Minnie was close to suffocating herself with her dookong that night. It was close to midnight, way past her bedtime, but her sister's giggles and loud gasping is keeping her awake at the wee hours.

***

Minnie didn't bother to knock or wait for an invitation. She storms into the kkuma addict's room, making sure her sister KNOWS she meant business. She caught her kid sister wrapped like a big baby in a Rilakkuma blanket, giggling like an idiot in front of laptop.

"Shuhua... turn off your laptop and go to sleep."

"B-but... but... Onee-chan..."

Minnie's eyes narrowed to slits. Her sister is watching too much anime, her brain is being reduced to a pulp and starting to talk like one of those moe moe Kyun girls.

"No buts! You have classes tomorrow. You can't skip it just because you didn't get any sleep."

"But it's getting good! The storyline reminds me so much of me and my baobei"

Shuhua's eyes sparkled at the simple thought of her love. Unfortunately, her sister was too sleepy and annoyed to spaz along with her.

"NO! And that's final!"

Shuhua was ready to retaliate, but she hadn't even said a word and her unnie already slammed the door on her.

Minnie could still hear the giggles...

And she's putting an end to all this giggling...

She slowly turns the doorknob to Shuhua's room, peeking in slowly and what do you know? Shuhua was still in front of her laptop.

"GO TO SLEEEEEEPPPPPP!!!!!"

Shuhua squealed loudly in shock after getting caught red handed. The smart girl that she is, hurriedly scramble underneath the sheets and put on the sleeping act show.

Minnie wakes up as she hears her sister just screaming.

"Kiss... kiss...kiss..."

The elder sister just raised her arms in surrender. Her sister would obviously do what she wants to do.

***

Minnie does her routine check of her sister's room. She finally sighs in relief as she sees her sister curled up in bed, clutching tightly to her brown bear. Sometimes Minnie forgets that no matter how ladylike Shuhua looks, she's still a big baby.

She should really shake the other girl to get up, punish her for sleeping late. But she decided to let the girl sleep in a bit, making her more comfortable by tucking her under the covers.

Up close, she could hear her sister mumbling Soojin's name happily.

Seo Soojin... that girl is both in her sister's dreams and reality.

"OMO! I'M LATE!!!!"

***

"You should ask if they have yoga moves for faces, Soojin."

Soojin just continued to shut the world around her that morning, including Moonbyul who plops on the seat beside her.

"My frown is my facial exercise. Do you know that it takes more muscles to frown than smile?"

Moonbyul just sighs in surrender. It was no use arguing with an already pissed off Soojin.

"Whatever..."

The long legged girl heard her best friend mutter that word angrily after Soojin checked her phone message.

"What 's wrong?"

"Nothing..."

There was something but Soojin doesn't know who to blame for her bad mood. Is it because she's naturally not a morning person? Or is it because the thought of not seeing Shuhua irritated her?

It was kind of funny for Moonbyul, that no matter how hard Soojin masks her emotions, she's quite transparent. Soojin's entire feelings are laid out for everyone to pick on and decipher.

"Oh okay..."

***

"Soojin- CHAAAAAANNNNNN!!!!"

And among the flood of students flowing out into the hallways, one stood out for Soojin. There was Shuhua, squeezing and dodging people just to get to her girl.

"Good morning girlfriend."

Soojin could hear her friends snickering at Shuhua's nickname.

"We'll go ahead... see you in the cafeteria, Soojin, Shuhua."

Her three friends were nice enough to give her some alone time with the choding.

Shuhua was still struggling to open her eyes that morning. She slept around 5 watching anime. If this was the old her, she would have skipped school and just slept. But she could guess that was the effect of Soojin. Shuhua became more aware, if she could put it that way, about taking charge of her responsibilities.

"I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up, actually I did go over to your house but you left already."

Soojin answers Shuhua with her signature growl. Whatever it was, something was pissing off Soojin that morning.

Shuhua backs away from the pissed girl. Was it just her dream that Soojin said those three words? Or maybe it's that time of the month for Soojin that's why she's a meanie now?

"Why are you so sleepy?"

"I was marathoning this anime series. It was super duper awesome that I couldn't stop... I fell asleep around 6 and I still have a few more episodes to go..."

"So, you stayed up until dawn to watch anime, while you can't even stay awake for 5 minutes reading your notes?"

Shuhua shakes her head with the way Seo Soojin thinks. How can she even put in the same category something as boring as school with something as super duper awesome as anime?

"Those are two very different things."

"They are. But one of them is more important."

It didn't take much time for Shuhua to know which one was more important.

"Hmmm... my happiness is most important."

Soojin just ended up having a huge sigh at Shuhua's answer. Somehow she knew that was all she could get from the girl.

"Are we heading for lunch?"

"Yes... we are..."

Shuhua takes Soojin's arm and lets it wrap around her own.

"Then, let's go..."

***

"More rice please."

Somi thought Moonbyul turns into an elastigirl as her arms just stretch out to reach for the rice bowl.

"Like they say, no rice, no life..."

Moonbyul happily digs into her bowl before realizing it was eerily quiet in their table right now.

Somi was busy admiring her reflection on the spoon.

And Soyeon? The evil genius looks pretty normal for once. The girl was quiet, her whole focus was on her phone.

"What are you reading?"

"I'm reading fanfics."

Moonbyul presses her cheek on the palm of her hand, before letting out a lovelorn sigh.

"You know everytime I read a fanfic, it just makes me want to work in a coffee shop."

Soyeon finally tears her eyes away from her phone screen.

"I know, right? It's like everybody works in a coffee shop, owns a coffee shop or meets in a coffee shop."

"I should start working in a coffee shop."

Somi let out a knowing snort...

"I feel bad for the place, they will probably go bankrupt with you eating everything." Somi points out.

"Why you lil!!!"

"Hiiiiiiiii!!!!!!"

Shuhua and Soojin join their table at the right time, right before Moonbyul punches Somi's face.

"Hey Shushu- girl!!!"

Soojin snaps a stern gaze towards Soyeon 's direction. She didn't like the thought of other people calling Shuhua, Shushu when she herself doesn't call the girl that.

"Hi unnies..."

"Hello cutie..."

Soojin wonders why her friends are purposely trying to get under her skin. But Shuhua's too obsessed with Soojin to really notice anybody else. She even made sure she pulled out a chair for Soojin before joining the table.

"Stop that..." Soojin hisses at them.

"I didn't get to pack my lunch... So, I'll just..."

Soojin could already imagine the calorie loaded, fattening lunch Shuhua is going to buy.

"No... you're sharing lunch with me."

"What?"

"I got some veggie sandwich here and some carrot sticks." Soojin fixes the lunch and offers the other half of her veggie sandwich to Shuhua.

Soojin seems to be the only one who's oblivious of how pale Shuhua became. The three other girls could see Shuhua practically squirming out of her chair, as if she's ready to fly out of there.

"It's not that bad Shuhua... This carrot stick tastes like a chip only healthier."

"THAT'S A LIE!!!" Moonbyul screams out "Shuhua! Trust me! Soojin tried that line with me in kindergarten... and never again... never again will I trust your food comparisons Seo Soojin..."

"You are too dramatic sometimes, do you know that?"

"It's okay unnie..." Shuhua waves her hand, hoping to settle the tension. "If Soojin says it tastes like chips, it probably does..."

Shuhua without any hesitation bites into the carrot.

"Mmmm... crunchy..."

The frown in Soojin's face softly turns into a gentle smile.

"See? Not all healthy food tastes bad."

Shuhua smiles proudly, looking like a happy rabbit nibbling on a carrot. Moonbyul on the other hand, just shakes her head in disbelief and disappointment. Shuhua pried open the sandwich and couldn't understand what kind of a sandwich it was.

The question now stands... Why is there no meat on the sandwich?

"You watch anime, right?"

Shuhua's eyes beamed at the magical word... anime...

"Yes... yes... I do... I just discovered this anime... Maria-sama ga miteru and marathon it last night..."

Soyeon's fork clashed down on her plate, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Don't you know how happy you made me right now, Shushu?"

Soyeon could feel her cold heart, slowly melting.

"There's nobody in this world that I know who watches it. But now I have somebody to spaz with... who's your OTP?"

"Sooshu..." Shuhua answers flatly while toying with Soojin's sleeve.

"No... like in the show?"

"Sachiko and Yumi of course..."

"What?"

Soyeon was left stammering. It scared her friends that she was having a stroke or something. But the only reason for Soyeon's trembling is finally finding someone she could relate to all her Marimite OTP feels.

"THAT'S MY FUC*ING SHIPPPPPP!!!!!!"

"Oh yes..."

After Moonbyul wolfs down her lunch, she joins Shuhua and Soyeon in spazzing over anime ships and games. And Soojin couldn't do anything but listen in, she doesn't know the ships of any pairings... Heck... She doesn't even know any of the characters they mention. And even if Shuhua was right beside her, she felt like Shuhua was worlds away.

Somi on the other hand, feels completely satisfied with being by herself and her reflection.

A part of her wanted to take Shuhua away but she couldn't be selfish, right? She knows she's being immature right now, and the only way to push that aside is by pretending to study.

***

"Ummm... unnie?"

Minnie almost fell off her chair from the sight. Her sister was right there by her door, holding books... no... not those manga.. but books! That you used in school to learn. Books. Shuhua. Learning. Those three words don't seem to fit together.

"Shu? What's up?"

"I have a quiz tomorrow in bio... Can you please explain to me about the heart's conduction system?"

Minnie wonders if all of this was a joke. But she took a good look at those puppy eyes and there was no hint of a prank or a joke. It's like her sister was finally trying to be serious.

"Shuhua?"

"Mmmm?"

"You're studying?"

"Yup... Today at lunch, Soojin was eating while studying and I'm like whoah.. My girl is too serious... So, I want to prove to her that I could focus on school too."

It made Minnie smile to see her sister finally starting to try. And maybe there is one reason for all of this.

"I'm glad you meet someone who brings out the best in you."

***

"You're early today?"

Soojin greets the puppy eyed girl with a soft smile as she sees her waiting.

"Yes... I don't want it to be like yesterday..."

Shuhua unconsciously reaches out to Soojin's backpack and puts it on her other shoulder.

"It feels so lonely walking without you..."

Soojin smiles softly, knowing exactly what Shuhua meant.

"Hold on... I made you something..."

The sleepiness in Shuhua just all went away. Her excitement just woke her up at the thought of Soojin getting her something. She got so excited that she started bouncing off her feet, clapping like a circus seal.

The anticipation was too much for someone as impatient as Shuhua. She swore that Soojin was moving in slow motion as she pulled out something from her bag.

The moment she saw what Soojin's surprise was, her eyes widened, her jaw dropped to the ground. It wasn't in happiness, but in pure horror.

"W-w-what's that?" Shuhua's voice was cracking in fear as she saw the radioactive green slime inside the mug.

"It's vegetable shake... I made it for you... It's a good breakfast drink to keep you healthy and active throughout the day."

Soojin sounded like one of those TV commercials that's trying to convince you how it isn't crap they're selling, even if it's still obvious that they're selling shite.

"I have one too..."

Shuhua knows that she probably has no escape as Soojin cornered her with her own yucky drink.

"It's like our couple drink..."

Shuhua gulps loudly at that thought. Why can't they choose something sweet like a milkshake as their couple drink? Why does it have to be something blech and yucky?

"W-what's in it?" But Shuhua quickly shakes her head "No... don't bother..."

She realizes she has no intention of knowing what's in this hideous drink.

"Aren't you going to try it?"

Soojin asks Shuhua who looks like she's suffering in so much pain.

The word no was on the tip of Shuhua's tongue, ready to be screamed out. But she bit her tongue to keep it from slipping. This was her sexy bear's way of showing her love, she wants her to be healthy... Yup... that's right... This is Soojin's love in a mug.

"Of course... kekekeke..."

Maybe if I drank it too fast, I couldn't taste it...

Shuhua has never been this scared in her entire life. It's as if she's sipping some poison rather than some veggie drink. But she's going to try... she loves Soojin too much to ignore Soojin's effort like this.

Those were the thoughts that were swirling inside Shuhua's head as she sipped as hard and fast as she could. She could feel her eyes getting all watery at every drop of the shake that she forced to gulp down. The shaking puppy eyed girl could feel a tear falling at every sip she takes.

"Did you like it?" Soojin was wearing her beaming smile as she saw Shuhua finish it to the last drop. "W-wait are you crying?"

Shuhua wipes a tear from all the torture and forces a weak smile.

"It's ummm... sooo good... I have tears in my eyes. It-it-it's tears of joy..."

"Really?"

"Uh- huh... uh-huh..." Shuhua was about to shake her head, but caught herself before she did it and nodded her head.

Soojin smiles happily, maybe this was the start of Shuhua's change for a healthy lifestyle. Soojin was pleased that she helped make a positive change in the girl.

"I'm soooo happy... You love it..."

And when Shuhua saw how sweet Soojin's smile was, she decided not to say anything. She's willing to endure all the veggie shakes in this world if it makes Soojin smile that way.

***

After walking Soojin to class, Shuhua spent the rest of her day thinking of her. In her history class, while she was dissecting the frog, and even in lunch.

Shuhua didn't see Soojin all morning and she missed the girl already. That's why right after class, she hurriedly went to the theatre, smiling as she made it right on time for her girlfriend's rehearsal.

Girlfriend...

That word made her giggle like an idiot somehow... and the thought of Soojin finally admitting it too, just put a whole new meaning to the word. It sounded sweeter.

Girlfriend... She was Soojin's girlfriend.

Over by the stage, Somi wasn't going to allow anything to stop her from reaching the spotlight. She devised a foolproof plan where she can show the audience her perfection, even in a villainess role.

"Miss... I'm like thinking..." Somi makes her way to their teacher. "How about we put a little twist to the story?"

The teacher doesn't even want to hear anything, but just sighs and gives in knowing how demanding the girl is.

"What is it, Ms. Jeon?"

"You know how musicals are like the in thing now... Like you know... Les Miz and ummm... ahhh... like Dream high..." Somi couldn't think of any other musical

"Dream high is not a musical." Soyeon points out.

"Whatever... So, I was thinking how about we turn this into a musical?"

Soyeon raises her hand enthusiastically with the suggestion.

"I should sing Mirrors by Justin Timberlake if that's the case."

Soyeon was ready for the laughter, but instead everyone just watched her blankly... Nobody gets her joke...

"Because I'm a mirror? Get it? So, I will sing a song titled mirrors?"

There is nothing more annoying than people who can't understand your awesome joke.

"Whatever..." Soyeon grumbles annoyingly.

All of sudden, the auditorium was filled with a booming laugh. Everyone looked around in confusion until they found the suspect, Soojin was a guffawing mess.

***

"Hi... You're ready?"

Shuhua bounced off the stands over to where Soojin is standing.

"I just want to rehearse a bit more since it's just a week... you can go home if you want to..."

Soojin says out of politeness, although she didn't want Shuhua to go...

"No... it's okay... I can wait..."

Soojin turns away, hoping to hide her obvious blush.

"Shuhua!"

Soojin wished her disappointment wouldn't be too obvious as her friends surrounded Shuhua again. It was so easy for her to feel excluded... Like someone from the outside looking in...

She just chose to walk away from them and sat on the stage. She pretends to be engrossed in her script, but she couldn't... not when she's looking at Shuhua laughing so hard with her friends. It was obvious, Shuhua seemed to fit better with her friends than with her.

"See you later Soojinah..."

Soojin just smiles softly at her friends as they go on ahead. Shuhua skips happily towards her, jumping up on the stage to sit beside her.

Shuhua was just content playing with Soojin's shirt, when she realized that something felt different. She expects Soojin to yell at her to be still, but instead Soojin just lets her play.

"Are you ok?"

Shuhua finally asks, craning her neck to sneak a glance at Soojin's face.

"Do you notice how different we two are?"

Soojin's voice was softer than a mumble but Shuhua heard it quite clearly.

"Ummm yes... it's quite obvious."

"It's like you get along better with Soyeon and Moonbyul than you do with me... The games, anime, fanfics... I can't..."

Soojin lowers her gaze to her lap, feeling shameful for sounding so selfish and immature.

"I can't relate to any of that... and the things I like you don't seem to enjoy..."

"I like you..."

Soojin raised her gaze and turned to the doe eyed girl beside her.

"What?"

"I like you because of you... not because you love to read books and eat cra- I mean healthy food."