Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The morning sunlight streams in through the window of Rin's studio apartment, filling the space she had called home for the past year with a brightness that forced her to open her eyes and start her day. Rin knitted her brows, her eyes still tightly shut, slightly annoyed by the sun greeting her so early. A small groan escaped her lips; she desperately wanted to sleep longer, but her slumber was forcefully interrupted by the sun's rays. This was definitely because she had forgotten to draw her curtains completely shut last night.

Rin finally gave up. She forced her eyes open, and the surrounding brightness immediately flooded her vision. Squinting, she tried to adjust her sight to the glaring morning sunlight, which somehow felt unusually brighter than usual.

Her gaze then shifted toward the window right beside her bed. Her thoughts were still hazy and unformed when she found herself greeted by a sight that was unfamiliar, yet inexplicably... breathtaking. Beside her, a woman who appeared a few years older than her was greeting her with the most beautiful smile Rin had ever laid eyes on. The corners of her eyes crinkled softly, mirroring the lingering smile resting on her face.

With half-lidded eyes, Rin scanned the woman next to her from head to toe. Her dark black hair was neatly tied back into a ponytail, with a few stray strands falling loosely to frame her face. She wore a white tank top tucked neatly into dark trousers, complemented by a grey cardigan wrapped comfortably around her frame.

Rin’s brows furrowed. Was this what people often called an angel? Did that mean Rin had woken up next to an angel? No way, that seemed impossible. Perhaps she was still trapped in a dream.

Just as Rin decided to close her eyes again and retreat back to sleep, the woman beside her parted her lips.

"Hi... good morning," she greeted softly, her voice sounding so warm and melody-like, a sweet smile curling perfectly on her lips.

Rin’s eyes widened completely, pulled forcefully out of her drowsiness. Her heart began to race, her mind clouded with confusion as she struggled to think clearly. Her head spun slightly as she bolted up from the bed; her feet were unsteady, and her heel accidentally bumped against the small side table next to her mattress. Rin winced in pain, instinctively rubbing her heel as her eyes darted back to the woman who remained sitting calmly on her bed. A trace of concern flickered across the woman's face, taking in Rin’s disheveled state this morning.

Rin quickly smoothed down her hair and cleared her throat, her eyes fixing a sharp gaze on the stranger before her.

"Who are you?" Rin asked, her voice slightly raspy with sleep.

The woman met Rin’s gaze once more, that same smile gracing her lips.

"I'm Aokbab," the woman named Aokbab paused briefly, appearing hesitant about how to introduce herself. "Your wife... from the future," she continued casually, as if it were an undeniable fact and the most ordinary thing for Rin to hear upon opening her eyes in the morning.

Rin stared in sheer shock, so stunned that she felt as though her eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. She mindlessly picked at her ear, making sure her hearing hadn't failed her. Realizing the woman was still lingering on her bed, gazing at her with unwavering tenderness, Rin let out an annoyed huff. She studied the woman named Aokbab once again before casting her eyes down at herself, exhaling a sigh of relief upon seeing her clothes fully intact on her body. At the very least, this woman hadn't tried anything funny.

"I'm asking you one more time, who are you really?" Rin’s tone rose slightly, demanding a straight answer from Aokbab.

"I'm Aokbab, your wife—" Before Aokbab could finish her sentence, Rin raised her hand, signaling her to stop.

Rin rubbed her face harshly and patted her cheeks lightly. "This has got to be a dream," she muttered under her breath.

She had to admit, she had decided to drink some alcohol last night, but she had consumed it alone in her own apartment, not at a bar. There was no way she had come home drunk and slept with a complete stranger who was now claiming to be her wife. Rin was also hardly the type to indulge in one night stands with strangers—that wasn't who she was at all.

"No, it's really not a dream." Aokbab interjected firmly. She was now seated at the edge of the mattress with her legs crossed, still wearing that exact same smile.

Seeing that smile only irritated Rin even further.

"I'll ask you once more, who are you really, and why are you in my room?" Rin pressed, her voice dripping with suspicion.

"I told you, I'm your wife from the future." Aokbab repeated, her tone dropping slightly softer this time.

Rin's patience snapped completely. "Hey, jie! Listen here, this is not the time for jokes."

Aokbab’s brows knitted together at the new honorific Rin had addressed her with. Her expression betrayed her slight annoyance at the new nickname.

"Jie...? Who do you mean by jie?" Aokbab asked.

"Well, you, obviously...?" Rin retorted, pointing a finger at Aokbab. "You're the only jie here," Rin stated nonchalantly.

"We're the same age!" Aokbab protested, thoroughly offended.

"Same age?" Rin repeated in disbelief, a mocking smirk curling at the corner of her lips. "You're clearly older than me."

Aokbab opened her mouth to protest, refusing to be called old by Rin, but Rin cut her off before she could speak.

"Okay, stop. You still haven't answered my question." Rin interrupted swiftly. She paused for a second before pressing on. "How are you in my room? How did you get into my apartment?" Rin demanded impatiently, requiring a direct answer from the stranger standing before her.

Aokbab exhaled softly. "Like I said, I came from the future..." she answered quietly. "Before your mind goes running wild, I didn't break into your apartment," she added quickly, not wanting Rin to misunderstand her presence.

Rin almost laughed out loud. What kind of joke was this? A stranger sitting before her was telling her not to jump to terrible conclusions when her mind was already flooded with worst case scenarios.

Rin averted her eyes, placing one hand on her hip, before locking Aokbab in a sharp glare. "How am I supposed not to think of crazy things when a total stranger suddenly appears in my bedroom, claiming to be from the future? Don't tell me you've been secretly stalking me all this time, waiting for a chance to sneak into my apartment?" Rin accused, full of suspicion.

"Even without stalking you, I know your apartment passcode is your own birthdate." Aokbab stated quietly.

Rin's eyes widened in disbelief. How on earth did this woman know her passcode? Remind her to change her door code immediately after this.

"You are stalking me, aren't you? How do you even know my passcode?" Rin accused frantically, panic rising as dark thoughts raced through her mind.

"I'm not your stalker," Aokbab countered. "Besides, you're too lazy to come up with another passcode because you're a forgetful person," she added, her voice carrying a soft, gentle lilt.

Okay, Rin had to admit Aokbab was right about that specific point. But that certainly didn't mean she was about to believe a stranger who claimed to be from the future—and, even crazier, claimed to be her wife. Rin was not about to fall for whatever scheme this woman was pulling.

Rin closed her eyes and gently pinched the bridge of her nose. "Okay, jie, enough. Stop whatever games you're playing right now and get out of my apartment before I call the police." Rin declared firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Sighing softly, Aokbab stood up and offered a faint smile. "Okay, if that's what you want," she murmured weakly.

Before disappearing past the doorway, Aokbab turned back to Rin, offering a warm smile. "Bye, honey," she whispered softly before stepping out of Rin's apartment.

Rin nearly choked on her own breath at the pet name Aokbab used for her; hearing it sent goosebumps straight up her arms.

She could only breathe a sigh of relief after thoroughly checking every corner of her apartment to ensure Aokbab had truly left. At least the strange woman had complied with her words and hadn't harmed her—at least for now, she thought.

Rin then opted to take a shower, hoping to refresh her mind and wash away the baffling events of the morning.

—————

Later that afternoon, Rin decided to spend some time at the park by the lake near her apartment, enjoying the sunset while drawing in her sketchbook.

Her attention was interrupted when she felt someone sit right beside her. Curious, she glanced out of the corner of her eye.

Rin almost dropped her pencil when she realized the very stranger who had appeared in her room this morning was now sitting right in front of her again.

"What are you doing here?" Rin pointed her pencil at Aokbab, her voice sharp with suspicion.

Rin had explicitly kicked Aokbab out this morning, so how did this woman still have the nerve to show her face in front of Rin? Why was she stubbornly approaching her? What did she actually want from Rin?

"Am I not allowed to be here? This is a public space, anyone can come here." Aokbab replied casually.

"You could sit anywhere else! You don't need to sit right next to me." Rin said flatly, gesturing to the empty spots around them.

Aokbab looked as though she was weighing Rin's words.

"True, but I want to sit next to you." Aokbab smiled warmly.

There was one thing Rin had noticed since this morning. This woman... her gaze was strange. Rin didn't know how to explain it, but the woman wouldn't break eye contact easily, as if turning her gaze away for even a second would cause Rin to vanish.

And then, a split second later, she would look at Rin with eyes full of tenderness, love, and affection. It made Rin feel a bit uncomfortable.

"Well, I don't want to sit near you." Rin shot back quickly, her tone coming out colder than intended.

Rin was certain she wasn't seeing things; she caught a momentary shift in the woman's eyes before that warm, loving gaze returned.

Not wanting to dwell on it, Rin shifted slightly away and refocused on her drawing.

"What are you drawing?" Rin’s hand froze when the woman asked.

Rin let out a heavy sigh. "Jie, honestly... have you been following me all day?"

Aokbab raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You still think I'm your stalker?"

"If you're not, then how do you know I'm here?" Rin snapped, thoroughly fed up with her presence.

A warm smile bloomed on Aokbab’s lips. "Because you told me." Aokbab answered plainly.

Rin’s eyebrows shot up. Wow, this woman has completely lost her mind, Rin thought to herself.

Besides, since when did Rin share things like this with strangers? Even her own sister didn't know about this spot, let alone a stranger. Rin wasn't the type to open up easily.

"You were the one who told me," Aokbab began, pausing to look Rin dead in the eye. "Whenever you have a lot on your mind, you always come here to draw. You said it helps calm your mind." Aokbab explained, as if reading Rin's mind.

Hearing this, the furrow between Rin’s brows deepened. Besides claiming to be from the future, could this woman mind-read too? Rin thought in disbelief.

A satisfied grin appeared on Aokbab’s face. "I told you, I'm your wife. From the future." Aokbab continued.

Okay, enough. Rin didn't want to hear another word of this nonsense. She exhaled slowly and packed up her things.

"That's it. Stop following me after this, or I'm calling the police." Rin declared with finality.

Without waiting for a response from the strange woman who was still insists on calling herself her future wife, Rin stood up and walked away. She didn't have time to deal with the bizarre behavior of someone she didn't know at all.

—————

The next morning, Rin woke up with an empty stomach. She remembered she had been so focused on client sketches last night that she had skipped dinner entirely.

Rin clicked her tongue in annoyance upon seeing her empty fridge. She quickly washed up and changed, deciding to eat at the congee stall she frequently visited. Just thinking about it made her stomach rumble louder.

Rin slowed her pace when her eyes caught a familiar figure in her apartment lobby. The strange woman from yesterday morning was sitting on the lobby sofa, her head tilted back, eyes tightly shut, arms wrapped around herself. One look was enough for Rin to tell she was sleeping in a terribly uncomfortable position.

Letting out a soft sigh, Rin approached her. She raised a finger near Aokbab’s nose, checking if she was still breathing.

As if sensing someone's presence, Aokbab opened her eyes slowly. Finding Rin in front of her, a smile instantly brightened her face.

"Hi, morning," she greeted softly, her voice raspy.

Rin noticed she was wearing the exact same clothes from yesterday. Their eyes met, that gaze again. Why did this woman always look at her like that?

"Jie, what do you actually want from me?" Rin asked, exasperated.

Rin really couldn't comprehend what this woman was after. From appearing in her room, to sitting next to her at the park, to sleeping in her lobby now. It was as if she refused to be away from Rin.

Before Aokbab could answer, a loud growl erupted from her stomach. Rin rolled her eyes while Aokbab winced in embarrassment.

Rin tilted her head, signaling Aokbab to follow her. She needed to settle whatever this was once and for all. She had to make sure this woman stopped bothering her.

Receiving Rin's silent invitation, Aokbab's eyes lit up. She stood up and quickly positioned herself beside Rin, keeping a respectful distance so as not to crowd her. Aokbab didn't want Rin to feel uncomfortable, that was the last thing she wanted.

The stall wasn't far, about a seven minute walk from Rin's apartment. Rin’s lips automatically curled upward when the familiar, warm and savory scent greeted her nose. Rin spotted Auntie Duang, the owner, busy preparing orders.

"Hi, Auntie Duang!" The warm greeting came not from Rin, but from the woman beside her. Auntie Duang returned the greeting with a friendly smile.

Rin’s brows furrowed. How did she know Auntie Duang? Before Rin could voice her question, Aokbab spoke up first, ordering for both of them.

"I'd like two bowls of congee with soft boiled eggs, extra minced pork for Rin. Oh... and grilled pork skewers too, please!"

Rin turned her head completely toward Aokbab, sheer confusion written across her face. Aokbab looked back and gestured for them to sit down.

"How do you know Auntie Duang? And how do you know what I was going to order?" Rin asked directly as soon as they sat at an available table.

"This is your regular spot." Aokbab replied casually, busy wiping down the table with a tissue.

"Besides, there are plenty of other things I know about you," Aokbab offered a playful smile.

Rin crossed her arms. "What is it you really want?" Rin scrutinized Aokbab from top to bottom, her mind trying to guess her ulterior motives. "If you need money or want to scam me, you've got the wrong person. I don't have that kind of money."

"Oh, I don't have the wrong person, and I know you’re broke," she replied casually, throwing the tissue into the bin near their table.

Rin closed her eyes, this woman was truly testing her patience. "Who are you really? And stop saying you're my wife from the future."

Aokbab smiled and thanked one of Auntie Duang’s assistant as their food was served, placing Rin's portion right in front of her.

"I really am your wife from the future." Aokbab said before taking a bite of her food.

Rin’s appetite vanished instantly. She huffed, stirring her congee.

"Listen here, jie. Even if I get married one day, there's no way I'd marry someone like you." Rin stated with absolute conviction.

Aokbab couldn't suppress her smile at Rin's declaration. "Yes, you will. You were the one who proposed to me." Aokbab countered.

Rin’s hand, which was about to scoop up a spoonful of congee, froze. Impossible. That sounded nothing like her. Rin put her spoon back down, while Aokbab sat across from her, thoroughly enjoying her breakfast as if she hadn't eaten in days.

"Okay, let me pretend for a second that I believe you're from the future." Rin locked eyes with Aokbab’s dark gaze. "Why come back to the past? Why now? Why not next year, or next month, or whenever? And if you're here, where is your body from this timeline? How did you travel back in time? Why come to me specifically? Why not someone else? You claim you're my future wife, so why would the future me allow you to come back to the past? Did something happen to me, and—"

"Rin, one question at a time, okay?" Aokbab interrupted her barrage of questions, reaching across the table to gently hold Rin’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

Rin narrowed her eyes, watching how naturally Aokbab held her hand, as if it were a daily routine.

Noticing Rin's gaze, Aokbab pulled her hand back. "How about you finish your food first, and then you can ask me anything you want, okay?"

Rin shrugged and finally began eating. They finished their meal in silence, punctuated by Aokbab’s fixed gaze on Rin and Rin’s occasional annoyed huffs at being stared at so intensely.

"Besides appearing out of nowhere in my room yesterday, where was our actual first meeting?" Rin asked as soon as she finished her food, leaning back with her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes locked sharply onto the woman sitting across from her.

"Our first meeting... we actually didn't meet face to face right away." Aokbab began softly, her eyes distant, reminiscent of a precious memory.

Rin’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"We almost met in Kitakyushu, when you were traveling there to meet your favorite architect, Arata Isozaki." Aokbab answered, glancing at the calendar hanging on the wall of the stall.

"You've already planned that trip to Kitakyushu for three months from now, haven't you?" Aokbab guessed, a subtle smile touching her lips.

Rin's eyes widened. Aside from her older sister, no one else knew about her trip to Kitakyushu. Remembering something, Rin leaned forward.

"In the future, how is my sister doing?" Rin asked, genuinely curious.

"She's great. P'Prim is still running her cafe. P'Prim and P'Jade have two kids, a boy and a girl."

Rin cleared her throat, considering her next question. "What about my mom?"

"Rin... you know yourself that your mom passed away from cancer when you were little. That's why you don't have many memories of her." Aokbab answered softly, careful with her words.

Rin shrugged it off. "Just a trick question to test you," she brushed off quickly.

"What about Jane?" Rin asked again.

Aokbab raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. "Jane...?"

"My younger sister. My twin sister. Don't tell me you don't know her?" Rin said quickly, a little too quickly.

Aokbab chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You don't have a younger sister or a twin, Rin. It's just you and your older sister, P'Prim."

Rin opened her mouth to ask more questions, but was interrupted as Auntie Duang began clearing the surrounding tables, signaling it was time for them to leave.

"Earlier you said you knew a lot about me. Go on, list what else you know." Rin challenged as they walked back toward her apartment.

Aokbab cleared her throat softly. "You started living alone last year because you didn't want to burden P'Prim and wanted to try being independent. The house you shared with P'Prim was designed by your own parents—your dad was an engineer, while your mom had a love for decorating. You currently work as a freelance architect taking on small projects, and sometimes you help P'Prim at her cafe. You're afraid of heights and thunder. When you were seven, you faked being sick to skip school, only to actually get sick the next day. You also—"

Rin rolled her eyes in annoyance before cutting her off.

"Why does it feel like I have zero privacy with you?" Rin grumbled softly.

Aokbab glanced at her. "Because you don't. You told me everything yourself." Aokbab said.

"I even know where all your moles are. Besides the ones on your face, of course," Aokbab added, pausing slightly as if considering her next words. "The slightly larger moles are on your inner right thigh," she said softly.

Rin stopped dead in her tracks, causing Aokbab to stop as well.

Rin stared at Aokbab in horror. How on earth did this woman know about that? Hearing Aokbab's last sentence made Rin’s ears burn hot. If this woman truly was her wife, did that mean she had seen her naked body...? Oh, no, no, no!! God, Rin felt mortified at the thought of someone seeing her completely unclothed. Rin wanted to vanish on the spot, she really wished the ground beneath her feet would swallow her whole.

Aokbab turned to her, concern etched on her face. "Rin...? What's wrong?"

Rin scratched her neck nervously. "Nothing," she replied curtly, looking everywhere except at Aokbab.

Aokbab raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. Then she noticed Rin’s bright red ears. Seeing Rin so flustered made Aokbab laugh softly.

Hearing Aokbab's laughter, Rin gave her a bewildered glance before resuming her walk, her apartment building was nearby.

"If you're really from the future, where are you going to stay? You can't seriously keep sleeping on the lobby sofa." Rin said softly.

"Why not? It's fine." Aokbab replied casually.

Rin looked at her in disbelief. "Jie, the security guards will kick you out! Don't you have a place to stay here?" Rin asked. Didn't this woman know basic logic?

Aokbab shook her head. Rin sighed deeply. It turned out this woman from the future was in a more pathetic state than her, having nowhere to go.

—————

"What's wrong with you? You look like you're carrying the weight of the world." Prim scolded upon seeing her younger sister sitting limply, mindlessly scribbling in her sketchbook.

Rin let out a long sigh and put her pencil down. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, clearly troubled by something heavy.

"P'Prim, do you believe in time travel?" Rin asked softly.

Prim stopped wiping a glass, pausing to think.

"There's someone... a woman, who claims she's my wife from the future." Rin continued quietly.

Prim raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile spreading across her face. "I didn't know you were into women."

Rin groaned softly at her sister's teasing. She rested her forehead against the edge of the counter, blowing away a stray strand of hair covering her face.

Rin abruptly lifted her head, looking out the window.

"This woman suddenly appeared in my bedroom yesterday morning. And guess what her first words were? 'Hi, I'm your wife, from the future.’" Rin explained, mimicking Aokbab's tone.

"What's weirder is that she knows everything about me! She knows about our parents, about mom passing away from cancer. She even claimed she knows where all my moles are!" Rin vented in frustration.

Prim walked over to Rin and sat beside her, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Did your wife mention anything about me?" Prim asked, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Rin gave her sister a dull look and nodded slowly.

"She said you're still running this cafe and that you marry P'Jade."

Prim’s face flushed red at the mention of her boyfriend's name. Seeing that, Rin rolled her eyes.

"Don't tell me you believe her just because she said your future husband is P'Jade?" Rin accused. She knew exactly what was going on in her sister's head. Rin groaned again as Prim’s face grew redder. People in love are insufferable.

Prim shrugged. "Well... what if she really is from the future? Want me to consult a fortune teller just to be sure?"

Rin shook her head rapidly. Visiting a fortune teller didn't sound any better.

Prim exhaled softly, wrapping an arm around Rin’s shoulder to comfort her. "Rin, there are many things in this world we don't understand… Unexplainable things, and maybe this is one of them. What if she really can time travel? It sounds bizarre now, but there must be a reason why she came back here to the past. As long as she isn't harming you, I don't see the harm in giving her the benefit of the doubt." Prim offered reassuringly.

Rin nodded weakly. For now, her sister's logic made sense.

"Where is your future wife now?" Prim asked, leaning in.

"Last time I checked, she was sound asleep in my apartment."

Prim tapped Rin’s arm lightly. "Why did you leave your wife alone in the apartment?"

Rin winced, her brows knotting together. "Stop calling her my wife," Rin protested quickly. "Besides, she's an adult. Why worry about her?"

"She really is your wife!" Prim insisted, swatting Rin’s arm again.

"Bring her here sometime. I'm curious and want to meet her. I want to see what kind of woman managed to melt my little sister's heart," Prim said, her eyes daydreaming about what Aokbab might look like.

Rin shook her head firmly. Introducing Aokbab to her sister was the last thing she wanted to do right now. It sounded like a recipe for chaos. Rin could already guess the endless embarrassing questions Prim would ask. There was no way she was letting them meet.

—————

Rin arrived back at her apartment long after the sun had given way to the moon.

Her heart practically skipped a beat when she was greeted by Aokbab sitting comfortably on her sofa. She still wasn't used to sharing her living space with someone else, especially seeing Aokbab wearing her clothes. It was surreal seeing her own clothes draped over Aokbab's body.

Truthfully, Rin didn't want to live with this woman. After all, she was still a stranger to Rin. But hearing that Aokbab had nowhere to go, and seeing that puppy look on her face, Rin had no choice but to let her stay temporarily. Deep down, Rin still had a heart.

Aokbab turned toward the entrance the moment she heard the door open. A bright smile broke across her face, welcoming Rin home.

Shortly after, they sat across from each other at the dining table, eating the takeout Rin had picked up on her way back.

"Jie, besides your name, I don't know anything about you..." Rin paused, tilting her head. "If the future you is here, where is the present you in this year?" Rin asked, curious.

Aokbab placed her spoon down, folding her hands neatly on the table.

"In Japan. I studied and worked there for a few years before moving back here," Aokbab answered.

Rin nodded at her answer, a subtle smile gracing her lips. A graduate from Japan? Impressive. Rin suddenly found herself a bit intrigued by this woman from the future.

Then Rin remembered something. "Wait... you mentioned we almost met in Kitakyushu, right?" Seeing Aokbab nod, Rin pressed on. "Where did we actually meet for the first time?"

Aokbab's smile widened at Rin's question.

"Our first meeting... was actually at the pastry shop where P'Prim buys pastries for her cafe." Aokbab recalled softly, her eyes filled with fond memories. "You were standing in line behind me while I was busy telling the staff about the building's structure and how their air conditioning wasn't cooling properly..."

"Jie, were you trying to pitch your job to them or what?" Rin interrupted, staring in disbelief at the woman's cheekiness.

A soft laugh bubbled out of Aokbab.

"Believe it or not, you said the same thing back then!" Aokbab exclaimed, looking at Rin with fond amazement.

Rin raised an eyebrow, leaning back and crossing her arms. "So you're an architect too?"

Aokbab nodded. "That's also why I came back... My brothers, P'Pat and P'Chan, asked me to come back to help with our mother's company," Aokbab explained.

Rin shook her head playfully. "Woah... nepo baby," she teased, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

Aokbab narrowed her eyes, glaring at Rin playfully. "But I can actually work, you know! I'm not a nepo baby like you said I was!" Aokbab defended herself quickly. "Besides, it's just a small company," she added quietly.

Rin shrugged nonchalantly and picked up her spoon again. She gestured with her spoon in the air toward Aokbab.

"So, before you came here, where was your future self?"

Aokbab went silent, appearing to weigh Rin's question carefully.

"In Kitakyushu..." she answered softly, sounding somewhat unsure of herself.

"You really love Kitakyushu, don't you?" Rin teased, noticing how often Aokbab brought up the city.

"It's not just me. Kitakyushu became our favorite place." Aokbab corrected quickly. "You actually proposed to me there, and we got married there too," she added quietly.

Rin nearly choked on her food, staring at the woman in sheer terror. She had to admit Kitakyushu was one of her dream travel destinations, but proposing and getting married there? That sounded utterly absurd! There was no way Rin would do something like that, especially in a foreign country.

"When did we even get married?" Rin asked, genuine curiosity creeping in.

This woman had been throwing around the wife title since the beginning. Judging by Aokbab's appearance, they weren't far apart in age, Aokbab still looked quite young. Did that mean Rin married at a young age? Nah, that seemed impossible! There was no way—

Aokbab hummed softly. "Roughly two years from now..."

Rin instantly regretted asking. She wanted to laugh at Aokbab's answer. Impossible! Two years from now meant she would only be 25 years old. She was way too young to settle down. There were still so many things she hadn't achieved, so many places she wanted to visit, so many foods she wanted to try—anything but marriage. The concept hadn't even crossed her mind once.

Besides, marriage wasn't something to be decided overnight. Rin wouldn't take such a massive leap just to be with this woman. Marriage sounded foreign, heavy, and far too complicated in Rin's head.

"Are you joking? There's no way I'd get married at that age!" Rin said sharply, her tone colder than intended.

Aokbab shook her head, her serious expression showing she wasn't lying. "Nope. The future you didn't think that way."

Rin massaged her temples, overwhelmed by all the bizarre information Aokbab was throwing at her.

"So, what is your actual goal in coming back to the past?" Rin pressed, exhausted from the conversation.

"To make your life better." Aokbab answered plainly.

"My life is completely fine! Thank you very much!" Rin snapped back quickly, her voice rising slightly.

Aokbab shook her head gently, a bittersweet smile lingering on her lips. For a split second, her eyes reflected sadness, followed by a profound mix of relief and deep longing as she held Rin’s gaze. It made Rin groan in frustration. This woman wasn't just strange, she was a walking mystery. Not to mention how she constantly acted like she knew everything about Rin. Rin hated it.

—————

Rin paced back and forth beside her bed, arms crossed over her chest, brows furrowed as she wrestled with an important decision.

Before long, Aokbab entered the room. Water droplets clung to her face, indicating she had just showered.

Rin’s eyes immediately fell on Aokbab, who was wearing one of Rin's pajamas. Seeing her in her clothes made Rin think even harder.

Aside from her sister, Rin had never shared a bed with anyone else—especially not a stranger who randomly showed up claiming to be her wife. There was no way Rin was willing to share her modest bed with Aokbab. But letting Aokbab sleep on the sofa felt rude. Sleeping on the couch was hardly comparable to a bed.

Should Rin yield and take the sofa herself? Absolutely not! This was her apartment, after all; Aokbab was the guest here.

"Rin... what's wrong?" Aokbab asked, confused.

Rin stopped pacing and turned fully toward Aokbab. Taking a deep breath, she voiced her decision.

"You can sleep next to me, but on one condition."

Aokbab raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"You cannot cross this line. This will be the boundary between us, and you're not allowed to cross it." Rin said sternly, pointing at the middle of the mattress to mark an invisible border.

Aokbab’s lower lip curled into a meaningful smile that Rin couldn't decipher. Aokbab simply nodded, agreeing to Rin's condition. As long as she wasn't kicked out of the apartment, she was happy to comply with whatever Rin asked.

Rin nodded in satisfaction, proud of her boundary setting.

The one thing Rin didn't anticipate was that she would be the very person to break her own rule.

—————

Rin’s eyelids fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the morning light. Something felt off. Rin stretched her body, turning her head to the side, and her heart nearly skipped a beat. Aokbab was already awake, propping her head up with an elbow and smiling sweetly at her. Aokbab looked as though she needed to witness the exact moment Rin opened her eyes, as if it were the most precious sight in the world. Truthfully, Rin still wasn't used to Aokbab's presence. She needed to get her heart checked after this.

It reminded Rin of the first time Aokbab had appeared in her room, except this time Aokbab was wearing Rin's clothes, and Rin no longer viewed her with intense suspicion—even if she hadn't fully trusted her yet.

Rin wiped her face lazily and got out of bed, slipping into the bathroom. After this, she decided she would take Aokbab shopping for clothes. Rin couldn't keep sharing her wardrobe with her forever.

That afternoon, Rin kept her word and took Aokbab to a local shopping district to buy her clothes.

Rin warned Aokbab not to be wasteful or pick overly expensive items, reminding her that she didn't have endless funds. Aokbab laughed, teasing Rin by saying she should be careful because Aokbab might spend all her money—a comment that earned her a sharp glare from Rin.

Rin was somewhat baffled by Aokbab. They had browsed through multiple stores, and Rin’s hands were getting full with shopping bags, yet Aokbab was still picking out clothes.

What confused Rin even more was that almost every item Aokbab chose was white. Pure white, off-white, ivory—everything was white. Rin had to check the tags to make sure they weren't buying duplicate items.

It was as if this woman didn't know any color other than white. How terribly plain.

Rin stood near a clothing rack, shifting several bags to her left hand. The plastic handles dug into her skin, rustling noisily every time she moved.

"Jie..." Rin called softly, prompting Aokbab to look up from the rack.

"Can you... only wear white or something?" Rin asked, still bewildered by the woman's obsession with the color.

Aokbab looked at the shirt in her hand, then shifted her gaze to Rin, who was looking visibly bored.

"No, I can wear other colors," Aokbab answered before returning to her search.

Rin shook her head softly. She had no idea someone could have such simple clothing preferences. Rin was certain Aokbab's entire closet back home was a sea of white.

Rin scanned the store. The bright overhead lighting made all the clothes look slightly washed out. Right in front of them stood a mannequin wearing a light blue button down shirt, which Rin thought would look far better on Aokbab than the three basic white tees she was currently holding. But Rin kept her thoughts to herself. After all, it wasn't her business.

Rin turned back just as Aokbab picked up yet another white shirt and draped it over her arm.

"That one too?" Rin asked flatly, no longer surprised.

Aokbab nodded confidently, earning a quiet scoff from Rin. "They all look the exact same." Rin muttered under her breath.

Aokbab chuckled softly. "They're totally different."

Rin simply gave a lazy nod in response. They had only been living together for a few days, and Rin was still trying to figure out this strange woman who had abruptly entered her life. Aokbab was far too relaxed for someone who should have been panicked, far too familiar with Rin's minor habits, and now possessed an unhealthy obsession with the color white.

Rin didn't know how to feel about any of it yet, so she settled on complaining.

"These are getting heavy, by the way." Rin grumbled aloud, subtly prodding Aokbab.

Aokbab took the hint and turned to her. "Pass some to me." She held out her hands, ready to take a few bags from Rin.

Rin deftly pulled the bags back. "It's fine, I can handle it," she deflected quickly. She was only joking, she didn't actually mean to complain.

Aokbab looked at her hands, then back at Rin's face. "Are you sure?" she asked, double checking.

Rin nodded quickly, and Aokbab let it drop. No back and forth arguments. Rin was slightly surprised, usually, people would insist on taking the heavy bags if someone looked burdened. But Aokbab simply went back to browsing as if Rin's answer was absolute.

Rin adjusted her grip on the plastic handles so they wouldn't dig into her palms as deeply. She continued following Aokbab to the next rack.

Rin’s eyes caught a dark blue jacket hanging nearby. She inspected the size and held it up in front of Aokbab.

"This would probably look good on you." Rin offered softly, holding the jacket out.

Aokbab turned and looked at the jacket in Rin’s hands, a slight crease forming between her brows. She took the jacket, examined the material, checked the price tag, and looked toward the fitting rooms.

"Okay, I'll try it on." Aokbab said, heading toward the fitting room with Rin’s pick.

Rin remained standing in place. She watched Aokbab disappear behind the fitting room curtain before returning to browse the nearby clothes.

A few moments later, Aokbab stepped out wearing the dark blue jacket. Rin looked up as Aokbab approached.

"How does it look? Okay?" Aokbab asked, adjusting the jacket around her frame.

Rin surveyed Aokbab from top to bottom, nodding in satisfaction. "It looks great. Definitely better than white."

Aokbab checked her reflection in the mirror behind Rin. Seeing this, Rin glanced at her reflection as well. For the first time, the color Aokbab was wearing didn't blend seamlessly into the white walls and ambient lighting around them.

"Get it if you like it, jie..." Rin said, gathering the shopping bags in her hands.

Aokbab smiled warmly. "Okay, if you say so."

Rin walked toward the cashier first, with Aokbab following a few steps behind.

After finishing their clothing run and picking up a few essentials for Aokbab, Rin suggested getting food at a local seafood restaurant. Rin had been craving seafood all day, and Aokbab readily agreed.

The moment they stepped inside, they were greeted by the savory aroma of garlic, butter, and grilled seafood wafting from the kitchen. The restaurant atmosphere was warm, filled with the sizzling sounds of cooking oil and the clinking of utensils from neighboring tables. At their table, crab and shrimp filled a massive serving platter in the center, steam rising from the hot dish. Various dipping sauces lined the table, while the scent of freshly squeezed lime cut through the rich aroma.

Rin let out a quiet sigh as she watched Aokbab struggle to crack a crab claw.

"Jie, what are you doing?" Rin looked at her blankly while expertly peeling a shrimp on her own plate.

Aokbab looked up, wincing slightly.

"You don't know how to crack a crab claw?" Rin asked skeptically, taking the crab from Aokbab. She couldn't believe a grown woman didn't know how to eat crab.

"If you don't know how, just ask for help." Rin scolded gently, acting like the mature one despite being younger. "Besides, how do you usually eat seafood if you can't crack the shells?" Rin asked, her hands deftly breaking open the crab claw.

Aokbab wiped her hands with a napkin and shrugged helplessly.

"Whenever we eat seafood, you're always the one helping me peeling my shrimp and cracking my crabs." Aokbab blurted out, voicing her thoughts without thinking.

Hearing that made Rin huff. Instead of a wife, Rin sounded like Aokbab’s personal seafood peeler.

Rin’s hands paused for a second before she shook her head. "I can't believe the future me married someone who doesn't even know how to peel shrimp or crack crabs," she muttered under her breath, dropping the cracked crab meat onto Aokbab’s plate.

Aokbab hummed a soft thank you before eating the crab Rin had peeled for her.

"Believe it or not, you still ended up marrying me." Aokbab teased playfully, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

Rin shook her head weakly, a tiny smile creeping onto her lips despite herself. This woman was really something else.

They finished their meal with Rin peeling shrimp and crab, while Aokbab occasionally fed Rin bites of food since Rin's hands were messy. As if this were a routine they had done a thousand times before.

On the walk back, Aokbab insisted on dragging Rin to the grocery store to buy ingredients. She argued that cooking at home would save Rin money compared to eating out constantly. Rin could only nod submissively, yielding to Aokbab's words.

That night, they returned with arms full of groceries, and Rin silently mourned the state of her savings account.

—————

The sun hadn't even fully risen when Rin was forcefully woken up by Aokbab. Aokbab patted her cheeks gently, pulling Rin out of her deep sleep.

"Rin... wake up. Let's go for a morning run." Aokbab urged softly, trying not to startle her.

With her eyes still glued shut, Rin groaned softly. She turned away from Aokbab, pulling the blanket over her head to cover her entire body.

A second later, the blanket was yanked away.

"Jie... I want to sleep." Rin complained, shielding her face with an arm, refusing to move.

Seeing her resistance, Aokbab gently pulled Rin’s arm, coaxing her upright into a sitting position on the bed.

"Come on, get up. Let me take you for a run, okay?" Aokbab coaxed, gently rubbing Rin’s back.

Rin still refused to open her eyes, resting her heavy head against Aokbab’s shoulder. "Five more minutes, okay? I'm not ready." Rin bargained, trying to steal a few more minutes of rest.

A small smile touched Aokbab’s lips. "Who says you're not ready? Open your eyes."

Rin rubbed her eyes lazily. She was about to protest when she realized she was already dressed in sporty wear, complete with running shoes she didn't even remember owning.

"Jie..." Rin groaned in defeat. She hadn't expected this woman to be so dedicated to running that she had personally dressed her while she was asleep.

Aokbab pulled Rin’s hand gently, leading her away from the bed. Lacking any energy to resist, Rin allowed herself to be dragged along.

With sleep still heavy on her face, Rin jogged sluggishly beside Aokbab. Unlike Aokbab, who was full of energy, Rin moved like a tortoise beside a hare, her legs swinging at a painfully slow pace.

Seeing Aokbab pacing several steps ahead, Rin slowed down even further. An idea sparked in her mind, she would turn around and sneak back to her apartment. Let Aokbab run by herself! Rin just wanted to crawl back into her warm bed.

Before Rin could execute her escape plan, Aokbab glanced back. Seeing Rin lagging behind, Aokbab turned around, jogged back to her side, and gently took her hand so Rin could match her pace.

Rin let out a resigned groan. Her plan had failed miserably.

Twenty minutes felt like twenty centuries to Rin. When she finally declared she couldn't take another step, Aokbab agreed to end their session for the morning.

Now, they sat side by side on a park bench. Aokbab handed a water bottle to Rin, who snatched it and chugged the entire contents in seconds. Aokbab shook her head fondly.

Rin struggled to catch her breath, her chest heaving up and down. She leaned back against the bench, drenched in sweat, her legs feeling like jelly.

Rin glanced at the person beside her. Unlike her, Aokbab looked perfectly composed, and annoyingly breathtaking despite being lightly dusted with sweat. Rin hadn't realized someone could look so attractive after working out.

"Jie, when are you going back to the future anyway?" Rin asked, still panting as she tried to normalize her breathing.

Aokbab glanced out of the corner of her eye, shrugging effortlessly. "I don't know. Why do you ask?"

Rin shook her head gently, looking straight ahead.

"If I go back to the future, you're going to miss me, you know." Aokbab teased softly before taking a sip from her own bottle.

Rin turned her head sharply toward Aokbab, her mouth agape in disbelief at the sheer confidence coming from the woman.

"Are you kidding? You're the one who missed me so much you traveled all the way back here!" Rin retorted instantly before turning away, watching the lake water shimmer under the morning sunlight.

Aokbab’s hand paused while capping her water bottle, the smile fading from her face. She lowered her head, her thoughts involuntarily pulled back to the final memory she had shared with Rin before coming to the past. Aokbab quickly wiped a stray tear from her eye before schooling her expression to look completely fine.

"Honestly, jie... I'm still confused about how I could fall for someone like you, let alone marry you," Rin confessed softly.

Aokbab smiled faintly at Rin’s confession, looking at her with playful, teasing eyes.

"You'll figure it out when the time comes," Aokbab teased, raising her eyebrows playful.

Rin exhaled slowly. This woman's confidence is unreal.

Rin adjusted her posture, playing with the empty water bottle in her hands.

"I'm exhausted, jie. Morning runs are brutal." Rin grumbled.

"That's why you need to start building healthy habits now, starting with morning runs." Aokbab replied lightly.

Rin groaned softly, tilting her head back.

"Do I have to do this every single morning until you go back?" Just thinking about it drained her energy.

"Personally, I'd love for you to keep running even after I go back." Aokbab said, looking at her with hopeful eyes.

"Well, I don't want to!" Rin fired back instantly.

Aokbab chuckled softly, standing up and extending a hand toward Rin, tilting her head. "Come on, let me take you."

Rin groaned in frustration, remaining glued to the bench.

"I mean let's go get breakfast. Are you sure you don't want to?" Aokbab clarified, her hand still outstretched.

Hearing the word breakfast, Rin's expression shifted immediately. Her eyes lit up, and a wide grin spread across her face. She scrambled to her feet and grabbed Aokbab's hand.

"I know the perfect place to eat after a workout!" Rin said enthusiastically, taking the lead.

Aokbab shook her head and laughed softly, delighted by how easily Rin cheered up when food was involved.

—————

Rin lay slumped on her apartment sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her shirt was wrinkled, her hair messy—much like her thoughts at the moment. On the small coffee table in front of her sat her glowing laptop, displaying a 3D floor plan. Beside it lay her tablet, also lit up, along with a glass of iced coffee where the ice had long melted, leaving behind a bitter brew.

Rin hadn't moved from this position for the past half hour. The client meeting had wrapped up, but her head felt like it was going to explode.

Rin was still lost in her thoughts when Aokbab’s face suddenly appeared above her. The worried look on Aokbab's face almost made Rin jump out of her skin. This woman always found a way to startle her.

Aokbab straightened up and placed a glass of water on the table for Rin. "Are you... okay?" Aokbab asked softly, concern evident in her tone.

Rin rubbed her face tiredly, running her fingers through her hair to tame it. She gave a weak nod, shifting her position into a sit up so Aokbab could join her on the couch. Seeing this, Aokbab sat right next to her.

"How was the meeting?" Aokbab asked gently.

"Fine," Rin replied weakly, resting her head against the back of the sofa, eyes fixed on the ceiling above.

Aokbab tilted her head, unconvinced. "Really...? You don't look fine."

Rin exhaled deeply. The truth was, she was far from okay.

"Is this still the same client from before?" Aokbab asked. Rin gave a subtle nod.

Rin had briefly mentioned this client to Aokbab, a newlywed couple who wanted to build a new home. Rin hadn't expected Aokbab to remember.

"Still about that house?" Again, Rin offered only a weak nod in response.

"Why? What else did they ask for?" Aokbab leaned back, copying Rin's posture.

"A lot," Rin answered listlessly. "A rooftop, specific facade, floor to ceiling glass, a garden, and now they want to add another room."

Aokbab turned to Rin, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of room?"

Rin shrugged helplessly. "They don't know yet... said they'd think about it later."

That earned a soft chuckle from Aokbab, bringing a fleeting smile to Rin's face. This particular client was truly testing her patience and sanity, Rin felt like she was losing her mind.

Rin sat up straight, reached for the glass Aokbab had brought, and drained it in one gulp. Her throat had suddenly felt bone dry.

Aokbab watched as Rin set the glass back down and sank into the couch again.

"Do you want to talk about it...? I'm here to listen." Aokbab offered gently.

Rin hesitated for a moment before opening up. "I'm just confused, jie..." Rin admitted quietly.

Aokbab adjusted her position, turning fully to face Rin, giving her her undivided attention.

"It's not that I'm confused about the design, I have a clear vision for where to take the design. But..." Rin paused, searching for the right words. "I just don't know how to handle clients like them," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Aokbab tilted her head. "Why is that?"

"Because they aren't necessarily wrong...? I mean, sure, they're demanding, but isn't that normal? They're paying clients. So if they want something, it's reasonable for them to ask," Rin explained, letting out her internal conflict.

Aokbab nodded once. "True. So where's the problem?"

"The problem is, if I don't give them what they want... if I tell them I can't do it... I'm terrified it'll sound like I'm incompetent."

"That's not true, Rin." Aokbab shook her head gently, her tone firm yet tender.

Rin turned to look at Aokbab, brows furrowed.

"Saying something isn't feasible isn't the same as saying you're incompetent." Aokbab stated firmly.

Rin was momentarily taken aback by her words. Aokbab sounded like a seasoned leader—a side of her Rin hadn't seen before.

"What if that's how they see it?" Rin countered quickly, voicing her deepest insecurity.

"Have you explained the reasons behind your constraints to them?" Aokbab countered, leaving Rin speechless.

Rin wrinkled her nose. She tried recalling the meeting. As far as she remembered, she had spent more time jotting down their demands than explaining her architectural rationale.

Aokbab pointed to Rin’s glowing laptop screen with her chin.

"For example, if they ask for four bedrooms, a rooftop, a spacious garden, a two car garage, but insist the building footprint shouldn't be too large," Aokbab paused, meeting Rin's eyes again. "You don't have to say no outright. You just need to show them what is possible within those parameters." Aokbab explained softly.

"Rin, they aren't just paying you to draw a house they want. They're paying you for your expertise, to tell them whether that house makes structural sense and is liveable." Aokbab added.

Rin went silent. Aokbab's words were simple, yet they struck the exact sore spot Rin had been wrestling with all day.

Aokbab looked gently at the silent girl beside her, letting out a quiet breath. "Next time, I want you to lay everything out clearly for your client. Explain what works and what doesn't. For instance, tell them, 'We can do the rooftop, but it will reduce the backyard garden space.' Or, 'We can fit four rooms, but the room sizes will need to be scaled down.'" Aokbab paused, reading Rin’s expression.

"That way, you aren't flatly rejecting their ideas. You're offering them informed choices." Aokbab continued softly.

Rin fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. "But I'm afraid they'll think I'm being difficult."

"Well, your job is complex." Aokbab replied casually, making Rin turn to her with a heavy sigh. Fair point, her job really is complex.

Aokbab shook her head softly. "Rin... if a client asks for a four bedroom house on a small plot, and you agree to everything without explaining the trade offs, that's when you create real problems for yourself down the line."

A wide grin broke across Rin's face.

"You know how it goes. If they don't understand their priorities from the start, they'll keep adding requests mid way through. You'll end up revising the design endlessly, only for them to turn around and say, 'Actually, the very first draft looked better.'"

Rin buried her face in her hands, groaning softly. "That literally just happened today," she muttered through her fingers. Her clients had said those exact words during the meeting.

Aokbab laughed quietly. "See?"

Rin lowered her hands. "They literally said, 'Khun Rin, can we make this draft more like the first one, but keep the features from the second one?'" Rin mimicked her client's tone.

Aokbab stared at Rin for a few seconds. “So, what did you tell them?”

Rin let out a soft sigh, “I told them I’d think about it later,” she said quietly.

Aokbab closed her eyes for a moment, having anticipated that answer. "Rin... you're doing it again. You always tell your clients that."

"Because I genuinely was going to think about a solution!" Rin defended herself quickly. What was wrong with that?

"That right there is the core issue." Aokbab countered swiftly, highlighting Rin's flaw.

Rin blinked in confusion. What was the issue? She was simply offering to find a compromise.

"Don't you realize? Whenever you're uncomfortable saying no, you default to saying 'I'll think about it.'" Aokbab mimicked Rin's voice.

Rin froze. She wanted to argue, but she couldn't find a single flaw in Aokbab's logic.

"Okay, fine. What should I say instead?" Rin asked, her voice dropping significantly quieter.

"'We can discuss additional options once the core design direction is agreed upon.'" Aokbab answered plainly.

"Sounds like a pushy salesperson," Rin scoffed flatly.

"Because you are selling a professional service." Aokbab retorted instantly.

Rin went quiet. Touché. She fidgeted with her shirt hem while Aokbab leaned back against the couch cushions.

"You know, when I first started out, I was just like you." Aokbab confessed softly.

Rin looked at her, surprised. "Seriously?"

Aokbab nodded. "I once redid a concept three times because the client kept saying, 'Can we make it a little more... wow?'"

Rin burst out laughing. "What does wow even mean?"

Aokbab snapped her fingers. "Exactly! I had no idea what they meant either."

"So what happened?" Rin asked, thoroughly invested in the story.

"I kept redesigning it, and they kept asking for crazier things." Aokbab admitted with a sigh.

Rin was laughing uncontrollably now. "How did it end?"

"I got angry." Aokbab said simply.

Rin tilted her head, blinking in surprise. "You got angry at the client?"

Aokbab smiled affectionately at Rin's innocence, shaking her head. "No, I got angry at myself."

Rin raised an eyebrow, surprised that Aokbab had turned the frustration inward.

"After that experience, I learned to set clear boundaries. Not because clients are malicious, but because I realized that if I didn't set rules early on, things would spiral out of control." Aokbab concluded.

Rin sat quietly for a moment before nodding slowly. "I guess I'm just not used to it yet..." Rin admitted softly.

Aokbab gave a small nod. "That's completely fine. Everything takes time," she reassured her.

"I'm just scared of messing up..." Rin whispered.

"You will mess up." Aokbab replied casually.

Rin turned to her sharply. "Thanks jie, your encouragement is truly inspiring," she sarcastically remarked.

Aokbab chuckled softly. "I wasn't finished, Rin..." She nudged Rin's knee with her own.

"You will make mistakes, you'll give away too much, you'll undercharge, you'll miscalculate project scopes, you'll deal with difficult clients. All of that is normal," Aokbab paused. "The important thing is that you keep learning and don't repeat the exact same mistake five times."

Rin looked at Aokbab playfully, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "What if I repeat it four times?"

Aokbab exhaled playfully. "Well, four times is acceptable."

Rin broke into a genuine laugh, prompting Aokbab to smile as well. Aokbab reached out and took Rin's hand, her thumb gently stroking the back of Rin's hand.

"You don't need to make everyone happy just to get hired, Rin." Aokbab said softly, her thumb continuing its soothing motion.

Rin looked down at Aokbab's hand, resting so naturally over hers, as if this gesture was second nature.

"Sometimes I feel like if I don't give clients everything they ask for, they'll think I'm too young and inexperienced." Rin admitted openly, her voice carrying a raw vulnerability.

Aokbab looked at Rin for a long moment, squeezing her hand gently. "That's the exact mindset you need to change."

Rin raised her head, meeting Aokbab's eyes, her brows knit in confusion.

"Don't try to look experienced. Strive to look like you know exactly what you're doing." Aokbab said firmly.

Rin’s eyebrows rose at her response, a small smile forming on her lips.

Aokbab returned her gaze with tenderness. "So what if you're young? What does that change?" Aokbab asked. Rin remained silent, but her smile widened, impossible to hide.

"If you know why something won't work, explain it. If it works, say it works. If it requires a revision, call it a revision. If it's out of scope, state that it's out of scope." Aokbab said, shrugging effortlessly as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Rin nodded slowly, her eyes filled with admiration for the woman.

"Clients don't always have to like your answer, Rin... they just need to understand why you gave that answer." Aokbab added gently.

A full smile lit up Rin's face. Aokbab was right. She couldn't hide her growing admiration for the older woman.

Silence settled between them for a few comfortable seconds. The hum of the refrigerator echoed softly from the kitchen. The AC blew a gentle breeze, while outside, the patter of rain began to fall against the window.

"So what should I do next?" Rin finally asked, breaking the silence.

Aokbab paused, pondering for a moment.

"Tomorrow, schedule another meeting with them. Bring a revised brief, ask about their true budget, and clarify their absolute priorities. If they ask for more alternatives you'll—"

"—I'll tell them we can discuss additional options once the core design direction is agreed upon." Rin finished the sentence for her.

Aokbab smiled proudly. "Good."

"What if they don't like it?" Rin asked, voicing her last lingering doubt.

Aokbab paused. "Well... they might not like it right away."

"And then...?" Rin asked softly, waiting for her answer.

"And then you work through it with them." Aokbab replied, lightly patting Rin's hand.

Rin sighed softly, and Aokbab gave her hand a gentle pinch.

"You don't need to win tomorrow's meeting, Rin..." Aokbab said softly, reassuring her. She knew exactly what Rin was worried about.

Rin turned to Aokbab, listening intently.

"Like I said, you just need to communicate what can and can't be done, and figure out if you're a good fit to work together." Aokbab continued gently.

Hearing that made Rin reflect in silence. Until now, Rin had always viewed client meetings as battles she had to win. She had to prove herself, impress them with her skills, and show them how much she could handle. But maybe that wasn't the point at all.

Rin nodded slowly. "Okay," she murmured with conviction, earning a satisfied nod from Aokbab.

Rin reached for her laptop on the table and placed it on her lap.

"What are you doing?" Aokbab asked softly.

"Saving this file and closing it for the night. I'll pick it up tomorrow." Rin answered casually.

Her mind was much clearer after venting her anxieties to Aokbab. For once, Rin had to admit Aokbab's presence was immensely helpful, she helped Rin see things from a perspective she had never considered.

Aokbab gently cupped Rin's chin. "Okay, good girl," she praised softly before reaching up to pat Rin's head affectionately. She did it so naturally, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Rin turned sharply toward Aokbab, her eyes widening at the praise and gesture. Suddenly, the apartment felt significantly warmer, as if the air conditioning had stopped working entirely.

In front of her, Aokbab kept her relaxed smile, looking at Rin affectionately as if she hadn't just done something completely dangerous to Rin's heart.

"Jie... don't..." Rin warned softly, her voice deeper than intended.

Aokbab tilted her head, blinking innocently. "What?"

Rin cleared her throat. "Don't say things like that, and don't do that again." Rin repeated quietly.

"Hmm? What did I do? Did I say something wrong? Did I make you uncomfortable?" Aokbab teased, playing dumb.

"Yes! Just don't do it again!" Rin said quickly. The warmth in the room seemed to migrate straight to her neck and ears.

Seeing Rin so flustered, Aokbab pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh. "Why not?" she teased further, refusing to let her off the hook.

"Because you're annoying!" Rin blurted out.

Aokbab laughed softly. "Oh really...? But your ears are bright red..." Aokbab pointed out, highlighting Rin's blushing ears.

Rin quickly covered her ears with her hair, slammed her laptop shut, and bolted from the couch, leaving Aokbab laughing triumphantly behind her.

"Are you flustered?" Aokbab teased, getting up to follow Rin.

Rin exhaled heavily, ignoring her completely. Just seconds ago they were having a deep, meaningful conversation, and now this woman was teasing her mercilessly again.

—————

Rin had completely lost her appetite looking at the food in front of her. She poked listlessly at the salad in her bowl with a fork before glancing up at Aokbab, who was thoroughly enjoying a juicy steak on her plate. What an unfair world.

Ugh, how cruel of her so-called wife!

Rin's fork drifted toward Aokbab's plate, attempting to swipe a piece of steak that was practically calling her name. Her movement was immediately blocked by Aokbab's fork.

"Jie... give me a little bit, I want some too," Rin pleaded softly, adopting a pathetic tone, her fork still pointed at Aokbab's plate.

Aokbab glared at Rin, refusing to back down, and pulled her plate out of Rin's reach.

"I'm your wife, how can you not share?" Rin pouted, her lower lip sticking out.

Aokbab raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Rin only brought up the wife title when it benefited her. Ignoring Rin, Aokbab took another bite of her food.

"I really want some!" Rin insisted, her fork finally managing to snag a piece of steak from Aokbab's plate.

Aokbab locked eyes with her, setting her knife and fork down abruptly. That made Rin shrink back, slowly retracting her fork.

"Fine, fine, forget it! Stingy to your own wife." Rin grumbled, returning her focus to her tasteless salad.

A subtle smile touched the corner of Aokbab's lips as she picked up her utensils again to continue eating.

"Why do I have to eat bland food like this anyway?" Rin complained dramatically mid meal.

"I told you, you need to start—" Before Aokbab could finish, Rin cut her off.

"—start building healthy habits." Rin chimed in, mimicking Aokbab's exact words.

Rin hadn't forgotten. Ever since Aokbab moved in, Rin was suddenly forced to live by Aokbab's strict health standards from morning runs, regulated meals, a 10 PM curfew, and drastically reduced caffeine intake. All for the sake of living healthy.

Rin recalled one evening when she was working late on client sketches and decided to brew coffee to stay awake. Before she could even stand up, Aokbab had appeared beside her, placing a glass of cold water and a plate of sliced fruit on her desk, claiming water was better than coffee and that Rin was probably just dehydrated. Rin had chosen not to argue, appreciating the gesture.

Rin leaned back, looking at Aokbab, who had finished her meal.

"Besides, healthy or not, everyone dies eventually. Instead of torturing me with this," Rin gestured lazily toward her salad, "I'd rather eat whatever I want and die happy because of good food." Rin stated casually, no longer looking at Aokbab.

Aokbab froze. The smile vanished from her face, replaced by a bittersweet expression. It felt like a slap in the face, her heart beat frantically. Aokbab knew Rin was joking—there was no serious intent behind her words—yet a part of Aokbab broke hearing Rin talk about death so lightly, as if it were a trivial matter.

Aokbab took a slow breath, closing her eyes briefly to compose herself before schooling her features. She had to act as though Rin's words hadn't shaken her to her core. She couldn't crumble in front of Rin.

"There's nothing wrong with living healthy, Rin..." Aokbab said softly. "After all, you're the one benefiting from it, right?"

Rin shrugged, continuing to eat in silence. Once done, Rin announced she was heading to her sister's cafe. She casually asked if Aokbab wanted to come along, but Aokbab politely declined, preferring to stay at the apartment. Rin didn't press, she figured Aokbab wanted some alone time.

"I finally know why she came back to the past," Rin declared to Prim, her voice full of confidence as she stood behind the cash register while Prim wiped down tables.

Prim raised an eyebrow, looking over at her sister. "Who...? Your wife?"

"Her name is Aokbab." Rin corrected her sister.

"Right, right, Aokbab. Did she tell you her reason?" Prim walked over.

Rin shook her head. "Not explicitly... but it's painfully obvious her reason for coming back has everything to do with me." Rin said proudly.

Prim tilted her head, blinking in confusion.

"She came back to torture me!" Rin announced dramatically, locking eyes with Prim to convince her.

"She forces me to live healthy! Morning runs every day, dictating what I eat, limiting my coffee, and I can't even stay up past 10 PM? What else do you call that if not torture?" Rin complained, venting all of Aokbab's rules to her sister.

Prim's mouth opened slightly before a quiet laugh escaped her lips.

"P'Prim?? Why are you laughing? I'm dead serious!" Rin said, offended that her sister was finding amusement in her misery.

Prim's laughter subsided. "Rin... isn't that a good thing? Your lifestyle is actually healthy now." Prim said, surprised Rin was acting so dramatically.

Rin groaned softly. Why was Prim taking Aokbab's side?

"Besides, you were impossible to get to exercise before. And you used to live off coffee. Honestly, Aokbab is doing God's work." Prim added, imagining what kind of hold Aokbab must have over Rin to get her to comply so easily.

Rin stared at her sister in disbelief. Her quest for sympathy had completely backfired. Prim was fully on Aokbab's side, Rin felt doubly betrayed.

"I miss my life before she arrived," Rin whined dramatically, tilting her head back and wrapping her arms around herself. Prim shook her head, her sister was always prone to dramatic flair.

Prim patted Rin's shoulder. "Help me clean up," she instructed, tossing a wiping cloth at Rin.

After helping Prim close up the cafe, Rin said goodbye and headed home, carrying a box of pastries from the cafe. A sweet treat wouldn't hurt once in a while. The sky was completely dark by the time she reached her apartment building.

Rin pushed the apartment door open, her brows furrowing in confusion. The apartment was unusually dark, and Aokbab wasn't waiting on the sofa as she usually did. Normally, Aokbab would be sitting there to greet her with that signature smile.

Rin flipped the light switch, blinking against the sudden brightness.

"Jie...?" Rin called out, placing the pastry box on the dining table. Silence met her call, heightening her confusion. It wasn't like Aokbab to vanish without a word.

Rin checked the kitchen and bathroom, but found no trace of her.

Had Aokbab returned to the future? That seemed impossible, Aokbab wouldn't leave without saying goodbye.

Rin finally checked her bedroom, and sure enough, Aokbab was there, fast asleep, curled up on Rin's bed. Relief washed over Rin, a tiny smile gracing her lips. Aokbab looked remarkably small curled up like that. Rin approached the bed to wake her for dinner.

Rin's reaching hand froze when she noticed tear tracks glistening on Aokbab's cheeks. Her brows knit together, what had made Aokbab cry? Was she the reason Aokbab was crying? The thought made Rin deeply uncomfortable. She decided she would ask Aokbab about it later.

Rin gently wiped away the dried tears with her thumb before lightly patting her cheek.

"Jie... wake up. Let's eat dinner." Rin whispered softly, careful not to startle her.

Aokbab's eyes opened slowly. Seeing Rin right above her, she immediately threw her arms around Rin, burying herself in her embrace.

Rin nearly lost her balance before steadying herself.

"Uhm, jie...?" Rin called softly, confused by the sudden outburst. The woman was clinging to her so tightly, as if Rin would vanish if she loosened her grip even a fraction.

Rin then felt the front of her shirt growing damp with Aokbab's tears. The woman in her arms began sobbing quietly, the sobs growing louder as her grip tightened. Rin finally wrapped her arms around Aokbab, gently stroking her back to soothe her.

"Rin... please, don't leave me..." Aokbab begged mid sob, her voice fragile and laced with desperate sorrow.

"Hey, jie, I'm right here. I'm not leaving you," Rin said softly, tightening her hug to reassure her that she was fully present in her arms.

They stayed in that position for a long time until Aokbab's sobs quieted down and she fell asleep in Rin's arms.

Rin felt a warm sensation in her chest looking at Aokbab sleeping peacefully against her. Rin wasn't entirely sure what it was, but one thing was certain, she hated seeing Aokbab cry, especially if she was the cause.

That night, Rin silently made a vow, she would ensure no more tears fell from Aokbab's beautiful eyes. Those eyes were far too precious to be filled with grief.

The next morning over breakfast, Rin gently asked what had caused her to cry the night before. Aokbab claimed she had a nightmare. Rin was skeptical, but buried her questions deeper when she saw Aokbab looked reluctant to talk about it. Rin didn't want to force her and make her uncomfortable.

—————

The days that followed returned to their usual rhythm. Aokbab still had to drag Rin out of bed for morning runs, forbid her from eating garbage food, remind her to drink water and cut back on coffee, and enforce an early bedtime. She remained steadfast in her mission to keep Rin healthy.

Rin had to admit that ever since she started following Aokbab's health routine, her body felt lighter and more energized. She could even run faster than Aokbab now, a significant improvement.

One morning, Rin teased Aokbab, calling her slow and comparing her pace to a grandmother's. In response, Aokbab gave her the silent treatment all day, refusing to be compared to an elderly woman. Rin spent the rest of the day pulling out all the stops to get Aokbab to talk to her again.

Rin lost track of how many days Aokbab had been living with her. All she knew was that she had fully accepted Aokbab's sudden presence in her life.

Honestly, aside from the strict health rules, Aokbab was a fantastic roommate. Rin didn't have many friends, so Aokbab's presence brought genuine warmth to her life. Aokbab frequently offered brilliant ideas and architectural feedback whenever Rin hit a wall with client sketches. Rin had to respect her talent, the woman clearly knew her craft.

In certain situations, having Aokbab around proved surprisingly advantageous.

Like today, when they received a massive couple's discount at a sushi restaurant Rin had been dying to visit.

When the staff announced a special promotion for couples, Rin immediately wrapped an arm around Aokbab's waist, gently pulling her close, and announced smoothly that they were a married couple.

Hearing that, Aokbab could only sigh fondly. Rin always knew the perfect moment to claim her as her wife.

"Jie, I'm still curious... how exactly did you travel back in time?" Rin asked mid meal, dipping her sushi in soy sauce before placing it in her mouth.

"In movies, people use time machines or special devices to travel to the past." Rin continued, watching Aokbab swallow her food.

"Hmm, honestly, I'm confused too, because I don't have a time machine or any device." Aokbab answered truthfully.

Rin blinked in confusion. "Then how did you get here?"

"All I remember is being in Kitakyushu, and then I woke up in your room." Aokbab explained softly.

Rin tilted her head, even more puzzled.

"So the future me doesn't even know you're here?"

Aokbab shook her head slowly. "Yeah... probably."

Rin wanted to ask why her future self wouldn't know about Aokbab coming to the past. Rin felt that her future self wouldn't just let her wife travel back to the past unsupervised, but she bit her tongue when she saw Aokbab lower her head, falling silent for several moments.

It was always like this. Rin noticed there were specific moments when Aokbab would grow quiet. Aokbab's eyes would fill with a deep sadness masked by regret...? Rin couldn't be sure. Her mouth itched to ask, but she always chose to stay quiet because Aokbab seemed to anticipate her questions and would deftly change the subject.

Rin also caught Aokbab staring at her intently on multiple occasions. Her gaze would lock onto Rin as if confirming she was truly there in front of her. At times, Rin caught a look of intense relief in Aokbab's eyes—a relief she could barely hide, like someone who had miraculously found something they thought was lost forever.

"I kind of want to visit the future." Rin said softly as they walked home, hands tucked into her jacket pockets.

Aokbab glanced at her, arms crossed over her chest, the night air was noticeably colder than previous nights.

"What would you do in the future?" Aokbab asked, curious.

Noticing Aokbab shivering, Rin quickly took off her jacket and draped it over Aokbab's shoulders. Rin smiled, Aokbab looked remarkably tiny, swallowed up in her jacket. Though a bit oversized, Rin thought her jacket suited Aokbab perfectly.

Feeling the warmth of Rin's jacket, Aokbab wrapped it tightly around herself to block the cold wind.

"Talk to the future me and ask why I married you." Rin joked.

Hearing that, Aokbab gave Rin's arm a light swat, which Rin met with a wide grin.

"I want to see what my future life looks like..." Rin added softly, almost in a whisper.

"Rin... trust me," Aokbab looked Rin straight in the eyes. "Your future life is going to be wonderful. Whether I came back to the past or not, your life will be great. So many people love you, so many people are proud of you, including me." Aokbab said quietly, reaching for Rin's hand and squeezing it gently.

Rin nodded slowly, her eyes falling to Aokbab's hand before intertwining their fingers.

"So, you don't need to worry about your future..." Aokbab glanced at Rin, a playful glint in her eyes. "Don't worry, I'll be right there with you." she added lightly, winking at Rin.

Seeing that, Rin could only chuckle, rolling her eyes affectionately. Aokbab was really something else.

They walked side by side in comfortable silence, Rin occasionally stealing glances at Aokbab and their joined hands, which felt so perfectly fitted together.

—————

Rin wasn't sure where she was, but she appeared to be standing in a lush flower garden surrounded by countless blossoms. Her eyes scanned the flowers one by one before landing on Aokbab.

Standing a few steps away, Aokbab was picking a flower stem. She wore a floral dress that fit her beautifully, her dark hair falling loosely over her shoulders. The warm sunlight bathing Aokbab seemed to complete the ethereal picture.

Rin didn't know how to describe it, but in that moment, Aokbab looked so warm, so radiant, and so impossibly breathtaking. Rin felt no words could ever do justice to Aokbab's beauty.

Then, slowly, Aokbab turned toward Rin. Their eyes met, and the corners of Aokbab's lips curved into that familiar, warm smile. Aokbab's lips moved as if saying something, but Rin couldn't hear the words clearly.

Just as Rin decided to walk toward her, the scenery around them shifted violently. The bright sunshine vanished, replaced by dark storm clouds and pouring rain.

Rin instinctively closed her eyes. She wiped her wet face and slowly opened her eyes again.

Now standing in front of her was Aokbab, hands on her hips, holding a water bottle in one hand.

Ah, what a shame, it was only a dream.

Rin groaned softly, propping herself up on an elbow. "Jie... did you splash water on me?" Rin asked suspiciously, her voice raspy.

"If I didn't, you'd never wake up." Aokbab replied flatly, turning around.

"Hurry up and get ready. Morning run!" Aokbab instructed, reminding Rin of their daily routine.

Rin sighed softly, then quickly got dressed before Aokbab returned to drag her out.

Ten minutes later, they were outside, with Rin pacing slightly ahead of Aokbab. The duration of their morning runs had increased significantly. From Rin barely managing twenty minutes initially, she could now run forty five minutes with ease. The twenty minutes that used to feel like torture felt like nothing now. Rin silently thanked Aokbab for that progress.

They were now on their way back to Rin's apartment. Rin walked with light steps, whistling softly, her mood was exceptionally good this morning.

Remembering something, Rin slowed her pace slightly. "I had a dream earlier." Rin started, prompting Aokbab to turn to her.

"What dream?" Aokbab asked, curious.

Rin hummed softly, recalling the details.

"I dreamed we were in a garden… I don't know where exactly, like a field of flowers." Rin explained, looking ahead.

"And I saw you there, picking flowers." Rin continued softly.

Aokbab chuckled softly at the story. Getting that reaction, Rin looked at her, eyebrows raised in confusion.

"Why are you laughing?" Rin asked.

Aokbab, still chuckling, looked at Rin with teasing eyes.

"Dreaming about me already, huh?" Aokbab teased, a smirk lingering on her lips.

Rin huffed playfully at Aokbab's teasing. She ignored her and quickened her pace.

Not getting a response, Aokbab was emboldened to tease her wife further.

"If you're starting to like me, just say so!" Aokbab called out louder, picking up her pace to match Rin's.

Hearing that, Rin walked even faster. The sound of Aokbab's melodic laughter echoed in her ears, a sound that made something inside Rin freeze in the most wonderful way.

—————

One afternoon, Rin and Aokbab were at the park by the lake near the apartment. Aokbab had suggested a sunset picnic, and Rin had readily agreed.

Rin sat beside Aokbab, closer than usual this time, their shoulders occasionally brushing.

That afternoon, they settled into their respective activities. Aokbab was reading a book, while Rin was engrossed in sketching beside her. A peaceful silence draped over them, but Rin genuinely enjoyed it.

Occasionally, Rin found herself stealing glances at Aokbab beside her. Aokbab was wearing the floral dress Rin had seen in her dream. Except this time, it wasn't a dream.

Unexpectedly, Aokbab rested her head against Rin's shoulder. Rin straightened her back slightly, tilting her head so Aokbab could rest comfortably.

Aokbab glanced at Rin's hands, busy sketching. "What are you drawing?"

Rin tilted her sketchbook so Aokbab could see it clearly. Aokbab nodded softly and returned to her reading.

"Remember when I first approached you here?" Aokbab asked, looking at Rin out of the corner of her eye.

Rin groaned softly, covering her face with her sketchbook. Why did Aokbab have to bring that up?

A subtle smile touched Aokbab's lips.

"You tried to kick me out back then, remember?" Aokbab teased further.

"Jie... that was before I knew you!" Rin defended herself quickly.

Then Rin remembered something. "Where did you go after that anyway? I remember seeing you sleeping on the lobby sofa the next morning in the exact same clothes."

Aokbab hummed, recalling the day.

"I just walked around the area. I remember meeting a stranger who gave me fruit and water, they probably felt sorry for me looking like a lost dog." Aokbab recalled, smiling softly.

Rin burst out laughing. "To be fair, you did look like a lost dog."

Aokbab narrowed her eyes playfully.

"Didn't you think I was your stalker back then?" Aokbab brought up Rin's initial impression.

Rin chuckled softly. "Who wouldn't think you were a stalker if you suddenly appeared in their bedroom, knowing their door passcode?" Rin argued softly, glancing at Aokbab.

"Imagine how terrified I was." Rin added dramatically.

Aokbab rolled her eyes playfully at Rin's dramatic tone.

"I was just trying to prove to you that I really was your wife from the future." Aokbab murmured softly.

"Yeah, yeah, I believe you now," Rin said, nudging Aokbab's arm gently.

The sun was no longer blazing hot, its golden light filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows across the park. The air felt cooler, and a gentle breeze off the lake touched Rin's skin.

The lake before them was calm, its surface rippling softly under the breeze, reflecting the golden sunset.

Rin was focused on her drawing when she remembered something.

"Jie," Rin called, earning a quiet hum from Aokbab.

"You don't like drawing, do you...?" Aokbab raised her head from her book, looking at Rin.

"Why do you think that?" Aokbab asked, curious why Rin assumed she didn't like drawing.

Rin shrugged. "I've just never seen you draw."

Aokbab bit her lower lip, holding back a smile.

"Hmm, I actually love drawing! You'll see my drawings when the time comes," Aokbab answered cryptically before returning to her book.

Rin furrowed her brows, always with the cryptic answers.

Rin turned to look at Aokbab at that exact moment. A soft breeze blew stray strands of hair across Aokbab's face. Without thinking, Rin instinctively reached out and tucked the hair behind Aokbab's ear.

Her hand lingered briefly near Aokbab's ear. The golden afternoon light illuminated Aokbab's features, making her look impossibly soft. Rin swallowed hard before pulling her hand back.

I have to capture this in a drawing, Rin thought.

"Jie, don't move." Rin instructed, finding the posture picture perfect. She turned fully toward Aokbab, her pencil already tracing soft lines on the paper.

"I'm not moving." Aokbab whispered, turning a page of her book.

"You just moved right there." Rin pointed out as Aokbab adjusted her hand.

Aokbab let out a soft sigh. "You want to draw me?" she asked, met with Rin's quick nod.

"My modeling fee is expensive, you know." Aokbab joked.

Rin paused her hand, staring in disbelief at Aokbab.

"Jie... ever since you crashed out into my apartment, I haven't charged you a single baht for rent." Rin retorted, determined not to lose the banter.

Aokbab turned to Rin, a cheeky smile playing on her lips.

"Well, I pay with my face card." Aokbab said, resting her chin on her palm and winking playfully at Rin.

Rin's breath hitched. In an instant, she completely forgot how to breathe.

—————

Rin smiled bitterly, instantly regretting her life choices. In front of her, Aokbab was staring up at her with big, soulful, hopeful eyes.

Damn it, Rin felt her resolve crumble under that look.

Rin cursed herself silently. Why was she so hopelessly weak against Aokbab's gaze? Her brain seemed to lose all function whenever Aokbab looked at her like that.

Rin rubbed her face. "But jie... you know I'm terrified of heights..." Rin pleaded weakly.

"I'll be right beside you! You can hold my hand the entire time!" Aokbab coaxed, holding out her hand to Rin.

"Please...? Pretty please…? Just this once..." Aokbab pleaded, tugging gently on Rin's shirt sleeve.

Rin swallowed her anxiety, glancing at the massive ferris wheel looming nearby.

Rin wanted to turn back time, thoroughly regretting bringing up the idea tonight.

For the past few days, Rin had been begging Aokbab to take her to the night market, driven by her desire to hunt for street food. Aokbab had firmly opposed it at first. Refusing to give up, Rin tried everything until Aokbab finally caved.

Rin's efforts paid off, and Aokbab agreed to go that very evening.

After indulging in endless street food until their stomachs were completely full, Aokbab suggested riding the ferris wheel. Rin had flatly refused.

But being stared at so pleadingly by Aokbab made Rin's knees go weak. Weak from the terrifying thought of being suspended high above the ground in a tiny cabin, and weak under Aokbab's irresistible gaze.

Rin gave a defeated nod, unable to bring herself to say no. Someone please remind her never to give in so easily to a woman with gorgeous eyes.

Aokbab cheered happily when Rin finally agreed, immediately pulling Rin by the hand toward the ticket booth and queue.

Rin allowed herself to be dragged along, cursing her own weak willpower. She deeply regretted coming to the night market.

While Aokbab was brimming with excitement, Rin felt all the color drain from her face. Noticing this, Aokbab held Rin's hand tightly, offering gentle squeezes to soothe her nerves. Rin could only offer a weak, nervous smile.

In moments like these, time seemed to move twice as fast. Rin's feet paused before stepping into the ferris wheel cabin, she contemplated making a run for it. But before she could execute her escape, Aokbab pulled her inside and guided her to the seat across from her.

As the ferris wheel began its slow upward ascent, Rin instinctively closed her eyes shut, refusing to look outside. From the moment she sat down, her heart beat erratically, her hands and legs trembled, and a wave of nausea washed over her.

Then Rin felt Aokbab gently take her white knuckled hands—which were gripping her pants—and wrap her fingers around Rin's hands securely. The warmth radiating from Aokbab's grip eased Rin's panic slightly, though the terror didn't fully vanish.

"Try opening your eyes. The view from up here is gorgeous." Aokbab urged gently.

Rin shook her head rapidly, keeping her eyes shut. Aokbab squeezed Rin's hand softly, trying to convince her it wasn't as terrifying as she imagined.

Frustratingly, even with her eyes closed, Rin could feel Aokbab's tender gaze locked onto her.

Gathering what little courage she had left, Rin squeezed Aokbab's hand tightly and slowly fluttered her eyes open, adjusting to her surroundings.

"See? Isn't it beautiful from up here?" Aokbab asked proudly, thrilled that she had gotten Rin to open her eyes and enjoy the glittering city lights below.

Rin nodded. Aokbab was right, the view from above was truly breathtaking. But Rin's gaze—which had been terrified to look out—found itself anchored completely on Aokbab. It was as if an invisible magnet pulled her focus straight to the woman sitting opposite her. Her wind ruffled hair, her nose slightly flushed from the cold air, her luminous, tear bright eyes, her lips curved into a smile that made the corners of her eyes crinkle... everything about her looked divine to Rin. Truly beautiful and impossible to forget.

—————

It was past four in the afternoon when Rin finally emerged from her bedroom. Her hair was messy, her oversized white t-shirt slipping off one shoulder. Her cheek still bore the faint impression of her pillow. Rin paused in the doorway of the living room, rubbing her eyes while trying to remember why she had forced herself awake from her nap on a weekend.

Before her thoughts could assemble, her nose caught a sweet aroma, like warm melted butter. Her stomach reacted first, growling loudly for food. Rin followed her nose straight into the kitchen.

In front of her, Aokbab stood at the dining counter with her back turned. Her hair was tied in a loose low ponytail, stray strands framing her neck. Rin's eyes drifted to the counter, which held two plates, a container of fresh strawberries, and a stack of warm pancakes.

"Jie... did you make pancakes?" Rin asked, her voice raspy from sleep.

At the sound of Rin's voice, Aokbab turned around, a sweet smile gracing her lips.

"Hi, sleephead. Are you awake?" Aokbab greeted warmly before turning back to the counter, as if Rin's appearance like this was an everyday occurrence.

Well, maybe it was. After all, Aokbab had been living under her roof for several weeks now.

Rin nodded lazily and walked over to the counter. She reached out to grab a piece of pancake before even thinking to ask for permission.

Aokbab lightly swatted Rin's hand. "Go wash your hands first," she scolded gently.

Rin let out a dramatic sigh and hurried to the sink to wash her hands. She quickly darted back to the counter and reached for the pancake again.

Aokbab swatted her hand again, making Rin groan in frustration.

"Jie...? What now?" Rin complained, pouting because Aokbab kept thwarting her attempts to sample the food.

Aokbab chuckled softly. "Careful, it's hot."

Rin rolled her eyes and popped the piece into her mouth anyway. The pancake was no longer burning hot, just warm. Rin hummed in satisfaction, the sweetness was perfect for her palate, the edges slightly crisp, leaving a rich buttery aftertaste.

Rin nodded in approval, thoroughly enjoying Aokbab's cooking. "Not bad," she rated softly.

Aokbab glanced at her. "Does 'not bad' mean good?"

"It means not bad." Rin corrected quickly.

Aokbab raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that the same thing?"

Rin shrugged. "Nope, totally different." Aokbab could only shake her head fondly.

Rin picked up another piece. "How did you know I like pancakes made like this?" Rin asked between bites.

A playful smirk touched Aokbab's lips. "Of course I know. I'm your wife," she stated casually. Rin rolled her eyes again. Asking Aokbab questions was useless, she would always flaunt her status as Rin's future wife.

They ate across from each other at the counter. The late afternoon sun cast golden light across the floor and Rin's feet. From outside came the faint hum of traffic, mixed with the quiet drone of the air conditioner.

Aokbab pushed a small plate of fresh strawberries toward Rin, who accepted it happily.

Rin picked up a strawberry and bit into it. The juice dripped down the corner of her mouth, a stray droplet landing near her lip.

Before Rin could wipe it away, Aokbab's thumb reached out and wiped the juice from the corner of Rin's mouth, then casually licked the sweet liquid off her thumb.

Rin froze instantly, her eyes widening at Aokbab's fluid, natural gesture, as if it were something she did constantly. Rin swallowed hard as she watched Aokbab's lips part, her tongue licking the strawberry juice off her thumb. Rin's cheeks flushed hot. Without realizing it, Rin ran her tongue over her own lips, which suddenly felt dry. She quickly looked away, trying to escape Aokbab's gaze, especially how those plump lips parted and—oh, stop it! Rin cursed herself internally.

Aokbab realized the weight of her action a second later when she noticed Rin staring at her in shock, mouth slightly open, cheeks flushed red. Aokbab cleared her throat awkwardly.

"Sorry... force of habit." Aokbab murmured softly, her voice barely audible.

Rin closed her eyes briefly before nodding. "It's okay..." she replied just as quietly.

Aokbab pushed a napkin box toward Rin without another word. Rin stared at the napkins for a moment before using one to clean her fingers.

Small moments like this had been happening frequently. Aokbab knew Rin's quirks by heart. Knowing Rin used the same glass all afternoon, knowing Rin forgot to eat when hyperfocused on work, knowing Rin's stray socks always ended up under the couch.

Strangely, Rin had begun noticing little details about Aokbab too. Rin knew Aokbab drank tons of water after eating sweet food, knew Aokbab stepped onto the balcony whenever she felt stuffy, knew Aokbab spun the ring on her finger whenever she was deep in thought.

Unable to endure the heavy silence between them, Rin shifted her chair back.

"Do you want some tea...?" She offered Aokbab.

Ever since Aokbab advised Rin to cut back on coffee, Rin had switched to tea as a replacement.

Aokbab looked up and offered a warm smile. "Sure," she answered simply.

Rin nodded and went into the kitchen to prepare two cups of tea. Returning with the cups, she found Aokbab sitting comfortably on the sofa. Rin handed Aokbab her tea before sitting beside her.

Taking a sip of her tea, Rin set her cup on the coffee table and pulled her laptop onto her lap. With the laptop open and Aokbab turning the TV on low volume, neither of them spoke. Only the low murmur of the TV and the rhythmic tapping of Rin's keyboard filled the room.

Rin then felt something brush against her knee. Looking down, she saw Aokbab pulling a throw blanket from the corner of the sofa and casually draping it over Rin's legs too.

Rin looked down before speaking up. "I'm not cold," she said softly.

Aokbab offered a brief glance. "I know, but your feet are cold," she stated with absolute certainty.

Rin raised her brows in surprise, feeling her own feet under the blanket. Oh... they really are cold.

Aokbab said nothing more, focusing on the TV. Rin returned to her screen, a subtle smile touching her lips without her realizing it.

Late afternoon faded into evening. The light outside grew dim, shadows creeping up the living room wall.

Rin shifted her position, her shoulder resting lightly against Aokbab's. Neither of them moved away, they remained glued together comfortably.

A few minutes later, Rin's eyelids felt heavy. Sleepiness washed over her again, this was because she had stayed up late last night.

Rin didn't realize when her hands stopped typing. What she knew was that when she opened her eyes again, her laptop was closed on the table.

And she realized her head was resting comfortably on Aokbab's shoulder. Realizing this, Rin wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say. So she chose to stay quiet. Aokbab beside her didn't seem to notice Rin had woken up from her brief nap.

Rin watched as Aokbab carefully adjusted the blanket higher over their laps, moving gently as if afraid of waking Rin.

Rin finally turned her attention to the TV screen without really absorbing the show. She just needed a moment to gather her thoughts.

I should move away, Rin thought. I should lift my head off her shoulder. That's what her mind yelled at her. But the sofa was warm, the blanket cozy, and Aokbab's shoulder surprisingly comfortable.

So Rin adjusted her head slightly, finding an even cozier position. Aokbab said nothing, she simply tilted her head slightly so Rin could rest more comfortably. Rin closed her eyes again.

For now, maybe it was okay. After all, Aokbab didn't seem to mind.

Rin didn't know why Aokbab's shoulder felt so comfortable, as if it possessed its own magnetic pull. Rin didn't know why her chest warmed up so often at Aokbab's small gestures. Rin didn't know how to explain the unfamiliar feeling slowly blooming in the quiet spaces between these small moments. Rin didn't want to overthink it.

All Rin knew was one thing. Lately, having Aokbab around made her life feel immeasurably better. A distinct warmth filled her chest whenever she saw Aokbab welcoming her home on the couch. A feeling of completeness that made her feel whole.

And for reasons she wasn't ready to examine too closely, Rin was beginning to fall in love with it.

—————

Night hadn't fallen too late yet, evident by the fact that neither Rin nor Aokbab had headed to bed. They were still engrossed in the show playing before them.

The TV remained on, its volume too low to decipher clearly. The shifting screen light reflected off their faces, while a small lamp in the corner cast a cozy glow across the apartment.

Rin didn't know when she and Aokbab had ended up sitting so close. Their thighs pressed together, Aokbab's shoulder touching hers. Every time either of them shifted, their clothes brushed softly.

Rin stared at the screen without really watching. Her hand rested on the sofa cushion between them. Then she felt Aokbab's fingertips brush against hers. Rin didn't pull away, she allowed Aokbab's hand to stay there.

Aokbab touched her hand again, holding it a few seconds longer. Aokbab's fingers traced the back of Rin's hand before intertwining a finger with Rin's.

Rin looked down at their joined hands. A sudden warmth blossomed in her chest watching their fingers naturally mesh together. Rin slowly flipped her hand over, bringing their palms fully together.

Rin lifted her head and found Aokbab looking right at her. Their eyes met, locked in a gaze that made Rin forget how to act natural. Rin suddenly became acutely aware of how dangerously close they were sitting.

Without warning, Aokbab raised her other hand and brushed back a stray strand of hair falling over Rin's face. Her fingertips lingered near Rin's ear before sliding gently down to her jawline.

Rin held her breath, terrified that any sudden movement would break the delicate spell woven between them. Rin's eyes drifted down to Aokbab's lips, the very lips that had haunted her thoughts ever since the strawberry incident. Rin swore she wasn't a pervert or had bad intentions toward Aokbab, but her mind couldn't stop replaying how casually Aokbab had licked her own thumb.

To hell with everything, Rin couldn't think straight anymore! Blame Aokbab for driving her completely insane.

"Jie, can I kiss you...?" Rin's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes rising to meet Aokbab's again.

Aokbab didn't answer immediately, her eyes dropped briefly to Rin's lips before returning to her eyes. Aokbab let out a soft sigh.

"I don't mind," Aokbab said softly, a faint smile gracing her lips. "After all, you're still the exact same person." Aokbab paused, appearing to weigh her words. "Though I don't know about you," she added casually.

Rin knit her brows slightly, confused. "What do you mean?"

Aokbab didn't answer Rin's question, instead, she maintained steady eye contact with Rin.

Rin took Aokbab's silence as an implicit answer. Aokbab hadn't said yes directly, but it was enough for Rin to know Aokbab wouldn't pull away if Rin closed the distance.

So Rin shifted her body slightly, closing the gap between them until almost none remained. Her hand, still held in Aokbab's, shifted until their fingers intertwined completely.

At such close proximity, Rin could feel the warmth radiating from Aokbab's palm. Slowly, Rin leaned in toward Aokbab, taking her time, leaving ample opportunity for Aokbab to pull back if she wished. But Aokbab remained still.

Their warm breaths mingled first. Rin gathered the last of her courage to look into Aokbab's eyes once more, finding that same tender gaze waiting for her.

A split second later, Rin felt their lips touch. Soft at first, so brief that Rin almost thought she had imagined it.

As Rin began to pull back slightly, Aokbab's fingers on her jawline shifted gently, holding her in place. The gesture was extraordinarily gentle, devoid of force, a subtle invitation drawing Rin back in.

The second kiss lasted longer. Rin felt Aokbab's breathing shift, growing slightly heavier. Their intertwined hands shifted, Aokbab's fingers lacing through Rin's and squeezing tightly.

Rin held her breath as Aokbab leaned closer, eliminating every remaining inch between them.

The TV continued playing in the background, the AC hummed quietly, the world outside went on as usual, but Rin no longer cared about any of it.

When they finally parted by a few centimeters, Rin could still feel Aokbab's warm breath on her face. They opened their eyes at the same time, locking eyes once more.

Rin felt her cheeks burning hot, making Aokbab smile fondly at her expression.

Then, driven by an irresistible impulse, Rin closed the distance first. Their lips met again, this time free of any lingering hesitation.

Rin's hand kept holding Aokbab's, her fingers relaxing as Aokbab leaned closer. Their knees pressed together, Rin's shoulders pressed back against the couch cushions. Rin tilted her head, deepening the kiss.

Aokbab matched Rin's pace unhurriedly. One of her hands remained on the side of Rin's face, her thumb gently caressing Rin's cheek. Her other hand moved from Rin's fingers to her waist, resting there as if waiting for Rin's reaction.

Rin stole a breath between kisses, her hand rising to Aokbab's shoulder. Her fingers gripped the fabric of Aokbab's shirt as Aokbab pulled her closer, pressing their bodies together completely.

Their kiss broke briefly, making Rin open her eyes. Aokbab was still so close, the tips of their noses touching. Their breathing was heavy, their chests rising and falling as they caught their breath.

Aokbab's thumb traced Rin's lower lip, causing Rin instinctively to part her lips and gently suck on her thumb. Aokbab caught her breath, letting out a soft laugh, though her eyes darkened with passion and a deep craving for Rin's touch.

"Are you okay?" Aokbab asked softly, her voice raspy and deep.

Rin nodded, her mouth playfully suckling Aokbab's thumb. After satisfied playing with it, Rin pulled Aokbab back down for another kiss. That move made Aokbab smile against her lips.

Rin kissed Aokbab again, deeper, longer, until her own breathing grew ragged. Rin's hand on Aokbab's shoulder slid up to the back of her neck, fingers threading through Aokbab's hair.

Aokbab exhaled softly, her hand on Rin's waist tightening slightly. That simple touch prompted Rin to shift instinctively, climbing onto Aokbab's lap, straddling the older woman. Her lips parted, allowing their tongues to meet. Rin tilted her head, finding the perfect angle for their passion.

Soft gasps escaped simultaneously from Rin and Aokbab as they sank into the peak of pleasure that only their kiss could provide. Rin heard nothing except the sound of soft kisses and breathy gasps filling the room that was previously dominated by the TV's quiet chatter.

Surrendering to the intimacy, Rin boldly captured Aokbab's tongue, sucking it gently before sliding her own tongue deep into Aokbab's mouth.

The faint TV sound was completely drowned out by their quiet moans and eager gasps as they devoured each other's lips passionately, as though their very lives depended on it.

Rin opened her eyes for a second, catching Aokbab staring at her. That look sent a wave of intense heat through her face. Realizing her position straddling Aokbab, her face flushed even darker.

Rin felt Aokbab's fingertips touch the side of her neck. The touch was light, sliding slowly up behind Rin's ear and resting there.

Rin could feel her own erratic heartbeat. She was certain Aokbab could hear it too, given how closely they were entwined. Rin leaned in again instinctively. Aokbab met her halfway, lifting her head slightly, and Rin closed her eyes as their lips sealed together once more.

Rin's hand behind Aokbab's neck gripped tighter, as if holding Aokbab close, refusing to let her pull away even a millimeter.

Outside the window, car headlights moved in streaks through the dark night. Inside the apartment, only the ambient glow of the ignored TV illuminated the room.

Rin lost track of what show was playing, all she knew was her body pressed against Aokbab's, Aokbab's warm hands anchoring her waist tightly, and their breathing becoming impossible to distinguish.

When Aokbab finally pulled back to catch her breath, Rin's hand held her close, refusing to let her go far. Their foreheads rested together, and Rin let out a soft laugh, her breathing still erratic.

The woman beneath her was truly incredible. She had the power to make Rin lose all composure under her touch and kisses. Rin was falling hopelessly insane. She felt she finally understood one of the reasons her future self had married Aokbab.

Rin leaned in and kissed the tip of Aokbab's nose softly, lingering there for several seconds.

That simple gesture caused Aokbab to close her eyes, letting out a long, shuddering sigh. Her Rin really hadn't changed at all.

—————

That afternoon, the small kitchen in Rin's apartment felt noticeably tighter with two people standing inside it.

Aokbab was busy at the counter against the wall, one hand stirring a small pot while the other occasionally reached for ingredients lined up near the stove.

Rin stood a short distance away, watching Aokbab fully immersed in her cooking. Rin was reluctant to admit it out loud, but Aokbab looked incredibly attractive while cooking. Her hair was loosely tied back, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, with faint beads of sweat glistening on her temple from the heat of the stove. Rin hadn't realized that the simple act of cooking could look so captivating when Aokbab did it.

For the first few minutes, Rin stood quietly observing her. Then her hand reached for a bottle of soy sauce near Aokbab's elbow, holding it up in front of her.

"Do you need this?" Rin asked, shaking the bottle slightly.

Aokbab glanced at it and shook her head softly. Rin nodded and placed the bottle back down. A few seconds later, Rin picked up the exact same bottle.

"What about now?" she asked again.

Aokbab stopped stirring. "I already told you no." Aokbab said softly.

Rin put the bottle back, and Aokbab resumed cooking.

Rin studied Aokbab's side profile, tilting her head. Aokbab offered no reaction, only the rhythmic sound of her wooden spoon hitting the side of the pot.

Rin extended her hand and poked Aokbab's arm with a finger. That made Aokbab turn, raising an eyebrow. "What?" Aokbab asked curtly.

Rin just shook her head, making Aokbab let out a soft sigh before turning back to the pot. Aokbab resumed stirring, while Rin leaned her back against the wall beside the counter.

Rin fixed her full attention on Aokbab, watching her hands move, her eyes lingering on the hair falling across Aokbab's face. Without overthinking, Rin reached out and tucked the hair behind Aokbab's ear. Aokbab glanced at her, murmuring a quiet thank you. Rin offered a warm smile in return.

Rin stood there with her arms crossed. She was getting bored, she didn't know what to do. Seeing Aokbab completely hyperfocused on cooking made Rin want to bother her even more. Rin puffed out her cheeks, plotting how to steal Aokbab's attention.

Sensing her gaze, Aokbab paused her work, turning a tired look toward Rin.

"Are you bored?" Aokbab guessed, knowing Rin's antics inside out whenever she was bored.

Rin tilted her head, a smirk touching her lips. "Nope," she quickly denied.

Rin leaned her body close to Aokbab, bringing her head level with Aokbab's. Rin pointed to her cheek, presenting it in front of Aokbab's face.

"Kiss my cheek first, and I promise I won't disturb you anymore." Rin bargained, still tapping her cheek.

Aokbab let out a quiet sigh, bringing her face within inches of Rin's cheek. Feeling Aokbab's breath get closer, Rin closed her eyes while holding back a smirk. She was secretly planning to turn her face at the last second so Aokbab's lips would land directly on hers.

Instead of soft lips, Rin felt a sharp, painful flick from Aokbab's finger right on her temple. Startled, Rin yelped in pain. She instinctively stumbled back a step, eyes glaring at Aokbab while her palm immediately rubbed her stinging temple.

"Jie?!?!!" Rin protested indignantly. The offender was already back to stirring her pot, laughing triumphantly.

"You almost cracked my skull!" Rin complained loudly, rubbing her temple, her lips pouting in dramatic outrage at Aokbab's flick.

Aokbab glanced at her, laughing. "Don't be so dramatic."

Rin stared at her in disbelief, how cruel!

"I asked for a kiss, not a forehead flick." Rin grumbled quietly, giving Aokbab a flat glare.

"Go wait at the dining table if you don't want another flick." Aokbab commanded, sounding like a stern threat.

Rin exhaled in defeat. "Fine, fine. So mean to your own wife!" Rin grumbled, stomping her feet dramatically as she turned toward the dining table to make her annoyance known.

Don't think Rin was going to give up that easily! Just wait, she wasn't going to let Aokbab off the hook. Rin made sure Aokbab would pay for what she did.

—————

Rin sat in front of her computer, her complete focus anchored on the 3D building render on her screen. Her head bobbed up and down to the beat of the music playing in the background, her lips humming along to the lyrics of her favorite artist.

Rin glanced sideways when she felt Aokbab's presence beside her. A quick smile touched her lips before her focus returned to the monitor.

"Let me take you to bed," Aokbab coaxed gently, checking the clock beside Rin's monitor, it was getting late, well past Rin's bedtime.

"You go ahead, jie... I need to finish this up first," Rin declined softly.

"It's really late. What time do you plan on sleeping?" Aokbab tried to persuade her further.

"Just a little longer, okay?" Rin bartered softly, stealing a glance at Aokbab, whose expression was firm. "Don't worry, I'll still wake up early for our morning run." Rin added softly, trying to ease her worry.

"It's not about the run, Rin..." Aokbab let out a soft sigh. "This isn't good for your health." Aokbab said gently, trying to make Rin understand the long term toll.

Seeing no response from Rin, Aokbab's patience wore thin. She hated it when Rin intentionally ignored her like this. She reached out and grabbed Rin's hand, forcing Rin to listen to her.

"Finish it tomorrow morning, okay?" she coaxed softly.

"I can't, jie... the deadline is coming up. I have to finish it tonight." Rin replied, her focus disrupted by Aokbab's persistence.

"Rin... just listen to me this once." Aokbab pleaded softly.

Rin exhaled an annoyed breath.

"Listen to what, jie...? Haven't I been listening to you all this time? I always do!" Rin retorted, becoming slightly defensive.

The soft music played in the background, creating a sharp contrast with the suffocating tension building between them.

"You control everything, and I always go along with it! What I eat, when I sleep, what I do." Rin muttered under her breath.

Aokbab let out a long sigh. She didn't want to fight with Rin, especially not tonight.

"Rin... you know I don't mean to control your life," Aokbab explained softly. "I do all of this for your own good..." Aokbab said, gazing tenderly at Rin, who was still glued to her computer.

Rin narrowed her eyes at Aokbab's explanation. "For my own good?" Rin repeated skeptically, checking if she had heard correctly. "And you call that not controlling my life?" Rin asked, her patience running completely dry. Aside from ruining her concentration, Aokbab was actively hindering her work now.

Rin let out a harsh sigh, leaned back in her chair, and locked eyes with Aokbab.

"Listen here, jie..." Rin looked Aokbab dead in the eye. "Not a single person in this world gets to boss me around, including you." Rin declared firmly, pointing a finger at Aokbab.

Rin saw Aokbab's eyes widen at her harsh words. Tears pooled instantly in the older woman's eyes, Rin knew a single blink would send them cascading down her face.

Rin averted her gaze, unwilling to look at those tears. She knew her words had wounded Aokbab deeply, and an uncomfortable knot formed in her chest knowing she had broken her own promise. She knew she was being driven by blind frustration, yet she couldn't stop the harsh words from spilling out. She needed to vent.

"You of all people should know exactly how painful it is to lose a mother, Rin..." Aokbab said quietly, almost whispering to herself.

Rin snapped her head up at Aokbab's words, confused and angered that Aokbab had suddenly dragged her deceased mother into the argument.

"What is your problem? Why are you suddenly bringing my mom into this?" Rin said sharply, her tone rising.

"You of all people should know what it feels like to lose someone you love!" Aokbab retorted just as quickly, her breathing heavy as her chest heaved up and down.

"If you really want to leave me, if you want to die first, fine! Go ahead!" Aokbab cried out, tears bursting down her face.

Rin lost all her words. It felt as though a bucket of ice water had been poured directly over her head upon hearing Aokbab's words. Die first? Does that mean... the future her passed away...? Is that why Aokbab came back to the past? To save her from dying?

Before Rin's brain could process Aokbab's heartbreaking confession, Aokbab's voice pierced the air again.

"You only need to know one thing," Aokbab paused to catch her breath, pointing her finger at Rin, tears streaming continuously down her face.

Rin lowered her head, shaking it weakly. Rin didn't want to see those tears anymore, she didn't want to be the cause behind Aokbab's heartbreaking sorrow, she didn't want to hear whatever horrific truth Aokbab was about to speak next. She was terrified of what was coming.

"Don't you dare come into my life, don't you dare get close to me, and don't you even dare make me fall hopelessly in love with you if you're just going to die first!" Aokbab cried out in a single breath.

Aokbab turned her face away, sobs racking her body.

Rin froze in her chair. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to do. The background music sounded muffled now, replaced by the heartbreaking sound of Aokbab's heavy sobs filling the room.

Rin lifted her head, looking at Aokbab, who refused to look back at her. Seeing Aokbab weeping, Rin felt her own heart break into pieces. She cursed herself internally. Then her eyes caught a dark red fluid streaming from Aokbab's nose. Aokbab was having a severe nosebleed.

Rin immediately bolted up from her chair, approaching Aokbab. "Jie..." she called out softly.

Aokbab turned her head slowly toward her right before her body collapsed, losing consciousness completely.

Rin's hands reacted instantly, catching Aokbab's body before she could slam into the hard floor.

—————

Rin sat limply on the floor, her back resting against the side of her mattress, occasionally glancing at Aokbab, who was still unconscious.

Rin's bedroom felt quieter than ever. The soft music had been turned off the moment Aokbab fainted. All that remained was the quiet hum of the air conditioner and Aokbab's faint breathing coming from the bed.

Rin still didn't know what to do. She had been sitting there, occasionally checking if Aokbab's chest was still rising and falling, before returning her gaze to the floor. Their argument kept replaying in her mind, especially that one sentence that felt so surreal every time she remembered it.

She was going to die first—more specifically, die at a young age.

Rin swallowed hard, her throat feeling bone dry.

Rin didn't know whether to feel terrified or furious. All she knew was that ever since Aokbab said those words, something inside her had irrevocably shifted. It felt as though a hidden chapter of her life had been ripped open against her will, forcing her to look at something she wasn't remotely prepared to face.

Rin lifted her head again, Aokbab remained still in the same position. Her hair was slightly messy, a few strands clinging to her forehead with sweat. Her face looked far paler than usual.

Rin studied that face for a long time until her eyes stopped beneath Aokbab's nose. Dried blood was caked there.

Rin furrowed her brows, her hands instinctively grabbing a tissue from the nightstand. She pulled out a sheet, then sat on the edge of the mattress. Carefully, she began wiping away the dried blood beneath Aokbab's nose.

The moment the tissue touched her skin, Aokbab winced slightly, as if feeling the physical contact.

Rin froze immediately. "I'm sorry, jie..." she whispered tenderly.

Aokbab didn't move again, remaining deep in unconsciousness.

Rin looked down at the blood stained tissue in her hand. The deep red color triggered a sudden memory.

The first time she had seen Aokbab have a nosebleed, the woman had been completely nonchalant about it. They were outside at the time, and Rin couldn't even remember what they were discussing. All she recalled was Aokbab suddenly falling silent mid conversation.

At the time, Rin hadn't thought much of it. She assumed Aokbab was just lost in thought. After all, Aokbab did that often, suddenly falling quiet, her eyes going blank for a few seconds, before resuming the conversation as if nothing happened.

But then Aokbab had raised her hand, touching the area beneath her nose. That was when Rin saw the dark red fluid on Aokbab's fingertips.

"Jie..." Rin had warned softly upon noticing the nosebleed.

Hearing her name, Aokbab had looked up at Rin.

"Your nose..." Rin had pointed out softly.

Aokbab had followed Rin's gaze. Seeing the blood on her fingers, Aokbab had simply laughed off the incident, grabbed a tissue from her bag, wiped the blood away, and casually resumed talking to Rin.

Rin remembered monitoring Aokbab closely several times afterward. At the time, she hadn't given it deep thought. Perhaps Aokbab was simply prone to nosebleeds, or exhausted, or hadn't eaten properly. There were plenty of plausible excuses back then.

But now, looking at Aokbab's pale face before her, a heavy knot tightened in Rin's chest. Rin took a deep breath, and another memory surfaced unbidden.

The second time Rin caught Aokbab having a nosebleed.

They were in the bedroom at night, Aokbab was sitting on the edge of the mattress looking at something on Rin's phone. Rin was searching for a charger among the clutter on her desk when she suddenly heard Aokbab’s voice.

"Ah, shit!" Aokbab had grumbled softly. Hearing her curse out of nowhere, Rin instinctively turned around.

Aokbab was already covering her nose with her palm. Rin could see blood dripping through Aokbab's fingers, much more this time. A few drops had already fallen onto the tissue Aokbab hurriedly grabbed.

Rin remembered rushing to Aokbab's side, her heart pounding erratically, even though she didn't know why.

"Nosebleed again...?" Aokbab had simply nodded weakly in response to Rin's question.

"Don't look at me like that," Aokbab had said quietly.

"Like what?" Rin had asked, confused.

"Like I'm going to die," Aokbab had answered casually, a faint smirk touching her lips.

Rin had furrowed her brows, Aokbab had actually laughed after saying that. Rin was baffled, what was funny about that? The joke didn't feel funny at all, even now.

Rin lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously crumpling the tissue in her hand.

Rin remembered vividly how Aokbab's hand had been trembling slightly that night. At the time, Rin assumed it was because of the blood loss. Now, looking back, it felt completely different. Rin realized Aokbab had been terrified that night.

Rin lifted her head again. Before she could ponder further, another memory resurfaced suddenly.

They were in the kitchen, Aokbab was standing beside her, rambling happily about something. Rin was pouring water into a glass when Aokbab suddenly stopped mid sentence. Her cheerful chatter ceased, replaced only by the sound of water pouring from the kettle.

Sensing something off, Rin turned to Aokbab and found her tilting her head back, one hand pressing firmly against her nose.

That time, Rin didn't even ask. She immediately grabbed tissues from the counter and handed them to Aokbab. Aokbab took the tissues, murmuring a quiet thank you.

A second later, the woman offered Rin a smile, a small smile that Rin hadn't thought much of at the time.

Now, Rin realized that smile was always the exact same. A smile that falsely claimed everything was fine. A smile meant to stop Rin from asking questions.

Rin's chest felt increasingly suffocated, she closed her eyes tightly. It hadn't been just once or twice, Rin lost count of how many times she had seen Aokbab suffer nosebleeds and let it slide because the woman always acted as if there was nothing to worry about.

Rin opened her eyes, her gaze fixing on Aokbab. Her hand moved again, pulling a fresh tissue. This time, she cleaned the blood beneath Aokbab's nose with extreme care. Her fingertips nearly brushed Aokbab's skin, making Rin hold her breath. She only exhaled after ensuring no trace of blood remained on Aokbab's pale skin.

"What is actually happening to you?" Rin asked softly. Her question vanished into the quiet air of the room.

Rin had no idea what was happening to Aokbab's body. She had no clue what happened to a person who suddenly existed in a timeline that didn't belong to them.

Maybe Aokbab's body was struggling to adapt. Maybe something was fundamentally wrong. Or maybe it had nothing to do with time travel at all.

Rin didn't know. All she knew was that Aokbab always insisted she was completely fine. Yet looking back, the woman had never truly looked fine at all.

Rin pulled the blanket higher, covering Aokbab's shoulders. Her hand lingered there. A soothing warmth radiated from Aokbab's body through the blanket fabric. Rin stood frozen for several seconds, staring down at her own hand.

Rin didn't know when or how it started. All she knew was that she had finally come to terms with the fact that she had fallen deeply in love with Aokbab. Realizing this meant Rin could no longer pretend to be blind to her feelings. And perhaps that was why all of this felt infinitely more terrifying.

Rin gazed at Aokbab's face again, she looked so peaceful. Far too peaceful for someone who had just revealed that Rin was going to die in the future.

Rin reached out, gently stroking Aokbab's hair away from her forehead.

"Wake up, jie..." Rin whispered softly, but no answer came from Aokbab.

Rin swallowed hard, her hand lingering in Aokbab's hair a few seconds longer before finally pulling away.

The room remained enveloped in silence. For the first time, Rin desperately prayed that Aokbab would open her eyes before her mind spiraled into too many dark places.

—————

Rin exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding when she saw Aokbab's eyelids flutter open again. It felt as though the crushing weight on her chest lifted the moment Aokbab regained consciousness. Her gaze softened immediately upon seeing Aokbab awaken. The blood from Aokbab's nose had long been cleaned by Rin. They were now lying on Rin's bed, Rin resting against the headboard with Aokbab cradled securely in her arms.

"Jie... are you okay?" Rin asked tenderly.

Aokbab offered a brief smile, shaking her head weakly.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Rin whispered softly right into Aokbab's ear.

Aokbab shook her head gently again. "It's not your fault, Rin. You don't need to apologize," Aokbab replied softly.

Rin tightened her hug around Aokbab. For some reason, Rin felt as though tonight might be her last night with Aokbab. She felt the moment of their separation drawing near. She felt time would soon tear them apart.

Rin glanced down at Aokbab's face, her brows knitting together as she noticed blood trickling from Aokbab's nose again.

"Jie, your nose is bleeding again." Rin said softly, her hand reaching toward the nightstand for a tissue, but Aokbab gently held her back. Rin looked at her in confusion.

"It's normal... they told me this would be the side effect," Aokbab said softly, trying to soothe Rin.

"They? Who are they?" Rin asked, growing even more bewildered.

"The ones who brought me here," Aokbab answered.

"So this nosebleed isn't going to stop?" Rin pressed again.

"Yeah... probably? All I know is they will pull me back once my body reaches its absolute limit." Aokbab explained softly, her hand holding Rin's hand that was wrapped around her waist.

"Why does it have to be like this? You could die, you know?" Rin protested weakly, terrified that whatever side effects Aokbab mentioned would end up killing her.

Aokbab offered a bittersweet smile. "In the future, you're already gone anyway." Aokbab said softly, her tone carrying a quiet grief.

Rin squeezed her eyes shut at those words. "Jie..." Rin groaned softly, hating how casually Aokbab spoke about death.

"Why didn't you tell me from the start that I was going to die?" Rin asked, looking down at Aokbab resting in her arms.

"Didn't you say it yourself? Healthy or not, everyone dies eventually." Aokbab quoted, mimicking Rin's earlier tone.

Rin exhaled heavily, deeply regretting her careless words, even if she hadn't meant them seriously.

"Honestly, I didn't want to tell you," Aokbab confessed, her fingers tracing Rin's hand.

Aokbab lifted her head, stealing a glance at Rin. "Imagine living healthy purely out of fear of dying," Aokbab smiled bitterly. "That would be a miserable way to live."

Rin met Aokbab's gaze, looking at her with absolute tenderness. "So you had given up earlier? That's why you finally said it?" Rin asked softly.

Aokbab shook her head gently. "I will never give up on you, Rin..." Aokbab stated firmly, her voice growing weaker.

"Besides, I would still do anything if it's for your own good." Aokbab continued.

Rin raised an eyebrow. "Jie... are you really that in love with me?" Rin teased, gently poking Aokbab's cheek.

Aokbab chuckled softly, nodding her head. "Yes... but sadly, my love lost to your stubbornness." Aokbab countered, poking the tip of Rin's nose in return.

Rin closed her eyes briefly, letting out a soft sigh while Aokbab adjusted her position comfortably in Rin's embrace.

"In that case, please give me one more chance to come into your life, to love you, and to be with you much longer." Rin whispered tenderly right into Aokbab's ear, as if asking permission from Aokbab, and from whatever forces brought her here, to grant them a reunion.

Aokbab closed her eyes, a radiant smile blooming across her face. Rin couldn't comprehend how, even in a state like this, Aokbab still looked breathtakingly beautiful in her eyes.

Rin spent the rest of the night watching over Aokbab. Taking in her slightly swollen eyes, her flushed nose, the dried blood on her pale skin, and that gorgeous smile Rin would never tire of seeing. Memorizing every detail of Aokbab in her heart and mind, before time inevitably claimed her away.