Work Text:
Miyeon was just about done finishing her work files that seems to just keep piling up.
Being the only instructor for the whole corps hq with officer Han barley around, work just always manages to find its way to her.
Suddenly she hears a gentle knock at the door and already knew who it was. She didn’t even get the time to say anything before Hayoon just let her self in.
“Did you need something Officer Ahn..?” Miyeon asked in a nonchalant voice resting her cheek on her hand. “You know an email just got sent out about an hour ago..” said Hayoon as she just sits her self down in a chair and scoots it next to Miyeon.
“And?”
“And.. we have the whole day off. Why don’t we go out and do something?” Hayoon said in a chipper voice.
Miyeon just looks to the side and leans back in her chair to think on it. She never really makes her own decisions on these things and they both rarely get down time at the same time so…why not?
“Ok.”
“Ok? What?”
“Ok, let’s do something.”
Hayoon excitedly grasped their hands together and asked Miyeon if she wanted to go down town today. Miyeon a little reluctant at first agreed.
When they both met outside of the Corps' Headquarters, it was clear that Miyeon didn't put in any effort in her outfit, only wearing her standard uniform and nothing more. On the other hand, though, Hayoon's floral dress was elegant and flashy. Her vanilla perfume was lovely, but the smell of medicine and chemicals seemed to follow her everywhere she went.
Hayoon grabbed Miyeons hand.
“Miyeon dear, Shall we go?” Miyeon only glanced at her knowing and feeling that some of the other corps officers could see them. She didn’t want any rumors going around so she prompted Hayoon to let go of her hand.
So she did.
Hayoon understood and they started to make their way to the corps funded car. Hayoon surprisingly was usually the one to drive them both. Miyeon got in the passenger seat as Hayoon started the engine.
It was a 15 minute drive to the town square. Where they parked in the semi filled parking lot.
Miyeon was just about to open the door but before she could Hayoon grabbed her wrist.
Miyeon looked over at Hayoon.
“What is it with you all the time?” Shouted Hayoon.
Miyeons eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“What?”
“Miyeon. We’ve been ‘friends’ for a while now yet you never bother to even try to talk to me outside of work. With how long and how much we’ve been through together. I know you more than anyone in the corps and you still haven’t even said a word to me this whole time.. why?”
“Officer Ahn.”
“Just answer!”
“This whole conversation is unprofessional Officer Ahn.”
“…”
They both got out of the car and silence took over. The tension was high and they both felt it. The two decided not to dwell on it and walked forward.
It was not a particularly busy day but there was more than a handful of the towns people insight walking around. It was going into summer so it was around 80 degrees out. Miyeon was in her long sleeve uniform.(corps prob don’t have enough money to fund for short sleeve ones..) One thing to know about Miyeon is that she gets stressed easily in hot weather. So that and the tension in the air combined probably won’t do her well.
Hayoon started to walk in the center of the town square where you can see all the different stores and restaurants. Miyeon reluctantly followed.
Hayoon tried to ease the tension filled atmosphere with small talk as they made their way around town and eventually to a small family owned restaurant.
They were sat in a small corner at the restaurant with a window and the sun glaring through.
They sit in silence for a while until Miyeon finally found the courage to speak up and ask Hayoon what she was ordering. Hayoon looked up at her and tilted her head to the side. She prompted her self up and looked down at the menu on the oak wood table.
“I guess Naengmyeon sounds really good about now, seeing how hot it is today.” Hayoon said sluggishly.
“I suppose I’ll have to agree.”
Some awkward moments went by until Hayoon spoke up.
“aren’t you hot in that uniform, Miyeon?”
“Yeah, but it is the standard work attire though.”
“But we’re not at work. Why don’t you try to loosen up for once?”
A silent pause, the two just holding eye contact.
“I suppose you’re right.”
Miyeon then started to unbutton her suit jacket and took it off slowly. She then hung it up on the back of the wood chair. Now she is just in her plain white button up and the only color contrasting it being her red tie to prove that she is an official officer.
Moments later Hayoon then waved the waitress over who seemed annoyed by them but noticed that Miyeon was a red tie and hurriedly walked over. Hayoon ordered for them both while adding in two waters.
the tension is starting to grow once again until Miyeon speaks up.
“You know it’s not that I don’t want to.” Miyeons voice trails off into a whisper.
“What?”
“It’s not that i don’t want to talk to you, it’s just that i am scared to.”
“What do you have to be scared of Miyeon? We’ve come so far, we’re not trainees anymore and you’re far from weak so what is it?”
Miyeon looked down and noticed her hands that were clenched into a fist with her nails digging into the palms of her hands.
“You know I’ve lost so many friends and colleagues that I had let my self get close to and not a single one of them is still here.”
“Miyeon.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt Hayoon… i wouldn’t be able to live with it.”
Hayoon's eyes widened in surprise. The two aberrants had been friends for so many years yet Miyeon had never spoken about her feelings so freely before. Miyeon noticed her friend's silence and quickly looked away, her face burning with embarrassment.
“I’m not going anywhere you know.” Hayoon said, voice low with a straight face. Miyeon unclenched her fist with a sense of relief as her gaze softened.
“Hayoon I..”
“Excuse me, ma’am. Your food?”
Miyeons train of thought was interrupted as she looked over to the waitress.
“Ahem.. sorry, just place them right here.”
The waitress places their food and drinks down a little carelessly and walks away in a rush.
silence dwells over them. Miyeon just stares at her food while Hayoon slurps up every last noodle in her bowl(big eater hayoon, little eater miyeon real) some time goes by, neither of them have said a word until Hayoon waves over the waitress to ask for the bill and a to go box for Miyeon.
Hayoon always seemed to be detached from reality, but her voice was lively as ever when she spoke.
"You'll pay for this, right?" She smiled, "I don't have my wallet on me."
“sigh..As expected..” Miyeon reached into her pants pocket and took out her wallet which contained a peace card to pay with.
Despite Miyeon's never ending frown, the two aberrants were in no hurry to leave the restaurant.
The faint summer breeze was refreshing and the sky was painted a beautiful shade of orange. Hayoon's eyes seemed to turn yellow beneath the setting sunlight as she stared at the red cirrus clouds above them. She walked behind Miyeon, thinking of all the other things she wanted to do with her, everything she wanted to say. The setting was too romantic for Hayoon to let it pass her by.
Miyeon, however, wasn't paying much attention to the scenery. Her mind chasing over thoughts that Hayoon couldn't care less about. Hayoon just wanted Miyeon to look at her once, just once would be enough.
Neither aberrant spoke on the way to the parking lot. As they were ready to leave, the lump in Hayoon's throat formed a knot that could barely hold her feelings inside of her. For how long has she been harboring these feelings for her friend? For how long would she be able to keep them a secret? Hayoon was sure that Miyeon knew how she felt, so how could she be so cruel as to leave her suffering like this?
Hayoon needed Miyeon to notice her, to see that she was there and that she would
stay.
In a desperate burst of emotions, Hayoon reached for her old friend's wrist. Miyeon blinked at her, her expression one of surprise and confusion.
“You worry about the ‘what if’s’ too much, Miyeon. You’ll never get to experience freedom if you don’t just let loose. Please Miyeon, for me just..”
Hayoon's voice trailed off and she looked away, too overwhelmed by her own emotions to speak. But to her surprise, Miyeon's warm calloused hands reached for her cheek and gently turned her face to look into her eyes, making Hayoon's heart skip a beat.
Miyeon leaned in closer, their lips almost touching. They breathed the same air and Hayoon was elated with happiness, but just as their lips were about to kiss, Miyeon swallowed and pulled her in for a deep hug instead.
Before she knew it Miyeon was leaning in closer and closer with their lips almost touching. Hayoons hopes sky rocketed but before it got too high of course Miyeon chickened out and just gave her a deep hug instead.
“Thank you, Hayoon. For staying with me this long.”
Hayoon saying nothing eyes open but seeing past everything but the setting Sun. She had no words to respond with knowing knowing that the one person she felt such a strong sense of love for doesn’t love her back.
They both walk back to the car and hop in.
Hayoon starts the engine and drives off. There is onlysilence in the car, no words being exchanged. It wasn’t a tension filled silence but in fact a silence that is oddly comforting where they are accepting of each others feelings and presence.
They eventually make it to the corps hq and get out the car. All you could hear is the screeching of the cicadas and wood pecking of birds. They both stand there next to each other for a while and just stare at the entrance of the hq, reminiscing on all the past experiences that they went through together, all leading up until now. They both take a breath and walk in the hq entrance to go their separate ways,
Hayoon finally letting go.