Alarm

Tzuyu had a long talk with Jeongyeon about the dogs. Jeongyeon loved the idea but like what she did with most families that wanted to adopt the dogs, Jeongyeon had to ask her multiple questions first before they decided to let Tzuyu foster them.

First thing they had to think about was to name them. It would be hard to just call them baby girl number one and baby girl number two. So, when Tzuyu basically passed the number of questions Jeongyeon fired at her, she gave her the opportunity to name the dogs.

Of course, she asked Sana and Nayeon for help with this one. Realizing the two loved to give weird names for things and it was easier that way. Nayeon messaged her that day saying that maybe Tzuyu should name them after things she liked or maybe food that she liked.

Tzuyu instantly named the brown one Butter. Because of the obvious brownish blonde color she had. The other one, she decided to name her Kaya. Sana noticed how both names were things she could spread on bread and Tzuyu simply admitted that bread was her favorite snack, so it felt fitting.

So once Tzuyu finalized everything she needed for the two and decided to go to the pet store to buy the necessary things she needed. A pet bed for the both of them, a crate so she could train them to be okay with being in one, bowls, maybe a few toys and then dog food.

Jeongyeon made sure to give her the medicine for their mange so that it would be easier for Tzuyu to administer it at the comfort of her home.

It was exciting. She was on a video call with Sana when she was picking out all the items for Kaya and Butter. Sana was good at choosing cute designs and everything seemed to fit well with the two.

The one thing she learned about the dogs is that Butter was more sociable with strangers than Kaya. Kaya on the other hand, loved to be carried around, cooed at and loved to sleep. Of course, Tzuyu didn’t mind providing for both of them. Lots of playtime with Butter and evening cuddles for Kaya.

Tzuyu decided to keep their therapeutic baths in her apartment, Jeongyeon provided the medicine for it so she didn’t want to stop it since they were gradually growing their fur again.

Sometimes during these baths, Sana would be on video call, watching Tzuyu bathe them, and she would coo them as well through the phone. It seems that they were starting to get used to her baby talking that they would wag their tails whenever she called out to them. And it was making Tzuyu wish Sana was there with them so the older woman could be there to hug and pet them. And Tzuyu knew that was going to do something with her feelings.

She liked this. It was like she made a small family. Shamelessly, she included Sana in it.

Tzuyu went out for dinner to catch up with her friends. Despite being the fifth wheel for it, she didn’t mind. It has been a while since everyone’s got together. But it really wasn’t the same without Chaeyoung this time. Knowing she would just send a lot of crying gifs in the chat whenever Dahyun would send over a group photo of them together.

She was going to fly there soon anyway, hopefully with Mina and Yuki in tow. Maybe Sana. Who knows?

“Tzu, how are the babies?” Jihyo asked eagerly when they finally got their food.

“Oh, they’re doing great. Kaya finally learned how to play with toys, but Butter keeps getting too excited that her mom is finally joining her fun and that makes Kaya nervous.” Tzuyu smiled at the memory of it.

“Maybe we can come over and see them some time?” Nayeon chimed in, smiling at her and then at Dahyun. “Kookeu can have new playmates too.”

Dahyun scoffed under her breath. “Yeah the little devil needs to develop his social skills.”

Nayeon gasped at her wife. “Just because he chewed on your slippers and was eating your hair while you were sleeping doesn’t mean you can freely call him the devil.”

And of course, the couple argued again. Everyone was really getting used to how they would do this all the time and it wasn't like they were gonna be completely concerned about it. Nayeon had a strong personality, while Dahyun didn’t back down from an argument when she was in the mood to.

Tzuyu was just relieved she didn’t have to answer back to anyone since the married couple were lost in their own small argument.

Suddenly, she felt her phone vibrate and she checked it. She smiled when she finally saw Sana’s name. The brunette flew back to Tokyo just that afternoon and said that she was already needed at one of the mall branches there. Plus she had to clean up her apartment since she was gone for too long.

7:49 PM

Sana: Hi :)

Sana: I know you’re out with friends tonight. But just wanted to let you know that I’m already in Tokyo, and I’m out with a friend tonight.

Sana sent a photo.

Tzuyu opened it, and for some reason, she felt her eyes swell and her heartbeat quickened. It was a man, wrapping his arm around her. Sana did say they were friends and— wait, they were just friends as well, why was she questioning this?

She wasn’t sure how to reply. But the aching feeling bubbling inside her chest was starting to creep up and she didn't know what it was. Though she decided to reply, and her fingers started working on their own.

7:50 PM

Tzuyu: You didn’t want to rest tonight? Why do you have to go out so quickly?

Sana: I told him I came back, and he wanted to meet up. I haven’t seen him in a while, so I thought, why not?

Tzuyu: How long are you gonna be out with him?

Sana: I don’t know? Maybe after one drink, he said he’ll drive me back to the apartment.

Another painful pang resonated through her chest. Her mind was going into overdrive all of a sudden. Thoughts of Sana making love with this guy, kissing, touching, feeling or even worse, falling in love with him. She felt like she couldn’t breathe anymore.

7:56 PM

Sana: Tzuyu? What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?

She couldn’t reply, she placed her phone down on the table and tried to drown her thoughts with whatever conversation everyone else was having. But the thoughts of Sana being with someone else was doing something with her brain. It was the same feeling she had when she discovered Se-Ri was cheating.

Tzuyu saw it in a mutual friend’s Instagram story. She apparently bumped into Se-Ri who was having a romantic dinner with a man. Then another when Tzuyu decided to jog after work, and she found Se-Ri making out with another man inside the back of his car.

Then, all she could think of was Sana doing the exact same thing. And she was trying to have that silent battle in her head that they weren’t in a relationship, Tzuyu was the one who said she wasn’t ready, and that Sana was free to do whatever she wanted.

But why was she feeling this way?

“Tzu,” Jeongyeon called out to her. Then she gently placed her hand on her forearm. “Tzu.”

Tzuyu immediately flinched and snapped out of her thoughts, the color on her face was draining when she could see everyone was staring at her. “S-sorry. What was it?”

Jeongyeon pointed at her phone that was still on the table. “Your phone has been vibrating non-stop. I think someone’s calling you.”

Tzuyu grabbed the phone and felt herself panic when it was Sana who was calling her. She wasn’t sure what to say to her, maybe she felt embarrassed that she was thinking about Se-Ri and she knew that Sana wasn’t Se-Ri.

She declined the call.

Sana called again and Tzuyu was quick to decline it—again.

She shot up from her seat and pocketed her phone. “I need some air.” She didn’t wait for them to respond, and she quickly left the restaurant with her coat, finding a bench nearby and sat on it. After wearing her coat and zipping it up, she dropped her head on her hands and let out a big sigh.

“Fuck,” she cursed. She didn’t want to feel this way. She didn’t want to put Sana in that place. Tzuyu was trying so hard not to show any signs of hurt from her past relationship and she thought she was doing great.

But this happened and it triggered a switch inside of her and all the memories of Se-Ri hurting her were flooding back and it was too overwhelming.

She felt horrible. She didn’t like that she declined all of Sana’s calls. Or was still ignoring them since she could still feel the vibration in her pocket.

Maybe she needed the night to herself for now. It was too embarrassing for her to talk to Sana after this.