Work Text:
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“She’ll be home in a minute, thank you so much for doing this, I’ll make sure to get something for you, Hyewon darling.”
A young girl with long hair, it falls straight down the back of her dark cotton cardigan, in her hand gripped tight a game console, sliding and reacting well to the cars racing on the monitor. She was absorbed into the game so focused that she couldn’t comprehend what that sentence was. The voice was shouted from behind her, to be more exact, it was from the front door, someone was about to take their departure. She guessed what they have said, it’s probably something related to her shopping trip that she is about to leave for.
“It’s fine Miss Kim, this isn’t the first time I’m taking this job, just the pay is enough.”
The younger girl who was sitting comfortably on a sofa turned back. She smiled with friendly intent, like it was okay to not get her any gifts this trip. Her eyes then observed her conversation partner from head to toe: a middle aged woman probably in her early fifties, she was wearing a bright blouse with flower patterns embroidered onto the clean silk. On her forearm hangs an expensive bag, made of shiny leather. It looked overpriced, her shoes the same too, with that gigantic gem stuck loosely to the tip.
“No, no I’ve already asked your mum for this, well, see you later then!”
The door shuts tightly, followed by sounds of keys jangling as an engine of an expensive car started to crack the oil. The tires also scorched against the tarmac trying to compete with the summer sun. The engine trails off in no time, leaving the house quiet and so tranquil that– the girl left inside the house has lost her grip on the console, and dozed off, sinking into the cushion underneath.
Eventually, the door opened up again with a soft push, almost making no noise like a cat sneaking into a house. A pair of jet black leather boots were squeezed at the heels, pulling it apart with struggle away from the ankle. It was then thrown carelessly onto the floor right in the middle of the hallways. A small suitcase was rolled to the bottom of the staircase, while another flat fabric briefcase, containing some kind of electronic was placed gently on a dresser next to it.
They peeked through the doorframe leading to the living room, head tilting to the side, letting her locks of light brown, almost golden, fall down not very far from the origin. She turned straight up, seeing the TV monitor on, her hair falls back down just meeting her shoulders. Walking around to the other side of the sofa in search of the person, she saw this young lady lying down peacefully on the couch. Her features were sharp, all of them. Her eyes to her nose to her chin and those lips so full and plump, even slightly lifting up from the sweet dreams she was having, such a blissful sight to see at the start of a summer holiday.
A blanket was lifted from nearby, placing it delicately onto the sleeping figure. The monitor too was switched off, and the console placed back neatly onto the coffee table in front. The one just arrived didn’t say a word, but left, climbing up the stairs back into the comfort of their own room. Waiting for the other to naturally wake up by themselves.
-
“Shit. I’ve fallen asleep..”
Hyewon woke up from a loud muffled sound from somewhere, and because she was facing the windows naturally, she immediately saw what was outside, the sky had already darken, it felt like the air outside was covered in dust. She quickly felt her pockets, pulling out her phone she then looked at the time— half past six.
A deep breath was taken, then she marched to the kitchen. The cabinet opened with ease, as she looked around to find what she could do she tried to flatten down her hair that had curled up during her nap earlier. Pulling out a few plates and ingredients she started up the stove. Did some chopping on the greens and diced some bacon. She then cracked some eggs into a bowl, sprinkled in seasoning, and tossed them all into the pan. She was grateful that the rice cooker was already on since the afternoon, or else she would have struggled trying to pick on a menu.
Finally a meal was put together, as a mountain of food sat on either side of the dining table, paired on the mat was fresh orange juice for one, and plain old water for the other. It was simple, but the real task hasn’t arrived yet. She still had to go upstairs and try to negotiate with someone she isn’t really keen to talk to.
“Dinner!”
She knocked a few times, it unfortunately did not diffuse its way past these wall, since the loud piercing music instead permeated through the gap underneath the door without having to make any effort.
Hyewon swears to disassemble those speakers one day, it was literally the size of a water tank on one of those water dispensers you’d see in an office. It was too huge to be booming out these bass boosted tunes. Seems like the only thing boosted here was Hyewon’ limit. It couldn’t be helped, this is the only way to get some kind of response.
“I’m coming in!”
The door was luckily unlocked, bursting through inside, and all she could see was darkness except for a monitor lit up in the distance and that small beeping bulb from the speakers. She fumbled for the switch to the side of the door, finding it, she pressed on the button.
“Wait– No!”
The stark light was almost blinding for a second, it was bright, reflecting the amount of mess going on in the room. The center of the room could not have been seen, scattered across was the internals of a suitcase, with all the clothes currently piling up, there was no way to walk around anywhere.
“Ugh, disgusting, don't you know how to clean up?”
“Don’t you know how to knock?”
The owner of this rebellious voice was hiding underneath a blanket refusing to meet the brightness. It was quite the shift from pitch black to the blinding lights, so she understood the situation and let this one slip off Hyewon’s mind.
“Okay? Don't act like you answer my knocks then, you're in college now but can't even fucking cook for yourself.”
“Shut up. I know you get money for doing this.” The other hissed, still hiding underneath that comfy blanket.
“And also,” They added, “Don't you like being with me, Hyewon-nie?”
The blanket slipped off the top of their head, this high pitched voice, yet have this soft undertone like fluffy marshmallows. It then reveals a younger girl than the one at the door, she was wearing her favorite violet-coloured oversized hoodie, hiding away her fragile figure underneath.
And those eyes, those eyes so deep and mysterious that Hyewon feels like it's more about this sweet scent of cola simmering inside, one that you’re only realizing its sweetness, not knowing that once you’ve drawn in, suddenly you’re addicted to them. And that is the situation that Hyewon is in right now, and she isn’t too fond of this idea so much.
“No I don't, Chaewon.”
“Aww, it's okay to admit sweetie.”
She tucked her locks that had fallen to her cheeks back, clinging them behind her ears, while she nodded in agreement to her own statement. It was true, like what Chaewon had said. She enjoyed staying at this house, it has everything someone will ever need to live an average life, it just wasn't expected for someone like this..
“Shut that mess, come downstairs.”
Hyewon’s eyesight signaled to the monitor, tilting her head in that direction also, the younger seemed to have received the message. It was too far away for her to see clearly what was on the monitor, but what she could make out from this distance was lines of text pouring down endlessly in a document. A score was flickering on and off at the end of the script, showing that this kid right here has written every single line of it. She wasn’t too pleased with this side of Chaewon’s so much, sometimes she feels like it’s something that Chaewon could beat her at, but that’s approximately the only thing though.
“I haven't saved! Also I’m soooo close to figuring this out. Can't you just.. bring it up like always..?”
The voice trails off, like it knows it's fate well. This proposal has to be a rejection.
“No. Before I pull plugs.. And I don't want to do that.”
She had a straight face, indecipherable. Nobody can tell what is inside Hyewon’s mind, it's.. complicated?
The only way to tell was to stare so deep into her eyes that you could practically see what's going on in there, and there is only one person who is willing to stare hard enough.
“I know you don't, fine, if I go downstairs I get ice cream for dessert?”
“Whatever, just come down, okay?”
She said with a brushing tone, her hand also gesturing the same thing. The door then was left to gaze into the hallways, and the figure standing by it had already made her way back down the steps, in hope for the other to follow her shortly afterwards.
-
“It's your favorite isn't it?”
Hyewon pointed her spoon to the half-sphere on the table. It's fumes coating the plate, showing that it's still piping hot. It was practically shining, from the flavors lodging off each grain of rice, interfused with a vibrant color of all sorts in between.
“Yeah! Of course it is. You make good egg fried rice ya know.”
“And when I told you I’ll teach you, why don't you listen?”
“Why would I do it myself when I know you can do it better than me?”
This kid made a fairly good point. Hyewon does love a little bit of cooking for someone else from time to time, not as often though, she doesn't want to spend more time with this mess anymore than just enough.
“Fine. Just you know, this won't be permanent.”
“What do you mean? Are you.. gonna stop?”
The younger dropped her spoon, her shoulders sunk and her lips were slightly parting out of shock. She wasn't expecting this, not tonight, not at the start of summer where they're sitting in a warm dining room.
“Babysitting is easy. Anyone can do it right?”
“No? I want you.”
Chaewon smiled, curling those lips upwards it hides her mischievous intent. She wanted Hyewon. If it wasn't Hyewon here to make her favorite meals, she wouldn't want anyone else. And she also knew that Hyewon herself too, wouldn’t want anyone else to mess around with Chaewon so easily.
“Fuck. Alright, you win, kid.”
Hyewon paused. This was supposed to be a prank, a lighthearted one so that Chaewon would be grateful for her being here. Not a flaunt, of herself.
“I’m just a year younger than you?!”
Chaewon was being reluctant, she had always been against the idea of Hyewon calling her a kid. But ultimately she didn’t mind, it was nice, and she’ll only let Hyewon call her that childish nickname.
“And you are still a kid.”
Hyewon repeats, it was fun, teasing Chaewon in this manner seeing her getting angry over such little things. It was the less complicated side of her, not anything too deep, just a nice, casual, conversation.
Chaewon knew she couldn't win this competition, in fact, she had never won a competition against Hyewon, ever.
She kept quiet afterwards, looking down at her plate which had disappeared more quickly than she thought. Eventually it was empty, normally she wouldn't finish her meal clean like this, but it's Hyewon’s cooking, it's fucking delicious.
“Don't go upstairs, wait.”
The older walked over the table, grabbing the finished plate she gazed into the younger’s widened eyes. She was trying to threaten Chaewon, to show her that she is the one in control here.
“Ugh, I need to finish my project!”
Chaewon whines, she throws her tantrum down onthe the table a few times. She then used one of her fatal weapons, one that Hyewon hates the most, and Chaewon knows this.
She sticks her bottom lips out, make her eyes a little more sparkly (she thinks) and just.. stared.
Hyewon lost. Completely lost.
She didn't dare to say anything, because it would only result in a backfire. She turned away, and surrendered by reaching for the door leading to the freezer and looked to the plastic boxes laying in one of the shelves. Ignoring Chaewon for the time being.
“Aww.. there’s only chocolate left..” Hyewon didn’t turn back, but said in a disappointing tone. It was sarcasm of course, she wasn’t worried at all about the only ice cream left being a flavor that she is fine with. It’s her client here that isn’t okay with it.
“Then go buy some!”
The handle of the fridge was conveniently glossy, the metal reflected Chaewon’s reaction into Hyewon’s sight. She was angry, brows pressed down and her forehead unraveling all its emotions inside. But it was probably herself that ate all the remaining mint chocolate ice cream in the freezer either way, that was Hyewon’s speculation.
“You can't order me around.”
“Yes, I can.”
It was true. Chaewon can order Hyewon around so easily, but she doesn’t want to, she wants Hyewon to know that she is winning, so the true winner here will always be Chaewon.
“Well, you do have to pay.”
“How much does mum pay you again?”
“Minimum wage.”
Hyewon rolled her eyes, she threw herself down to the comfort of the dining chair, her hands rest on the top wooden frame, and flicked her hair away from her shoulders, releasing some of the heat trapped in between her skin and locks of warm dark cinnamon.
Chaewon watched the older’s actions on coincidence of her being in line of sight. It was tempting, Hyewon. She wanted to lose so badly, so badly that she unintentionally reached to the cabinet just above the counter, pulling out a jar, reached in and fetched out a bill.
“Here.”
Chaewon slapped it down the table in front of Hyewon. The colors of the bills were pale green all the same, but reading the number, Hyewon did widen her eyes for a second. It was supposed to be her mum’s secret stash, she accidentally saw when her mum placing those bills in there while she was unaware of her presence, she didn’t say a thing about it, but both of them are going to forget its existence anytime soon, so Chaewon might as well use this to her own advantages.
“Woah, how much tubs do I need to get?”
“As much as you want to feed me.”
Now with both her hands cupping her chin, her eyes filled with fondness for the older, she couldn’t help herself but to smile following Hyewon. Chaewon loves to see Hyewon being happy.
“I’ll be back then, don’t cause any mess,” Hyewon said with a breathy voice, it’s a drag for her to do this, she sometimes feels like she doesn’t get paid enough to do this job, but at the same time, her customer is Chaewon, and just to lay eyes on her, Hyewon feels like she is overpaid to do this. Getting to see Chaewon in itself was so much worth it.
“Roger that!”
Chaewon shouted from behind, she pushed her lips together and straighten up her back a little. She was playing around, and Hyewon could only shake her head to this childish act. But she couldn't blame her, everyone gets exited when thry know what treat is in store for them in a very short moment.
Hyewon hastily chucks on a pair of all stars, stealing one of the lavish fur coats hanging by the door, she left. For just down the road there is an average sized grocery store, such a good part of town to live in.
-
A frozen tub was placed into the freezer, painted all around the opaque box was mint green, dabbed on with chocolate chip chunks. It was strangely quiet, it was too late to be blasting bass boosted music at this hour, at least this kid does have some manners.
She started to step up the stairs, with each step that she elevated up she feels the air a little denser. There was some kind of uneasy tension, Hyewon doesn’t like this sign, her instinct is telling her to do something different than she had ever done before tonight.
“What are you doing.”
Hyewon didn’t bother to knock, the room was the same still, walking past clothes strewn around on the floor like avoiding landmines in the dark, she made it to the table, with a monitor on and sounds of springs from the typing mechanics filled the empty air.
“Don’t you love numbers? Then you should know what I’m doing.”
Chaewon answered, still having her eyes glued to the screen, Hyewon followed and did the same, already having her hands clenched onto the leather office chair, getting some support to lean herself closer to the screen in hope to see the tiny texts clearer.
“Then excuse me.”
“You are excused.”
Receiving the confirmation from Chaewon, she runs her hand down the backrest, tugging it with some force. The wheels then rolled back, she then slid herself in between the gap, and took a seat onto Chaewon’s lap like water running downstream.
It was so smooth Chaewon didn’t even realized what she had excused for until she felt the weight down and the chair sank a bit naturally, and suddenly now her mouse and keyboard had just got taken over because she was too surprised to the sudden shift of altitude she was in.
“You better not screw it up.”
Chaewon was more worried about her project than her own muscles. It seems like Hyewon wasn’t taking it easy either, she was fully pulling her punch down, Chaewon feels like she’s currently under a hydraulic press, but luckily Hyewon wss leaning forward to the screen, or else this could turn into a disaster in many different ways.
“Pfft. This is too easy.”
Hyewon scanned the numbers with plain eyesight, her major is advanced mathematics, not something common, and too draining for an average being to comprehend. But she was a different story, probably trading her unmoving golden ratio face with such intense amount of focus, it took her less than a few minutes to figure out the error, starting her way into fixing the mistakes.
The keyboard pace was slower than the owner of it, Chaewon observed from above Hyewon’s shoulders with admire in her eyes. Her hands were awkward, resting on the armrest and trying to peer past a mountain isn’t the most comfortable position.
It’s fair game, right?
Trying to make the minimum amount of noise, to try and surprise this adult invading her space, she lifted both her arms off the armrest, and slid them, slowly, each finger runs across the older’s stomach, it contracts inwards, but that didn’t faze Chaewon, she did it with both her hands, hugging the older tight in the end.
“What are you trying to do huh?”
“Hug you.”
Her voice was muffled, her face was buried inside Hyewon’s cotton cardigan, only her eys were floating above to see what is going on with her precious scripts.
If Hyewon could keyboard smash right now, she would definitely have done so. In fact, that was so adorable she would like to just throw this whole monitor away so that she could hear that soft bubbling voice again.
Chaewon only feeds just enough. Just enough for Hyewon not to be satisfied, but too little that she always comes back, asking for more love. Like base two, flickering on and off.
“I’m done.” Hyewon pressed enter one last time, from her limited knowledge on this coding programme she assumed that not seeing any red text means that it has no errors. She lifted her hands off the keyboard and mouse, and clasped onto the one having her skin in their grasp.
“But I’m not done with you.”
Her voice was cold, colder than the low humming air conditioner in the room. It sent a chill down Chaewon’s spine, her arms tensed, and her senses were alert, like she was scared.
“Your arms here, I asked for your permission, but you didn’t ask for mine.”
It was a half whisper, like Hyewon didn’t intend to be putting much effort into uttering it to reach Chaewon’s hearing, because why would she go the extra mile, when she could simply just lean her head back, Chaewon’s ears isn’t that far from her words now.
“I thought this right here was permission.”
Chaewon unwrapped her forefinger from the embrace, pointing it downwards to where Hyewon’s shin had already intertwined tight to Chaewon’s calves, locking her in.
Both their eyesight followed the finger, Hyewon chuckled, amused by the younger one’s ability to presume actions leading to one another. Chaewon’s guess wasn’t off her calculations, she meant for her to do that.
“I guess it is, well.. what can I do? Aren’t we both equal?”
Both of them are in the same condition, Hyewon is bound tight to her chair, a seat belt wrapped around her torso unable to move. Chaewon is stuck, her legs confined in between Hyewon’s and with her little strength she couldn’t lift the older off without breaking her perfect posture.
“Are you sure?”
Chaewon’s tone was a little lower, she tried to act intimidating, but she couldn’t, there’s always those sweet undertones, like candies and marshmallows sprinkled inside her pitch.
“What do you mean?”
Hyewon wasn’t scared, she had got this under control. This is her main job after all, to discipline this kid to listen to what she has to say.
“You owe me.. a lot,” Chaewon whispers into the air, it didn’t have an effect on Hyewon, until she lets out a puff from her nose, her lips almost stretching to her cheeks. She knows the exact words she needed to say to output her wanted reaction.
“And you.. love me, don’t you?”
“When did I ever say that? And I never owe you anything.”
Hyewon lowered her eyelids, inside her head was trying to search for the slightest fraction of her memory that she had admitted that she likes Chaewon. Which was never.
“You owe me for every time you make me feel something churning in my stomach, for every time you make my head spin because you are so fucking breath taking you know..”
Chaewon tightened up one of her arms around, letting her right go, and let her fingers traced them down Hyewon’s delicate features. It slides down her steep slope making up her nose bridge, then they follow down her angular chiseled jawline. Finishing with now Hyewon’s chin rests, softly in between Chaewon’s thumb and forefinger.
“You have to repay me.”
It was more like a tune, ones that would escape out from bedtime stories, that sentence.
Chaewon didn’t wait even a second more, she lifted those sharpen chin up, making Hyewon’s lips part a little. She then rotate her fingers around, and moved herself a little forward so they met halfway.
Hyewon’s plan backfired. It wasn’t supposed to end up like this. But this kid was right, if this is what it meant to repay Chaewon her debt for literally just existing. This is a win for her either way.
She gave up, Hyewon. Her eyes weren’t stiff, her lips melted to that warm touch. She leaned back completely, submerged into the depth of something she knew she can’t escape.
-
“I can read you like my coding instructions manual.”
Chaewon pointed her spoon to the opposite direction of where she was sitting. Only the lights at the kitchen counter was left turned on, as there was two bowls sat on the table, one smeared with mint green showered with chocolate chips and the other was just plain vanilla.
“Can you give normal imageries like normal people? Oh, wait.. forgot you’re a fucking genius.”
Hyewon was biting down on that metal spoon, the soft ice cream that supposedly should’ve given cushioning didn’t stand a chance. Her tone was even bitter enough to take over the ridiculously sweet flavor of sugar inside the dessert.
“Why? Because I can solve equations with five variables in my head doesn’t make me a genius too?”
Chaewon raised her brow, she knew Hyewon isn’t someone to be throwing around childish fights. Maybe that kiss earlier on did soften her speech as well. Not so much of any logics laced into each and every sentence.
“Shut up and enjoy that disgusting thing,” Hyewon’s face was disgusted the same, she always hated that flavor, it has been the only flavor that Chaewon has demanded from her.
“Don’t you want to try it? I know you’d love it.”
Chaewon merged back into her usual self, against the bright lights of the kitchen lamps she has this sparkling eyes like always. It makes Hyewon feel conflicted sometimes, she will never forget what just happened upstairs.
It had never happened before as well, but now— nothing could go back to being the same way.
And it wasn’t.
Chaewon quickly scooped up a big spoonful of her favorite mint chocolate ice cream, she carried it on top of her tongue inside of her mouth making sure it touches the least heat possible.
She hurried to the other side of the kitchen counter, pushed aside Hyewon’s bowl, and sat down on top of the counter. She smiled, her cheeks inflated with air still, and just stared.
One of Chaewon’s weapons, her eyes. So tempting, like it draws you closer, like a flytrap, who could resist, probably most people, but definitely not Hyewon.
Such a big win. Chaewon’s favorite ice cream flavor, with Chaewon’s favorite person in the world, now making weird faces towards this new taste, both soft, both feels the same.
Apart from the temperature, according to Hyewon, mint choco ice cream, tastes like Chaewon.
“I mean.. I like you so.. guess I do really have to like this too.”
It was fresh like morning sunshine, and that sweet aftertaste from the chocolate like her marshmallow undertones. It wasn’t like how she remembered its taste, probably because it was too long ago for her to remember.
“You’re such a kid. Liking things like this.”
Flickering on and off, suddenly so soft, suddenly so stiff. Hyewon was back into trying to assert some power, saying that Chaewon still has ways to go, tonight’s actions are not going to shift things so easily on Hyewon’s side.
“I’m twenty-one. I’m what? Three years past my teenage?”
Chaewon minded her own business afterwards, digging into her treat soon to melt into milkshake against the humid night. She still keeps the scoreboard in her head, already preparing comebacks to bicker with Hyewon for the near future.
“Hurry up then. Or I’m going to bed.”
Hyewon leaned her cheeks against her hand perched up on the table, she had already cleaned up her bowl, eyelids soon to give up to her conscious due to it being very late at night.
“You sure you would want to go to bed before me?”
Hyewon gulped down a ball of uncertainty, she would have answered no so clearly inside her head, but those eyes they glare deep, not even budging an inch off Hyewon. She felt like she was being hunted, she wasn’t scared, but nervous of what to come.
“I’ll wait for you upstairs, I know you hate sleeping in messy rooms right? You should clean it up before going to bed.”
Chaewon nodded, topped it up with a pout and you’ve got the perfect combination of a bratty kid. She then smiled, giggled and patted Hyewon on the shoulders, running straight upstairs back to her own room.
“That was quick.”
“I threw everything into the washing machine. Who knows which ones have been put out since when..”
A lamp was on at the corner of the room, now the floor actually could be felt with Hyewon’s barefoot, she had forgotten how the floor of this room even looked like, it was this grey-ish carpet, but she wasn’t on it for long, she kneeled forward, meeting a soft landing of a blanket,
“Oww, my arms!”
“Sorry, I can’t see very well,” Hyewon can see, what she couldn’t see was where is the switch to the lamp is. It was a half lie, so it didn’t matter in the end.
“Turn off the lamp.”
“What’s the magic word?”
“Please,” Chaewon said half-heartedly, letting those words escape the gaps between her gritting teeth is harder than trying to make her solve a crash on a computer.
“Ugh, stop it!”
Chaewon threw her arms to the side, making contact with the older’s arm too they both laughed. For whatever reason Hyewon found it funny, and Chaewon too, just rolled her eyes then shut them close.
“Goodnight, Chaewon.”
Hyewon said, she felt around and estimated approximately where Chaewon’s forehead is, landing a soft touch of her lips onto there, before leaning back onto the pillow.
“Goodnight, Hyewon-nie.” Chaewon turned around, and with her precision of finding where Hyewon’s arm resides, grabbed hold of it, and gently kissed those hands delicately.
Hyewon couldn’t sleep.
It was a foreign feeling, them both in the same bed, saying goodnight right before closing eyes. Chaewon seemed to have no problem with this, already having such slow constant breathing hanging on loosely to Hyewon’s hand. She had a smile on her face too, whatever she is dreaming of is definitely a sweet dream.
Deep inside Hyewon was just jealous. And selfish for all she had done. She wanted Chaewon for her own, but never said a word for granted towards having her here.
Tonight was all Chaewon’s doing, even though she had a clear vision in her head, like Hyewon has this invisible thinking bubble popping up on top that only Chaewon could see.
“Then you probably know what I’m about to say.”
The cold air scratches Hyewon’s voice a little, she didn’t clear her throat afterwards, because she didn’t have another sentence to say. She knows she doesn't have to say it herself.
“Yeah, I love you too.”
Chaewon answered, with her sleepy voice, like she was waiting for Hyewon to say that sentence, before she again, continued onto wherever her mind would guide her for this very sweet dream to come.
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