Chapter 44 (Part 2)

Strawberries&Cigarettes
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Lighters and candy, I've been a fool(I can't shake my hunger for)

 

As a high school junior who had taken the CSAT, recently graduated and was an official adult, only one thing drove her nuts.

Time.

Time was running out.

Even when they saw each other every day, every single day, it was never enough. It was like Seulgi couldn't get enough of Joohyun Bae which was true.

And now, after four days, Seulgi will leave for Busan and Joohyun will leave for Seoul.

About a month ago this all seemed like an event that was going to happen in the far away future, but now she felt as if she got slapped in the face by reality.

Joohyun seemed to feel the same way because she would always try to choke back her emotions and give Seulgi a peck every time the older felt self-conscious.

"We did everything we could think of together." Joohyun had mumbled as she pecked her lips again to the younger hugging her from behind. "But I always feel like there's something missing."

"We still haven't visited Auntie Mia yet," Seulgi suggested. "Maybe that will help."

 

So that's how the five girls decided to go on a trip together to auntie Mia's villa for the last time.

"So." Joy lifted her heavy bag with a grunt. "Who is going to drive?"

Joohyun gave Wendy a look. "I'll let you drive if you promise you won't ever drive like auntie Mia."

"Did I just hear my name?" The five girls turned and blankly stared at the woman who took off her sunglasses as she flashed them a smile. "Girls!" Mia exclaimed as she spread out her arms in greeting. "It's so nice to see you all again!"

"Auntie!" Yerim squealed making the four girls flinch and wake up from their daze. "What are you doing here?"

The woman walked toward them, her smile still evident.

“I heard from our Seungwan that you all need a ride!"

The appalled bunny and the bear stared at Wendy while the other two jumped up and down in excitement.

Joohyun glared at the hamster. Sure she was very happy to see auntie Mia but she didn't miss her driving at all.

"I asked you not to drive like auntie Mia." She hissed at Wendy who gave her an apologetic smile. "And this is somehow the perfect opposite of what I was hoping for!"

"Sorry," Wendy whispered as they watched Yerim and Joy whooping and opening the car door. "She insisted on taking us. I had no choice."

Joohyun was about to rant about if Wendy wanted to get all of them killed before the start of next semester but stopped when she felt a gentle squeeze on her hand.

"Just like the old times." The younger smiled which made all her anger melt away. "I like it."

Joohyun sighed, managing to calm herself down. "Fine." She tightened her grip. "But you have to bear with me screaming for help."

 

It was still winter but that didn't stop the five girls from jumping around the beach, not minding they couldn't feel their fingers and toes at all.

They spent the whole afternoon playing snowball fight which resulted in Seulgi becoming the human snowman thanks to Yerim.

So Seulgi stayed seated on the porch, shivering as she covered herself with blankets and trying to keep herself warm with the mini heater next to her and three hand warmers Joohyun had shoved in her pockets.

"Wendy told me everything." Seulgi turned around and saw Mia holding up two mugs of warm milk. She handed one to the bear and casually sat beside her on the porch. "Seems like you two went through quite a lot."

"Even a lot is an understatement." Seulgi agreed as she felt warmth lingering inside after drinking the warm milk.

"I guess we have to spend the night if I pester you to tell the whole story?" Mia asked and Seulgi just laughed. "I wish I could. But yes, I will be very cranky the next day."

Mia thoughtfully tapped her chin with her finger. "Then.. Can you at least tell me how did you have the guts to officially ask her to be your girlfriend?"

Seulgi struggled to recall the moment when she felt most nervous and worn out because of the 'three tortures'. "It took a lot of candies."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You know in some movies a man picks a flower, and picks one petal off one by one as he says the phrases 'She loves me,' and 'She loves me not.'?"

Now it was Mia's turn to laugh but tired to muffle it by covering . "How adorable. But what do candies have got to do with it?"

"Well.." Seulgi scratched her head, suddenly regretting she told auntie Mia one of her most embarrassing moments. "The restaurant I worked in.. Has a bouquet of candies.. And it seemed so wrong to pick a flower-"

"And yet you had to do it because you were so nervous." Mia burst out laughing again. "So you decided to ask her because the last candy ended with a 'she loves me'?"

"Actually, it didn't." Seulgi grinned. "It ended with a 'she loves me not', but I thought to myself 'Then I'm going to prove that wrong.' and I did."

Auntie Mia couldn't help but laugh again seeing how proud Seulgi looked as she said that. "How romantic."

"But it wasn't just me," Seulgi admitted as she turned her gaze to the four girls laughing and chattering endlessly around the old-fashioned campfire. "If not for them, I don't think I would have come this far."

"That's what friends do," Mia said as she inhaled the cool evening air.

"I wish this could last forever," Seulgi mumbled. "Why does anything have to end?"

"I know what you feel." Auntie Mia agreed, smiling at her niece looking happier than ever with her friends. "But maybe that's because there are many more things yet to come for you to experience."

"Why am I not feeling very good about that?"

"Since people can't get what they want for granted." Auntie Mia replied. "But who knows? Maybe in the future, you'll experience another moment of happiness you wish could live in forever."

"I don't know.."

"Then try." Auntie Mia insisted. "Close your eyes, and imagine yourself after five years."

Seulgi closed her eyes and thought hard about what would it be like after five years.

She would have graduated from college by then and maybe busy with employment.

That didn't really count as her moment of happiness.

Receiving an email of decline and rejection, saying that she wasn't good enough for the company.

But as auntie Mia said, people can't get anything for granted.

Joohyun would be busy with her intern work at the hospital so she would also be having struggles.

But Seulgi didn't feel so scared or insecure about that anymore.

Because as she said, life was too short to even love someone enough. And she was sure Joohyun thought the same.

The ring on their left hand proved it.

Even if they fought, and parted again, they would always make a choice to meet again, and that would be their fate.

And as Seulgi watched Joohyun laughing hard about what Yerim said, she reminded herself again never to let her go first.

She made a promise. And it was her duty to keep it.

"I think I know what you mean."

Mia smiled motherly. "Really?"

"Truthfully, I can still see myself getting insecure and anxious because of the employment and Joohyun being worn out from her intern work. But," Seulgi gave auntie Mia a confident smile. "It doesn't seem so frightening anymore."

"That's because you trust her." Auntie Mia beamed. "And I'm glad you do."

Seulgi's eyes are focused on one girl and Mia couldn't help but marvel how it reminded of her younger days when she was madly in love with Tom.

"She's so beautiful, you know?" Seulgi mumbled. "It makes me wonder everytime what did I do to deserve her."

Auntie Mia smirked. “Tell me anytime if you need advice about your wedding arrangements."

Seulgi blushed furiously. "No! I mean.. No.. Not yet anyway."

"You're too shy to ask?"

"No.. It's just that.. I want her to focus on her dream and.. us being together now.

Stop thinking about the future for a moment.. I don't want her to get stressed about our relationship anymore."

Mia grinned, "You really love that girl, don't you?"

Seulgi smiled when Joohyun's eyes met hers. "Yes." She said as she watched Joohyun gesturing her to come to sit beside her. "I do."

 

"I need to show you girls something."

Mia said as she excitedly escorted the five girls to the attic, which was surprisingly clean. Joohyun almost wondered why but got her answer when auntie Mia showed them a mannequin in a wedding dress.

It was breathtakingly gorgeous.

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MeloMera
I don't have a twitter account anymore but thankfully I saw a pleasant surprise today when I went back to my account for the last time :)
Thank you @dinniebur for liking this fic so much! I'm very happy&grateful that you enjoyed it :) your reactions about each chapter made my day haha

Comments

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hollyhunterey
#1
One of the best.. Thank you very much 💕
Kylie_123 #2
Rereading !!! Kasi gusto ko kiligin ulit 💗💗💗
Jensoo4everlove #3
Chapter 59: I LOVED THIS SO SO MUCH 😭❤ And thankyou so so much Author for taking out time to write such a masterpiece!!! I really appreciate it!! But why can't I see the sequel? 🥺
sjaelister
#4
I just want to ask if this is the original version because I read this but it's the Ryeji version on wattpad huhuhu.
AnneTokki 34 streak #5
Chapter 59: 💓💓💓💛💛💛🫶
Revemid12
#6
Reading this masterpiece for the third time, is my comfort fic, let’s goo!
Oct_13_wen_03 26 streak #7
Chapter 49: reread❤❤
serenedipitea
#8
Chapter 20: this chapter made me cry. the angst!!!
Seul_rene14 #9
Chapter 59: Am I the only one who won't get to read the sequel?🥺😭
gcpt21 #10
Chapter 49: This fic is so beautiful thank you so much author ily