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Heejin didn’t understand how it got this bad. The never-ending struggle of trying to concentrate with her around didn’t make sense to her. Since when did she see stars every time her roommate was anywhere near her? Since when did her heart start doing back flips when they so much as made eye contact? Since when did she start falling for Kim Hyunjin?
She tried to reason that she was simply an emotionally starved college student and Hyunjin was just really easy to look at. It had to be that right? It wasn’t like she wanted to hug her every time she entered their dorm. Or stare when the soccer captain came in sweaty from practice. She also definitely didn’t want to kiss her when her signature pouty face came out when Heejin decided she didn’t feel like sharing her bread. (Heejin always felt like sharing her bread) No she wasn’t falling for Hyunjin at all.
Except maybe just maybe she did want to do all those things. Maybe she did want to know what her lips tasted like, or if her hugs were as warm as her words. Looking up when the door opened, and Hyunjin walked in hair wet from practice wearing a tank top that showed a little too much, Heejin realized there was no denying it. She was head over heels for her roommate.
The revelation, if you could even call it that, made her feel lost. It wasn’t like she had never had a crush before. Heejin had obsessed over people before. In fact, she had even had long term relationships. She wouldn’t consider herself unexperienced in any way shape or form, yet there she stood in the middle of an existential crisis at the simple thought of Hyunjin doing well… anything.
Her mind continued to go back to the real question at hand. When did she even begin to fall for her roommate? They had been living together for a good year now, and it seemed like only recently the effects of lovesickness had started to show. Sure she had always found Hyunjin attractive, a complete understatement to say the least, but she never put much thought into it. Maybe the fact that her roommate was also the nicest person she ever met didn’t help either, but she had realized that not even a week into their shared housing arrangements. Heejin thought and thought. She racked her brain for a hint of when things started to change, only to realize that there wasn’t any.
“Are you ok?” a soothing voice called out pulling her out of her thoughts.
She jumped startled as she turned around only to see the reason she was in the middle of an existential crisis in the first place.
Hyunjin let out a small chuckle before shaking her head. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. You just looked like you had just seen an alien or something.”
Heejin tried to respond, but the words got caught in her throat. Her stomach began doing the thing, while her brain refused to move past how cute her friend looked in her cat pajamas. Damn it. Knowing there was no way she could say anything without making a fool out of herself, Heejin decided it was time to run. Like, literally run. To say Hyunjin was confused when her roommate just about jumped the couch and sprinted to her room was an understatement.
After that, Heejin made the conclusion that if she couldn’t function being around her, then the only solution was to avoid her. It was easier said than done considering they shared an apartment, but she’d be damned if she didn’t at least try. And try she did. For weeks now Heejin had successfully avoided any contact with Hyunjin. She would leave earlier when she had class and come home late when she worked.
If being around Hyunjin felt like her body wanted to shut down. Being without her made her feel like it was deteriorating instead. Still, Heejin stayed strong. She was determined to make it through the year without having to deal with the fact that she was head over heels for her roommate. Like all things however, they must end. Sadly for her, it just so happened to be the day she had woken up late for work.
“Why are you avoiding me?” Hyunjin asked her as she blocked the doorway.
“I’m not.” Heejin tried to lie. She could see the glimpse of disappointment in Hyunjin’s face when she tried to move around her to get to the door.
“Can you please just talk to me?” Hyunjin tried as she grabbed a hold of Heejin’s wrist and pulled her lightly towards her. The move caught Heejin by surprise and she stumbled. Hyunjin steadied her by grabbing ahold of her waist with her hands. The sudden touch burned Heejin’s skin as the scent she loved so much filled her nostrils. Her heart was beating at a pace she didn’t think was possible and the realization hit her like a ton of bricks that she would actually combust with how close they were if she didn’t leave now.
“I’m going to be late.” Heejin tried to argue, but Hyunjin refused to let go.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Hyunjin asked quietly.
Their faces were still really close together and Heejin had to physically force herself to breathe. She didn’t know why she did it, but how could she not when her roommate smelled of peppermint and lavender. Without letting herself back out, Heejin closed the gap and softly joined their lips together. If this moment had been a movie scene, she liked to believe there would be fireworks bursting in the background to signify what her body was feeling.
The kiss was soft like a feather grazing your cheek as it fell to the ground. At least at first. Once Hyunjin regained her senses, Heejin felt like she could explode into millions of tiny rainbows when her roommate not only kissed her back, but also deepened the kiss. Although to her it seemed like they stood like that for an eternity, Heejin knew the kiss only lasted a few seconds. Once Hyunjin pulled back, she prepared herself for the embarrassment that surely followed. Only to be surprised to see the biggest smile she had ever seen adorn her face.
“I meant your car keys.” She said dangling them in her index finger with a shit eating grin. “But thank you for that.”
“I’m sor…. I don’t know what..” Heejin tried and failed to apologize for her actions. She wanted to tell her that it meant nothing and then run away to never be seen again, but before she could actually form a complete sentence, Hyunjin pulled her close again.
“Don’t apologize. Because I for sure won’t.” She whispered before placing another kiss onto her lips.
This kiss was different. Where the last one had been soft and gentle, this one felt urgent. Heejin’s brain went black as her emotions exploded in ways they never had before. Their lips moved together like a pair of ballroom dancers dancing a piece they had practiced for ages. This time when they pulled apart, they both wore matching smiles.
“Go before you're late.” Hyunjin urged as she pushed her out the door softly.
Heejin almost got fired that day for not getting anything done, but how could she when her mind was filled with peppermint and lavender.