Hyewon walks out of the restroom, almost bumping into some students who are running late from their class – judging how noisy they are and how they are blaming one another for being tardy. She laughs to herself quietly and looks at the time – her shift will start at 7 in it was already 4 in the afternoon.

Her last class for that day is already finished which means she’s free as a bird, just then she saw someone in her peripheral vision. She turned in that direction and called the person.

“Wonyoungie!” Yeah, Hyewon surprisingly became closer to the younger girl due to the fact that Yujin keeps dragging her with them when they go out to eat lunch.

Wonyoung is just an endearing person, she could see why Yujin likes the latter. Frankly speaking, Hyewon was surprised that she easily became close to the younger girl – given that they have been talking to each other way before, but she knows that they became closer even more.

Maybe it was because that they would sometimes team up to tease Yujin whenever they were out together – yeah, no wonder they became close in such a short time. Watching Yujin suffer from all of their teasings is a great way to bond.

She approaches the younger girl as the latter waves at her – the enthusiastic energy that Wonyoung is radiating oddly reminds her of Sora. It made her smile even more.

“Unnie!” Wonyoung said and engulfed Hyewon into a tight hug – she got it from Yujin because that girl insisted that hugging Hyewon is the best way to greet the girl.

Of course, Wonyoung would do it every time they see each other, and Hyewon just got used to it.

Pulling away from the hug, Hyewon asks the younger girl regarding the movie night. “You’ll go to the movie night, right?”

Wonyoung nods her head with a huge smile, “Yeah, Yujin told me about it, of course I’d be there.”

“Okay, one quick question.” Hyewon said which earned a firm nod from Wonyoung. “Shoot.”

“Does Minju hates cleaning?”

Wonyoung blinked and laughed out loud, and it seems like Hyewon won’t like the answer. “I’m dead.” She whispered to herself but Wonyoung heard it clear enough.

“You are,” Wonyoung said without any pity, “that’s why I wondered how Yujin forced Minju-unnie to agree with the movie night in her apartment.”

“That cousin of mine hates cleaning, especially if the mess is done by others.”

With that, Wonyoung gave an apologetic? Encouraging? Hyewon doesn’t know, but she gave her a pat on the shoulder, saying that she still has classes and they should see each other on the movie night. Hyewon can only dumbly wave her hand to the younger girl, already thinking about the incoming mess that she brought upon herself – yes, herself.

She’s pretty sure Minju won’t help her with it, the girl seems adamant when she said it that morning.

Hyewon watches Wonyoung’s figure until the latter turned a corner before going on her own way, thinking her priorities first – which is the dinner she will cook for Minju that day. She has enough time to prepare a proper dinner for the younger girl, she quickly fishes out her phone and dialed Minju’s number.

“Oh, why did you call?”

It seems like Minju is not doing anything at the moment, given the calm voice of the girl through the phone. “Not stressed?”

“Not as stressed as this morning.”

Hyewon winced at the jab, she’s pretty sure that Minju is pertaining about her dumb decision that morning. “Come on, I’m here asking what dinner you want and you’ll bring that up. Again?”

She could hear a chuckle from the other side and it brought a small smile to her, this is probably the silliest thing that they could fight over – and they found entertainment from it.

“Bribing me with food? I didn’t know that you would stoop this low.” Hyewon could definitely hear the teasing tone and she’s sure that Minju is smirking from the other side.

“Okay, I’m gonna hang up. Just buy some takeout for – “

“We have chicken, right?”

Hyewon smiles to herself as she nods her head to someone she knows from one of her classes, “Yeah, chicken parmigiana?”

“Yeah, I might change my mind and help you clean then.”

“Deal. Gotta go, have fun working!” Hyewon said before hanging up and continued walking. A slight bounce on her step as she couldn’t wait to change Minju’s mind regarding the cleaning. Thinking about their banter earlier that morning, it’s weird that it made Hyewon a little bit happy – well maybe too much, because everyone pointed out that she was just smiling.

And Hyewon doesn’t smile out of anywhere.

Kim Minju, seriously you… Hyewon thought before laughing to herself quietly – yeah, she is definitely happy that day.

/

Hyewon was busily doing her task which was wiping the tables and properly organizing each chair. Their shift just ended and it was a busy one, but surprisingly it didn’t take too much toll on them. Unlike before when they were all completely exhausted, she and the others are still joking around with each other.

She could hear Yena whining inside the kitchen, probably about some dirty dishes still needed to be washed – of all the things that Hyewon could be assign to, the dishes are always the thing that she’d avoid. It was a never-ending task and annoying – basing from the loud groans that Yena is producing and whiney voice.

She felt someone nudging her hip only to see Chaeyeon smiling at her, “You good there?”

Hyewon smiled at the girl and nodded her head, going to another table to wipe – she could see Chaeyeon following and helping her. “You finish with your own?”

The younger girl hummed in response, “It’s easy to mop the floor Hyewon, you should try it sometimes.”

“No, I’m good with the tables and chairs.” She then glanced at the girl, “Where’s Kura-unnie?”

“In the kitchen with Yena, probably watching and doing nothing.”

Hyewon just chuckled and finished wiping the table with Chaeyeon doing the chairs, she looks around to see that everything is done outside the kitchen. “Let’s go to the kitchen, we’re good here.”

Chaeyeon just led the way and entered the kitchen, the two were greeted with Sakura – as expected, was just watching Yena work while she was sitting on one of the metal tables. Hyewon chuckles as she sees a few dirty dishes left, walking over to the stressed Yena to help the girl.

“Seems like you need a hand,” Hyewon said before started helping the girl, the latter cries in victory as she sees Hyewon helping her.

“Kwangbae, thank you!” Yena said and glared at Sakura who just smiled smugly at her, “Unlike someone who is just doing nothing since the minute we went inside.”

The Japanese girl just stuck her tongue out to Yena and the latter threw some water in her direction, which Sakura stared at as it lands on the floor. “Right, because water can hurt me.”

Yena smirked at the girl, “It can’t but she can.” She said nodding her head and as if on cue, Sakura felt someone pinching her left ear.

“Ouch!”

“You and your lazy are getting out of hand Saku-chan.” Chaeyeon said in a stern tone, “Mop the floor and you’ll do the closing.”

“Bu – “

“No buts!” Chaeyeon cuts her off with a glare and Hyewon wipes the last dish as she looks at Sakura. She shrugs her shoulders at the latter, ignoring the pout and pleading eyes of Sakura.

“Your fault Kura-unnie, not ours.” She said with a teasing smile and pulled Yena out of the kitchen. The latter not forgetting to annoy Sakura by sticking her tongue out.

This is what Hyewon means when she said that their shift didn’t take too much of their energy – they still have enough to tease and annoy one another.

“Oh look, Minju’s here.” Yena said pointing outside of the restaurant which surprised Hyewon. Chaeyeon walked towards the door to open it for the girl, smiling at Minju and talking to her.

“How was your shift?” Minju asked.

“It went well as you can see,” Chaeyeon answered and gestured for the two, “they still have the energy to act like kids.”

Minju looks at the other two, Yena and Hyewon playing with each – it was an amusing sight to see, especially when it seems like Yena is teasing Hyewon as the former has Hyewon in a headlock. She could see Hyewon’s grumpy face which made her chuckle a little.

“Yeah, I could see that. Where’s Sakura?”

Chaeyeon points towards the kitchen, “Cleaning up inside the kitchen. You guys alright with the movie night in your apartment?” She asked the younger girl.

Minju smiled and glanced at Hyewon who was busy playing with Yena, “Yeah, it seems like Hyewon is pretty good with it.”

Hyewon heard her name and quickly looked at Minju, smiling awkwardly because she definitely knows what the two are talking about.

“Right, Hyewon?” Minju asked the older girl with a raised eyebrow.

Hyewon chuckled awkwardly and quickly walked inside the staff room, “Going to change now!”

Yena and Chaeyeon look at the two dumbfounded and turned to Minju, the latter shrugging her shoulders as if she doesn’t know what happened.

“Is she fine?” Yena asked.

“Oh, she’s cool. You better change now, it’s getting late.” With that, the two nodded their heads and followed Hyewon inside the room.

Minju then leaned on the wall as she waits for them to finish up, scrolling through her phone and emails. Just then, she heard the kitchen door opening and saw Sakura walking out – the older girl smiling at her as she waves at Minju.

“Here for Kang-chan?”

Minju nods her head, “Yeah, you guys cool with 7 PM for movie night?”

Sakura nodded her head enthusiastically, “That’s actually perfect. Just a warning though, we might be all too – “

“Tired to go home?” Minju chuckles, she already thought of it the minute Hyewon told her about the movie night. There’s no way that it won’t turn to another sleepover which is why she could already see the mess her apartment is going to be the next day – especially when Yujin is there.

Just that girl alone is a complete mess whenever they have movie marathons together, and Minju doubts it would be different when she’s with the whole gang.

“I already expected that, don’t worry. You guys can sleep in like before.” Minju said with a reassuring smile, “They’re in the room already changing, you should too.”

Sakura smiles softly at the younger girl, happy that Hyewon found and met someone like Minju in an unexpected time – a time she needed someone the most. “Kang-chan is really lucky to have you.” She said before walking towards the room, not waiting for a reply.

It stunned Minju for a moment, as she can only stare at Sakura’s back and hearing the click from the door – muffled conversations and laugh coming from the inside and then nothing. She smiles softly to herself before shaking her head.

“I’m lucky to have Hyewon.” She whispered to herself.

//

Saturday morning and Hyewon is sitting in front of the piano playing random soft tunes. She doesn’t have much anything to do, with Minju doing something in her office at her apartment – some important online meeting out of nowhere. Hyewon takes a peek over the piano and sees Minju doing the same, smiling at each other she sees the younger girl mouthing something at her.

‘Almost done, just wait.’

Hyewon smiled softly and nodded her head, pausing for another minute to think of something that she could play as she waits for Minju. They are planning to do some groceries to restock their kitchen and at the same time to buy snacks later for the movie night. She looks at her hands and sees her scars again – but unlike before, she doesn’t think much about it.

All she could think is how Sora would be proud of her for continuing to play the piano despite some limitations. There would be times that Hyewon would falter and press the wrong note because of the damage, but she knows with practice she can do it again – just like how she plays the instrument before.

Taking a deep breath, she starts playing the opening notes for her chosen piece – Pachelbel’s Canon in D, a very famous one which is why she knows it by heart. It was one of the pieces that she actually likes, a simple piece but complex at the same time. It just gives her satisfaction whenever she plays this piece, how there are distinct changes in each section yet it complements the whole thing.

She just lets it flow inside her, her hands running along the keys to press the right ones as her eyes remain closed. Only frowning when Hyewon feels a slight sting as she reaches some keys but she continues it, this piece is one that should be finished – and as she plays the last three notes, she opens her eyes to see Minju watching her from the office with a smile.

Hyewon smiles at the younger girl, standing up from her seat. “Finish?”

Minju walks over to Hyewon as she nods her head and didn’t give the latter a warning as she pulled her into a hug. The meeting really got her stressed because it was an unexpected one – only given a short notice as she woke up with an email from Chaewon. She’s grateful that as soon as the meeting ended, Hyewon was there and playing the piano.

The scene just made her relax along with the music, Hyewon’s eyes were close and a peaceful expression fell upon her face – it was a perfect view for Minju. She was just absolutely amazed at how great Hyewon is with the piano, it has been weeks already since she started hearing the older girl playing the piano but there would just be times – just like now, that Minju still couldn’t grasp how Hyewon could play it as if she was breathing every note.

As if the piano was made for her to play.

“You were amazing,” Minju said placing a soft kiss on Hyewon’s cheeks, “and yes, all finished. Let’s go?”

Hyewon smiled shyly at the younger girl and brushed their nose together – an action she became fond of because Minju would always scrunch her nose and it just looks adorable. “Yeah, don’t have much time to prepare.”

“We just need to buy snacks and restock our fridge.” Minju answered as she walks down the stairs with Hyewon beside her, “I think the apartment is good enough to accept some guests. They’re our friends, they won’t complain.”

“Touché.” Hyewon grins and they both walked out of the apartment with their fingers intertwined with one another, not letting the other go as they talk.

Minju then drove the two of them to the usual grocery store they always go to and surprisingly, the store is not as crowded as they expected it to be – considering it was the weekend. She quickly grabbed a cart as Hyewon led the way – that was their usual routine. When it comes to grocery shopping, Hyewon would always be the head.

After all, the older girl knows the things needed to be restocked for their kitchen. Minju could only contribute much, which is the snacks and other necessities – a.k.a. unhealthy foods that Hyewon always judges.

“Would you like some fish for dinner or lunch sometime?” Hyewon asks as she glances over her shoulder, Minju enthusiastically nodded her head. It has been a while since she had some seafood, it’s great that Hyewon thought of it.

“I haven’t had seafood in a while, now that I think about it.”

Hyewon hummed as she walks to the seafood section, looking at the variety she could choose from. “Seafood it is then.”

Minju just followed the older girl as she watches Hyewon, the latter often asking Minju for opinions on the portions they should get.

“Seafood should be eaten as soon as possible,” Minju considers the smell it would give and she couldn’t help but grimace, “just the right amount, don’t overdo it.”

Hyewon nodded her head, “We can cook some tomorrow, for lunch because I think they’d stay there until then.”

Minju hums in agreement, “You have a shift tomorrow?”

“Yeah, just a short one.” Hyewon said and gestured a minute to Minju to talk to the one assisting the section. The older girl then turned to her with a smile, “2 to 6 in the evening, then I’m good to go.”

“Do you want me to pick you up?” Minju offered and Hyewon looks at her.

“I think you’d still do it even if I say no.”

“That, but I’m all about consent, you know.”

Hyewon rolls her eyes and thanked the man as he was finished with their seafood and Hyewon put it in their cart, “Whatever Minju.”

“Whatever Hyewon.” The younger girl mocked as they laugh together and proceeded to the next thing they are buying.

Minju just followed Hyewon, sometimes asking the latter what she could cook on the things she’s adding to the cart and she’s just amazed by how Hyewon just mindlessly answers everything. It’s like the girl is a walking cookbook with the number of dishes she knows and that she can cook.

There would be days that Minju would feel guilty for not contributing anything to the kitchen, other than washing the dishes – but sometimes, even that task is being done by Hyewon because the older girl insists on doing it. Or maybe, Minju is just too weak because Hyewon has a certain side that she discovered whenever the older girl wants to do or get something.

Minju is not sure if Hyewon notices it or she’s aware of it – but if she is aware of it, then that means that Hyewon is using it to her advantage. But the latter has that certain eyes, her eyes would literally twinkle and her eyebrows would just do its thing and Minju would be cornered. It’s a straight-up crime to be that cute and yeah, that’s a thing for them now.

“We’re done with the necessities, now with the snacks.” Hyewon said approaching the cart and pushing Minju gently out of the way so that she could navigate the cart on her own. “Lead the way, ma’am.”

The younger girl just rolls her eyes, this is basically their routine. Every time they are done with the actual things needed to cook real and healthy foods, Minju would then lead them to the unhealthy snacks – an abomination according to Hyewon.

But the older girl still lets her, so Minju wins.

Minju then first went to the cereals, of course. It’s sometimes her go-to snack whenever she’s too tired to eat or whenever she feels like it, basically cereals are just that kind of food. She grabs one that she has been craving for quite some time now – Reese’s Puffs. She happily puts it inside the cart and noticed the judgmental look that Hyewon is giving her.

“What?”

Hyewon looks at the cereal then at Minju, “What’s the difference with the other cereals?”

“What do – you know what? Never mind, you won’t get it anyway.” Minju said as she shakes her head.

“It will all get soggy anyway,” The older girl mutters under her breath and follows Minju and she couldn’t help but chuckle. “She and Sora would definitely get along.”

That thought made Hyewon falter in her steps for a little bit but she quickly shakes her head, looking at Minju’s figure as she follows the latter. She can’t help it, to feel a little bit upset about the fact that Sora is not there anymore.

Yeah, she knows that for a long time now but it was a slow progress. The lingering thoughts of what-ifs are still there, sometimes hovering inside her mind when she’s alone or when she’s playing the piano – especially when she’s playing the piano. She would imagine that Sora would be there at her usual spot, playing the violin with that serene expression that she always has.

But every time Hyewon opens her eyes, no one is there standing beside her – no one was playing with her.

Hyewon would always think about her sister, especially since the talk with Jaehyun. She wonders if Sora just really let Jaehyun go just like that, or was she aware that it would eventually happen? Hyewon doesn’t want to think more about their break up but she couldn’t help it – the opportunity was there and they grabbed it.

“Hey, you okay?” Minju asked as she noticed that the other girl got exceptionally quiet, only to see Hyewon mindlessly following her. “It seems like you got lost a bit there.” She smiled softly at the older girl.

“Mind sharing it with me?”

Hyewon looks up from her hands and sees Minju’s concern stare, she shakes her head slightly. “Nothing, I just thought that you and Sora would have been best of friends.”

Minju smiles at the older girl, knowing full well that Hyewon is filtering her words. “You say that all the time, I might as well be her best friend now.”

Hyewon chuckles, “Because it’s true, I wished I knew you earlier. When everything is not…” She trails off as she looks at her hands, the scars reminding her of her painful past.

“Not this hard.” She finishes off quietly.

Minju looks at Hyewon for a moment, “When everything was easy?”

“Yeah.”

The younger girl didn’t hesitate and grabbed Hyewon’s hand, squeezing it softly as she places a tender kiss on the back of her hand. “Well, sorry to break it to you. I’m not looking for easy.”

With that she poked Hyewon’s nose, “I like the thing we have now, don’t think it’s difficult for me. I just like it the way it is.” She then gave a huge smile before giving Hyewon a quick kiss and walked off.

Hyewon was left dumbfounded and she watches Minju turning to the corner, Minju’s words giving the right effect to her. The younger girl just has a way with her words, saying things without actually saying it – a talent if you ask her.

She looks at the hand that Minju just kissed earlier, running a finger on it. “Damn Sora, I really wish you’re here to meet her. She’s just perfect.”

//

Everything is already in place, the extreme number of pillows and comforter all in the living room. The snacks already in the kitchen – it was how a typical movie night would look like, but this time it caters to 12 people. 12 chaotic people when together and Minju could only pray for her apartment on what they would ensue.

She looks at Hyewon and asks the latter, “So, how does this movie night work?”

The older girl was confused by the question, “What do you mean? We watch movies.”

Minju doubts that’s the only thing that will happen – especially with Yena and Yujin. She has watched a movie with Yujin before and God knows how much Minju wanted to smack the younger girl for constantly asking things – related and unrelated to the movie.

“Yeah, we watch a movie I know that,” Minju said nodding her head, “but given that everyone is here? I doubt that we could focus on one movie without someone interrupting the silence.”

Hyewon looks at Minju, stifling a laugh at how strict Minju sounds. “Oh, you take movies seriously?”

“Don’t you?”

Hyewon almost forgot that her first impression of the younger girl is uptight, Minju just has that certain aura around her that demands respect. It was how the younger girl carries herself, all confident and sure of herself – no wonder why Minju takes everything seriously, even movie nights.

“Minju,” Hyewon said with a light tone, sitting beside the said girl and hugging her slightly. “It’s not about how perfect the movie is