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"You couldn't do this sooner?"
Sua groans.
"It's a week away. Really, Sua?"
"Y'know, I don't keep a nice little schedule on me at all times, but I do remember what day it is. I know it's a week away. Why do you think I'm here?"
Suhyeon inhales sharply, clearly taking minor offense at Sua's mention of her planner. Even though Sua had also been the one to stand around in the stationary shop with her for two hours while she agonized over which one to pick.
Just pick one, I'm begging. I'm getting hungry.
It's going to be with me all year! I can't take this choice lightly!
"Alright. Fine. I'll help you," Suhyeon says, earning a relieved sigh out of Sua as she dramatically crumples and almost meets the floor before standing up straight.
"Great! What're your ideas?"
"I don't have any yet."
"... Okay, cool. Cool. Helpful."
"We can head downtown and visit a few shops. I'm sure something will come to me."
"Wh--hit a few shops?" Sua quickly stops her, knowing full well a few shops could turn into a week's long affair as Suhyeon tries to make up her mind, "No, no. I don't have that kind of time. I just wanted to pick your brain. You can't think of anything Haram might want...?"
Suhyeon sucks air through her teeth and purses her lips, considering the question. Sua watches her expression closely. Waiting for something. Anything.
"There was this lipstick she was looking at when we went out a few weeks ago..." Suhyeon murmurs and Sua holds her hands out as if to beg her to pause on that thought.
"Where?! What color? Brand??"
"Mmm... She said she was probably going to pick it up on her own later. She may already have it..."
Sua deflates, groaning.
"She'd probably like another shade, though," Suhyeon adds, which manages to perk Sua right back up. Without saying another work, Suhyeon pulls out her phone and within a few seconds, Sua feels her pocket vibrate
"I sent you the shop, brand, the color she was looking at, and the shades I know she prefers."
Taking her phone out, Sua quickly confirms and the relief is palpable as she runs a hand through her hair. Then, without warning, she closes the gap between them, flinging her free arm around Suhyeon's neck, catching her off guard as she's pulled into a tight hug.
"You're my Christmas angel," Sua declares as she lets her go.
⇛
Stepping into the mall, Sua is hit with a wall of smells. Fresh bread, peppermint and fake evergreen. It's a lot at once, nearly making her eyes water when combined with the harsh temperature change from the frigid outdoors.
Predictably, the place had been decked out in full Christmas regalia. Wreaths and tinsel, ornaments mostly in red and green but also in a host of rainbow colors depending on which shop front you were passing by. Some had forgone the traditional palette and gone for something more technicolor and childish.
Without even noticing, Sua had started humming along with the music being piped in overhead. These were the first songs she'd learned in English--even some of the first words she'd learned in English.
Though what she doesn't expect is to hear two familiar voices belting and nearly drowning out the speakers a little further down the path. It quiets a second later, though the giggles are unmistakable. Sua quickly moves to put her directly in the path of the singers, only to spot a third with them.
"Sua-unnie!" Tsuki squeaks, spotting her first before breaking into a run. Sua knows the drill, of course. She opens her arms and braces herself, ready for a collision that could very easily take her off her feet.
And it very nearly does when Tsuki practically throws herself at Sua, eliciting a loud oof out of the older girl and earning several concerned side-eyes from passersby.
"Unnie, what're you doing here?" asks a voice from behind Tsuki. Craning her neck to look over Tsuki's shoulder, Sua spots Haruna, arm-in-arm with Siyoon. If Sua had to guess, this was a study session gone awry. Sua had heard through Tsuki the last time they'd hung out that Haruna's Korean tutor was none other than her own best friend, Siyoon--for better or for worse.
Though in Sua's case, this was definitely for better. Who better to ask for advice than her friend with impeccable taste or Haram's own little sister?
"Came to buy a present," Sua answers, watching the faces of all three girls suddenly light up.
"Is it for...?" Tsuki says in a low voice that was definitely still heard by her sister and Siyoon, making Sua cringe.
"Harammie," Siyoon says flatly and Sua opens her mouth to protest. Or rather, she would, if she couldn't feel heat crawl up her neck into her face, no doubt painting her face a telling shade of red. As much is confirmed when Siyoon and Haruna give each other a pointed look. Tsuki, on the other hand, holds her hands tight to her chest, staring at Sua with stars in her eyes as she waits for confirmation.
"Yes," Sua admits, exasperated, "Suhyeon helped me come up with something."
"What is it?" Tsuki and Siyoon ask in unison, though in completely different tones. Tsuki, in her usual excitement whenever this topic was brought up, and Siyoon with cautious curiosity.
"Probably makeup..." Haruna murmurs, seeming to only be paying half attention to the conversation--which makes the observation so much worse. Was makeup too predictable?
"How did you...?" Sua mutters, blinking at Haruna who gives her a puzzled look.
"How did I what?"
Sua purses her lips, turning her attention to Tsuki, then to Siyoon.
"Help me," she begs, a frown deepening the lines on her face, "I need something. Something perfect."
"Are you finally...?" Siyoon asks with a pointed, raised brow that makes the heat travel from Sua's cheeks up to her ears, burning them up. It's enough of an answer, judging by the self-satisfied smile that appears on Siyoon's face a second later.
"Oh, one day she could be Kim Sua..." Haruna muses, still not seeming to fully pay attention yet still catching everything. Sua almost wishes she could be mad at her for it--but if nothing else, it once again shows just how obvious Sua's pining has been.
Which, of course, means that Haram probably has her own suspicions. Which, also means that she'll be expecting only the absolute best from her would-be paramour. The pressure is on.
"Hey, wait, why couldn't she be Moon Haram, huh?" Sua argues, trying so hard to win back a shred of her dignity.
"When are you planning on giving her the present and... y'know?" Tsuki asks, her eyes still alight. Ever since she'd gotten to live out her own little storybook romance with a certain Kim Suhyeon, she'd been completely fixated on Sua's all-too-obvious feelings for Haram-unnie.
"Confessing?" Sua asks flatly, dropping all pretense. Tsuki nods enthusiastically.
Taking a deep breath, Sua holds it in her chest briefly before coming out with it: "I was hoping... at the Christmas party. Before I go back to Cheongju for the holidays. I figure she doesn't have to immediately give me an answer. We can spend a little time apart and she can give me her answer when I get back."
The plan is well thought out, but Sua cringes at herself as she explains. "... That's a solid plan, right?" she asks tentatively, and to her relief, she gets a sensible nod out of Siyoon followed by a wistful sigh out of Tsuki.
"So you'll help me?" Sua asks, looking between Tsuki, Siyoon and even Haruna who seemed to be paying even less attention after spotting the fresh cinnamon buns being pulled out of the oven at the edge of the food court. She gives Siyoon's arm a small tug, murmuring Unnie... that goes mostly ignored.
"Don't do makeup," Siyoon says, and Tsuki moves to stand at her side, holding one of Sua's hands between her own as she echoes what Siyoon says.
"Don't do food," Siyoon adds, with Tsuki giving a firm nod, again echoing her: Don't do food.
"She would want something... sentimental. Something from the heart. Especially if you're confessing when you give it."
"Okay. Sure. Got it," Sua says, her full attention locked on Siyoon, her last hope, "So... What then?"
"Maybe a nice sweater?" Haruna asks, though her attention is still trained on the cinnamon buns. Her suggestion gets an affirmative hum out of Siyoon.
"Then she'll think of you when she stays warm," Siyoon says with a nod, going along with Haruna's idea--and Sua has to admit it's not a bad idea. And judging by the soft gasp and the twinkle in Tsuki's eyes, she thinks it's a good idea too.
"Cashmere is expensive, but if you want to leave a good impression..." Siyoon suggests, and Sua can already feel her pockets emptying.
Tsuki takes both of Sua's hands in hers, "We can go together! There's this little Mongolian shop that opened up down at the far north end of the mall with all kinds of cashmere and other wool things. Like slippers! You could get her nice slippers!! And a blanket!!"
Sua briefly considers if true love is worth going into debt over.
"It's okay," Sua insists, "Besides, I think you've got a "study session" to chaperone?" She gives a pointed look at the two dongsaengs who quickly look up and away, pretending not to hear.
⇛
Having parted ways with Tsuki and her little posse, Sua cut her way through the mall directly to the little Mongolian artisan shop on the far north side, just as they'd directed. It's small and cozy, and the moment Sua's hand so much as brushed against one of their nice cashmere blankets, she could feel the won slipping through her fingers.
She's worth it. She's worth every single won and more, she kept telling herself as she sifted through the clothing, finding not a sweater, but a shawl in bright ruby red.
Despite that choice being more expensive than one of the sweaters, it seemed too perfect to pass up.
... And so were the fur-lined gloves she tried on near the cash wrap.
Starting to think I have poor planning skills and poor impulse control, she thinks, holding the handles of her bag a little tighter as she walks down the street.
As luck would have it, the mall wasn't far from the sushi restaurant she'd set up to meet Suyeon that evening. With gifts in hand, she makes her way, grinning despite having spent nearly 300,000 won.
When she arrives, she spots Suyeon already sitting in their favorite little corner booth, holding her chin in her hand as she boredly watches a TV against one of the far walls. She perks up as her eyes fall on Sua.
"I think I wouldn't mind the cold so much if we at least got some snow on the ground to make it worthwhile!" Sua offhandedly complains as she pulls the scarf from around her neck.
"What's that you got?" she asks, eyeing the bag as Sua slides into her side of the booth.
"Just a present," Sua says as casually as she can manage, but there's a knowing look in Suyeon's eyes that's enough to make her cringe and answer the unspoken question: "For Haram."
"What did you decide on? Did Suhyeon-unnie help?"
Sua half-frowns, "Well. Sort of. She made a good suggestion, but I ran into Tsuki, Siyoon and Haruna at the mall and they told me otherwise."
"What happened?"
Sua explains the exchange in brief, earning a thoughtful hum out of Suyeon.
"Y'know..." she starts, hesitating briefly and Sua can tell Suyeon's debating if what she's about to say is going to cross a line somewhere. That's one thing Sua always liked about Suyeon. Considerate. Thoughtful. Maybe a little too in her head at moments, but at least she meant what she said.
"I guess I... never understood what it was about Haram-unnie that caught your attention," she finally says, her eyes falling to the tabletop.
Sua finds herself smiling fondly--both at Suyeon and at the thought of Haram.
This summer had turned into one of the hottest on record. Not that it was going to stop the fireworks festival. It was just going to make it a sweaty, uncomfortable experience for onlookers.
Falling into the grass next to Haram, Sua pants as she leans back on one hand and flaps the collar of her shirt with the other, groaning.
"Couldn't they have done this somewhere air conditioned?!" she whines, knowing full well it's a stupid thing to ask. It's met with an answer anyway.
"I don't think you want to be inside somewhere they light off fireworks," she teases, getting a chuckle out of the older girl.
"If it's got aircon? I'll learn to dodge any oncoming fireworks."
"Mm, and if you get hit? What then?"
Sua decides to use this as an opportunity to flirt. Jokingly, of course. She always liked prodding at Haram in this way, though she couldn't pinpoint why, exactly.
"I'll have you patch me up, obviously."
That earns a scoff and a gentle shove out of Haram before she leans back on both hands, staring up into the night sky. The festival had gone off without a hitch, heat or no. They'd come with the usual friends in tow. Suyeon, Sua, Suhyeon, Tsuki and Haram with their younger sisters, Siyoon and Haruna. It seemed like since school let out, Sua wouldn't go anywhere with at least two of the posse in tow. But for the summer festival? All seven got together.
The spot where Haram and Sua had decided to take their breather was offset slightly from where the festivities were set up in one of Seoul's bigger parks. The pair had come to sit under a plum blossom, not actually needing the shade since night had already fallen, but because the spot had become so synonymous with the group, it seemed the perfect place to default after the group separated for different activities.
"If I had to guess, your sister is buying Runa the biggest candy floss she's ever seen right about now," Sua predicts, giving Haram a sidelong glance.
She hums thoughtfully, "I'm pretty sure I saw a takoyaki vendor near the east side. Haruna would probably follow her nose and make Yoonie eat with her."
Sua smirks, "You can take the girl out of Osaka..."
"But you can't take the Osaka out of the girl!" Haram finishes for her, punctuating it with the prettiest laugh Sua thinks she's ever heard.
... What? I've heard Harammie laugh a hundred times. A thousand times! she quickly reasons with herself, willing the thump in her chest to dull to a more reasonable rhythm.
But then Haram scoots closer and points at the sky where the boughs of the tree weren't blocking and the fireworks weren't posing a distraction.
"See the moon?" she asks, and Sua follows where she's gesturing, humming in affirmation.
"That's called a first quarter," Haram explains, and Sua blinks, a bit puzzled.
"Wouldn't you just call it a crescent moon?"
Haram smiles and shakes her head, eyes trained on the sky as she continues.
"That's not quite what we're seeing," she continues, "It comes right after a crescent and just before a gibbous--like a halfway point."
Though Haram's gaze may be fixated on the heavens, Sua finds herself transfixed by Haram herself. A brief, comfortable silence comes to live between them, but Sua realizes she could--she wants to listen to Haram talk all day.
So she asks: "What are all the phases?"
Haram turns her head to look at her for a second, surprised by the question and giggling sheepishly before tucking her hair behind her ear as she turns her eyes skyward again, counting them on her fingers.
"New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent," she recites, then adding a bit more shyly, "They each have meanings too, did you know?"
Sua feels the corner of her lips tug up into a sort of smirk. This was something Haram was good at. Remembering trivial things. Sua always thought she was a faunt of interesting little tidbits you didn't necessarily need to know, but you somehow felt smarter for knowing.
Or, maybe. Just maybe, Sua just really liked listening to Haram talk.
She says nothing, waiting for Haram to continue.
"Things like... Forgiveness or release. New beginnings and gratitude."
"And what's that mean?" Sua asks, pointing up at the moon in front of them.
"Decisions. Decision making," Haram says, dropping her gaze, and now it feels almost as though she were avoiding eye contact with Sua.
That is, until she isn't. Until her eyes meet Sua's, and everything else around them seems to become little more than a backdrop. The dull colors used in the background of a painting to give the subjects context, a place to exist--but otherwise meaningless.
Electric seconds pass, and Sua feels words rise in her throat, but she can't decide what they are.
I like her, she thinks unconsciously, and Sua thinks she's heard the thought before--she's simply never agreed with it, never heard it with such clarity.
"Decisions," Sua repeats, and there's a look on Haram's face. It's almost hopeful.
Sua decides she'd like to spend more time with Haram.
A lot more time.
"All because of some moon story?" Suyeon blurts, and it's the most thoughtless thing Sua thinks she's ever heard fall out of Suyeon. She sees the regret on Suyeon's face a second later.
"Sorry," she utters, "I'm sure it's more than that. It's a cute story anyway."
Sua chuckles, snapping her chopsticks apart while they wait for their order.
"It's more than that, yeah. That was just the moment I realized something was there," she explains, "Surprised it took me that long to notice."
"Me too," Suyeon murmurs, pursing her lips to keep herself from smiling too wide.
"Huh? Wait, you noticed?"
"Unnie, you offered to do her English homework for her every week. You're the least fluent out of all of us except Runa."
Sua frowns. Almost pouting.
"I know English better than Yoonie..." she protests quietly and Suyeon gives her a look that silences her.
"Point is, you weren't exactly subtle."
Thankfully, the arrival of their food stifles the loud groan stuck in Sua's chest.
"So... What? What do I do? Do I skip all the flowery stuff and just... ask her to be my girlfriend?"
Suyeon makes a face as if to say Unnie are you dumb?
"Would you want someone to skip all the best parts, even if you knew what was coming?"
Sua frowns, muttering low: "No..."
It gets a lighthearted giggle out of the younger girl and she puts a couple pieces of the roll she ordered on Sua's plate.
"Just be honest with her. You'll do fine," she reassures, and strangely, Sua feels buoyed by her words.
Not wanting to dominate the conversation with talk of her lovelife, Sua changes the topic. As per usual, she checks in on school and family, and Suyeon returns the favor. In some ways, Sua could tell Suyeon was learning from her. She'd picked up on some of her habits and was typically more interested in trying something new if she knew Sua had an investment in it.
It's why they had these little weekly meetups, just the two of them. Sua had only ever been a younger sister, so to have someone look up to her so much? She wanted to foster and protect that relationship.
When they part ways, Sua does her due diligence of insisting Suyeon text her when she gets home so she knows she made it safe. Even going the extra mile to walk her to the train station. Even if Seoul is a relatively safe city, Sua is still prone to worrying.
Turning away from the turnstiles, Sua makes her way back upstairs to the street. Lining the sidewalk are several shops, all lit up similar to those inside the mall with string lights, blinking in windows, reflected off of ornaments.
Pulling her arms tight against her body, she continues down, peering into each of the shop windows as she carries on. Until she sees something that makes her catch her breath.
Sitting in the window of a jewelry shop on a soft white velvet stand is a set of gold necklaces making up the phases of the moon.
No. Sua. You already spent an entire paycheck. You're not blowing through what little you have left, she tells herself as she stares intently through the window.
Yet, before she can protest any further, her feet carry her into the shop.
"Welcome, miss," she hears the shopkeeper greet from behind the glass counter.
"Oh. Ah... Thanks," she mutters, feeling doubly awkward when she realizes she's the only person in the store. She figured there'd at least be a couple shopping together or something. Instead, now she has to contend with this shop worker on her own.
"Was there something I could help you with?" the man asks in a soft voice, and the gentleness of it takes Sua off her guard.
"I um..." she starts, unsure if she should even ask, but the words spill out of her anyway: "How much for the moon necklaces?"
"Ah, that's been a popular set," he comments with a warm smile, "The set is 830,000 won."
Sua thinks for a moment she's going to lose her dinner. Instead, she only frowns.
"But, individually they're 150,000."
That makes Sua stand up a little straighter.
She doesn't need material things to know how you feel, she chides herself.
Even so, she pulls out her phone and offers an awkward smile to the shopkeep.
"Just a second, please," she says, getting a polite nod in return.
MSa: Harammie what does the crescent moon mean?
While waiting for a response, Sua wanders the small shop, looking into the glass to look at rings, necklaces, bracelets. For a moment she finds herself lingering at a set of expensive looking engagement rings.
I wonder if I'll come here again one day, she thinks absently just before her phone buzzes in her hand.
KHr: Waxing or waning?
KHr: Wait why?
MSa: Both
KHr: You could just google it
MSa: I want to know what it means to you
KHr: You're being weird unnie
Sua smirks, hardly taking the jab as something to knock her off balance. She can hear the honeyed way those words have left Haram's lips before. Usually with a giggle and a gentle shove when Sua takes a joke further than it should.
KHr: Waning crescent symbolizes surrender because it's giving up the light to turn into the new moon
MSa: and waxing crescent?
KHr: Intention and desire
Sua grins down at her phone, then looks up at the shopkeep.
⇛
The day of the Christmas party somehow takes too long to arrive and yet it comes much too soon.
With her bags packed for the return trip to Cheongju, Sua feels ready for that trip, but not the train ride to Suhyeon's for the Christmas party. Even if all her presents are wrapped and ready, she still isn't quite sure what she's going to say--despite rehearsing twenty different ways to say it, no less.
Fishing her phone out of her pocket, she checks the time: 6:44 PM. She'd need to be there soon, especially if she's to help with the food.
Summoning every ounce of strength and courage left in her, Sua rises from her bed and picks up the bag with all her presents.
When she arrives, it's to the fanfare of six girls cheering, much to her surprise.
Then again, everyone in the room except for Haram knows what the night holds. Though, even Haram may know, she realizes.
So it comes as little surprise when she finds the one empty chair at the dining table is the one at the end of the table next to the one and only: Kim Haram.
Not that Sua sits. She sets her gifts in her seat and after paying the hug-tax with Tsuki, darts straight into the kitchen to help Suhyeon with dinner.
"Oh no. No, no, you're not hiding in here," Suhyeon immediately protests, but Sua had already nabbed the extra apron off of the hook on the wall and started tying it on.
"Sua!" she says, stamping her foot, slotted spoon in hand.
"Just--let me do this," Sua insists, lifting the lid off of one of the pans and grabbing the long metal cooking chopsticks to stir the contents.
"You're going to have to go out there eventually," she chides, but to Sua's relief she keeps her voice low. The rest of the girls had all congregated in the living room to play a card game. But Sua... Sua couldn't even deign to look Haram in the eye yet.
"Yeah. Eventually. Not now."
"Did you at least pick up the stuff...?"
"Sort of."
"What do you mean "sort of"?!" Suhyeon demands, smacking the back of Sua's hand with the slotted spoon.
"Ow! Hey! I got her some other stuff!"
"Oh? What? My suggestion not good enough for you?"
"Don't be like that. I ran into Tsuki, Runa and Yoonie and they had some suggestions."
Suhyeon hums and it's a dissatisfied, disbelieving sort of noise. Like she knows it's more than just a small change of plans.
"And how much did you spend?"
"About... 220,000 won..." Sua mumbles, though when she dares to glance in Suhyeon's direction, she sees the skepticism written plainly on her face.
"On a shawl. It's nice Mongolian cashmere!"
"Uh-huh," she says flatly, "And what else?"
"... and another... 70,000 on a pair of lined gloves."
"Sua..." Suhyeon says with a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose, "I hope Haram is good with money because you need someone to be your impulse control."
"Ha. Assuming she even says yes."
"She's going to," Suhyeon says confidently.
"Yeah, either that or I put a really awkward wedge in our friend group and have to leave and go make an entirely new group of friends so I never have to live through an awkward meetup for pizza or--"
"Sua."
"What?"
"... Just... stir the soup," she says, shaking her head.
Between helping Suhyeon fill and steam gyoza and keeping an eye on the soup, Sua is kept sufficiently busy to the tune of the rest of the girls gabbing, cheering and booing through their game. While some part of her wants to join in, she doesn't want to leave her best friend alone.
Or... face Haram.
Not yet at least.
However, the card game comes to an end, and the two aren't left alone in the kitchen for long. Tsuki appears first, bouncing in on the balls of her feet, humming something new as she gives Sua a quick squeeze from behind before latching onto her girlfriend. She whines cutely, saying something about how she hasn't gotten enough attention from Suhyeon and she's going to wither away.
"Will you wither away from not eating or not getting enough attention? You have to pick," Suhyeon says using the tone she always uses when she's pretending to be stern with Tsuki. As if she isn't completely coiled around her little finger.
It gets another whine that tumbles into a giggle a second after Suhyeon caves and wraps an arm around her, kissing the side of her head.
Sua opens her mouth to comment on the ridiculous display of affection when suddenly she hears the best-worst sound in the world.
"Smells good, unnie," Haram comments, suddenly standing hardly an inch from Sua and leaning over the simmering pot. It makes Sua's heart hammer in her chest and her stomach clenches up, chasing away the appetite that had been building up until that point.
"Y... Yeah! Suhyeon's mom makes her own kimchi. Perfect for... for..."
Haram raises both brows, waiting for Sua to complete the thought, but opting to supply the words for her: "... Kimchi jjigae?"
"Yeah! Right! That!"
Sua hears a soft oh my god from Suhyeon at her response, only making her stomach knot up further.
"Should be ready soon! You should uh. Get... Get everyone together in the dining room."
Haram smiles, stepping out of the kitchen much to Sua's relief, but also leaving her alone with two pairs of eyes boring holes into the side of her head.
"Not a word," Sua says low, reaching up into one of the cabinets to grab bowls.
"Unnie..." Tsuki starts.
"Not a word!!" Sua says a little louder, then scurrying out of the kitchen to get the bowls placed in front of each of the seats. She catches a knowing look out of Suyeon she doesn't need and nearly collides with Haram in her attempt to get the dining table set as quickly as possible.
Then the worst thing happens. Haram's hand takes hold of Sua's arm. It's not an especially strong hold, but it's more than enough to root the older girl to the spot as she stares, almost starstruck into Haram's eyes.
"Unnie, why don't you take the apron off and let us take care of the rest? You've hardly gotten to say hello," she insists.
Dumbfounded and unable to come up with a half-decent protest, Sua mumbles an agreement and pulls off her apron. Haram then takes it from her, smiling so sweetly Sua can't bring herself to keep looking her in the eye.
Then, to her relief, Haram disappears into the kitchen.
But, it also leaves Sua alone with the judgment of Haruna, Siyoon and Suyeon to contend with.
"Deep breaths," Haruna encourages, and it feels strange to hear it from the youngest of the bunch. Not that Sua doesn't heed her advice and immediately take a deep breath through her nose, exhaling through her mouth.
"You're overreacting," Siyoon says, though her tone would suggest she's trying to comfort Sua, "Unnie said she couldn't wait to see you."
Just as Sua's heart had begun to calm, she feels her blood pressure climb again at Siyoon's words.
"Me? No. Not just me, right? She was looking forward to seeing all of us, right?"
Siyoon purses her lips, restraining a smile, but exchanging a look with Haruna that leaves Sua with more questions. Though, before she can even ask them, Suhyeon enters the dining room with Tsuki and Haram in tow, all three carrying food to plant on the table.
With Suhyeon's parents having already returned to their second home in Daegu, the group is left to manage themselves. Not that Suhyeon didn't already prove herself more than capable of taking care of herself. The food after all was almost entirely her doing--though Tsuki quickly pipes up saying the gyoza filling was her recipe, even if it was Sua and Suhyeon who assembled and cooked them.
Conversation quickly picks up, discussing holiday plans. Suyeon would be going with Haruna and Tsuki to their parents' place in Seoul rather than returning home. Suhyeon would be returning to Daegu while Haram and Siyoon would be taking the early morning train to Busan.
Shortly after eating, the group moves into the living room to start exchanging gifts. It'd been something like secret Santa, with each of them only getting one person. And, of course, since it was set up by Tsuki, it's precisely why Sua got Haram.
While everyone else received something at a more reasonable cost, when it finally comes time for Haram to open her present, Sua finds herself swallowing dryly. It doesn't help when she feels eyes on her as Haram first opens the package with her gloves. And again when she gasps as she opens the second, immediately donning her new shawl.
"Aww that's so thoughtful!" Tsuki coos at the two of them and there's a nervous sounding chuckle out of Haram at that.
"I don't know what to say," Haram murmurs, a hand smoothing over the fabric of the shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She tears her eyes from Sua, carefully taking the shawl off and folding it neatly.
Again, Sua notices Tsuki's eyes on her along with Suhyeon's. The two of them seem to communicate silently that this is her chance.
But it slips through her grasp as Suyeon suddenly grabs Haram's attention as she opens her gift. Predictably, the present Haram had gotten her was completely thoughtful: Two of the albums Suyeon had been looking for along with the complete collection of photocards. And that seems to perfectly encapsulate Haram's personality.
Sua knows enough about the things she'd collected for Suyeon to know how much effort Haram had to go through to get everything. But that's precisely what makes Haram, Haram. She's thoughtful and sweet, and always willing to go the extra mile without being asked. As much was shown when she nudged Sua out of her apron, even.
She decides to wait. To find another opening as the conversation picks up again and talk about idols and music quickly takes over.
Though as it begins to dwindle, the youngest along with Suhyeon get up to start collecting garbage and start the dishes.
Sua had gotten caught up in the middle of a friendly debate between Tsuki and Suyeon about the merits of being a good dancer versus being the star vocalist in a hypothetical group with Haram playing audience. That is, until she rose suddenly.
"I'm going to get a little fresh air," she says, and Sua watches with mild concern as she slides the door open to the balcony, closing it behind her. Then she sees it: the reason Haram wanted air.
The first snow of the year had finally started to fall.
"Now's your chance!" Tsuki says, shoving her from the side several times until Sua finally clambers to her feet.
"Jeez! Alright! Okay!" she stammers, though before stepping out, she notices through the windowed door that Haram is hugging her arms close to her body from the cold. So, she does the sensible thing and grabs the shawl from the couch before opening the door.
Naturally, Haram turns her head at the sound, seeming surprised to see Sua. And when Sua carefully drapes the bright red shawl over her shoulders, she'd almost swear Haram's face was turning a color to match it.
She's just cold, Sua tells herself.
"Can we... talk for a second?" Sua asks, stuffing her hands in her pockets.
"Yeah. Yeah, of course," Haram says, and Sua really has to wonder if she's reading her correctly. She seems... nervous, almost. Or maybe it's trepidation. Maybe she had seen this coming. Maybe she's dreading it.
For a second Sua starts to lose her nerve, but then she closes her hand around the small box that'd been hiding in her pocket all evening.
"You said the waning crescent meant "intention" when I texted you, right?"
"Waxing," Haram gently corrects.
"Oh. Right. Yeah, waxing."
There's a pinched, almost playful smile on Haram's face that gives Sua the ounce of courage she needs to finally draw the box out of her pocket.
"I have one more present for you," she says in a low voice, and the smile leaves Haram's face.
"Sua... but you already--"
"I know. I know. But... maybe you can tell me if this one counts as a waxing crescent?" Sua asks, pulling the lid from the box. In it, is a simple gold crescent moon necklace on a matching chain.
There's a second of shock written all over Haram's face as she looks between the necklace and Sua. Her brows upturn and she carefully reaches forward, flipping the crescent around as a small giggle escapes her.
"There," she says softly, "Now it's waxing."
The corner of Sua's lips tug up into a smirk and she takes the necklace from the box, moving behind Haram to clasp it behind her neck. Though it also offers her a second to catch her breath and not sit under Haram's gaze when she finally tries to ask the question that'd been burning on her tongue for far too long.
"You... probably know what I'm about to ask," she starts, taking her time with the clasp, "Apparently I haven't been subtle." And a small, nervous laugh leaves her.
Before she can get the question out, Haram turns around, eyes wide as she locks her gaze with Sua's. It catches her off guard and Sua opens and closes her mouth, struggling to just... get it out.
"I like you," Haram blurts, "I like you a lot, unnie. I have for a long time."
Sua blinks.
"Huh?"
Then it's Haram's turn to laugh nervously, "I'm sorry. I know what you were trying to do, but I just..."
"Can I take that as a yes?" Sua asks with a hopeful lilt in her voice.
Haram clears her throat and suddenly stands up straight, pursing her lips into a fine line.
"No, let's do this right. Ask me for real," she insists and it gets a laugh out of Sua.
"You want me to--?"
Haram nods firmly, barely restraining her smile. But, Sua decides to play along, taking both of Haram's hands in hers, finding them to be cold. She holds them a little tighter.
"Kim Haram, will you go on a date with me?" she asks as stilted as she can manage.
And then, rather than a verbal response, something seems to burst forth out of Haram as she takes her hands from Sua. They find Sua's face instead and the small gap between them is suddenly closed as she very suddenly presses her lips to Sua's in the most enthusiastic yes one could manage.
When they break, there's another softer, nervous laugh out of the both of them. Though Haram's attention is suddenly caught when she looks to the side. Sua follows her gaze to see the five of their friends all watching and then very obviously pretending to be minding their own business.
Sua groans, though Haram seems to think it's one of the funniest things to happen all night. Then, Sua can't bring herself to care about eavesdroppers.
Instead, she asks:
"Can I take that as a yes?"
Haram smiles.
"Want to try one more time?"