Chapter 27: How Did It Feel the First Time?

"My hair grows so slowly~"

Sana Minatozaki was frolicking around the waiting room, her laughter filling every corner of the space. Under the grueling, almost murderous schedule of TWICE, perhaps only a Shiba Inu native to Japan could maintain such boundless energy.

"Sana-ya, I know a folk remedy. Do you want to hear it?" Nayeon Lim, who had been listening to music, took off her headphones and patted the seat next to her.

Sana leaned in with the cuteness of a puppy. "What kind of remedy?"

Jeongyeon Yoo quietly shifted her position. She knew her friend too well; she only had to see her wiggle her bottom to know exactly what Nayeon was up to.

The "foreign line" of TWICE often seemed easy to trick, especially since some of them were not even fluent in Korean yet. However, once you grew familiar with them, you would realize the nuances. Nobody dared to mess with Mina Myoui, as the "old six" was clearly sharp and not someone to be trifled with. Momo Hirai was gullible enough to believe anything, making it unrewarding to trick her. Sana, however, was different; the puppy had a quick wit, loved to initiate jokes herself, and never took offense.

"When we go back tonight, come to my bed," Nayeon whispered mysteriously, lowering her voice. "It is said that... watching suggestive films together promotes hair growth~"

"Really?"

If it were anyone else in TWICE, they would certainly be shy upon hearing such a thing. But Sana was different from the other members; far from being shy, she looked almost eager to try. She stared intently at Nayeon with those bright, glistening eyes.

"Of course it’s true." Nayeon was already regretting provoking Sana, but she had to save face; otherwise, the dignity of the eldest sister would be completely lost. Well, not that many people took that dignity seriously anyway.

Sana tilted her little head with a smile. "Then I’ll come over tonight, but what if we make noise?"

"Cough, cough, maybe we should just..." Nayeon was already leaning toward backing down.

However, at the critical moment, Jeongyeon took decisive action. The second eldest, who had approached from behind unnoticed, suddenly lunged forward and pushed the two heads together. Perhaps the angle was just right, but Sana’s lips landed squarely on Nayeon’s.

"Wow, Sana, are you for real?" Nayeon covered her cheek, her eyes wide with surprise. "Jeongyeon, you..."

Sana’s face turned even redder than Nayeon’s. Abandoning her previous aggressive offensive, she reverted back to her puppy-like state.

Jeongyeon laughed. "Don't mention it. Just call me the messenger of justice."

Sana wiped her lips and retreated into the arms of the youngest, Tzuyu Chou, who was nearby, likely replaying the event in her mind. She had teased many people before, but this was her first time actually kissing a member in an unofficial setting. Happiness had come too suddenly.

"Hey, Jeongyeon, what are you doing?" Nayeon looked at her friend with absurdity. Once the cooperation was over, it was time to settle the score; that move just now had been a bit too fast.

"What? Afraid that guy will be jealous?" Jeongyeon plopped down next to the eldest sister—who lacked both the dignity and the appearance of one—and rubbed her wrists as she spoke. *Tsk, I used a bit too much force just now.*

Nayeon glanced around. The members' attention had been drawn away by Sana, who was currently teasing Tzuyu. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I heard he broke up. Aren't you happy?"

"I am not. It's been so many years, do you think I can still be happy about that?" Nayeon tacitly acknowledged who they were talking about. If anyone in the group knew her heart best, it was probably Jeongyeon.

"I don't think his left leg has any trouble walking; he can even dance," Jeongyeon asked suddenly. "Was the injury back then really as serious as you said?"

"You didn't see him when he couldn't stand steadily. Jeongyeon, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"Nothing, just making small talk."

"Hey, Jeongyeon, he touched your butt once and you still can't forget him, and I've touched other places of yours too." Nayeon kept winking, seemingly forgetting that even Sana had been too much for her to handle just moments ago.

Jeongyeon’s face turned red instantly. She had grown up and was touched by a man for the first time in that way; even the other members knew the second eldest didn't like physical contact.

"You'd better take that business about touching my butt to the grave."

"When he came by a few days ago, he praised how soft your butt was."

"He wouldn't dare!"

...

"Minjeong-ah, how was your first day of school?"

Myung-eon had finished shooting the promotional materials for the advertisement, and fortunately, he still had time to pick up Minjeong Kim from school. The first day held a special significance; otherwise, if he couldn't make it, the little one would have had to take the subway or bus by herself.

"It was okay. The school environment is great, and the classmates... are also very nice." Minjeong hesitated for a moment, thinking of Chaewon Kim, who had been very friendly to her, and decided to praise the school after all. She knew her uncle had pulled strings to help her transfer, and there was no need to trouble him with trivial matters. There was plenty of time; she would take it slow.

Myung-eon seemed to sense his niece's hesitation. "Really?" He had already planned to ask Jin-kyung Kim, but Minjeong didn't seem down, so he assumed there was nothing major.

"Really." Minjeong thought simply about her classmates in Seoul, then enthusiastically began to share what she had seen. "I even made a new friend."

"That's great! You made a new friend on the very first day~"

"Uncle, please take this seriously."

"What is your new friend's name?"

"Chaewon Kim. She said she would help me learn the Seoul dialect in the future." Minjeong seemed very satisfied with this new friend.

Myung-eon mused, "I actually think your Yangsan dialect is quite charming."

"I won't forget my hometown dialect, and also, Uncle, do you know who else is in my class?"

"Who?"

"Tzuyu Chou and Chaeyoung Son from TWICE."

Minjeong still felt as if it were a dream. She had only seen those two unnies a couple of days ago; she hadn't expected them to become her classmates in the blink of an eye. The world was truly a mysterious place.

"Did they come to school today?" Myung-eon involuntarily thought of Nayeon Lim. It was a pity for that girl; she had the chance to go to college but gave it up to debut. Well, it wasn't a matter of right or wrong, just different paths chosen.

"No, seniors who have already debuted don't come to school often."

"Minjeong, you have to work hard, too."

"Uncle, I’ve only just started as a trainee," Minjeong sighed. "It will probably be hard to debut within three years."

"That makes sense. Tell me more about your new friend."

"Chaewon is from Seoul..."