Chaeyoung asked, exasperated but fond. “Sana-unnie hasn’t pouted once since they got back, and Momo-unnie seems… less snack-anxious. It’s weird. Something definitely happened during that ‘family emergency’.”
Tzuyu, ever the pragmatist, just shrugged. “Maybe their families are just very relaxing.”
This prompted a collective, exasperated groan from the others.
Nayeon, who was listening to all of this with the smug satisfaction of a cat who had just swallowed a canary, couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. She saw the change in them too, but unlike the others, she knew the reason. She saw the relaxed set of Momo’s shoulders, the new, confident boldness in Dahyun’s touches, the deep, sated happiness in Sana’s eyes. She saw their new necklaces and knew, with a jolt of vicarious joy, that her plan had worked even better than she’d hoped. She was, she decided, a truly amazing unnie.
A few days later, she finally got the trio alone. The other members were out at a late-night recording, leaving the four of them in the quiet living room. The opportunity was too perfect to pass up. She sauntered in, a triumphant, self-satisfied smirk firmly in place.
“So, girls…” she began, plopping down in the armchair opposite them like a queen holding court. “First of all, you’re welcome.”
The three of them looked up, their expressions a mixture of amusement and genuine gratitude.
“Now…” Nayeon continued, leaning forward and resting her chin in her hand. “How was Jeju? Did I, or did I not, do a good job with the cabin?”
“Unnie, the cabin was amazing. Seriously, it was perfect. How did you even find a place like that?” Sana asked, her eyes still shining with the memory.
“I have my contacts,” Nayeon said with a dismissive, airy wave of her hand and a wink.
“Seriously, Nayeon, it was the best weekend ever,” Momo added, her smile soft and genuine as she remembered the quiet beach and the moonlit nights. “The place was so beautiful and calm. We… we really needed that.”
Nayeon’s smirk widened. “And?” she asked, her gaze sharp and expectant.
“And… what?” Momo asked, playing dumb.
“Aish, you know what I mean!” Nayeon said, rolling her eyes. “Don’t play coy with me, I’m the one who made it happen. Did something… happen? Did you three finally… you know…” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, her meaning unmistakable.
Three simultaneous, identical blushes bloomed on their faces. They didn’t have to say a word. Dahyun immediately became fascinated with a loose thread on the couch, Sana let out a flustered little giggle, and Momo’s ears turned bright red, a shy, happy smile she couldn't suppress giving her away completely. It was a confession in itself.
Nayeon let out a triumphant laugh, clapping her hands together. “I knew it! What would you three do without me? Am I the best unnie or am I the best unnie?” she declared, preening with pride.
Momo, Sana, and Dahyun just rolled their eyes in unison, but the fond, grateful smiles on their faces couldn't deny the truth. She was a menace, but she was their menace. And she was, undeniably, the best.
“And what’s with those?” Nayeon asked, her sharp eyes zeroing in on the delicate silver chains around their necks. “New accessories? Don’t tell me you went shopping. That was supposed to be a romantic getaway, not a retail therapy trip.”
“Oh… that… umm…” Momo started shyly. She glanced between her girlfriends, a silent question in her eyes, not sure if it was okay to share this part yet. Sana gave her a small, encouraging nod.
“Well… we kind of… made our relationship official,” Sana revealed, her voice soft, her hand instinctively coming up to touch her own pendant.
“What?!” Nayeon sat bolt upright, her teasing demeanor vanishing, replaced by genuine, wide-eyed surprise. “Really? Like, official official?” She looked so genuinely happy for them, her teasing forgotten in the face of such a significant development.
“Yeah,” Dahyun confirmed, “We’re… girlfriends now.” Her voice barely a whisper, a shy smile gracing her lips as she got used to the weight of the word.
“Wow…” Nayeon breathed, looking back and forth between the three of them, at the undeniable love and happiness radiating from them. “All it took was one weekend away from the chaos?” she asked, her teasing tone returning, but softer this time, full of warmth. “I should have sent you packing months ago.”
Momo just laughed, her hand finding Sana’s, their fingers lacing together. “We just needed the right moment.”
“And the right unnie to make it happen,” Dahyun added, giving Nayeon a small, sincere smile.
“Well, obviously,” Nayeon said, flipping her hair with a dramatic flair, though her eyes were shining. She had just been trying to help them get a moment of peace. She hadn’t realized she’d be helping them find a beginning. “Now,” she leaned forward, her conspiratorial grin back in full force, “tell me everything. And don’t you dare leave out a single detail.”
▬
A week later, the private bubble of the dorm was replaced by the bright lights and excited energy of a fan meeting. The release of their new album meant a whirlwind of promotions, and today, they were seated at a long table, the roar of their adoring fans a constant, happy hum. For Momo, Sana, and Dahyun, this was the first major test of their new, official status.
They had made a conscious effort to be more careful, to temper their instincts in front of the cameras and thousands of watching eyes. They tried. They really, truly did. They strategically sat at different ends of the long table, made sure to interact with all the other members, and tried their best to quell the constant, magnetic pull they felt towards each other. They thought they were being incredibly sneaky, masters of discretion.
They were not.
Fans, with their detective-like eyes and encyclopedic knowledge of their idols’ every habit, noticed everything. They noticed the fleeting glance that lingered a second too long between Momo and Dahyun as Jihyo was speaking. The way Sana’s smile seemed to shine a little brighter whenever Momo’s laughter echoed through the venue. They noticed the way Dahyun’s entire body would seem to light up when Sana made a joke, even if she was on the opposite end of the table. They were tiny moments, micro-expressions, but to the dedicated fans who had been documenting their interactions for years, it was a mountain of evidence.
And then, they noticed the necklaces.
During a segment where the members were answering questions, a fan with a front-row seat caught Sana’s attention.
“Sana-unnie!” the fan called out, her voice full of excitement. “Your necklace is so pretty! I saw Momo-unnie and Dahyun-unnie have one just like it! Is it a new friendship item for the three of you?”
Sana’s heart gave a little jolt, but she kept her professional smile perfectly in place. She reached up, her fingers closing around the cool, familiar shape of the silver leaf. “Ah, this?” she said, her voice bright and cheerful. “It is pretty, right? Momo found them. It’s just a friendship thing. You know how we are, we have lots of matching items with all the members!” She tried to sound breezy, casual, as if it were no different from the matching rings she had with Jihyo or the bracelets she shared with Tzuyu.
It was a perfect, plausible answer. But it didn't fool anyone. The interaction was caught on a dozen fancams, and within minutes, the online forums were buzzing with speculation.
‘She said it was a friendship item, but the way she looked at Momo right after…’ one comment read. Another pointed out, ‘They’re trying so hard not to be next to each other that it’s actually more obvious.’
It wasn’t just the necklaces. It was the way they orbited each other, even with other members between them. Their subtle glances weren't subtle enough. Their carefully maintained distance only made the moments they did interact more charged, more significant. They were a magnetic force, and the fans, clever and observant as always, could feel the pull.
▬
Back in the van on the way to the dorm, the adrenaline of the fan meeting began to wear off, replaced by a comfortable, tired silence. But Jihyo, who had been sitting in the front, watching the trio’s interactions in the rearview mirror all day, couldn’t hold it in any longer. The fan’s question about the necklaces had been the final straw.
Back in the dorm, the atmosphere was quiet, but it was a different kind of quiet. It was tense, expectant. The other members kept exchanging looks, their gazes flicking towards the trio, who were trying their best to act normal.
Jihyo couldn't take it anymore. She stood in the middle of the room, her arms crossed, her expression a mixture of fond exasperation and genuine concern. “Okay, that’s it,” she began, her gaze fixed on Momo, Sana, and Dahyun. “You three. What is going on? And I want the real story this time. Ever since that weekend with the supposed ‘family emergency,’ you’ve all been different.”
Jeongyeon, who had been lounging on the floor, sat up straight, her expression serious. “Yeah, what really happened? We don’t buy the ‘family emergency’ anymore. We’re not stupid. You were all together somewhere, weren’t you?”
Momo, Sana, and Dahyun looked at their members, then at each other, a silent, panicked conversation passing between them. The jig was up. There was no more deflecting, no more playing dumb.
“I think… I think we should tell them,” Sana whispered, her voice just for Momo and Dahyun.
“Are you sure?” Momo whispered back, a flicker of her old anxiety returning.
“They’re our members,” Sana affirmed, her gaze steady. “They’re our family. I think it’s fair. They deserve to know.”
“Girls, just tell us,” Chaeyoung said, her usual impatience softened by genuine concern. “Did you three finally figure out whatever it was you had going on?”
Nayeon, who had been observing the whole scene with a quiet, knowing smile, finally spoke up, her voice a gentle encouragement. “It’s okay, girls. Whatever you say, it stays between us. You know that.” She gave them a small, reassuring nod.
Momo took a deep, shaky breath, her hand finding Sana’s, their fingers lacing together in a gesture of mutual support. Dahyun, on her other side, reached out and took her other hand.
“Okay,” Momo began, her voice a little shaky but clear. “The ‘family emergency’… it was an excuse. Nayeon-unnie helped us get away for the weekend. We… we went to Jeju. Just the three of us.” She looked around at the faces of her members, seeing a mixture of surprise and dawning understanding. “We needed some time, to talk, to… figure things out, without any interruptions.” She took another breath, her grip tightening on her girlfriends’ hands. “And we did. We’re… we’re together. All three of us. Romantically.”
The room was silent for a moment as the weight of her confession settled. Some of the members, like Mina and Jeongyeon, looked surprised but not shocked, a slow nod of understanding passing over their features. Others, like Chaeyoung and Tzuyu, already suspected it and were now nodding, a mixture of awe and excitement on their faces. Jihyo’s expression softened completely, her leader-mode melting away into one of pure, unadulterated affection. She had suspected, had been rooting for them, but hearing it confirmed was something else entirely.
“Finally!” Chaeyoung exclaimed, breaking the silence. “I knew it! You owe me 10,000 won, Jeongyeon!” Said girl just shook her head with a disbelieving but fond smile.
“I knew it too,” Jihyo said, shaking her head with fond exasperation. “I mean, I didn’t know the details, but I knew something had shifted.” She looked at them, her leader-mode replaced by a deep, sisterly affection. “Are you all happy?”
The trio nodded in unison, their smiles watery but genuine.
“Then I’m happy for you,” Jihyo said, her voice firm with conviction. The other members murmured their agreement, a wave of support and acceptance washing over the trio, so powerful it almost brought tears to their eyes. Jihyo, however, held up a hand, her leader hat settling back into place. “But,” she said, her tone serious now, “you have to be discreet. In front of the cameras, in front of the fans. The world… isn’t always as understanding as this room is. I don’t want any of you to get hurt by negative comments or speculation. We have to protect each other. Okay?”
They nodded again, understanding the weight of her words completely.
“We know, unnie,” Dahyun said, squeezing Momo’s hand. “We’ll be careful.”
The room erupted into a flurry of questions and happy congratulations. But amidst the chatter, Jeongyeon’s eyes suddenly narrowed, a slow realization dawning on her as she looked towards the armchair in the corner. “Wait a minute…” she said, pointing an accusatory finger at Nayeon, who was trying to look nonchalant. “You knew? This whole time, with all the teasing and the speculation… you knew everything and you didn't say a single word? You just sat there and watched us run around like idiots trying to figure it out?!”
Nayeon just took a long, slow sip of her water, her eyes glinting with triumphant mischief over the rim of the glass. She met Jeongyeon's accusatory stare head-on, an unapologetic smirk playing on her lips. "My role," she stated simply, "was to be a supportive unnie who knows when to mind her own business... and when to watch the show." She shrugged, a picture of pure innocence. "And for the record, the show was incredibly entertaining."
The room erupted in a fresh wave of groans and laughter, the sound ricocheting off the walls as all eyes landed on Nayeon's triumphant expression. For Momo, Sana, and Dahyun, the chaotic noise felt like a profound exhalation. The tension that had coiled in their chests finally melted away as Nayeon’s comment dissolved the last bits of awkwardness into shared amusement. Looking at the faces of their members, now bright with teasing smiles and easy laughter, a powerful wave of warmth washed over them. It was the feeling of undeniable, unconditional acceptance from their chosen family. Their bond, once a quiet secret, was now a shared truth, reaffirmed in this perfectly orchestrated Nayeon moment. It was the feeling of finally being whole, and in that instant, their connection to each other, and to the group, had never felt more powerful.