“How do I look?” Kyulkyung asked.

Instead of replying, SinB just glared at her like it was her fault that Nayoung suggested a double date that Yerin had agreed to. Even worse, SinB’s glare became harsher because she was here at Kyulkyung’s apartment to help her get ready because Yerin had told her to.

“Don’t give me that look,” Kyulkyung snapped. “It’s your girlfriend who dragged you into this, not me, so tell me if I look good or not.”

SinB rolled her eyes and replied, “The last four outfits have been fine.”

“I don’t want to look fine. I want to look amazing,” Kyulkyung retorted. “I want Nayoung to realize what she’s been missing out on.”

SinB sighed and rolled off Kyulkyung’s bed. She wandered into Kyulkyung’s closet before reappearing minutes later with a set of clothing hanging off each arm. “Do you want a more feminine look or masculine?” SinB asked.

Kyulkyung raised her eyebrows in surprise, not expecting SinB to stop whining and actually help her. She hesitated for a moment before deciding, “Feminine. We’re eating at some fancy restaurant, right?”

“Yeah,” SinB scoffed, “that’s what happens when you date attendings with way nicer paychecks than us.”

Kyulkyung laughed then asked, “Fine dining not your thing?”

“Nope,” SinB shook her head with a faint look of disgust on her face. “I don’t like having to wear dresses. Yerin doesn’t mind if I wear a suit, which is better, but I’m good with just going somewhere I can wear jeans and only use like two utensils, not three forks and six spoons for a meal the size of a penny.”

Kyulkyung laughed even harder at SinB’s vehement hatred toward fine dining, but she couldn’t blame her. Kyulkyung enjoyed the dressing up part, but she definitely agreed with SinB when it came to the six thousand utensils and tiny portion sizes.

“Thanks,” Kyulkyung said as she took the proffered clothes. “I’m a little less nervous now.”

“Just remember you probably can’t embarrass yourself more than me when it comes to fine dining,” SinB joked. She then waved Kyulkyung away, saying, “Get changed. I’ll be in your other bathroom, since I’ve got to change too.”

Kyulkyung did as she was told. As she changed, she couldn’t but think that SinB wasn’t as bad as she thought. Not only that, but she actually had a good taste in clothes. She’d chosen for Kyulkyung a form-fitting black lace dress that was off the shoulder. Kyulkyung had bought it a few years back for a New Years party she had ended up not going to. She honestly had forgotten it existed. After changing, Kyulkyung touched up her hair and make-up. She reapplied her red lipstick and made sure her curls were laying prettily.

When she saw movement out of the corner of her eye, Kyulkyung turned to see that SinB cleaned up well. SinB was pressed in slim black pants with a silky, dark green shirt tucked in and a matching black blazer.

“You don’t look half bad, Hwang,” Kyulkyung told her with a teasing grin.

Predictably, SinB rolled her eyes before replying smartly, “I look better than you.”

“Debatable,” Kyulkyung laughed.

The doorbell rang and SinB excused herself to answer it, telling Kyulkyung to finish getting ready while she did. Kyulkyung slipped on her favorite pair of red heels and grabbed her black clutch. She checked herself once more in the mirror before walking out of her bedroom.

In her living room, SinB was being fussed over Yerin who was messing with her shirt and blazer. The two made a striking couple, if Kyulkyung was being honest. SinB looked great and very girl crush in her suit while Yerin looked gorgeous and elegant in a matching green dress.

After admiring the couple, Kyulkyung’s eyes wandered over to Nayoung, and Kyulkyung felt herself give a little gasp. SinB suited the girl crush look, but for Kyulkyung, she couldn’t compare to Nayoung. Nayoung wore black pants with a simple white button-down and a pinstripe vest.

Yerin noticed Kyulkyung first, greeting her, “Hey, you look great.”

“She looks amazing,” SinB agreed with a teasing wink. “Right, Nayoung?”

“You look beautiful,” Nayoung amended with a small smile, and it took all of Kyulkyung’s willpower not to just swoon like a complete ditz. She glanced around the apartment and commented wryly, “It doesn’t feel like I’m in my own apartment, picking you up like this.”

Kyulkyung just laughed, still in disbelief of what was happening, but SinB spoke up instead, saying, “It’s a nice place, Nayoung.”

“Thanks,” Nayoung replied, “Kyulkyung decorated most of it. She’s got good tastes.”

SinB snorted at the unintentional innuendo, but she stopped when Yerin elbowed her.

“Let’s get going,” Nayoung said, oblivious to what had just happened. “We don’t want to be late for our reservation.”

Dinner went smoother than Kyulkyung expected. Yerin and SinB were a perfectly nice couple to have a double date with. Their banter was amusing, SinB made people feel comfortable, and Yerin was there to fill any awkward pauses. Kyulkyung couldn’t have asked for much else, but by the time the check was paid and everyone was walking out, Kyulkyung still didn’t know if this actually was a double date.

Nayoung had paid her compliments, but she always had. Nayoung let her try some of her food, but Kyulkyung always asked. Nayoung was completely gorgeous and charming, but Kyulkyung had always thought of her that way.

There was nothing that let Kyulkyung know exactly what as going on until SinB asked, “Want us to drop you off at your apartment?”

And Nayoung replied, “No thanks. I think we’ll grab a coffee and get a cab back.”

“Suit yourself,” SinB had said nonchalantly, but her eyes had been wide and questioning when she met Kyulkyung’s equally confused gaze. “Good night.”

Now, here Kyulkyung was, sitting across from Nayoung in a near empty coffee shop. Her coffee had gone cold, and she hadn’t even taken a sip. She was too wrapped up in her thoughts, and Nayoung said nothing to distract her from them.

As she watched Nayoung take a sip of her own coffee, Kyulkyung wondered where she’d be in five years. Would she still be pining over Nayoung? She’d been doing it for a year, and nothing good had come from it. Kyulkyung was beautiful and successful, and she knew she deserved more than unrequited love, but it was Nayoung.

Kyulkyung then wondered what would’ve happened if she hadn’t bumped into Nayoung at the hospital’s cafeteria the year before. Kyulkyung had to have a late lunch due to a surgery, meaning all of her friends had already eaten. To avoid the annoying guy from dermatology that was always hitting on her, Kyulkyung had taken the first available seat, which had been across from Nayoung.

Nayoung had thankfully gone along with Kyulkyung pretending them to be friends until the guy was gone, but what surprised Kyulkyung was that Nayoung had asked her to stay after helping her.

Kyulkyung had heard about the infamous Stone Nayoung, cold as ice, who never showed a shred of emotion. However, the Nayoung she’d met that day was quiet, sure, but kind and shy, a little awkward, and just completely captivating. Kyulkyung had known she was doomed the moment Nayoung had let a little smile slip.

“What are you thinking about?”

Kyulkyung startled out of her thoughts, blushing when she realized Nayoung was staring at her curiously. Taking a chance, Kyulkyung replied, “Us.”

Nayoung paused before asking, “What about us?”

“Where we’ll be in five years,” Kyulkyung replied. “If we’ll still be friends, if we’ll still be living together… Or if we’ll have drifted out of each other’s lives.”

“It won’t be that,” Nayoung said firmly, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t let that happen.”

Kyulkyung was surprised by the vehemence in Nayoung’s voice. She’d always assumed she was far more attached to Nayoung than Nayoung was to her.

“Kyulkyung, can I ask you something?” Nayoung asked, suddenly very serious.

“Always,” Kyulkyung replied, but she felt the way her heart raced.

Nayoung her lips nervously and hesitated. She gripped her coffee cup tightly before asking, “Do you want us to be something more?”

“More than what?" Kyulkyung said instead of answering. “More than roommates? More than friends?”

Nayoung frowned at the clear avoidance. She shook her head in frustration and said, “Don’t be purposely obtuse. You’re better than that.”

“And you’re better than a vague question,” Kyulkyung countered.

Nayoung sighed and stared down at her coffee. “Are you in love with me?”

Kyulkyung couldn’t help but laugh harshly at the blunt question. She buried her face in her hands before exclaiming, “God, Nayoung! You just had to ask it like that?”

“I can’t– I don’t want to love you,” Nayoung told her helplessly.

“Are you kidding me?” Kyulkyung shouted, tears filling her eyes as she stood up. Of all the things she expected Nayoung to ever say when rejecting her, she never thought she’d hear her say she didn’t want to love her. “You– I can’t believe you! So, what? You just knew I was in love with you all this time, and you thought it’d be fun to just string me along?”

“It’s not like that!” Nayoung protested, standing up too. She walked around the table and held Kyulkyung by the arms. “I never knew… just suspected, and I never meant to string out along. I just thought it was a harmless crush, something that would fade with time.”

“You’re such an idiot, Im Nayoung!” Kyulkyung snapped. “I’ve been in love with you since day one. Over a year I’ve loved you. You were never some harmless crush.”

“I never meant for this,” Nayoung said, sounding so hurt and confused that Kyulkyung was stuck between hugging her and slapping her. “You’re still young. You should be going out with Somi and Doyeon, drinking and having fun. You shouldn’t have to force yourself to stay at the apartment with me because I worry too much. You deserve better.”

“I do deserve better,” Kyulkyung scoffed. “I deserve better than you telling me what I do and don’t deserve.” She sighed and wiped away the tears that had fallen at some point in the conversation. She looked at Nayoung, suddenly feeling much older than her. “What do you feel for me? I don’t care about what you want or need or think. Do you love me?” It sounded despondent yet desperate, but Kyulkyung felt this was better than screaming herself hoarse.

Nayoung ever so gently tugged her into a hug that Kyulkyung couldn’t help but melt into. She just held her for a while before whispering, “I think I’ve been in love with you since day one too.”

“Really?” Kyulkyung asked, pulling away. She’d been so sure that Nayoung would’ve let them fade away for the sake of propriety and duty and what was supposedly right. “Do you really mean that?”

Nayoung smiled ever so slightly, and Kyulkyung felt like she was back in that cafeteria again.

“I love you, Kyulkyung.”