Archive of Our Own

She could say for a fact, that she's had plenty of crushes in the past, pun intended. She remembered meeting that one maiden in England by the name of Yerim about 300 years ago. At first she saw her from afar, carrying a tray with tea. She remembered approaching her sometime after. They'd hit it off rather well but it never turned into anything more. How could it when Seulgi had exactly a year to spend in a new place, before the laws of time traveling forced her to leave? That was her life - stuck in an endless loop of time-travel. There were times where she would wonder if there was a way to break out, to stay in one timeline forever. Or if she could ever lead a normal life. She'd stopped wondering about it a long time ago though. Coming to terms with her reality wasn't as hard as it sounded.

But back to her crushes, a more serious one was a beautiful baker by the name of Sooyoung but she made Seulgi so happy, that she started calling her Joy instead. Joy was special, one of a kind. She was Seulgi's first ever real crush, one that she confessed to, disregarding that she'd have to leave shortly after. The next timeline she ended up in was a futuristic one, way into the 3300 and she spent her year working and thinking about Joy. Eventually she accepted it was over and moved on. She still reminisced about her from time to time, fondly remembered their conversations but there was no sign of her feelings anymore.

***

Another year, another timeline. January 2nd 1880 to be exact, if the newspaper she was holding was a reliable source. As per usual with settling into another time she roamed the streets a bit looking for the small address she appeared with. At least time travel provided you with a real estate so you would never end up homeless. It made sense though, since it was technically her life but just in a different time. She retained all the belongings she'd found, so her room was somewhat of a museum. She had pictures from the future, from way into the past when cameras weren't even invented and many, many objects with sentimental value she liked to refer to as "artefacts".

There wasn't a single soul outside, probably because people were either still celebrating the New Year or sleeping. Either way, it gave Seulgi a chance to privately explore the new place. Speaking of new places, her home for this year seemed more on the grand scale considering she was standing in front of a mansion. This couldn't be it, could it? Were all the years she spent working the reason for this? Not that she really cared where she lived, since it was only for 365 days. It might seem like a lot but a year can often times feel shorter than a month. Her eyes scanned the small note and then the large sign, just in case.

"Oh, Miss Kang! I see you are already back from the gathering at Park's mansion. I hope it was enjoyable." a middle-aged woman approached her as she entered the building, rushing to take off her fancy coat. She was really rich in this timeline it seemed.

Once she arrived to spend a new year somewhere, Seulgi already had established friends, acquaintances, a house, sometimes a job and of course, she wasn't a complete stranger. It was like she'd always been there but just didn't get to live her full life, just that one year.

Since she had maids before, she was even a maid herself once, this wasn't unfamiliar territory. She smiled lightly and said "It was delightful, thank you for asking. What did I miss?"

She explained some generic stuff most of which Seulgi wasn’t paying attention to as they were walking through the mansion, stopping at the dinning room. "And of course, the chef prepared your favourite strawberry pancakes, Miss. That is, if you are not too full from the gathering." At the mention of food, Seulgi's stomach growled loudly and she realized she hadn't had something to eat since noon from the previous place. Not only that, but it had been a good 10 years since she'd had strawberry pancakes specifically.

"Excellent, I am feeling rather peckish." she tried to hide how eager she was as she sat down. The maid flashed a quick smile and went somewhere, probably to fetch the food. It gave Seulgi time to look around.

This new place was VERY fancy. Above the large wooden table was a chandelier with hanging crystals. The walls were lavishly decorated with gorgeous paintings and beautiful antique porcelain plates, clearly drawn by hand. The purple table cloth reminded her of that one time she ended up as the Queen of an entire nation. She tried to shake the memories away, taking a deep breath. Remembering that particular time was really hard for her and she still had nightmares about it sometimes. But the memories just wouldn't go away.

"The food, Miss." the maid returned shortly after but Seulgi was too enamoured by her past to pay her any mind.

Sat comfortably on the throne, slouched on it even was Seulgi, peacefully reading a book. That is, until the door to the throne room was thrown open sharply, the person practically sprinting inside the room the obscene sound of wooden shoes echoing all over the room. "Your Highness! Your Highness!" Seulgi immediately left the book on the side table and turned to face the intruder - the royal advisor.

"Something the matter, Soo?" Seulgi steadied her posture, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer, based on the look of sheer fright on the advisor's face.

"The librarian figured it all out. It is exactly as we feared, Your Highness, there is a traitor among us, here in the palace! And they—they killed Haneul!"

Seulgi felt the iron grip she had on the chair loosened, she couldn't feel her legs anymore, getting light-headed. Haneul dead? He was her closest friend, the second person in this castle that didn't have an unspoken grudge against her, the only person that she felt close to in this cold, cold place. He'd helped her so many times through her journey in learning to be the Queen. And now he was... gone. Just like that. "It—It can’t be... There is no way—"

"The maid found him in the East Wing, b-bleeding—" Sooyoung gulped, trying her best to keep a steady tone. "s-stabbed with a kitchen knife."

"W-Why him?" Seulgi didn't even try hiding her tears as they spilled, didn't try keeping the Queen calmness, she couldn't care less that she was showing weakness at that moment.

"The librarian said he was secretive for a while. It seems he had figured out who the traitor was and they—s-so they..."

Seulgi felt like the ground had opened up and swallowed her whole. Never, not even once in the previous timelines had she lost someone close to her. Never. That meant fate to the people around her, weren't the same every time. Things changed. The thought terrified her.

"They've attacked! The village is burning to ashes! Your Majesty!" the maid ran into the room, her body visibly shaking, still holding the feather duster.

"The people—they need me." Seulgi whipped away her tears and didn't say anything else before rushing out the door. She ran, not knowing where she was going. But something stopped her in her tracks.

The light wooden flooring was burning around her, trapping her in the dining room. The jump to the door was too high and she would die before making it. The smoke made her cough loudly and she covered her face, frantically looking around.

"Seulgi." she turned to the direction of the soft voice calling her name.

"Minju, run! Why are you—" She tried to warn, as if she couldn't see the fire all around. She was at the other end of it, but it was quickly going to spread and reach her if she didn't run.

"I set the place on fire. I told the neighbouring kingdom to attack. I'm the insider, the traitor." Seulgi wasn't sure she could comprehend what she was hearing, the smoke getting to her head and making her feel dizzy.

She knew this was the end. She knew she was going to die here, like this. But she still reached out with trembling hands. "What are you—"

"I loved you and I still do. But If I can't have you in this life, then no one can!" Minju yelled through the hallway, her voice carrying all over the castle. She was insane! Who knew the librarian was capable of this!?

"Y-You—" she couldn't talk through all the thick smoke, choking on her words.

"We'll find each other once we're reborn, then you'll be all mine! That Haneul can never touch you again, I took care of him too." She really was insane.

"He was my best friend!" Seulgi managed to scream out loud, tears staining her cheeks.

"SEULGI!" The last thing the queen heard before the flames burned through her skin was screams. Repeated screams of her name, of Minju willingly throwing herself in the flames, the sound of water buckets but she knew it would be too late when they finally reach her. The last thing she felt was her legs giving away. Her vision blurred, her hands trying to grab onto something, anything. Unsuccessful in gripping the table and pulling the table cloth down the floor instead. Her knees hit the floor and the purple fabric covered her burning body. She screamed in agony until it all came to a sudden halt.

"Miss Kang? Are you feeling alright?" she asked when noticing Seulgi's state. The time traveller took a deep breath and tried to relax. Everything was fine, she was safe. They couldn't get here here, she was safe, in a new timeline, away from the obsessed librarian and the burning palace.

"Yes... I am. We ought to change the table cloth though. The purple stands out way too much. "

"Of course Miss! I shall inform the other maid immediately!"

***

It turned out that life as this version of Miss Kang was very eventful - many gatherings at other's residences and lots of friends to drink afternoon tea with. The following evening she went to another gathering. Which meant a party. It was pretty much like the parties from the 20th century but a bit more formal. Or a lot.

"Welcome to the Song residence, Miss Kang. Come in, we've been waiting for you." the maid smiled, took her coat off and led her to the ballroom where the party was at full swing. Ladies with their fancy dresses were giggling at what the gentlemen with top hats were saying and other couples were already waltzing to the soft music playing from the radio. She was a social butterfly so without wasting a second, she joined the other ladies, politely introducing herself. Sipping from her drink and listening to all the hilarious banter, she didn't realize how time had flown by. She too, had started laughing at the things everyone was saying. When her glass was already empty, she excused herself for a second to go get some more. She walked to the counter, doing just that. Right as she was about to return to the group, she noticed someone sitting on the armchair beside the bookcase, far from all the other guests. Seulgi had made her mind before even doing so, walking up to the woman. The first thing she noticed was that the woman was wearing a matching white dress to hers.

"You look rather lonely there, Miss." the woman lifted her eyes up quickly when she realized someone was talking to her. Now Seulgi could see her facial features fully. Her breath got caught in her throat when she took a closer look. This was undoubtedly the prettiest woman she had ever seen!

"Oh, I am feeling quite alright actually. I am not really into these types of gatherings." she spoke with a soft tone, her voice sweet and light, a little deep too but not like Seulgi's.

"Not the social type?" the time-traveller asked, eyeing the empty chair next to the woman. She noticed and nodded lightly, so Seulgi sat down.

"Not really, no." the gorgeous woman replied, placing a finger between the pages of the book she was holding. 

"That is fine, people are different." Seulgi said and eyed the cover of the book. "She Hides In The Secret Garden" what an interesting title. It seemed so familiar, maybe she'd seen it at a futuristic bookstore in one of the different timelines.

"I do not think we have met before." she said suddenly and from the her expression, Seulgi could tell she had surprised herself too.

"I believe so. Pleasure to meet you, I am Kang Seulgi."

"Bae Joohyun."

"Forgive me for saying this Miss Bae but you look very uncomfortable in your own skin, correct me if I am wrong."

"You are not. Being around so many people just makes me feel really anxious."

"Oh...should I leave you be then?"

"If you want to, my company is not exactly thrilling."

"Let me be the judge of that, Miss Bae."

"So how come we've never met? The town is rather small, yet I have never seen you, Miss Kang."

"I should be asking myself the exact same thing. With a face such as yours it would be hard not to spot you, even among a crowd." Seulgi threw her a sneaky wink.

"Charmed, I'm sure." Joohyun smiled lightly and Seulgi got a glimpse of bunny-like teeth. Adorable.

"All the flattery aside, is not being social the only reason you are sitting here, Miss Bae?" In all her years interacting with people from different times, she had learned all the signs of different behaviour, hidden intentions and everything in between. She could sense there was something else. The woman looked far too out of her comfort zone for it to just be social anxiety.

Joohyun sighed. "I am not too sure I should share it with someone I have just met, so let us leave it at that."

"Of course, apologies for making you feel uncomfortable."

"No bother, it happens." Joohyun dismissed with a smile and continued. "Are you not going to go back to your group? You seemed like you were enjoying yourself."

"I could stay if you would not mind. We could keep each other company. I am sure they do not need me." the time-traveler chuckled lightly.

Joohyun gave her an interesting look. "You would rather do that than go back to them?"

"They are not really my group, besides they are not that fun either, believe me." Seulgi reassured and it seemed to give the other woman a push of confidence, because she left the book she was previously holding and turned her attention to Seulgi fully. "How did you know I was having fun either way? Were you watching me, Miss Bae?"

At the mention of such a thing, Joohyun's cheeks turned a very pretty rosy colour and she coughed awkwardly not to seem weird. "It was hard not to notice it. The loud laughter was pretty telling."

Comfortable silence fell between them. Seulgi looked at the group she was talking to before. They were doing the exact same thing — laughing and drinking. They didn't seem to care, or even notice Seulgi's absence. Meanwhile Seulgi would much rather stay here and chat with Miss Bae, she was a much more pleasant companion than those people.

"So...what sort of activities do you occupy your free time with, Miss Kang?"

"I have picked up many hobbies over the years. One of the main ones are gardening and reading. I journal sometimes too. What about you? " She kept a journal where she explained everything about how her years went by in all the different timelines, pointing the more important things out. She had a feeling tonight's entry was definitely going to include this conversation with Miss Bae. Or just the highlights of it.

"A woman of many talents. That is rather impressive. I enjoy reading a lot. You might have noticed. "

"She Hides In The Secret Garden. I noticed, indeed. The title seems very familiar to me. I think I might have read it before." at the mention of that Joohyun's eyes lit up and she started talking in a very excitable manner.

"Jade R. Lin is one of my favourite authors! The way she portrays characters is flawless. Her descriptions makes you feel like you're not just participating in watching the rain with the characters, it makes you feel like you're the one being rained upon. It is so immersive! So you've read that particular book? "

I think so? I need a refresher to be sure."

"The main character—" Joohyun began talking almost immediately, clearly 100 times more comfortable than before. Seulgi found it incredibly charming that she got so excited talking about books. "is a poor peasant by the name of Jane. Jane is already 25 but she has never met that special someone. While helping around at her mother's bakery she meets Carol. The two hit it off so well that after only 2 weeks of knowing each other Jane takes her to her secret garden. They confess to each other and recklessly court each other, knowing the risks and the prejudice there would be against them if someone found out. People do find out and Jane and Carol often hide in the secret garden together. It is a very emotional book full of adorable moments but also deals with some serious issues. "she stopped for a second, realizing she had said a bit too much. "Sorry, that was not really a refresher but more than half of the plot. I got carried away."

"It is alright, it was nice to see you feel more comfortable now."

Joohyun smiled lightly before eagerly asking. "So, have you read it?"

"It sounds incredibly familiar so either that or I have read something similar." She could have possibly seen the book, or even read it in another timeline.

"One of her other books is " I will protect you". I cried around 5 different times while reading it. The story is so...It is about soulmates that can't be together but they find ways to see each other every summer solstice. I got very invested in it." Joohyun pulled the exact book she was describing out of the shelf and showed it off to Seulgi. The glossy green cover was of two hearts entwined together and a sun above them. Rather simplistic but very beautiful, now that she knew the plot of the story.

"Soulmates, really? How interesting! Do you believe they exist?"

"Do I believe soulmates exist?" Joohyun repeated the question, looking somewhere in the distance, probably trying to figure it out herself. "I am on the dreamer side so I like to think there is someone made for me out there. What do you think?"

"I have read and seen a fair share of things but my belief is that it is possible. Probably very rare but possible."

"How do you think one finds their fated then?"

"Maybe through the stars?"

"The stars? Are you suggesting to find ones soulmate one simply has to stargaze, Miss Kang?" Joohyun laughed and the sound was like the prettiest melody.

"Perhaps. We may never know." Seulgi replied mysteriously and laughed as well.

"I would say to me if seems like just from talking to that person you could tell if they are the one for you. Because of the immediate connection you two would form." Seulgi thought back to all her crushes. Yerim, Wendy, Joy... did any of them feel like that? Yerim definitely didn't, Wendy and Joy on the other hand... she liked them a lot. But did she feel an immediate connection?

"That is a more realistic way, indeed. Seems more plausible too."

The two women continued talking about their hobbies and their experiences for a long time after that. They seemed to have forgotten about all the ladies and gentlemen around them that were having fun, dancing and drinking. Over the course of their conversation, Seulgi noticed many things about Joohyun. One that she was extremely smart, shown in her taste in literature and the way she spoke — elegant, eloquent and other words that didn't start with an "e". Seulgi laughed at herself for that one, putting her journal down. She rested her head on her pillow and pondered a goal for this year. What was she going to do here? What did she want to achieve? Seems like it won't be a very career driven one, since the timeline didn't allow for it. Perhaps a new hobby? She brainstormed ideas until her eyes started to feel heavy.

***

The next morning, Seulgi was woken up by her maid, gently pushing her shoulder and whispering things the half-asleep woman couldn’t process. When she opened her eyes, stretching her hands up into the air, she heard it.
“We have a lot of work, come on miss. I hate to do this but your schedule is packed for today.” The maid apologized, fretting over a tray of chamomile tea with a slice of lemon on the side, whispering to herself how it’s not “hot” and “fragrant” enough. One wave of Seulgi’s hand was enough to make her quiet down.
“Everything looks great, thank you.” Seulgi smiled and maid let out a loud sigh of relief. She seemed to be one of the more dramatic people Seulgi’s encountered but still, nothing that new.

While she had breakfast, the maid filled her in about today’s plans. It reminded her of her life in 1954 when her maid then, Ana had done briefings of guests, compiled extensive lists of information and rumours on everyone and took immense pleasure in discussing them with her mistress, dropping all honorifics for a while. Margaret looked to be very similar to Ana. For a moment, Seulgi even though it could be a past version of Ana, just reincarnated into Margaret's body. But that was a laughable notion. No two time-travelers could be in the same timeline if she were one. Not to mention, no one could live that long, plus she'd be a child if she were the Ana from 1954.

“So the Bae residence is having a special gathering to celebrate the young Miss’s engagement and you are invited of course.” Seulgi listened intently as she was enjoying her boiled eggs.
“Brief me on the guests.” Margaret’s eyes lit up, like she’d been waiting for this exact moment. “There are going to be the four Kim families of course, that is to be expected. An interesting addition however, is the inclusion of Miss Yerim from the town down the river. She’s a very well-known seamstress and her brother owns the Inn next door. The Son’s are going to be there too. Lady Sooyoung visited yesterday to invite you for some afternoon tea, though you were already at the Song’s residence. And of course there is going to be a special guest – Mister Byun.” Margaret noticed Seulgi’s confused expression. “He’s only the wealthiest bachelor in the entire country! The women in town say they fling themselves at him whenever they see him.”
“Seems a bit exaggerated, don’t you think?” Seulgi questioned and to her surprise, Margaret’s face turned rather stern.
“You’ve never seen him miss, that’s why. They say he is the most handsome man ever.” Her voice turned dreamy and she glanced off into the distance before turning back to her mistress. “Of course, he has rejected every single woman so far. They say he’s really selective.” She whispered. “But I’m sure he’ll immediately fall in love with you when he sees you, Miss.” She added for reassurance with a small smile.
Seulgi wasn’t interested in this wealthy bachelor and to be honest, her interest in men didn’t go beyond the one’s she read about in books. She could never imagine herself with one, settling down, having kids all of that. Not only because she was a time-traveler and could never do that with someone but also because she preferred women.
The following evening, she arrived at the Bae residence, taking in the beauty of the mansion, the marble pillars and the many, many paintings inside it. At the front door she was greeted by a maid, taking her coat off and showing her to the main room where the gathering was at full force. There were even more people for this one. A lot more than the one at the Song’s. Seulgi moved passed the crowds to pour herself something to drink, hearing their conversations briefly.
“I heard Eunjoo’s fiancé is almost as handsome as Mister Byun.”
“Did you hear he runs the oil company outside town?!”
“No way! He must be so wealthy! Ah, I’m jealous!”
“Meanwhile Bae Joohyun keeps denying all her suitors.”
“She’s snobbish then?”
“That’s what they say. And that she'll be a spinster if she doesn't accept one of them soon.” one of them women gasped dramatically at that, as if to be a spinster was almost as awful as not leaving yourself pure until marriage. Or, Heavens forbid, birthing a child before having found a suitor.
Seulgi heard their gossiping and couldn't help but eavesdrop a little. Maybe because they were talking about Joohyun, or maybe because she was curious what other ridiculous rumours they would try to spread.

"Did you hear that Mister Byun is here for Miss Joohyun?" one of them said and the other girl, dressed head to toe in green velvet slapped the back of her neck.

"You can't be saying things like that!" she scolded. "But do you think its true?"

Seulgi had heard enough and decided to go back to what she was trying to do, which was get herself a drink. There was wine on one of the tables and she poured herself a glass, sipping from it and looking around. Most of the ladies wore ballroom length dresses with a few exceptions (Seulgi included) but there seemed to be a prominent motive in almost every outfit - it was made of velvet. Stood out like a sore thumb with her red satin knee-high dress.

"Beautiful dress." she nearly jumped, spilling the wine all over herself but managed to save it last minute. She saw Joohyun standing beside her, getting some wine. She too wore a velvet dress like everyone but it was red, contrasting all the white, green and blue gowns.

"I could say the same about your red velvet gown, Miss Bae." Seulgi, having gotten over the initial shock of being startled, offered her a playful and wink and this time the other lady's flush was unmistakable.

"Please, call me Joohyun, Seulgi. My friends do." with that, they had dropped to a first name basis. Seulgi was glad to have already made a friend in this time-line, even though she never met the people she befriended again, it was good to have the memories. Plus she kept everything in a diary, so its not like it never happened, she had detailed logs about everything. From her mundane days, to parties, to her crushes, to her last days in each time-line. She was glad she bought one of those infinite paper notebooks from 3030. There was way too much information in those.

"Alright Joohyun, congratulations on your sister's engagement."

At that, Joohyun's eyebrows furrowed and she bit her lip, deep in thought. "Yeah, it’s a joyous day." she finally said but she wasn't looking at Seulgi anymore. She sensed something wasn't right but didn't want to ask just yet, didn't want to appear invasive.

"So, are you getting engaged anytime soon?" Seulgi changed the topic.

To her surprise, Joohyun laughed at that, putting down her glass. "Me, engaged?!" Seulgi could see her little bunny teeth again, still pearly white as before. Does she not drink coffee or something? How did her teeth look so perfect? "No way."

"You can't tell me you don't have suitors." Seulgi lifted an eyebrow and Joohyun chuckled.

"Oh, there are. There always are. I just haven't met the right... person yet."

"What would the ideal person be for you?"

"Someone kind, sweet and loving. Someone who will love me for me even when I don't love myself. Short hair, long eyelashes, plump lips." Joohyun's voice turned dreamy at the end but she quickly realized what she'd said and she lowered her eyes, sipping from her wine to cover her blush.

"Would Mister Byun fit that criteria perhaps?" Joohyun was caught off guard, scoffing so much that she ended up spitting her wine and getting it all over herself and her dress.

Her eyes widened and she looked around the table for a cloth or a napkin, something to wipe herself with but couldn't find anything.

"Hold on, let me help." Seulgi came to her rescue, spotting a napkin and fishing it out from underneath a plate of baked goods. She knew better than to start wiping Joohyun's dress in front of so many guests and to attract attention. Joohyun understood and took her hand, leading her out. At first Seulgi thought that she was going to take her to a bathroom but when they went outside she realized that wasn't the case. Joohyun stopped just before an arch that led deeper into the gardens, close to a big fountain with a fairy sculpture on top. Seulgi stopped as well and reached for the stain, rubbing it with her napkin. Joohyun stood perfectly still, almost like a statue.

"So why did you find that so funny?" Seulgi decided to ask as she was trying and failing to remove the stain. She leaned forward towards the fountain and wet the napkin a little before trying again.

"I don't fancy Mister Byun. Plus he isn't here for me, I’m sure that rumour has reached your ears too." Seulgi stopped for a second and lifted her head up. "No, not for my sister either, of that's what you're thinking. Baekhyun and I are actually rather close friends and he's here for... other reasons." Joohyun said ominously and Seulgi nodded, still trying to fix the other's dress. She was making progress, the stain was just about to come off, when Seulgi slipped and both of them flew back into the fountain.

Joohyun let out a little scream that turned into laugher at the end, spitting out some of the water she managed to catch with her mouth.

"Miss Bae I am SO sorry!" Seulgi apologized, trying to help her get out but Joohyun grabbed her hand and shook her head.

"I don't see why you're apologizing."

"I ruined your red dress! You won't be able to wear it again!"

"It was my sister's and I don't think she'll mind, it wasn't her favourite either." Joohyun shrugged her shoulders, pushing back her wet hair out of her eyes. "Let's stay here for a bit, It's nice." She seemed to be enjoying their little swim in the fountain. Seulgi couldn't do anything but nod and dip her head underwater, coming up and shaking herself off like a dog would, little droplets flying everywhere. Joohyun put her hands in crisscross in front of her like a shield, laughing.

What would someone think if they saw them at that moment - two ladies of well-known families, mistresses of houses, splashing together in a fountain with their gowns on. Is what Seulgi would have wondered if she wasn't so busy smiling at Joohyun. There seemed to be a little kid inside her, that little kid that, because of house manners never got to have a fun. Not like Seulgi had in her timelines. She'd been to parties, wild and tame ones, futuristic, modern, Victorian, you name it.

The two stopped laughing when the sound of steps interrupted their fun outing and both of them looked at each other in panic. Seulgi looked around, realizing they didn't have enough time to get out of the fountain and hide inside a bush. Joohyun, the quick thinker, pulled her behind the big pillar that held the fairy sculpture inside the fountain and the two held their breaths in.

"I'm so happy to see you again." A rather tall man with luscious blonde hair said, his lips spreading into a huge smile at the sight of a shorter man, dressed in a blue suit.

"You know how father is, Chanyeol ." the shorter man said, wrapping his arms around Chanyeol.

"I know, I know. But you're here now, that's what matters." the blonde man said, lifting the other man up, spinning him around, listening to his laugher ring in the empty (or not so) garden. Joohyun and Seulgi glanced at each other, the former's lips curled into a knowing smile, contrasting Seulgi' s confused expression.

"I missed you so much."

"I missed you more." And after that, the two men's lips pressed together into a loving kiss and Seulgi nearly gasped at that, Joohyun sensing it and rushing to cover her mouth so they don't ruin the two lovers' moment. When they pulled away, the short one, Baekhyun whispered something in Chanyeol's.

"Indeed. We need to make sure no one sees us." he said, nodding. The two held hands for a second before pulling away a safe distance and walking back inside.

"They're so adorable together." Joohyun smiled, helping Seulgi out of the fountain finally, the two soaked to the bone.

"You knew about them?"

"Chanyeol was the "other reason" I told you about. Baekhyun came here to propose. They've been seeing each other in secret for five years." she explained quietly, squeezing the ends of her dress and watching as water spilled out. Seulgi supposed that made a lot of sense now. Why the weather bachelor denied every woman, he had a secret lover the entire time. This was something rather new for Seulgi. Not only had she never taken a midnight swim in someone's fountain but she'd also never uncovered hidden affairs in her previous timelines.

"We really ought to get inside. Come on, I'll lend you a dress. Or we could just stay up in my room. The gathering isn't very entertaining to be honest." Seulgi couldn't argue with that and the two found their way to the older woman's room, somehow without being caught by anyone, though they were leaving a rather visible trail of water behind them. When they were inside Joohyun's bedroom, she firmly shut the door and let out a sigh of relief. Seulgi chuckled at that. They were just like little kids sneaking around the house.

"I've never done that before." Joohyun confessed, walking up to her closet and looking around for a dress to give to Seulgi.

"What, you've never swam in an expensive gown inside someone's fountain at night?" Seulgi teased, chuckling. Joohyun playfully rolled her eyes, picking out a lovely blue dress she thought Seulgi would like. It was encrusted with diamonds, covered in sequins. "Oh, I can't accept that. Give me a dress you wouldn't normally wear, not something so beautiful." Seulgi shook her head but Joohyun wasn't having it.

"Nonsense. Come on, put it on!" Joohyun urged, handing it to Seulgi. The younger hesitated for a bit but finally, she nodded.

Now fully changed into dry clothes, they took care of their hair too and it was like their midnight swim had never happened, all evidence had been wiped clean. Besides the persistent wine stain they figured they're never going to get rid of. The rest of the night the two spent inside Joohyun's room, deeming it pointless to go back down to the gathering when they had so much to talk about. Seulgi realized she must have overstayed her welcome when she noticed that there were no sounds coming from downstairs and despite Joohyun saying it was alright that she missed the gathering and that she didn't mind her company, she left, bidding her goodbye.

Seulgi lay in her bed, looking around her room, unable to fall asleep. She couldn't stop thinking about how pleasant it was to be around Joohyun. She didn’t remember the last time she'd had so much fun in a single night. There was something about Joohyun, something that made her stomach flutter, something that made her to eagerly anticipate their next meeting.

***

The next day Seulgi went by like normal, there were no parties in the evening and Seulgi had decided to spend a peaceful day in the gardens with her easel, hoping to capture the beauty on her canvas. She was so focused on painting the background, detailing every single flower, making sure to sketch every petal, that she didn't hear the sound of someone approaching. It was only when she heard Margaret's voice that she stopped.

"Miss Kang, Miss Bae has come to ask you for afternoon tea." she said and Seulgi didn't notice at that time but her eyes lit up at the mention of Joohyun. She remained professional and nodded, letting the maid lead her inside.

Joohyun sat in the living room, legs crossed, reading a magazine. When she saw Seulgi however, she put it down almost immediately and smiled. Seulgi thought she must have stayed under the scorching sun for too long because her head was spinning and her stomach felt uneasy.

"Shall I take your beverage to the tea room, Miss?" Margaret asked.

"Yes, thank you Margaret."

Seulgi and Joohyun sat against each other in the tea room, sipping from their berry tea. Joohyun suddenly reached for her bag and pulled out a set of brilliant red ruby earrings, Seulgi recognizing them as her own.

"The gardener found them this morning, must have fallen off last night." she said, handing them to the younger woman.

"You needn't have come all the way here to return a pair of earrings."

"I didn't, I came to see you." There it was, that feeling from deep within her stomach, coming back at full force. Was it the sun? Or maybe it was Joohyun's smile that caused it? Or her words.

"We saw each other yesterday, Joohyun." Seulgi said, easing the tension that she had sensed. Joohyun's eyes were on her and somehow, this was different from yesterday.

"You're just so pleasant to be around, I can't help it." Seulgi was about to say she felt the same way, that she too enjoyed Joohyun's company, maybe more than she was willing to admit but they were interrupted when Margaret came inside the room.

"I don't mean to intrude Miss Kang but Miss Bae's suitors have followed her all the way here and are now demanding to see her." Seulgi was about to turn around and ask if Joohyun would be interested but she beat her to it.

"Send them away." she said immediately without even a second of hesitation.

"But Miss, they won't go away. I tried. They said they'd come inside anyway." Margaret apologized with a bow. Joohyun sighed standing up to go face them, despite her obvious disinterest.

"Wait." Seulgi stopped her. "Tell them Miss Bae's gone home Margaret." she instructed and the maid nodded and went off. Then it was just the two of them again. "They can't get to the gardens, the only way is through the backdoor and with a key only the gardener and I have." she explained, taking her out of the house and to the gardens were she was painting earlier today. They could hear the outrage of the suitors and their demands to let them inside to ask for Joohyun's hand in marriage. Eventually, things went silent and they figured the men had given up and gone home. After some time of them wandering, Joohyun noticed the easel that was yet to be taken back inside the house and pointed it out.

"Do you paint too?" Seulgi nodded and the older gasped in awe when she saw the beginning of Seulgi's new piece. "I didn't know you were that talented."

"I feel as if that is rather exaggerated. I just know my way around a brush."

"Oh, it shows." she said, marveling the sky's hue, the carefully drawn petals and the soft brush strokes where the foundation of a bench laid. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, she blurted out. "Do you think you could draw me?"

"Draw... you?" Seulgi repeated.

Joohyun's cheeks flushed and she lowered her gaze. She seemed to do that whenever she was embarrassed. "Ah sorry, that was a rather foolish request, wasn't it."

Seulgi shook her head almost immediately. "No, not at all. I would be delighted to." she seemed ready, heading to grab her paints.

"Right—right now?"

"If that's okay with you?" Joohyun nodded.

For the rest of the afternoon Seulgi drew Joohyun on the canvas, having her sit down on the bench. Her blue walking dress with flowers and her bonnet she made sure to draw well, trying her best to portray her beauty as much as she could. But the brush strokes were harsh, not gentle like Joohyun, the hues were darker, not light like Joohyun's. She did her best with the sketching, moving onto the next stage. She made the older smile so she could have an excuse to look at her smile and to paint it too, taking great care in placing each and every bunny tooth in the right place. When the sun began to go down, Seulgi had to stop as she couldn't see well anymore and she definitely didn't want to mess this up.

"As much as I would love to continue into the night, you ought to head back." She had said, wiping the sweat from her forehead not realizing her fingers were stained with paint.

"You have paint on your cheek." Joohyun laughed, reaching out to wipe it out. Her smile dropped when she got close. Their quickened breaths mixed together as the two stood incredibly close to each other even after Joohyun had removed the paint. Seulgi's heart hammered, eyes darting to Joohyun's, then dropping to her lips in a silent request. Joohyun leaned forward, her eyes fluttering close. The sound of footsteps made them jump apart from each other. It was the gardener, coming in to lock and without being able to say what she wanted, she bid Joohyun a goodbye. She made sure to write about what had happened today.

***

Seulgi could say for a fact, that she's had plenty of crushes in the past. But none of them as intense and quick as Joohyun. It wasn't like Yerim, a fleeting but brief attraction, it wasn't like Joy with her infectious smile and the peculiar habits she fell for. It wasn't even like Wendy — her first real love. Were things with Joohyun moving way too quickly? It had only been a month and she was falling and falling hard at that. Seulgi didn't remember her heart hammering in her throat, threatening to jump out whenever she got close to any of those girls. She didn't remember her eyes literally lighting up at the sound of their names.

Summer rolled past and Seulgi barely heard of Joohyun. Mostly from gossip in town, everyone saying she'd ran way with one of her suitors to Japan. Of course, Seulgi didn't believe those rumours. She knew better than them that Joohyun wasn't interested in getting married. But as the days went by, Seulgi slowly began to believe those rumours. Maybe she really had found someone right for her, the ideal man and had eloped, completely forgetting about Seulgi. But then again, why would she think of her? Sure they nearly kissed but maybe Joohyun had realized she was making a mistake and that's why she ran away? Did she swim with him a fountain? Did he paint her like Seulgi? Had they spent an entire night together, talking until the sunrise? Her heart sank at the thought but she tried to shake the feeling off.

It happened that one morning, when she was walking around the town square, taking a leisurely stroll and window shopping for a souvenir to remember this timeline by, when she was her. Joohyun, standing by the town square fountain, book in hand, straight out of a fairytale. She didn't seem to notice Seulgi, too engrossed in her reading. Seulgi hesitated. She wanted to go there and talk to her maybe ask her why she was gone for so long, what she was doing. But as she was contemplating it, Joohyun put her book down and turned around, spotting Seulgi. She too seemed to hesitate before she put her book in a bag.

"Long time no see, Miss Bae."

"Seulgi, I—I can explain."

"I need not an explanation, you're a busy lady."

"I'm sorry. I—I haven't told you something about me." Seulgi took a deep breath and gave a signal to show she was listening. Joohyun hesitated once again, staying silent. Seulgi realized it must have been hard for her to talk about it if she was so uncertain.

"Look, you don't have to tell me if you can't bring yourself to."

"No I—" Joohyun's hands grabbed Seulgi's, holding them between each other. She sighed, bottom lip trembling.

"Lady Bae, you can't be seen here with Miss Kang!"

"Harriet?" Joohyun questioned, quickly turning around, not realizing she was still holding Seulgi's hands.

"You can't be seen together like this. People will start to... you know." the maid said ominously and Joohyun nodded thoughtfully.

She turned to Seulgi, the two still holding hands. "Let me take you somewhere more private."

Hand in hand, Seulgi let the other lead her away from town and to the mountains. She hadn't got a chance to fully explore the area but climbing those rocks with their annoyingly long dresses reminded her of that one time her and Wendy decided to do the same. The steep rocks pushing them back, their hair getting everywhere, it was just like that one time. Joohyun kept going, making Seulgi wonder how far she was going to take her. Surely they could have gone to one of their mansions, that would have been a secluded spot too. Then just as Seulgi thought they had arrived, Joohyun took her inside a cave. The stalagmites hung over the top of the cave like sharp teeth, reminiscent of a beast. If it was a beast, its tongue would be the wet puddles that had formed on the ground. On the other side of this cave, was a waterfall. Seulgi gasped when she saw the view in front of her.

Rows upon rows of naturally grown flowers - lavender and daisies mostly. The air here was cleaner, fresh compared to the one in town. The lavenders' fragrance filled the air, the sound of the bees and the flowing water was so calming, Seulgi sort of regretted not bringing a canvas with her at that moment.

"Never been?" she asked, dusting her dress off, noticing the ends of it had gotten stained with wet dirt. Seulgi shook her head, still looking around like a child marveling the world around them. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"It's like a slice of heaven on Earth." Joohyun came up to her, placing a hand on her waist. Seulgi swore she could almost hear Joohyun's erratic heartbeat. Or maybe it was her own but she thought it was Joohyun's because she wanted to believe. Then, just as all good things, their magical moment faded away and Seulgi spun to face the other. "You were going to tell me something?"

"Forget it." Joohyun said, hands still on Seulgi's waist pulling her closer. Their foreheads touched, their breaths mixed together like that time in Seulgi's garden but this time there was no one to interrupt them. No crazy men wanting to marry Joohyun, no maids or gardeners to come in and ruin the moment. Seulgi was about to say something, maybe if Joohyun was just toying with her feelings but she couldn't focus on anything but Joohyun's lips, parting slowly. "May I kiss you?" Their lips finally met for the first time and it was just what a first kiss should be, fleeting and chaste, like the butterflies in their stomachs. The press of their lips was barely there but Seulgi could almost taste the chamomile tea Joohyun's probably had this morning, could almost smell it if it wasn't for the overwhelming lavender scent surrounding them.

"Is that what you wanted to tell me?" Seulgi whispered afraid that if she raised her voice, Joohyun might disappear and she'd realize it was just a dream. Joohyun hesitated again.

"Yeah, it was." she said but her eyes weren't on Seulgi. However, the younger woman was far too elated from that simple peck to notice. "You make me so happy. Being with you, I've never felt that way for someone." she confessed, Seulgi's heart threatening to leave her chest and jump into Joohyun's palms.

Heartbreak was well known to Seulgi, she knew how dangerous it was to entrust someone with your heart but for some reason, she was willing to risk it all for Joohyun. It didn't matter that they only had less than 6 months to spend before she moved on and never saw Joohyun again. She'd keep the memory of her alive, until the day this curse breaks and maybe then, maybe she'd see her again. But the chances of that weren't very high.

"You make me really happy too. I enjoy spending time with you."

"Then let's see each other often, yes?" Joohyun's grin at that moment was undoubtedly the most beautiful Seulgi had seen her yet. It didn't matter her dress was all dirty and her hair was a little messy from the climbing, that smile is what solidified it for her —Seulgi was in love.

The sun began to set over the town, barely catching up with the moon in the race they played every day. Seulgi and Joohyun sat on the grass, watching the oranges, pinks and golds mix together before the moon pushed them all away and scattered starts all over the night sky. As they were stargazing, enjoying the peaceful moment of silence, Joohyun suddenly turned to Seulgi.

"Do you think we're soulmates?" Her eyes sparkled just like those stars up there, is what went through Seulgi's mind as she tried to recall if she'd ever seen someone more beautiful than Joohyun.

"I believe so. It's the only explanation." Joohyun seemed to think about it for a bit, surprised at how fast Seulgi had answered her. She flashed back to the first night they met on New Year's, the party and their conversation. Joohyun didn't realize it then but now she did —there was an undeniable immediate connection between the two, from the moment they first laid eyes on each other. There was some force pulling them together, magic or not, she didn't know and she didn't care to be honest. Another wave of comfortable silence engulfed them as they held hands, admiring the constellations.

"Spend the night with me here, under the stars." Joohyun proposed, pushing a strand of hair out of Seulgi's forehead and tucking it behind her ear. Seulgi's answer came when she gently pushed Joohyun onto the grass, making her lay there, the two lovers kissing again but this time, it was different, not so fleeting like the first time but more passionate, fueled by the trust and love they had for each other.

***

Days went by, months and after a particularly dry autumn, winter arrived, signaling the end of Seulgi's journey here. While those months went by, the two wouldn't spend a day without each other. The townsfolk began to wonder why the two "close friends" went out by sunrise and came by nightfall, or sometimes didn't until the next morning. Seulgi heard rumours, mostly about them courting twins or other baseless gossip the town folks liked to spread around. On the bright side, Joohyun's suitors had calmed down a bit and she could show her face out of the house without needing guards or someone to ward them off. It was almost like she was a piece of meat and those suitors were starved strays. It infuriated Seulgi that some had the audacity to treat a lady this way, though she knew it was a problem that would persist for as long as the world is there and she has timelines to travel through.

One cold wintery morning Seulgi woke up very early, right next to Joohyun, who was still asleep. Her breathing was steady and her naked form was hidden from the duvet, the only exposed part being her shoulder. Seulgi leaned forward and left a butterfly kiss there. She carefully reached for the handle of her nightstand, taking out the watch that showed her how long she had left.

December 31st. Her heart sank at that. It couldn't be over already, not yet. Not when she was certain she'd found the love of her life. She wasn't sure at first but now that she'd spend nearly the rest of the year with Joohyun, she knew. She quietly got dressed, trying her best not to wake up the sleeping angel in her bed. But it was to no avail when the other girl slowly turned around, her eyelashes fluttering open, trying to focus. "Good morning." she said, her voice a bit raspy and drawn out.

"Morning, love." Seulgi leaned over the bed and pecked Joohyun's lips gently, as soft as she'd kissed her before they fell asleep last night, wrapped in each other. "You're so beautiful." she couldn't help but say, still finding herself absolutely enamored by Joohyun, even after walking up next to her so many times, sending so many hours of the day together.

Seulgi was going to remember her until her last moments, until the curse was broken and she grew old. She imagined what her last moments would be. Her wrinkled hands would tremble, she'd reach up to the sky and softly whisper "Joohyun" before Death came to take her. Maybe he'd take pity on her, maybe he'll let them be together in the afterlife. If such thing even existed. But if it did, then what was the point of dying if you could continue being?

Seulgi was so engrossed in her own thoughts that she didn't notice Joohyun's agitated state once she fully woke up, didn't see the sadness behind her eyes. By the time she'd shaken the thoughts of death away, Joohyun's expression was normal again.

Seulgi wanted to do something special for their last time, something she would remember for the rest of her life. So they retraced their steps, went back to the room they first met in, laughing and remembering how shy they were. Then they visited the fountain again but since it was winter, they couldn't take another swim in it, with their overly expensive gowns, so they settled from looking at it from the gazebo nearby, reminiscing about it. The end of their journey was the waterfall when they had kissed on that last day of summer, where they spent their night loving each other under the starry sky, trapped in their own blissful bubble.

The end was getting closer with each time the watch hidden under the sleeves of Seulgi's dress buzzed softly, signaling the passing of another hour. Seulgi tried not to pay attention to it, tried not to remember that Joohyun wouldn't even remember who she was after it was over. But she couldn't. She laughed, she smiled, she kissed Joohyun but those thoughts couldn't get out of her head. And she felt like she was suffocating, like she couldn't breathe. She had to tell her. But she couldn't bring herself to. She'd never told anyone she was a time traveler, not a single soul in all the timelines she'd been in.

The last hour came fast. Seulgi hated the speed this day was going in, she wished she could have a bit more time so she could tell Joohyun just how happy she made her feel, more time to tell her this has been the best year in her life, to tell her she was and will always be her soulmate. Just a little more time.

"I really love you." Joohyun said randomly, out of nowhere, as the two watched the frozen waterfall, embracing and warming each other up. She seemed anxious about something and Seulgi wondered if she sensed her feelings or if she had her own reasons to feel this way.

"You’re the best thing that has happened to my life. I've never loved like I love you. I didn't think I could. But I can and I will."

"You know such talk makes me blush." her already flushed from the biting wind cheeks turned even more crimson. "But yes, you're the best thing in my life too. I wish for us to spend the rest of our days like this." Seulgi felt that deep in her chest, if only Joohyun knew the truth. She deserved to.

"I have to tell you something." Joohyun's sparkling eyes looked into her own. "I'm different." she didn't wait for Joohyun's reaction before she continued. "I'm not like you. Or anyone in town for a fact. There's this curse on me that doesn't let me stay in one place for too long. W-What I'm trying to tell you is, I’m a time-traveler." She rushed the last part, already feeling the curses pull, ready to take her away the second it turned midnight. Joohyun's eyes widened, her mouth parted but Seulgi could barely see it, the purple mist already surrounding her completely. “Remember me, will you?" is what she managed to get out, before she was sucked back into the middle ground, the place where she held all her souvenirs. She couldn't help it when she broke down, tears streaming down her cheeks as she thought about how Joohyun was going to turn around, her memory completely erased. She wouldn't remember Seulgi, it would be like they'd never met, like Seulgi never existed.

***

"Turn that frown upside down, babes! That's why we took you to J's party. Plus you need to hook up with some chick, you know what Seungwannie used to say - New Year, new STD." Joy nudged her shoulder. "Damn, was your breakup that bad?!" she gasped, noticing Seulgi's unmoving, stoic expression even after her hilarious joke.

June 1st 2018, a weird time certainly. If she was taken to the modern times, usually it was around the 3000, 4000 mark, way into the future but she'd never been to the 19th century. It was so different compared to the time she'd just left. She wasn't sure if she preferred this one just yet but she thought she might enjoy it a bit, if only for the extravagant language she was already subjected to.

"Not bad." Seulgi couldn't recognize her own voice, it sounded so weak and broken. She knew things would end up this way, she knew what she was getting into but it didn't make the pain less bearable.

"Not bad, GIRL WHEN? You're SO hung up on her, I can't even!" Joy shook her head and stood up, dragging her girlfriend Seungwan with her somewhere off into the crowd of dancing bodies. Even dancing was different here. Not waltzing or the ultra-futuristic way people moved their joints, no instead they were rolling their bodies against each other hands in places the previous timeline would consider highly inappropriate.

Seulgi mindlessly wandered to the bar, desperate for something strong, something bitter that would go down and burn her throat in the process. Maybe then she would understand it was over and she needed to move on. Seulgi used to be so independent, all she needed was herself, all she wanted was to be alone, exploring the timelines and watching as history evolved around her. Now all she wanted was a second chance with Joohyun. Maybe even just a glimpse of her. So she can be sure she didn't dream to whole thing up. That Joohyun wasn't a figment of her imagination, an interpretation of what her life could have been like if she was normal, if she wasn't bound to this time-travel stuff.

"Seulgi?" she turned around when someone called her name in a shaky voice. Usually, for different timelines she got different names, sometimes but not this time. She was still Kang Seulgi but no one called her Miss here, that wasn't what 2018 was about. She was half expecting it to be some girl that Seungwan and Joy had chosen for her to be a rebound, or a random chick that wanted to talk to her. Though that last part was unlikely, considering how cold she came off as right now. Surprisingly, it was neither.

"Excuse me, do I–" she began but when she saw the woman standing in front of her, she nearly gasped. Brilliant hazel eyes looking into her own, brown locks cascading down to her shoulder and that twinkle. That unmistakable twinkle behind those eyes... "J-Joohyun? " she asked quietly. If it was just her imagination, if she had confused this woman with Joohyun, at least she could play it off.

The other woman looked just like a modern version of her lover from 1880. She didn't have those long dresses anymore, instead she wore a cute baby blue blouse with a white skirt underneath, sporting a pair of classy, high heels, adding a touch of elegance to this rather casual outfit. She watched as Seulgi's throat bobbed, suppressing all the emotions she held inside, trying to hide the impending disappointment. The woman did not answer. Then, out of nowhere she pulled Seulgi close and kissed her. The plushness of her lips, it was impossible to confuse. The connection she felt, as if literal sparks had gotten between them - she knew. It wasn't until they could both taste something salty that they realized they were crying, tears rolling down their cheeks, falling on their lips.

"H-How, I don't understand..."

"I'm a time-traveler too. I wanted to tell you, believe me I did. I couldn't. In our last moments in 1880, when it was pulling us both in, I almost yelled it out but we were out of time."

Seulgi flashed back, remembering the time they first met. The book Joohyun was holding, she remembered exactly where she'd seen it now. That book was from 1970, she'd nearly bought it but resisted the urge in favour of choosing something not so angsty. Now everything made sense.

"But how did we get thrown in the same timeline?" for reasons only known by the creators themselves, no two time-travelers ended in the same timeline, as it would mess with the code of the Universe. But here they were, together again.

"We really are soulmates." Joohyun said and when Seulgi laughed at her, like she'd just made a sick joke, Joohyun lifted an eyebrow and asked in a teasing tone. "You didn't read the manual before your first trip, did you?"

"Of course I did!" Seulgi defended. "Up to page 900." she confessed after a second.

"973 — "Two who traverse the timelines may meet when and only when they are destined to. Those are referred to as True Destined Souls of the Universe, or just soulmates for short." Seulgi couldn't believe it. Not only was Joohyun back but she was her soulmate!

Overwhelmed with emotion, Seulgi pulled Joohyun into yet another kiss, soft and gentle like their first one. When they pulled away, they heard clapping and cheering coming from behind them.

"YOU GO SEUL! GET YOUR GIRL BACK!" Joy was yelling with Seungwan next to her, cheering along with her girlfriend. The two old lovers laughed, holding hands.

"Irene." Joohyun whispered. "It's Irene for this timeline." she added when she saw Seulgi's confused expression.

"Can I still call you Joohyun?"

"I'll always be Joohyun for you." She will always be Seulgi's first and last love.

"I feel like the time is appropriate for me to ask, Will you be my girlfriend? Will you come with me to the next timeline?"

"You already know the answer, Seulgi." at that, she gently kissed Seulgi's palm, moving to her cheek as one last tear fell down her already shiny cheeks.

No longer would they have to worry about townsfolk giving them side eyes, no longer will they be separated from each other. Now they will always end up in the same timeline, for as long as the Universe wants them to be together.