Archive of Our Own

Wonyoung knew she looked like one of those girls, notebook and pens out as she took her notes, quite the contrary to her classmates, with their pricey laptops and even fancier methods to take notes by recording their lecturer’s words.

But ‘different’ was a term that Wonyoung had spent her entire life getting used to.

Not just because she was like a model with a certain interest in higher education.

Or an interest in living the life she was never permitted, when she used to live with her family.

During the day, Wonyoung was the good student she’d always been.

It wasn’t exactly easy to study the science of medicine, when she was perfectly capable of other means of healing.

And after the sun had set, Wonyoung enjoyed what most university students with a knack for a little intoxicated fun did.

That was how she met Yujin.

Loud, rowdy and sporting the most joyous smile Wonyoung had ever seen.

“Two goals and man of the match, you promised!” Yujin had her arm slung over the shoulders of a slightly shorter man, who looked a little older than the crowd he was amongst.

“You’re drunk enough as it is, Yujin, we’ll just add it to your tally.” he said.

“Nonsense, I’m not nearly as drunk as I should be, coach.” Yujin tightened her arm around him.

Tapping out, he gave up, “Fine, okay!”.

Making the most of a deal the bar had going, Yujin’s coach bought four drinks, jagerbombs.

He took one for himself, the two of them clinking the plastic cups against each other, then the bare table before drinking the whole thing in one fell swoop.

Sensing eyes on her, Yujin turned to find the face watching her.

A pretty face, indeed.

Waiting for a much more diluted drink, Wonyoung leaned crossed arms atop the bar, offering only a tipsy smile in Yujin’s direction before looking away.

Slapping her hand on her coach’s shoulder, Yujin took the two remaining shots with her, offering one to Wonyoung.

Without a word, Yujin nodded, prompting Wonyoung to take the cup from her hand, who lightly brushed her fingers along hers.

After taking the shots, Wonyoung received the drink she ordered and Yujin grabbed a straw and a cover for Wonyoung’s cup.

Peeling the sticker, Yujin placed it over Wonyoung’s cup, sticking the straw through the X that marked the spot.

“I’m Yujin.” she had to raise her voice to be heard over the music, “What’s your name?”.

With an inviting smile, small but telling, Wonyoung made her way towards the dance floor, looking back at Yujin only once to make sure she followed.

“Go on then.” One of her teammates smacked the back of her hand against Yujin’s arm, and that was the only push she needed.

After a couple hours of dancing and partying, urged on by a few more drinks and the thumping bass of the DJs music, Yujin did eventually get a name.

A lot more than just that, too.

Making out against one of the walls of the club, the pair were inconveniently interrupted by a voice over the music, telling them it would the last few songs for the night.

“Would it be inappropriate of me to suggest the fun shouldn’t end here?” Wonyoung said, chasing Yujin’s lips when she pulled away.

“I think we’re well past inappropriate, no?” Yujin was more than happy to kiss her again, pushing her up against the wall again.

Spending two more songs making out, as they were, Wonyoung found herself losing her inhibitions further and wanting to take this girl home with her.

“My accom isn’t far.” Yujin told her, when they parted again.

“Mm.” Wonyoung slipped her hand round the back of Yujin’s neck, pulling her in to kiss her again.

When Yujin kissed down the side of Wonyoung’s neck, she only relished in it.

“You won’t lose me when we’re out of here.” Yujin said, when there was the call for the last song.

“I’m not going to stay at yours.” Wonyoung would rather never see Yujin again than stay at a university dorm where she’d be seen acting… less than purely.

Before Yujin could make any further claims to appeal to Wonyoung, she picked herself up off the wall, taking Yujin’s hand to lead her out.

Once they’d left the club, Wonyoung took Yujin’s phone from her, tapping away on the screen while she waved off her friends, who’d finally found her after some hours, but had the grace to leave them be.

“Back to yours?” Yujin looked at the screen when Wonyoung handed her phone back, seeing her address and the paywall between them and the cab that would take them there.

“An actual house.” Wonyoung said, “All to myself.”.

“I’m way too into that to even ask why.” Yujin paid the small sum, tucking her phone back into her pocket.

“Good.” Wonyoung smiled, pressing her fingers into Yujin’s midriff and pushing her back into the wall behind her, “We have a few minutes.”.

-

It would be fairly dramatic to say Yujin was heartbroken when she woke up alone.

Without even a number to text Wonyoung on.

Huffing and puffing about being left like that, Yujin got herself dressed, seeing that Wonyoung had at least left her phone to charge, alongside a couple bits of cash and a note.

For the drinks and the ride.
Wonyoung x

It was something.

Leaving the cash, and trading her own jumper for one she knew Wonyoung would want back, Yujin left Wonyoung’s bedroom.

Trying to get to whatever class she had that morning would’ve been a waste, so Yujin took her time looking around Wonyoung’s place.

Old yet kept.

Concluding that this meant Wonyoung had some kind of old money, Yujin chuckled to herself.

Of course, Wonyoung wouldn’t want to go back to her little dorm room.

None of the pictures hung up on the walls depicted anything of a life Wonyoung lived, and Yujin felt a little creeped out.

Not enough to want to veer too far from the girl that lived there, though.

If Wonyoung had some morbid, dark past that she wouldn’t tell, Yujin found herself wanting to know.

Who knew all it would take was one drunken night with her.

Yet considering the clarity with which Wonyoung had acted, and gotten everything she’d wanted the night before, Yujin was sure she had only been somewhat past tipsy.

That failed to faze her, though.

It was a lot of fun to be the one being told what to do, and Yujin enjoyed it far too much to risk not experiencing it again.

-

It had been nearly two weeks since the night at the club.

Long enough for Wonyoung to convince herself she had no reason to think about it anymore.

She had gone back to her lectures, her notes and the quiet routine she had built for herself, where evenings were spent with books open across the dining table and mornings began without the need to wonder where she had left her clothes the night before.

There had been no reason to expect Yujin to appear again.

Which was why, when Wonyoung heard her name called across the university café, she looked up with an expression that made it clear she was already regretting doing so.

Yujin stood a few tables away, disgustingly sweet iced coffee in hand and looking considerably more sober than she had the first time they'd met.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Yujin smiled.

It was the same smile Wonyoung remembered from the club, only less blurred by alcohol and glowing under the sunlight shining through a window.

That glimmer only accentuated the crescent moons that were her eyes and Wonyoung wished it would’ve been easier to look away.

In comparison to the purples and greens of the club lights, the golden glow of the sun made Yujin look all the more attractive.

Wonyoung had half a mind to look back down at her book.

Instead, her eyes wandered over Yujin, taking in the familiar jumper that she assumed she had misplaced.

Her jumper.

Apparently, Yujin had decided to steal and hold onto it.

It shouldn't have mattered.

Wonyoung had no intention of seeing her again, and whatever sentimental value the piece of clothing might have carried could hardly have been important enough to justify another conversation.

Still, she found herself watching as Yujin made her way over.

They didn't talk for long.

Yujin explained that she'd been meaning to return the jumper, though the fact she was still wearing it made that claim somewhat questionable.

“Did that mean you had to walk around wearing it?” Wonyoung circled the jumper in her vision with the end of her pen.

“I hoped you might see me in it and actually come up to me.” Yujin knew how brave she was being with her words, sitting down opposite Wonyoung.

Like Wonyoung was anything more than a one night stand.

“Bit daft, isn’t it?” Wonyoung said, “In what world would I walk up to you?”.

“Someone like you…” Yujin eyed her, up and down, not wanting to mention her nosiness, “Someone like me.”.

Shaking her head, Wonyoung replied, “Not like that. I simply like to be alone and I don’t much enjoy human interaction.”.

“Yet here you are.” Yujin leaned back in the chair.

“You sat down. I didn’t tell you to.” Wonyoung pointed out, earning another laugh from her, and somehow the conversation continued long enough for Yujin to stay.

Long enough for Wonyoung to finish her coffee.

Long enough that the textbook she'd been pretending to scoure had remained open on the same page.

She told herself that was all it was.

An hour spent with someone she happened to have met once.

Nothing more.

After that, seeing Yujin became strangely easy.

Not frequent enough for Wonyoung to call it a friendship, but often enough that she began to recognise the places Yujin was likely to be.

The sports centre after afternoon lectures.

The café when she had training later that evening.

Occasionally outside the library, usually with damp hair and a bag slung over one shoulder, looking as though she'd come straight from somewhere else.

At first, Wonyoung merely happened to be there.

Then Yujin began happening to be there too.

Neither of them ever made much of it.

Even when Yujin caught Wonyoung doing something she could never explain.

Somehow, she’d run into Wonyoung at the sports centre, who had just finished up a session in the gym.

Herself, Yujin was waiting to be treated for a bleeding gash across her calf, which she’d sustained from a pretty nasty tackle on the pitch.

“Oh my god, that’s-” Wonyoung closed the cap on her water bottle, only halfway full.

“Ugly, isn’t it?” Yujin still managed to put on a smile, and Wonyoung couldn’t help but find it oh-so-charming, “Hurts like a bitch.”.

It was close to impossible to stand by and watch the blood seep into the useless little rag Yujin had been given thus far.

Going over, ignoring every bone in her body telling her to stay put, Wonyoung knelt by Yujin, taking the cloth from her and holding it over the wound.

Trying to be strong, and knowing she’d be too embarrassed to sit and cry in front of Wonyoung, Yujin hissed at the new load of pressure Wonyoung was putting on.

Her eyes were squeezed shut and her head turned away, distracted by the pain.

Using that distraction, Wonyoung muttered a few foreign, ancient words under breath, hovering her other hand over Yujin’s leg.

In mere moments, Yujin’s breathing became less strained, like a lot of the pain had been sucked right out of her.

“Woah. Did you- It barely even hurts anymore. Was that you?” Yujin hadn’t heard anything, but her thinking had suddenly become much clearer.

“Don’t be silly, Yujin.” Wonyoung giggled, “Must just be my face.”.

A masterful lie.

“It is a very pretty face.” Yujin replied.

There were no grand plans to meet again, no promises to call, and certainly nothing that suggested either of them was looking for anything more than the easy company they'd stumbled into.

Wonyoung found that easier to accept.

Yujin was uncomplicated when she was sober.

Still loud, still incapable of keeping her thoughts to herself, but easy enough to be around.

She talked about football more than Wonyoung understood and complained about lectures she barely attended. 

Yet, the few times Yujin had barged in on Wonyoung’s sessions in the silent study of the campus library, she saw the various papers and journals Yujin had open on her laptop.

So, when they took a short break to refill on energy drinks and chocolate, Wonyoung asked, “What course do you do?”.

“Mechanical engineering.” Yujin easily answered, “If football fails me, then I go and tell my dad that the whole liking-women thing was indeed a phase and hopefully I can nepotism my way into his company.”.

“That’s certainly an idea.” Wonyoung chuckled.

What was meant to be a short break became a longer, winding conversation.

Where Wonyoung was starting to learn that Yujin really liked to talk.

Wonyoung listened, occasionally correcting her when she said something particularly stupid, and Yujin seemed to enjoy being corrected far more than she ought to.

The hours accumulated without either of them noticing.

Coffee became lunch.

Lunch became another afternoon spent in the library, where Yujin's attempts to study were repeatedly interrupted by her own need to talk.

Eventually, Wonyoung stopped being surprised when Yujin dropped into the chair beside her.

She simply moved her things over.

It was a small thing.

So small that she barely noticed herself doing it.

The first time Yujin had taken one of her chips, Wonyoung had slapped her hand away.

The next time, she had merely rolled her eyes.

By the time she realised she was pushing the plate towards her instead, Yujin was already smiling.

Wonyoung ignored the look.

She ignored quite a lot where Yujin was concerned.

Including the fact that she had begun looking for her whenever she entered the café.

Including the fact that she knew which days Yujin trained.

Including the fact that, when a few days passed without seeing her, she found herself wondering where she was.

It was irritating.

More irritating still was the ease with which Yujin seemed to settle into her life despite Wonyoung having made no conscious effort to let her.

No number, no invitation back to hers, no innocent suggestion to meet anywhere other than campus grounds.

And yet, somehow, a few weeks after deciding she would rather never see the girl again, Wonyoung found herself sitting across from her in the same café, listening to Yujin complain about a missed goal while absently stirring a drink she had long since finished.

When Yujin eventually got up to leave, Wonyoung glanced at the time.

She had spent nearly three hours with her.

Three hours over which she could have left at any point.

But she hadn't.

That was the part she chose not to think about.

Instead, she tried her damndest to remember she wasn’t supposed to make any meaningful connections while she was away from home.

-

“You didn’t have to do this, you know.” Wonyoung went to take her bag back from Yujin, who only moved her shoulder back.

“I chose to.” Yujin paused, inhaling a courageous breath before speaking again, “Kind of hoping you’d invite me in?”.

Seeing how purely genuine Yujin’s eyes were, Wonyoung had to look away.

This girl didn’t deserve to be dampened by Wonyoung’s darkness.

Rejection, though, was another thing she didn’t deserve.

“You going to carry my bag up to my bedroom too?” Wonyoung sassed, “Prove yourself to be that jock you are.”.

“Just because I’ve practically given my life to my sport?” Yujin hiked Wonyoung’s bag up her shoulder, “I have no idea what you’re on about.”.

As Yujin walked off towards the front door, Wonyoung remained stuck to the ground, watching her off.

So confident.

Yet so willing to seem that little bit vulnerable in front of her.

It made it so much harder to know she’d be the one breaking Yujin’s soft little heart, because she couldn’t let her get too close.

When she caught up to her, Wonyoung unlocked the door.

The last thing she needed to see was an old flame sitting in her living room.

“What are you doing here?” Wonyoung asked, entering and allowing Yujin in too, locking the door behind them.

The man on her old fashioned couch stood up, laughing as he went over, “Since when did you lock your doors yourself?”.

“Sunghoon, I will not ask you again.” Wonyoung warned.

“Look, I found where you are and I just want you home.” he confessed, simple as, “Isn’t that all I’ve ever wanted?”.

“I’m not coming.” Wonyoung said, also simple as, “Isn’t that what I’ve said to you every time you’ve found me?”.

“You were a kid the last time I found you, still consumed by all that teenage wrath.” Sunghoon said.

Blowing out a huff of air from her mouth, Yujin requested the attention in the room, “Am I going to get some context, or…?”.

“Yes, is she, Wonyoung?” Sunghoon pushed, “I think it’s about time someone actually knew you.”.

Looking between the two of them, Yujin spoke up, “Uh, you don’t have to actually tell me anything, I mean, I have a massive crush on you but I have no obligation to know anything yet.”.

The confession did surprise Wonyoung, though the timing of it rather than its contents.

A pleasant surprise.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Yujin chuckled when Wonyoung seemed at a loss for words, “You knew.”.

“You haven’t asked for your jumper back once so I did assume.” Wonyoung shrugged.

“This is cute, and all, but I am still here.” Sunghoon announced.

Holding her hands up, Yujin stepped back, putting hers and Wonyoung’s bags down and gesturing for her to take it away, “Deal with him.”.

Needing to remind herself that Yujin did not truly know her, Wonyoung didn’t look in Sunghoon’s direction with much contempt.

Rather a will to have him gone already.

“Go. I’m not going to come with you.” Wonyoung said.

“You don’t think I’m more than capable of just taking you with me?” Sunghoon replied.

“Oh, I know you’re capable.” Wonyoung felt an unspeakable urge to make a show of her own capabilities, “But I will not go with you. Not after all I’ve done to stay away.”.

“So I’m here to convince you.” Sunghoon implored, “I miss you, Wonyoung. Everyone does. If you come with me, I can talk to everyone. Invite you back with open arms.”.

Not listening to it, Wonyoung shook her head.

“It’d be better for you than- than being out here. I mean, you’re lucky no one thinks you’d come and live here considering all ties were meant to be cut.”.

“And yet you hound me.” Wonyoung spoke through clenched teeth.

“We can protect you at home. You never know who’s out to get you, even if you aren’t with us. We are stronger together than you’ll ever be alone.”

Shutting her eyes and rolling them underneath her eyelids, Wonyoung exhaled a breath.

“Good God.”

Drawing a small ‘X’ with her finger, in the air right in front of her, she muttered something under her breath.

And like he just had his soul sucked out of him, Sunghoon toppled to the ground.

Taking startled steps back, Yujin’s eyes widened as she looked from the body on the ground, back up to Wonyoung.

“What did you- Did you just- What-”

Putting her hands flat together, Wonyoung tapped the side of her index fingers against her lips, before pointing her hands at Yujin, “Please shut up.”.

“You just-” Yujin gestured at the man on the ground, “And you want me to-”

“He’s asleep.”

“Oh.” Yujin looked at him again, “Well, that- you- that doesn’t make this any better.”.

Inhaling a breath, Wonyoung looked around the room, exasperated, like she hadn’t made the choice to do anything with Yujin right there with her.

“I’m a witch.”

Opening her mouth like she could conjure up any kind of reply, Yujin came up with nothing.

The most she could muster was a disbelieving laugh, “Now’s not the time for jokes.”.

“Hm. Never thought I’d hear that from you.”

Walking past Yujin, Wonyoung crouched down by Sunghoon’s body, struggling to prop him up against the couch.

When Yujin began to help, Wonyoung was pleasantly surprised, “Cat got your tongue?”.

“You just put a man to sleep with your fingers.” Yujin said, getting up, “I’m terrified.”.

“You’re awfully composed.” Wonyoung looked up at her.

“You made it sound like you were going to do the same to me if I didn’t shut up.”

With a small chuckle, Wonyoung got up, “Clever girl.”.

As she walked around her, Yujin could only follow with her eyes.

Being circled as so was even more terrifying.

“What?”

“I’m jealous of you, Yujin.”

Eventually Wonyoung sat down, on the couch opposite Sunghoon.

“You literally have- like- superpowers.” Yujin awkwardly replied, “Why would you be jealous of me?”.

“You’re normal.” Wonyoung shrugged, like it was an answer Yujin should have known.

Sighing, Yujin traipsed over to sit next to her, “I don’t have superpowers.”.

“Yujin.”

“I’m sorry!” Yujin held her hands up, “How the hell else am I supposed to take this?”.

“With a little bit of grace.” Wonyoung looked over at her, “It’s who I am.”.

Sitting up, shuffling to face Wonyoung, Yujin said, “Is this why you wouldn’t date me?”.

Guilty, Wonyoung dropped her gaze to the space between them, “Would you date a witch?”.

Then, before Yujin could answer, Wonyoung did herself, “I mean, I wouldn’t.”.

“Why… not?” Yujin asked, careful.

Groaning, Wonyoung leaned all the way back, dropping her head against the backrest of the couch.

“Afraid you’ll magically put me to sleep too?” Yujin tried to joke.

Because what else was she going to do?

A couple ill-timed jokes was all she could think up.

“I love that you joke around, Yujin.” Wonyoung spoke to the ceiling, “It would be my favourite thing about you if you weren’t such a good kisser.”.

“All the more reason to date me.”

Wonyoung rubbed two hands over her face, “But you also annoy me to no end.”.

“In- like- a fond way.” Yujin said, “Right?”.

Head still leaning back, Wonyoung peered over at Yujin, smiling.

“I like you a lot.” Wonyoung then looked the other way, at the fireplace.

“But?”

Holding a hand up towards the unlit logs, Wonyoung spoke, “I can be volatile.”.

Then she muttered something, and the logs set alight.

“You can just do that?”

“I can do a lot of things.” Wonyoung didn’t turn back to look at Yujin, “I can hurt people.”.

“That- I mean, yeah.” Yujin could guess that was a possibility, “But why would you?”.

“I just put a man to sleep because he got on my nerves a little.”

“Okay…” Yujin trailed, not seeing the point.

Wonyoung traced a ‘W’ with her finger and, in the shape of the letter, a line on the floor lit on fire too, “What if you cheat on me? And I end up killing you?”.

“Um, first of all,” Yujin nervously chuckled, “I would never do that.”.

Wonyoung hummed.

“Secondly,” Yujin couldn’t look away from the fires, “Please put that out.”.

And Wonyoung did, with a swift swoop of her fingers in the W’s direction.

“Thirdly,” Yujin then took a breath before continuing, “You could do that?”.

When Wonyoung didn’t answer, Yujin could physically feel her heart drop.

Sure, she may have enjoyed acting like a complete and total dud, most of the time, but she could piece the silence and Wonyoung’s last words together.

“You’ve done it before.” Yujin whispered.

Flicking her fingers in Sunghoon’s direction, Wonyoung also whispered.

With a sharp, sudden breath, Sunghoon opened his eyes, sitting up and quickly taking in his surroundings.

Realising he was safe, he sighed, leaning back and looking up at Wonyoung, “You love that one, don’t you?”.

“It wasn’t your secret to tell.” Wonyoung said.

“The beans have been spilt then?” he asked, looking at Yujin, who was only staring at Wonyoung, “Then I guess my work here is done.”.

He got up with a bit of a strained grunt, stumbling over to the door like a drunkard.

When he got there, he was halfway out before turning back to the girls, “Your father wants you home, Wonyoung.”.

He then waited a moment, “We all do.”.

Taking none of the tension with him, Sunghoon left.

Leaving Wonyoung to finally look at Yujin.

“What’s in it for him?” Yujin questioned, glancing only once at the shut door.

Then Wonyoung laughed, and Yujin felt like she was being ridiculed.

“It’s stupid, and incredibly old-fashioned,” Wonyoung began to answer, when Yujin looked a little hurt.

“He was my…” Wonyoung rolled her eyes at the absurdity of what she was about to say, “Betrothed.”.

Like Yujin’s night needed any more wild turns, “Your what?”.

“I know. It’s silly.”

“Why?”

“I come from a family of witches who are all shit-scared of our ‘art’ being lost on us kids who don’t want to practice.”

“So?”

For the first time, Wonyoung hesitated.

Looking back at her past wasn’t her favourite pastime.

“Can’t exactly make powerful witch babies if I’m gay.”

Yujin suddenly regretted being so pushy, “Oh.”.

“Looks like you’re not the only one with unfavourable parents.”

“Your family really kicked you out because of that?”

Wonyoung shook her head, “I was exiled from my coven for killing Sunghoon’s dad.”.

“What?” Yujin stood up.

“I just- I used to get so angry.”

“Enough to kill a man?”

Chewing at her bottom lip, Wonyoung looked away, “I would have these outbursts. Every time I felt too much.”.

“An outburst is shouting at someone, throwing something, punching a wall.”

As if she needed to feel any worse about it, Wonyoung nodded.

As if she didn’t already know that.

There wasn’t a therapist she hadn’t seen, when she was a kid.

“I took out electricity, shattered windows, lit fires.”

“This is…” Yujin took more steps back, away from Wonyoung.

Her mouth was ajar, like she wanted to say something.

Again, her words failed her.

Shaking her head, she scoffed, “This is insane.”.

“I know it’s a lot.” Wonyoung was calm, trying not to feel too strongly about the imminent rejection she was about to face.

“A lot?” Yujin ran a hand through her hair, “No, not at all. This is light. Just another Friday.”.

“It’s Thursday.” Wonyoung mumbled.

Covering her eyes with her hand, Yujin faked a sob, “It’s not even Friday.”.

“Just let me explain.” Wonyoung got up, wanting to close the distance a little, “Please?”.

Mirroring, Yujin took a step back, holding a hand out, “Wait- don’t-”

Clenching her jaw, Wonyoung stopped.

Though it was a bad move.

A few wrong words would’ve been the better outcome here.

Not brewing frustration.

“You’re just… out here?” Yujin tried to make sense of it, “Free? No consequences?”.

“Of course there were consequences, I’m not some sort of higher power.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

It was beginning to sound like Yujin didn’t want her there.

That scared Wonyoung.

“Making sure you didn’t hear it from someone else.”

“What, I need your supervision now? Scared I’m going to tattle on you? That I’ll run around campus, spilling your dirty little secret?”

Wonyoung refused to be spoken to like that.

To be mocked for her overthinking, and her concern.

“I’m in a bit of a fragile place right now, Yujin.” Wonyoung said, masking her true feelings with animosity.

Knowing that this girl was a murderer, Yujin couldn’t find it in her to be sympathetic, “So?”.

“You know…” Wonyoung held up her hand, looking at her closed fist, “I’d hate to get hurt.”.

Her words came out so casually.

“And do something…” she straightened out her fingers, watching her fingertips light on fire, before looking at Yujin, “Crazy.”.

Stumbling back a bit more, Yujin gasped.

Wearing a victorious, yet reluctant, smile, Wonyoung closed her hand into a fist again, all the little flames going out, “You’re lucky I like you.”.

“Or I’d be dead too?”

Sick of this, Wonyoung walked right over, trying to ignore how afraid of her Yujin looked.

“Maybe. If I was feeling particularly murderous.” Wonyoung walked past Yujin, purposely knocking her shoulder against her.

It wasn’t hard, rather more playful.

The sarcasm in her voice flew right over Yujin’s head, “You wouldn’t.”.

“No, of course I wouldn’t, Yujin, what do you think I am?” Wonyoung spun round to face her.

“You’ve done it before.”

“It wasn’t on purpose.” Wonyoung argued, “I didn’t know how strong I was back then.”.

Only just picking up on it, Yujin realised she didn’t know how far back this was, “When- How old were you?”.

Clearly reluctant to tell, Wonyoung chewed at the inside of her mouth, looking anywhere but at the girl in front of her.

“How long ago was this, Wonyoung?”

“I was fifteen.” she answered, “Sunghoon’s dad found out I was dating a girl. He came by my house to tell my parents.”.

“What happened?” Yujin could understand that this was a traumatic experience for Wonyoung, but it was hard to feel sympathetic when she was told that Wonyoung had killed someone.

“We argued for ages. My parents were convinced that if I dated girls I would never want to be with a man that could put a baby inside me. Sunghoon’s dad managed to persuade them into agreeing to have me married to Sunghoon the second I was of age.”

“So you just killed him?” Yujin still didn’t feel like the means justified the end.

Wonyoung shook her head, “It didn’t just happen. I was so angry. I felt like my life was being snatched from me.”.

Anyone would feel that way.

Especially at that age.

“I was young, and going through puberty. I was struggling with control.” she explained, “Even when we were just arguing, the lights would blow out and I’d overwhelm the electricity in the house. The power would cut just because I couldn’t concentrate my magic.”.

Knowing she was going to regret asking, Yujin did anyway, “How did you kill him?”.

“Everyone was telling me to calm down. It was always my least favourite thing- I mean, it’s not like I was doing it on purpose.”

“Then?”

“I didn’t calm down. I just wanted everyone to shut up.”

“What did you do, Wonyoung?” Yujin could tell that she was stalling.

And she wanted an answer.

Not more ambiguity.

“Usually, if I just-” Wonyoung held her hand up in Yujin’s direction, not needing the muttered incantations to do whatever spell she was casting.

At the shooting pain in her head, Yujin brought two hands up to the sides of her head, trying to put pressure to ease the pain, almost crumbling to the ground.

When Wonyoung dropped her hand, the headache was gone.

“What the hell?” Yujin shouted, the second she recovered.

Wonyoung didn’t flinch.

“It worked on my parents. It shut them up.”

“What is wrong with you?” Yujin stormed up to Wonyoung, shoving her back against a wall, “Why would you do that?”.

“Sunghoon’s dad must’ve already had some issues. He had a stroke.” Wonyoung dismissed Yujin’s theatrics.

Yujin, panicked, thought the worst, “You could’ve given me a stroke?”.

“No- what?” Wonyoung looked at Yujin like she was the crazy one, “That was seven years ago. I’m older, stronger and I have control now.”.

“How am I supposed to believe that?”

Disregarding that she was already against the wall, Yujin pushed again, “You could’ve killed me!”.

“And I didn’t.” Wonyoung spoke firmly, because she would not let her be backed into a corner.

Never again.

“That’s not the point. You could have.”

“Only if I wanted to.” Wonyoung said, “And I don’t.”.

“How can you say that?” Yujin fists came to close around handfuls of Wonyoung’s collar, pushing her back into the wall again, “So casually?”.

This time, it caused Wonyoung to hit the back of her head.

And it hurt.

Staring Yujin in the eyes, Wonyoung only narrowed hers for a moment, before Yujin stumbled back, falling to her knees and holding her head in her hands.

“Stop-” she strained to say, “Stop it, Wonyoung!”.

As asked, Wonyoung let up.

Crouching beside Yujin, she tucked a finger under her chin to get her to look up at her.

“Never touch me like that again.”

If Yujin wanted, so badly, to be afraid of her, then Wonyoung would give her a reason to.

“I was exiled from my coven for losing control. Something I have now, in abundance. Your loss if you don’t want to believe that.”

Nervous, Yujin swallowed the lump in her throat.

“I will not have my actions questioned because you can’t wrap your head around the fact that I’m a little different.”

“O-Okay.” Yujin scrambled back a bit, needing to get some distance between them again.

“Now listen to my words very carefully.” Wonyoung knew she’d hate herself for this later, but if Yujin was going to anyway, she didn’t care.

Yujin only nodded.

“I never want to see you again.”

Wonyoung’s words came out so sure, like she’d decided and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“I never want to speak to you again.”

Even after the waves of anger, betrayal and fear Yujin felt, those words hurt her.

“I never want to hear from you, ever again.”

It was all a bunch of lies, really.

“Stay away from me.” Wonyoung stood up, “And I will stay far, far away from you.”.

Unable to really go anywhere else, Wonyoung did have to stay on the campus they shared.

That didn’t mean she couldn’t keep a watch from afar.

Flicking her hand in its direction, Wonyoung opened the front door, “Get out.”.

“Wait, Wonyoung-” Yujin rushed to stand, not giving herself the time to think through why she felt so against Wonyoung’s decision.

But Wonyoung didn’t want to hear it, “Get out, Yujin.”.

“Just-”

“Preferably before I throw you out myself.” Wonyoung threatened.

Giving up, Yujin left, though clearly reluctant.

/

Walking home, Yujin found it absurd.

Wonyoung was the one with the confession, the one with a big secret to hide, yet she was the one that got kicked out?

The next few days, Yujin stewed in her frustration, and her confusion.

Then, along with some more days cooped up in her room, conducting internet research, Yujin tried to understand it.

The internet, of course, wasn’t very helpful, feeding Yujin myths and tales she couldn’t differentiate from reality.

The following weeks were torture.

All Yujin wanted to do was talk to Wonyoung.

To ask every question she had.

To be given the chance to come around to it.

To apologise.

Wonyoung had let her in.

Foolishly, Yujin looked past that, and was only wishing to see everything at face value.

But she was still afraid.

Not that Wonyoung would hurt her, but that there was more Yujin didn’t know.

What if there were people out to get her?

What if Wonyoung got hurt? Yujin wasn’t strong enough for that.

It was an incredibly selfish take, but Yujin had never prepared herself for anything remotely supernatural to be real.

Losing Wonyoung wasn’t supposed to be a side effect of her fear.

Wandering around after saying her farewells to her friends, Yujin wasn’t quite ready to head home yet, deciding to sit in one of the campus courtyards, occupying an entire bench to herself.

It was all too easy to lose herself in the ‘research’ and paranoid web-searching she’d left open tabs of on her laptop.

The sun had set before she’d even noticed.

When she took a second to bury her face in her hands, rub the tiredness from her eyes, Yujin was startled by her laptop shutting.

It certainly wasn’t the light breeze.

To no avail, Yujin looked around, seeing no one around.

With a sigh, she turned back to her laptop, almost jumping out of her seat when she saw Wonyoung sitting opposite her.

“Jesus Christ.”

Exhaling a light chuckle to herself, Yujin had to rub at her eyes, making sure she was hallucinating.

“You aren’t seeing things, love.” Wonyoung said, arms folded on the table in front of her, posture perfect, as always.

Hesitant, Yujin had no clue what to say.

How to even start a proper conversation.

“Now I know you didn’t change your major to occult studies.” Wonyoung started, with that specific brand of sass that said she wasn’t going anywhere.

“I’ve… picked up a hobby.” Yujin shrugged, opening up her laptop again.

Only for Wonyoung to shut it again with an exasperated flick of her hand in its direction.

“Okay.” Yujin decided she’d just keep her hands in her lap.

“A hobby?”

“Yep.” Yujin couldn’t even try to make eye contact, looking around the bench, at her books sprawled across its surface, “Magic is pretty hard to learn.”.

“Is that so?” Wonyoung tilted her head, not sharing Yujin’s inability to actually look at her.

Yujin hummed, picking up a pen.

She held it balanced between the fronts of her two middle fingers, concentrating to keep it up as she showed Wonyoung her hand, then turned it away from her.

Then, with a swift wave of her hands, she dropped the pen down her sleeve, making it look like it had disappeared.

Grinning, Yujin held up both of her hands, showing them to Wonyoung.

“Sleight of hand.” Wonyoung pretended to be impressed, trying to ignore that awful feeling spreading from her heart at the sight of that smile, “Not quite magic, is it?”.

Suddenly, Yujin couldn’t feel the pen in her sleeve anymore, grabbing around her forearm with her other hand.

Hearing a small giggle from the other side of the table, Yujin looked over to see Wonyoung twirling the pen around her fingers.

“Okay, so that was pretty hot.” Yujin mumbled under her breath, picking at her eyebrow.

“Hm?” Wonyoung hadn’t heard it.

“That’s unfair. You have superpowers.” she said instead.

Dropping the pen, Wonyoung rolled her eyes, “You need to stop calling it that. We are not in a movie.”.

“It kinda feels like it.” Yujin pouted, like a child whose dreams had just been crushed.

“I am a witch. That’s it.”

“That’s it? That’s- like-” Yujin didn’t exactly have the vocabulary to express how mindboggling this was, “A lot more than just an ‘it’.”.

Again, Wonyoung giggled, this time at her.

At the sound, Yujin could only smile.

Not a care for the fact that she was the victim of Wonyoung’s jest.

“You have such a way with words, don’t you?” Wonyoung teased.

“Not my fault I wasn’t brought up with- some- traditional, old-timey witch freak-family.” Yujin may have chosen her words too quickly.

“Freak-family.” Wonyoung repeated to herself, like it triggered something inside her.

Immediately regretting it, Yujin reached for Wonyoung’s hand, holding it down on the table, “I’m sorry- I- I didn’t mean that, I swear, I-”.

“It’s okay.” Wonyoung said, but the way she took her hand back, almost grimacing, sent another message, “I’m not here to be… friendly, anyway.”.

“Why are you here?” Yujin had only just realised she hadn’t thought to ask.

“Your incessant research is going to get me found.”

“Found? That- that guy already found you, no?” Yujin said.

“He may have no class but…” Wonyoung couldn’t believe she was defending him, “Sunghoon is fiercely loyal.”.

Yujin couldn’t quite tell how that was supposed to answer her question.

Seeing the confusion on her face, Wonyoung added, “To me.”.

Only exacerbating the confusion.

“He came to terms with not being my husband long before anyone else even knew I didn’t like guys.” Wonyoung began to explain, “And he kept my secret. He’s always been a little bit in love with me and he- despite all the teasing- he always had my back.”.

“Then why does he actually want you home?” Yujin didn’t want to feel jealous.

Of someone that was barely any actual competition, at that.

“I don’t know, I didn’t stop to ask.” Wonyoung answered.

She only hesitated for a moment before then confessing, “I don’t want to go.”.

“How’s my research going to get you found, anyway?”

“Witches have friends everywhere, in everything.” Wonyoung said, “A sudden interest, online or not, in our kind of magic raises eyebrows. Someone’s told someone, and that knowledge is considered a threat.”.

“A threat?” Yujin narrowed her eyes at Wonyoung, like it was a stupid way to think, “I’m an engineering student, a bit of a stereotypical jock and a massive idiot. I’m not a threat.”.

“Well, at least you’re self aware.” Wonyoung commented, a smirk lining her lips.

Feigning offence, Yujin held a hand over her heart, “How about we leave the jokes to me, huh? It’s not as funny when you do it.”.

“Yeah, well, it’s not funny when you do it either.” Wonyoung countered, getting up to go around and sit beside Yujin, “It’s more…”.

Meeting Yujin’s eye, she smiled, “Charming.”.

In disbelief that Wonyoung was flirting, Yujin could only mirror the smile, “And are you? Uh… charmed?”.

“Quite.” Wonyoung took her hand again, “To my dismay.”.

“It’s not all that bad.” Yujin replied, “I might be an idiot but I’m a half-decent kisser. I can be fun and, you know, I think I make a pretty mean trophy to have on your arm.”.

“Are you sure?” Wonyoung had to ask.

To answer, Yujin leaned in to kiss her.

Though they were alone, Wonyoung pulled away first, not too big on public displays of affection.

“So long as I don’t become a trophy head on your wall.” Yujin joked.

“You’re so annoying.” said with such a smile you’d think this was far past a crush.

“You deserve it. A slurry of ill-timed jokes isn’t all that bad, hm?”

“You’re not going to let it go, are you?”

“No.” Yujin thought that was obvious, “My only line of defence is my jokes. Dating someone who’s- who’s killed someone wasn’t something I thought I’d ever do.”.

Wonyoung nodded, “Not my finest fun fact.”.

“But,” Yujin started, “I really like you, and I really appreciate knowing the truth. Considering you could’ve wiped my memory?”.

“That is something I can do, yes.” Wonyoung seemed truly impressed, this time, “You found something truthful.”.

“Why didn’t you?”

“Would you believe me if I said I was being selfish?” Wonyoung was sheepish.

“Then why’d you ghost me? For months?”

“I was being selfish.” Wonyoung repeated, “I wanted to know I could trust you.”.

“How?”

“I’ve been watching you.”

“You have?” Yujin felt pretty vulnerable, “How? I- I feel like I’d know if someone was following me around.”.

“I wasn’t following you. Have you learned nothing?” Wonyoung grinned, like she’d outsmarted Yujin, “You left a hoodie at mine the first time you stayed over. That’s all I needed.”.

“Woah, you’re good.” Yujin said, looking over her open books.

When they all flipped shut, Yujin turned back to Wonyoung.

“Well, they’re not going to tell you anything.”

Yujin kissed her teeth, “I guess not.”.

“Come home with me tonight. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.” Wonyoung proposed.

“Your place is ages away.” Yujin grumbled, not willing to walk the entire way with all her things.

“Yujin, I’m not spilling all my deep dark secrets to you in your dorm. Those walls are paper thin and I don’t trust your capability of whispering.”

Huffing a reluctant breath, Yujin gathered her things, “So I guess we’re walking.”.

“I’m sure you can make it, self-proclaimed jock.”

“Self-proclaimed? You’re the one who called me that.” Yujin argued, packing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

“Because I was trying to convince myself I wasn’t into it.” Wonyoung got up, going over to stand in front of Yujin.

“I’m glad you came to your senses.” Yujin tried, and failed, to hide the way she couldn’t help but glance down at Wonyoung’s lips.

It was quite the ego boost.

Smug, Wonyoung smiled, “Let me get you alone, before you lose yours.”.

“I’m pretty sure I lost my mind the second I started doing all this research,” Yujin kept both her hands gripping at the strap of her bag, knowing they’d have a mind of their own if she wasn’t careful, “Instead of trying to forget I ever knew you.”.

Tempting her, Wonyoung took a step closer, “You’re funny if you think I’d ever let you.”.

“My head’s big enough as it is, beautiful.” Yujin didn’t need Wonyoung to sweet talk her, she was already head over heels, despite the darkness of Wonyoung’s past, “You don’t need to tell me you’re into me.”.

“Hm. I could just show you.” Wonyoung leaned in like she was going in for a kiss but, meeting Yujin’s expectations exactly, she only ghosted her lips, strutting off without waiting for Yujin to follow.

Taking a breath to collect herself, Yujin did eventually follow after her, needing to put in a little jog to catch up.

This girl was going to be the death of her.

Hopefully not actually.