Eunseo walked up the stairs to her new school, letting out a soft sigh. She didn’t want to move to the city, but her mother wanted to live closer to her sister, her aunt.

 

She had only one cousin, who happened to share the same name as her. Their mothers seemed to think it was hilarious.

 

They were born five months apart, Eunseo being the younger one. 

 

She spotted a lone figure leaning against the wall, tall and his hair partially covering his face. Eunseo rolled her eyes.

 

“What’s up, Juyeon?” He smirked, pushing the school door open smoothly with one hand, letting her inside.

 

“I told you to call me Eunseo from now on.”

 

“Eunseo.” He repeated. “Don’t know how you came up with that one.”

 

She glared at him as he led them to the front office. She loved her cousin, but he sure was annoying.

 

“Have a great first day!” He waved goodbye, immediately pushing her into the office. He gave her a wild smile from behind the glass window.

 

She gestured a threat. He threw up his hands in surrender as he walked away, Eunseo watching him disappear around the corner before she took a deep breath.

 

At least she has her cousin at this school.

 

 

Eunseo hesitantly knocked on the classroom door. She was placed in the grade above for math. Her cousin used to endlessly about how much of a nerd she was when they were kids.

 

The teacher swung the door open. “You must be the new student!”

 

She nodded her head, the teacher beckoning her to come on in. Eunseo looked around the class once she took a step inside.

 

They all looked at her expectantly. She was nervous, but she looked back at them.

 

“Why don’t you tell us your name.”

 

“My name is Son J- Eunseo.” She hoped that no one caught her stumble. Eunseo was adamant on the new name. She didn’t want to be teased, knowing how popular her cousin actually is at this school.

 

Whenever she would visit during the summers, girls would always be gawking at him while they hung out in public. Even a few would approach and ask to hang out, which he would politely decline.

 

“Miss Eunseo?” She realized she had been spacing out. “Take a seat next to Miss Jiyeon in the right corner.” He gestured towards the back of the classroom.

 

She scanned the room, landing on the empty seat next to this so called Jiyeon. She couldn’t see the girl, she was hiding behind a large textbook. Eunseo totally knew that move, it was used to secretly text during class.

 

Her assumption was proven correct as she approached the desk.

 

Eunseo cleared , holding back a slight scowl as the girl ignored her as she happily texted away on her phone.

 

“The teacher told me I could sit here.”

 

The other girl nodded dismissively as she moved her belongings to one desk. It looked like this girl was used to having two desks all to herself.

 

Her desk mate didn’t even spare her a glance the whole time, and Eunseo couldn’t find it in herself to formally greet the other girl.

 

Eunseo started to pack her bag quietly a few seconds before the official bell rang. The chair next to hers scratched against the floor, a blur of books and papers being thrown inside a dark blue bag.

 

She gave her classmate a weird, last look as she got up to slump out of the room. Eunseo stepped out the door, feeling someone whizz past her.

 

She spotted her cousin down the hall and raised her hand in greeting, but his eyes were focused elsewhere. Eunseo scrunched her eyebrows in confusion at the next sight she saw.

 

Her cousin was embracing the girl she just spent the past hour silently, awkwardly, sitting next to.

 

Eunseo had no idea her cousin had a girlfriend?

 

She debated approaching them. Before she knew it, her feet were taking her towards them.

 

He had one arm affectionately slung over the shorter girl. Eunseo came into his line of sight. He acknowledged her with a nod.

 

“Hey. How was your first class?” He asked casually, both of them not minding the third presence who eyed her questioningly.

 

“It was okay.”

 

The third presence, Jiyeon, suddenly spoke up. “Who’s this?”

 

“My cousin! Don’t you remember? I told you she was moving here.”

 

Eunseo doesn’t know why her gaze fell on the older girl. She guesses she was curious as to how she would react to them being related.

 

The girl slightly grimaced. Eunseo couldn’t tell if it was because she felt bad for forgetting, or felt bad for ignoring her the whole class.

 

“Right, sorry.” She looked at her. “I’m Jiyeon.”

 

“I’m Eunseo.” She ignored her cousins snicker at the unfamiliar name as they shook hands.

 

“What’s so funny?” Jiyeon lightly slapped him, evoking a dramatic response on his end. He looked toward his cousin, a questioning look on her face, too.

 

“Nothing.” He shrugged before slinging his arm around Eunseo.

 

 

“You never told me you had a girlfriend?” Eunseo glanced at her cousin as they walked home, side by side.

 

He blushed and scratched at the back of his neck. “It’s kind of new.”

“What’s she like?” Eunseo was genuinely curious, for reasons she probably never would say out loud. She watched as he smiled softly to himself.

 

“She’s amazing.”

 

Eunseo couldn’t help but gag and roll her eyes. Boys. Ever so eloquent with their words.

 

 

Believe it or not, after a couple months, Eunseo had managed to make some friends. If she could even call her cousin’s girlfriend and his girlfriend’s best friend, Luda, a friend. Nonetheless, she managed to join their little group seamlessly.

 

She sat with Luda at their usual lunch table in the corner of the cafeteria. Juyeon had let her know beforehand that he wasn’t going to be at lunch, since he had something special planned for Jiyeon for their three month anniversary.

 

“Gross.” Luda had replied after Eunseo relayed the information on their friend’s whereabouts. She chuckled as she watched Luda shove a bunch of rice into . “I can’t believe she’s still with him, no offense.”

 

Eunseo waved, dismissively, but she wanted to know why her friend thought that. “What’s wrong with my cousin?” She joked, twisting open the cap to her orange juice and throwing her head back to take a swig.

 

“Don’t tell Jiyeon I told you this,” Luda leaned in to whisper the next part. “She thinks just because some psychic told her that her soulmate’s name is Juyeon, that he’s automatically the one for her.”

 

Eunseo spewed out orange juice all over her tray of food. Luda looked at her incredulously. “It went down wrong.” She lied, Luda looked as if she was somewhat convinced.

 

“Again, no offense to him. I just think she’s being superstitious.”

 

 

Jiyeon fidgeted with her phone, scrolling through her photos and pausing when she came across a particular one. It was a selfie that Juyeon took and sent her. She tapped the screen, zooming into the background. Her and Eunseo were behind him, engaging in an intense conversation about something she’s long forgotten by now.

 

To be honest, she lost the initial fluttering feelings she had for Juyeon at the start of their relationship. She felt bad, since he was a genuine guy, but she also felt bad for reasons she wasn’t quite ready to accept.

 

She started to shift her attention towards his cousin, Eunseo, who had also become a friend of hers.

 

Jiyeon had no idea what to do.

 

“I brought us some water!” Jiyeon jumped at the sound of Juyeon plopping down next to her on the picnic blanket he set up for their anniversary. She turned off her phone and tossed it to the side. “Happy anniversary!”

 

She smiled, although a bit sadly. She didn’t want to end things with him today of all days, but it had to be done before further heartbreak.

 

“We need to talk.” Before Juyeon had time to even give her a concerned look, his phone buzzed in front of them. The screen flashed Juyeon. Jiyeon scrunched her eyebrows in utter confusion. Who is calling him?

 

Her question was answered right away when Juyeon snatched up his phone, chuckling somewhat kind of nervously. “Sorry, it’s Eunseo. Let me just answer this real quick.”

 

He got up and walked a bit back towards the school, leaving Jiyeon to simmer in the whirlwind of her thoughts. If that was Eunseo on the line, why did it say Juyeon?

 

 

Eunseo was definitely not avoiding Jiyeon. She wasn’t purposefully sitting in a different seat during their class together and she certainly wasn’t ignoring Jiyeon’s strong gazes at her. No, she definitely was not avoiding Jiyeon.

 

After what Luda had told her, serious or not, Eunseo was kind of a mess, to say the least.

 

She realized pretty early on that she had a big fat crush on her cousin’s girlfriend. There was just an undeniable connection, but she wasn’t sure if Jiyeon even noticed.

 

Call her silly, but maybe this psychic was onto something. So what she got a bit mixed up with which Juyeon her soulmate would be. 

 

But Jiyeon didn’t know her real name, and it was going to stay like that.

 

She was walking down the hallway to her locker when she saw her cousin barreling through the crowd of students. He had an apologetic look on his face.

 

“What did you do?”

 

“Sorry, I think Jiyeon found out your name is Juyeon.”

 

Maybe Eunseo spoke too soon.

 

 

The air was thick and heavy around them on the walk back home. Juyeon was unusually quiet and Eunseo’s mind was too jumbled to form a coherent diss or joke to make the awkward tension disappear.

 

She honestly didn’t know how to act, and she hated it.

 

“Jiyeon broke up with me today.”

 

Oh.

 

Oh.

 

“W-What? Why?” Eunseo managed to say. She had paused her steps for a quick second to give him a concerned look. “Today was your anniversary!”

 

He smiled softly, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It’s alright.” He swung an arm around Eunseo’s shoulder, keeping his gaze straight ahead. She kept shut when she noticed how his eyes watered. “I think she likes someone else, anyway.”

 

 

It was spring break before they knew it, and Eunseo had successfully managed to avoid Jiyeon for the past week. If she knew any better, she would have thought the older girl was avoiding her too.

 

This didn’t go unnoticed by Luda, but it did go unnoticed by Juyeon, which was a relief to Eunseo. She felt bad about everything. About her crush on Jiyeon and how things ended between her and her cousin.

 

It never truly sat right with her and a bitter feeling settled in her stomach whenever Jiyeon came into her view. Her cousin is who mattered most to her.

 

And if that meant shoving down her feelings for Jiyeon, then so be it.

 

 

Eunseo spent the whole duration of spring break helping Juyeon cope with the break up, even though he would never say it out loud, opting to blame his sour mood on poor test grades.

 

She was lounging on the couch as she dumbly watched her cousin yell at the game he was playing on his big screen tv.

 

She felt her phone buzz, immediately whipping it out from under her to check who it’s from, hoping it would be someone who could save her from this absolute boredom she found herself stuck in.

 

From: Luda

How are things on your end? Is your cousin doing okay?

 

Eunseo thought that her friend’s text was sweet, remembering how Luda was the one that told her that Jiyeon and Juyeon shouldn’t even be together.

 

To: Luda

He’s drowning his sorrows in games, but he will be fine.

 

From: Luda

Good.

 

Eunseo was ready to turn off her phone when she saw Luda’s text bubble pop up. She was typing something long it seemed like, but the bubble disappeared.

 

She sighed as she clicked her phone off and set it back on the couch. Her phone instantly buzzed again and she resisted rolling her eyes before she opened the message.

 

From: Luda

I hope you don’t stay mad at Jiyeon for long. She misses you, I can tell. 

 

Eunseo clicked her phone off again, not knowing what to say to that. She wasn’t mad at Jiyeon. Sure, she was upset that her cousin was upset, but she wasn’t mad. But she was set on avoiding the older girl for a while, for the sake of her cousin, she told herself.

 

 

Jiyeon made it easy for Eunseo to avoid her, seeming as the older girl moved seats, permanently, after spring break. She didn’t even spare a glance at the older girl the whole math class. Lunch was going to be trickier to deal with, Eunseo thought. She didn’t want Luda to choose who to hang out with between the two of them.

 

Surprisingly, Jiyeon was nowhere to be found. Luda was madly forking at her rice at their usual table when Eunseo walked up. Her friend scowled as she slowly took a seat across from her.

 

“What’s up?”

 

“I think Jiyeon is with your cousin.”

 

Eunseo heavily ignored the way her heart plummeted. “Why?” She started to fork at her food, losing all appetite even though they were serving her favorite meal today.

 

“I think he wanted to get back together.”

 

She dropped her fork. Juyeon hadn’t mentioned this to her, and she felt a little betrayed at how he wouldn’t confide in her, or ask her opinion. But his relationship wasn’t really her business, yet she still scowled at the thought.

 

They sat through lunch quietly, Luda peeking up at her friend every now and then, wanting to know what’s going through the taller girl’s mind. She hasn’t mentioned it, nor will she ever, but Luda notices the way Eunseo looks at Jiyeon and vice versa.

 

If only they stopped being foolish, she thought.

 

 

“You’re coming to my birthday party later, right?”

 

Eunseo gave her cousin a look. “Course, why would I miss it?” He let out a chuckle.

 

It was a Saturday morning and they were sprawled across the living room couch watching cartoons.

 

“I’ve invited everyone.” A pause. “Even Jiyeon.”

 

A beat passed before Eunseo grunted in response, seeming nonchalant when the pace of her heart picked up at the name.

 

“We’re good friends now.” Juyeon mumbled distractedly, most of his focus on the television in front of them.

 

Eunseo nodded absentmindedly before reaching for her phone to shoot Luda a quick text.

 

To: Luda

Are you coming to Juyeon’s birthday party later?

 

It took a couple minutes before a response, but Eunseo stared at the screen in anticipation.

 

From: Luda

Yes, with Jiyeon!

 

She was relieved to know that Luda was coming to keep her company during the party, but she was nervous about seeing Jiyeon.

 

It had been a while since she’s had a genuine conversation with the other girl, only exchanging quick glances in passing.

 

Eunseo was honestly getting sick of it all. She missed Jiyeon.

 

 

“Come on Jiyeon, the party started an hour ago!” Luda bounded up the steps to the front door of Juyeon’s house. “We should have been here ages ago if it wasn’t for your stalling!” 

 

Truth be told, Jiyeon didn’t even want to come. But even after everything, she just couldn’t say no to Juyeon’s kind smile.

 

So here she was, kind of hiding behind Luda as she knocked on the door.

 

The door swung open to reveal a flurry of people either drinking or dancing or drinking and dancing. 

 

She felt Luda’s hand grasp around hers as they entered the crowd. Her mind was too preoccupied with the loud music to realize where Luda was leading her.

 

“Eunseo!”

 

Thump thump

 

Thump thump

 

Waves of blonde locks flipped to the side as if in slow motion. Jiyeon gawked at Eunseo’s newly dyed hair. And the outfit she was wearing was tightly fit to her body.

 

She needed a drink. Immediately.

 

“Luda!” Eunseo exclaimed, only slightly slurred, but still wobbling around. “Take a shot with me!”

 

Jiyeon ignored the plethora of emotions she was experiencing, and also the fact that she wasn’t acknowledged by Eunseo.

 

She slid behind the counter to mix herself a strong drink. One shot, two shot, three shots of tequila with a dash of strawberry margarita mix. Perfect.

 

She gagged as she chugged a hefty amount of it. She heard Luda laughing next to her.

 

“Why bother putting in the mix?” Luda teased.

 

Eunseo joined in the laughter, slapping at Luda’s arm before tugging her towards the dancing group of people.

 

This was going to be a long night.

 

 

Jiyeon felt like she was suffocating. Not only because of the tension, but also because of the heat and sweatiness of everyone at the party.

 

She slid the door open to the back porch and sat on a bench. It was pitch black outside, but the view in front of her was still gorgeous.

 

She has been to Juyeon’s house a couple of times during their relationship. Their backyard was her favorite thing about the house. His mother grew a beautiful garden of flowers and plants. There were trimmed hedges and a small archway for the stone walkway in the middle of it.

 

The door squeaked open, followed by a smacking noise. “Oh!”

 

Jiyeon turned around. It was Juyeon. He was rubbing his forehead, a red spot forming quickly.

 

“I guess I drank more than I thought!” He took a seat next to her. She directed her gaze back towards the garden.

 

Juyeon stared at Jiyeon quietly. Something had been sitting on his mind for a long time, he just couldn’t find the right words.

 

“Jiyeon?” She turned towards him. “What do you think about my cousin?”

 

It might’ve been the alcohol that gave him the courage to finally talk about it, but he was lucid enough to notice the flash of emotion on Jiyeon’s face.

 

“W-What do you mean by that?”

 

He let out a sigh. “How do you feel about her?” She looked down at the drink in her hand, swishing it around before chugging the rest of it.

 

“I don’t know what you’re trying to get at.”

 

Juyeon ran a hand through his hair out of mild frustration. “I know you have feelings.”

 

A deafening pause.

 

“For her.”

 

Jiyeon stood up, giving him a final look that showed her exhaustion, before heading towards the back door.

 

“Juyeon is worth the fight, Jiyeon.”

 

She swiftly turned around only to be faced with his back.

 

Juyeon?

 

It seems that she questioned it out loud since he responded.

 

“Oh, crap. I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone her real name.” He muttered more to himself. 

 

Like a tidal wave, everything hit her. It all made so much sense. Everything seemed clear to her now. Bright as day.

 

 

Eunseo fidgeted as she watched her cousin and Jiyeon in the backyard. Luda bumped into her, shoving a glass of water into her hands.

 

“I’m sure it’s nothing.”

 

The sudden feeling of dryness in told her to chug down the glass of water. She scrambled to grab the bottle of tequila before Luda pushed it out of reach.

 

“We’re done drinking for the night.”

 

“I’m hardly drunk.”

 

Truth be told, Eunseo was only mildly drunk. She felt sober the moment Jiyeon walked through the door.

 

Luda shook her head, guarding the alcohol. Eunseo would probably appreciate her better in the morning when she doesn’t wake up with a raging hangover.

 

“Going to the bathroom!”

 

She weaved her way through to get to the small bathroom. It had one of those sliding doors and a hook on the handle to lock it.

 

Eunseo didn’t even need to go. She put the toilet seat down and sat on it. She rubbed her hands against her face.

 

She was exhausted, her and Juyeon spent the whole day getting ready for the party. She looked at the mirror that was only a couple feet in front of her.

 

Her hair was tousled and her make up was now smeared, thanks to her sweat.

 

She jumped back and yelped when the door rapidly slid open. Jiyeon had entered and closed the door behind her.

 

“That was locked.” Was all she could say before she felt lips on hers.

 

It was messy and rushed, and tasted a lot like tequila.

 

But Eunseo couldn’t deny the feeling of floating. Floating on a white, fluffy cloud called Nine.

 

Jiyeon’s lips were soft yet determined and it sent tingles throughout her entire body.

 

The realization hit her a moment too late. Jiyeon was pulling away and already heading out the bathroom door.

 

Eunseo stood in her spot, totally dumbfounded, before Luda appeared in front of her.

 

“Everything alright?”

 

“Absolutely not.”

 

 

Eunseo threw empty cans of beer into the black trash bag she was lugging around Juyeon’s house. “Our parents would kill us if they saw this mess.”

 

She heard her cousin let out a hearty laugh from the kitchen. She rubbed at her head, not quite hungover but still groggy from it being so early in the morning.

 

“Last night was something alright.”

 

Eunseo flopped against the couch, sighing heavily. Juyeon eyed her, pouring himself a glass of water and chugging it down before he spoke again.

 

“Did you talk to Jiyeon?”

 

Eunseo grunted in response, which he took as a “no”.

 

“She for sure knows your real name now, sorry. I accidentally let it slip last night.” He spoke very quickly, obviously a bit nervous about how Eunseo would react.

 

She waved him off. “It’s whatever.”

 

He plopped down right next to her on the couch. “Do you remember the night we went to the beach with Luda and Jiyeon?”

 

Eunseo thought back to that night. It was a dull and slow day so the four of them decided to spontaneously take a drive down to the beach.

 

 

They stepped off the bus and breathed in the fresh ocean breeze. Eunseo looked around in awe, not having visited the coast in years.

 

Juyeon was already running towards the water, Luda hollering after him about how freezing the water will be if he dares to enter it.

 

Eunseo and Jiyeon reached a bench overlooking the view, sitting down and taking in the sunset. It was quiet for a moment.

 

There was an undeniable pull, Eunseo concluded. There was just no way she couldn’t stay away from Jiyeon, no way her eyes could wander elsewhere when the girl was near. 

 

“I like watching sunsets. They make me think.”

 

Eunseo turned to look at Jiyeon. The orange color of the sky made her face glow. She doesn’t think she’s ever seen a prettier sight. 

 

She heard Jiyeon chuckle. “Aren’t you going to ask me what they make me think of?” She finally faced Eunseo, catching her staring.

 

They stared for a beat, then Eunseo spoke softly. “What do they make you think of?”

 

Eunseo locked her gaze onto Jiyeon’s eyes. Jiyeon pretended to lull over the thought, when she knew exactly what her answer was. 

 

But she didn’t need to say it, because she had a feeling Eunseo might already have an idea as to what it is. 

 

Jiyeon dropped her eyes down to their intertwined hands, sighing internally as she looked back up, daring a glance at the other girl’s lips. 

 

The sound of Luda’s squealing broke them out of their moment. Eunseo abruptly stood up and shouted over the railing. 

 

“Juyeon, don’t throw her in!”

 

 

“What about that night?” Eunseo shuffled around, feeling something off about this conversation.

 

“Back then, I didn’t realize what I saw.”

 

She gave her cousin a look, then furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “Saw what, exactly?”

 

His eyes weren’t exactly sad, but not quite pitiful either. They just looked really apologetic. This just furthered her confusion. Eunseo whacked him on the shoulder.

 

“Tell me!”

 

He leaned forward and rubbed at his face. They were close cousins, but they rarely ever got to talk about something as deep as their feelings for important things.

 

He struggled to find his words, just like the night before with Jiyeon.

 

“I didn’t realize that you had feelings for Jiyeon.”

 

One second, two seconds, sixty seconds.

 

Eunseo was awfully quiet. He peaked through his hands to look at his cousin.

She looked like a frozen statue that wasn’t about to defrost any time soon.

 

He lightly shook her shoulders. “Hello? Earth to Eunseo.” Juyeon dropped his hands after she didn’t budge.

 

“She kissed me last night.”

 

Juyeon’s eyes widened, pure shock evident on his face. “But you told me you guys didn’t talk!”

 

She sighed heavily, finally looking at him. “We didn’t.” She actively ignored the pout on his face, a look he always gave her whenever something made her sad.

 

“There’s nothing more to say.” Eunseo got up and gave her cousin one last look before she left through the back door.

 

Juyeon would do anything for his cousin. She was the closest thing he had to a sister, and he was willing to do anything, even put aside his own feelings, to make her happy.

 

He was going to fight for them.

 

 

Luda closed her locker door to find Juyeon waiting right behind it with a big grin.

 

She let out a yelp. “You scared me!”

 

His eyes crinkled as he laughed. “I didn’t do anything!” She glared at him, which only furthered his laughter.

 

“What do you want?!” His laughter died down and he turned slightly serious.

 

“I need help.” Luda furrowed her eyebrows. “To get Jiyeon and Eunseo together.”

 

 

Eunseo spun around in her chair for what seemed like hours. The kiss from the other night was playing on repeat in her mind. She wondered if Jiyeon was drunk and didn’t remember, wondered if it was all a mistake.

 

She couldn’t remember the last time she had a genuine conversation with the other girl. Eunseo missed her, missed her company and missed her friendship.

 

She thought about her cousin’s words. Her heart clenched at the idea of him battling his own feelings to encourage her instead. With his go ahead, maybe this would be a step in the right direction.

 

The only thing stopping her was the fear of losing something so great. The anxiety plagued her. She couldn’t handle it.

 

She didn’t want to deal with it.

 

 

It seemed like such a rare occurrence now for the four of them to be gathered together. Juyeon had dragged Eunseo to the same beach they were at months ago while Luda was in charge of bringing Jiyeon.

 

Now the four of them were suffering in awkward silence. The bonfire Juyeon had attempted to make was crackling, the last of the flames being put out by the ocean breeze.

 

“Well, time to find more wood! Luda?” Juyeon pointedly asked, Luda scrunching up her eyebrows in confusion before she realized his intentions. She hurriedly scurried after him.

 

“They made it so obvious.” Jiyeon mumbled out as she spread her legs out, digging her heels into the sand.

 

Eunseo went over a billion thoughts in her head. “Made what obvious?”

 

“They set us up, can’t you tell?” She watched as the older girl hugged her knees, still not making any eye contact.

 

Eunseo dared herself to scoot closer. “And why would they do that?” It seemed to have come out in a whisper, and she wondered if Jiyeon even heard her at all.

 

The older girl finally turned to look at her and the image of her long brown hair flowing in the wind combined with her soft, ethereal face burned into Eunseo’s mind.

 

It clicked. In that moment it clicked for Eunseo. What was the point in life without some risks? Being with Jiyeon would be worthwhile, the best risk Eunseo could ever take.

 

She leaned in and Jiyeon met her halfway. Their foreheads touched and Eunseo grazed her nose against Jiyeon’s.

 

“So am I the right soulmate?” Eunseo couldn’t help but ask. She let out a laugh at the incredulous look on Jiyeon’s face after she had pulled away.

 

“How do you know about tha- LUDA!”

 

Jiyeon scrambled up from the sand to lurch at Luda who was unknowingly approaching the two with bundles of wood in her twig arms.

 

Eunseo got up just as quick, but to pull Jiyeon back and into her embrace. The smaller girl’s head nestled perfectly in the crook of Eunseo’s neck.

 

“I could say something super cheesy right now to confess my feelings, but I think you can already feel my heart beat.” Jiyeon playfully pushed the taller girl away, scowling softly at the wide grin on Eunseo’s face.

 

“Well.” Jiyeon looked up at Eunseo, a soft smile forming on her face. “I feel the same.”

 

 

Juyeon smiled at his cousin as he flopped onto the loveseat in Eunseo’s living room. She didn’t need to see him to feel his smug grin.

 

She rolled her eyes. “What?”

 

“I’m happy for you.”

 

Her heart softened at his words. They have gone through so many changes and it had only been a school year, let alone her first year there. They have gotten closer than ever.

 

“Thanks for everything, Juyeon.”

 

“No problem, Juyeon.”

 

 

Eunseo had gotten a text from Jiyeon, her now girlfriend, asking to meet her in the school gardens. It was their last day of the year and she was excited for what’s to come during the summer. 

 

They can go on more group trips to the beach, dates with Jiyeon, have parties at Juyeon’s. The options were endless and she was buzzing at the anticipation of it all.

 

Eunseo entered the archway at the front of the garden, looking around to see if Jiyeon was there yet. The flowers were all in full bloom, the hedges and bushes trimmed perfectly.

 

“Boo!” Eunseo whipped around in surprise, clenching at her beating heart, realizing it was just the older girl.

 

Jiyeon had a flower crown sitting on top of her head, it seemed to be self made as it was already falling apart. Eunseo giggled as she poked it.

 

“What’s this?”

 

She watched as the older girl opened her hands to reveal a smaller version of her flower crown.

 

“I couldn’t find enough flowers to make another crown, so I made you a bracelet instead.” Jiyeon held up Eunseo’s hand to put it on.

 

The taller girl blushed deeply. “And I thought I was the cheesy one.”

 

Jiyeon stood on her tippy toes to give Eunseo a peck on her lips. Her heart filled with warmth at the peaceful smile on the younger girl’s face.

 

“I may be your soulmate, but you are mine.”

 

Jiyeon deadpanned. “You just had to one-up me, didn’t you?”

 

Their laughs echoed throughout the garden. This is what it felt like to feel genuine and true happiness. Eunseo was excited for her future, whatever it brought, she was ready to embrace it all.