LE was playing with her fingers out of nervousness. She hasn’t seen Solji in two weeks, obviously, and she didn’t know what to say to her. Tell her she walked onto the road with lots of oncoming traffic because she was so tired trying to handle her and Hani? She didn’t think so. 

When the younger woman saw Solji peeked into the room, she patted on the empty chair next to the hospital bed and smiled. “Come sit here.” Solji nodded and walked over like an obedient puppy. 

“Are you okay?” LE asked and she found it funny, usually the one that isn’t on the hospital bed asks this question, no? Nevertheless, Solji replied with a slight nod. LE noticed she has been looking down ever since Hani called her in. Having spent so many years together, LE knows what the older woman was thinking. 

“Have you eaten?” LE tried again, this time she tried sitting up a little so that she could see Solji better. She winced a little due to a strong movement, but she got the pillow on her back. Solji still hasn’t talked, nor did she look up. LE was always a patient person, but also, she has her limit. When they were still dating, LE would often wait for Solji to decide what she wanted to eat at a restaurant. She’d change her mind ever so often, but LE would still patiently wait for her. This was the same. 

An hour later, Solji was still looking down, playing with her own fingers. If LE could move freely, she’d sit upright in front of Solji, lift her chin up so she could see her face and give her a tight hug. But right now, LE would have to settle for looking at the top of Solji’s head. LE even wondered if Solji’s neck was hurting from looking down so long. 

“Hey, Solji unnie? Solji?” LE tried, even though she knew she wouldn’t get a response so soon. 

Another hour passed, LE had long texted Hani to give Solji some time and head home first. Hani replied with a I’ll come back later text and headed to work as she only took a half day leave. 

Another hour passed, and still no luck with trying to make Solji talk. LE had took a nap and when she woke up, Solji was still in the same position, unmoved. The younger woman began to feel amazed by Solji. She could sit in a position so long, and that could only mean one thing – she didn’t know how to talk to LE. 

Two hours passed, but this time Solji shifted in her chair. She tidied her hair, she drank a sip of water that LE handed her, she looked up to check the time on the clock opposite LE’s hospital bed. Of all the times she did something, she never looked at LE just yet. But she was sure Solji is reaching that stage of finally looking at her and talking to her.

If waiting for five hours for Solji to do something as simple as checking the time on the clock opposite the bed, if waiting for five hours or more could make Solji talk to her for real this time without hiding any feelings inside of her, then LE would wait. They ain’t rushing anywhere, are they? They had all the time in the world and this was always what LE would do – wait for Solji. 

A total of seven hours has passed n