Work Text:
Yujin was responsible with almost everything in her life.
Work? Always done on time.
Bills? Paid before the due date.
Groceries? Planned, listed, and bought before the fridge looked empty.
Laundry? Separated properly because Wonyoung had once scolded her for mixing whites and colors, and Yujin never made that mistake again.
Appointments? Saved in three different calendars.
Their apartment? Clean, safe, and always taken care of.
But there was one thing Yujin could never seem to be responsible with.
Her phone battery.
For some reason, no matter how many chargers they owned, no matter how many times Wonyoung reminded her, and no matter how often Yujin promised she would “charge it in a minute,” her phone was always dying.
Always.
Wonyoung had lost count of how many times she picked up Yujin’s phone and saw it sitting at 10%.
Sometimes 8%.
Once, horrifyingly, 3%.
Every single time, Wonyoung reacted like she had just discovered a major life crisis.
“Yujin.”
Yujin would look up calmly. “Yes, baby?”
“Your phone is on ten percent.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t just say oh.”
“I’ll charge it.”
“You said that an hour ago.”
“I meant now.”
“You always mean now after I remind you.”
Yujin would only smile, take the charger from Wonyoung’s hand, and plug it in like she had not been seconds away from letting her phone die again.
It drove Wonyoung crazy.
Not because she wanted to nag.
Well, maybe a little.
But mostly because she worried.
“What if you’re outside and your phone dies?” Wonyoung asked one night, standing beside the bed with Yujin’s phone in her hand.
Yujin was already half under the blanket, looking sleepy and comfortable.
“We’re always together, baby.”
“That is not the point.”
“If my phone dies, I’m probably with you.”
“And if you’re not?”
Yujin blinked lazily. “Then I’ll charge it when I get home.”
Wonyoung stared at her.
Yujin continued, voice calm and sleepy, “No one really looks for me like that anyway. And no one is that important that they couldn’t wait until I charge my phone.”
Wonyoung’s mouth fell open.
“That is not a good answer.”
“It’s a reasonable answer.”
“It is not.”
“It is a little reasonable.”
Wonyoung placed the phone on the charger herself and pointed at Yujin.
“One day, you’re going to need your phone for something important.”
Yujin reached out from under the blanket and gently grabbed Wonyoung’s wrist.
“Then I’ll make sure it’s charged that day.”
“You don’t know which day will be that day.”
Yujin smiled.
Wonyoung narrowed her eyes.
“Don’t smile at me. I am being serious.”
“I know.”
“What if you get kidnapped?”
That made Yujin laugh.
Wonyoung gasped. “Why are you laughing?”
“Baby.”
“Don’t baby me.”
“No one would dare kidnap me.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do. Because I would annoy them.”
Wonyoung blinked.
Yujin looked completely serious.
“I would either escape or make them regret taking me.”
Wonyoung stared at her for a long moment then she slowly shook her head.
“You always have an answer for everything.”
Yujin smiled proudly. “Thank you.”
“That was not a compliment.”
“I’m taking it as one.”
And that was exactly the problem.
Yujin always had an answer.
A calm answer.
A logical answer.
A stupidly reasonable answer.
Even when Wonyoung was clearly trying to make a point, Yujin somehow found a way to explain herself like everything made perfect sense.
It was cute.
It was annoying.
It was very Yujin.
And it was also the exact reason Wonyoung had to nag her so often.
Because if Wonyoung did not remind her, Yujin would walk around with a phone on 6% and act like that was normal.
One Friday afternoon, their apartment was peaceful.
Yujin had finished her work tasks earlier than expected, which rarely happened. She had sent the last email, closed her laptop, and immediately collapsed onto the sofa like a woman who had used every piece of her brain for the day.
She was lying on her back with one arm over her stomach, phone resting on her chest, eyes half-closed.
Wonyoung was in the laundry room, putting away the last load.
She had already folded most of their clothes, matching Yujin’s socks because Yujin somehow owned too many similar black pairs, and separating her own delicate tops from Yujin’s oversized shirts.
From the living room, Yujin’s voice called out.
“Baby?”
Wonyoung placed a folded towel on the shelf. “Yeah?”
“Do we have any plans tonight?”
Wonyoung paused, thinking. Then she walked out of the laundry room with a few clothes still draped over her arm.
Yujin turned her head on the sofa to look at her.
“No,” Wonyoung said. “I have that thing with my sister later around 4pm, remember?”
Yujin’s face shifted into concentration.
Wonyoung waited.
Then Yujin’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, Da-ah Unnie?”
“Yes. She needs help choosing outfits for her out of town trip this weekend.”
Yujin nodded. “Right.”
“We’ll most likely get dinner afterwards.” Wonyoung placed the clothes on the back of the sofa for a moment. “Want me to grab you something to-go?”
Yujin shook her head. “No, I’m good.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I asked because Youngji and Karina wanted to hang at the bowling alley later.”
Wonyoung’s brows lifted. “Oh. That sounds fun.”
Yujin hummed, stretching a little on the sofa.
“Just the three of you?” Wonyoung asked.
“Not sure. I think some of our college friends will be there.”
Yujin tilted her head.
“Why?”
Wonyoung shrugged. “Nothing. Just wondering.”
Yujin looked at her for another second, then nodded like she accepted that answer.
“Okay. Well, I’ll go get ready.”
She sat up slowly, then pushed herself off the sofa.
Before heading toward the bedroom, she looked back at Wonyoung with sudden interest.
“Want to take a shower together?”
Wonyoung immediately raised a brow.
Yujin blinked at her, face innocent.
Too innocent.
“What?” Yujin asked. “Just trying to conserve water.”
Wonyoung stared at her.
Yujin stared back.
Wonyoung slowly shook her head. “You are unbelievable.”
“So…” Yujin smiled. “Yes?”
Wonyoung playfully rolled her eyes. “Let me put the last load in the washer and I’ll follow.”
Yujin’s smile widened. “And then I can put my load in you?”
Wonyoung’s mouth fell open.
“Yujin!”
Yujin laughed and immediately backed away because she already knew something was coming.
Wonyoung grabbed the nearest towel and threw it at her.
Yujin dodged it easily, laughing as she ran toward the bathroom.
“You’re so annoying!” Wonyoung called after her.
Yujin’s voice echoed from the hallway. “You love me!”
Wonyoung tried to look annoyed, but her smile gave her away.
A little later, after the laundry was finally done and after Yujin had definitely failed at pretending the shower was only about saving water, Wonyoung was dressed and ready to go.
Da-ah texted that she was downstairs.
Wonyoung grabbed her purse from the entryway table while Yujin leaned against the wall nearby, freshly showered and dressed in casual clothes for the bowling alley.
“Text me when you get there,” Wonyoung said.
Yujin nodded. “I will.”
“And don’t drink too much.”
“I won’t.”
“And if you do drink, don’t drive.”
“I know, baby.”
Wonyoung narrowed her eyes. “And charge your phone, please.”
Yujin paused.
Wonyoung’s eyes narrowed further.
Yujin smiled slowly.
“It’s charged.”
“How much?”
Yujin looked offended. “Why don’t you trust me?”
“How much, Yujin?”
Yujin pulled her phone from her pocket and checked.
There was a short silence.
Wonyoung crossed her arms.
Yujin cleared her throat.
“Enough.”
“Yujin.”
Yujin quickly turned the screen away. “I’m going to charge it in the car.”
Wonyoung groaned. “Baby.”
“I am.”
“You always do this.”
Yujin stepped closer and kissed her cheek.
“I’ll plug it in as soon as I get in the car.”
“You better.”
“I promise.”
Wonyoung still looked suspicious, but Da-ah called her phone before she could continue scolding.
She answered quickly, telling her sister she was coming down.
Then she turned back to Yujin.
“Update me when you get there.”
Yujin smiled softly. “I will.”
Wonyoung leaned in and kissed her goodbye.
It was meant to be quick, but Yujin placed a hand gently on her waist and held her there for one extra second.
Wonyoung pulled back with a small smile.
“Don’t miss me too much.”
Yujin hummed. “Impossible.”
Wonyoung’s cheeks warmed, but she rolled her eyes anyway.
“Bye, baby.”
“Bye, my love.”
Wonyoung left the apartment, and Yujin watched until the door closed behind her.
For a few seconds, the apartment was quiet.
Yujin stood there, smiling to herself, then she snapped back into motion.
She checked that the sink was off, grabbed her wallet, picked up her keys, and put on her shoes.
Her phone buzzed once with a message from Youngji.
Youngji:
We’re already here. Karina is losing badly and blaming the shoes.
Yujin laughed.
She typed back while walking to the door.
Yujin:
On my way.
Then she locked the apartment behind her and headed down to the parking garage.
When she got into her car, she tossed her wallet into the cup holder, started the engine, and finally plugged her phone into the charger.
The screen lit up.
15%.
Yujin froze. She stared at the number then she slowly exhaled.
In her head, she could already hear Wonyoung’s voice.
Yujin.
She glanced at the charging symbol and tapped the screen like that would somehow make it charge faster.
The bowling alley was only fifteen minutes away.
That should be enough time.
Probably.
Yujin pulled out of the parking space and headed toward the exit, quietly hoping her phone would gain enough battery before Wonyoung asked for an update.
— — —
Yujin arrived at the bowling alley a little later than she expected.
She unplugged her phone, stepped out of the car, and immediately texted Wonyoung like she promised.
Yujin:
I’m here, baby.
A few seconds later, Wonyoung replied.
Wonyoung:
Okay. Have fun. Give my regards to Youngji and Karina.
Yujin smiled at her phone.
Yujin:
Will do. Love you.
Wonyoung:
Love you too.
The bowling alley was already loud when she entered. Music played through the speakers, bowling balls rolled heavily down the lanes, pins crashed every few seconds, and groups of people laughed over drinks and snacks.
Youngji spotted her first.
“Yujin!”
Yujin barely had time to react before Youngji threw an arm around her shoulders.
“You’re late.”
“I’m not late.”
“You’re the last one here.”
“That doesn’t mean late.”
Karina walked over with a drink in one hand and a smug look on her face. “It means late.”
Yujin pointed at both of them. “You two are already annoying.”
Youngji grinned. “You missed us.”
“Not anymore.”
Karina laughed and pulled Yujin toward their lane.
A few college friends were already there, some familiar faces Yujin had not seen in a while. They greeted her warmly, teasing her right away about finally leaving her apartment without Wonyoung.
“Where’s your other half?” one of them asked.
Yujin smiled naturally. “With her sister.”
Youngji nudged her. “Look at that smile. Someone mentioned Wonyoung and suddenly you’re glowing.”
“I am not.”
Karina took a sip of her drink. “You are.”
Yujin rolled her eyes, but she did not deny it too hard.
Because honestly, she probably was.
The first hour went smoothly.
They played a couple of rounds, ordered snacks, and shared drinks while catching up. Yujin was relaxed. She laughed more than she expected, even though Youngji kept making dramatic excuses every time she missed.
“The floor is uneven,” Youngji said after her ball went straight into the gutter.
Yujin stared at the lane. “The floor?”
“Yes.”
“The ball never touched the floor.”
“Exactly. Suspicious.”
Karina laughed so hard she almost dropped her drink.
Yujin shook her head and grabbed her bowling ball.
“Watch and learn.”
She stepped forward, took a breath, and rolled the ball smoothly down the lane.
It curved just enough.
Then…
Strike.
Youngji groaned loudly.
Karina cheered.
Yujin turned around with a smug smile, arms slightly raised.
“What was that about the floor?”
Youngji pointed at her. “I don’t like you.”
“You invited me.”
“I regret it.”
Karina already had her phone out, recording Yujin’s proud little walk back to the table.
“Wonyoung needs to see this.”
Yujin immediately pointed at her. “Do not send her anything embarrassing.”
Karina smiled. “Too late.”
Yujin tried to grab the phone, but Youngji blocked her, laughing.
It was fun.
Light.
Easy.
For a while, Yujin forgot about work, forgot about the week, and, unfortunately, forgot about her phone battery too.
Then, a little over an hour later, another group arrived.
Four girls.
Yujin only glanced at them at first and then she looked again.
Her body paused before her mind caught up.
Minju. Yujin’s ex.
Not a serious ex. Not a dramatic ex. Not even someone with bad memories attached.
They had dated for a short time in high school, then parted ways when Yujin realized they were better as friends than anything else. There had been no messy ending, no betrayal, no lingering feelings, in Yujin's end anyway.
Just a brief chapter from years ago.
Still, Yujin had not expected to see her there.
Minju noticed her too.
For half a second, they simply looked at each other.
Then Minju gave a polite smile. “Yujin?”
Yujin returned the smile, keeping it calm. “Hey.”
Youngji, who had been mid-sip, suddenly froze.
Karina noticed immediately.
Yujin noticed too.
Youngji slowly turned toward Yujin with wide eyes. “I swear I didn’t know.”
Yujin blinked. “What?”
“I didn’t know she was coming.”
Karina leaned closer to Youngji. “You invited her? You do know it took a while for her to get over Yujin, right?”
“I do know that so of course I didn’t invite her.” Youngji pointed quickly toward one of their friends. “She’s dating Jinyoung. Jinyoung invited her. I had no idea.”
Yujin looked over and saw Minju standing beside one of Youngji’s friends, their hands brushing in a casual but familiar way.
Oh. That made sense.
Yujin relaxed. “It’s fine.”
Youngji still looked nervous. “Really?”
“Yeah. It’s not a big deal.”
Karina looked between them. “Are you sure?”
Yujin nodded. “We didn’t date that long in high school, it wasn’t serious.”
But even though Yujin meant it when she said it was not a big deal, she still made a quiet mental note.
Keep distance.
Not because she felt anything for Minju.
She did not.
But out of respect for Wonyoung.
Wonyoung was not the kind of girlfriend who controlled who Yujin spoke to.
She trusted her. She respected her. And because of that, Yujin wanted to be careful.
So she stayed polite, friendly, and casual.
Nothing more.
They played more rounds after that.
The group grew louder with more people joining in. Drinks were passed around, fries disappeared from baskets, and phones came out every few minutes to record someone’s strike, someone’s gutter ball, or someone dancing badly to the music playing overhead.
Karina posted a story with Winter, her girlfriend, both of them smiling at the camera.
In the background, Youngji and Yujin were chugging beer from plastic cups while one of their college friends cheered them on.
Yujin finished first, slammed her empty cup down, then laughed when Youngji complained that Yujin cheated somehow.
“I drank faster,” Yujin said.
“That’s cheating.”
“That’s not cheating. That’s the whole game.”
Youngji pointed at her. “You are too competitive.”
“I still win.”
Later, Youngji posted another video of Yujin getting another strike.
The clip caught Yujin turning around afterward with a proud, almost ridiculous smirk.
“I told you,” Yujin said in the video. “The lane likes me.”
Youngji’s voice came from behind the camera. “The lane has bad taste!”
Yujin laughed and bowed dramatically.
It was the exact kind of video Wonyoung would make fun of her for later.
Eventually, after another round, Yujin and Youngji drifted toward the arcade section.
Karina followed with her drink, looking entertained already.
“Oh, this is going to be loud,” Karina said.
Youngji cracked her knuckles in front of the Mario Kart machine.
“Prepare to lose.”
Yujin sat in the seat beside her. “You say that every time.”
“And one day, it will be true.”
“Not today.”
They started the game.
Immediately, they were shouting.
“You hit me!” Youngji yelled.
“That’s the game!”
“You targeted me!”
“You were in front of me!”
“Because I was winning!”
“For three seconds!”
Karina stood behind them, laughing as they leaned into the steering wheels like they were actually driving for their lives.
By the final lap, Yujin was close to overtaking Youngji.
“Karina,” Yujin said quickly, eyes still on the screen. “Record this.”
Karina held out her hand. “Phone.”
Yujin pulled it from her pocket without checking the battery and handed it over.
She was too focused on the game to notice the red battery warning that flashed briefly across the screen.
Karina raised the phone and started recording.
Youngji was yelling now. “No, no, no…An Yujin, don’t you dare…”
Yujin leaned forward, fully locked in.
The final curve came.
Yujin used an item at the perfect second.
Youngji’s kart spun out.
Yujin passed her.
The finish line flashed.
First place.
Yujin jumped up from the seat.
“YES!”
Youngji screamed in betrayal. “You’re evil!”
Karina laughed while still recording. “That was so personal.”
Yujin grinned, pointing at the screen. “That was skill.”
“That was violence,” Youngji argued.
“It was Mario Kart.”
“It was emotional violence.”
Yujin was laughing too hard to notice Karina handing her phone back.
She took it, slipped it into her pocket, and continued celebrating her win.
Her battery was at 5%.
And then, a little while later, it died.
Yujin did not notice.
— — —
Across town, Wonyoung had just finished dinner with Da-ah.
Their night had been simple and nice. Da-ah had tried on what felt like every outfit she owned for her out of town trip, and Wonyoung had given honest opinions the way only a sister could.
“No.”
Da-ah looked down at her dress. “No?”
“Not for that jacket.”
“But I like this jacket.”
“Then change the dress.”
“You’re so strict.”
“I’m saving you.”
After too many outfit changes, they finally went out for dinner. Wonyoung enjoyed herself, but every now and then, she checked her phone out of habit.
Yujin had texted when she arrived.
That was good. No problem.
Still, when Da-ah dropped her back off at the apartment later, Wonyoung sent another message.
Wonyoung:
I’m home now.
She took off her shoes, placed her purse on the entryway table, and waited.
No response.
Wonyoung did not worry right away.
Yujin could be bowling. Or eating. Or talking to Youngji and Karina. Or doing something competitive and stupid.
Wonyoung walked to the kitchen, got herself a glass of water, and checked again.
Still nothing.
She opened their shared location.
Yujin’s location was offline.
Wonyoung stared at the screen and her stomach tightened slightly.
“No,” she whispered to herself. “Don’t start.”
She tried to call.
The call did not go through.
Her phone showed that Yujin’s was off.
Wonyoung closed her eyes for a second.
Then she muttered, “She probably forgot to charge her phone again. Damn it, Yujin.”
A familiar mix of worry and irritation rose in her chest.
This was exactly what she always talked about.
Exactly.
What if something happened?
What if Yujin needed help?
What if she was kidnapped?
What if…
Wonyoung stopped herself.
No.
She was not going to spiral.
Yujin said she was at a bowling alley with friends.
She was fine.
Probably.
Most likely.
Definitely.
Wonyoung sat on the couch and stared at her phone.
She thought about calling Karina. Or Youngji.
Her thumb hovered over Karina’s contact.
But she stopped.
She did not want to be that girlfriend.
The overbearing one.
The one who called everyone because her girlfriend had not texted back for a little while.
Yujin deserved trust.
Wonyoung trusted her. She did. She just did not trust Yujin’s phone battery.
There was a difference.
Instead, Wonyoung opened Instagram.
Maybe someone had posted something.
The first story she saw was Karina’s.
Karina was posing with Winter, both of them smiling at the camera.
Behind them, Youngji and Yujin were laughing while chugging beer.
Wonyoung stared at Yujin in the background.
Her girlfriend looked happy.
Comfortable.
Safe.
Wonyoung felt herself relax a little.
She tapped the heart then she moved to the next story.
Youngji had posted a video of Yujin getting a strike.
Wonyoung watched as Yujin turned around with that smug little expression she always made when she knew she had done something well.
“I told you,” Yujin said in the video. “The lane likes me.”
Youngji yelled from behind the camera, “The lane has bad taste!”
Wonyoung laughed despite herself. “Idiot,” she said softly, but she liked the story too.
For a moment, everything was okay again.
Yujin was fine. She was just having fun.
Wonyoung was about to close the app when the next story played.
It was Youngji again.
This time, Youngji was recording herself singing loudly to whatever song was playing in the bowling alley. The camera was shaky, moving around as Youngji danced and laughed with a few people near the table.
At first, Wonyoung barely paid attention.
Then something in the background caught her eye.
She sat up.
There, in the corner of the video, behind Youngji’s shoulder, was Yujin.
And standing near her was a group of girls.
Too close.
Wonyoung’s eyes narrowed.
She replayed the story.
Once.
Twice.
On the third watch, her stomach dropped.
Was that Minju? Yujin’s ex Minju?
Wonyoung froze, finger still pressed against the screen to hold the story in place.
The clip was short and not very clear. The background was blurry. People were moving. Youngji was singing loudly in the front.
But Wonyoung knew what she saw.
Or at least, she thought she knew.
Minju was there. And she was talking to Yujin.
Standing close to her.
Smiling.
Wonyoung did not like the story.
She closed Instagram.
The apartment suddenly felt too quiet.
She placed her phone face down on the couch.
Then, after three seconds, she picked it up again and called Yujin.
Nothing.
Phone off.
Wonyoung exhaled slowly through her nose.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Okay.”
She was not going to overreact.
Yujin was not like that.
Yujin would not do anything.
Yujin loved her.
Yujin was loyal.
Yujin was the same woman who answered every ridiculous rage bait question like loving Wonyoung was the easiest thing in the world.
That probably was not even Minju.
And if it was Minju, maybe they only talked for a second.
Maybe it was unavoidable.
Maybe she was with someone else in the group.
There were a lot of maybes.
Wonyoung hated maybes.
She opened Instagram again, watched the story one more time, then closed it faster this time.
Her jaw tightened.
Even if it was nothing, it was still a group of girls around Yujin.
And Yujin, bless her stupidly handsome face, could be painfully oblivious.
Wonyoung knew that better than anyone.
Back in college, Yujin had been everyone’s crush and everyone knew it except Yujin.
Girls would find excuses to sit near her in the library.
Yujin thought they needed help with assignments.
Someone once brought Yujin coffee three days in a row.
Yujin thought the person had “accidentally bought extra.”
A girl complimented Yujin’s hands during a group project.
Yujin said thank you and offered her a pen.
Even Wonyoung herself had suffered through Yujin’s obliviousness.
Wonyoung had flirted.
She had stayed close.
She had touched Yujin’s arm, borrowed her jacket, held her gaze for too long, and made it painfully obvious that she was interested.
And Yujin? Yujin thought she was being friendly.
Friendly.
Wonyoung still felt offended by that memory.
In the end, Wonyoung had been the one to make the first real move. She had kissed Yujin because Yujin was taking too long, moving too carefully, acting like Wonyoung could not possibly want her back.
So yes, Wonyoung trusted Yujin.
She trusted her loyalty.
She trusted her love.
She trusted her heart.
But she did not trust Yujin to notice when someone was flirting.
And she definitely did not trust a dead phone.
Wonyoung stood up and walked around the living room once.
Then twice.
She thought about grabbing her keys.
The bowling alley was not that far.
She could go there.
She could walk in.
She could see for herself.
The thought made her chest burn.
But then she stopped near the entryway.
No.
She was not going to do that.
Yujin had done nothing wrong. Not that Wonyoung knew of.
Storming into the bowling alley would only embarrass her in front of her friends. It would make Wonyoung look like she did not trust her. It would turn a small moment into a big one and Wonyoung did not want that.
She loved Yujin too much to punish her for a video clip and a dead phone.
So she placed her keys back down.
Slowly.
Then she returned to the couch.
Her face was still warm. Her chest still felt tight. Her jealousy was still very much alive.
But she would wait.
She would wait until Yujin came home.
Then she would ask.
Calmly.
Hopefully.
Maybe.
Wonyoung sat back against the couch, arms crossed, phone beside her.
A few minutes passed.
Then more.
She checked Yujin’s location again.
Still offline.
She tried calling one more time.
Still off.
Wonyoung stared at the screen and muttered, “An Yujin, you are so dead.”
Then she leaned back, trying to look composed even though there was no one there to see her.
She would wait at home like a mature, trusting girlfriend.
A mature, trusting, very grumpy girlfriend.
— — —
Yujin stayed at the bowling alley longer than she first planned.
Not because she was still drinking.
She had stopped after a few drinks and switched to water, knowing herself well enough to know when to slow down. Yujin liked having fun, but she was not careless. She knew her limit, and she knew she still had to drive home.
Youngji, of course, kept teasing her.
“You’re leaving already?”
Yujin looked at her. “I’ve been here for hours.”
“Exactly. Stay longer.”
“I have a girlfriend waiting at home.”
Karina laughed from beside Winter. “There it is.”
Yujin shrugged, not even embarrassed.
“What? It’s true.”
Youngji groaned dramatically. “You used to be fun.”
“I’m still fun.”
“You’re domesticated.”
Yujin smiled proudly. “Happily.”
Karina raised her drink. “Honestly, respect.”
Yujin waved goodbye to the friends who were still there. Some were still bowling, some were sitting around the table, and some were taking pictures near the arcade section.
Minju was still there too, sitting close to the guy she was dating. When Minju looked up, Yujin gave her a polite nod.
Nothing more.
Minju nodded back.
That was it.
Yujin left the bowling alley feeling relaxed, a little tired, and ready to go home to Wonyoung.
She drove carefully, keeping the music low and the windows slightly cracked to let the cool night air in. Her head was clear, her body was fine, and the only thing she really wanted was to shower, crawl into bed, and wrap herself around her girlfriend.
When she pulled into their parking garage, she smiled to herself.
She could already imagine Wonyoung pretending not to miss her.
Maybe Wonyoung would be on the couch, scrolling her phone, acting casual.
Maybe she would say, “You’re home,” like she hadn’t been waiting.
Maybe Yujin would kiss her until that calm act broke.
The thought made Yujin’s smile grow.
She parked, grabbed her keys, and headed upstairs.
When she unlocked the apartment door, the place was quiet.
Yujin stepped inside and placed her keys on the side table.
“Baby, I’m home.”
No answer.
She took off her shoes and looked toward the living room.
“Are you here?”
Still nothing.
Yujin frowned slightly and walked in farther.
The living room was empty.
The kitchen was empty.
The lights were dim, and everything looked clean and still. Wonyoung’s purse was on the entryway table, so Yujin knew she was home.
Maybe she was in the bedroom.
Yujin pulled out her phone to check the time.
The screen stayed black.
She pressed the side button.
Nothing.
She pressed it again.
Still nothing.
Then realization hit her.
Her phone had died.
Yujin froze. “Shit.”
She closed her eyes and mentally slapped herself.
Wonyoung had told her. Multiple times. She had literally reminded her before leaving.
And Yujin, like an idiot, had let her phone die anyway.
“Oh, I’m dead,” she whispered.
She quickly headed toward their bedroom.
The door was open.
Wonyoung was on her side of the bed, half lying down against the pillows, phone in her hand. She was scrolling, but not casually.
Aggressively.
Her brows were furrowed, her lips pressed together, and her thumb moved over the screen like each swipe personally offended her.
Yujin stopped at the doorway.
“Hey, baby. I’m home.”
Wonyoung did not look up.
“Glad to see you’re alive.”
Yujin winced.
Okay. Not good.
“Oh. Yes. I didn’t drink much, as promised. I was responsible.”
Wonyoung finally looked up, but only with her eyes.
“Not responsible enough to charge your phone, I guess.”
Yujin walked in slowly, already apologetic.
“Baby, I’m sorry. It was charged enough when I got there, but I got distracted, and then we recorded some videos, and I didn’t know it drained after that. I really didn’t notice.”
Wonyoung’s expression barely changed.
“Yeah. I saw.”
Yujin paused. “Saw what?”
Wonyoung looked back down at her phone.
“Karina and Youngji’s stories.”
Yujin’s stomach dropped.
Wonyoung continued, voice calm but sharp. “Especially Youngji’s. It looked fun. Lively.”
She paused.
“And crowded.”
There it was. That tiny bite in the last word.
Yujin knew that tone.
Wonyoung was not only mad about the phone.
Her mind immediately went to Minju.
Yujin cursed internally. Youngji.
Of course Youngji had posted something without checking the background.
Yujin took another careful step into the room.
“Wony, I swear I didn’t know she would be there.”
Wonyoung’s thumb stopped moving.
Yujin continued quickly, “I just said hi. That’s it. She’s dating one of Youngji’s friends.”
Wonyoung slowly looked up. “Why are you overly explaining?”
Yujin blinked. “What?”
“Are you guilty of something?”
Yujin’s eyes widened. “No. God, no. I was just reassuring you.”
“Why would I need reassurance, An Yujin?”
Yujin went still.
An Yujin. Full name.
Wonyoung was definitely mad. And jealous. Very jealous.
Yujin swallowed and tried to keep her voice gentle.
“You don’t. I just…” She sighed softly. “I don’t know. You look mad.”
“I am mad.”
Wonyoung sat up a little straighter, still holding her phone.
“At first, I was mad because you didn’t charge your phone after I reminded you hundreds of times.”
Yujin lowered her head slightly.
“But now I’m even more mad because apparently your ex, who possibly still has feelings for you, just showed up there.”
Yujin shook her head immediately.
“I didn’t know she’d be there with her friends.”
Wonyoung’s eyes narrowed.
“Her friends?”
Yujin paused.
“Oh so there’s more of them.”
“What?”
Wonyoung placed her phone down on the bed.
“Yujin, this is the circle of female friends that all had a crush on you.”
Yujin stared at her. “That’s ridiculous and not true.”
Wonyoung tilted her head.
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
Yujin took a breath, trying not to get frustrated.
“And you’re even more ridiculous for thinking I would entertain any of them.”
Wonyoung’s face shifted.
“I never said that.”
“You’re implying it.”
“I’m not implying anything.”
“Yes, you are.”
Yujin’s voice rose a little.
Not yelling.
Not screaming.
But sharper than usual.
Higher than normal.
The second it came out, both of them noticed.
Wonyoung’s expression changed first. Her eyes narrowed, but behind the anger, there was hurt.
Yujin immediately regretted it.
But Wonyoung looked away before Yujin could fix it.
“You know what? It’s fine.”
Yujin’s stomach twisted.
“No, baby, wait…”
“I’m being dramatic again and it’s all nonsense anyway.” Wonyoung grabbed her phone and put it on the nightstand. “I’m tired, and I’m going to bed.”
Then she lay down fully, turning onto her side with her back facing Yujin.
The room went quiet.
Yujin stood there for a few seconds, staring at Wonyoung’s back.
She wanted to keep talking.
She wanted to explain properly.
She wanted to say she was sorry for the phone, sorry for raising her tone, sorry that her ex and girls who liked her had been there, sorry that Wonyoung had to find out through some blurry background clip instead of from her.
But Yujin knew better than to push when Wonyoung was like this.
So she exhaled slowly.
“Okay,” she said softly. “I’ll wash up.”
Wonyoung did not answer.
Yujin grabbed her sleep clothes and went into the bathroom.
As she washed her face, she kept replaying the conversation in her head.
She had not done anything wrong with Minju.
That much was true.
But she had messed up with her phone.
And she had gotten defensive too fast.
Wonyoung was jealous, yes, but she was also worried. Her phone had died. Her location had gone offline. Then she saw Yujin around an ex and a group of girls through someone else’s story.
Yujin could understand how bad that looked.
She dried her face, changed into clean clothes, and stared at herself in the mirror.
“An Yujin, you idiot,” she muttered.
When she came back into the bedroom, Wonyoung was still turned away from her.
Her shoulders were tense.
The blanket only covered her halfway, and even from behind, Yujin could tell she was not asleep.
Yujin quietly walked to her side of the bed and climbed in.
For a moment, she lay on her back, staring at the ceiling.
The space between them felt too wide.
Too cold.
Yujin hated it.
She turned onto her side and slowly moved closer.
Carefully, she wrapped one arm around Wonyoung’s waist and pulled her gently against her chest.
Wonyoung did not pull away and that gave Yujin a little hope.
Yujin tucked herself closer, her face near the back of Wonyoung’s neck.
“Baby,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
Wonyoung stayed quiet.
Yujin pressed her forehead lightly to her shoulder.
“Are you still mad?”
“No.”
The answer came too fast.
Too flat.
Yujin sighed softly.
“Are you sure?”
Wonyoung said nothing.
Yujin nodded to herself. “You’re still mad then.”
Still no answer.
Yujin tightened her arm around her just a little.
“I’m sorry about my phone,” she said softly. “You reminded me, and I still let it die. That was my fault.”
Wonyoung’s fingers shifted slightly against the blanket.
Yujin continued, voice low and careful.
“And I’m sorry about my ex. I really didn’t know she’d be there. I should’ve found a way to tell you, but then my phone died, and I made everything worse.”
Wonyoung finally spoke, still facing away.
“You raised your voice.”
Yujin’s chest tightened.
“I know.”
“I don’t like when you do that.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
Wonyoung swallowed quietly.
Yujin leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder.
“I wasn’t mad at you. I just got defensive.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
“It doesn’t,” Yujin agreed. “I’m sorry.”
For a while, they stayed like that.
Wonyoung was still quiet.
Still not facing her but she was not pulling away.
Yujin took that as permission to stay close.
She moved Wonyoung’s hair gently away from her neck, slow enough that Wonyoung could stop her if she wanted to.
Wonyoung did not stop her.
Yujin kissed her shoulder again. Then the side of her neck.
Soft.
Careful.
Apologetic.
“Baby,” Yujin murmured against her skin.
Wonyoung’s breathing changed slightly.
Yujin kissed a little higher, near the curve beneath her ear.
“I really am sorry.”
Wonyoung did not answer, but her body was not as tense now.
Yujin’s hand rested over Wonyoung’s stomach, holding her close.
“I don’t like fighting with you,” Yujin whispered.
Wonyoung did not answer, but Yujin felt the way her body softened.
Just a little.
She kissed the side of Wonyoung’s neck again, slower this time, lingering there.
Wonyoung’s breath caught.
Yujin noticed.
She moved a little closer, her chest pressed warmly against Wonyoung’s back.
“How about this…” Yujin whispered.
Wonyoung’s fingers gripped the blanket lightly.
Yujin kissed just below her ear.
“How about I make it up to you…”
Another kiss. Then one more, softer.
“And afterwards, you can tell me if you’re still mad at me, hm?”
Wonyoung did not say anything but her body answered before her mouth could.
She shivered.
A small, visible shake that ran through her shoulders and down her back.
Yujin felt it and smiled softly against her skin.
Wonyoung still did not turn around.
Still did not say yes. But she did not move away.
Instead, she shifted closer, pressing herself back into Yujin’s warmth.
Yujin’s arm tightened around her waist.
Wonyoung tilted her head slightly, giving Yujin more room at her neck, even while pretending she was still unaffected.
Yujin kissed the newly exposed skin.
“You’re not saying no,” Yujin murmured.
Wonyoung’s voice was quiet and stubborn.
“I’m still mad.”
Yujin smiled. “I know.”
Wonyoung shifted again, closer this time, brushing her behind against Yujin’s length.
Yujin inhaled slowly, keeping herself steady.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” she whispered.
Wonyoung did not correct her.
She only leaned back against Yujin’s chest, eyes closing as Yujin held her close.
Yujin stayed close behind Wonyoung, her body warm against her girlfriend’s back as her lips continued to move along any skin she could reach.
Her kisses were slow at first.
Soft.
Careful.
Still carrying the apology she had been trying to give since she came home.
Wonyoung tried to stay still. She really did. She tried to hold onto the last bit of her irritation, the last bit of her grumpy silence, but Yujin knew her too well.
She knew where to kiss.
She knew how to hold her.
She knew how to make Wonyoung’s body soften even when her pride was still fighting.
Yujin’s hand, which had been resting around Wonyoung’s waist, started to move slowly.
Not rushed. Not demanding.
Just warm and gentle as it slid over her stomach, then higher, tracing the shape of her through the thin fabric of her nightwear.
Wonyoung’s breath caught.
Yujin felt it immediately.
“Still mad?” Yujin whispered against her neck.
Wonyoung closed her eyes. “Yes.”
Yujin smiled softly and kissed just below her ear.
“You don’t sound very convincing.”
“I am very convincing.”
“No, baby,” Yujin murmured. “You’re shivering.”
Wonyoung swallowed and leaned back more against her without meaning to.
Yujin’s hand continued moving, slow and teasing, giving Wonyoung every chance to stop her.
But Wonyoung didn’t.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly, giving Yujin more room at her neck.
That was all the answer Yujin needed.
Her kisses grew deeper, warmer, more certain.
She pressed them down the side of Wonyoung’s throat, then back up again, taking her time like she had nowhere else to be.
Wonyoung let out a quiet sound and reached back, her fingers brushing against Yujin’s arm.
“You’re so annoying,” Wonyoung whispered.
Yujin laughed softly against her skin. “I know. But I also don’t like making you feel unheard,” She continued. “You were worried and jealous, and I made it worse by getting defensive.”
Wonyoung was quiet for a moment.
Then she muttered, “I hate when you’re reasonable after making me mad.”
Yujin smiled. “Do you want me to be unreasonable?”
“No.”
“Do you want me to stop apologizing?”
“No.”
“Do you want me to stop kissing you?”
Wonyoung’s answer came after a short pause.
“No.”
Yujin’s smile deepened. “Then I’ll keep going.”
Wonyoung finally turned in her arms, facing her properly. Her expression was still stubborn, but her eyes were softer now.
The anger was still there, but it had changed shape.
It was no longer sharp.
It was mixed with worry, jealousy, love, and the quiet relief that Yujin was finally home.
Yujin looked at her for a moment. Really looked at her.
Then she leaned in and kissed her.
Wonyoung kissed her back immediately.
The kiss was not gentle for long.
It deepened quickly, full of everything they had not been able to say properly.
Wonyoung’s fingers slipped into Yujin’s hair, tugging her closer, while Yujin held her waist like she never wanted to let go.
Their argument slowly disappeared under the warmth between them.
All of it faded into the background until there was only the two of them, pressed close in the dim bedroom, finding their way back to each other.
Yujin shifted carefully, guiding Wonyoung onto her back.
She moved slowly, watching her face the entire time.
Wonyoung noticed.
Her voice softened. “You don’t have to look so worried.”
“I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Wonyoung’s fingers brushed against Yujin’s cheek.
“I am.”
“Still mad?”
Wonyoung looked away for a second.
“A little.”
Yujin kissed her cheek. “Fair.”
Wonyoung looked back at her. “But not enough to make you stop.”
Yujin’s eyes darkened slightly, but her voice stayed gentle.
“Tell me if that changes.”
Wonyoung nodded and pulled her down again.
Their lips met once more, slower this time but no less intense.
Wonyoung held onto her tightly, and Yujin answered with the same need, the same care, the same quiet devotion she always gave her.
Yujin touched her like she was precious.
Wonyoung responded like she had missed her all night.
There was nothing rushed about it after that.
Even with the heat between them, Yujin took her time, kissing, holding, and listening to every sound Wonyoung made.
Every quiet breath, every soft sigh, every little pull of Wonyoung’s hands told her what she needed to know.
Wonyoung’s irritation slowly gave way to something softer.
Something warmer.
Something that sounded a lot like forgiveness each time she whispered Yujin’s name.
Yujin kissed her again and again, murmuring small apologies against her skin between each one.
“I’m sorry.”
A kiss.
“I love you.”
Another kiss.
“I’ll charge my phone.”
That made Wonyoung laugh breathlessly against her mouth.
“You better.”
“I will.”
“You always say that.”
“I mean it this time.”
Wonyoung opened one eye slightly. “You said that last time too.”
Yujin smiled and kissed her again before Wonyoung could keep scolding her.
The rest of the night unfolded quietly between them, with soft touches, tangled sheets, whispered names, and the kind of closeness that said more than their argument ever could.
They stayed wrapped in each other until both of them were breathless and tired, their earlier tension finally gone.
Later, Wonyoung lay beneath the blanket with her head resting near Yujin’s shoulder. Her hair was messy, her cheeks warm, and her body relaxed in that way Yujin loved most.
Yujin was on her back, one arm around Wonyoung, still catching her breath.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Wonyoung lifted her head slightly.
“You’re still in trouble.”
Yujin turned to her, eyes wide. “After all that?”
Wonyoung nodded seriously. “Yes.”
Yujin stared at her.
Wonyoung tried to hold her serious expression, but the corner of her mouth twitched.
Yujin laughed quietly and pulled her closer.
“That’s fair.”
Wonyoung rested her chin on Yujin’s chest. “I’m not joking.”
“I know.”
“I was worried.”
Yujin’s smile faded into something softer. “I know, baby.”
Wonyoung’s voice became quieter. “I couldn’t reach you.”
Yujin brought her hand up and brushed her fingers gently through Wonyoung’s hair.
“I’m sorry.”
“And then I had to find out through someone else’s story that your ex was there.”
“I know.”
“That made me feel worse.”
Yujin nodded. “I understand.”
Wonyoung looked at her carefully. “Do you?”
“Yes.” Yujin kissed her forehead. “I should’ve made sure my phone didn’t die. And if something unexpected happened, I should’ve found a way to tell you.”
Wonyoung looked down at Yujin’s stomach, tracing a small pattern
“I trust you,” she said quietly.
Yujin’s heart squeezed.
“I know.”
“I just don’t trust other girls around you.”
Yujin sighed softly. “Baby.”
“What?”
“You know I only want you.”
“I know that.”
“Then why worry?”
Wonyoung looked up again, giving her a flat stare.
“Because you think everyone is just being friendly.”
Yujin opened her mouth. Then closed it.
Wonyoung lifted her brows. “Exactly.”
Yujin cleared her throat. “Okay. Maybe I’m not always good at noticing.”
“You are terrible at noticing.”
“I noticed you.”
“No, you didn’t.”
Yujin blinked. “I did.”
Wonyoung sat up a little. “Yujin.”
“What?”
“I had to kiss you first.”
Yujin smiled sheepishly.
“I was being respectful.”
“You were being slow.”
“I was being careful.”
“You were being clueless.”
Yujin laughed and pulled Wonyoung back down.
Wonyoung let herself be pulled, though she still looked smug.
Yujin kissed her nose. “Fine. I was clueless.”
“Thank you.”
“But I figured it out eventually.”
“Because I made it impossible for you not to.”
Yujin grinned. “And I’m very grateful.”
Wonyoung rolled her eyes, but her smile softened.
Yujin held her closer, her voice dropping into something sincere again.
“I’ll do better. With my phone. With telling you things. With not getting defensive.”
Wonyoung looked at her for a few seconds, her expression still soft but serious.
“You better.”
“I will.”
Wonyoung rested her chin on Yujin’s chest again, but her fingers kept tracing small circles on Yujin’s chest. She was quiet for a moment, like she was thinking about
whether she should keep talking or let the moment settle.
Of course, she chose to keep talking.
“And you need to do better with noticing people flirting with you.”
Yujin blinked.
“I notice.”
Wonyoung slowly lifted her head.
Yujin immediately corrected herself.
“Sometimes.”
Wonyoung stared.
Yujin sighed. “Okay, rarely.”
“Exactly.”
Yujin frowned a little, genuinely confused. “But baby, even I don’t understand why they approach me.”
Wonyoung gave her a look. “You don’t?”
“No.”
“Yujin.”
“What?”
Wonyoung sat up a little more, blanket still wrapped around her chest.
“You do know what you look like, right?”
Yujin blinked again. “Yes? What about me?”
Wonyoung shook her head in disbelief. “You are beautiful, handsome, hot, and charming all in one person. Of course women approach you.”
Yujin’s face slowly turned pink.
Wonyoung noticed and narrowed her eyes. “Don’t act shy now.”
“I’m not used to being attacked with compliments.”
“It’s not an attack. It’s the truth.”
Yujin looked away, clearly flustered. “Okay, but still. We’re almost always together. They should know I’m with you.”
“That’s exactly my point,” Wonyoung said. “When we’re together, they can see me.”
Yujin nodded slowly.
“And when we’re not together, that’s when all these women start flocking around you.”
“They don’t flock.”
“They do,” Wonyoung insisted. “Like birds. Pretty, annoying birds.”
Yujin tried not to laugh. “Pretty annoying birds?”
“Don’t laugh. I’m serious.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t. Because you think everyone is being nice.”
Yujin opened her mouth, then paused.
Wonyoung raised her brows.
Yujin slowly closed her mouth again.
“See?” Wonyoung said. “You know I’m right.”
Yujin sighed. “Maybe.”
“You are so bad at it.”
“I just don’t think about other people like that,” Yujin said honestly. “In my head, I’m with you. I only want you. I go home to you. So when people talk to me, I just assume they’re talking.”
“That’s sweet,” Wonyoung said. “But also very dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”
“Yes. Dangerous for my peace.”
Yujin smiled a little. “Your peace?”
“My peace, my patience, my blood pressure.”
Yujin laughed softly.
Wonyoung gently pinched her side. “Don’t laugh.”
“I’m sorry.”
Wonyoung rolled her eyes, but her lips were slowly curving upward.
Yujin pulled her closer again. “Wony, I don’t look or want anyone else.”
“I know that.”
“Then why worry?”
“Because they look at you.”
“I can’t control people’s eyes.”
“I know. That’s the annoying part.”
Yujin smiled.
Wonyoung continued, “If only I could put a tag on you whenever you go out without me.”
Yujin looked amused. “A tag?”
“Yes.”
“What would it say?”
Wonyoung sat up straighter, suddenly very serious.
“It would say, ‘I have a girlfriend and she’s scary.’”
Yujin stared at her for one second.
Then she burst out laughing.
Wonyoung frowned. “Why are you laughing?”
“It’s a bit excessive, don’t you think?”
“No.”
Yujin rubbed her back gently, still thinking about it with that calm, innocent expression that always made Wonyoung suspicious.
Then Yujin said, “I mean, we can just get married.”
Wonyoung froze.
Yujin continued casually, like she was talking about buying milk.
“That way, when they see my wedding band, they’ll back away immediately.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Wonyoung stared and her mouth slowly opened.
Yujin looked back at her, suddenly unsure.
“What?”
Wonyoung sat all the way up now. “What did you just say?”
Yujin looked genuinely confused. “That we can just get married?”
Wonyoung’s eyes widened.
Yujin tilted her head. “Not a good idea?”
Wonyoung opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again.
“It’s actually a brilliant idea,” she said slowly. “Except you haven’t proposed to me.”
Yujin paused. “Oh.”
Wonyoung stared harder.
Yujin nodded like Wonyoung had made a simple correction during a grocery list discussion.
“Yeah. That’s true.”
Wonyoung’s heart started beating faster.
Yujin continued, still far too calm, “I mean, I can do it soon?”
Wonyoung’s brows lifted.
Yujin added, “I have the ring already.”
Wonyoung’s whole body went still.
Then…
“YUJIN!”
Yujin flinched. “What?”
“You already bought a ring for me?”
Yujin blinked. “Yeah.”
Wonyoung stared at her like she had just revealed she had been secretly living a double life. She placed a hand over her chest. “You bought a ring?”
Yujin started to look nervous now. “Yes.”
“For me?”
“Of course for you.”
“When?”
Yujin hesitated.
Wonyoung narrowed her eyes. “Yujin.”
“I hid it so you wouldn’t find it.”
“That is not what I asked.”
“I bought it a while ago.”
Wonyoung’s voice rose. “What’s a while ago?”
Yujin scratched the back of her neck.
“Uhm…”
Wonyoung waited.
“Last year?”
Wonyoung’s jaw dropped.
“AN YUJIN!”
Yujin sat up quickly. “Why are you yelling?”
“Why am I yelling?” Wonyoung repeated, shocked. “You just told me you bought an engagement ring last year!”
Yujin looked down at the blanket. “Yeah.”
“And you’re saying it so nonchalantly!”
“I didn’t know how to bring it up.”
“You didn’t know how to bring up that you have a ring?”
“I was planning to propose properly.”
Wonyoung stared at her, overwhelmed and touched and annoyed all at once.
Yujin continued, voice softer now. “I wasn’t just going to hand it to you in bed after we fought.”
Wonyoung’s eyes softened a little, but she still looked shocked.
“Baby,” she said, exhaling slowly. “I thought we were joking around with the whole owning each other thing.”
Yujin blinked. “I wasn’t joking.”
Wonyoung looked at her.
Yujin’s face was sincere now. Completely open.
Wonyoung’s heart softened.
Yujin took her hand carefully.
“I’ve been trying to find the right time. But work got busy, and then your schedule got busy, and then every time I thought maybe I should do it, I wondered if it was too soon for you.”
Wonyoung’s expression changed.
Yujin rubbed her thumb over Wonyoung’s knuckles.
“I didn’t want to pressure you.”
“You thought it was too soon?”
“Maybe.”
“Yujin.” Wonyoung’s voice softened completely. “It’s never too soon.”
Yujin looked up at her.
Wonyoung squeezed her hand. “We’ve been together for a while. And I know you’re it for me.”
Yujin’s eyes softened.
Wonyoung continued, quieter now, “Why do you think I act possessive and get jealous when other girls look at you?”
Yujin smiled faintly. “Because you’re scary?”
Wonyoung glared.
Yujin quickly said, “Sorry.”
Wonyoung sighed, but her smile betrayed her. “Because I want to be with you.”
Yujin’s face grew serious again.
“I want to be with you too.”
Wonyoung looked down at their joined hands.
“I don’t want anyone else getting close to you because in my head, you’re already mine.”
Yujin’s thumb stilled for a second then she smiled, soft and full of love.
“I am yours.”
Wonyoung looked back at her.
Yujin brought Wonyoung’s hand to her lips and kissed her fingers.
“And you’re mine.”
Wonyoung’s eyes started to shine, but she blinked quickly like she refused to get emotional so easily.
Yujin saw it anyway.
She always did.
“I’m sorry I’m too oblivious about other people,” Yujin said. “I really don’t always notice what they’re doing.”
“I know.”
“But honestly, I don’t care about any of them.”
Wonyoung swallowed.
Yujin moved closer. “I just care about you.”
Wonyoung’s fingers tightened around hers.
“Because I love you,” Yujin whispered.
Wonyoung didn’t answer with words.
Instead, she pulled Yujin in by the back of her neck and kissed her.
Deep.
Slow.
Full of everything that had just settled between them.
Yujin responded immediately, one hand moving to Wonyoung’s waist, the other touching her cheek.
The kiss was warm and loving, but there was something different underneath it now.
Something bigger.
Something that felt like the future quietly opening in front of them.
When they pulled apart, Wonyoung rested her forehead against Yujin’s.
“I love you too, baby,” she whispered. “So much.”
Yujin smiled.
Then, because she was Yujin, her smile slowly turned into a smirk.
“So…”
Wonyoung narrowed her eyes. “So?”
“Should I propose now?”
Wonyoung’s eyes widened again.
“Or should I still follow through with my plan?”
Wonyoung looked at her for a moment, eyes soft again.
“Hm.”
“What?”
Wonyoung wrapped her arms around Yujin’s neck.
“Follow through with your plan.”
Yujin’s expression softened.
“Yeah?”
Wonyoung nodded. “I want to be surprised.”
Yujin smiled, warm and gentle.
“Okay, baby. Whatever you want.”
Wonyoung brushed her fingers through Yujin’s hair.
“But don’t make me wait too long.”
Yujin laughed softly. “I won’t.” She leaned in and kissed her again.
This one was slower.
Sweeter.
A quiet promise.
Wonyoung melted into her, holding onto her like she already knew the answer to the question Yujin had not officially asked yet.
And Yujin held her just as tightly, sealing the start of their way to forever.
— — —