[way back into love]

Tzuyu couldn't take it anymore. Biting her lip to prevent any kind of whimper to escape her lips, she carelessly let her tears pool down as her eyes pointed daggers at her phone's screen.

'no.. she cant be like this. i've been a good girlfriend for a week.. God, no. she has helped me for a week now by filling these pieces. Why..'

She brought her hand to her mouth , shutting her eyes, trying to hold the tears back.

'just keep it quiet, Chou. she might just be messing with you. she- she's just super drunk that she spouted those words..'

It hurts. It ached to the point Tzuyu had to take a whole minute to even her breathing, catching a few breaths before carefully placing her phone on her office table. She stood up to get some glass of water from her office's water dispenser when a 'ding!' startled her.

Her shaky hands reached out to grab her phone. Upon seeing who messaged her, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, hastily grabbed her thick coat and shades then going out, but not before locking the door behind her. She was a mess but she knew better than to leave her office door open in the dead of night.

Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she scanned the busy road of Seoul, trying to see if she can spot the midget who texted her.

Then a voice called out from behind her. "Tzuyu-ah," the person's voice sounded airy, almost husky. Tzuyu turned  on her heels and eyed the person.

"Tzuyu, l-long time.. *sigh* no see, eh?" Chaeyoung, hands on her knees, still catching her breath, said with a crooked smile.
Tzuyu unknowingly smiled and leveled herself down to match Chaeyoung's height. The move only gave her a slap on the shoulder. "Sorry hahaha. Let's get going. Where's this bar you told me?" She asked and was immediately faced with a grinning Chaeyoung.

wait, there's something off with that smile. It's a grin, but her eyes are.. sad?

Tzuyu stepped beside Chaeyoung and interlocked their fingers together, looking to the side and giving the shorter girl a smile. "I think i got a hunch why you asked me to come along." Chaeyoung opened her mouth to say something, but Tzuyu spoke again, "And no chae, lets not talk about it. lead the way"

And so, Chae happily led the way.

They talked and catch up
on what they missed with one another. Chaeyoung finally overcome her insomnia and got to peacefully sleep with the help of a penguin. 100% Mina Myoui is Tzuyu's only guess.
Her dad is still thinking whether he'll buy a little art gallery for her and live her dream, or train her to be a great CEO for their company. It was evident Chaeyoung wanted the former. She always wanted to be an Architect, Tzuyu knew this and really, it's pretty obvious Chaeyoung loves to draw, paint on canvases, and do whatever comes in mind.

Another thing she loves about Son Chaeyoung, is that even with the little age gap, the cub will always be her little unnie. She acts like a baby without even realizing it.

Chaeyoung then started ranting about how her dad still treats her like she's in kindergarten.

In Tzuyu's point of view, its like listening to a kid's rant about their everyday routine and getting tired of it. Making those little hand gestures, how her eyebrows would knit together and pout, it made her remember the days she was still a kid alongside the older and another friend of theirs, Kim Dahyun.

______

"And here we are, XXX bar! Wait here, i'll talk to Yeji-ssi," Chaeyoung went over to the girl who guarded the main door. They chatted animatedly for a while, Tzu blankly staring at this Yeji girl.

"Oh, Tzuyu-ah meet Yeji. she's the one who guards the place. Deals with dickheads and all." Chaeyoung introduced them to one another as Tzu and Yeji shake hands.

"Nice to meet you, Tzuyu-ssi. You new to bars i assume?" Yeji placed her hand on her hips and scanned the girl up and down.

Tzuyu nodded, face still blank. "We'll be going in now. Kaja!" She let Chaeyoung drag her away and into a bar stool and settled herself beside the younger.

"Two beers, please." While the bartender went out to get their drinks, Tzuyu let her eyes wander around the place.

She grimaced at seeing people grinding on each other on the dance floor for everyone to see. Others kissing in every corner, making out like there's no tomorrow. The influence of the alcohol, probably.

"Ya'll need Jisoos," She murmured and turned to Chaeyoung. "You really don't get disgusted at this, Chae?"

To her surprise, the older was already halfway on finishing her bottle of beer. Tzuyu's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't believe this baby already gulped down half the bottle.

"I got used to it," Chaeyoung shrugged and pointed her lips to the beer on the table. "Come on, drink away! don't be a pussy on me~"

Tzuyu gave her a glare and finally took a sip of the drink. Too bitter, but she liked it. She was about to take a long sip this time, but Chaeyoung suddenly stood up and went behind the counter to talk to the bartender. They were whispering to one another so Tzuyu didn't quite catch it.

She shrugged her shoulders and proceeded to gulp the remaining liquid in one go. A hand then grabbed her wrist and forced her yo stand up. A little tipsy, she harshly pulled her hand away and sent unfocused glares in the person's direction.

"Yah, don't look at me like that"

'oh it's chaeyoung. oops'

"I asked dad's friend, Mr. Kim to reserve us a VIP room so we could do some karaoke!" She  had to shout in order for the younger to hear, but the latter just stood there, swinging slightly. "Hold onto me!" Chaeyoung cheerfully said, grinning widely and running off as soon as Tzuyu clumsily held onto her hands as she led them upstairs to the bar's VIP rooms.

It costed a lot on Chaeyoung's part but it was worth it. She knew both of them needed to wind off.

They ran up the stairs, giggling like highschoolers when a hot daddy passes by.

Oh yeah, this is what Tzuyu needed.

Just her and her most favorite person in the world on a sunday night after a sudden drunken break up.

Her eyes almost busted out of her eye sockets when Chaeyoung harshly swung the door open to reveal a dimly lit room. They were greeted with a tall, black-suited guy with shades, staring down on them. "Names?"

"Son Chaeyoung and Chou Tzuyu," Chaeyoung had to look up so she could make direct eye contact.

The guy eyed them with pursed lips before nodding and exiting the room.

They walked in ay the same time so they got stuck at the doorway, shoulder to shoulder. "Oof. Hahahaha you go first, Tzuyu-ah"

"No no you first Chae"

"After youuu"

"No, really, i insis-"

"You go first or i'll kiss you?" Chaeyoung wiggled her eyebrows with a suggestive look.

"You sly cub, okay i'll go first"

Tzuyu would never admit how her heart jumped at what Chaeyoung said. Still the same Chaeyoung she knew back in highschool.

She then heard a grunt near her. "Hey, uh, Tzu? Can you help me with this mini disco ball here?"

Seeing the older on her tippy toes, struggling to reach the hook that's nailed on the ceiling, Tzuyu laughed and went over to help her. Still the smol chaeyoung, indeed.

Now Chaeyoung wanted Tzuyu on setting the disco ball herself because she couldn't reach. But then a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her waist and hoisted her up. "Gosh you're heavier than you look with that height of yours. Quick put the hoop in the hook. i wanna drinkkk!" Chaeyoung laughed, ignoring the growing heat in her cheeks as she stuck her tongue out before finally putting the disco ball's little hoop into the hook. Instantly,  different colored blinding lights beamed at her.

"Aaah! put me down, the lights are gonna give me a seizure oh my gO-"

"You're a drama queen." Tzuyu shook her head and put chaeyoung down.

"Yes i AM a queen! Do pass me a cold beer, peasant!" Chaeyoung raised her hands in the air before resting them behind her on the long leather couch's headrest.

Tzuyu cocked an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "The bucket is RIGHT THERE beside you," She deadpanned, Chaeyoung opened an eye and in her peripheral vision, indeed she saw a bucket full w ice cubes and cans of beer.

An 'o' came from the girl and soon a chuckle of embarrassment.

Pabo. Tzuyu sat beside Chaeyoung, also getting one for herself as Chaeyoung flipped through the song book.

A smile appeared on her lips when her eyes set upon a song she thought would fit both their situations right now. "Hey Tzuyu?" she called out.

"Hmmmm?" Tzuyu gulped the last drop of her beer and reached to her side to get another beer.

"I'm sorry about you and Sana-unnie.." She felt the girl beside her flinch, making her instantly regret saying it out of nowhere.

Her face is blank with a little bit of soberness. She's slowly getting drunk, Chaeyoung observed.

"H-How.. did you know?"

"A certain penguin told me."

Tzuyu didnt know why she frowned at hearing it from Chaeyoung. "Mina-unnie?"

"The one and only Myoui," Chaeyoung said, smiling as she took a swig of alcohol.

Were her eyes deceiving her, did that smile earlier showed up again?

Chaeyoung saw in her peripheral vision that Tzu was staring at her.

At her lips, so she faked a cough, gulping down the rest of her half-empty beer. "Mina unnie said that she's sorry Sana unnie acted that way. Mina and i were in my room, chatting as usual, when someone called and it turned out to be Sana unnie,"

She paused to enter the numbers for the song she selected then laid back on the couch. "She suddenly said your name. It was on speaker and the volume was maxed out so i got to listen along unnie's rant. The next i heard was her drunkenly confessing to Mina unnie."

Tzuyu couldnt believe how Chaeyoung could talk without stuttering. For all she knows the cub has this liking in the penguin. They're very close;

Closer than she and Chaeyoung would ever be.

Chaeyoung likes Mina, right?

"And it-" She brushed her hair back w her fingers while the other gripped the beer bottle. "i-it fucking hurted when  Mina left me in there while s-still on the phone... with Sana unnie.." Hurt and distress were visibly written all over Chaeyoung's face. Tzuyu scooting over to rub circles on her back.

She saw how Chaeyoung's grip on the bottle tightened, knuckles turning white with the pent up anger ever since Mina ditched her, so she gently grab hold of the bottle and set it down with all the other empty bottles on the floor

"Having a huge crush her for this long, giving her my utmost attention when i see she needs it.. and then finding out your best friend's girlfriend likes her. Wasn't i enough?"

Tzuyu sternly eyed Chaeyoung, replying, "You were more than enough, Chae."

you're more than enough for me.

"It's her fault if she didn't see how amazing you are."

while i see just how amazing you can be even when you're doing absolutely nothing.

Chaeyoung sniffled, "B-But why? wh-why didnt she choose to leave me for Sana unnie then?"

"Chae..."

"Pft, of course, because Sana unnie's better." Chaeyoung laughed hysterically, Tzuyu frowning beside her as tears trickled down Chae's cheeks.

Darn it, Chou, do something! Errr, im no good w words. crap, what do i do?! Fuck it.
Finally, Tzuyu let her body function on itself as she opened her arms to engulf the crying older in a tight hug. "I-If.. if that's what Mine unnie thinks, t-then.." She trailed off as Chaeyoung buried her face into Tzuyu's neck and continued to sob there. "You're definitely better than that snake."

.

.

.

.

.

"Yah, Tzuyu-ah..."

Tzuyu didn't hear what Chaeyoung said, so she kept whispering, "At-At leas-least for me, you're so much better than.. Sana."

"What are you-"

"You don't believe me? Well, i've got lots of proof ready in my head.. okay, so first--"

"Yah, Chou Tzuyu!" Chaeyoung slapped Tzuyu's chest a few times to finally get her attention.

"you're so talented, so caring, too precious and i don't know how you're so selfless when people can be so damn selfish to you, like honestly how do you do it? And i honestly dont get why Mina-unnie doesnt like you back. you're a great perso---"

Chaeyoung shifted to straddle the babbling girl and cup her cheeks firmly in her hands. Finally, she caught her attention.

Tzuyu didn't dare to cast her eyes down to even take a look at those luscious lips of Chaeyoung's. It was very tempting, but she knew better than to kiss someone without their permission. "Chou Tzuyu.."

"..W-What?"

They stared into each other's eyes for almost an hour, but in reality it was just a minute.

But it didnt stop there. The older tilted her head to the side a little before slowly leaning closer, only stopping when their noses touched.

So close. Too close for Tzuyu. too close she could almost taste those plump lips that got her thinking of unholy things ever since she laid eyes on them.

Too into the moment, sneakily, she snaked her arms around Chaeyoung's waist, bringing her own face closer and closer..

Suddenly, a wide smile reached Chaeyoung's lips, her cute dimple showing, making Tzuyu's cheeks heat up.

"Your heart's beating fast, wonder why?"

The said beating stopped for a millsecond while Tzuyu flailed around to push Chaeyoung off with embarrassment.

The older's laugh sounded around the room.

".. I-It's because i'm healthy, that's wh-why!"

"Right, whatever. Take this," Chaeyoung tossed a mic over to Tzuyu then grabbed two bottles of beer for them, giving one to the still flushed and dazed Tzuyu. "NOW LET'S SING THIS WRETCHED NIGHT AWAAAY!"

The song's intro blasted from the little speakers that scattered on the floor, startling Tzuyu but kept her composure despite the growing dryness in her throat.

"You start" shouted chaeyoung, popping her beer bottle open.

i've been living with a shadow overhead

i've been sleepin' with a cloud above my bed

i've been lonely for so long
trapped in the past, i just cant seem to move on..

Chaeyoung genuinely smiled at Tzuyu before gesturing her to drink her beer already. As she drank, the former sang the next part.

i've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away.

just in case i ever need em again someday..

i've been setting aside time

to clear a little space in the corners of my mind

Wrapping their arms around each other's shoulders, they started swaying from side to side.

all i wanna do is find a way back into loooove~

i cant make thru without a way back into love

oh oh ohh~

Chaeyoung playfully pushed Tzuyu to the side and shouted,

i've been watching but the stars refuse to shine

i've been searching but i just don't see the signs

She dramatically looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes.

I know that its out there~
there's got to be something for my soul somewhere..

"chug chug chug!!" Tzuyu chanted, rising from the couch to slap Chaeyoung's back once the latter down the whole bottle in one go.

"your turn-" Chaeyoung pointed the mic to Tzuyu's slightly agape mouth.

i've been looking for someone to shed some light

not somebody just to get me thru the night.

i could use some directions,

and im open to your suggestions!

Chaeyoung reached out to snake an arm around Tzuyu's neck and pulled her down so yhey could sing together-

all i wanna do is find a way back into love~

i cant make it thru without a way back into love

and if i open my heart again,

T: i guess im hoping

C: you'll be there for me

Both: in the enddd~

As the instrumental played in the background, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu clanked their bottles together and drank as if its just water. They burped at the same time and laughed like maniacs.

Drunk maniacs to be precise.

Chaeyoung was the first to recover, so while Tzuyu was giggling drunkenly, her eyes hazily wander on the younger's body. She swore if Aphrodite didnt exist, Tzuyu would be considered as the most beautiful, most enchanting woman to ever exist on this fucked up world.

Speaking of fucked up, Chaeyoung couldnt help but let an absentminded smile creep up to her lips at the sight of this incredible woman, beside her in this dimly lit room with speakers blasting in their ears.

'If only i've fallen in love with you instead of Mina..'

Tzuyu's smile slowly faded when she saw a dazed Chaeyoung with her half-lidded eyes and drunk smile staring back at her.

Then, with a little help of her 1% soberness, Chaeyoung sang mic in hand.

there are moments when idk if its real,

or if anybody feels the way i feel...

i need inspiration~

not just another negotiation..

Blinking, Tzuyu sang quietly into her own mic.

all i wanna do is find a way back into love~
i can't make it thru w/o a way back into love

and if  i open my heart to youuuu..

Tzuyu felt her head throb and her eyes feel hella heavy. She blinked a couple more times before drifting to sleep on Chaeyoung's lap.

Chaeyoung had no other choice but to finish the song herself

i'm hoping you'll show me what to do~
and if you help me to start again...

-to her surprise, the younger shifted, laid on her back and looked up at Chaeyoung with that smile she grew fond of over the years they've been bestfriends. Tzuyu dragged Chaeyoung's hand down so she could sing into the mic.

you know that i'll be there for you in the eeeend!~

"Cheers to moving on!" Tzu declared, raising her bottle. Chae did the same with a smile.

"Cheers!" they shouted and drank their last bottle for tonight.

They threw their bottles to god knows where and gazed at one another's eyes once again.

No words were exchanged, just comfortable silence.

"Let's start over again."

"Let's find a way back into love."

but this time,

it will be with you.

____
word count:
3190!!
yOW literally the LONGEST oneshot i've written ahdkshd. tysm for reading this junk. even with the few reads, i will still continue to write for all of u.☺️

but please! it would really help if you could give this book sum love! every vote counts. ❤️