Chapter Text
The sound of papers shuffling has become routine the last few hours as stacks and stacks of reports are reviewed and filed away. Eventually, Junna’s eyesight blurs, the words merging into illegible scribbles. It’s a warning sign she’s been working too long when she can’t recognize her own handwritten corrections from the printed text. That and the tense group of muscles in her lower back creaking in pain. Sighing, she takes off her glasses and presses the palms of her hands against her eyes, leaning back against the couch.
It’s already late in the evening and the rest of the dorm has more than likely gone to sleep, but there are too many things she needs to finish before she can even think about resting. Reports that need to be written, club budgets that have to be reviewed and- There’s a numbing feeling in the back of her head that spreads down towards her stiff neck in the beginnings of a migraine. Junna peeks through a gap between her fingers and promptly regrets the decision as the common room lights blind her.
She groans, rubbing the sides of her temple. It feels as though she might collapse any second now, but spite and diligence, as well as four cups of caffeine are keeping her awake. Sluggish, but awake. It’s a struggle to keep her eyelids from shutting permanently.
Sleep is for the weak and Junna is so very, very tired.
Maybe she should go grab another cup of coffee since she’s right next to the kitchen. The pile on the common room’s table won’t get any smaller if she just sits there. Reaching for her glasses, she-
“JunJun~ “ a cheerful voice calls from behind her before her vision is robbed again, but this time, by soft, gentle hands.
“Guess who?”
“I’m busy right now, Karen.” The chilly pressure feels good against her strained eyes but she wouldn’t admit that, least not to Karen of all people.
“Ehehe, was I that obvious?”
“I always know it’s you,” Junna answers and she hears a surprised hitch. “Because you’re loud and it’s impossible to mistake you for someone else.” She finishes, smirking when Karen deflates, her hands sliding down to rest on Junna’s shoulder.
Karen pouts, rubbing her cheek against Junna’s. “JunJun, that’s so mean of you!”
“Doesn’t make it any less true, Karen.” Junna laughs lightly, shrugging her other shoulder.
“I’m going to tickle you in your sleep, JunJun,” Karen declares solemnly.
“I’ll make sure Nana won’t let you into our room.” Junna narrows her eyes at Karen which the latter returns with a pout of her own.
They’re both equally stubborn in different ways but just as Junna thought Karen wasn’t going to give up, the hands on her shoulder disappear, leaving Junna to reel back the jarring feeling of Karen’s missing warmth.
“Be right back!” Karen dashes away from the common room and luckily comes back shortly with the comforter from her bed and a strawberry milk juice box from the fridge, happily plopping down next to Junna on the couch.
“Karen, what are you doing?” Junna’s eyebrow rises despite letting Karen adjust the comforter over their laps.
“JunJun, you can finish up some work but overworking is a non non dayo. So I’ll stay here until you go back to bed!” She volunteers, beaming a bright smile. Junna blames the hot prickling sensation behind her eyelids on her headache, including the one in front of her.
(She would be lying if she said she didn’t know which of the headaches has turned into a heartache.)
“…I won’t be going to sleep anytime soon though.” Junna warns.
“That’s okay! At least we’ll be together!” Karen says with an energy that shouldn’t be so endearing at this hour but Karen somehow manages to do just that.
Junna nods, not trusting her voice and takes a sip of the strawberry milk. Sweet. Exactly like the girl that gave it to her.
Fortunately it doesn’t take long to finish up her third to last report but it comes with a price as she’s hit with a sudden bout of vertigo. She’s just about reached her limit. Pinching the bridge of her nose, a soft snore reaches her ears before a body leans itself against her shoulder. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Karen has nodded off. Despite the boundless energy Karen possesses, she’s still human, Junna reminds herself.
A shift and Junna’s heart leaps up into her throat but Karen mutters something near unintelligible that sounded suspiciously like, “…Jun…Jun…” before snuggling up to Junna’s side, clinging onto her. At any other time, Junna would have rolled her eyes and pushed Karen away, telling her to go back to sleep in her room. But in the secret of the night with nary a judging eye, a warm smile escapes Junna’s lips. She smooths back Karen’s hair and tucks a stray strand behind her ear. Pulling the covers up, Junna tucks Karen closer against her shoulder and decides that she can close her eyes for a few minutes. She’ll finish up the rest after she wakes up.