Title: Breathe 

Pairing: Ki Heehyun/Kim Nayoung       "Breathe."   Everyone says that when you're having a hard time. Nayoung is sick and tired of everyone telling her. And what's worse is when they tell her how everyone else has had it worse than her. Yes true, everyone has it hard. When you compare your problems to everyone else, of course they've had it worse. But does thinking of all those make you feel any better? Because no, nothing can make Nayoung feel better. She has yet to find a cure to her problems.      When Sejeong told Nayoung she wanted a break from their 5-year long relationship, Nayoung wasn't surprised. Why would she when she has expected all of this? It's tiring being surrounded by negativity every second of your life and Nayoung understands how much liberty Sejeong desires. She admits, she hasn't been the best girlfriend for Sejeong, always negative and sensitive, qualities you wouldn't even want in a partner. And so, Nayoung agrees to let Sejeong go. Why keep someone who no longer wants to be with you? You're only suffocating them in the end. Besides, no strings attached anyway, right?      When her section leader told Nayoung that she wasn't cut out for the band, Nayoung wasn't surprised. She wasn't mad at her team leader though. Why would she, when all these while, it was her team leader who had been persuading her instructor to keep her in the band despite her horrendous playing. Anyway, there's nothing wrong being placed in the reserve team, right? What are the chances that one of her fellow section mates fall sick on the day of the actual competition and required Nayoung to take her place?       When Hana told Nayoung that she was finally attached, Nayoung wasn't surprised. Why would she when she knew how sociable and attractive Hana was. Hana had always been the opposite of Nayoung; to put it simply, she's just everything Nayoung is not. How they both became best friends still puzzles Nayoung up till this day. That aside, Nayoung doesn't know how to feel about this. On one hand, she's undeniably happy for Hana but on the other hand, she's sure that their time spent together will lessen. And Nayoung's not wrong. In fact, Hana doesn't even have time to reply to her texts anymore. It doesn't even help that Nayoung kept her circle of friends small. Nayoung's fine, she totally is. Anyway, there's nothing wrong hanging out alone, considering Nayoung wasn't even the sociable type to begin with, right?     .....     Nayoung finds solace going to rooftops. The wind that brushes against her cheeks; boy, aren't they comforting? Also, the quiet atmosphere, free from all the ramblings of infuriating humans; they seem to resonate with Nayoung's heart and mind. And there, she met Heehyun. Same boat, same condition. Nayoung thinks that the only thing differentiating them was that, Heehyun was a lot more stunning than herself. Heehyun thought the same about Nayoung though. Conversations after conversations, and soon, Nayoung found herself frequenting the rooftop every time she finds herself unable to cope with the demands of the world. Each time Nayoung visits the rooftop, Heehyun would already be there. On one particular meetup, Nayoung found out something new about Heehyun.      .....     Lighting up a stick, Heehyun soon closes her eyes as she takes a puff, before blowing out a cloud of smoke.    "Didn't know you smoke."   Heehyun smiles as she takes another puff.    "Oddly satisfying, I must say. I just need a breather from all these exasperating things that's happening in my life. I've tried all sorts of methods; yoga, meditating, but nothing worked. I find myself going back to these pack. Sad, huh?"   Nayoung nods. She hates the idea of one smoking but if there's nothing else that can make Heehyun feel better except those, who is she then to stop Heehyun from resorting to them?      .....       "Rough day?" Heehyun asks, on one of their sleepless night, as she lights up another stick. Nayoung wonders every time, how many sticks exactly Heehyun smokes everyday.    "Yeah, the usual. High expectations from the people close to you which I'm sick and tired of. And you?"    Heehyun turns to Nayoung, before answering, eyes intently staring at her.    "Me? Just superficial people around, pretending they care when behind your back, they go around creating stories about you, stuff that aren't true at all. And you know what's the worse thing?" Heehyun snickered before continuing, "the worse thing is when you get reprimanded and nagged at when clearly the person fails to understand you. to be me."   "No, to be us."      .....     Nayoung loves talking to Heehyun. Aside from the smoke that she has to force herself to inhale from Heehyun's cigarettes, she clearly enjoys Heehyun's company. Nayoung is amazed at how they're able to click, simply because they're both in the same boat; troubled young adults, living in a very demanding and apathetic world. She's pretty sure she's met many like Heehyun, but there's just something about Heehyun, that makes her feel at home.      .....     Nayoung never tries to hide anything from Heehyun because well firstly, Heehyun has a way of getting words out of Nayoung's mouth