Invisible String || PURINZ

21 • birthday party

Yunjin nervously tapped her fingers on her legs. Her eyes darted over the scenery that passed by the car window; the clouds seemed to stand entirely still whilst the sidewalk sped by.

Today was Kim Chaewon's birthday. They only saw each other on facetime every now and then; it's been way too long for comfort since the pair met in person.

A little voice in the back of her head told her that she was looking ten times uglier since their last facetime call.

With a sigh, Yunjin tapped on her phone screen. It lit up, showing a picture of Chaewon at the beach on her lockscreen. It was ten in the evening, meaning they were fashionably late due to their schedule.

"Oh my god, stop tapping your leg. You're infecting me with your nervousness," Kazuha groaned, holding the girl's knee down.

Yunjin's head snapped towards her, her eyes big. "I'm not nervous!" She exclaimed, her voice much too high-pitched to sell her lie.

"Yeah, right. What's the deal, anyway? You guys call nearly every day, I don't see how anything's changed." The other mumbled.

As her eyes trailed off to the window again, Yunjin shrugged. "It's weird not being able to see her every day. A phone screen isn't exactly the same as having my girlfriend next to me."

Sakura stretched, nearly knocking Kazuha's glasses off her face. "Oh, sorry, babe. I get it, Yunjin, but you truly have nothing to fear. You know how much that girl loves you. She always asks me if you've brought your nightlight to the hotel–",

"Oh my God, that's why you asked that?"

"Well, yes–",

"I can't believe she's telling everyone I sleep with a nightlight on," Yunjin groaned, hiding her face in her hands.

Eunchae chuckled. "Wait till I tell her about the stuffy you hug." She hummed innocently.

"Don't you dare–", Yunjin paused when the car came to a stop. "Oh my God, do I look okay? My hair's a mess, isn't it? I can't go inside like this," She squeaked.

Shaking her head disapprovingly, Kazuha brushed her fingers through the girl's hair. She fluffed it up a bit, then smoothed it out again– and then her eyes settled on her as if she was before some high council.

"Get it together, Yun." She said in a stern voice.

Yunjin slowly nodded. "Yep. Got it. Cool as a cucumber. Okay maybe that's not the best thing to say. I'm chill," She stammered as she climbed out of the car, nearly tripping over her own leg. "So cool."

—x—

"Sooo, what's vacation been like?" Yuri asked, sipping her half-empty glass of wine. She leaned forward, her elbows resting on her thighs as she attentively watched Chaewon.

The IZ*ONE girls had taken it upon themselves to gather before everyone else came along. They had been sitting on the couch for a while, chatting away.

Yuri had been so excited to meet Chaewon's father that she showed up at the door before he had left. Needless to say, it was very awkward until the rest came to rescue her.

And in all honesty, Chaewon was just glad that her friends were here with her.

The other groaned, leaning into the pillow on the couch. "It's been weird. Every time I open my phone, I see yet another news article about me. I try to avoid them, truly, but they're everywhere." Chaewon mumbled.

Wonyoung shrugged. She stopped playing with a strand of Yujin's hair to turn towards the birthday girl. "Listen, to hell with whatever they say. You're your own person, girl! Don't let anyone take that from you," She said, nodding along to her words.