Chapter Text
Jihyo was in her studio, mixing colors on the palette, but her mind wandered far from the painting.
Each brushstroke felt imprecise, clumsy, as if her heart wanted to leap out of her chest. She remembered the last time Sana had been in front of her: the warmth of her presence, her body, her lips, the softness of her gaze, her touches, the way her smile could stop time.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind inside her. Finally, she gathered her courage and picked up her phone. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pressed the video call.
Sana answered after a couple of rings. Her face appeared on the screen, slightly messy-haired and with half-open eyes, but even so beautiful, tender, and vulnerable.
“So pretty…,” Jihyo whispered, feeling her heart flip, like a puppy looking at its favorite food with adoration and awe.
“Hyo…,” Sana said, her voice a thread laced with sleep and shyness.
Jihyo laughed softly, trying to steady herself.
“Forgive me… I know it’s early and that you have more important things to take care of… resting, going to the hospital…,” she swallowed. “But I needed to talk to you, even if just for a second. I have something to say… something I can’t keep any longer,” her voice broke slightly, and she lowered her gaze before looking at her again. “I know this isn’t ideal… but I don’t know when we’ll see each other again, so… just…”
Sana laughed, a warm sound that crossed the distance of the screen and made her skin prickle. “You’re so fucking cute,” she said playfully. “It’s okay, Hyo, I was already awake… just say it, you’re making me nervous,” she laughed, lightly biting her lips.
Jihyo swallowed, closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, the decision was clear in her gaze. “Sana… I really need to ask you something… something very important,” she said, her hands trembling and her heart pounding in her chest.
Sana sat up in bed, leaning softly, her face illuminated by the light of the screen. She frowned slightly, waiting.
“What is it?” she asked, soft, curious and anxious.
Jihyo brought her face closer to the phone, with a nervous and determined smile. “Can I… be your girlfriend?” her voice was a whisper, full of vulnerability and hope.
Sana remained still for a few seconds, her eyes bright, her heart beating at full speed. Then she laughed softly, a sound full of emotion and tenderness. “Shit…,” she whispered, with a smile that lit up the screen. “Yes… Hyo… you can.”
Jihyo let out a deep sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing for the first time in hours.
“I promise to take care of you… always,” she said, her eyes full of sincerity. “And paint you… too,” she added with a blush that made her laugh nervously.
Sana rested her head on her hand, her eyes fixed on her through the screen, shining with affection. “And I’ll take care of you… even if I have exams, shifts and endless nights. There will always be space for us,” her voice broke slightly with emotion. “I love you, Hyo… God… I wish I could kiss you right now,” her chest rose and fell quickly, her breathing uneven.
Jihyo gently bit her lower lip, feeling warmth spread through her chest. “I could go to the hospital just for that kiss, my girlfriend,” she whispered, her voice low and full of contained desire.
Sana’s eyes lit up, her mischievous smile brightening the screen. “I hope you do,” she said playfully, but with her heart racing.
“Oh, I will, my jagiya,” Jihyo replied, winking at her. “Wait for me there.”
“I won’t go anywhere else…”
They stayed silent for a few seconds, simply looking at each other through the screen, sharing that silent intimacy only they could understand. Then both laughed softly, knowing that even if life was complicated and days were full of responsibilities, they had found a safe and warm refuge in each other’s love.
⭑⭑⭑
The afternoon had fallen and the hospital was wrapped in intermittent silence, interrupted only by the sound of hallways and the murmur of nurses and patients. Jihyo walked with firm steps, breathing deeply as she moved through the corridors, each beat of her heart echoing in her ears.
And then she saw her. Sana was at the end of the corridor, in her impeccable doctor’s uniform, hair tied back and eyes focused on a file. The afternoon light came in through the windows and seemed to illuminate her, making her look even more beautiful than Jihyo remembered.
A shiver ran through Jihyo, and for a moment she stayed there, watching her in silence. Then, with determined but soft steps, she began to approach.
Each meter she advanced made her heart race faster, but also made her determination stronger.
When she was close enough, Jihyo extended her hand and gently took Sana’s. Sana looked up, surprised to feel the warmth of that hand intertwining with hers.
“Hyo…,” Sana whispered, with a mixture of surprise and tenderness.
Without letting go, Jihyo slowly pulled her closer, guiding her down the hallway with soft but determined movements. When they were face to face, Jihyo wrapped her arms around Sana’s waist and, without breaking eye contact, tilted her face toward her.
Jihyo’s lips found Sana’s with contained urgency, deep and warm. It was a long kiss, full of accumulated emotion, of desire and tenderness mixed in perfect harmony. Sana responded instantly, resting her hands on Jihyo’s shoulders and letting herself be carried away by the intensity of the moment.
When they finally separated, both were breathing heavily, their hearts beating at a rapid rhythm, and Jihyo’s eyes shone as she whispered:
“I told you I’d come for my kiss… my girlfriend,” she laughed sweetly.
Sana smiled, resting her forehead against hers, letting her breathing mix with Jihyo’s. “I… was waiting for you, my love,” she whispered, her eyes full of light and affection.
They stayed like that for a moment, intertwined, letting their connection speak louder than any word. The world around them disappeared, and only they existed, their love, and the certainty that every wait had been worth it.
⭑
⭑
⭑
❝One month later…❞
Sana took Chaeyoung’s hand as they walked toward the restaurant where Jihyo was already waiting with Tzuyu. Her heart was beating fast; finally, their sisters would meet in person.
Tzuyu, seated, couldn’t contain her excitement. She stood up to greet them outside with a wide smile.
“Finally we see each other in person!” she said when she saw them and of course ran to hug Sana. “And you’re much prettier than in photos and video calls,” she whispered to Sana.
Sana returned the hug, feeling her face burn at the comment. “Yes… finally. Thank you,” she replied, her heart beating hard. “Look, this is my little sister, Chaeyoung,” she pointed to the little one beside her.
Chaeyoung smiled shyly. “Hello!”
“Hello, you’re so cute,” Tzuyu said, leaning toward her.
“So you’re the sister of the weirdo who paints?” Chaeyoung asked with a mischievous smile.
Tzuyu laughed softly, and Sana couldn’t help joining in.
“Hey!” she scolded playfully. “She’s my girlfriend now!” she looked at her pointedly while laughing.
Tzuyu shrugged, laughing. “If that’s my Unnie…”
With those laughs between them, they entered the restaurant, a warm and cozy place. From afar, Sana saw Jihyo waiting for them. She looked beautiful and elegant, and Sana’s heart flipped when their gazes met.
Sana sketched a smile and winked at her, enjoying Jihyo’s immediate blush. When she reached her, Jihyo hugged her tightly.
“Hi, jagiya,” Jihyo whispered shyly.
“Hi, my love… you look so beautiful,” Sana replied sweetly, leaving a light kiss on her lips.
“You, more…” Jihyo looked at her with adoration.
Sana just sighed full of love, letting her sister be seen at her side, and the little one didn’t take long to greet her.
“Hi, weirdo,” Chaeyoung greeted with a playful smile.
“Hi, little bookworm caterpillar,” Jihyo joked.
“Hey!” Chaeyoung complained between laughs, amused by the truth in the nickname.
“Enough, enough, let’s eat, I’m starving,” Tzuyu spoke, calling everyone’s attention.
“Yes, I’m very hungry too,” Chaeyoung leaned and sat next to Tzuyu.
Both smiled at each other with complicity.
Lunch after that went by full of laughter and conversations. Chaeyoung shared anecdotes from school, while Tzuyu told stories of Jihyo as a child. Sana and Jihyo exchanged complicit looks and small caresses under the table, each gesture reinforcing their connection.
“I see you choose well,” Tzuyu commented, looking at Sana and smiling.
Sana laughed softly. “And you… seem incredible to me, Tzuyu.”
Jihyo took Sana’s hand and whispered: “Look how your sister smiles… that’s what I always want to see. She even looks like she’s not calling me ‘weirdo’,” she laughed playfully, while Chaeyoung stuck her tongue out.
“I’m not even looking at you or smiling, weirdo,” the little one replied.
Sana rested her head on Jihyo’s shoulder. “Chaeyoung…,” she scolded softly, but smiled. “And I want to be like this, with you, always,” she murmured only for Jihyo.
After lunch, they walked together through a nearby park, between jokes, laughter and looks full of love. Each step reaffirmed the connection they had built between their worlds and their families, and Sana felt that day would be unforgettable for all of them.
⭑⭑⭑
❝Years later... ❞
The afternoon sun filtered through the curtains, softly illuminating the living room that Sana and Jihyo had turned into their home. Jihyo’s brushes still rested in a jar on a wooden table, mixed with some half-finished canvases, while Sana arranged the sofa cushions and reviewed a medical file.
“I never thought we would have this,” Sana said, smiling as she sat next to Jihyo on the couch. “It’s ours, it really is,” she smiled softly.
Jihyo put down the brush she was cleaning and took Sana’s hand in hers. Their fingers intertwined naturally, and a warm shiver ran through both of them.
“I remember the first time I saw you,” Sana whispered, her eyes shining. “You were hiding behind that umbrella, protecting my sister from the rain, and I didn’t even know you, but I couldn’t take my eyes off you,” she confessed, looking at her with adoration.
Jihyo laughed softly, resting her forehead against Sana’s. “And I always saw you in the cafeteria… Waiting for you to see me, I saw every detail of you and couldn’t stop drawing you. Every gesture, every smile… I kept it all in my paintings.”
Sana rested her head on Jihyo’s shoulder and sighed, feeling the familiar warmth of home and the love they had built. “And now… look where we are… engaged, with our life together. I never imagined all this would be real. Every day I fall more in love with you.”
“And I with you,” Jihyo murmured, leaning down to softly kiss the crown of Sana’s head. “Forever.”
They stayed silent for a moment, enjoying the contact, the aroma of freshly made coffee drifting from the kitchen, the distant sound of birds outside. Then Sana straightened slightly and began reorganizing some books on the table, while Jihyo watched her with that smile that always made her feel at home.
“I remember every message we sent each other,” Sana said, with nostalgia and amusement mixed together. Every ‘good morning,’ every pout on the phone screen… even those silly little games. Everything built what we are now.”
Jihyo caressed her face tenderly. “Yes… and the kisses, stolen in the studio and at the hospital, when we had neither time nor space… each one stayed engraved in me. I still feel butterflies when I think about it.”
Sana smiled, resting her head again on her shoulder. “And then the real days came, the normal days, the routine of living together, with laughter, improvised dinners, silly fights about who washed the dishes…,” she laughed softly. “But all of that has its magic too.”
Jihyo leaned in, kissing her lips slowly, letting that kiss speak more than any word. “That’s our love. It grew with every detail, with every moment. And it will keep growing, jagiya. Always.”
They embraced, relaxed, letting time filter between them. Jihyo’s paintings, Sana’s notes on the desk, the memories of every date, every getaway, every look full of tenderness… everything was there, in that home, in that instant.
Sana smiled against Jihyo’s shoulder. “Sometimes I wonder if you remember the first time you drew me…”
Jihyo laughed, her gaze full of love and complicity. “How could I forget… I was terrified that you wouldn’t see me the way I saw you. But look at us now… together, happy, engaged… living each day as if it were our first kiss.”
Sana closed her eyes, breathing deeply.
“Thank you for every moment, Hyo… for every brushstroke, every message, every kiss. Thank you for choosing me.”
“I will always choose you,” Jihyo whispered, hugging her tightly. “Forever, my jagiya.”
And so, between soft laughter, caresses and complicit glances, both sank into the tranquility of their home, a place where every wall, every brushstroke and every memory spoke of a love that had begun shy, hidden behind a coffee, behind a canvas… and that now bloomed with strength, tenderness and eternity.
The End.