Work Text:
They sit beside each other on the train every morning.
Gura forgets how it started. Probably since she matriculated into Holo U 2 months ago.
By stroke of luck, she managed to bid for afternoon lectures and tutorials slots. She wakes up at a generous 11am and snoozes for 10 minutes. She takes a hot shower to wake herself up and dress comfy for the summer heat. She makes breakfast (usually juice and bread) while looking at memes, then plugs in her headphones because she loses her wireless airpods all the time and doesn't want to buy another. She walks 10 minutes to the train station and texts her parents miles away in another city. Gura wears a cardigan but always eventually takes it off when she gets sweaty. She waits for the 11.55am train, stands at the doors closest to the head of the train because she likes to see the train zoom away in the dark. She takes a seat right at the centre, 5th from the left, and right beside a blonde woman.
She takes out her headphones, rolls them up and packs them. Her legs can barely touch the floor so she just swings them along with each jolt and tilt. She sits far into the plastic chair and does so for the half hour commute. Then the girl beside her always catches her eyes in their reflection on the opposite side. Gura will smile and she reciprocates. Sometimes she waves (at their reflection) and her neighbour waves back (at their reflection) and they will chuckle. Her laugh is relaxed and scratchy in the morning. It sounds sexy and Gura looks away even though there was nothing to look at.
Amelia, her tag says.
Amelia, the Holo U student who sits at her right every morning.
Amelia wears a lanyard (cause cool Uni students do that) with her matriculation card and Gura thinks it suits her. Watson Amelia. A pretty name for a pretty girl. Her dirty blond hair seems genuine, the roots are still the same colour 2 months into their shared commute. She wears sweatpants and loose shirts and Gura likes how relaxed and comfortable she portrays herself. Gura thinks they look nice together in the reflection. A pair of pretty girls. On Fridays she dresses more fancy, tight tops, maybe dresses and heels. Probably out to party with her friends. Or a date. Gura doesn’t build on that idea. But she always brings her coat with her. A plaid collared coat, long like a cape and very worn. It probably has some significance to her. She has bad posture, always slouching and sliding down her seat. Gura giggles as her slide progresses more into the term. She sometimes sits cross-legged and her thigh touches Gura’s but she doesn’t mind. The train is not so crowded at that time and there are plenty of seats but they always take the same positions.
Amelia always stops looking through her phone and switches it off when Gura arrives and sits. They stare at their reflection opposite them. Gura takes note of her outfit that day, her expression, her eyes through the grimy translucent window and she always, always doesn’t know how to feel for acting like such an infatuated teen.They grimace when the train exits the tunnel at the 12th minute and sunlight burns into their retinas when it bursts into the carriage and engulfs everything in gold. She hisses every time, then eventually her eyes adjust and unfocuses on the green and blue flying by her. Instead, she focuses on the almost invisible reflection of Amelia. Gura reads her like a morning newspaper. If Amelia seems happy, she feels like she would have a good day too.
It’s silly but she doesn’t stop.
They look at the scenery, at other people, at each other. Gura swings her legs and Amelia does a little wriggle with hers. Sometimes their knees tap. When Amelia wears shorts their skin will make contact and it is warm. When the train jerks and speeds up, blond strays will tickle her ears. Gura reaches up to her chin area and she always wanted to lean on her shoulder and gauge her reaction. What a creep.Then she shakes that thought away and yells at herself.
One time she actually did doze off and woke up to Amelia gently patting her hair. She had taken off her earrings so Gura doesn’t hurt herself and she likes her a little more. But that was purely by accident. She doesn’t want to do it too often as if on purpose and scare her away.
The 30 minutes fly by fast and then they exit the carriage together. Commuters dash to the escalators and they crowd around the pair. Their odours mix and warm breaths fan her face. Amelia always stands in front of her, cutting through the mass and Gura follows behind easily, her small stature hiding at the blonde’s back. Her hair is bright, like sunshine, warm and inviting. Gura wants to wrap her hands around her and breathe it in. She doesn't of course.
Sometimes Gura wears a skirt and Amelia would pause at the escalator, looks at her, waits for her to get on first. Her hand guides her at her shoulder, the small of her back. Gently, always present and comforting amidst the rush. Gura swoons, her little heart bouncing up and down eagerly. She bows shyly to Amelia who gives a lazy grin.
Despite her slightly intimidating aura and aloofness, Amelia is nice. She portrays nonchalance but acts like a comforting gentleman sometimes. Like a boyfriend. Gura does the same when Amelia wears short shorts and skirts on some Fridays. The blonde would ruffle her hair and make her squeal.
They walk the 5 minutes from the station to the Faculty of Science on campus. They stroll as if savouring the moment. Sometimes Amelia gets coffee from the canteen first and Gura lingers and waits. The cashier, Gura’s cohort mate, recognizes them by now and sneaks them a cookie which they split. When they reach her lecture hall, Gura will squeak a bye and Amelia quirks up a corner of her lips to show a dimple. She trots away and waves coolly behind her and doesn’t look back like a cool anime protagonist. Amelia disappears round a corner further into the Science blocks and Gura never follows.
Is she a Science major too? She might even be a Graduate student or a TA. Gura never wanders deeper into her student status, usually daydreaming about her personality instead. How does she talk to her friends? What kind of memes does she laugh at? And does she like girls too?
Wait.
Does Amelia know Gura is a freshman? 2 months into their little exchange and Gura realizes in horror. Amelia might think she is from the affiliated high school taking Uni level modules. Something like frustration and pride makes her want to show Amelia in some way. She doesn’t like to be treated like a kid, despite her childlike appearance and mannerisms and shrill voice. The teasing is funny with her friends, just a good chuckle, but she doesn’t want her whole character or personality to be constrained by their imposed impression of her as an immature person. She doesn't want to be treated different. Especially by Amelia.
No way.
Just in case, Gura finally uses a lanyard too, slotting in her matriculation student card. She shuffles into the carriage like normal. The lanyard swings when she walks and taps at her chest. Amelia looks up from her phone and locks it as usual when she goes near, then her eyes rake up and down, processing, and Gura sits down slowly, anticipating her reaction. Her neighbour widens her eyes a little and her mouth forms an ‘o’. Gura grins. She beams a little, proud. Gotcha, I’m actually also from Holo U!. Amelia says a “nice, me too.” and Gura stares into her pretty eyes and can’t stop smiling. She has a pretty voice. Does her vocabulary for describing girls only consist of “pretty”? Gura realises 5 seconds later she is still craning her neck at Amelia and looks away. Stupid. Why didn’t she continue to engage her? And ask her about her major and stuff. Gura leans back into her seat too fast and yelps when her head bonks the glass. Amelia huffs at that and feels the back of her head. Her nails are blunt and scratch her scalp and it feels good.
“You have a bump here.” Amelia rubs a particular spot and grins.
“Huh? Wha- I do?” Gura feels around it herself and the blonde laughs. She wants to slap herself. Good job, Gura. What. An. Idiot.
They sit in radio silence for the rest of the ride. Amelia glances at her lanyard occasionally so she slides it closer for her to read.
“GAWR GURA
UNDERGRADUATE YEAR 1 (ACADEMIC YEAR 2021)
STUDENT ID: A0123457E”
Amelia nods seriously as if presented valuable information and Gura adjusts back her lanyard. It itches at her neck. She’ll probably get used to it.
She wants to speak up now but it feels wrong now.
At least she knows they are both undergraduates. You’re doing great, Gura.
She is a little dismayed they rarely talk, but loves their unspoken interactions and shared, lazy morning giggles. Gura doesn’t want to change it for the worse.
Even if there is a chance they can be something more.
—
Gura babbles about Amelia to Calli.
Childish as it is, she can't keep this bottled up or she'll die from a heart attack.
Calli is a rapper from the same music club. Wildly different interests and majors (Calli takes business) but they both love belting out their voices. Gura had awed at her towering height and her hot pink hair and Calli fawned over how small she was and lifted her up like a doll. That was at the club orientation and now they hang out together from time to time in and outside of club. Gura sings and plays the ukulele and they duet for songs with raps. Sometimes they alternate and Gura likes her deep soothing singing voice. They don't necessarily understand each other's hobbies but it's fun. Calli lets her sip her wine one time and Gura sticks her tongue out at it. Calli got into some rhythm games too.
“You two are acting like pubescent teenagers, Gura. Y’all didn’t speak at all these 2 months?” Calli chews on her burger. They eat together before attending club every Tuesday and Thursday.
Gura blanches. “Gross. Chew with your mouth closed, please. And we did talk! Sometimes.” She exclaims. Calli gives her a look and she pouts. “You can’t rush these things.”
A chuckle. Then she sets down her burger. “Okay for real though, homie. She probably likes you too.” Calli glares when Gura tries to correct her. She tuts and pokes her forehead.
“You know I’m right. And she lets you sit together and walk you to school every goddamn morning like a boyfriend!” Calli beams, waving her hands about. Gura splutters on her iced chocolate frappe. Other canteen users are glancing at them. Would Amelia eat at the Science Faculty Canteen? She looks around for blonde hair and Calli follows her gaze, smirking.
“You’re talking too loud!” She smacks Calli who shrugs.
“The truth cannot be contained.” The giant solemnly declares. “So don’t be afraid to get closer.” Calli grins. “Who knows, she might be into you.”
—
Gura thinks about what Calli said for days.
She thinks of how to approach her, maybe complement her friday outfits and ask where she is going. But that might be too personal. Or simply ask her what she studies? Amelia might brush off her questions politely and she would just
want to stop going to school altogether. Amelia doesn't seem to talk a lot but communicates via body language. Opting for their legs to sway together and touch, or her hand guiding Gura and patting her head. Or that's just because it's morning (very late morning) and they don't know each other well.
So when one time they were forced to stand together intimately, Gura panics internally. Her heart pounds so hard others might hear it.
One day a train network got disrupted and many commuters squeeze into their train for another route. They stand up for some elderly to take the seats and opt to stand near the carriage doors. The doors to the next station opens and many, many disgruntled business people and families and students pack into the carriage like sardines. The smell of sweat and odours invade her nostrils and Gura grimances. Uncomfortably warm bodies push up against her and Gura rather stands closer into Amelia’s space so she does. The train tilts and Gura steadies herself with a hand on the wall. She hopes she doesn’t mind. At least Gura is somewhat shielding Amelia from the sea of bodies. She comes face to face with exposed collarbones. Amelia’s shirt is oversized today and Gura doesn’t look down. Her shampoo smells nice.
Gura looks up. And freezes.
She is cornering Amelia against a wall.
A freaking kabedon of all things. What is this, a shoujo anime
Wall slamming your train seatmate that you possibly have a puppy crush on and she might also reciprocate??
Gura wants to scream. Her heart pounds so hard in her ears Amelia might just hear it. She tries to move away but bags and more bodies shove against her back. Amelia winces at her with something like pity and amusement. Gura groans. Her elbow is cramping and stiff from locking it too long. She tries to shake the muscle soreness away. Amelia gazes at her, a smirk. She pokes at her shivering elbow and Gura yelps. Her elbow unlocks.
Now she’s leaning on her forearm. Close. Too close.
She can practically count the number of eyelashes she has. Amelia leans her head against the wall, a smile dancing on her lips. Gura goes almost cross-eyed looking at her lips right in the centre of her vision.
Her cheeks are almost leaning into the crook of her shoulder. The train halts to the next platform and the mass of people sway along. More people enter and squeeze against the sea of sweaty and irritated passengers as if able to defy the laws of space and physics. She feels Amelia huff and gently, a hand from behind pushes at the back of her neck. Gura complies and feels her head lean on her chest, snug. The hand trails down and presses their bodies together. Gura swallows down something. Her eyes dart everywhere if anyone else is watching.
What the fuck.They are basically cuddling. Like a couple. Like a couple!.
Gura hopes she doesn’t sweat too much and smell bad. She feels her breath, her chest rising and air fanning her hair. It is warm, but not uncomfortably so. Gura relaxes a bit, letting herself go limp against her as her feet hurt from how tense they were gripping the floor. Amelia holds her close, tender and intimate, whispering praises and airy laughs. Her chest rumbles with every laugh when the train jerks and tilts. Amelia’s hand comes to a rest at the small of her back. She feels some shuffling and sees from the corner of her eyes she had shifted her bag to shield her backside.
Gura melts.
Amelia noses at her temple. “You smell nice,” she whispers. It tickles her ears.
Gura groans louder. Her whole face is on fire. She dares herself to look up at Amelia for a second. She has that unreadable expression. Blank, with a carefully placed quirk at the corner of her lips. A little unintended pink on her cheeks. Bright eyes are obscured by her bangs as Amelia looks down at her, full of mirth.
Gura mutters a “shut up…” and she giggles, patting her back encouragingly. Amelia puts her chin on her head and sighs.
As if coming back home to something. She doesn’t delve deeper into that idea.
In the carriage at that moment, it is only them. Gura closes her eyes and lets herself relax. She doesn’t care about the implication of their little hug, what Amelia thinks, why she acts like that. She just wants to enjoy hearing the heartbeat at her ear as she leans into her soft chest. It beats fast. She hopes it’s because of her.
They almost couldn't squeeze out of the packed carriage when the train stops at their station. Amelia tugs her forward and stands behind her. They penguin-walk out like Happy Feet with his parents. Gura takes tiny steps to not squash other’s heels and Amelia shuffles behind, hands firmly on her shoulders and always at her back. When they pause at the escalator her head sinks back into a soft pliant chest. She gruffly says some “excuse me”s to commuters and gura keeps mum.
They finally walk out of the station into Holo U campus grounds. The whole ordeal is over. Gura sighs, relief and something else like disappointment.
Amelia hangs an arm around her shoulders and they walk towards her lecture hall as usual. When they reach, the blonde checks up on her, brushes imaginary dust off her hair and clothes and pets her. Then she makes a move to walk off again. Gura doesn’t want her to go yet. She yells for her to wait.
Amelia pauses, turns back. Her face shows expectancy. And bemusement at Gura’s shyness.
“Thanks for that. I would have been squashed and missed my stop.”
“No problem. Gura, was it?” She nods. She likes how her name sounds from her mouth.
“That’s my thanks for protecting me from vertical asphyxiation.” Her giggles are very pretty. And cute. Gura is eager to impress her again, make her laugh.
She waves it off, fidgeting. She smiles. “don't mention it.” Then she pauses.
This is it. She’s going to go for it!
“If you want to thank me, we can hang out more outside of the train? Have lunch or something.”
Amelia looks at her, then smiles. Her eyes crinkles and Gura swoons.
“I'd love to Gura. Let me know when you are free.” She does an internal happy dance. She’s sure she looks stupid goofy right now. Her cheeks hurt from smiling too hard but she can’t help it. Gura rapid nods and Amelia laughs again.
So that's how She wakes up an hour earlier to meet Amelia for breakfast every morning before commute.
Gura skips the bland bread and juice and scouts for cheap and good food around campus with Amelia. Gura makes an effort to dress nice on Fridays too and Amelia "ooh"s at her outfits. She can dress nice too when she wants. Gura learns to pretty herself up speedily in half an hour and dashes to the station, searching for a mop of blond hair. They talk about anything and everything. Conversation comes easily and they have the same kind of humour.
With more casual meet-ups they open up to each other. Amelia is naturally touchy and she clings more to Gura day by day. Lithe fingers skits across her thighs on the train, dancing along her back, sometimes combing through her hair, a ghostly imprint that gives her goosebumps. Gura is too short for her to lean her head against in the train so she slides down her seat to do so. Amelia covers them both with her coat and settles down to nap. The sunlight that used to beat down on them harshly has dulled to a toasty heat that Amelia naps to. Gura likes that she trusts her enough to be vulnerable. She pushes down Amelia’s beret to shield her eyes and draws circles on her hand.
She looks at Gura with such care and sweetness that she can’t stand to look into her intense blue eyes. Amelia likes to put her chin on her head and encase her in her arms. Her coat covers them both from the outside world and her beret the harsh fluorescent lights hanging in the stations. Amelia sighs in content. They stand like that sometimes, in the open. They long stopped caring what others think. Gura closes her eyes in her embrace and snuggles into her neck. Her hands reach all the way around her waist and Gura likes that. It takes them a while to let go cause it just feels so comforting and relieving. Gura likes to start swaying them side by side in that state. They eventually do when it gets stuffy. Like her own personal bolster. A boyfriend. Or a girlfriend. Amelia acts like both but Gura never has a girlfriend before so she doesn’t really know. She just seems really protective and charming, in a good way. A heart-swelling, butterfly-inducing, really good way. Amelia holds her like Gura is her whole world in their hugs.
They got ‘caught’ by a mutual acquaintance once and Gura is embarrassed at how casually Amelia retorts their accusation with a “so what? I have a cute girl in my arms!”. More so, she hates how shyly she ducks further into Amelia when questioned what their relationship is. She lets Amelia answer for her. Gura doesn’t actually know what they are. She just relishes the moment for now. Both seem to have the same idea of getting to know each other more before something more intimate. Like dating. She likes the idea of that.
Turns out Amelia is also a freshman, studying medicine. Despite her gremlin attitude and cheeky nature, Amelia is smart. She studies smart and has passion in the sciences. Gura awes politely and claps. A med student! She congratulates her and Amelia smiles shyly. It isn't easy to get into HOLO U's prestigious medicine course, with a guaranteed continued PhD education. Gura surges with pride for her newfound friend(?). Their faculty is right beside each other and share some facilities. The proximity means more chances for them to bump into each other and hang out more. Gura beams at the thought. Her chest flutters.
Then the dots click. Oh. Oh.
"So that means when we walk to school together…" she mutters. Gura ducks her face into her jacket sleeves and groans. Noooo.
Amelia isn't walking her to her class every day, she just goes the same way. The blonde catches her blush, cackles when she realises.
“You thought I was walking you there all this time?!” Amelia gasps out dramatically, a hand covering her open mouth. Gura kicks her under the table. “I mean, that was my secondary objective. To walk the cute girl to class.” She gives a shit-eating grin and Gura looks away. Amelia endearingly pinches her cheeks. She teases her relentlessly for days.
"Let me walk you to your class." She would offer her arm like a butler when they exit the train every morning. How sweet. A girlfriend. And every morning Gura would turn her nose up at her cheesiness but takes her arm anyway.
“You love it.” Amelia drawls, her eyes half-lidded, a lazy smile. She doesn’t deny it because she does.
—
It’s a complete coincidence that they went to the same bar.
Gura accompanies Calli to this new bar near campus one Friday. A lot of students go there to unwind and rent their playstations to play with their friends. Calli wears a regal red dress that reaches down to her knees and hugs her curves, heels making her even taller. Gura dresses comfortable, a breathable crop top with some wide leg pants.
They greet some acquaintances, the bar slightly crowded. Calli, as dependable as usual, reserved a table near the back. Calli makes small conversation and they order some drinks and a snack platter first. She guides Gura through all the alcoholic drinks and Gura takes her suggested mixers. They face the centre with the stage and some instruments, the pool tables and crowd of frat boys cheering. Her eyes rake over the excitement uninterestingly when she spots gold. By the bartender. Is that…?
“Amelia?” Gura squints. She looks pretty. Her more unkempt casual look is gone, donning a cute sundress with her classic coat. She glows in the room. Like sunshine. Under the dim light, her earrings sparkle when she laughs and downs a shot. They’re blue, like her eyes. Amelia laughs at something and Gura finds someone else besides her. Ina. The art major who took a psychology module with her. Something in her chest thuds. Like a stone sinking into a pool of water.
Calli follows her gaze. And does a whistle. Gura glares indignantly at her. “Oh no, not at your Amelia. I meant the bartender.” Calli sips her wine, frowning. “Who is that beside her?”
Gura sighs, leaning back. She pokes around in her Long Island Tea. “Ina. I don’t know who she is to her.” Her mood sours. For the first time, Gura wishes she hadn't seen her. Calli frowns with pity.
“Hey now, don’t get all sad. What if they’re just friends?” Calli nudges her. “Let’s go say hi. I wanna greet your friend, and the bartend too, actually.” She mutters the last part and Gura nudges her back.
Turning back to look, Ina is laughing at something Amelia says. She looks more refined, cute and prim. Ina is quiet but attentive during Psych. She details her notes meticulously but when Gura borrows them she finds little doodles everywhere. Is that Amelia’s type? Then her eyes meet blue. Amelia does an ‘o’ before she smiles and waves. Is she waving them over? Ina recognizes her too now and they chuckle to each other. Now they kinda have no choice but to go over and say hi. Some part of her anticipates, the other dreading what words are going to come out of the med student’s mouth.
Calli waits for her to stand up and they walk the few steps to the front. Her feet are heavy and she doesn’t want to go. She’d rather sulk the night away but the logical part of her scolds her for being so pessimistic.
Calli introduces herself easily. Amelia pulls chairs for them to sit, patting for Gura to sit beside her. She’s been too quiet so she makes up with a boisterous “Heya Watson!”. She taps her forehead and hopes she wasn’t frowning when approaching them. Amelia smiles back, gentle and understanding as if she knows something. She gestures to Ina.
“Hi Gura, meet Ina, my friend. A very good, pure, friend. We took a module together.” Amelia’s hand dances at her back, pulling her closer. Gura leans into her warmth. She sags against her and sighs in relief. She shields her away from the loud music and other customers. Gura feels comfortable in her little Amelia nook. Her irritation goes for a moment until Ina giggles and shares a look with Amelia. What are they doing? Are they taking pity on her?
Calli’s long leg brushes against hers and she apologises. Then she sends her a look. Tone it down, she mouths. Gura frowns but nods. Tone what down? Amelia whispers in her ear.
“Ina’s a friend, Gura. Stop being so scary.” She breathily giggles. Oh. Do they think she is jealous?. Maybe she was. Gura buries her face into her coat to calm herself first, ignoring her friends’ comments. She pops back out with an apology. “Wasn’t myself just now. Hi Ina!”
“Hi Gura. We took a mod together too. Psych, right?” Gura nods. She doesn’t have to force a smile anymore, at least. Ina is far too nice for faked pleasantries.
They decide to move to the bar counter, their table forgotten.
Calli calls for the bartender to order more drinks. A girl with orange hair and blue tips. She makes conversation with Calli easily and occasionally the group when not serving other customers. She is also from Holo U Business and Calli is so smooth in engaging her. Gura watches them interact and wants to learn. Kiara twirls her hair and giggles, leaning onto the counter. Calli smiles in delight and they talk more in their own little bubble.
“You and Amelia look like that too.” Ina swirls her alcoholic milk tea. We do? Gura looks up at Amelia who was already watching her. Her eyes gleam with fondness and oh, is that how we look at each other? Like how Calli and Kiara look right now?
“Yeah, I hope so.” Amelia replies, eyes never leaving hers. Gura looks away first and they laugh.
They talk the night away. Mixing friend groups made for exciting stories and laughter to share. They down more and more wine, Kiara expertly mixing heavier drinks for Calli and Amelia and Gura still trying to finish her tea. Kiara treats everyone to milo vodka shots (including herself) and they taste surprisingly good. The warm burn accompanied by the sweet tang of sugar slide down her throat. Ina eventually finds another group of friends and goes off to converse. Kiara and Calli are still talking animatedly, leaning into each other so much. Gura doesn’t listen in. She feels warm and comfortable right where she is. Her eyelids are heavy.
Amelia pats her gently. She leans down to whisper “sleepy?” and Gura hums. Her eyes close. Just for a few minutes. Amelia pushes for her to sit up for a while and she doesn’t know if she whined something because they all laugh at her. As always. Then familiar arms reappear by her sides and encases her. Her coat covers her front and Gura holds it like a blanket. Amelia had positioned herself behind Gura and she leans back, sighing. She ignores the “aww”s from Calli and Kiara. She feels so comfortable right now she doesn’t want to move. And she trusts Amelia and Calli and also Kiara and Ina, even though they only just met.
“Goodnight, sunshine.” She mutters. Her whole body is warm, from what little alcohol she drank and sharing body heat with Amelia. She did steal some sips from her glass. She doesn’t know what it was but it tastes nice. The background noises fade away. The blonde brushes stray hair from her face. She feels her press a kiss to her neck.
“Sweet dreams, Gura.”
Gura dreams of yellow.
—
She wakes up in her own bed.
Surprisingly not nauseous or hungover. Gura prods around her tummy and doesn’t feel any discomfort. How nice. She goes to clean up in the washroom and finds herself already changed into her PJs. Oh no.
Her phone is on her nightstand, weight for a note. She checks general messages and finds a new group chat with thousands of messages. Gura scrolls through them quickly. They all sent updates of when they got home, some morning texts from Kiara and Ina at 9am despite it being a Saturday. She sent a good afternoon text in the chat. Ina had sent some pictures of them posing at the bar counter. Kiara with a selfie stick and Calli grinning, Ina lifting her glass in a cheers motion, and Amelia not posing but instead looking down on Gura as she naps on her. Gura blinks. She somewhat remembers the night but was just very sleepy. Kind of embarrassing but in front of her friends she doesn’t mind. She gotta thank them later. Amelia sent some selfies of her princess-carrying Gura. What. Amelia looks the same at 2am, easily carrying Gura after some drinks, and she looks like a cat curled up against her chest. She pouts and wishes she remembered that. Calli’s message below reads “She wishes she would remember that the next morning lmaooo” and Gura replies with angry emojis.
She reads Amelia’s letter next, squinting at the words. Amelia is a doctor-in-training alright, her handwriting is barely legible, more of cursive scribbles.
“Hope you don’t mind. Changed your clothes and waterboarded you last night. Thank me later!
Text me when you’re alive.
Amelia”
That explains all the alcohol flushed out of her system. And her clothes. Gura groans. She kind of doesn’t mind Amelia stripping her out of her clothes, she just wishes she had been conscious and it played out differently. She wants to call her but decides to shower and brush her teeth first before speaking into her phone.
Amelia picks up in a few rings.
“Good morning sunshine,” Gura croaks out without thinking. She clears her throat. “So uh, thanks for bringing me back last night. And changing me and everything.”
She hears her smile through the phone. “Hello to you too. You were a handful last night.” She sounds crisp and fresh. A dog barks nearby and she shushes it. That must be her dog Bubba.
Gura walks around. She can never sit down during a phone call. “Wanna have some hangover soup for breakfast? I know a good place and I’ll treat you for being such a handful.” Gura teases. Asking her out comes easier but the excitement never goes away. “Lunch. And yes.” Gura is already picking out her outfit.
Gura finds Amelia’s coat among her blankets. She wears it out to breakfast. Amelia doesn’t say anything but she looks proud and adjusts it on her from time to time.
She never asks for it back so Gura keeps it. She wears it out whenever.
—
They go to the bar regularly.
Calli goes and flirts with Kiara and waits for her to end her shift to spend time together. Gura finds them sweet. Ina like to drink and people watch. Gura and Amelia bother other people and bring all of them together to chat during the early hours before they all disperse to do their own thing.
Kiara mentions how they couldn’t find a regular band to play at the bar.
“They already cleaned up the dust and bought the instruments and everything.” Kiara wipes aggressively at a stubborn stain on the table. Calli rubs some ice on it and is rewarded with a peck on the nose. “But nobody's willing to sing. Someone has to be brave enough to start.” The others sit around the counter as usual. The usual soft jazz flows through the air and the atmosphere is relaxed. Way too relaxed on a Friday night.
Calli nudges Gura, almost spilling her own wine in the process. “I can think of some ways to hype the crowd up.” The others “ooh” in anticipation.
“You did tell me you were in the singing branch of Holo U music club.” Amelia reminiscences.
Gura grins at Calli. “Calli does rap too.” And now it is her turn to be sheepish as Kiara and the others gaze at her in awe.
Kiara runs to get their manager to set up the stage immediately and the others encourage them. They suggest songs and hype them up. The pair protest weakly but they are also eager to try. Gura wipes her hands. Calli suggests ‘KING’ and Gura agrees. They practised this together during club. They can do it.
Calli drags 2 mic sticks onto the dark stage and adjusts Gura’s. The jazz music has stopped and patrons are murmuring to each other. Floodlights literally flood the stage, enough to blind, and Gura is stunned for a second. Gura sees a sea of eyes peering up at her and gulps. The room is filled with nervous energy as they test the mic and the soundboard. Calli pats her back as encouragement. She finds her 3 friends waving to her. Amelia gives a thumbs up. You got this. She mouths. Gura nods. She leaves Calli to introduce themselves and the song. Most of the customers are Holo U students anyways so she feels less shy.
The song starts and they auto-pilot into singing. Just like during club training. She is nervous and her voice shakes a little. But they get into it as everyone cheers and claps. Kiara fawns over Calli's raps, her fast-paced bars hyping up the crowd. She walks around the stage while rapping with clarity and Gura awes at her breath control. Gura starts to dance around the stage too, enjoying herself. They do peace signs when Ina lifts up her polaroid camera. They are panting when the crowd whistles for more.
Gura decides to sing a slow song for a change of pace. Calli thumps her back and leaves the stage to a shrieking Kiara. Amelia goes to pass her a cup of water and she takes it appreciatively. Kiara finds a ukulele backstage and Gura tunes it for a bit. While she does, she clears her throat but into the mic on auto-pilot. The crowd laughs a bit and she giggles.
“I want to dedicate this song to Amelia.” Calli whistles and the crowd turns to find an Amelia. Said girl smiles. “It reminds me of her. Because the song feels like sunshine. And to me, “ Gura squeezes her eyes. “Oh gosh.” She mutters. The crowd “aww”s.
“Finish it, Gura!” Kiara yells and the crowd ripples with laughter again. She feels like a stand up comedian on the stage.
“To me… Amelia is like sunshine.” Her face must be tomato red by now. They cheer. She got used to hiding her face in Amelia and her coat so she just ducks her head. The lights dim and she starts singing “Bubbly”.
The people sway along to the music. She sees some slow dancing, smiles obscured in the dark. Calli and Kiara are behind the counter, doing a poor imitation of a waltz. Gura giggles during a pause in the song. Amelia’s eyes never leave hers, eyes bright and patient and filled with wonder and awe. Gura looks back at her. Look at me. Gura hopes to convey via telepathy. This song is for you. She breathes out the last syllabus and the bar claps politely.
Gura taps to the edge of the stage where Amelia reaches her hands out. She thought Amelia is only offering her hand but squeals when she gets carried by the waist like a doll. She is set down gently and Amelia squeezes her tight.
“Thanks. For that.” Gura squeezes back.
“No,” she sighs. She’s warm. “Thanks to you too.”
—
“So.” Amelia starts. She nonchalantly examines her nails. Gura hums.
Amelia comes over to her rented apartment for dinner and now they are just chilling on the couch, watching Gura play Muse Dash.
“We are… kind of already doing girlfriend things right?” Tentative, small, unlike her usual boisterous confidence. Gura pauses. Thinks back on their movie watchalongs and cuddles and lunches and dinners and breakfasts. Thinks of Amelia and her smile and her cheeky attitude and her focus when studying and her raging while playing video games. Thinks of Calli getting along with Amelia and her surge of joy at their expanded friend group. And the flutter in her heart with everything she does and when she looks at her. Many things went through her head. She can’t count them all. Another non-committal hum. Here comes the chorus. She readies to mash buttons.
Then Amelia says “Wanna be my girlfriend? Make it official.” And Gura splutters. She tries to pause but it’s already too late. Her combo streak breaks and she groans at the Game Over screen.
Gura scrambles onto the blonde who only grins, pinning her down. “You did that on purpose!” She crosses her arms. Amelia raises hers in mock surrender. Then dashes out to hold her hips when Gura loses her balance. Her fingers push into her flesh, firm and steady.
“Is that a yes?” She raises her eyebrows.
Gura intertwines their hands, leaning in close. Her hair flops down to curtain them. “Who says we aren’t already gifs?”
Amelia’s laugh fans her face. “Gif? As in how you pronounce g. f.?” Gura noses at her neck and feels her breath chortle. She hums against her throat. “Watson Amelia. My girlfriend. I like the sound of that.”
“You better.” She feels her chest vibrate.
She settles down, her weight entirely resting on her. Her hand reaches under Amelia’s shirt as usual, palm fully on her navel and fingers pressing lightly against her ribs. Gura likes to find her heartbeat and listen to it. An energetic little one. Fingers reach for under her chin and tugs her closer. Amelia smiles through their kiss. Gura smiles back. And nips at her bottom lip for good measure, earning a yelp. She sits back up and wipes at her mouth.
“Marking what’s mine.” Gura smiles bashedly. She isn’t this bold usually. Seems Amelia likes it though. Her smile darkens and her hands circle around her waist, ensnaring her.
“I didn’t catch it the first time. Do it again?” She whispers. Gura scoffs at the cheesiness.
“Only for my girlfriend.”
She does it again.