Invisible String || PURINZ

17 • tight schedule

"Chae?" Kazuha asked, frowning. She studied Chaewon's face closely, as if the nearby details would tell her what was going on. 

The short girl's eyes darted over the Japanese girl before she scooted back, looking bewildered. "Too close for comfort, Zuha," She breathed.

Yunjin sighed as she brushed her hand over Chaewon's leg. The three of them were on a couch backstage, waiting for Eunchae and Sakura to finish their ten-minute bit. Fearnada was in full motion, and they were on day two of their South-Korean fan meet. Next up was Japan, and then America.

The stage before them was large, and filled with confetti. The crowd was so loud that Yunjin could barely hear herself think, and Eunchae and Sakura's voices echoed through the backstage.

The neon lights peeking through the curtains lit up Chaewon's face. She had been zoning out a lot lately, which was not unusual for the type of busy they were these days; but this was different from daydreaming, or getting lost in her thoughts.

It was like she was in a whole different dimension, forgetting who she is altogether.

Yunjin leaned close to Chaewon's ear. "Are you alright, baby?" She asked quietly so Kazuha wouldn't overhear.

The short girl placed her hand of top on Yunjin's. She adjusted herself slightly so she could face her girlfriend, and though her face was now hidden in the shadows, Yunjin could still see the outline of her smile.

"Hey, remember the first time we went to the beach together?" Chaewon asked as her fingers laced themselves between her girlfriend's.

The other nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, after Eunchae caught that cold that made Sakura and Kazuha sick. We made the best out of our weekend before we got sick too," She nodded.

"That was the first time in a long while that I felt like I was alive. I felt happy that day. True, honest joy. Just searching for seashells along the shore with you," The short girl looked down.

Yunjin couldn't see her expression from this angle. She wondered if she was still smiling. "Is that what you were thinking about? The beach?" She asked, her thumb still brushing over the girl's leg.

Chaewon's hand slid off Yunjin's. "Yeah, that's all." She breathed.

It was a lie. Yunjin could tell by her tone; she knew Chaewon better than anyone.

The taller girl frowned. She looked at Kazuha, who looked back and shrugged.

"Chae, you've been–",

"Get in position, back on in two with Flash Forward. Don't forget your mics," Their manager pushed a microphone in each of their hands before motioning for them to wait by the curtain.

Yunjin held her breath as she got in line with the other two. Chaewon had always been strong, no matter what was on her mind. She was their leader, whom all of them admired.

Exhaling, she took Chaewon's hand in hers. "Together," She smiled as she gave it a little squeeze.

The other looked up. She looked surprised until a smile crept up on her lips. "Together," She echoed with a nod, placing a kiss on the back of Yunjin's hand.

—x—

Once the fanmeet was over, the girls were happy to go back to their hotel. They all shared one room with an abnormally large bed and a sleep sofa that Sakura and Eunchae had claimed. The girls were still sweaty as they walked through the door, all sighing and groaning as they ended up on the couch in the corner.

Tomorrow was their flight to Japan. They planned to stay for a week and then go to America, where they would hold their first American version of Fearnada, in which Yunjin would probably have to end up translating everything.