(Rena POV)

Getting through the struggle of each day is hard...but the thing that makes it bearable, the one thing that makes me want to wake up each and every day with a smile

on my face is...you. I don't know the exact moment it all began, but over time the momentary glances became lingering looks...the simple brushing of our hands

brought butterflies to my stomach and the goodbye hugs became something I never wanted to let go of. I'm not sure when my everything became so full of you, nor

when the start of this fluttering motion my heart constantly makes, began....but what I do know is that...if it weren't for you, this life of mine would have suffocated me

long ago.

***

5:55pm, the sun is setting on another humid Friday night. Most people choose to do activities in doors or in shopping centers on humid nights such as these, but

Rena isn't most people. Another shift at work calls for another 2-3 mile run to clear her mind before her night begins. Tonight was different, she was feeling a little  

extra burst of energy so she decided to go for the extra two miles before finally collapsing onto the ground. Her chest was pounding as her eyes were closed tightly

due to the sweat pouring down her face. A few more minutes to catch her breath and she'd be good to go...if it wasn't for something wet touching her arm and startling

her that is.

"What the!?" her eyes shot open quickly to a taller brunette towering over her along with the source of the wetness she felt on her arm...a large golden retriever. She

quickly got up on her feet and looked at the woman a bit dumbfounded before finally realizing the reason she couldn't hear a word she was saying was due to the

headphones she still had in her ears.

"I'm sorry!" the brunette laughed as she patted the top of her dogs head. "I didn't mean to scare you there."

"No, it's uh...it's fine. Were you saying something? Sorry I couldn't hear you." Rena said as she pointed towards her headphones.

"Oh! Right!" The girl reached into her side bag and pulled out a water. " I just wanted to see if you needed a water, I always carry extra on me when I'm out walking 

Shadow here. I was walking towards the track when I saw you go down, must have been quite the run!" she smiled while holding out the water bottle.

Rena smiled as she took the water from the taller woman, "Thanks, I appreciate it! I don't know why I thought it was a good idea to add an extra 2 miles in today as if

it wasn't 105 degrees out here..." she opened the bottle and graciously took a large gulp.

"Are you out here training for a marathon or something?"

"Hm? No, nothing like that. I just enjoy going for a run before I start my shift at work every weekend. Call me crazy..but it actually keeps me alert and agile"

The woman smiled warmly at her as she brushed a few strands of loose hair behind her ear. "What exactly do you do, if you don't mind me asking?"

Rena smiled as she put the cap back on the water and stretched her arms up above her head. "I'm a bartender at Ocean's Tavern a few blocks from here. It's not the

most ideal job I imagined having...but the money is pretty good so I can't complain. Speaking of which, I should get going...my shift starts in a little more than an hour

and I still got to make it home to shower first! Thanks again for the water uh..."

"Minkyung...my name is Minkyung." she smiled as she held her hand out to the latter.

"Thank you Minkyung," she smiled back as she softly shook her hand. "I hope to see you around again!" she said before turning around to jog back towards the

parking lot.

"Wait! What's your name!?" Minkyung yelled out, slightly startling Shadow and making him bark.

"The name is Rena! See you around!" she shouted back, giving a small wink before turning back around which didn't go unnoticed by the taller woman.

A week has gone by since Rena met the incredibly nice woman known as Minkyung. Friday came once more and she was honestly a little excited for her run today,

having hopes that she'll run into the woman once again.

"At least it won't be as unbearable today" she mumbled to herself as she looked at the thermometer guage in her car which read 90 degrees.Grabbing her towel and

 the soft dog chew she might have gone out of her way to purchase earlier in the day, she got out of her car and began walking towards the track field. She blinked in

surprise to see the taller woman already walking her dog.

"Hey!"

Minkyung looked over her shoulder and stopped as she saw Rena jogging towards her.

"Hey yourself," she smiled as she motioned for Shadow to stop.

Rena threw the towel over her shoulder and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her track pants as she returned the smile. "Wasn't sure if I'd see you here again. I've

been coming here every weekend for the past few months and last week was the first time I've seen you around here."

"Yeah," Minkyung slightly folded her arms across her stomach. "I typically try to come in the mornings because it's a bit cooler for Shadow here, but lately I've been

having to do some emergency babysitting sessions for my niece."

"Ah, so you only walk Saturday mornings as well?" Rena asked a bit quickly

Minkyung chuckled at her hurried tone  before replying, "Unfortunately not, Saturday's I'm on full fledged babysitting duties. That little girl has me wrapped around her

finger." She laughed just thinking about it.

"Oh..." Rena zoned out a bit before remembering the object she was holding onto in her pocket. "Here!" she pulled the bone out of her pocket, offering it to Minkyung

a bit abruptly. "It's uh...peanutbutter flavour. All dogs like peanutbutter right?"

Minkyung looked at her rather puzzled.

"It's as a thank you! For the water last week that is. Obviously it would have made more sense for me to get something for you personally, but the more I thought

about it...I wasn't sure what you liked, and didn't want to get you something you hated, so I figured this would be a safer bet!" she rambled, taking a big breath after

finally getting that all out.

The tall brunette softened her gaze as she took the dog bone out of Rena's hand. "Thank you, I'm sure Shadow will love this. Peanutbutter just happens to be the

thing he loves most."

"That's great!" Rena exclaimed. "I should uh...I should get to running before it gets too late. It was great seeing you again Minkyung.She slowly bent down and gave

Shadow a quick rub behind the ear before slowly pacing backwards. Don't stay out here too late, it's dangerous to be out anywhere alone during the weekend you

know!"

Minkyung smiled as she playfully shooed her away, "Instead of worrying about me, watch where you're running there silly! Don't over-exert yourself and collapse again

because I won't be here to save you with that water again!" she laughed.

"Duly noted! Take care Minkyung!" Rena smiled widely once more before turning around to begin her 2 mile run.

The next few weeks went by surprisingly well for Rena. Business was good at work, so she was making enough tips to live comfortably. To her unexpected surprise,

Minkyung had been at the track eve