Chapter Text
The room buzzed with the energy of Twice's Vlive session. The girls had just finished their rehearsal, and despite being tired, their spirits were high as ever. The atmosphere in the room was playful, filled with laughter and random chatter. The camera captured all their interactions as fans from around the world flooded the chat with messages. It was a rare moment where they could let loose, laugh, and connect with their fans, and they were soaking it all in.
On the floor of the rehearsal room, Mina and Jihyo were engrossed in reading comments on their phones, laughing at some of the hilarious and heartfelt messages from ONCE. The room was alive with chatter, laughter, and the soft hum of the camera feed that had been set up for the live broadcast.
Sana sat next to Momo, her hand resting casually on her lap, occasionally glancing at the screen. Momo, as usual, was animated, a bright smile on her face, her eyes shining with that mischievous energy she was known for. The camera had captured their playful dynamics, the two best friends always teasing each other in the most fun ways.
“Do you think Jeongyeon’s coming back?” Momo asked, a cheeky smile tugging at her lips. Her voice carried the subtle playfulness she had come to master whenever she and Sana joked around.
Sana chuckled, eyes glinting with a teasing spark. “She probably went home to nap. You know how she is, always taking a break when we least expect it. Just vanishes like a ninja.” Her voice was light, but there was a fondness in her words. Jeongyeon was one of their closest friends, and her quirks were something they all loved dearly. Her tendency to disappear for a bit during Vlive sessions was just part of Jeongyeon’s charm.
“Yup, I can already imagine her curled up in bed, completely ignoring all of us,” Momo said with a dramatic sigh, mimicking the exaggerated act of pouting. “I’m honestly jealous. Why does she get to nap, and we have to work?”
Sana laughed, nudging Momo playfully. “It’s because she’s a queen, and the rest of us are mere peasants.” She struck a mock-serious pose, her fingers resting delicately against her chin.
Dahyun and Chaeyoung were in the background, far enough that they were only visible in the corner of the screen, but close enough to be heard. Dahyun was pulling Chaeyoung into some random dance move, her laughter ringing out loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Chaeyoung! Come on, this way!” Dahyun was practically dragging Chaeyoung along the floor, both of them giggling uncontrollably.
“Dahyun, stop!” Chaeyoung squealed, though she was clearly enjoying herself. She tried to break free but only got caught in more silly antics.
The chaotic background noise from Dahyun and Chaeyoung made everyone laugh. Even Mina, who was the picture of calm and grace, was having trouble not snickering. She was focused on reading a comment from Once on her phone, her lips curling into a small smile.
She looked over at Jihyo, who was also scanning the chat. “Oh, they’re asking about Mafia,” Mina said, a small smile forming on her lips as she read another comment. “The fans really want us to play Mafia.”
Jihyo grinned, looking up at the rest of the group. “That would be so much fun. We should do it.”
Momo’s eyes lit up at the mention of Mafia. “I’m in. I’m a master at this game!” she declared, her voice laced with playful confidence.
“You were the Mafia last time and lost! You got caught instantly” Sana teased, nudging Momo again, clearly enjoying the playful banter.
Momo pouted, sticking her tongue out. “I wasn’t caught! I just got outsmarted. Big difference!” She huffed, pretending to be offended.
Sana laughed, nudging Momo lightly, “Sure, Momo, sure.”
As Momo and Sana continued teasing each other, Dahyun, having finished her impromptu dance moves with Chaeyoung, wandered back toward the others, still humming a song to herself. The camera caught her in the background as she casually approached the group, her expression relaxed and cheerful. The light from the room made her look radiant, the subtle glow of her smile adding to the atmosphere of fun and ease.
Mina was still reading comments, her fingers scrolling quickly over her phone’s screen when she paused, her eyes widening slightly. She read aloud, “Oh! This one says, ‘Saida dance My Ear’s Candy!’”
The moment Mina said the ship name “Saida,” the rest of the group immediately understood what the fans were referring to. The fans loved to pair those two together, and everyone knew how much the Onces adored them as a duo.
Momo, however, wasn’t fully listening. She heard the words “My Ear’s Candy,” and without missing a beat, she jumped up, eyes wide with excitement. “What? My Ear’s Candy? I love that song! Let’s do it!”
With a grin on her face, she grabbed Dahyun’s hands and pulled her into the familiar choreography, her body already moving energetically to the beat of the song. Dahyun blinked, her head tilting slightly in confusion as Momo began leading her through the dance moves, but she went along with it, grinning as she followed Momo’s lead.
For a few seconds, the two of them danced together, the playful energy contagious. Momo was in her element, throwing herself into the choreography with all her might. But then, just as quickly as she had started, Mina repeated what she had read, louder this time, to get their attention.
“Saida, Saida!” Mina said, her voice clear and a little teasing. She couldn’t help but laugh as she saw what was happening. “The fans want Sana and Dahyun to do the dance! Saida!”
Momo froze mid-dance, her body stopping in an exaggerated fashion. She blinked in confusion, realizing she’d misunderstood the request. “Wait, what? Sana and Dahyun?” she asked, glancing between the two of them.
Sana’s ears perked up at the sound of the ship name. She smirked, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes. “Oh,” she said, her voice dropping slightly as she stood up, an excited yet teasing look crossing her face. “They want Saida, huh?” the smirk still present as she reached for Dahyun’s hands.
Dahyun’s eyes widened, still trying to process the situation. “Eh? But... I was just... dancing with Momo? I don’t—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Sana took control, positioning Dahyun in front of her. “Looks like it’s our turn, Dahyun,” she said, her voice light but laced with a teasing tone.
Dahyun blinked again, a bit lost in the shift of the moment. She wasn’t exactly sure what was happening, but she could sense the change. “Oh, okay. I guess we’re doing this then?”
Momo, who had been watching the exchange, suddenly felt a strange tightness in her chest. As Sana and Dahyun began positioning themselves to do the dance, Momo kneeled on the floor her eyes glued to the screen. The camera captured her downcast expression, and it was clear she wasn’t enjoying what she was seeing. The sight of Sana and Dahyun dancing together, so close and so in tune with each other, made her heart tighten in a way she didn’t understand. It wasn’t jealousy, per se, but something about seeing them move together so fluidly made her feel... distant.
There was something about seeing them this close, so carefree, that made her feel... strange. It wasn’t a feeling she had experienced before, at least not like this.
Her hands were pressed to the floor, her head tilted down to hide the sadness that flickered in her eyes. Why was she feeling this way? Why did it sting so much to see the two of them laughing together, so caught up in their own little world?
She watched them, her heart beating a little faster, unsure of why the sight of their closeness affected her so deeply. Were they just dancing? Of course. It wasn’t like they hadn’t danced with each other before, and it wasn’t like Sana and Dahyun weren’t her best friends. But right now, in this moment, the way they moved together—so effortlessly, so naturally—it stung in a way that she wasn’t prepared for.
Sana and Dahyun continued, oblivious to the quiet shift in Momo’s emotions. Their movements were synchronized, fluid, and undeniably cute. Sana, as always, exuded confidence, while Dahyun had that infectious, goofy energy that made everything she did seem lighthearted and fun. Together, they created a dynamic that was both endearing and utterly captivating.
Momo’s knees pressed into the floor as she lowered her gaze, trying to hide the discomfort in her chest behind a forced smile. She had always loved their close bond, always cherished how the three of them—Sana, Dahyun, and herself—were inseparable. But now, seeing them together like this, her thoughts spiraled. Why did this feel different?
She couldn’t look away. She wanted to, but the sight of Sana and Dahyun laughing, dancing so close, made her heart ache in a way she couldn’t quite put into words. She tried to push the feelings aside. She had no reason to feel jealous, right? They were all just friends, and it was just a dance. A fun, spontaneous moment shared with fans. But still, the sensation lingered.
Sana caught Momo’s gaze as she glanced over at her, and for a moment, she hesitated in the middle of the dance. She noticed the way Momo was kneeling on the floor, her shoulders slumped slightly as though something was bothering her. The look in Momo’s eyes didn’t escape Sana’s attention. Her heart twinged slightly, but she didn’t let the moment break her confidence. She’d have to check in with Momo later. For now, though, it was about having fun with Dahyun, enjoying the playful energy the fans had created.
Momo’s gaze flickered away quickly, a smile returning to her lips as she tried to act normal, but Sana could tell something was off.
Dahyun, still in the midst of the dance, smiled brightly at Sana, grateful for the moment of fun. She could sense the lighthearted vibe between the two of them, and that was all that mattered.
The Vlive continued on, filled with laughter, jokes, and more spontaneous moments. But in the quiet spaces between the noise, Momo’s thoughts remained tangled. What was this feeling she couldn’t explain? Why did it sting to see Sana and Dahyun so close? Was it jealousy? Was it something else entirely?
In the end, the trio would always be inseparable. But for now, Momo couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to explore in her heart.