“Coffee?” Naeun asked quietly, trotting to the kettle and finishing filling her own cup. Hayoung shook her head and went to sit on the couch, fiddling with her hands until Naeun came next to her. It was dead silent but they could already hear their thoughts whizzing through the air. Hayoung grit her teeth and finally began...

                        “So I–”

                        “I love you.” Naeun could feel her eyes hot with tears but she forced them back. Her knuckles were white from gripping the handle of her mug too tight and she could only feel the tension building faster. Hayoung was staring at her; she was so tempted to reach up and wipe away the sadness from her face. No, she had to resist. Her lips squeezed together and her eyes softened with a determined warmth.

                        “I’m sorry.” She mustered the words out in a hushed whisper, watching Naeun's face fall into a deep devastation. 

                        Then, a knock. Urgent, quick, and looming taps against the wooden dorm door. Naeun's eyes glazed over Hayoung for a second before slowly getting up. She shuffled to the entrance, peered at it for a while, then jerked it open. Hayoung watched her stiffen at the sight of the visitor. It was Namjoo.

                        “Oh Hayoung,” It was a menacing call, but drained enough that Hayoung was not afraid to look up, “Talk to me for a minute.”

                        Naeun stepped aside, trailing Hayoung's figure that left the dorm hesitantly. Namjoo waited for the door to shut before snagging Hayoung's wrist. There was a sense of desperation in the way her nails dug into her skin.

                        “Don’t do what you’re about to do.” Namjoo said firmly. She let her hands fall to her side but her eyes remained glued to Hayoung's puzzled expression.

                        “What?”

                        “Let me ask you something,” Namjoo paused and let her teeth clamp together despite her pained look, “Do you still love me?”

                        “Of course I do. I’ve always loved you Namjoo.” Hayoung replied sadly. Namjoo couldn’t help but notice something different in the way she said those words. Different from the time she first said it years ago. Different in the way it rang in her ears and her body. It had the same heat and truth but it blew Namjoo's hearts to pieces. She just didn't know why. She swallowed hard.

                        “What about her?” Namjoo can feel her voice cracking, “What about Naeun? Do you love her?”

                        Hayoung shook her head weakly, trying not to let Namjoo see the vulnerability in her eyes. She could never lie to her. “I love you.”

                        “Answer the question.” Namjoo tried again, hoping only that Hayoung would speak, “You can tell me the truth. I would know if you tried to lie anyway.”

                        “I miss us.” Hayoung said, tugging Namjoo into her arms. She stilled for a second, tears running down from her face as she pushed away from her.

                        “Hayoung, please. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.” Namjoo could barely continue, “I just want you to be happy. I want us to be happy. So answer me with the truth. Do you love her?”

                        “Why are you asking me this?”

                        “Because I know you. I know that you still feel guilty about leaving me: guilty enough that you would throw away the girl you love now for the girl you loved in the past.”

                        Hayoung flinched at it. The truth. She had been holding back for too long: pretending like they didn’t know how the other felt when in reality, they always knew. They were each others missing pieces even after their separation. Namjoo could feel herself crumbling within her body but she gathered the pieces for the last time.

                        “What you’re about to tell Naeun isn’t the right thing to do. That’s you repeating your mistakes. That’s you being selfish. You would be leaving her in pieces and me in a pointless relationship just so you could feel better about yourself. Just so you can erase a past you wished happened differently.” Namjoo slowed her breath and let her fingers brush against Hayoung's tears, “Just give me closure. That’s all I need and want from you.”

                        Hayoung nodded then gave Namjoo's hand a light squeeze. “I’m sorry for leaving you.”

                        “I’m okay now.” Namjoo said. She let out a long sigh and smiled with the genuinity that Hayoung loved so much. “Friends?”

                        “Forever.”

.....
 

                        “Your sister is quite something.” Chorong claimed, propping herself up on her elbows. Eunji nodded nonchalantly, then reached under the bed to grab her shirt. It had been a dramatic night but Eunji had something else on her mind.

                        “I have somewhere I want to take you.” She said suddenly, turning Chorong onto her side. Chorong stared at her curiously then spun to face her. Their noses were almost touching and Eunji had to stop herself from diving in again. She let her arms shift a little before pushing off the mattress and landing elegantly on her feet. Chorong let her muscles rest and sat up.

                        “Where are you trying to take me? It’s dark out.”

                        “Are you scared?” Eunji asked mockingly. She clutched her coat and swung it over her shoulders, scrunching up her face when Chorong jeered at her. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you from the monsters.”

                        “Shut up. I can handle myself just fine.” Chorong hopped up from the bed and began to trail after Eunji, crashing into her shoulder playfully and walking ahead of her. Eunji giggled at the action and jogged to catch up to her. It was still chilly outside but Eunji took it as a chance to hug Chorong close to her body. They walked bundled in each others arms across campus, Eunji occasionally pointing to redirect Chorong. She refused to tell her where she was taking her, but there was an odd feeling that made Chorong feel as if Eunji was getting nervous.

                        “We’re almost there.” Eunji said weakly, jabbing her index finger to the line of shops across the street.

                        “Are we going to the coffee place?” Chorong asked, “Doesn’t it close at ten?”

                        “Let’s go.” Eunji ignored Chorong's confused protests and began to drag her across the road, focused on the warm lights glowing in the shop’s glass window. Much to Chorong's surprise, the door clattered open and a worker stood awaiting them with two warm drinks. Eunji motioned for Chorong to go sit at the window sill and grabbed the beverages. Her hands were trembling anxiously though Eunji blamed it on the cold. She wobbled over next to Chorong carefully, coughing to clear before sitting down. Chorong couldn’t help but keep watching her with concern. Something was off.

                        “Do you remember this place?” Eunji started softly, rubbing her hands against the cup of coffee. Chorong looked down at her own drink, averting her eyes from the scenery in front of them.

                        “Yeah. We came here before.”

                        “This is where you told me that trouble always finds you.”

                        Chorong nodded in agreement, recalling the first day she met Eunji. It was already almost a foggy memory for her; it felt so long ago when she barely knew the girl sitting next to her. She went from nothing to her everything.

                        “I think that’s how I found you.” Eunji whispered. She was still shaking but the weight of her words was unfazed. “I’m a load of trouble that didn’t know anything about everything until you.”

                        Chorong started to brace herself for what came next. She wasn’t used to how serious Eunji was. Her flirting had always been casual and natural even while being sincere.

                        “I love you Park Chorong. I love you more than anything and frankly, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let you go.”

                        “Me too.” Chorong said, suddenly aware of the way Eunji's hand was positioned on top of hers. She gave it an affectionate nudge then smiled, hoping it would calm Eunji's nerves. It seemed it did. The girl slipped away for a brief second, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a quaint black box.

                        “Will you marry me?” Eunji flipped the lid open to reveal the thin golden ring. Chorong fell into a trance, her mind blank with shock. “I know it’s sudden and early but we can marry after we’re both done with college and settled down. I’m willing to wai–”

                        “Yes.” Chorong cut her off, a wide smile stretched across her face as she gave Eunji her answer. It was the perfect moment Eunji had imagined. Despite her blubbering nonsense, she had pictured the two of them sitting in the dimly lit cafe, the dark night filling their happy news with more joy, the simmering warmth of their drinks, and sparkling jewelry slipped on Chorong's thin ring finger. The last piece of their puzzle was placed within that single moment.

Years later…

                        “You guys really just got married and you came here?” Bomi stared at the newly wedded couple in shock, snortling at Namjoo who had choked on her beer. The six friends were seated in a bustling restaurant after attending Naeun and Hayoung's wedding. It was a long time since they had a reunion like this though they met in smaller groups frequently.

                        “Aren’t you guys going to go on a honeymoon?” Eunji asked, brushing away the irritated slaps against her arm. Her wife was never pleased about public display of affection even after being married for three years. This didn’t stop Eunji from doing so anyway; she touched, nudged, kissed, and embraced tirelessly. “Chorong and I had an amazing time on our honeymoon. Our nights were wil– ow!” Eunji felt a jab of pain on her toes and looked up sheepishly to see Chorong giving her a death glare. The rest of the group laughed at Eunji's obvious fate before jumping back to pestering the newlyweds.

                        “I just can’t believe you guys were the last to get married.” Namjoo commented, pouring herself another glass of beer, “Even Bomi and I got married before you guys even brought up the idea of engagement.”

                        “We just wanted to date for longer.” Naeun argued defensively, shoving Hayoung to get her support.

                        Hayoung looked up in reluctant obedience, “You seem to forget that we’re a lot younger than most of you guys.”

                        “I wouldn’t say a lot.” Chorong mumbled under her breath. Eunji giggled at her wife’s distaste on the comment and pressed herself against her ear.

                        “Don’t worry. I love you even if you’re old.” Eunji whispered only to be sent back by a firm jab in her stomach.

                        “I hate you.” Chorong sneered and began to chug down her glass of beer, ignoring Eunji's excessively loud guffaws. While Chorong continued to scold her bothersome wife, Namjoo caught Hayoung's eye. They shared a brief exchange of congratulatory warmth and relief pumped in Hayoung's veins when she realized how far they had come. Their new lives would never forget their bittersweet past and no matter what they did, each of them at that table had a friend they could depend on if times got tough. Bomi and Eunji were like a pair of boys fighting for dominance, but with their interactions they developed loyalty to each other. Naeun and Chorong spent restless days in each others presence because they loved the comfort of their quiet conscience. Hayoung and Namjoo would forever know that there was someone out there who understood exactly how they thought or felt. Their friendships were almost as strong as their attachment to their lovers.

                        When their food finally arrived, the group began to dig in, laughing and sharing the memories of their college days. It seemed that no matter how long they were apart, they always came together as if nothing had happened. They were lifelong friends tied together by a small plan that had come together years ago. A plan that led Hayoung to Naeun. A plan that gave true bonds to Bomi. A plan that showed Namjoo closure. A plan that formed everlasting love to an unlikely couple. Sure, it started off as just another one of Eunji's nonsensical schemes, but it blossomed into a life changing experience.

                        Everyone got their happy ending just by being with each other.

~fin.

A.N. : I was actually originally going to have another chapter before ending the story, but I thought everything flowed right like this. Anyway, thank you so much to everyone who read this fic; I had a lot of fun writing it and watching everyone's responses. And plz comment what you thought about everything (I'm really curious lol) I might even make a mini sequel but that's only if I come up with a good idea for it ;)