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The second the teacher said they were sharing a room, Chaewon honestly thought she had died, because that must be hell. There's no way the jock, the girl who had been picking on her for the last month was her roommate on this trip. But as fate would have it, here she was in an elevator, waiting for their floor. The elevator ride was strange. And when the doors opened, Kazuha walked out, almost bumping into her.
Chaewon could do this, she thought to herself. She followed the brunette down the hall. Kazuha stopped at a door and swiped her card, the door opening. The two entered and Chaewon's heart dropped because there was only one bed.
“This should work. We can share” Kazuha announced, dropping her bag on the small table near the window. Chaewon was shocked. Was Kazuha okay with sharing a bed with her? After all the teasing and insults last month? Chaewon was ready to rip the athletes' heads off.
She watched Kazuha open her bag and take out what looked like pajamas. "Serious?" Chaewon asked. Her voice revealed how surprised she was.
Kazuha looked at her. "Why not?" She responded with a shrug and walked to the bathroom. Chaewon was dumbstruck looking at her ass.
Kazuha came back and took her own bag, throwing the clothes into the basket. "You're joking right?" Chaewon asked.
Kazuha raised a perfect eyebrow. "If you have a problem-"
"I have no problem!" Chaewon shouted. “But you- you have-” Chaewon stumbled over her words. "You've been bullying me for the past month about how I want to be a reporter and go to the Daily Planet."
Kazuha honestly laughed. She walked up to Chaewon and shook her forehead. "Because you are lame."
"I’m not!" Chaewon protested. She crossed her arms, refusing to let the brunette see that she was blushing.
"Whatever you say," Kazuha laughed. "Now please get changed so we can get some sleep."
"Okay, but if I end up sleeping on the floor, it'll be your fault," Chaewon grumbled.
"That doesn't look very nice." Kazuha smiled at her.
Chaewon huffed and grabbed her things and went to the bathroom to change into her own pajamas. When Chaewon left, Kazuha was already in bed with the lights off. She bit her lip, hesitating. Never in her life did she think she would share a bed with Kazuha Nakamura.
And what Chaewon hated most about everything was how it made her heart race. Because, hell, she liked her. And she was about to fall asleep next to her with the girl so close she could basically feel her. It was horrible, Chaewon basically hated her because of the way Kazuha treated her. But there was something charming about the brunette that she couldn't shake.
"Are you going to keep looking or are you going to lie down?"
Chaewon's face heated up. "Sorry." She ran to the edge of the bed and carefully slid down.
Kazuha shifted until he was comfortable. Chaewon tried to ignore her nervousness. They were both in pajamas. Why was she freaking out? God, she hated hormones, Chaewon hated life.
"Good night, Chaewon," Kazuha whispered. And why, why the hell did Kazuha feel the need to say goodnight to her, Chaewon wondered.
Chaewon turned around, facing the wall and closing her eyes. Chaewon heard Kazuha breathe. The silence in the room made her ears ring and she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. So instead, she looked up at the dark ceiling, thinking. Chaewon couldn't and would never be able to involve the other girl.
"Chaewon?"
Chaewon jumped a little when she heard Kazuha speak again. She turned to look at the brunette. "Yes?"
"What is wrong?"
Chaewon sat down "There's nothing wrong." She responded quickly.
"You sat up, clearly something is wrong. Now what is it?"
"Why do you care?" Chaewon spat. It was very hard and even tasted sour on his tongue. She felt Kazuha sit next to her and the silence between them was terrible.
"Sorry. It's just-" Chaewon paused trying to think of the best way to phrase it. "Why are you acting like a bitch to me?" Kazuha's body stiffened at the question. Chaewon instantly regretted her outburst. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"No, you're right," Kazuha interrupted, taking a deep breath. Chaewon noticed the tension in her shoulders lessen as she spoke again. "Only..."
"Just what?" Chaewon approached Kazuha to hear what the other girl was about to say.
"I never know the right thing to say. God, I say the stupidest shit sometimes. I don't want to seem mean, I actually think-" Kazuha stopped herself.
Chaewon turned to look at the younger girl. In the darkness of the room she could barely make out the wrinkles on his face. Chaewon swallowed hard, she needed to know where Kazuha was going. She had to understand what was happening.
"I think it's cute that you're excited to go to the Daily Planet."
Chaewon blinked.
"Do you think it's cute?" she repeated. It wasn't possible, no way, no way...
"Yes," Kazuha confirmed.
“You think it’s cute that I want to pursue my dream job, that I want to be a journalist,” Chaewon clarified. Kazuha nodded.
"Yes I think."
"Do you really think?"
Kazuha nervously began fidgeting with the blanket. "Well, yeah. You're adorable. I mean, who wouldn't want to hang out with you?"
Chaewon couldn't help but blush furiously. This whole situation was simply unrealistic. Here she was, talking to the girl who had bullied her for weeks, and now she was saying she wanted to date her. That was some kind of bad joke. She must have fallen asleep somewhere and the universe brought her back to life to torment her.
"Thank you," she murmured. She heard Kazuha let out a sigh and suddenly the room became too silent. It wasn't long before she felt Kazuha move to lie down. Chaewon sighed and turned around as well. Maybe this wasn't real, maybe she was still dreaming or something. But the warm body next to hers proved otherwise. This was real and it was making her melt inside. And she couldn't stop looking. Every part of Kazuha was beautiful to her. Especially her eyes. Those big brown eyes that seemed to always be watching Chaewon, analyzing every move she made.
Chaewon noticed her staring and quickly looked away. If Kazuha found this strange, then Chaewon didn't want to ruin the moment.
"I think we should get some sleep."
Chaewon nodded and pulled the blanket over them. He was silent once again. But it didn't stay like that for long.
"Do you have a favorite color?" Kazuha broke the silence.
"Forgiveness?"
Kazuha rolled onto her side, facing Chaewon. "Your favorite color. Do you have a favorite color?"
"Um... I guess not? I haven't really thought about that?"
Kazuha smiled, "Okay, good."
"Why are you smiling?"
"Nothing," Kazuha shook her head.
Chaewon raised her eyebrow waiting for an answer. "So do you have any favorite foods?" Chaewon asked changing the subject.
"Hmmm... Pizza," Kazuha replied.
Chaewon nodded slowly, turning her back and looking at the ceiling. A few moments passed before Chaewon spoke again. “So, uh… do you know who you are? Like, do you know who you are as a person? Or are you just Kazuha Nakamura?"
“Oh, um, I think I’m Kazuha Nakamura. Who else would I be?” Kazuha replied. There was a hint of bitterness in his voice and Chaewon felt bad for asking.
"Sorry. It's just..." Chaewon hesitated.
"Just what?"
"Never mind."
"No. Tell me." Kazuha demanded.
"Is nothing."
"No, it's not."
Chaewon took a deep breath. “You are different from everyone else. People always tell me that. I think they are right. But I do not know. You seem like the kind of person who would never... I don't know, like me? And then last month you were so… mean.”
"I'm sorry," Kazuha whispered.
Chaewon knew it wasn't okay, so she didn't say it was. But now it was good, whatever happened was good.
Chaewon looked at Kazuha. His chest tightened. The brunette was lying facing the ceiling, her hair fell into her face, covering half of her face. Even though she couldn't see his face, she could see the softness in his eyes and the faint smile on his lips. She felt like she could stare at it for hours.
Then, without warning, she realized she was looking.
"You're looking," Kazuha said.
"Yes," Chaewon murmured with a tense expression. She looked away, trying to hide her face.
"Don't worry," Kazuha chuckled softly.
“Shut up,” Chaewon muttered.
She heard Kazuha laugh. "I'll try to stay awake until you do."
"Good."
The two continued to lie in the darkness, looking at the same old ceiling covered by white sheets. But for Chaewon all she could see was Kazuha. All she saw was how bright her eyes were, how beautiful her lips were, how perfect she looked.
Kazuha cleared his throat. "I can't believe you were looking."
Chaewon's cheeks burned. "Sorry."
"It's okay, I don't mind. I know it's hard to believe."
"But you still think I'm boring and that boring people don't deserve you?" Chaewon questioned.
"Well... No, I don't." Kazuha replied.
Chaewon turned to look at Kazuha. Kazuha was now looking at her too. Her faces were only a few inches apart. "Serious?" she whispered.
"Yes."
Chaewon let out a small laugh. "You are impossible."
"Am I?"
"Yes! Everyone hates me."
"No, they don't hate you, Chae. They just don't understand your personality. That's all."
"They call me lame."
"You are lame."
Chaewon frowned. "That doesn't sound nice."
"You're one of the nicest people ever. You're funny and smart. You're so sweet. You're beautiful, Chaewon."
Chaewon froze at the compliment. His heart was pounding in his chest. "You're not so bad either." She tried so hard not to let her voice waver when she said that.
Kazuha laughed lightly. She reached out and brushed Chaewon's hair out of her face. "And you are beautiful."
Chaewon's face was burning. She had a little whisper in her head that it was all fake, but at the same time it completely fell apart. "Thanks."
"I meant it." Kazuha assured. She leaned forward until their foreheads touched. Why did Chaewon feel like she was going to kiss her now? Did she say she hated her? Did she hate her because she found out she wanted to kiss her?
Or maybe she felt that way because she liked her?
"Zuha, if this is some cruel joke, please stop." Chaewon begged.
Kazuha's eyes widened. "I never!"
"Please. Just..."
"Chae," Kazuha whispered. The girl was so close that Chaewon could feel her breathing. She closed her eyes tightly. She was shaking, the heat radiating from her body made her dizzy.
A hand reached out and cupped her cheek. She opened her eyes and met Kazuha's, their eyes locked on each other.
“If it was a joke, don’t you think I would have done it already?” The younger girl whispered, moving even closer. Chaewon closed her eyes and felt Kazuha's soft lips touch hers. Her lips moved slowly, hesitantly. For a second, Chaewon thought he was going to pull away. Then, Kazuha kissed her with so much passion that she didn't even realize she was kissing him back. Chaewon wrapped her arms around Kazuha's neck and pulled her closer. Kazuha kissed her deeper and longer than Chaewon expected. They stayed like that for a while, curled up in each other's arms. When they both finally came to their senses, they broke the kiss. Chaewon was stunned, her eyes wide open as she looked at Kazuha.
"Are you well?" Kazuha whispered. Chaewon nodded. She reached out and grabbed Kazuha's wrist.
"You can come here?" Chaewon muttered. Kazuha nodded and sat down. She moved closer to Chaewon until their bodies were pressed against each other. Chaewon felt herself relax in the other girl's arms. Kazuha placed her head on top of Chaewon's and Chaewon buried her face in the crook of Kazuha's neck. It was so comfortable that she almost fell asleep. Almost.
"I'm sorry," Kazuha said again. And it was only then, now with her lips buzzing from that kiss, that Chaewon believed her.
“This isn’t all going to end when we get home, right?”
"No, I promise." Kazuha raised her hand, pinky finger extended, and Chaewon almost laughed. She linked their pinkies.