Work Text:
“Unnie, I know you miss your girlfriend but what about taking a moment to look at me instead?” Yerim complains, rolling her eyes at the older woman. “You’re the one who asked me out to have dinner together and yet here you are, on your phone.”
Joohyun doesn’t respond, simply putting her phone down with a slam. She pouts and starts drawing circles on the wooden coffee table, completely unfazed by the disgusted gaze her younger sister is giving. It’s not like Yerim treats her that differently on the daily, especially when her girlfriend stays over at their house.
“God, Unnie. Just call Seungwan-unnie, will you?”
“She’s in a meeting…” Joohyun whines, getting up from the table and rushing towards the sofa in the living room. She can’t explain why the yearning is doubled today, despite them sleeping in the same bed every day.
After two years of mutual courtship and a solid three years of being in an official relationship with each other, Joohyun prepared herself for faded feelings and less sparks whenever they spend time together. She has been in preparation ever since they hit the beginning of their fourth year together but to her surprise, Seungwan saved up some money – well, definitely took a huge loan from her older sister – and brought her to Switzerland so they could spend their fourth anniversary there. It might sound luxurious to many but Seungwan didn’t think much of it.
Truthfully, she also told Joohyun that they didn’t have to go anywhere out of Korea to have a good time but Joohyun’s answer made her change her mind – ‘anywhere with you is a good time, baby.’
Due to that huge loan Seungwan took from her sister, she now works six out of seven days a week and sometimes, overtime is necessary.
After all, T&J’s Pavilion is a household name in Los Angeles and with the new restaurant here in Seoul… it’s no wonder.
text message from: my baby
i heard my little joohyunnie is being a brat
what’s wrong?
“BAE YERIM, GET YOUR ASS HERE NOW!”
Yerim strides in with a cup of freshly made coffee in hand, sitting on the comfortable massage chair in the corner. “Stop pretending you’re not blushing like a school girl and reply your lover girl, Unnie.”
Before Joohyun can throw a cushion at her sister’s face, her phone lights up again.
text message from : my baby
baby?
why aren’t you replying me after reading ☹
actually
whatever
Joohyun screams at the lack of response after, her fingers frantically punching in Seungwan’s number. She almost throws her phone at the wall out of frustration, not realizing she’s short of one digit; maybe the automated voice wouldn’t keep saying ‘the number is not in use, please try again’ if Joohyun got herself together. Although… the silly woman could have spared all the time and emotion if she just searched for Seungwan’s contact.
“Unnie, it’s for you.” Yerim hands her own phone to the exhausted Joohyun, rolling her eyes for the nth time this evening.
“Joohyun?”
Her frustration and stress dissipate as fast as it all gathered, hearing Seungwan’s melodious voice enter the receiver. “Hi, baby… I’m sorry, I was going to reply your texts but Yerim was too busy annoying me.”
“HEY – MMPHH! ”
The younger woman’s voice is drowned out by Joohyun’s feet holding a cushion in place against her face. It takes a little bit of effort before Yerim finally slides out of the chair with a grunt, completely done with annoying her sister for the day.
Now that Seungwan’s talking and giving her fullest attention to Joohyun, the latter finally realises how tired her girlfriend sounds. Who won’t be exhausted after working so many days in a week and having to deal with nasty customers on a regular basis? Unreasonable customers are always a norm in the Food and Beverage industry, of course, but Joohyun always nags at Seungwan. Sometimes, or rather most of the time, kindness does not pay off. She works in the kitchen as a pâtissier despite sitting high up in the management, unknown to many of her own staff.
Joohyun’s fingers tighten around the phone unconsciously, wanting to feel as close to Seungwan as possible in the circumstances. The least she can do is lend a listening ear whenever Seungwan just needs a minute or two.
“I really should start cracking some heads with the frying pan in your kitchen since you’re too nice to do so.” Joohyun complains, feeling her head start to ache at the complaint. “You’re literally their boss, you don’t have to take this nonsense from them.”
“Now, now… we can’t have you arrested for two things.”
Imagining the annoying, cheeky grin full of nothing but pure mischief makes Joohyun’s heart start to race, despite being flustered by Seungwan’s confusing words. “W-What are you talking about?! I’ve never been arrested in my life!”
“You were arrested five years ago for stealing my heart. Did you forget?”
Between kicking her feet in the air, fingers and toes curled inwards and her cheeks flushed to hell, Joohyun can’t hold back her squeal. She’s been experiencing Seungwan’s cheesiness and greasiness first-hand for five years now, she shouldn’t be surprised but the woman never fails to top the previous line. Seungwan has to have a book or diary full of lines like this, there is absolutely no way someone can muster this much grease in their lifetime but Joohyun knows.
“I miss you, Seungwan.”
“I know, love. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy; I wish I could come home earlier to keep you company tonight but I had to get Yerim instead. I’ll make it up to you, I promise…”
The muffled sniffling from the receiver breaks Joohyun’s heart; she didn’t mean to make Seungwan feel guilty for anything – the woman is literally in this situation because she wanted to give Joohyun a good time. Seungwan, who needs all the love around, she’ll give it all to her.
“Don’t you apologize to me for anything. You treat me well and love me so much, baby, I’m aware of it all,” Joohyun doesn’t know why she chokes up at her own words but it’s been a long running effect on her. She wonders sometimes, if it’s even possible to love a person this much. “A couple of late nights isn’t going to change anything. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?”
“Even you don’t believe that. I miss you so much, I want to go home and cuddle you without getting out of bed ever again.”
Wait.
If Seungwan can’t leave… Joohyun can go there.
“Babe? I have to get back to cleaning… I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
Joohyun bids her goodbye with a kiss, ending their short conversation with multiple professions of love and some more sweet nothings that are best left between the couple. She places the phone on the table and picks up her own, staring at the lockscreen of them together – it’s one of her personal favourites; the two of them on a train ride in Switzerland. It was their last day in Switzerland and Seungwan wanted to end their fulfilling vacation off with a relaxing note instead of filling it with activities as their entire two weeks have been.
Having a girlfriend as devoted to her as Seungwan is… how can Joohyun possibly not return the favour?
Maybe visiting her today at work will be the start.
With a newfound energy, Joohyun leaps up and makes a quick dash to the kitchen. The mere thought of spending the night with Seungwan at work makes her clinginess halt for a minute or two, taken over by the urge to shower the woman with affection. Seungwan might be an amazing pâtissier but Joohyun does a great job with soups and homecooked Korean food, which Seungwan claims she can eat for the rest of her life.
*
“Unnie, I’m leaving first. Are you sure you can handle it here alone?”
“I’m fine, Eunbi. I know you need to take care of your grandmother tomorrow morning so please go and get some rest,” Seungwan assures, eyes still fixated on the mixture in the bowl.
Seungwan might have her reservations about some of the staff members working here with her but Eunbi is a great exception to that narrative. Not only does she offer to help every day without fail, she also stays on whenever she can despite Seungwan trying to chase her home. In fact, Eunbi is also the only one among them all that know of her actual status in the restaurant. She knows the reason why Seungwan refuses to come clean and she respects that very much; in any case, the woman’s girlfriend is as scary as the devil sometimes.
Her friend is definitely in good hands.
The sound of the mixer working overtime is paradise to Seungwan. As a pâtissier from the Institut Culinaire de France, Seungwan’s life mainly revolves around pastry and cakes. She was sent there with her parents’ hard-earned money and reaped the rewards by coming back with a certificate.
To be honest, Seungwan was the clingier one between them in the past. She would use her baked goods as incentives for Joohyun to meet her, often showing off her baking and pastry skills.
“Damn it… why do your classes always have to be during our usual dinner dates?” Seungwan mumbles under her breath, sighing at the phone.
Today was the 15th aka the very date Joohyun decided to take the chance with Seungwan. She wasn’t reluctant per se, but Seungwan is three years younger after all and Joohyun generally doesn’t have much faith in younger people. Having a short-lived romance with someone a mere two years her junior was already terrible and insane because they didn’t see eye to eye on anything. Once the infatuation with each other wore off, it was just flaws that became an even bigger obstacle with the passing weeks and months.
“You literally saw me last night, you goof.”
Seungwan’s jaw drops at the careless statement, cheeks turning into adorable pockets with pouted lips. “That’s not the point, Joohyun! I like spending time with you… it makes me happy.”
It isn’t any different from Joohyun, but she has always been a person of low maintenance. She can go days without seeing the person she’s dating and there will be nothing out of the ordinary. In contrast to people who think they have to spend every waking minute with one another, Joohyun is the polar opposite.
“Well… I can’t do anything about the schedules though. You know I’m doing my Masters’ so I’m going to be even busier than before…”
“What if I brought you some fresh cookies? Less sugar and not too much chocolate… just the way you like it.”
The moment Joohyun’s eyes lit up, Seungwan knew she was doing a good job bribing the woman with her precious goods. One thing she realised about Joohyun was that her urge to win was simply infinite. She always needed to have the last say in whatever they were debating over – except when Seungwan’s baking was involved.
God damn it.
“Okay.”
If she might, Seungwan can even say those cookies probably convinced Joohyun to start dating her officially. She spent the entire night with Joohyun at the library that day, occasionally feeding the woman. Joohyun tends to put her health at risk unintentionally whenever she gets busy with school. Although a Master’s degree in business management was not her original choice, Joohyun grew to place more importance on sustainable industries. Seungwan made sure to give her fullest support to Joohyun, never complaining or leaving her in the lurch.
That being said, she sure hopes Joohyun is sleeping.
text message to: my queen
babe don’t forget to lock the doors
sweet dreams ♡
“Texting your second girlfriend, Son Seungwan?”
“Joohyun! What are you doing here?”
Even though that’s Seungwan’s initial reaction, her eyes are almost crescents with how big her smile is. Her worry about Joohyun not getting enough rest or coming here alone this late is overpowered by the relief and gratitude towards her girlfriend’s surprise appearance.
Joohyun beams an eye-smile, unable to stop staring at her adorable girlfriend being swallowed up by the chef’s uniform and the baker’s toque. No matter how many times she sees this, it still takes her breath away. “I missed you so much and I want to spend time with you. Same way you respectfully kept quiet while I was studying, I’ll also keep to myself so you can do your work in peace.” Joohyun doesn’t think she can stop pestering Seungwan but she still has to say it.
“Yeah, right.” Seungwan rolls her eyes playfully, walking towards Joohyun as she removes her toque.
Welcoming the petite baker into her arms, Joohyun releases the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding back all this time. She spent the entire day missing her girlfriend and doing nothing productive but Seungwan makes it all better with a single smile.
Nuzzling her face into Joohyun’s neck, Seungwan tightens her arms around Joohyun’s waist. “I missed you too. I’m sorry if I’ve been neglecting you. You have to tell me if you feel that way, okay?”
Joohyun knows for a fact Seungwan won’t let it go if she doesn’t agree to that, so she nods in reassurance and kisses the side of her girlfriend’s head. They can discuss the details and whatnot later on; right now, Joohyun just wants to hold onto Seungwan and bask in her warmth. This embrace right here is the compensation for their busy schedules the past two weeks or so. Whenever Seungwan comes home from the restaurant, Joohyun is asleep; whenever Joohyun leaves for work, Seungwan is in a deep slumber.
“Anyway… I brought you some food. You can’t bake on an empty stomach and I won’t allow that.”
Seungwan watches with wide eyes as Joohyun continues to take container after container out of the bag like Mary Poppins did. Once the cover is lifted, however, her stomach begins to grumble incessantly.
“Thanks, baby.”
Pushing herself onto the counter, Joohyun swings her crossed legs back and forth. There’s nothing more fulfilling than watching your partner enjoy your homecooked food to the fullest with the broadest smile on their face. Seungwan has her toque hat neatly folded beside her, spoon in one hand whilst she inhales the food and soup like a vacuum.
What else can Joohyun ask for?
The moment of silence makes Seungwan realize something, and her chest begins to tighten. She knows what to do right after eating; a little bit of courage coming from homecooked food will do the job.
“Speaking of food…” Seungwan hesitantly gets up from her place, walking towards the two-levelled oven on the other side of the kitchen. She comes back with a tray of freshly baked cookies, an even mix of butter cookies and chocolate cookies. One of them in the middle, however, looks a little bulkier than the others.
Oh my God.
Is that…?
“S-Seungwan…”
Every footstep taken is another breath stuck in her throat; Joohyun feels like she knows what’s about to come but she doesn’t dare jump to conclusions – this will affect her life forever. She’s been waiting for this day for almost a year and thirty-five days but who’s counting, really? Seungwan never showed any signs of being ready to take the next step with her, so Joohyun assumed they should focus on the growing careers before thinking about anything else.
Joohyun tries not to giggle at how obvious Seungwan’s legs are shaking; the woman pale enough to collapse if you ask her… which is ironic because Joohyun herself is about to pass out at what’s about to come.
Yet, here they are.
Seungwan gets down on one knee, a shiny ring in hand. She looks up at Joohyun with tear-filled eyes and an anxious smile.
“I wasn’t intending to propose till this Friday… I actually had a place booked and a menu all planned out but tonight made me realise something. Despite how busy we are, I know I want to come home to you every day. I want to bake for you, I want to stand by you in silence whenever you need. No one else completes me like you do, as we demonstrated for the past five years of our life; way too long, by the way. Bae Joohyun, will you marry me?”
“Is that even a question?” Joohyun shakily breaths out, the tear dams open and the flood soon comes. “I’ve been waiting for this day.”
The right side of the bed dips a little, a tiny figure throwing the towel off her head as her body quite literally melts into the warm mattress. She snuggles closer to the sleeping figure, throwing her limbs around the lump.
“I’m home, Hyun.”
“Hey, babe.” Joohyun whispers, turning around with shining eyes and the sweetest smile one can ever witness.
Before Seungwan can ever react, Joohyun has the woman pinned below her with a dark glint in her chocolate orbs. She bends down to press their foreheads together, noses touching ever so lightly.
“You’re mine tonight. Today. Tomorrow. Next week, month, year, whatever. I don’t care if the restaurant or my office is about to collapse into ashes or burn into flames. you are NOT leaving this bed until I say so.”
Seungwan lifts a hand and caresses her wife’s cheek, closing the gap between their lips but not before a gentle whisper, “God, you’re so clingy.”