‘Yujin.’ 

 

Wonyoung and Yujin were on the bus home after the fun dinner with her new teammates. Although it was quite uncomfortable sitting next to Yena and Yuri at least there was Hitomi to join in on cringing over them. 

 

‘Nani?’

 

The Japanese phrase made Wonyoung roll her eyes. ‘You made one Japanese friend and now you’re a weeboo.’ 

 

‘Yabai, Wonyoungie. It’s not my fault I’m so Kawaii!’ 

 

Wonyoung covered Yujin’s mouth with one hand, shushing her angrily. Though the smile on her face said otherwise. ‘Can’t you shut the hell up, sometimes?’ 

 

‘Hai!’ Yujin zipped . 

 

Wonyoung pushed her playfully before linking her arm into Yujin’s and leaning her head on her shoulder. She cuddled into her neck. 

 

‘Can we go to the beach tonight?’ 

 

Yujin chuckled. ‘You know our parents wouldn’t let us, right? They barely let us stay out this late with all the unnies.’

 

‘That’s why we’ll sneak out.’ Wonyoung said as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. ‘And we’re 18! We’re about to go to college. I don’t understand why we have to have a curfew.’

 

Yujin barely even blinked before she deadpanned, ‘we’re Asian, Wonyoung.’ 

 

……..

 

After going home to Wonyoung’s house and pretending to go to sleep, Wonyoung and Yujin had climbed off the balcony with their bags and ran to the nearest functioning bus stop. They had to keep shushing each other from giggling too loudly. 

 

They had made it to the beach, racing each other there and Yujin was obviously winning until she had “accidentally” gotten a cramp right before she made it there. Miraculously, the cramp disappeared as soon as Wonyoung won the race. 

 

They spent ages playing in the sand, building sandcastles and drawing pictures until eventually retiring to their towels to stare up at the night sky. 

 

‘What’s that moon called?’ Wonyoung pointed up with one arm, the other still supporting her body upright. Next to her, Yujin was in a similar position.

 

‘How am I supposed to know? I’m a jock, I’m dumb.’ 

 

Wonyoung laughed and pushed Yujin’s shoulder.  

 

‘You’re not dumb.’ Wonyoung said. 

 

‘You right, you right.’ Yujin clicked her tongue, a proud smile on her face. ‘It’s called a gibbous moon.’ 

 

Wonyoung nodded, impressed at her best friend’s knowledge. Though, Yujin wasn’t smart per school standards, she was still a very smart girl in other ways. Though Wonyoung thought she was terrible at reading people. 

 

Wonyoung shifted over so that her head was on Yujin’s lap and she brought one hand to Yujin’s knee, tracing drawings onto it. She couldn’t help the small smile on her face when she felt Yujin bring her hand up to softly Wonyoung’s hair. 

 

‘Why did you suddenly want to go to the beach?’ 

 

Wonyoung listened to the sound of the waves crashing onto the sand before mumbling into Yujin’s leg, ‘because I missed you.’ 

 

‘What does the beach have to do with me?’ Yujin chuckled. Wonyoung could feel Yujin’s body vibrate with the laugh. 

 

‘I feel like I haven’t talked to you in ages.’ 

 

‘But we talked today at dinner? And you, me and Hyewon unnie hung out a few days ago?’

 

That was true. But those times were with other people. Wonyoung felt like she and Yujin haven’t been able to hang out on their own lately. But she was too scared to say that. 

 

‘That’s true.’ Wonyoung chose her words carefully.. ‘I guess, I just wanted to hang out with you.’ 

 

If she was ever in need of a subject change, Wonyoung knew the best way to go about it was to Yujin’s ego. 

 

And somehow, in her obvious Yujin fashion, the topic of discussion led to some sort of competition, which led to the two of them racing to see who can go into the water first. 

 

This time, Yujin let her competitive nature take over and she made it into the water first, diving in so her whole body was wet, all the way to the top of her head. 

 

‘Yujin!’ Wonyoung covered her face with her hands. ‘I don’t want to get my hair wet.’

 

Yujin stuck out her tongue and waded over to Wonyoung. 

 

‘OOOH. Princess doesn’t want to get her hair wet.’ Yujin teased Wonyoung, her face constricting into some kind of mocking pout. 

 

Wonyoung narrowed her eyes at Yujin. Then she splashed water straight into the girl’s annoying face. 

 

Yujin sputtered for a moment, coughing a little bit. Wonyoung smiled in victory. 

 

‘Princess got bite, huh?’ Yujin said, once she recovered. Then she smiled mischievously and Wonyoung’s eyebrows shot up in fear. 

 

‘Ahn Yujin! Don’t you da—‘ 

 

Splash. 

 

Then there was silence, only the sound of the waves in the distance. 

 

Yujin stood still, smiling innocently at Wonyoung who was wiping the water off of her eyes. Wonyoung ran a hand through her now drenched hair. 

 

‘Oh, it’s on, now.’ Wonyoung said. 

 

Then she splashed the first blow. 

 

Yujin countered almost instantly, splashing her back with a wide smile. 

 

The two began to splash maniacally at each other, their laughter being drowned out by the sound of the water sloshing around them. 

 

From time to time, Yujin would hide underwater and pop up in another spot to try and avoid Wonyoung’s splashes. However, Wonyoung would always find her quickly and send water straight into the girl’s face. 

 

Until one time, Yujin didn’t come back up. 

 

Wonyoung frantically looked around, trying to find a glimpse of the girl. She tried squinting into the distance, trying to see if Yujin had swum out further. 

 

A dreaded feeling slipped through Wonyoung’s spine. 

 

‘Yujin?’ Wonyoung called out. 

 

No response. 

 

‘Quit playing! You can come out now.’ Wonyoung’s voice echoed over the ocean. ‘I promise I won’t splash you anymore.’ 

 

Suddenly, Wonyoung let out an ear piercing scream. 

 

Something was touching her leg. Not only was it touching her leg but it was grabbing it. Both legs to be exact. She felt herself being carried up. 

 

She screamed, trying to squirm out of the grip. 

 

Until she looked down and saw none other than Yujin under her, holding her by the legs and smiling cheekily up at her. 

 

‘Ahn Yujin!’ 

 

Yujin chuckled and lowered Wonyoung down to wrap the girl’s legs around her waist. 

 

‘You’re so annoying.’ Wonyoung hit her a few times. ‘I was genuinely worried! I thought you drowned.’

 

‘You’re more likely to drown than me.’ Yujin said, still smiling up at Wonyoung’s mad face. 

 

Yujin’s smile eventually melted Wonyoung and she couldn’t help but smile back at Yujin. 

 

Maybe it was the way they were so close. Maybe it was the way the moon was shining down on them. It could have been how pretty Yujin looked with her wet hair and her soft Yujin smile on her face. 

 

That smile slowly vanished as she focused more on Wonyoung’s face and Wonyoung swore she saw Yujin’s eyes flicker quickly to her lips. 

 

‘Yujinnie.’ 

 

Wonyoung felt herself leaning in slowly. Because, dammit, Wonyoung also swore that Yujin was leaning in first. 

 

She could feel Yujin’s hot breath on her face, hitting her lips and sending a shiver down her spine. It was a contrast to the cold water from the sea. 

 

Wonyoung couldn’t help but flutter her eyes closed, waiting for Yujin to clear the gap. 

 

Yujin’s nose was just grazing her own, sending Wonyoung’s heart into a flurry and she wanted nothing more than for Yujin to just lean in that tiny bit more.

 

But then she didn’t. 

 

‘We should probably head home, Wonyoungie.’ 

 

Wonyoung opened her eyes to see Yujin looking away, choosing to focus on a spot next to them instead.

 

Wonyoung said nothing as Yujin lowered her back down on the ground. 

 

Then just like that, Yujin’s whole demeanor changed. 

 

‘Race you to the towels!’

 

Then Yujin sped off towards the direction of the shore. 

 

Wonyoung watched her go for a bit, before shaking her head and half heartedly following after her.

 

………..

 

‘Can you believe it? We’re graduating next month.’

 

‘Sounds kinda fake but okay.’

 

‘I’m baby. And you’re a child. How are we going to survive university?’

 

It was a Saturday afternoon and instead of studying for their end of year exams like they had been for the past weeks, Wonyoung and Yujin were spending the day lounging around in the park. 

 

Yujin spun her basketball on her finger. At least tried to. 

 

‘Dibs not getting it!’ Yujin quickly touched her nose when the basketball went flying off her finger and Wonyoung could only stare helplessly at the basketball. 

 

Wonyoung sighed and crawled to retrieve the ball which had rolled a few feet in front of their spot on the picnic blanket Wonyoung insisted on taking because she got rashes from the grass.

 

‘If Huening Kai wins basketball MVP then we’ll know why.’ Wonyoung rolled her eyes and tossed the ball (weakly) in Yujin’s direction. 

 

Yujin let the ball hit her shoulder, faking pain. ‘That hurt me, Wonyoung. Spiritually and physically.’ 

 

‘Big baby.’ Wonyoung stuck out her tongue. 

 

Wonyoung didn’t know why she was so surprised that she and Yujin had instantly returned to how they normally acted. After that night on the beach, anybody would be awkward, regardless of how close they were. Anybody that wasn’t Ahn Yujin. 

 

‘Wonyoung, look! A butterfly!’ 

 

Seeing as the girl could switch from topic to topic with one blink, Wonyoung knew that she should have seen it coming. It didn’t stop her from feeling sort of embarrassed every time the two are a feet apart from each other. Wonyoung could barely look Yujin in the eyes lately. 

 

‘Oh! When do you have your first practice? Can I watch? Pretty pretty please?’ 

 

‘Hell no.’ Wonyoung crossed her arms. ‘I’m already nervous as it is, I don’t want to worry about you embarrassing me.’ 

 

‘Even if you say no, you know I’ll still go, right?’ 

 

Wonyoung chuckled. ‘I know. That’s why I’m not telling you when it is. Nor did I tell Yena unnie. And I already begged everyone else to not tell you.’

 

(Really, Wonyoung didn’t even have to beg. She already had the whole dance team wrapped around her finger. Only had to say “unnie” and they will do anything she wanted). 

 

‘You’re no fun.’ Yujin said, pouting. She leaned back onto the tree, keeping the pout on her face (and Wonyoung kind of wanted to kiss her pout but you didn’t hear that from her). 

 

‘ to be you.’ 

 

…………

 

‘How did Yujin find out?’ Eunbi whisper yelled to Hitomi. 

 

Hitomi shrugged and glanced warily towards the direction of the changerooms, Wonyoung just having headed in there. 

 

‘Wasn’t me.’ Sakura put her hands up in defence when Eunbi narrowed her eyes at her. 

 

‘Not me either!’ Chaeyeon parroted. 

 

Everyone snuck a wary glance at Chaewon who just stared at them and they instantly looked away, not wanting to face her glare. 

 

‘If it wasn’t any of us then it must have been Yena.’ Eunbi rolled her eyes. She turned to Hitomi. ‘I thought you told Yuri not to tell her.’ 

 

‘I did! But you know those two! They’re both equally as whipped for each other.’

 

‘Hi, unnies.’ Yujin smiled brightly at the group.

 

‘Yujin!’ Eunbi smiled at the girl. ‘Fancy seeing you here.’

 

‘Chaewon sunbaenim invited me to come.’ 

 

All eyes turned to the quiet girl on the side. She was stretching on the floor and it seemed like she was out of the conversation but seeing as her ears were slightly red, everyone knew otherwise. 

 

‘Ahn Yujin!

 

Yujin froze. 

 

‘H-hi, Princ— I mean, Wonyoung.’ Yujin scratched the back of her head sheepishly. ‘Surprise?’ 

 

Wonyoung could only roll her eyes. ‘You just can’t let anything go, can’t you?’ 

 

‘Heh.’ 

 

Suddenly, a voice chimed in and everyone was shocked to see who it was. 

 

‘I invited Yujin to join for lunch after.’ Chaewon said. ‘She’s going to join Chaeyeon unnie and I.’

 

Chaeyeon nodded quickly though her face said that this was her first time hearing about this.

 

‘Oh.’ Eunbi said in realisation.

 

‘Ohhh.’ Sakura chimed in afterwards. 

 

Hitomi pouted. ‘Why didn’t you say so, then?’

 

Chaewon just shrugged. ‘You guys never asked.’

 

………..

 

Munch, munch, chomp, chomp.

 

‘How can you eat all that?’ Chaeyeon raised her eyebrows. 

 

The two college students had finished what they had ordered awhile ago and were just sipping on their bubble tea. But Yujin was a growing girl who played basketball, and her appetite was huge.

 

Yujin only shrugged, was full of bread. She took some time to swallow and wiped of the crumbs.

 

‘Thank you for inviting me to lunch and all, but like… why?’ 

 

Chaeyeon and Chaewon exchanged a look. 

 

‘Do you like anyone?’ Chaeyeon blurted out and Chaewon wanted to facepalm so bad.

 

If Yujin was taken aback by the sudden question, she didn’t show it. 

 

‘I mean, yeah, kinda but it’s complicated. Why? Are you trying to set me up? Ooh! A blind date? I’ve never been on one before. I know I said dating is overrated but blind dates are funny, especially if it doesn’t work out.’ 

 

It was Chaewon and Chaeyeon’s turn to be slightly shocked at the girl’s energetic response. She was like a ball of sugar. Maybe it’s because she had just eaten a whole bowl worth of sugar.

 

‘We’re not setting you up on a blind date.’ Chaeyeon said. 

 

Yujin pouted for a second. ‘Aw.’ 

 

‘What about Wonyoung? Does she like anyone?’

 

And there it was. Chaeyeon didn’t notice it but Chaewon could definitely see the little flicker that passed through Yujin’s eyes. 

 

‘Oh, yeah, definitely.’ Yujin nodded her head. 

 

‘Do you know who?’ Chaeyeon pressed on.

 

‘Yup.’

 

Then silence. Chaeyeon waited to see if Yujin will elaborate but the girl just went back to eating her cheesecake. Since when did she order that? 

 

‘So,’ Chaeyeon coughed, ‘ are you planning on asking out the person you like?’ 

 

Yujin shook her head. ‘Oh, hell no.’

 

‘What’s there to lose?’ Chaeyeon said. ‘So, what if they say no?’

 

‘No.’ Yujin said. ‘What if she says yes?’ 

 

Chaeyeon could just blink in disbelief.

 

‘I uh… I don’t see what the problem with that is?’ Chaeyeon scratched her head. 

 

‘Everything! I can’t do relationships I’m… Yujin. I’m going to end up doing something stupid and I’m going to hurt her.’ 

 

‘Aren’t you hurting her now?’ 

 

It was the first time Chaewon had spoken and everyone on the table went quiet as all eyes turned to her. 

 

‘What?’ Yujin said. 

 

‘Aren’t you hurting her now by pushing your feelings for her away?’

 

Yujin crossed her arms, taking a break from eating for the first time. ‘How do you know I’m doing that?’ 

 

‘It doesn’t matter. You are, aren’t you?’ 

 

‘So, what if I am?’ Yujin said. ‘Why do you care? You don’t even know who she is.’ 

 

Chaewon studied Yujin’s face before sighing.

 

‘You’re a smart girl, Yujin. Just don’t hurt her.’ 

 

There was a silence among the three of them, an uncomfortable silence as Yujin contemplated Chaewon’s words. Chaeyeon, on the other hand, was a little bit lost as to what was going on. She knew that Chaewon had figured something out, but Chaeyeon had no idea what it was. 

 

Thankfully, her phone rang, saving her from the awkwardness. 

 

‘Excuse me.’ Chaeyeon excused herself from the table. 

 

When she walked away Yujin put her head in her hands. 

 

‘I’ve messed up, so bad. What am I supposed to do, unnie?’ 

 

Chaewon didn’t say anything. She knew full well that Yujin already knew what she had to do. Yujin just had to get it together. 

 

……..