Work Text:
Hyerin listened to Yubin’s quiet and steady breathing, a rhythmical pattern that gave her ease even on nights where rest seemed like it had a personal vendetta against her. Brain buzzing with all the thoughts she didn’t want to have when sleep was the utmost important thing next to a good and balanced meal. She had to perform at max capacity all the time and that wasn’t possible if the bags under her eyes resembled the craters of the moon.
Without sleep her patience would run out by the time a customer asked for a vegan alternative to mayonnaise when the pesto was right there on their tray.
Yubin would affectionately call her raccoon in the morning and despite the annoyance visible on her face she still cracked a smile and let herself be used as a human tree for her koala girlfriend to cling on to while she cooked their breakfast.
By the time 2 am had graced her with the knowledge that the coming day would be more survived than thrived on, she went deeper. The pattern of Yubin’s breathing was familiar and therefore predictable.
So listening closer, her position right on top of Yubin, making it easier to gather the pattern of her girlfriend’s heartbeat. Their legs tangled underneath the blanket, Hyerin’s face usually shifting from resting on Yubin’s left shoulder to burying her face in the crook of her neck. Yubin’s left arm securely wrapped around her back while the right one was flailed somewhere on the rest of the queen sized bed they only used one half of.
The steady thuds of her heartbeat sometimes that bit slower or quicker depending on how the moon hung in the sky or the episodical nature of her girlfriend’s dreams.
“Hyebam-ah.” A tired voice grabbed her out of her daydream. “I can hear your brain rattling.”
“O-oh.” Was all she could say.
Yubin chuckled, voice hoarse from sleep.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s alright, I am more worried about you and your insomnia. It's been getting worse again.”
“I can’t help it, you know that.”
“Yeah, I sure do.” Yubin gently stroked her back. “Anything I can do.”
“Um…” Hyerin didn’t know how to explain it without sounding ridiculous. “I… um…”
Another laugh escaped her tired girlfriend and Hyerin felt her face heating up.
“I know that you listen to my heartbeat.” She said finally and Hyerin felt both embarrassed and relieved.
“You do?”
“I do it too, so we have something else in common.”
“Oh… alright.”
“Don’t be so surprised, it’s something I picked up from Jiwoo actually.”
“Why Jiwoo-unnie? She doesn’t seem like the type.”
“No, she totally is the type for that. Just ask Chaeyeon-unnie or Kae-chan, she finds it annoying like nothing else.”
Hyerin snorted.
“I doubt that, she probably loves it but won’t admit to it unless you hold a knife to her throat.”
“Sounds like her.” Then Yubin got quiet, only their tired breathing audible in the cozy room. “I don’t see myself falling asleep anytime soon. When do you have to leave tomorrow?”
“I don’t have to be out of bed before 12 actually. Asked Chaewon to switch with me. She can take the morning rush this time around.”
“Almond milk or cow milk?”
“That sounds nothing like Chaewon and you know it. We don’t even sell coffee there. That’s treacherous what you’re trying to do, Gong Yubam.”
“You know you love me.”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
“Alright then, I actually don’t have any classes for the rest of the week besides an online seminar sometime on Thursday. Jiwoo doesn’t need any help at the restaurant either, it’s ShiOn-ie and Kae-chan’s turn this week so… let’s get out of bed?”
“Why? It’s so cozy.”
“Just trust me, let’s get out of bed and have a midnight snack. It’s just past 2 in the morning. Ramyeon works any time of day.”
“That sounds good actually.”
“See what I am getting at.”
Hyerin didn’t need a light or direct view of Yubin’s handsome face to know she had that crooked, annoying yet oh so charming smirk on her face. Her girlfriend knew exactly how to present her impulsive ideas to Hyerin so she wouldn’t be just on board, no she’d be the one taking the lead when something ultimately went wrong.
At least this was about cooking ramyeon and not getting a driver’s license and nearly hitting every other vehicle possible on the practice road.
Without saying much else Hyerin slowly peeled herself off of Yubin and pressed the button of her mood lamp. The small star shaped lamp went up in relaxing orange tones and she chuckled once she saw the amazing bird’s nest that was her girlfriend’s unruly hair.
Yubin followed Hyerin, grabbing her glasses next to the mood lamp and shutting it off once they had made their way out of their bedroom. They made a deliberate choice to leave their phones behind and simply enjoy the moment.
Neither of them had said a word but Yubin smiled nonetheless and hugged Hyerin around the waist when she stopped to open the kitchen light.
“U-unnie.” She was startled but Yubin knew she was just embarrassed, quickly melting into the hug and chuckling when she felt her bury her face between her shoulder blades.
“Don’t get any back pain.”
She didn’t care how much she needed to hunch to properly hug Hyerin, all the back pain was worth the hugs.
“Thought you wanted to eat ramyeon.”
“2 more minutes.”
The exasperated and loving laugh that escaped Hyerin was music to Yubin’s ears.
After what was probably 10 minutes they got to work boiling the water in their designated pot, Yubin grabbing 2 packs of ramyeon and opening them to free the small packets of sauce and vegetables respectively.
The whole ordeal didn’t take too long and they simply waited, standing around the kitchen in a comfortable silence.
She smiled softly at Hyerin who was wearing some worn shorts and one of her university sweaters. Yubin herself was just wearing a tanktop and some checkered pyjama pants Kaede had tossed into her face on a shopping trip that had taken way too long because Jiwoo had to match the exact colors of her hoodie with the pants she intended on buying.
“Grab the chopsticks and some extra water, I’ll take the pot.” Hyerin said matter of factly.
“We could just sit down on the floor.”
“Also an idea.”
So they did exactly that, eating in silence and slurping away at their midnight snacks while Yubin’s chest felt full and her heart at ease. Hyerin couldn’t hate the smile she felt forming and that familiar exhaustion that came with being up for so long.
Once they had finished the ramyeon, Hyerin simply put the pot into the dishwasher with their chopsticks tossed right after it.
“Couch?” Yubin asked, arms crossed and smiling since she knew the answer.
“Couch.” Her girlfriend simply said.
“Called it.”
“Shut up.”
“Make me.”
“It’s going on 3 in the morning, ask me on your birthday.” The younger woman said exasperatedly and Yubin couldn’t help but love her even more.
Lights shut off and making their way to their small yet cozy living room, Hyerin sat down on the couch with a soft sigh escaping her. Yubin sat down next to her and simply put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Grabbing a fluffy blanket from the armrest on the right, Yubin spread it across both their laps and they let the night pass them by.
Soft relief bloomed in her chest when she noticed Hyerin slowly nodding off and Yubin finally felt herself fully relaxed with her insomniac of a girlfriend finally falling asleep and getting the rest she needed.
What eventually woke them up was someone literally committing war crimes on their doorbell with how often they pressed it. Yubin groaned and Hyerin simply kept on sleeping.
Getting up to not disturb her sleep, Yubin went up to their main door and opened it.
Before Yubin could even realize what broke loose when she opened the door, she was already laying flat on the ground with an excited Dahyun right on top of her.
“I AM ENGAGED!!!”
“Holy shit, SoDa maybe try not killing your other maid of honour.” Seoyeon said amusedly, completely unsurprised by the news.
“Wha-?” Was all Yubin managed to get out before Hyerin stepped up behind them.
“Well, it was good knowing you people.” Seoyeon chuckled and kicked off her shoes. “Sorry for the chaos, Hyerin-ah but our favorite vocal coach is in full pre-marital bliss as we speak and sleep has completely left her priority list and my list of possible relaxation methods.”
“Nakyoung-unnie finally got her head out of her ass.” Hyerin helped Dahyun get up who couldn’t hold still as she presented her ring to them. “I am actually impressed.”
“Be impressed, this drugged chihuahua wouldn’t let me sleep a wink once she crashed into my living room.”
“No wonder you look so tired.” Yubin pointed at the glorious bags under Seoyeon’s eyes.
“Don’t you both have work, it’s like 8 in the morning.”
“I called in a favour from a coworker and SoDa should be in bed with diarrhoea and a vomit bucket next to her bed but obviously we’re here.”
“Yubin!” Dahyun said once they properly got settled around the living room.
Yubin, Hyerin and Seoyeon were sitting on the couch while Dahyun was simply too restless to sit and buzzed around the room like an excited bee in search of pollen.
“Kaede said yes like 5 minutes ago when I called her, but Yubin… I want you to be my other maid of honour.”
“Wow.” Was all Yubin could say until Hyerin nudged her to say more. “Hell yeah, let’s do this wedding.”
“That’s the enthusiasm I need!”
She had gotten up and now joined Dahyun, trying to match her energy while her brain was still trying to properly wake up. Seoyeon and Hyerin just exchanged tired glances with each other before laughing, fond of the ridiculous situation they were currently in.
“How’s Nakyoung-unnie anyway?” Hyerin asked Seoyeon who just shrugged, arms crossed and sinking deeper into her oversized hoodie that looked suspiciously like it belonged to Dahyun.
“Her brain went into overdrive after dropping onto one knee and then she crashed from excitement. She went out to eat hotpot since Nien and Xinyu insisted they should properly celebrate.”
“Hotpot sounds amazing right now.”
“We had some ramyeon at like 2 in the morning. I could eat again.” Yubin added, Seoyeon and Dahyun squinting at each other.
The silent conversation that was being held with various exaggerated glances and sounds that could have come from an old Tom and Jerry episode made both Yubin and Hyerin laugh.
“I guess that’s that then.” Dahyun concluded.
“That’s that what?” Yubin and Hyerin said, confused and anticipating the next dumb idea of this tour.
“Jiwoo’s should open in a couple hours right?” Seoyeon wondered and Yubin nodded.
In a flash Seoyeon got up from the couch.
“She always has the best ice cream in the fridge, let’s go!”
“Man and I thought we were talking about hotpot.” Dahyun groaned exasperatedly.
“Oh shush, you got engaged like 12 hours ago and I haven't had breakfast yet. We’re going to Jiwoo’s and then we can think about hotpot.”
“That’s an argument I can work with.” Yubin nodded and Dahyun grinned.
“Let me put on some pants.” Hyerin rushed to their bedroom.
“Bring me a sweater please.”
“I still need to tell my parents, oh god.”
“Spare my eardrums please, I just know your dad’s gonna screech through the microphone loud enough it’ll be echoing all the way to Japan and Malaysia.” Seoyeon said miserably.
“I am more curious about Hyungseo-unnie’s reaction.”
“Nakyoung-unnie’s not gonna hear the end of it since my future sister-in-law wasn’t the first one to get the news.”
Dahyun snorted at Seoyeon’s response and Hyerin finally came back to join them, tossing Yubin one of her sweaters.
“Cute.” Yubin observed the Pochacco on the front. “Could be you, unnie.”
Seoyeon groaned.
“I swear to god.”
“Less complaining, I thought you wanted some ice cream, Seoyeon-ah.” Dahyun threw a casual arm around her ex-roommate.
“I didn’t say anything.” Seoyeon said innocently while their newly engaged friend just snorted exasperatedly.
Yubin smiled at Hyerin and let herself be taken by the coming chaos that was definitely going to be this coming day.