Chaeyoung's Turn

The door clicked shut behind Dahyun, leaving the room in a silence that felt heavy and sweet. I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, listening to the phantom sound of her giggle. It had been an intense twenty-four hours, full of surprises, bruises, and a level of intimacy that still managed to knock the wind out of me.

But there was no time to linger in the afterglow. Even as I took a deep breath, the sounds of the dorm coming to life filtered through the walls. It wasn't the usual sluggish shuffle of a Monday morning. It was frantic.

"Has anyone seen my left shoe?" Jeongyeon’s voice shouted from the hallway.

"Momo! Stop eating the toast and get your face on!" Jihyo barked, her leader voice cutting through the chaos.

I sighed and rolled out of bed. Today was a fansign day. For Twice, fansigns were marathons of stamina, smiles, and fan service. For me, they meant logistical nightmares, crowd control, and making sure nine human beings remained fed, happy, and presentable for six hours straight.

I dressed quickly in a comfortable but manager-appropriate outfit—slacks, a crisp white shirt, and a blazer I could shed if things got heated—and walked into the living room.

It was a war zone.

Makeup bags were exploded on the coffee table. Tzuyu was trying to eat a bowl of cereal while simultaneously balancing a script on her knee. Nayeon was running around with a hair dryer, chasing a half-dressed Sana.

"Good morning, Manager Oppa!" a chorus of voices greeted me, though none of them actually stopped moving.

"Morning," I said, grabbing a banana from the counter. "Status report?"

"We're running five minutes behind," Jihyo said, walking over to me. She looked impeccable, as if she hadn't just been screaming at Momo two seconds ago. She checked her watch. "We need to leave in twenty."

"Okay," I said, peeling the banana. "Who's the lucky girlfriend of the day?"

Chaeyoung stepped forward from where she was adjusting her choker in the mirror. She looked sharp, her short hair styled perfectly, her eyes bright with determination.

"I am," Chaeyoung said, her voice steady. "But before we finalize anything, I’m playing my Blue Moon Card."

The room went quiet. Even Momo stopped chewing.

I blinked, lowering the banana. "My... what?"

"Blue Moon Card," Chaeyoung repeated, crossing her arms over her chest. "I’m claiming it."

I looked at Jihyo. She sighed, pulling out her phone and tapping on her notes app with practiced precision.

"She cleared her throat and began to read aloud, her tone authoritative, as if reciting the penal code.

"Official Rules of the Blue Moon Card," Jihyo announced. "A member gets one Blue Moon Card if the day of their official turn is too hectic for her to enjoy it properly. It allows her to book John for one full extra day—and night—on any date she chooses in the future."

She paused for effect, scrolling down.

"She must inform the group at least two days in advance when she finally cashes that card so everyone can adjust schedules." 

"All other members must unanimously approve the request for getting the card—simple majority is not enough; it has to be eight out of eight yes. This keeps it fair and prevents anyone from abusing it."

Jihyo looked up from her phone. "It’s usually used on weekends or right next to her regular turn so she can combine it into a bigger, more special plan—like a mini-trip, a long date, or a private overnight somewhere."

The room buzzed with murmurs of agreement.

"That makes sense," Tzuyu nodded. "Fansign days are hell."

"Totally valid," Mina added softly. "I remember using mine for that Seoul trip last year."

"Alright," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "Who votes yes?"

"Aye," said Jeongyeon immediately.

"Aye," Nayeon chorused.

One by one, they all voted. There was no hesitation. They knew the grind of a fansign better than anyone.

"All in favor?" Jihyo asked.

"Aye," they all said in unison.

"Motion passed," Jihyo declared, pocketing her phone. She looked at me. "Congratulations, Manager-nim. You now owe Chaeyoung-ssi a debt of twenty-four hours to be paid at a later date."

I looked at Chaeyoung. She was standing there with a smug little smirk on her face, looking incredibly pleased with herself.

"You planned this," I accused her.

"I anticipated it," she corrected me, her eyes twinkling. "Fansign days are chaotic. I don't want to be rushed. I want my time with you to be... quality."

The chaotic flurry of movement resumed as everyone scrambled to finish getting ready. I grabbed my bag and herded them toward the door like a shepherd with a very caffeinated flock.

We poured out of the dorm and into the waiting van. I was doing a head count, making sure everyone had their phones and in-ear monitors, when I realized Chaeyoung wasn't in the van yet.

I turned back to the open dorm door. She was standing in the entryway, leaning against the frame.

"Chaeyoung? Come on, we have to go," I said, walking back to her.

"Let them go," she said, nodding toward the van where the driver was already starting the engine.

"They'll leave without us."

"They won't," she said confidently.

Sure enough, the driver saw us standing there and waited.

I stepped into the entryway, closing the door slightly to cut off the noise of the engine. "What's up?"

Chaeyoung pushed off the doorframe and walked up to me. She looked devastating. She was wearing a black sleeveless top with ruffled cap sleeves that gave her a vintage, gothic vibe, layered over a sheer polka-dot bodice. A dark skirt completed the look, accentuating her petite frame but emphasizing her legs.

She stopped right in front of me, looking up. Even in her heels, she had to tilt her head back to meet my eyes.

"Even though I got the Blue Moon Card," she said softly, reaching out to straighten my collar, "I’m still your girlfriend today."