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Hyeju paced around her room nervously. She glanced at the clock. There was still ten minutes until five. Cursing under her breath, she pressed the palms of her hand against her face. She stopped her pacing, opting to sit on the bed instead to try and relax even a little. The solution proved fruitless, though, as she bounced her leg up and down and clasped her hands tightly. She was so caught up in her own anxiety she failed to notice the silhouette at her room door, quietly approaching her. She only snapped out of her trance when said silhouette placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked up and was greeted with her girlfriend's smile.
Her shoulders relaxed at the sight. She didn't even realize she was so tense. Hyeju tried to send Yerim a smile of her own, but could only make up a tight-lipped one.
"Nervous?" Yerim asked softly.
Hyeju nodded, glancing at the clock once more. "I don't think I've been so anxious about something my whole life." Hyeju was awaiting for the university's email that would decide wether or not she made it in. Said university was particularly difficult to get in, and despite her impeccable grades, Hyeju couldn't help but feel anxious. She had failed to sleep the night before due to the growing nervousness she felt.
The hand that was on Hyeju's shoulder moved to rub at her back. Yerim was then overcome with an idea. "Here. Turn around." She said. Hyeju looked at her incredulously. "Why?" She asked with a raised brow. Yerim pouted. "Just do it! Trust me, you'll feel better." She refused to explain. Hyeju eyed her suspiciously before reluctantly turning her back to her girlfriend. She felt two hands on her shoulders before they started pressing into her muscles, releasing the unseen tention. Hyeju hummed at the pleasing feeling. "Why didn't you tell me that you were just gonna give me a massage?" She questionned her Yerim, who just giggled. "Where's the fun in that?" She said brightly. Hyeju scoffed playfully. "You're keeping me on edge, more than I already am." She half-joked, to which Yerim giggled some more. Her hands made their way onto Hyeju's back once more, working their way through the many knots. Hyeju mumbled a curse under her breath at a particular knot being undone.
"You're so tense, baby..." Hyeju could hear Yerim's pout through her words. "Learn to relax a little.. I promise the world won't end if you take a break for a day."
"I know..." Hyeju admitted reluctantly. "But sometimes it just feels like my parents depends on me." Yerim heard the frown in her voice as she mentioned her family. "I didn't even want to go into medicine..." She grumbled defeatedly.
Yerim was well aware of Hyeju's family problems. Having parents who pressured their child into taking medicine her whole life was nothing short but stressful. Of course, she would tell her girlfriend to let loose a little, but it was never that easy. There was one point where Hyeju and Yerim tried talking with the former girl's parents, but they simply couldn't be reasoned with. Hyeju had then given up on her own dream. Yerim remembered when Hyeju tore all of her paintings apart and cried that night. Her room was now empty save for a laptop, a small notebook and a potted plant. Hyeju often forgot to take care of it, busy as she was, so Yerim would step in and do it for her. She thought it was the least she could do to make her feel better.
As Yerim undid the final knot, Hyeju leaned her back against her girlfriend's front. "I don't know what I'd do without you..." She confessed with a pleased sigh. Yerim giggled. "Getting sappy only after I serviced you?" She teased playfully. Hyeju raised her head to peck Yerim on the lips. "You know me so well." She replied with a smile of her own. Hyeju closed her eyes and laid onto Yerim.
Yerim smiled. Her plan to make Hyeju relax worked like a charm. She held Hyeju's face with her hands and leaned down to kiss her again. The girl under her kissed back, albeit lazily. Yerim pulled herself out of the kiss with a smirk. "Look who's being a lazy lover." Hyeju chuckled, turning herself around to really face her girlfriend. "It's your fault really..." Hyeju said, kissing Yerim once again. "You give the best massages ever." She complimented her girlfriend.
"Only because someone is so tense all the time." Yerim grinned. Hyeju giggled before laying her head on her girlfriend's lap. She sighed contently. Yerim ran her fingers though the girl's hair with a smile. Silently, they stayed like that before Hyeju slowly dozed off.
Hyeju woke up wrapped in her blankets with her head on a pillow. She inhaled a long breath and sat up. Then, she looked around while stretching her limbs, only to be met with darkness. Hyeju stopped mid-stretch, confused.
Suddenly, a blinding light cause Hyeju to yelp. "Sorry. Did I wake you?" A voice came from the room's door. After blinking a few times to adjust to the new lighting, Hyeju turned her head to see her girlfriend holding a plate with a smile. "What time is it?" She asked with a yawn.
"A little over eight. I figured you would want something to eat." Yerim answered. Hyeju's eyes widened. She looked at the clock. It was ten minutes over eight. She threw the blanket off of her and put her feet on the floor. She quickly made her way to her computer and logged into her email.
There it was. The university's name in front of her, signaling one unopened email.
"You wanna open it?" Yerim approached her girlfriend. Hyeju chewed on her bottom lip. "Yeah.." She said, lacking confidence. Yerim placed the plate on the desk next to the computer and held Hyeju's shoulders. "Whatever happens, I'm with you." Hyeju turned to smile at her girlfriend's reassuring words. "I know. Thank you."
Not wasting any more time, Hyeju opened the email. There the words lay still.
Congratulations! You have been accepted!
Hyeju released a breath she didn't even know she was holding. Though she didn't smile. None of them did. There was no elation, no excitement. They knew it only meant Hyeju escaped the wrath of what would've happened if she wasn't accepted. It also meant Hyeju was officially fully dedicated into her studies, despite the fact that she resented it.
Yerim laid her head on Hyeju's shoulder. "This doesn't mean you have to totally give up doing what you love." She said. Hyeju turned her head to look at her, unconvinced. Feeling Hyeju's doubt, Yerim moved her hand to cup her girlfriend's cheek. "You're going to have less time for it now than before. That's for sure." She started, "But it doesn't mean you have to give up on it forever." Yerim moved away from her girlfriend to reach for the notebook on the side of the laptop. She opened it and it showed several drawings Hyeju had done, long before her conversation with her parents. Long before she tossed everything out. This notebook was the only thing she kept. She hasn't drawn in it for a long time.
"Whenever you find a little bit of time, try drawing something in this notebook. It doesn't have to be big or breathtaking, but you should still have the opportunity to do what you really love. So you don't lose yourself." Yerim looked at Hyeju in the eyes. "Who knows? Maybe one day you'll be able to drop the scalpel and pick up the pen. And when you do, you'll be ready to take on the world once again."
Hyeju looked at Yerim for a few seconds, her expression unreadable. She then breaked into a small, but soft smile. "You're the best, you know that?" Yerim smiled in return. "I try."
Hyeju wrapped her arms around Yerim, hugging her firmly, but not tight. Yerim hugged her back, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Hyeju felt a sense of peace at that moment. "Thank you. I love you." She said. Yerim hummed. "I love you too."