A/N: I’m quitting. *fliptable

-

As the four girls enjoyed their dessert, Kim Minjoo told Wonyoung about Yujin’s antic behavior. The youngest of the four seems to be interested in Minjoo’s talks, so she listened enthusiastically everytime Minjoo said something about Yujin. Kim Chaewon was not that different, she kept bragging about her lovely cousin, while hugging her cousin or just giving a pat on the head. Wonyoung and Yujin couldn’t do anything but only to deny many of the statements from both Minjoo and Chaewon, while the university students seems enjoying the conversation.

“Come to think of it, it seems that my Wonyoung already reached adolescence. I think this kid is having her first love,” Chaewon said, pulling Wonyoung’s head to her shoulder. She hugged the younger’s head and caressing her cheeks.

Ahn Yujin felt that her heart ached for a little bit as she heard that words from Chaewon. She didn’t like the idea of Wonyoung being in love with someone. Moreover, their school is an all-girls school, so chance of her to be in love is almost zero… in heteronormative sense. Then, what if Wonyoung fell in love with another girl? Ahn Yujin’s brain was unable to accept it, not because she didn’t like the idea of girl being in love with another girl, but...

She just couldn’t accept that Wonyoung is in love with someone else.

Yujin took a glance at Wonyoung, who was sitting across her. The younger girl seems enjoying the affection given by the one beside her. The feeling called “envy” crept on Yujin’s heart. Oh, she wishes that she has a privilege to touch the girl in front of her the way Chaewon did. Yujin was unconsciously staring at Wonyoung, and it seems the latter did realize it.

As their eyes met, Wonyoung felt that Yujin’s stare was different from the usual. Of course, Wonyoung already knew that Yujin has a gorgeous eyes, but those eyes seems drawing Wonyoung to keep staring. At some point, Yujin finally averted her eyes to different object, somehow feeling embarrassed,. Wonyoung could see the tips of Yujin’s ears became red, then she let out a small chuckle.

Minjoo and Chaewon were already discussing about another topic that sounded like something about their university. Unlike when talking about Wonyoung, Chaewon didn’t seem to be excited when she was talking with Minjoo about another topic. However, the beautiful girl in front of Chaewon was listening to every Chaewon’s short words wholeheartedly with a dreamy gaze in her eyes. Minjoo’s eyes towards Chaewon was similar with the eyes of heroine in romantic movies Wonyoung had watched. Everyone, including Wonyoung, could see that Minjoo must have a certain special feeling for Chaewon.

Chaewon, on the other hand, didn’t even bother to look at Minjoo. While Minjoo was talking, Chaewon was only focused on mint-chocolate ice cream in front of her, with sometimes giving the other girl nods or short responses. She was a different Chaewon whom Wonyoung knows, Chaewon that is always smiling to everyone. Wonyoung started to feel pity about Minjoo, and somehow dejected her cousin for being unaware to Minjoo’s feeling. In another remark, Minjoo was amazing. How could she be that enticed with someone cold as Chaewon?

Similar to Wonyoung, Yujin also knows that Minjoo likes Chaewon. She already knew it from the beginning, though. Minjoo was too obvious, telling Yujin everything about Chaewon whenever they met. What Yujin didn’t expect is the fact that her childhood friend’s crush is her junior’s cousin.

Yujin knew that it’d be better if she and Wonyoung leave. Moreover, today was supposed to be a “date”, not a double “date”. Yes, Ahn Yujin did treat today’s outing as a date. She silently cursed her one hour ago self for agreeing at Minjoo’s idea. Also, the more she listened to the university students’ one way conversation, the more she pitied Minjoo. Couldn’t bear it any longer, Yujin stood up.

“Ah, me and Wonyoung are supposed to watch movie together! I forgot about it!” Yujin said, scratching her head while trying her best to give a signal to Wonyoung. Unfortunately, even though the younger girl was clever, she wasn’t clever enough to caught Yujin’s signal.

“Huh?” Wonyoung responded.

“Did you forget about it? Come on!” Yujin said, while quickly took her wallet out. She then took a banknote and put it on the table.

“This is for me and Wonyoung. Come on, Wonyoung! We need to catch the movie fast!” Yujin grabbed Wonyoung’s hand, and pulled her. The first year, still confused, didn’t have any choice but to follow the older girl’s lead.

As they reached outside, Wonyoung couldn’t help but to stare at Yujin. She didn’t know about the movie thing and the reason why Yujin abruptly pulled her out from the cafe.

“Are we going to the movie?” Wonyoung asked. Yujin let out a small sigh, but quickly changed it to a smile.

“...Well honestly, no. But, if you want to, we can go―”

“I’m not in a mood for a movie. Not after seeing Chaewon-unnie being cold to someone like that,” Wonyoung frowned, upset with her cousin. Yujin laughed awkwardly, not knowing what would be the best response for Wonyoung’s words. So, I’m not the only who could see it,, Yujin thought.

“Uhm... How about taking a stroll?” Yujin offered an idea that suddenly popped in her mind. A faint smile plastered on her face. She didn’t know what to do to bring Wonyoung’s mood up.

“Sure,” Wonyoung agreed.

As usual, Wonyoung didn’t seem to be excited with Yujin’s idea. In the eyes of Ahn Yujin, Wonyoung is someone who is usually calm and reserved, but also moody sometimes, making her somewhat confusing for Yujin. She never reacted with an excitement every time Yujin invited her, not even yesterday. Wonyoung always accepted everything Yujin offered, but deep down in Yujin’s heart, she was unsure about Wonyoung’s feeling. What if Wonyoung felt that she was obliged to accept Yujin’s invitation or offers since Yujin is her upperclassman?

Yujin suddenly remembered Chaewon’s words about Wonyoung being in love with someone. Yujin wondered, if the one who invited her junior wasn’t her, but the person whom the younger girl love, would Wonyoung accept it with an excitement?

Love, what is it exactly? Ahn Yujin never understands a such abstract thing. Sure, she loves her family and friends, but it seems everyone referred the sole word to something different. She secretly envies Minjoo, and even Wonyoung, for being able to experience love. If Minjoo’s feeling towards Kim Chaewon is something that may be called love, then who is the counterpart of Kim Chaewon in Yujin’s life?

The one whom she’d like to spend time with?

The one whom she couldn’t be upset with, even though they’re being rude and cold to her?

-

Jang Wonyoung couldn’t forget Minjoo’s expression when the latter was talking with her older cousin. She was sure that the face Minjoo made was the face of someone who is in love. Wonyoung might be not an expert in this “love” thing, but she’s not dumb enough to not realize that Minjoo’s gaze were full of affection. She knew it’s none of her business, but it kept mingling in her mind. Should she ask Yujin?

Wonyoung then took a glance at the older girl who was in her own thought, even though they were roaming on the shopping district together. Wonyoung was sure that Yujin were thinking about Minjoo, since she never saw Yujin like that. Somewhat, her own allegation made her heart feels painful. Oh, how she wished that the one who was in Yujin’s mind was her!

During their stroll, Wonyoung felt that there’s a distance between her senior and herself. Yujin may be beside Wonyoung all the time, but the latter knew that her mind was somewhere else. It was strange. Usually, Yujin is the more talkative one, so seeing her in silence made Wonyoung feel reluctant to start any conversation. It just awkward, so awkward that even Wonyoung wished their “supposed to be date” would be ended.

The air was getting colder as the sun sets in the west, forcing the girls to go home. For Wonyoung, however, it was not even a “force”, since she honestly wished for it. As usual, Yujin walked Wonyoung to the latter’s home, this time without any silly and unimportant chit-chat they usually did. After a long way, they finally arrived at Wonyoung’s house.

Wonyoung’s hand reached for the gate, only to realize that the gate was locked. Frantically, Wonyoung searched for her keys inside her purse. She found nothing, except her card and money. Jang Wonyoung cursed her own stupidity for not bringing her keys, but she was also upset with her mother for not telling her. Well, wasn’t it Jang Wonyoung herself that ignored her mother’s word this morning?

“Do you want to come to my house? My parents are usually going somewhere on Saturday, so it’s kind of lonely there. We can have some tea and cookies, if you’d like to,” Yujin offered, knowing that Wonyoung couldn’t go inside. Wonyoung had no other choice but to agree. When she finally thought she could free herself from this awkwardness…

“Thank you so much, unnie,” she said, trying her best to be grateful by showing the other girl her puppy eyes. Yujin chuckled, amused at the expression that was plastered on Wonyoung’s face.

“It’s okay. I’d like to spend more time with you, so…” Yujin couldn’t really get off from her habit, scratching her cheeks when she flustered. Wonyoung barely noticed it, though.

As those words slipped out from her lips, it seemed that the older girl finally realized something…

Finally, they arrived at Yujin’s house. Her house isn’t that different with Wonyoung’s since it just two blocks away. They went inside, then Yujin instructed Wonyoung to go directly to her room in the second floor. It wasn’t hard for the freshman to find Yujin’s room, since there’s a big tag with simple “Yujin” word written in alphabet hanging on one of the door.

Wonyoung reluctantly entered the room, and as she went inside, the scent that usually wafted when she’s with Yujin filling the entire room. The scent was intoxicating for Wonyoung, as it was somehow bringing a relaxing feeling, yet also bringing her a great amount of nervousness. Wonyoung looked around, then she noticed that Yujin isn’t a tidy person. She found Yujin’s personal belonging here and there, even she could spot some papers―seems to be Yujin’s test papers, sitting on the corner of the room. The only thing that was neat enough was Yujin’s bed. She chuckled for a bit, thinking that the room was indeed match with the older girl’s careless personality.

The young girl took a seat on the carpet, while waiting for the resident of the room. Wonyoung looked at a collage of photos hanging on the wall. On those photos, Yujin was with her friends that Wonyoung didn’t know, with Minjoo, and with someone― maybe another friend of Yujin that in Wonyoung’s opinion, resembling duck. After a while, Yujin finally entered the room, bringing tea and cookies for them.

“This is the first time someone ever come to my room, well, except for Minjoo-unnie and my cousin,” Yujin started the conversation while tapping her hand on the bed, signaling the younger girl to sit on there. Wonyoung felt honored to be the third one and the first junior to be inside Yujin’s room. Following Yujin’s signal, she sat beside the older girl.

“She will be fine?” Wonyoung asked, referring to Minjoo. Yujin processed Wonyoung’s question for a while.

“I think so. She won’t give up easily,” Yujin said, “Better we don’t talk about them. Minjoo-unnie’s ‘special someone’ is your cousin, right? I’ll feel bad for Minjoo-unnie if we talk about it.” Yujin was right, talking about how Chaewon acted today with Wonyoung would be utterly awkward for both of them.

“Moreover…” Yujin continued, she once again scratched her cheek, “…I prefer not to talk about anyone else, when there’s only the two of us here right now.”

Yujin turned away her gaze to the door, too embarrassed to look at the younger girl.

Jang Wonyoung remained silent for a while. She could easily respond to Yujin’s words by telling the latter to not kidding, but she didn’t. Exactly, she couldn’t. It was confusing, to the extent that she couldn’t respond. Wonyoung was sure that Yujin favor Minjoo over her, she already accepted that. Was talking about Minjoo’s affection towards Chaewon hurts Yujin so much, she couldn’t bear it anymore? Was she jealous of Chaewon, she hates to talk about it?

Still, the long haired girl was incredibly happy when she heard that words from Ahn Yujin.

The served tea was already cold at this temperature since Yujin didn’t turn on the air conditioner. Even so, the two didn’t bother to sip their tea or take the cookies. Both Yujin and Wonyoung remained silent, didn’t know what to do. The sky outside finally become totally pitch black, and a dim light from the streetlamp was creeping inside Yujin’s room from the window.

Both Jang Wonyoung and Ahn Yujin could feel the awkwardness between them. Yujin started to tap her finger on her thigh in silence. Wonyoung, on the other side of the bed, was looking the night sky beneath the window.

When Wonyoung realized that she was looking too much at the night sky, was the time she could feel a pair of arms circled over her shoulders from behind.

-

If Minjoo’s feeling towards Kim Chaewon is something that may be called love, then who is the counterpart of Kim Chaewon in Yujin’s life?

…Jang Wonyoung?

Ahn Yujin couldn’t stop thinking about the weird feeling she had. Yujin wouldn’t deny that she was attracted to the freshman, but she never admitted that she’s in love with Wonyoung. During their stroll around the shopping district and their way to her home, Yujin’s mind was distracted with those feeling.

“It’s okay. I’d like to spend more time with you, so…”

When that words slipped out from her lips, Yujin somehow felt that maybe, she is in love with Wonyoung. Upon her assumption, uneasiness and anxiety finally started their way, crawling into Yujin’s mind. She started to question herself, when was she fell in love with Jang Wonyoung? Yujin couldn’t remember why she asked Wonyoung to go home with her everyday that time. Was she already fell in love with the freshman that time? Even Yujin herself could only left the question to be unanswered.

“Moreover… I prefer not to talk about anyone else, when there’s only the two of us here right now.”

Did Wonyoung know that Ahn Yujin used all of her courage to said that?

When Jang Wonyoung was not giving any respond to her, Ahn Yujin couldn’t help but to feel forlorn. She was regretting what she said earlier in silence. If only she didn’t say it, maybe the atmosphere would be less awkward than the one they had earlier today. Still, a part of Yujin thought that she really should say it.

Yujin once heard, that there’s no boundaries in love. When Minjoo told Yujin that she’s in love with her female senior, Yujin never thought that it was wrong or anything. On the other hand, Yujin also learned that not everyone have the same view as her, so deep down there, fear of rejection was slowly consuming Yujin’s mind.

Yujin then turned to look at Wonyoung, who was looking through the window. The dim light from the streetlamp slightly illuminating the young girl’s figure. Yujin stared at the girl’s shoulders, while trying her best to keep the temptation to reach them. The longer she stared at those shoulders, the more infatuated she became. Being rejected is scary, but for Yujin, it’d be more scarier if she never had a chance to confirm her own feeling.

Collecting all of her courage, Yujin slowly approached her guest. Maybe this way, she could confirm her feeling towards Jang Wonyoung…

“Yujin-unnie…” Wonyoung called the person who was hugging her from behind. Her heart was thumping, much faster and louder than she ever had before.

“...Please let me stay like this for a while,” Yujin said, almost whispering. Wonyoung could hear it clearly, thanks to the almost-none distance between them. Hearing that, the younger didn’t continue her words.

Yujin’s right arm slowly making it’s way to the freshman waist, making Wonyoung’s heart skipped a beat. The older girl then tightened her embrace, locked Wonyoung in her arms. Even though the air conditioner wasn’t , Wonyoung could feel the warmth slowly sipped in to her body. Hesitantly, Wonyoung’s hand reached the older girl’s arm, confirming that Yujin was indeed the one who was embracing her. She touched the sleeve of Yujin’s sweater. Wonyoung wondered, how warm Yujin’s sweater was, she could feel the warmth that the sweater provides around her body.

Was it the sweater? Or was it something else?

They stayed like that for a while, since Yujin had no intention to release her arms from Wonyoung. The latter silently prayed that Yujin wouldn’t hear the sound of her uneven heartbeat. The dark room was filled in silence, with no one ever try to make a sound, even just for a little. Nothing could be hear there, except the sound of the ticking clock which echoing in the entire room.

From many movies she had watched, Wonyoung knew that the situation she was in right now was indeed romantic. Even though in those movies the situation would be always portrayed by man and woman, she didn’t think that it was mistake to be in a similar situation with Yujin. In fact, she loved it. Wonyoung then held Yujin’s arm, letting the older girl to know that she also wanted to stay like that.

Wonyoung remembered the words that her cousins said, that she was indeed fallen in love with someone. She wasn’t sure back then, since she never have such an idea that two girls may fall in love with each other.

It seems that both Jang Wonyoung and Ahn Yujin fell in love with each other without ever realizing it.

Yujin was drawn deeper and deeper into her newly found feeling. She snuggled and buried her face on Wonyoung’s neck. Wonyoung could feel Yujin’s breath on her neck, tickling her for a little.

As they stayed like that, Wonyoung took another gaze to the window. She noticed a powder-like things has falling from the night sky.

“...It’s snowing,” she said. There’s a saying that when lovers watched the first snow together, they’d be inseparable and be together forever. Wonyoung didn’t believe such a premonition, though, but only for this time she’d like to believe it.

Yujin finally raised her face, also looking at the window. The snow was beautiful, but couldn’t be compared by the beauty that she was holding in her arm.

“...And then?” Yujin asked, she turned her gaze from the window to Wonyoung. The latter did the same.

Wonyoung couldn’t see Yujin’s face clearly, due to the darkness and the bangs which blocking out Yujin’s face. But Wonyoung was aware that their faces were really close to each other. The two girls could feel each other breath on their skin. Yujin’s longing eyes caught Wonyoung’s attention, as she never saw Yujin being like that. She felt that she was being hypnotized when she stared at those eyes. Afraid that those would drown her more, she quickly averted her gaze.

Little did Wonyoung knows, her act was painful for Yujin. Crestfallen, Yujin slowly loosened her embrace... only to be stopped by Wonyoung.

“...Don’t…” Wonyoung said in a whisper, as she once again stared at Yujin’s eyes. Her hands reached Yujin’s bangs, brushing those bangs with her long fingers so she could see Yujin’s face more clearly. Wonyoung finally understand why Yujin is always referred as the school’s prince. The prince is extraordinarily beautiful, yet she has a masculine face profile, thus making her intoxicating.

They stared at each other for a while, completely forget about the snow. The only thing that Wonyoung could expect to happen in a situation like this was a kiss, but she wasn’t brave enough to initiate it.

Yujin turned her stare down to the rosy lips Wonyoung has. Sudden temptation to claim the freshman as hers was creeping into Yujin’s mind. Unable to hold her urge any longer, Yujin slowly closed the distance between them. Already knew what would happen next, Wonyoung shyly closed her eyes, as if she was giving permission to the older girl to claim her.

The next thing Wonyoung knew was something soft pressed against her lips. It was another new experience for her. At the same time, she didn’t feel anything wrong with it. Wonyoung didn’t dare to open her eyes, afraid that her first kiss would be ended if she does it. Wonyoung tightened her grip on Yujin’s arm, trying to tell that she didn’t want it to end soon. Without words, Yujin already understands the sign, then she pulled Wonyoung closer to herself.

No matter how they wish for it, their first kiss couldn’t stay forever. The needs for air finally caught both of the girls. As their lips parted, they were staring at each other once again. Yujin brought her hand to Wonyoung’s face, cupping the reddened cheek while her thumb caressed the younger’s soft lips. Wonyoung’s hand followed Yujin’s, crawling on the back of the older girl’s hand. Yujin opened ,wanting to tell Wonyoung something.

“...I’m s―” Yujin tried to speak, but Wonyoung shushed her words with another kiss, giving her a sign that there’s nothing to be told for now.

Unlike their first kiss, their second kiss was short, almost could be considered as a peck. For Yujin though, it was her most important one, since it could be interpreted as an acceptance from the girl in her arms. Yujin knew that for this very moment, they didn’t need any words to be spoken off. All they need right now, is to relish every single second they have.

Ahn Yujin slowly wrapped herself around Jang Wonyoung, providing warmth that Wonyoung once felt before, the warmth of the sweater that was lent to her when they met for the first time. Not wanting to lose the warmth, Wonyoung gripped Yujin’s arms tightly, as if Yujin was her sweater.

Her only sweater.

-

A/N: I’m at writing stuff like this, so please forgive me for the bad writing.

I did realize that the story has some inconsistency here and there, and the development on Yujin’s feeling since chapter 2.5 wasn’t shown. Worry not, I’m planning to write about Yujin’s side through another character view (If you’re ever interested). I think everyone already know who is the character I’m referring to.

Lastly, thank you very much for reading and following this story. I hope you like it. May we meet again on another story.

P.S: This is the first fanfic I ever completed.

P.S 2: When writing this fanfiction, I listened to Hidetake Takayama, re:plus, and Sam Ock. Their songs were a big help to me to imagine the situation, particularly Hidetake Takayama's "山眠 -Come Winter".