Chapter Text
The first time, it was everyone’s idea. Everyone, except maybe Hyeju and Gowon, who were currently looking extremely-annoyed and very-annoyed, respectively. It was early in the day, something that already set up Hyeju’s mood for the worse - why the company thought it was better to start early than finish late, she couldn’t understand. If the sun hadn’t been frustrating enough, the practice room lights put her on the edge of a migraine. And if, somehow, the practice room lights hadn’t been frustrating enough - well.
The bright look on her fellow members’ faces certainly did it. Hyunjin was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as always, Yeojin seemed to positively buzz with energy, Vivi actually looked kind of normal, and Gowon - Gowon should’ve invited some ire from Hyeju, what with her pristine white getup and sparkling eyes, but it never came. Part of why must’ve been the knowledge that, deep down, Gowon wasn’t dissimilar to her this morning - Hyeju had had the pleasure of meeting her before they went to grab coffee together, darkness pooling under her eyes and a scowl someone else might’ve described as cute.
“Good morning, Hyeju,” Hyunjin chirped from behind.
Hyeju definitely didn’t jump at that. Hyunjin kept going as if she hadn’t, at least - Hyeju noticed a little too late that her focus was elsewhere, the cup in Hyeju’s hand specifically.
“That looks tasty,” Hyunjin gestured. “Where did you get it from? The same place as Gowon?”
“Uh, yeah. Some local café.”
“I see. How come you didn’t get me something?”
Hyeju recognised the smirk on Hyunjin’s face: it was the one she used when teasing the other members. To say she was familiar with that face would be an understatement. But it was early, it was bright, and Hyeju couldn’t help the snark that escaped her mouth in reply.
“Because unlike you, Gowon doesn’t interrogate me at seven in the morning? Just a thought.”
“Knock it off, you guys,” Yeojin chided. “Hyeju-unnie, cheer up a little. Hyunjin-unnie, Hyeju-unnie and Gowon-unnie are girlfriends, of course they’re going to buy each other coffee. If you want something to drink, ask your own girlfriend next time.”
Hyeju made a wry face at that. It wasn’t the first time one of the members had brought up her and Gowon dating. It wasn’t even the thousandth time someone else had, or was on the lines of suggesting it. The raised eyebrow of the café worker did not escape Hyeju’s notice when she came to collect their drinks, and she was subject to much teasing from her sister whenever she visited. From what she’d heard, Gowon had gone through much the same thing - gone through worse, even, considering Sooyoung had informally adopted her as a sister a few years back. Hyeju could at least thank her own sister for having some class about things. And a heart.
They were all reacting over nothing, though. Hyeju couldn’t believe that her sister and Sooyoung were bored to the point of making shit up, but there was just no other explanation. And it seemed that now, despite a comeback fast-approaching, the Loossemble crew were beginning to feel the same way. Hyeju internally reminded herself to up the ante during choreo-practice today. Give their bored minds something to really focus on.
“We’re not girlfriends,” Hyeju responded, more than a little tersely.
“Right,” Gowon’s voice came from the left. Hyeju hadn’t noticed her shifting towards her, but felt glad for the added proximity. “Can we please just stop this before it turns into something again? I don’t know how many times one of us has to say this, but we’re just co-workers.”
“Come on, you can’t even call each other friends?” Vivi frowned at them.
Gowon shrugged her shoulders. “We’re friends… at work.”
There was a slight, barely-noticeable pang in Hyeju’s chest when she said that, and Hyeju couldn’t understand why. She liked the dynamic she and Gowon had - really liked it, she might add. It was simple, and boasted nothing. They could sit together in silence for hours and not mind at all. It wasn’t that they were poor conversationalists, rather that with seven years of history between them and a million more conversations, there was simply nothing left to say. Not out loud, anyway - there was an entire language in Gowon’s brow-raises and eye-rolls, and Hyeju wondered if her own pridefully-blank profile was similarly revealing. And while what little conversation they made consisted mostly of jabs and retorts, there was a silent agreement that they’d have each other’s back no matter what. Neither of them had ever said it aloud - nor would they ever, what with Gowon’s coyness and Hyeju’s refusal of all things emotional intimacy - but it was there, Hyeju had no doubt. Gowon was the equivalent to a closed book for most people, but with Hyeju, they were always on the same page.
“You literally went out for coffee tomorrow before work today,” Yeojin complained.
“Actually, that was just a coincidence. We both happened to order there at the same time.” Gowon locked eyes with Hyeju as she said it, and they both smiled. Yes, Hyeju wouldn’t want to change a thing.
Hyunjin groaned. “Oh for- I swear, I will make you two girlfriends.”
The ridiculousness of her comment made Hyeju laugh. “Is that a challenge?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“It is now!”
“Huh? Are you gonna force them to go on dates or something?” Yeojin asked.
“That’s right.” Hyunjin’s arms were crossed as she assumed what she dubbed her ‘power pose’. “And you, Yeojin, are going to help me. You, too, Bbi-haeng!”
“Do your worst,” Hyeju scoffed, “just so long as you’re paying.” This time, she locked eyes with Gowon, and they both smiled again.