"Ayy, unnie! It's time for my shift," Eunji high-fived Chorong to signal their switching places.

Chorong lingered at the doorway to the kitchen. She turned to Eunji who was busying herself at the desk.

"So uh, have you met Bomi-ssi?"

"No," Eunji said puzzled and was returned with a puzzled look, "Who's that?"

"Oh, I just thought.." Chorong shook her head. "I mean, Namjoo came in with a girl this morning– Are you sure you didn't bump into them upstairs? Or downstairs?"

"Positive," Eunji affirmed, before making a scandalous gasp. "Wait, you don't think they showered together?"

"What!"

"I'm just messing with you unnie. That was a joke," Eunji snorted and walked off to help a customer. 

It wasn't until Chorong locked the door behind her that she realised she failed to mention the part of the story. Well, it was probably better not to disclose that information. It would just fuel Eunji's teasing and raise more questions...

Speaking of raising questions, why was Bomi in the first place? Namjoo managed to evade the fact in the distraction, but now that Chorong's shift had ended, she thought she deserved an explanation.

The blonde stopped herself at the bottom of the stairs and gazed up at the staircase in thought.

Although it was a joke, Eunji kind of had a point. They still haven't come downstairs.

What could they be doing that's taking them so long?

Often when visitors came over, they would hang out in the living room as the dorms were quite a personal space. Of course, whatever Bomi had been through that would make her as soaked as she was... Chorong could see the need to take a shower and dry off. But surely that's it?

It had been quite a while since the shower noise stopped. They were most likely in Namjoo's room right now. 

Chorong plonked herself on the couch, feeling uneasy. She didn't want to think of it, but no matter how she went on about it, her mind just...

"Arrgh!" she squirmed. How could she look at this Bomi the same again after this morning? Her eyes were violated, but it was Bomi's privacy that she violated. Poor girl must be just as embarrassed, if not more. Chorong felt like a ert. 

On the other hand, what was up with Namjoo? What was up with this whole bizarre thing that just happened? And why?

Out and about at the crack of dawn, with an attractive woman, stranded from clothing. Wait... it can't be...

Namjoo's secret lover?

Chorong immediately came to the theory that Namjoo might be sleeping with this Bomi and not in the platonic sense. It was strange, but the details seemed to line up. Yes, that might have been sweat on her glowing skin. Sweat from...

Chorong reddened. 

Oh god, they must be wild. 

Showering together wasn't a far possibility.

~ ★ ~

Meanwhile, Namjoo and Bomi were trying to keep their voices down with their heated discussion in Namjoo's bedroom. 

"Look, Bomi, in the end, we can't let anyone know about this."

"About what?"

"About this!" Namjoo waved her hands erratically.

"About us?"

"You! No one can know about the real you."

"What about you? Also, why did you stop calling me 'unnie'?"

"Sorry, it's a habit. In any case, you'll have to learn quickly. I don't tell anyone about me either. That's just how it works around here." 

~ ★ ~

Chorong had fallen asleep to some mindless TV before Eunji shook her awake. Disoriented, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes as Eunji suggested they go grab some lunch. 

"Great, I'll go get Namjoo and her friend. They're still upstairs? I'll call them down."

"