Chapter Text
She looks over at Siyeon sitting on the couch one last time. She gets an encouraging nod. She then takes a deep breath before knocking on the door.
"Come in!"
She opens the door to reveal a smiling Handong inside the room. "I hope this isn't a bad time? I was hoping we could talk."
"It's never a bad time when it's you."
Gahyeon immediately starts to feel the heat rise up in her face as she walks further into the room after closing the door behind her.
"So, what's up?" Handong asks as Gahyeon joins her on the bed.
That's when Gahyeon freezes. She hadn't really thought that far. Well, she knows how she feels and that she wants to tell Handong how she feels, but nothing seems to want to come out of her mouth.
Handong giggles at the sight of a wide-eyed Gahyeon gaping like a fish. "Hey, are you-"
"Chuseok." Gahyeon blurts out.
"What?"
"Chuseok." Gahyeon confidently repeats. "Do you remember last year during Chuseok when we stayed in Korea?"
"Yeah."
"I had been a little bummed about not getting to go home, but realized a little while after that I hadn't felt any ounce of homesickness. Not at all during the festivities and for the longest time I couldn't realize why. Until recently.
Gahyeon took a deep breath.
"It was because of you."
Handong gasps.
"It was because of you that I felt that way." Gahyeon was feeling more confident now that she had gotten the hard part out of the way and couldn't stop the rest from tumbling out. "It had felt like I was already home. You feel like home. Like coming home after a hard day at work. I feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed whenever I'm around you. I feel this overwhelming sense of joy when we're together and I always miss you when we're not. My eyes always search for you first when I'm in a crowded room. I can't focus when I'm doing my work sometimes, because you are what's occupying my brain. I-"
"Gahyeon." Handong interrupts.
"Yes?"
"What are you saying?" Handong shakily asks.
"I love you."
Tears are starting to slowly form in Handong's eyes. "What?"
"I love you."
"Say it again."
"I love you." Gahyeon giggles.
Gahyeon reaches up to cup Handong's face with her hands.
"I love you so, so much and I'm sorry it took me this long to realize."
"I love you too." Handong sniffles.
-
"So, when did you realize?"
Th two of them were now laying back on the bed, staring up at the glow in the dark stars that dotted the ceiling, Handong now idly playing with Gahyeon's fingers. The both of them were relaxed, content with staying like this for as long as possible.
"Short answer? A couple of years ago."
"Years?!" Gahyeon gasped.
"Mhm."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I knew you weren't ready and I didn't want to somehow influence your decision or make you feel pressured to answer earlier than you would've planned to."
The answer makes Gahyeon's heart swell for some reason. "Long answer?"
So, Handong goes on to tell her about the exact moment she realized she was in love with Gahyeon, and for the next few hours, the room is filled with light laughter and feelings of relief and contentment.
-
It is a little while later when Gahyeon and Handong come out of their room. Siyeon is still sitting on the coach, but is now joined by Minji with a drama playing in the background.
Siyeon had turned her head at the sound of the door opening and saw the two of them holding hands. "It's about time!"
"Hey you two. Would you like to join us?" Minji asks.
The two look at each other with barely contained smiles.
"Yeah, we would."
Handong and Gahyeon sit side by side on the couch with newly renewed optimism for the future, knowing that they will be able to stay close to each other for a long time.