Inspired by Chungha's "Gotta Go"
Gender-neutral
Fluff
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Over the years, I've become a lot closer to Chungha than I imagined. I was a mere coffee shop barista while she was a global star, singing and dancing on stage with her groupmates.
I met her for the first time when a childhood friend of mine, Nayoung, brought Chungha with her when she stopped by for some coffee.
I've known Nayoung since we were four and we've been the best of friends ever since. I got the chance to watch as she developed into a great dancer and singer over the years and eventually become the leader of her own k-pop group.
"I.O.I." was what it was called and it was a rush whenever I got to see them perform on TV. During her trainee days, I kept in touch with Nayoung. We talked nearly every day over text and met up for lunch or a cup of coffee whenever she had the time.
I, on the other hand, didn't have many plans for my future. I was a very laid back person and dealt with what could happen when they did. I got a job at a small coffee shop during high school and when I finished that level of education, I continued my time at the cafe. I put my post-secondary education on hold since I didn't know what I wanted to do at that time.
When Nayoung was selected to be a member of I.O.I., I was really excited. To see a dear friend reach her goals was a very fulfilling feeling, even if it wasn't me achieving such things. Also, maybe if she became a global popstar, she'd stop asking for free coffee whenever she'd swing by for a cup. I doubt it though.
The chance to meet other members of her group also came as a plus.
Whenever Nayoung would stop by, she'd often bring a friend with her. Her reasoning being I was too boring to talk to so she needed someone else to have conversations with. Yes. Truly a dear friend.
From the "ahjussi trapped in a young girl's body" Kim Sejeong to the birthday twins of Kim Doyeon and Kang Mina, I got to know all of the members of I.O.I. on a personal level. It was something most people couldn't do, so it felt really special. Of course, I already knew their names since I watched every episode of Produce 101.
Honestly, I was most excited to get to know Chungha. She was just mesmerizing. Her ability to dance and sing was impeccable and her visuals were definitely at the top in my books. If Nayoung wasn't in the running on Produce 101, my vote definitely would've gone to the skilled dancing machine. Nayoung knew this too since I'd tease her by saying I'd vote for Chungha instead of her if she kept bothering me about something.
I remember the first day Nayoung came to the cafe with Chungha in tow.
It was a Wednesday and the sun shone over the city. It was a hot day and the cafe was nice and quiet. I had gotten a text from Nayoung saying she was going to drop by for a coffee so I got started on a drink for her. She didn't have to tell me what she wanted since she'd order the same thing every time she'd show up. An iced americano.
Nayoung's timing was perfect since she walked in just as I slid the straw through the lid of the drink. I looked up from what I was doing to see the stone-faced leader of I.O.I. with the biggest smile on her face. That was also when my eyes landed on the girl she had brought with her.
Chungha was dressed in a simple red t-shirt and nicely fitted jeans. Her dark hair fell perfectly on her shoulders too. A black cap sat on her head and a face mask was covering most of her face, but I knew exactly who it was. How? Intuition, I guess.
I slid the iced coffee across the counter as Nayoung pulled out her wallet to pay for the drink. Meanwhile, Chungha eyed the menu, deciding on what to get.
