Chapter Text
"Reservation under Park Jihyo."
Jihyo drummed her fingers on the countertop as the hotel receptionist in front of her typed onto a keyboard. Beside her, Tzuyu shifted awkwardly on her feet. They were both nervous, Jihyo realized. For Tzuyu, it was understandable. She was about to spend the weekend with a bunch of people she hadn't met before. But for Jihyo…
"One room with a king sized bed?" the receptionist asked.
Jihyo nodded. "That's the one," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. It was silly for her to be nervous. Sure, some people might dread their ten year high school reunion, but for Jihyo, it should be a breeze. She had a close-knit group of friends that she'd stayed in touch with to varying degrees since graduation. She was successful. And hot. The envy that she was likely to inspire in the other girls in their class once they saw her had – she was ashamed to admit – caused her quite a bit of pride when she'd thought about it over the past several months.
And yet there was one wrinkle. As always.
"Park Jihyo!" a voice rang out across the hotel lobby.
Jihyo turned, her heart nearly pounding out of her chest as she immediately recognized the sound of Yoo Jeongyeon's voice. A group of girls were walking across the lobby towards her, Jeongyeon leading the pack. Jihyo scanned the group quickly – Momo, Mina, Chaeyoung – and then breathed a sigh of relief. This group, she could handle. She felt her face split into a grin as she strode forward to meet them, and then gasped as Jeongyeon pulled her into a bear hug.
"God, it's been ages!" Jeongyeon sighed dramatically, nearly lifting Jihyo off her feet.
"It has not been that long!" Jihyo insisted, hugging the rest of the girls in turn once Jeongyeon released her. Tzuyu came up behind her, holding the key cards and looking slightly awkward. Jihyo turned and took her arm, pulling her into the circle. "Guys, this is my girlfriend, Tzuyu," she said. "Tzuyu, these are my friends from high school – Jeongyeon, Momo, Mina, and that's Mina's wife, Chaeyoung."
"It's nice to meet you guys," Tzuyu said sweetly, giving them a little wave. "And I can't believe I'm really meeting the famous Jeongyeon. You're all over Jihyo's Instagram."
"Yes, it's me, the bestie," Jeongyeon said, throwing an arm over Jihyo's shoulder affectionately. "And I'm sure I would have met you earlier, if someone hadn't been avoiding me."
"That's enough," Jihyo said warningly. She looked around at the others; Mina in particular seemed somewhat intrigued by their exchange. All their friends knew that Jihyo and Jeongyeon were the two that had stayed the closest, having really become best friends when they went to university together. As far as anyone knew, nothing had happened to change that. "Where are you guys headed?" Jihyo asked quickly, trying to change the subject.
"We're gonna grab a drink at the bar," Momo said. "You should come!"
Jihyo turned and looked at Tzuyu.
"I can go take our bags up if you wanna go catch up with your friends," Tzuyu offered.
"No, I can't let you do that," Jihyo said quickly. "I'll come help you, and then we can come back down."
"It's not a problem, really," Tzuyu insisted. "It's a rolling bag, and anyway, it'd be nice to get some alone time before all the socializing really starts."
"Wow, she's amazing," Jeongyeon said. "Nayeon won't even let me put my phone in her purse."
"Well, if you're sure," Jihyo said, ignoring the way her stomach had suddenly done a flip at the mention of that name. "Thank you so much, babe."
"Of course," Tzuyu said, giving Jihyo a quick peck on her cheek and pulling the handle of her suitcase from her hand. "I'll see you girls later!"
"She's really good looking, Park, nice job," Jeongyeon said, looping her arm through Jihyo's and pulling her after the other girls towards the bar. "How the hell did you find her?"
"Tinder," Jihyo said with a slightly embarrassed chuckle. "Like a month ago."
"And you're already bringing her on a trip?" Jeongyeon asked, surprised.
"Like I was going to come here alone," Jihyo said. Then she bit her lip and looked at Jeongyeon out of the corner of her eye, hoping Jeongyeon didn't read too much into that statement. She hadn't meant to say it; it had just slipped out because of how true it was.
"Your high school reunion?" Tzuyu repeated, eyebrows raised. She was standing in Jihyo's living room, having just come over for a movie date when Jihyo dropped the invitation of a weekend away on her. "Isn't that…kind of weird? I don't know those people."
"Oh come on! It'll be fun," Jihyo insisted. She was sitting curled up on the couch, clutching a pillow to her chest and playing with the fabric anxiously. "There will be all sorts of things to do and you won't have to pay for anything."
Tzuyu laughed in disbelief. "Yeah but…I mean, you and I haven't even been going out that long. I've never met your friends. And everyone there will have known each other for years."
"I'm sure tons of people will be bringing partners that no one's ever met," Jihyo said quickly. She pouted. "Come onnnnn," she whined. "I don't wanna go alone."
"Do you have an ex there or something?"
"No, not…not an ex," Jihyo said.
Tzuyu crossed her arms across her chest. "I'm not gonna be mad, I'm sure you've dated before," she said firmly. "But I don't wanna be blindsided by some jealous girl who is gonna hate me on sight."
"There is no ex," Jihyo said firmly. "I promise."
"Then what is it?"
"Nothing. I just want you to come." Jihyo rested her chin on the pillow and looked at Tzuyu with wide, pleading eyes.
Tzuyu shook her head. "You're so hard to crack, Jihyo," she said, walking over and flopping down on the couch next to her. "But you're hot and I like you. So fine. I'll come."
"Who cares about being here alone?" Jeongyeon said, pulling Jihyo from her thoughts. "Momo's here alone."
"Hey!" Momo called out from in front of them. "What's wrong with being alone?"
"Jihyo thinks it's pathetic to come here alone," Jeongyeon replied.
"I did not say that," Jihyo insisted.
"Yoo Jeongyeon, I'm going to kill you," Momo said, turning around and raising a fist.
Momo and Jeongyeon bickered playfully all the way to the bar, and Jihyo was grateful that the distraction prevented Jeongyeon from asking her anything more. They got a table and ordered a round of drinks. The conversation turned to catching up with Mina and Chaeyoung, who had recently finished a two week trip to Australia. Jihyo listened more than she spoke, grateful that the conversation was flowing easily. She had been so worried that things between her and Jeongyeon would be weird, after Jihyo had spent the better part of the last year avoiding her without any explanation. She was sure Jeongyeon would bring it up to her eventually. But for now, Jeongyeon seemed content to let them simply fall easily back into their old rhythm, and for that, Jihyo was incredibly grateful.
Of course, she should have realized it wouldn't last long.
"Oh, there she is," Jeongyeon said, suddenly looking up at something over Jihyo's shoulder. "Thank god I didn't wait for her, it's been ages."
Jihyo froze mid-sip. She was sure she knew who Jeongyeon was looking at, and she didn't dare turn around. Of course she would be here. It was only a fluke, or maybe a lucky break, that she hadn't been here already. But somehow Jihyo had let the relief of the normalcy between her and Jeongyeon drive the thought from her mind and now Jihyo was left with absolutely no time to prepare as the girl she was most dreading seeing suddenly stepped right into Jihyo's line of sight and placed a hand on Jeongyeon's shoulder.
"You left your room key," she said, dropping the rectangular piece of plastic onto the table in front of Jeongyeon with a clatter.
Jihyo felt like all the air had been sucked out of her lungs. Im Nayeon looked absolutely gorgeous in an oversized leather jacket, mini skirt, and combat boots. Her lips were a shade of deep red and her eyeliner was slightly heavier than usual, completing the rocker chick look she was clearly going for. She was staring down at Jeongyeon, almost deliberately not looking anywhere else.
"A 'hello' would be nice," Jeongyeon replied.
Nayeon gave a wry smile. "Oh. Sorry." She leaned down and pressed her lips against Jeongyeon's.
"I didn't mean to me," Jeongyeon scoffed as Nayeon pulled away. "I meant to our friends."
Nayeon turned, almost deliberately slowly, placing her hand on her hip as she did so. Her eyes met Jihyo's in a piercing gaze.
"Hi Jihyo," she said quietly.
Jihyo felt like she was going to explode with nervous energy. All of her pep talks, her visualizations, had done absolutely nothing to prepare her for the reality of this moment. Something about this Nayeon was so serious, so unnatural, that Jihyo felt like so much more than just a year had gone by since they'd seen each other. She never thought she could look into this particular face – a face she'd seen nearly every day in college, every few weeks after, nearly every night in her dreams – and see something she didn't recognize.
Jihyo forced her face into the most natural, friendly smile she could muster. "Hey."
"Haven't seen you in a while," Nayeon said. Her tone was low, dangerous, almost accusatory. Jihyo swallowed hard but refused to look away, refused to back down from Nayeon's silent challenge.
"Yeah, it's been a minute," Jihyo replied.
Nayeon looked at her for a beat longer before turning away. "Momo!" she exclaimed, turning towards the rest of the group. "No, don't get up…I'll come hug you guys." She moved off down the table, and Jihyo exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
Jeongyeon leaned in. "Wow," she mumbled. "I'm sorry. I don't know why she's acting like that."
There was a red smudge of Nayeon's lipstick on Jeongyeon's lip. Jihyo wanted to die.
She shook her head quickly. "It's fine," she whispered. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nayeon pull up a chair next to Chaeyoung, watching Chaeyoung intently as she spoke, seemingly determined not to look her and Jeongyeon's way. Jihyo picked up her glass and drained the rest of her beer. "To be honest, I should probably go. I don't wanna leave Tzuyu alone for too long."
Jeongyeon pushed back her chair. "I'll walk you up," she said. She waved her hand as Jihyo began rummaging in her purse for her wallet. "I'll pay for your drink." She turned to the rest of the table. "Guys, I'm gonna walk Jihyo up to her room. I'll be right back."
Jihyo stood, giving the girls at the table a small wave. "I'll catch you guys again later," she said. Nayeon was staring down at the menu intently, and did not join in as the rest of them said their goodbyes.
The air turned cooler back in the hotel lobby, which Jihyo was grateful for. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire. "Well, that was awkward," Jeongyeon said. "I guess I understand why you've been avoiding me now."
"I didn't think it would be that bad," Jihyo said. Her throat felt tight; tears were pricking at the sides of her eyes. She made a beeline for the elevator, forcing Jeongyeon to increase her pace to keep up.
"Did something happen between you two?" Jeongyeon asked. "Like, I don't know, a fight or something?"
"Don't you think she would have told you if it had?" Jihyo asked.
Jeongyeon shrugged. "Maybe."
Jihyo punched the button for the elevator. "We didn't fight," she said, and that part, at least, was true. "I just…got busy and started hanging out with you guys less. I didn't think she'd take it so personally."
Jeongyeon stayed quiet until the elevator arrived. They stepped inside and she leaned against the wall, hands in her pockets. "Look," she said with a sigh. "I know you've never been Nayeon's biggest fan."
"What?" Jihyo would have laughed if she hadn't felt so miserable. "What are you talking about?"
"It's fine, you don't have to deny anything," Jeongyeon said. "I could always tell that you were a little different when she was around. Or maybe you didn't like that she got in the middle of our friendship. Which I totally understand, by the way. I know you had to be the third wheel a lot."
Jihyo just blinked. Jeongyeon could not have been further from the truth, but she wasn't sure what to say.
"The thing is, she's very proud," Jeongyeon continued. "I think she really liked you and thought of you as a friend. But when she started to think you didn't like her, she got mad, you know? Like, she's not really the type to try to change her behavior if she thinks someone doesn't like it. And she wears her emotions on her sleeve."
"Well…I'm sorry," Jihyo said after a moment. "I never meant to make her – either of you – feel that way."
Jeongyeon shook her head. "No, you don't need to be sorry," she said quickly. "You've always been nice to her. The way she acted towards you just now, that was not cool. I'm gonna have a talk with her about it."
They arrived at Jihyo's floor and Jeongyeon walked her towards her room. When they got to the door, Jeongyeon reached out and placed a hand on Jihyo's arm.
"I really don't want our friendship to suffer because of this," she said, and Jihyo felt her heart start to break again when she saw how earnestly Jeongyeon was looking at her. "This past year of being distant with you has sucked. I missed you."
Jihyo blinked hard, determined not to cry. She looked up at her best friend, the one who had been there for her through everything, who had been her inseparable companion through work and school and life for almost fifteen years. Who still had a smudge of red lipstick on her lips from a girl that Jihyo couldn't seem to get out of her head. Without thinking, Jihyo reached up and wiped it away.
"I missed you too," she said sadly.
"So let's fix it," Jeongyeon said urgently. "I can tell her to apologize to you. Would that help? Or I can just leave her at home when we hang out, lord knows I see enough of her anyway."
Jihyo gave a watery laugh and pulled Jeongyeon into a hug, wiping her unshed tears on Jeongyeon's shoulder. "You don't need to do anything," she murmured into Jeongyeon's jacket. "I don't need her to apologize. We're fine. I promise."
Dahyun hummed absentmindedly along to the radio as she drove, one eye on the navigation system. The unfamiliar roads were complicated; she nearly passed her turn and had to swing right suddenly, drawing a honk from the car behind her. From the passenger seat, Sana groaned as the movement caused her to rock in her seat.
"Can't you drive more smoothly? I'm trying to put on makeup here."
Dahyun rolled her eyes. "You put on makeup before we left. Why do you need more?"
"Because I fell asleep and smudged my eye," Sana whined. "Just drive smooth for the next few minutes, I'm almost done." She turned towards Dahyun. "How is my hair by the way?"
"Driving, can't look," Dahyun replied. "I'm sure you look perfect," she added, not wanting to sound too dismissive.
"You know, I actually want you to be honest with me," Sana said, rummaging through her makeup bag and pulling out a small brush. "We've been dating for almost a year, you don't need to keep giving me compliments."
Dahyun just shook her head, smirking to herself. As if Sana would ever survive if Dahyun didn't give her compliments.
"Why are you freaking out about how you look, anyway?" she asked. "It's just high school people."
"Just high school?" Sana scoffed. "Dahyun, did you go to high school?"
Dahyun ignored her. "Is this about Jihyo?"
Sana turned towards Dahyun so quickly that Dahyun was surprised her neck didn't snap. "No. Why would you say that?"
"Um, because you're obsessed with her," Dahyun pointed out.
"I am not," Sana replied emphatically.
"You told me that-"
"I told you that I was obsessed with her, in high school," Sana said. "I said that we were both obsessed with each other, which is true."
"Oh," Dahyun said. "Okay." She waited, silently, for-
"We had like, a homoerotic best friend thing going on," Sana continued, as Dahyun knew she would. "We almost kissed. But we didn't."
"Yes, you mentioned."
"I think you had asked me how I realized I liked girls. That's why I told you that story. But it was in the past. Not now."
"It's just that you've brought it up about six times since," Dahyun pointed out.
Sana tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Well yeah, because it was formative." There was a pause while she put on her lipstick. "Anyway," she continued, "this all happened forever ago. I haven't even seen her since Mina's wedding. I think she has a new girlfriend anyway. I saw it on her Insta story."
"How long ago was Mina's wedding?" Dahyun asked.
"It was…" Sana counted on her fingers. "Three years ago?"
"So you haven't seen her for three years?"
"No."
"But you're not nervous?"
"No."
"'Kay then," Dahyun said. "Well, map says we're two minutes away."
"Shit!" Sana said. "I need to put on perfume. Drive slower, I'm gonna get it from the back."
"Sana!" Dahyun exclaimed as Sana undid her seatbelt and began to climb into the backseat. "Can you just wait until – okay, well, you're doing it."
She slowed the car down to nearly a crawl so Sana wouldn't get hurt. Several cars swerved around her; she was definitely not the most popular person on the road today.
"Got it!" Sana said, climbing back into her seat. The smell of perfume filled the car as she opened the bottle and poured a drop onto her fingers. She began to dab it on her neck. "Why are you driving so slow, come on, everyone is probably there already!"
Dahyun sighed as she hit the gas.
It was going to be a long weekend.