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The summer heat was scorching.
Sookyung's car was still hot despite the sun having been set for about an hour, her skin screaming to have her not touch the seats or the steering wheel yet. She sighed, turning the car on and blasting the AC that was everything but cool and refreshing. She needed to get that looked at. There was no reason she needed to be sitting in the driver's seat of her car for over five minutes sweating at the hot air that was being blasted through the system.
She plugged her phone into the aux cord while she waited, the air finally beginning to cool off. It took more than she would like to admit finding music to turn on, but she eventually settled on a summer playlist she and Haerim had made together.
That was almost six years ago now.
They had changed the songs over the years, growing out of a lot of them and exploring new artists and genres since the creation of it. Sookyung remembers sitting at the skatepark as the sun set at the end of May, listening to songs and picking out their favorites together. They were just kids then, Haerim perched on the edge of the rink working on her songs while watching Sookyung skate around.
"It's hot, you sure you wanna sit out here just to watch me skate?"
"Yeah, I don't mind. You should teach me one day, I think it's cool."
Haerim had moved after they graduated high school. A few hours south to go to a university that she had dreamed of, and as much as Sookyung wanted to follow her there, she didn't. The city had something special about it than the middle of nowhere, and the desert was not exactly the kind of sight Sookyung wanted to wake up to in the morning.
She did want to wake up to Haerim in the morning.
But work called and transferring to a small town didn't feel right. It wasn't far enough to keep from visiting and Haerim came back frequently enough that Sookyung couldn't complain. Every few weeks she had a weekend with Haerim in her apartment, waking up to her girlfriend making a cup of coffee.
Now, Sookyung would be waking up at Haerim’s.
Traffic was light on the highway down to Haerim’s campus, over an hour of nothing but desert road with the headlights guiding her way. The stars sparkled onto her car the entire way there, and Sookyung couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Haerim and her stargazing again like they did last month.
Sookyung missed Haerim a lot when she was at college. It was hard to get a hold of her between work and school but they texted as much as they could and called on the weekends. She was excited to see her, over a moon, and she had to keep herself in check to stop from speeding down the highway to get there sooner.
After an hour the city finally came into view. A small town with the streetlights in an ugly yellow color that lit up the street only enough to better see the lines on the road. Most of the light came from the buildings nearby, most fast food and small businesses that had yet to close, taller offices and buildings farther off the road.
The road quickly turned into nothing again, just streetlights lighting the street for another few minutes until the college came into view. It was new, the buildings in a different architecture style than anything nearby, but the lights were an inviting white.
Haerim’s apartment building was relatively tall compared to the other buildings in town, most of which were used for classes, and it was on the outskirts of town, peeking out into the empty desert. Sookyung parked in the full parking lot, getting out of her car and slinging her backpack over her shoulder before walking in.
She was happy to know the code to be let into the building, taking the elevator up to the seventh floor instead of taking the stairs. When the elevator dinged Sookyung wandered down the hallway looking for room 713, knocking on it when she found it.
“Coming!”
Sookyung couldn’t help but laugh when the door opened, Haerim standing in the doorway with a smile plastered on her face. As soon as Haerim closed the door, and Sookyung threw her bag on the couch, Sookyung pulled Haerim into a tight hug. She picked her up from the floor with a squeeze, Haerim’s laughter filling the air and making Sookyung’s heart pound.
“I missed you so much, baby,” Sookyung muttered, setting Haerim down to pull her into a deep kiss.
Their lips meld together, Sookyung moving a hand to cup Haerim’s cheek to pull her closer. She smelled like fresh lavender, her hair slightly damp from a shower she must’ve recently taken, and her lips were smeared in a strawberry chapstick.
When Haerim pulled away, Sookyung followed her, pressing their lips together once quickly before letting her go. Haerim led her into the small bedroom in her apartment for Sookyung to put her things, sitting on the edge of the bed as her girlfriend unpacked her things.
“It’s hot,” Sookyung complained as she walked back and forth to the bathroom with her skincare and toothbrush.
“I know, it’s supposed to be record highs the next few days. Do you wanna go get coffee to cool off?”
“Honestly, yeah that sounds really good.” It seemed silly to say coffee to cool off, but it was something they did a lot together. A coffee shop only in their region that had far more than just coffee. Teas, lemonades, smoothies, iced coffees, hot coffees, everything in any flavor imaginable. Amazing for the heat of the desert. “You said there was a pool, right? I brought my swimsuit if you want to jump in when we get back?”
“Please. I’ve been wanting to go for the past week, but I’ve been too busy.”
Sookyung grabbed her keys off the bed before leaning over and planting a kiss on Haerim’s lips. “Let’s go then, babe.”
The car ride was silent into the next town over, mostly unlit by anything but stars. Haerim was in charge of music, but simply put on their summer playlist to sing along. God, was Haerim perfect. She was wearing a pretty striped tee, french tucked into a pair of denim shorts. It wasn’t far off from what Sookyung was wearing herself, some denim shorts with a lace bralette over the top.
Haerim probably would’ve called her hot if given the opportunity.
The town came into view after a while of singing and laughing together, the lights a bright color compared to the empty desert roads. Sookyung was lucky enough to have driven here enough times to have it memorized, quickly pulling into the drive through of the coffee shop that always seemed to be busy.
“Do you want your usual?” Sookyung asked as she pulled the car forward since the line had moved. They still had a few cars until someone would take their order, but it was better to plan their drinks out now.
“Yes, please. Are you paying or am I?” Haerim asked, moving to pull out her card from her back pocket.
Sookyung shook her head as she rolled down the driver window, pulling forward once again. “I’ve got it, baby-- Hi, can I get a medium Pink Flamingo smoothie and a medium Hyperchrome iced tea?”
This was their usual order, ringing up to just under ten dollars between the both of them along with a tip. Pink Flamingo was a strawberry, peach, and white chocolate smoothie and a Hyperchrome was orange, passionfruite, and pomegranate both tasting like summer. At first glance, it might be under the assumption the smoothie was for Haerim considering she was far more femme than Sookyung who had her hair cut short, but that would be incorrect.
When they pulled to the window their drinks were already done, promptly thanking the worker as Sookyung passed the tea to Haerim who happily sipped at her drink. Sookyung’s would have to sit in the cup holder for a minute until Haerim would put in the straw.
The ride back was boring without Haerim’s beautiful voice filling the air as often. She still sang but paused occasionally to sip at her fruity drink that she adored. Sookyung’s drink had a straw in it now, so she also sipped without much singing, but it wouldn’t be long until they made it back home.
After stopping upstairs to change into their swimsuits they made their way down to the community pool. It wasn’t huge or particularly spectacular, but in the scorching summer heat, anything would do. Haerim used the key to open the gate to keep children and intruders out, pushing it open for her girlfriend.
They placed their towels and phones on a small table on the shallow end of the pool, Sookyung stepping down the stairs and into the shallow water of the pool. The water was a bright pretty blue from the tile underneath and the chlorine, the underwater lights making it glow. Luck was on their side considering the water was still cool and not lukewarm from the sun beating down on it throughout the day.
Haerim was not the kind of girl to wade in like Sookyung was, who was only up to her hips in water so far. Instead, she walked to the other end of the pool to jump right in. Sookyung laughed as Haerim surfaced with a bit of a shiver, wading just a bit farther to her waist. It was a bit cold, a nice refreshing kind.
“You take forever to get in,” Haerim complained, slowly swimming her way over to her girlfriend who was still half dry.
“If you splash me we’re going to have some problems, babe.” Sookyung’s warning made Haerim tilt her head, wet hair making the water move around her as she finally stood on her feet and wandered over.
“We already have problems, one of which is you’re still dry!”
Sookyung was splashed by a large wave of water, trying to hold her hands to protect herself from it to no avail. She was drenched and partially shivering now that she was soaked, but this meant payback. She kicked off toward Haerim who had already begun to run away from Sookyung, making her way as quickly as she could to the other side of the pool.
She wasn’t going to escape, though. Sookyung dove under the water, swimming to her in a matter of seconds and pulling her under with her. When they both surfaced they both burst out into laughter, Sookyung holding Haerim by the waist and keeping them both afloat over the deep end of the pool.
“For someone who used to be on the swim team, I’m surprised you don’t jump in like I do.”
“Your nips get cold that way!” Sookyung defended, before kissing Haerim on the cheek. “C’mon let’s at least get our drinks.”
Haerim turned to look at the table, with their two drinks sitting to melt in the heat. Bringing them by the poolside would be nice to grab sips every once in a while. Sookyung led the way, kicking her feet to bring them both to a place they could stand. Although Haerim seemed bolder, she was not very good at swimming.
They grabbed their drinks and placed them on the side of the pool near the stairs, Haerim stood sipping on hers for a bit while Sookyung did a few laps back and forth. She surfaced near her girlfriend, pushing her soaking hair back that fell in strands to frame her face.
“Come here,” Haerim called for her, sitting on the stairs, keeping most of her body under the water. Her long hair was dipped in at the ends, the top falling on the sides of her face instead of back behind her ears. “I want a kiss.”
Sookyung smiled brightly as she made her way over, sinking herself below the water and onto the stairs with Haerim. She leaned over pressing a kiss to her cheek, reaching over to grab her drink behind Haerim's back. Sookyung pulled away, pressing the straw to her lips for a sip while Haerim complained. "No! A real kiss, c'mon it's been two weeks!"
Haerim climbed into Sookyung's lap, wrapping her legs around her waist to sit comfortably. She nuzzled her head into Sookyung's shoulder while her girlfriend struggled to place the drink back on the ledge of the pool.
As soon as the drink was out of grasp Haerim was pressing their lips together in a deep kiss, her hands melding around the nape of Sookyung’s neck. Sookyun’s hands wandered down Haerim’s arms and around her waist, enjoying the feeling of her girlfriend in her arms.
Haerim’s body pressed against Sookyung’s was heaven. Haerim pulled Sookyung’s hair slightly, licking her bottom lip to ask for permission to push past. Sookyung’s head turned, opening her mouth and letting Haerim’s tongue into her mouth, the taste of summer fruit on her tongue. They swirled their tongues together in a fight for dominance, Sookyung not once giving in.
The push and pull of Haerim wanting more and letting Sookyung take over was pure bliss, their tongues exploring past the taste of fruit. Sookyung broke the kiss, instead moving to press soft smooches to Haerim’s collarbones. “You’re being bold today, baby.”
“I missed you, can you blame me?”
“No not at all,” Sookyung smiled through kisses back up to Haerim’s lips, giggling before pulling her into another kiss. She let her hands wander down to Haerim’s thighs as she pushed her tongue into Haerim’s mouth, the girl letting out a small hum of appreciation.
Sookyung’s hands wandered more, over Haerim’s waist, down her back, until she finally grabbed her ass. Haerim let out a noise of suprise, breaking the kiss in the process. “Hey, watch it!”
“You’re so pretty, I can’t help it.”
Haerim rolled her eyes, pressing a kiss to Sookyung’s nose, “Well you better help it at least until we can get upstairs.”