Days passed comfortably in the Yoon household. Bomi was never a morning person but recently, she managed to get up early so she could prepare breakfast before Chorong wakes up. She would also do the dishes and wait for the older girl to prep up before she gets on with her own morning regimen. By half-past seven, she’d drop off Chorong to work, and pick her up by six in the evening. It would then be Chorong’s turn in the kitchen to cook for dinner. Before the day ends, they’d kick their feet up and watch TV for an hour or two. Most of their time together were spent in silence with the occasional fleeting conversations here and there. It wasn’t awkward; in fact, it was easy – like they’ve been at it for years. Their weekends mostly went on with Bomi on TV marathons while Chorong would thumb through magazines. They didn’t do much together, but subconsciously wanted to be in the same room with each other. Domesticity took over their lives in a flash, it seemed too soon for both of them but they never did mind.

“Unnie?” Bomi cracked the silence of their now typical Friday night. She seemed to be watching a variety show but her mind was off somewhere else that she didn’t even notice that the program had changed half an hour ago. Now she’s just watching reruns of the show she already watched.

“Mm?” Chorong raised her brows without lifting her eyes off the article she has been staring at for the last ten minutes. She wasn’t actually reading; she was sleepy, in all honesty, but she wanted to spend just a little more time with Bomi before she goes to her lonely room. Ever since she found out about the primary purpose of the room she was using, she felt uneasy staying there – it was as if she wasn’t welcome to stay.

Bomi was trying to get her thoughts together and finally faced Chorong. “Do you wanna go out tomorrow?” Seeing the older girl’s surprised reaction, she quickly added “I mean, it’s Saturday and we can go out for a change.” She couldn’t believe she was actually asking her out that she could actually feel her cheeks start to burn. “That is, if you don’t mind. I’m not saying I’m getting bored with our weekends. It’s fine with me if you don’t want to. We could just stay here. I don’t mind, really.” She blabbered defensively.

Chorong loved how the shot-haired girl could quickly change from being sincere to being defensive in a span of a few seconds. She found it amusing, but most of all, endearing. “I don’t mind, Bomi-ah. Do you have something in mind?” she asked, putting down the magazine on the coffee table.

She did, but she wasn’t sure if Chorong would go for it. “Uhm. No. Not yet, is there something you wanna do?” she lied.

By Bomi’s voice, Chorong knew she was lying. It’s one of the little things she picked up the past few weeks. “I’m fine with anything, Bbom. Surprise me.” She said rather playfully.

“Well…” Bomi scratched a non-existent itch on her nape. “Do you want to go hiking?” she asked shyly.

“I’d love to!” Chorong squealed. Surprised by her own outburst, she composed herself and looked at Bomi straight in her brown eyes. “I- I mean, yes. I’d love to.” Her cheeks were blushing red. She was actually thinking about it and was quite amazed that Bomi offered it first.

It took a whole lot of self-control on Bomi’s part to stop herself from drowning in Chorong’s eyes, but the sight of it had so much gravity that she could feel herself being pulled towards the older girl. Chorong’s eyes couldn’t hide the happiness that was building up within her, and Bomi felt a sense of pride that she somehow planted that smile on Chorong. In that moment, she wanted to do everything in every way she can just so she could see her smile.

“It’s settled then.” Bomi agreed, curling up her lips. “Hiking tomorrow. But we really have to be up early. That means you, miss, have to go to bed now.” Bomi couldn’t help but talk sweetly to Chorong. It’s not that it bothers her. She wants to, but what does bother her is that she’s too conscious of it. She would stop herself before she could do more. It’s almost a reflex, like subconsciously, she was being held back.

Chorong wanted to protest but her eyes were really heavy now. Besides, she’ll be spending a whole day with Bomi tomorrow on a date. A date. Call it what you want, it won’t wipe off the smile on her face any time soon. With a fluttering heart, she went to her room and plopped on the bed. She knew she had to sleep. She’s dead tired from the work week she had, but the butterflies in her stomach wouldn’t let her – they’re all up and about until the ungodly hours. Smiling with bliss, she closed her eyes in the hopes of being overcome by sleep, unaware of the fact that Bomi was in the exact same state just across the hall.

In no time, they’re in the car on their way to Bukhansan with Bomi on the wheel. Just like any other moments when they’re together, the ride was calm and quiet. Just like any other days, they enjoyed it so much that they didn’t even bother to turn the radio on.

When they arrived at the park, a number of tourists were already gathering at the foot of the mountain. There were families of different nations but most of them were couples. Among them, an old couple caught Bomi’s eyes. By the looks of it, the couple had got on in years, both with silver hair and fragile-looking physique. Even so, the light in their eyes seemed never to have wavered at all; they still looked at each other the way newlyweds do. Bomi couldn’t help but wonder if she will ever have that kind of love, and more importantly, that person to share it with.

It was as if the universe was answering her musings, her eyes fell on Chorong who was warming up for the climb. In an instant, images of an old and gray Chorong on the same spot flashed before her eyes. She wanted that. She wanted to share this moment with Chorong over and over again until their knees couldn’t carry them through anymore and they’d just fall back to their usual weekends where they’d spend the entire day sitting around, basking in each other’s company.

“What?” Chorong asked, waking Bomi from her daydream.

“W- What?”

Finishing her warm-up, Chorong walked towards Bomi with all smiles. “What’s with that dumb smile? Do I have something on my face?”

Bomi felt herself blush. “I- I was just- No, it’s nothing.” She stammered and head towards the foot of the trail. “You just look so beautiful.” She whispered, oblivious to Chorong’s hearing range.

Chorong couldn’t hide her smile when she heard Bomi’s words. She wanted to tell her that she looked beautiful as well, but she couldn’t put herself up to it. At least, not yet anyway. So with another set of unspoken words added to her list, she followed suit without a peep.

They took the trail with the least people, wanting to spend their climb as intimate as possible. Fortunately, a few minutes into the track, they seemed to be alone. They fell into their comfortable wordless journey once again, with nothing but the sound of their breathing and the rustling of colorful autumn leaves to fill the air.

It wasn’t an easy hike, and that’s probably why no one else was willing enough to take this path.  More than once, Bomi had to grab Chorong by the hand to keep the older girl from slipping, and every time she held her, she didn’t want to let go. She respected Chorong so much that she didn’t want to invade her personal space so she would just allow her hand to linger a few seconds longer before letting go.

What Bomi didn’t know though was that Chorong wanted nothing more than to be hel