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“Sana, you’re running late!”
“I’m coming!”
On any other day, you won’t catch top actress Minatozaki Sana slipping; she’s always picture perfect and ready for the camera to capture, knowing they’re hidden in every nook and cranny on the streets. The only thing everyone is curious about is her love life, having had multiple rumours of actors, idols – hell, even corporate staff – confessing and getting rejected firmly. That’s not to say she was rude or condescending about it, just that she was ‘not looking for love at the moment’.
Today, however, is a special one.
It marks the thirteenth anniversary of having her best friend by her side.
“You are such a klutz, Satang.”
Hirai Momo, donning black sunglasses and a bob cut that frames her sharp jaw dangerously. Her wardrobe mainly consists of monotone colored clothes, so the outfit for today is a black sweater and a gold necklace to match.
“You have a lot of room to call me a klutz, Momoring.” Sana huffs, climbing into the car with a groan. “Good morning, Mitang. Sorry, I was running late.”
After receiving an understanding smile from her manager – Myoui Mina – in the driver’s seat, Sana kicks off her shoes and huddles into the comfortable seat. When Momo reaches over with a roll of her eyes, Sana unconsciously freezes at the distance between their faces. Momo mumbles something under her breath that’s lost on Sana, the actress entirely focused on Momo’s perfect nose, the small freckle near her lower lip and her gorgeous cheekbones.
Hirai Momo is perfect.
Then a figurative pail of water is splashed directly at her face, snapped out of her trance within a split second.
“What would you do without me?” Momo shakes her hand, sitting back with a snort. “You never remember your seatbelt.”
Sleeping in the car is as fruitful as memorizing her script in the shower, so Sana inadvertently hears bits and pieces of the conversation between Momo and Mina.
“Happy anniversary, Momo. It’s your thirteenth anniversary together, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Time sure flies by, huh?”
Sana can imagine the shiteating grin on Momo’s face as she tells Mina about their yearly tradition: it’s the one day of the year where Sana willingly attempts to make them food, and Momo pretends to hate it but vacuums everything. She always makes sure to leave this day free so they can spend the day together, except… Well, at least Momo is going with her to the Japan press conference today. That’s the only consolation there is.
“When are you going to tell her how you feel?”
“Mina. Come on.”
It’s a shame Sana dozes off before either of them can elaborate, but she dreams of beautiful things for Momo.
***
“Don’t push. Excuse me. Please make way.”
Momo stretches her hand out, walking in front of Sana with tense shoulders and pursed lips. She has been doing this for years, but it doesn’t change the constant paranoia that someone might use the crowds as an opportunity to harm Sana.
“Sana, over here!”
“Look here!”
“I bought this for you, Sana! Please take it!”
Mina intercepts in the nick of time, lightly pushing Sana ahead so she can grab the paper bag with unknown content first. They’ll need to have a conversation with the higher-ups about blacklisting certain fans because both Momo and Mina recognize him; he was previously spotted outside the lift lobby of Sana’s apartment building. Both of them rushed to Sana’s side immediately, the latter having broken down in the shower due to fear and helplessness.
“Momo…”
“Come here.” Momo holds Sana by the waist, positioning her best friend in front of her. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Trust me, okay?”
Sana is thankful her mask is obscuring half her face, her anxiety is swallowing her up yet has to pretend she's completely fine. She grabs hold of Momo’s wrist around her waist, leaning into the woman. Momo tries to keep it subtle, rubbing the back of Sana’s palm with her thumb.
“Breathe, Sana. I’m here.”
The crowd doesn't dissipate, instead becoming more rowdy as they enter the departure gate. Sana closes her eyes and rests her head against Momo’s shoulder, taking slow and steady breaths. It wasn’t always this way but with the recent rumours of Sana dating her new co-star, the fans have been overpowering at every event. This just might be one of the biggest boons of being in showbusiness, having people speculate her private life, jump to their own conclusions before blaming her for it.
At least the walk to the plane is peaceful, Momo still holding onto Sana’s hand firmly. She knows only too well how crazy fans can be, some of them stalking idols all the way to different countries. After checking the first class seats, she leads Sana to hers.
“Have a good rest, Satang. I’ll be doing my safety checks.”
“Momo, stay…” Sana looks up at Momo without letting go of her hand, eyes filled with unshed tears. “Please? I… I want to sleep properly on this flight.”
Momo’s hardened gaze softens considerably at the sincere plea, a timely reminder that the Sana in front of her is not actress Sana but her best friend. She’ll just have to do her rounds after Sana falls asleep and Mina’s here to keep an eye on her.
“Of course. Anything for you.”
The sudden dip in altitude breaks Sana out of her peaceful slumber, air pressure causing discomfort in her ears. She lets out an involuntary shriek at the unwanted man standing over her seat. Fuck! Where are Momo and Mina? Where are the air stewardesses?
“W-What are you doing?” Sana shrinks into her seat, arms in front of her protectively. “You… You shouldn't be here.”
“Sana, give me a chance. Please, I swear I’ll treat you like a princess. Take this gift.”
It looks like a normal present from the outside, wrapped with a bow but that's how all harmful gifts start off. Maybe he’ll just leave if I accept the gift… What other choice does she have? Momo isn't here, Mina is nowhere in sight. The last thing Sana wants is to cause a scandal. In the nick of time though, the next few minutes pass in a blur, Sana not registering a single thing till Momo has him in a headlock.
Momo's furious – enraged, even – seeing nothing but red; she shrugs Mina’s hand off her shoulder. Who let you in here? Answer me before I break your arm, so help me God.”
“Momo…”
“Let go.”
Sana snakes her arms around Momo’s waist, about to burst into tears at any moment. “Momo, stop… Please. I don’t want you to get in trouble… I’m fine.” She successfully pulls Momo away, breath shaky and chest tight at the events that follow.
The pilots and air stewardesses are distraught with guilt by the end of the flight, apologizing several times to Sana (attempted to apologize to Momo but she left with a stone-cold expression) with pleas of saving their jobs and promises to serve her infinitely better. The known stalker did, in fact, buy a legitimate business class air ticket and must have slipped past the curtain when everyone was preoccupied with serving meals to the other passengers.
Momo doesn’t look at Sana while waiting for their baggage, choosing to sit with the other bodyguards to coordinate some arrangements. Sana can feel Momo’s discontent with her, and it breaks her heart.
“Satang, are you feeling better?” Mina asks softly, squeezing her shoulder. “Bear with us, okay? We’ll be out of here in a couple of minutes. Momo’s just arranging transport and changing accommodation.”
Sana’s lower lip trembles and eyes well with tears. “Momo’s angry with me. I know she is… she hasn’t said a word ever since we touched down.”
There’s so much Mina wants to say, but there’s only so much she can do without getting overly involved. She has spent years watching Momo quietly shove her feelings aside; fear, gratitude, anger, attraction because she didn’t want to implicate Sana in any possible scandal. Whenever Momo and Mina talk about increasing protection for Sana, she swears one day Momo will snap and actually get into trouble, most probably for beating someone up.
“She’s just scared, both as your bodyguard and your best friend. It’s one of the reasons she smokes, you know.”
***
“Make sure no one gets past you. If they do, I’m going to punish all of you once we're back in Korea. Is that understood?”
“Don’t worry, Momo. We got this.”
“Thank you, Jeong…”
Momo’s shoulders slump once the team moves to their delegated positions. She almost feels guilty for calling Jeongyeon and her team over during their vacation period, but she doesn’t trust the company employees here. Jeongyeon was already a bodyguard-in-training when Momo entered the agency as a newbie, so she has specific team members that follow her on every assignment. She was also the one that drafted the contract allowing Momo to be Sana’s personal bodyguard.
“I shouldn’t have gone to the toilet when Mina went.”
Jeongyeon ruffles her hair good-naturedly. “Don’t be silly. Listen, I want you to get some rest. Go and make sure Sana is okay. You should also talk to her about how you feel before she mistakes it as you being upset with her. She didn't do anything wrong by pulling you away and you know it too.”
Of course.
Sana only wants the best for everyone, at the expense of herself.
Entering the suite with a swipe of her keycard, Momo gently pushes the door open in case Sana (and Mina) is asleep. She falls back against the door in shock when Sana is standing right in front of her, big brown eyes staring into her own.
“Sana? Why are you – hey…” Momo’s hand comes down to Sana’s head, cradling her closer into her arms.
Sana sniffles into her collar, ignoring the possible snot that’s staining Momo’s shirt. “Please don't be mad at me. I just want to protect you… You might think otherwise, but my priority is you. It has always been you. I don't care if that stalker gets hit by a bus, but I care that you could be arrested for assault and punished for protecting me.”
The tone Sana uses to describe herself is so… self-deprecating and it doesn't sit right with Momo.
“What do you mean you?” Momo pulls her sleeve over her hand, dabbing at Sana’s face so she doesn't smudge her makeup. “And I could never be mad at you, come on. None of this is your fault, I don’t want you thinking you had a part in it. You’re not responsible for freaks who should be locked up and taught a lesson, Sana.”
When Sana’s sniffles turn into giggles at Momo’s comment, she chuckles at the ticklish feeling against her neck.
“I need to shower, Sana. I still smell like sweat and airplanes.”
Sana pushes herself inhumanly closer to Momo, nose nuzzled against her neck. “I don’t care. I’ve been waiting for you since we got off the plane. I’m not letting you go.”
Lying down with Sana’s arms and legs wrapped around her? This is Momo’s idea of heaven. She doesn't care about tomorrow, she doesn't care about yesterday. Wherever Sana goes, that’s where Momo will be. Sana begins to mumble in her sleep, but her limbs don't move from their position. Hell, she even cuddles closer to Momo, lips almost touching her collarbone.
“Love you, Momoring…”
Meaningless sleep-talk shouldn't make Momo’s heart skip a beat, it really shouldn't.
I’ll protect you till the end.
Her schedule passes relatively quickly and before they know it, they’re already on the flight back to Korea. This time, Momo stays seated next to Sana without doing her rounds, asking Jeongyeon’s team to proceed instead. Seeing Momo’s vulnerability during take-off has to be the most amusing thing for Sana. A bodyguard of Momo’s caliber being scared of a plane taking off is so Momo, yet not at the same time. The way she grabbed Sana’s wrist with all her strength tickles Sana endlessly.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t spend our anniversary together like we always do, Momoring, but I have a short break over the weekend. Do you… Do you want to come over and have our yearly tradition?”
Momo’s eyes don’t shift from the screen in front of her, but the small twitch of her lips show that she’s been paying attention to Sana all the while. “As long as you don’t poison me to death, I’m game.”
“Oh my God, shut up! You literally love my cooking.” Sana frowns, pinching Momo’s arm. She pouts when Momo looks at her unamused. “Fine, I won’t cook anymore since it’s apparently a chore for you to finish.”
Honestly, can anyone blame Momo for teasing Sana when her reactions are this cute? They’ve spent more than half their lives together and Sana still falls for Momo’s relentless teasing. She takes Sana’s hand and laces their fingers together, attention seemingly focused on her show.
Sana stops her little tantrum, focusing on Momo’s side profile. Has she always been so… hot?
“Stop staring at me and eat your food, Satang. It’s not going to eat itself.”
Momo was already done with her meal ten minutes ago before she proceeded to start a new movie, so Sana offering her a mouthful is a surprise.
“It’s pan-fried beef with mayonnaise, your favourite. Have some.”
It’s impossible to turn down Sana’s request, not with her holding a spoon to Momo’s mouth with raised cheeks and round eyes – nothing to do with her favourite food, of course. Feeding each other isn't exactly new, but the uncontrollable magnetic pull towards Sana is undeniably an impending doom she has to face. Sana’s proud grin when Momo accepts the beef is adorable; a sight that Momo mentally captures and tucks it safely at the back of her mind.
I’m so fucked.
Mina was right; if Momo doesn’t tell Sana about her feelings, it’s eventually going to go downhill.
“What do you think will happen once we touch down?” Sana’s biting her nail as she says it, a habit that rarely shows itself when Momo is present. “I don’t want to deal with that man again… A restraining order is obviously the only thing left but I have to be there in person, which means I have to see him and I – ”
Momo puts the chopsticks down, satisfied with shoving a pickle into Sana’s mouth to stop her from going into another spiral. “It’s your decision. If you’re ready to get it done at the station, I’ll be by your side and so will Mina. If you’re not, we’re going home to watch movies and eat overly buttery popcorn that you’re incapable of popping so I will do it while you watch me.”
We’re going home.
Yes, Momo (by extension, Boo and Dobby) stays at her apartment six out of seven days a week anyway so it might as well be home for her but it’s the phrasing – they’re going home together.
If only the middle divider could be removed, Sana would be cuddling into Momo right now. “Will we make blanket forts and turn on the fairy lights too?”
“With hot chocolate and marshmallows too.” Momo turns off the screen, removing her headphones with finality. She holds onto Sana’s hand – the same one she was biting her nails on – and runs her finger across the jagged nail. “They look ugly now because you keep biting them.”
Frankly, Sana stopped paying attention to what Momo had to say after she promised hot chocolate. She feels extremely pampered and Nayeon is going to hear all about it. Before Nayeon knew about their history, she thought it was just odd for Sana to be so close to her bodyguard. In fact, she brought up the possibility of Sana taking a liking to Momo and… after five years, it’s starting to sink in.
“Well, you’ll still love me with my ugly nails, won’t you?”
Momo had a smart comeback lined up; she swore she did but her mind emptied herself when Sana got up close and personal.
“Yeah. Yeah, I will.”
Time comes to a standstill for both Sana and Momo, the latter’s words taking both of them by surprise. Something shifted over the stalker incident at the airport, and it isn’t a small change. It’s definitely a change that’ll shake up the dynamics of their friendship; it’s only a matter of time.
***
“Booboo! Dobby!”
Momo watches in silence as Sana runs into her apartment with open arms, waiting for Momo’s babies to welcome her. She remembers the first time they went to the shelter, and they fell in love with Boo immediately. His little body was hiding in the corner of his cage, gnawing on his favourite peach chew toy and that was it – Momo adopted him on the spot.
Dobby came soon after; Momo brought him home when a foster carer put up an advertisement. She was a little iffy about bringing him to Sana’s apartment because well, the latter’s apartment had an air of elegance to it. Thankfully though, Sana went on a buying rampage; four dog beds, six different kinds of water and food bowls, little dog slides… yeah, call Sana their other mother.
“Did you miss me? I missed you too…” Sana coos, combing through Boo and Dobby’s fur with both hands. She giggles at the sensation of Dobby sniffing her hand. “Hi, handsome.”
“Move over, Satang. Let me greet my sons.”
Sana glares at Momo, scooping Dobby into her arms. “They’re my boys too! Don’t forget, I saw Boo first and pointed him out to you.”
The two dogs’ eyes follow their owner and her… very good friend of thirteen years banter over their so-called parental rights; it’s a regular event here at Sana’s apartment.
“You’re already their mom, now move aside.”
Sana finally puts Dobby down after planting a few pecks on his freshly-bathed fur, hopping onto the sofa; watching Momo play with her dogs is Sana’s favourite pastime. She was pleasantly surprised at the smooth exit from the airport, Mina and Momo’s team having made pre-arrangements without her knowledge. Before they left, Sana briefly greeted Jeongyeon to thank her and was replied with a sweet smile, whispering a soft ‘thank Momo instead’.
“Do you want to build the fort or make hot chocolate?”
“I’ll build the fort. You know I like your hot chocolate best.” Momo nonchalantly starts moving the chairs and blankets, unaware of the nth bomb she just dropped on Sana’s chest. “I want two scoops of marshmallows, please.”
“I know, cutie.”
Momo makes good her word and gets to work, putting up a new set of fairy lights they got on the way home. She tests them out a couple of times, adjusting the blinking pattern to Sana’s liking. It might sound odd to some people but Sana’s preference is quite distinctive, and Momo remembers it all with ease. It could be a stretch to say that Momo remembers everything about Sana but from their friends’ point of view, it’s pretty accurate.
Sana comes back into the living room with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, eyes turning into crescents at the homey sight. She tries not to stare too much at Momo’s legs exposed by her shorts, holding onto the tray even more firmly.
“God, that’s so good. These marshmallows are sweeter than the last batch.” Momo moans at the hot liquid going down her throat, chewing on the sweet treat. She was about to ask Sana her opinion but the latter is staring at her in a daze, as if she’s hypnotized. “Satang?”
“You have a little…” Sana lifts a finger and swipes the tiny specks of chocolate around Momo’s lips, licking the remnants off. The heated gaze from Momo’s hooded lids trigger a spark within Sana’s veins and before she knows it, her lips are inches away from Momo’s. “M-Momo…”
Neither of them realized the moment their position changed to Sana straddling Momo’s thighs, hands placed on her broad shoulders. The atmosphere is hot and heavy, sounds of a random movie playing in the background being their only form of accompaniment.
Momo’s hand comes up to caress Sana’s jaw, voice cracking in her final plea. “Sana, stop me before it’s too late… there’s no turning back after this.”
It’s Sana who throws all caution to the wind, gently pressing her lips against Momo’s full ones. A torrent of longing, warmth, familiarity crashes over Sana; fuck… her heart is about to beat out of her chest right now. It hits her then that she’s wanted this for so long, it feels extremely surreal. Momo breaks the kiss and moves along her neck, nipping and sucking the flawless milky column. God knows how many times she’s fantasized about this.
“You’re trembling, Sana…” Momo quickly puts some distance between them, their foreheads pressed together. She tucks Sana’s fringe behind her ear with a small smile. “If you’re not up to it, we should stop. I don’t want you to wake up tomorrow only to regret tonight; it’ll affect our relationship and it would kill me if things changed…”
Sana shakes her head defiantly and she lifts Momo’s chin – this is the moment of truth. “Things won’t change between us, I promise. I… I won’t let it happen, even if… you don’t feel the same.”
“I do.”
Wait.
WAIT.
“You have feelings for me?” Sana whispers, utterly gobsmacked at the belated realization.
“Thank you for noticing because I could never bring myself to say it to your face. Mina’s been telling me to woman up but…” Momo laughs breathlessly and she looks up at the beautiful sight of Sana’s fringe fanning her face, reflection of the fairy lights dancing along her cheeks. “Fucking hell, you’re ethereal in every way.”
Now, Sana doesn’t usually like it when people curse unnecessarily but Momo curses and suddenly her panties are flooding; Momo has always been the exception, Sana just never saw it before.
“So you like me?”
Momo raises an eyebrow, a naughty hand sliding down to squeeze Sana’s bum; the adorable blush crawling up Sana’s cheeks is a sight for sore eyes. “I thought we established that a few minutes ago.”
“Well, maybe I want to hear you say it.”
Sana is the only expert in Momology – everything with relation to Momo, if that wasn’t clear enough. She knows exactly how to push Momo’s buttons, one of which is playing on her refusal to acknowledge and express her feelings. She vaguely recalls leaving Momo alone at a donut shop because she refused to admit she wanted more than two for tea break; safe to say Momo was pouting when Sana returned, only dropping the act after she purchased a whole box for her.
“Sana…”
“If you’re not ready to say it, I won’t force you and maybe we shouldn’t continue.” Sana heaves a dramatic sigh and makes a show of getting up from Momo’s lap. She tugs down her shirt that was previously pushed up to reveal her smooth abs, ignoring the discomfort in her nether regions. “Let’s continue the movie then.”
The internal war in Momo’s brain is jarring; she sits there in silent disbelief at how Sana actually stopped everything as if she wasn’t on the verge of melting into an orgasm. Then again, Sana pretty much admitted she has feelings for Momo so… what is there left to lose when they feel the same way?
“I… I like you.”
“What was that?” Sana teases, hitting the pause and turning to face Momo. She inches slightly closer, playing with the hem of Momo’s t-shirt. “Mind repeating for me?”
Momo grabs Sana by the waist and lays her onto the carpeted floor, the upper half of their bodies sheltered by the blanket and blinking fairy lights. “Since you’re apparently quite deaf, I said I like you.”
Sana runs her fingers through Momo’s hair, one hand pulling Momo to close the gap between their bodies. “Yeah?” She doesn’t like to see the apprehension in Momo’s eyes so she cuddles the woman closer, her head resting on her chest. “Talk to me, Momoring. It’s just me.”
“I’ve liked you for years, but I never dared to dream about you liking me back because we clearly don’t belong in the same world. Being friends for so many years makes it worse, really, I’m terrified of losing you. Fuck, you literally know me better than my own family.”
The almost muted sniffling gives it away and Sana frantically tries to look at Momo, only to have Momo stop her.
“Mina always asks me what’s holding me back – everything is. You not feeling the same is only the tip of the iceberg, I can force myself to live with that but losing you? I can’t do it. How do I even continue? We practically live together, we share our lives together… I’ve only known how to keep you safe from harm, but I don’t know how to keep you with me.”
If only Momo realised she possesses everything to keep Sana with her for eternity.
Half of their lives are spent together, supporting each other in various ways. Even though Momo was rejected from the company while Sana was accepted, they worked towards different passions and dreams to achieve what they have in the present day. They found ways and means to ensure they aren’t separated – although Mina would call it an unhealthy attachment – and here they are, after thirteen years.
“You’re so silly but… I’m so in love with you,” Sana whispers, memories of Momo’s protectiveness over her replaying at the back of her head. “I’m not going to lose you, and you will never lose me. You're my person, Momo.”
Momo rests her chin on Sana’s sternum, free hand tracing circles on Sana’s stomach. “And you’re mine, Satang. Why do you think I never go on second dates with anyone? No one makes me feel a fraction of what you do.”
Tears prick at Sana’s eyes; Momo’s gaze on her is so filled with love and care, it’s unbelievable. She wonders how long Momo’s been looking at her that way and makes a mental note to dig out some information from Mina.
“Don’t cry, baby. Your tears are precious, and you’ve already cried this week. Don’t waste them.” Momo kisses the offensive droplets away, intentionally skipping over Sana’s lips like the irritant she can be.
“Stop kissing my face and kiss me, damn it!” Sana whines, kicking at Momo’s legs. She doesn’t care how desperate she sounds anymore; she wants to resume making out with Momo now.
Of course, Momo can’t comply with anything Sana asks or says because that’s just how they work outside of work. Momo can’t even remember the last time she slept in her own house or in another bed, for that matter, because Sana always pleads with her to stay over. She slowly makes her way up Sana’s body till they’re chest to chest, forehead to forehead. The raw lust and desperation brewing in Sana’s pupil-blown eyes, bottom lip clamped between her teeth; it screws with Momo’s self-control.
“Say please.”
“You little – ”
Momo smiles into the kiss, relishing the soft moan from Sana. She knows there’s more talking to be done, but kissing the love of her life is far more important; Sana being this good of a kisser is merely the cherry on top.
“Wow…” Sana giggles dreamily, still basking in the wake of their new discovery of mutual feelings. “That was amazing.”
“I know.”
With the fairy lights blinking down upon them and a rather sweet love song playing in the background of their now forgotten movie, the butterflies in Sana’s stomach multiply by the dozens. All she can think about is Momo, Momo, Momo. If you were to ask her at which point she fell for Momo, Sana wouldn’t be able to say a thing. For the entire duration of them knowing each other, Momo’s always been her priority – not even her career was comparable.
“Do you think Mina would allow me to be your bodyguard if she knew we were dating?” Momo mumbles.
Mina is a stickler for the rules, Sana groans and flashes her fatal puppy eyes at Momo. “Let’s just hide it from her for now. I don’t want to change bodyguards, not when I can finally squeeze your butt and kiss you whenever we’re out of public sight.”
“Pervert.”
Sana sticks her tongue out at Momo, all too happy to admit she's a pervert just for Momo. It’s not exactly a secret as to how often Sana checks the latter out, eyes always enjoying a feast when Momo’s decked in a full suit.
“I guess I have no problem with you touching my butt since you're my girlfriend now.” Momo shrugs, rolling off Sana so she's lying beside her with her arms behind her head.
“You guess?” Sana is equally shocked and annoyed at the claim. She scoops both Boo and Dobby into her arms, stomping off to the bedroom. “I can’t believe you just assumed I’d be your girlfriend when you haven't even asked me! You’re sleeping outside alone, Momo!”
What Momo assumed to be a joke turned out to be reality, and she actually falls asleep in the cozy, air-conditioned living room; she’ll just have to make it up to Sana in the morning – and she did.
It’s their first day together after confessing and unlike what Sana might think, Momo isn’t that oblivious to matters of the heart. She purposefully woke up two hours early to start preparing a hearty breakfast for Sana. If there’s one thing Momo absolutely detests about Sana is her habitual skipping of meals to get a bit more sleep. In the most respectful way possible, Momo wants to cure this terrible habit. With the pathetic ingredients or lack thereof in Sana’s fridge, she still manages to whip up a decent bowl of rice.
“Satang…” Momo kicks the door open slowly, carrying a breakfast tray into the bedroom. She wants to bawl at the sight of Boo and Dobby curled comfortably into Sana’s back; those boys are very picky so this means everything. “I made breakfast… Wake up.”
Sana’s very own Momo-radar automatically goes off at the woman’s voice and her eyes fly open, pouting at the very offensive, very adorable view of Momo holding the tray.
“Good morning, cutie.”
“A princess deserves princess treatment. You can just sit pretty while I feed you.” Momo dodges Sana’s grabby hands and holds out a spoon, as if she's feeding a baby. “Good girl.”
This sickeningly sweet sequence continues for twenty minutes before Momo scarves down her share of food. She puts the tray aside, chasing Boo and Dobby off the bed so she can throw herself onto the bed. There’s no other definition of heaven Momo can think about; what could beat lying on Sana’s lap in a big comfy bed with her two sons watching them?
“Be my girlfriend, Sana.”
“Like I was ever going to say no,” Sana chortles, bending down to kiss Momo’s forehead. “I've been yours from the very beginning, even if we didn’t know it.”
The newborn couple laze around in bed quietly, enjoying the tranquility of a stress-free day. Sana’s schedule varies from having no time to breathe to too much time on her hands till she starts overthinking, but it’s about to be very different – Momo’s by her side now.
“There’s a line in my upcoming script that I just thought of, and it describes us so well – you and me are symmetry. We’re equals in every way; you’re my counterpart, my person.”
Momo will never get tired of Sana saying that last bit. In fact, she can’t find a fragment of fear that was instilled in her when Mina pointed out her feelings. Every single piece of the puzzle has fallen into place and answered her questions; why she couldn’t go on repeat dates, why no one seemed to interest her and most importantly, why Sana looked upset and crestfallen whenever they talked about how her date went.
“Is that your line?”
“Yes so whoever my co-star is, I’m going to apologize beforehand because the only person I'll be imagining as I say that is you, Momo.”
It’s funny how things work out in the end.
Thirteen years ago, they met on the airplane coming to Korea. On the same day thirteen years later, they confessed their feelings for each other. Thirteen years and a day later, Sana is officially her girlfriend.
No one can tell Momo anything about fate ever again.
A year later…
Promotional schedules for dramas never get easier with the countless camera flashes and people screaming at you to amp up the fanservice. Sana has nothing against Chou Tzuyu, not at all, but it’s clear they're both uncomfortable with pushing intangible boundaries. Tzuyu is known to be in a relationship with a non-celebrity pianist whereas Sana… well, Momo is right there watching with crossed arms. Momo probably doesn’t care about the fanservice but Sana does. It’s all about respecting one another at the end of the day.
“Sana! How did you manage to look so in love with Tzuyu even though it’s your first time working together?”
“Well, that’s an easy one.” Sana smiles politely, exchanging knowing gazes with her co-actress. “I imagine seeing someone I love or fancy in Tzuyu’s place and I believe it’s the same for Tzuyu as well. It is a love story, after all, so we do the best in ways we know how to.”
Tzuyu offers a bashful grin, mildly embarrassed at having Sana read her inside out despite not saying anything during filming. She wasn’t exactly hiding her relationship, but the lovey dovey phone calls and occasional Facetimes definitely gave it away.
“Sana-unnie’s right. Since we hadn’t interacted before this project, we came up with different ways to make the scene work and Sana-unnie wasn’t offended by me imagining my partner’s face on her so…”
The reporters thankfully take their answers in good faith, smiling at the unexpected honesty from two stars at the top of their industries. Sana and Tzuyu offer a few more heart gestures, a special Q&A, and some behind-the-scenes anecdotes. All the while, Sana’s eyes are heavily focused on a certain someone at the back of the room. For the first time, Sana doesn't shy away when the reporter asks about her private life. Instead, she offers a serene smile and directs her gaze back at Momo.
“Last question from SBS News; how would you describe your love life, Sana? You’ve always been very private but it’s something everyone – I believe, even your fans – are dying to know.”
There’s a pregnant pause in the room, till Sana breaks it. “I’m happy right where I am, in every way.” Sana visibly halts before looking up again, eyes glassy with tears. “I’d like to finish off the event with one line that I really like from the script and for someone to hear this; and that is: you and me are symmetry.”
From the back of the room, Momo looks down to hide her exhilaration; keeping their relationship private should not be bringing her this much joy but to have everyone look at Sana while Sana only looks at her… yeah, life can’t get better than this.
and that's it for bodyguard momo x actress sana! can request here tellonym or if you're feeling generous you can buy me a ko-fi or something! twitter -- i take requests there too but i also like talking about fics in general so hit me up anytime