A/N: Quick reminder that double lines indicate long time skips (days/weeks) and single lines short ones (hours). Also, this chapter has a rated 15 scene, but it’s nothing really graphic…I don’t even know why I still warn you guys, you read it anyway…Enjoy the chapter!

Chaewon had kept her promise and called her, for non specific reason, just to talk after a long day of school. Minjoo had to cover her face with a pillow to hide her dumb smile from her roommate’s, Yuri, curious look – it was of no use, after all the other girl demanded her an explanation as to why she hadn’t come back home the other night and Minjoo grinned like a fool as she told her she stayed over at Chaewon’s place. The shorter woman had shaken her head in disapproval, but given her a fond smile before wishing them luck and telling her to just text her next time she planned on sleeping over Chaewon’s. Minjoo had hugged her best friend and promised she would.

From that moment on, things started to change.

They were in a new stage of their relationship, and Minjoo no longer followed Chaewon around, instead they would walk side by side. It wasn’t so different to someone watching from the outside, they still had lunch with Yuri and Yena, Minjoo still flirted with her a little too much and they still met earlier to buy snacks before class – it was a comfortable routine, however there were some big differences that didn’t go unnoticed by their close friends: Chaewon didn’t complain when Minjoo sat a little too close, she didn’t argue over working together and even offered to help Minjoo with the work for her photography related classes.

More than that, they were spending more time together now – outside campus.

She visited the older girl’s place often, be it to watch movies or just cook them some food – Chaewon didn’t like going out and she didn’t pressure her to do so, she was glad they were slowly getting closer. When it was just the two of them everything just seems to fall into place, with fond looks and gentle touches, cuddling on the couch or just holding hands, soft kisses on cheeks and an eventual peck on the lips – it wasn’t dating, not yet, but it was something special that they both wanted to keep.

However, they had different views about how far this could go.

Chaewon was still too aware about the differences between them and how being in a relationship could affect them both – sometimes she couldn’t help but remember Hyewon’s words about how a broken heart could fix her and it haunted her days; no, she didn’t really believe it could fix everything, but she believed she might ended up hurting herself and Minjoo if she wasn’t careful enough. Having a fling was one thing, dating and admitting it to everyone else to judge them, was something very different.

Right now, as they made their way out of classroom after a successful presentation – they both got a good grade since it was a group project and this was one of few teachers who didn’t seem to single out Chaewon for her condition, maybe because he was just too old to see her scar properly. Minjoo had a happy smile on her face and she was particularly clingy today, not satisfied with only walking next to Chae, she had tried to hold her hand as soon as class was over, even though the other students were still leaving the place and giving them questioning looks.

Chaewon hated the feeling of stares, more than the ones directed to her, the ones that were given to Minjoo – it was as if the brunette was committing a crime by being with her. She didn’t want Min to suffer the same kind of prejudice she had to deal with, that’s why she tried to shrug her off as they started walking towards the exit.

Clenching her hands into fists, hiding it in the safety of her jacket’s pocket. She felt, more than saw, Minjoo’s hurt gaze over her.

“Chae?” The slightly taller girl had called, gingerly reaching out to touch her sleeve. Minjoo knew Chaewon was still hesitating about them – she couldn’t blame her completely, a life of mistreatment doesn’t disappear just because you have a girlfriend, and honestly, they weren’t even officially dating. She knew the older had her reasons to be careful, still it hurt whenever Chaewon would try to keep her distance when all Minjoo ever wanted was to keep her close.

Instead of replying to the question on Minjoo’s eyes, the older Kim just gave her a nervous smile, swiftly moving in a way she would be out of her reach. “We should get going. It’s going to rain soon.” She tried to keep their pace, but only her footsteps could be heard.

Chae let out a heavy sigh, bringing her steps to a stop. Again, the sharp pain in her chest, not the one followed by the warmth of Minjoo’s affection, just the plain one that seem to crave a whole into her lungs, taking the air away and making it hard for her to breath – was it guilt? Maybe, but not only that. Minjoo deserved better than that, better than secret dates and unspoken promises.

But could she even promise her anything? Relationships come and go, break easily under life’s difficulties, and they would surely face more than most couples…

Turning to look at the place where Minjoo was still standing, looking a lot like a hurt puppy – or maybe a little fox would be more accurate –, big dark eyes still staring at her with the glint of shattered hope and the silly affection she seem to give her endlessly, Chaewon couldn’t help but think that for Minjoo it was still worth trying.

Was it the right thing to do? Maybe not. Would it even work? Probably not. Did she still want to do it? Yes.

Minjoo was always the one to go after Chaewon, she tried hard to get her attention and affection, and sometimes even for her it seemed too much. She loved Chaewon, the kind of affection that she couldn’t simply put behind her, even if she knew she didn’t have a valid reason to hold onto so tightly to this feeling when they were barely together, when it was born from a first impression she had so many years ago and her romantic self had probably made it look so much better in her own mind – still, it wasn’t just that. Min didn’t fall in love with Chaewon once, nor even twice. Every day, in the smallest ways, she would fall for her again, love filling up her heart bit by bit to the point where she wasn’t able to hide it.

Nonetheless, she shouldn’t insist too much, should she? She knew about Chaewon’s limitations, but she couldn’t say honestly that she was ready to only receive conditional love from her.

She lowered her gaze to her feet, unable to face Chae’s bright chestnut eyes that showed so clearly all her doubts and worries. It would be much easier to just pretend it didn’t bother her, to accept what they had and keep going – but it would kill her in the long run, ruin them both. She didn’t want to see her love turn into bitterness. “Chaewon. If you don’t-”

“I’m not good with relationships, Min. I’m probably not the greatest pick for you.” Chaewon clear, high pitched voice sounded, now close to her as the girl approached in light steps. “You know how things are for me, and you know it won’t change. And being around me probably won’t be very pleasant, maybe even bad, or…” Chaewon cursed under her breath, frustration in her tone, but also something else – something far more powerful, determination.

Minjoo instinctively looked up to meet her gaze, surprised by how fierce it was, no doubts or fears, just a flame that made the chestnut turn into golden-brown. She had only seen this look once before – in a very different situation, but she knew all too well what it meant. “But we’re here now and I don’t want to waste our chance. I want to try. It’s all I can promise you.”

Chaewon offered her a shaky hand, ignoring the stares they could be attracting and the consequences her decision may have, for once she would only think about what mattered to her own happiness – and Minjoo’s, but Minjoo was slowly becoming the very own embodiment of this feeling for her.

Minjoo didn’t accept her hand, engulfing her in a warm, safe and familiar embrace instead, so tight it almost knocked her off of her feet – still, she didn’t try to avoid it, slowly wrapping her own arms around the girl’s waist as Minjoo rested her chin against her shoulder. “It’s enough for me.”

And it was, for Minjoo, having Chaewon was always enough even if she knew it shouldn’t be. As long as she wanted to try, Minjoo would be there for her and hopefully it would be enough for them.

That afternoon she didn’t let go of Chae anytime soon, and for the very first time Chaewon wasn’t the first to break the embrace – even if when they did, it was only for Minjoo to drag her to the exit of the campus before the downpour. Of course, people noticed it, but they both ignored, and even if only for today they wanted to make it their own special moment that no harmful words or prejudice could affect.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t ignore it forever.

Chestnut eyes watched her every move as Minjoo organized the few ingredients on the kitchen counter, trying to control her smile and concentrate on the cookies she was supposed to make – it wasn’t easy through. Chaewon didn’t really talk, just watching her like a kid watches their mom cooking – only that she didn’t look at her like a kid would, from her seat beside Minjoo, her gaze was intense and warm enough to bring a light blush to Min’s cheeks.

She had barely started mixing the ingredients when she couldn’t contain the urge and stole a glance at her girlfriend, only to catch Chaewon staring intently at her – the older avoided her gaze as soon as she was caught and Minjoo couldn’t contain a smile now. “You complain about me staring, but here you’re staring at me now.”

“I…I’m just trying to learn.” Chae managed to say, giving her an apologetic smile and gesturing the cookie mixture.

The brunette’s smile grew into a playful grin as she ignored her task to come close to Chaewon, lacing her arms around her neck – careful to keep her palms far away from the soft brown hair to avoid coloring it white with flour. “By looking at my lips?” Chae’s cheeks became red with embarrassment, but she didn’t look away.

“I was watching you working, but I also like your smile.” The older girl tried to excuse herself, even though she knew the other woman wouldn’t believe her – she wasn’t wrong, even if Chaewon meant to just learn from Minjoo’s delicate moves and talented hands, her eyes insisted on drifting off to her beautiful face, once in a while observing her plump lips curved in the softest smile. It was a sight that warmed her heart.

Now with Min so close, she could not only see the smile on her lips, but also the one in her eyes – the corners of it crinkling to form half-moons, partially hiding the onyx orbits that radiated so much warmth and she knew so well now.

It’s been a couple of days since they had the talk that had made them official, and even if it didn’t make a huge change in their routines, it was something that impacted her life greatly. Slowly, she was trying to lower her walls and let Minjoo in, to accept and reciprocate her affection without thinking about what could happen – it didn’t mean she was always successful, that she didn’t feel uncomfortable under the judging gaze of others or that she didn’t have a hard time putting her feeling into words.

Still, like she had promised, she was trying, and when Minjoo was with her it was so easy to do. Like now, she couldn’t think about dumb scars or how one of her teachers had been especially harsh on her earlier for no reason, or even how some of their classmates would throw them dirty looks just because they arrived together at class – no, all the things that made her feel sad or frustrated disappeared once it was only the two of them, the love bubble protecting them from the outer world.

Minjoo was always the one to kiss her first – soft, quick, pecks nothing more than this as they slowly became closer –, this time, however, she was the one to pull her into a slightly tighter hug, resting her lips on hers for a long moment. None of them tried to deepen the kiss, just enjoying the almost innocent contact, bathing in each other’s presence.

Breaking the kiss, Minjoo rested her forehead on hers to ask in a soft voice. “Didn’t you ever try to learn how to cook?”

“I did. More than once. I’m just…” Chaewon made a face, remembering her failed past attempts, before lifting a hand to show the faint scar in one of her fingers. “I always end up burning myself.”

Pulling back, Minjoo pursed her lips, a glimpse of worry in her eyes. She knew someone who used to have a similar problem when trying to cook, but eventually she had learned how to avoid it. “Clumsy much, huh?”

“More like unlu-”

She cut the other girl off before she could finish her sentence. “Clumsy, you’re just a little clumsy.” Correcting Chaewon with a gentle tone, she proceeded with a determined look on her face. “It’s fine, I’ll be here to help you and we can do it together.”

Chae shook her head slightly. “You always speak as if you won’t ever go away.”

Unsurprisingly, her girl’s reply came quickly. “I’ve no plans on being away from you.”

“Good.” Albeit she couldn’t say it out loud, she didn’t plan on losing Minjoo, even if it meant burning a few fingers while trying to cook. She hugged her close again, not minding if her actions caused a little bit of flour to dirt her hair. “Can we start with the cookies?”

Her reply was a loud kiss on the cheek before the slightly taller girl went to grab her an apron. “Wash your hands. Cookies taste better when made by hand.”

Chaewon only smiled, doing as she was told. She could get used to a life like this.

Holding onto a tripod and keeping Minjoo’s expensive camera in the safety of her backpack – she wouldn’t risk keeping it in her clumsy hands –, Chaewon waited for her girl at one of the benches near the main entrance of the photography department. Min would be out of class soon and she had promised to help her with one of her new projects, since the older didn’t have class in the afternoon.

She didn’t mind carrying that awkward tall tripod – there was probably a better way to fold it, but she was afraid of breaking the thing if she tried –, or following Minjoo around the whole day if it meant the brunette would get the pictures she needed for a class that had been stressing her out lately. Chaewon, however, still hated dealing with people and picking up Minjoo after class meant dealing with her friends.

They were together for nearly two weeks now, but she rarely ever visited that side of the campus, and although very annoying, their classmates in her department seemed to be used to her – and Minjoo’s – presence now, therefore they didn’t pay as much attention to them anymore. It would be easier to take the coward route and just meet Minjoo at the park, but Chae was trying to change her habits and braving up to the word, instead of just trying to ignore it – she would be fine doing so, but Minjoo wouldn’t and being in a relationship she had to think about the best to her girlfriend.

Her wristwatch let out a small beep informing Minjoo’s class should be over now, and looking at the building she could already see some students rushing out, most of them not paying her any attention. She waited a couple of minutes until a familiar slim silhouette was in sight, light brown hair making it easy to spot Minjoo between a group of six people or so.

Chaewon took a deep breath, standing up. Why her girlfriend had to be so good with people? She was expecting one of two friends, not a big group…Nonetheless, she couldn’t turn back now. Hugging the tripod, she made her way to the group, forcing herself to smile and relax as she greeted, hoping Minjoo would notice her soon and they could leave quickly.

As expected from Kim Minjoo, she spotted her girlfriend even before she said anything, a big smile plastered on her face as she identified the older girl. 

Chae had told her she would be there, and the girl hadn’t broken a single promise yet – not since their first date, of course –, still she was surprised to see her willing to approach her when she was surrounded by people. Chaewon didn’t lie when she said she would try and seeing her hesitant, yet friendly smile, was probably the most endearing thing ever. “Chaewon!” She called, waving at her, before gently patting the back of one of her classmates as a sign to greet the girl. “That’s my girlfriend who I told you about, she will be helping me out with the project. Chae is sophomore in the computer science department.” Her proud tone was obvious and she could almost hear Chaewon nagging her for talking too much, but she couldn’t resist.

Her colleagues were quick to greet the girl, some giving her sincere smiles and others only bowing their heads in a polite way. Minjoo could tell by their expressions the way they perceived Chaewon, some of them didn’t bother to pretend they weren’t staring at the small scar on her face – no one said anything, but it was easy to tell the ones who had a problem with and the ones who didn’t, fortunately, most of them fell in the first category. Minjoo would make sure to distance herself from the others.

“Do you guys want to join us for coffee? We’ll grab some at that place I told you about earlier.” One of her colleagues – friend, she changed mentally, someone as nice as her should be considered a friend – Nako asked, giving Chaewon a smile as to confirm it was okay. Minjoo just looked at her girlfriend, allowing her to decide.

Chaewon was a little surprised by the offer, even though the girl was probably just extending her the invite out of courtesy, it wasn’t something everyone would do. Perhaps not all people were awful – looking at one of the dudes who was still staring at her in a grumpy way, some still were.

“I…Well, Min still has to take her pictures…” Her hesitation must be clear, because Minjoo was by her side in no time and the short girl who as still waiting for a proper reply gave her a reassuring smile once more. Maybe trying wouldn’t be so bad. “But we still have time, so I guess I could use some cappuccino.” She didn’t even need to look to know Minjoo was giving her that embarrassing proud look again, her ears growing red. “Should we get going?”

“To the café here we go! I heard they have this great cheese croissant and…” Nako started in an excited tone as she led the group, not bothering to pay any attention to the dude who made an excuse to ditch the group – it was the first time that someone, with the exception of her two loyal friends and Minjoo, so blatantly ditched someone in favor of Chaewon’s company.

It felt good.

Minjoo gave Nako a grateful smile, although the girl was busy talking about her love for cheese in the moment, she stayed a little behind to walk with Chaewon. “Thanks for bringing my stuff, Chae.” She took the tripod out of the brunette’s hands, hugging it with one arm. Her girlfriend tried to protest, but she beat her at it. “You already carried it all the way here. And like this we can hold hands.” As to prove her point, she reached for Chaewon’s hand with her free one and their fingers naturally intertwined, used to it by now. “Thank you for agreeing on coming too.” She added in a small voice only meant for the person beside her.

Squeezing her hand lightly, the slightly shorter Kim gave her a half smile before nodding. “You know my friends, I should know yours too.” There was still a hint of hesitation in her eyes, maybe even insecurity, but Chae’s hand was firm around hers, her steps steady as they followed the group.

“I know our friends, Chae. Those are just my classmates…Although I think they may become good friends after today.” Min corrected, squeezing her hand back. It was a big step for Chaewon and Minjoo would try her best to make sure she wouldn’t regret agreeing – even if it meant arguing with anyone who dared to mistreat her girl. “It will be only 10 minutes, don’t worry about it, we can…”

“Yo, love birds! Walk faster!” Nako called from the front and Minjoo had to hurry up to keep up with them, as Chaewon tried to do the same while simultaneously taking careful steps to make sure she wouldn’t accidently trip.

Luckily for them, their worries weren’t needed.

Later that day Chaewon figured that Nako was actually an equality enthusiastic, what meant she didn’t like any kind of prejudice and was very adamant about it – she was also really good at making people feel welcomed and at easy, always talking about a bit of everything in between bites on her cheese croissant.

They end up spending over an hour in the café, and surprisingly for the older Kim, it was a very pleasant moment for her.

Just like there was good days, sometimes there was some not so great ones – for the two of them.

Midterms week was taking a toll on the college students, and the Kims were no exception, albeit for very different reasons.

It was Minjoo’s first time dealing with so much pressure regarding her artistic work, making it seem much less enjoyable than it had always been, to complete she also had to study hard for the non-photography related subjects she was obligated to take – and like any freshman, she had a perpetual headache and barely any sleep. Her parents were never strict regarding her grades and choices for the future, still she felt the need of doing well considering she had given up on the chance of going overseas to stay close to home and the people she loved, she felt she had to prove she made the right decision.

And while Chaewon was very supportive always, helping her with whatever she could, the older Kim was facing her own problems.

Chaewon was used to studying hard, to go over the top to make sure her grades would be the best she could get and to prove herself to the people who doubted her, still it wasn’t easy when the teachers often looked down on her no matter how hard she tried. There was one teacher in particular who seemed to hate her very own presence, finding flaws in everything she does and pointing out her mistakes to embarrass her in front of the others – Chaewon usually just listens to it quietly, determined to not let the older woman win by letting her embarrassment and anger visible. But there was a limit for everything.

Minjoo was finishing editing a couple of pictures for her presentation next week, with Chaewon working in her own assignment in the chair opposite to her by the table at the older Kim's place. The younger tried to make conversation, but failed every time, her girlfriend focused on writing what looked like an endless essay – shoulders curved, eyes red and a serious expression on her face; Chae wasn’t looking like she normally did when they were together. She tried to finish her task quickly and make them some hot chocolate to help easy up the stress, but Chaewon didn’t even touch the mug full of brown liquid.

With a sigh, the younger brunette wondered if there was anything she could do to help the other girl – Chaewon had the tendency of closing herself off, not sharing about her struggles even though Minjoo could feel how upset she was at times. Min didn’t want to push her, but it made her heart sink into her chest every time she noticed how worn out Chae was due to the stress. “Chae?” She called softly, and she had to repeat it another time to get the girl’s attention. “It’s a pretty big essay…I’m done with my presentation, I can help you.” Giving her a big smile that she knew Chaewon was weak for, she complemented. “Come on, the sooner you finish it, the sooner we can cuddle. So, I’m not being selfless here.” She winked at her and it was enough to get a tired smile from the brunette.

Chaewon wasn’t used to having someone to share her workload, she didn’t like burdening others with her problems. But she also knew how stubborn her girlfriend could be and honestly, she could use some help. “Can you check the references list for me? I’m trying to finish writing the conclusion.” She showed Minjoo the document she was working on and the girl was quick to nod, asking her to share the file so they could work together. “Thank you, Min. I’m sorry for giving you extra work.”

“Just give me extra kisses and we’re even.” Minjoo didn’t even look at her, busy working on formatting the references as it was supposed to be. She was actually glad Chaewon was willing to let her help, it was another small, but meaningful step for them. “You helped me with the photoshoots. Good couples help each other and we are a great couple.”

With a smile, Chaewon reached out to take her left hand and leave a kiss on the back of it. Yeah, Minjoo was good for her, more than she deserved.

Working on the paper took longer than expected, a bunch of small details taking a lot of time and making the tedious task seem nearly endless. Thanks to Minjoo’s help, Chaewon managed to finish it before midnight, however by the time she sent the finished work for the teacher, Minjoo was already dozing off with her head resting on top of her crossed arms. The older girl felt a sting of guilt as she watched her, thinking maybe she should’ve sent her to bed earlier, but as soon as she stood up to try to wake her up, Minjoo gave her a sleepy smile opening her eyes.

“Can we go to sleep now?” Minjoo asked opening her arms to welcome Chaewon who was trying to get her to stand up – she did, but with a Minjoo glued to her like a baby koala, and she couldn’t help but hug her back.

“I’m sorry it took so long.” Kissing the side of her head, she managed to pull Minjoo with her towards the bedroom.

Helping her girl to lay down comfortably on the bed, she tried to escape from her embrace to go back to the living room and put away all the books and notes they had left behind. Of course, Minjoo didn’t allow her to.

“I was promised kisses.” She reminded in that lazy voice sleepy people have, slower and deeper than normal – it was cute, but Chaewon couldn’t be seduced by it now.

She leaned in to leave a gentle peck on her lips, only for a few seconds, pulling away before it could become more than a peck. Minjoo whined at the loss of the contact, but Chaewon didn’t kiss her again, breaking the brace to tuck her into bed properly.

“You shouldn’t take advantage of someone who is only half conscious.” She explained as she fixed the sheets around Minjoo, making sure she was completely covered and comfortable before leaving a kiss on her forehead – the younger tried to protest again, but she didn’t mind it. “Sleep. I’ll come back soon and we can cuddle, okay?”

Giving up, Minjoo just nodded. Her eyes were heavy with sleep and she felt like she would pass out at any minute, not the best time to arguing. However, it didn’t mean she wanted to lose the chance of getting Chaewon close to her. “Don’t take too long. If I can’t get a kiss, I want some cuddles at least.”

Chaewon chuckled softly at the way Minjoo pouted slightly, hugging her pillow. She wanted that kiss too, they still hadn’t shared one like the one in their first date since they got together, still she didn’t want to do it when her girlfriend could barely keep her eyes open. No, she would do it when they were both fully conscious and ready for it.

“I won’t. Sleep well, love.”

“Min…I don’t skip class, you know?” She reminded for the second time, albeit her feet still followed the taller girl steps leading them to the line outside the movie theater, instead of the college building she was supposed to be at right now. Minjoo had just took her by the hand as soon as they finished lunch, claiming they needed to go somewhere, but Chaewon didn’t expect her plans to include skipping class to watch some Disney movie. “And I don’t think I’ve even watched the first movie.” The admission was done in a quiet voice, looking at the huge cardboard figure that showed a princess with platinum hair and a long blue dress, the ice queen Elsa – this much she knew from the trailers.

Minjoo made a face at her words, her inner Disney enthusiast a little offended by her girlfriend’s lack of culture – another time they would have a marathon. “That’s okay, I can tell you about it, and if you don’t like the plot that much, we can pick another movie.” She offered with a smile, although she was quite excited to watch the movie, spending time with her girlfriend after such a stress-filled week was her main goal. “Midterms just ended, it’s fine to slack off a bit.” Kissing Chae’s cheek lightly, she hugged her by the waist ignoring the other people who were in line. “Don’t argue, you look like a zombie lately.”

It was almost as if Min could read her mind, because the girl managed to shut down her protests before Chaewon said a single thing. She had never skipped class since she enrolled in college, and even back at high school, she only ever did when Yena dragged her out to go to the arcade and it wasn’t that often. She knew that taking a break once in a while wasn’t so bad, still it always gave her a feeling of guilt – Minjoo’s warm arms around her pushed the feeling aside, making it easier to relax. “Maybe taking a day off won’t be so bad.” With a smile she encouraged the girl to talk. “Just tell me about the movie.”

Like an excited child, Minjoo promptly attended to her request, describing with details all the plot about the sisters and their bond, as well as explaining about all the funny side characters and her favorite songs – Chae wasn’t sure if she would love it that much, but she loved listening to Minjoo’s voice and even more how happy she looked now. Even if the movie was terrible, she would still watch, just to keep that smile on her girl’s face.

By the time they got their tickets and bought a bunch of food to eat while enjoying the movie, Minjoo had told her about everything and now Chaewon was a bit excited to check the story for herself – even if her girlfriend made her pose in front of a bunch of cardboard figures to take some pictures, Chaewon didn’t even like taking pictures for obvious reasons, but she couldn’t decline it when it was Minjoo asking and in the ending they took several photos together, ignoring the passerby looks.

When they entered the movie theater, the older brunette frowned as she looked at the darkness of the room, the steps barely lit by weak lights wouldn’t be enough to stop her unlucky self if she wasn’t every careful – she didn’t have to be. Minjoo had been watching her and by now she knew well how clumsy – she refused to call it bad luck – her girlfriend was, therefore she took the drink in one hand, and hugged Chaewon by the shoulder with her free one. “Watch the steps.” Her advice was given in a soft voice as she gently prompts them to make their way up, slow footsteps that led them safely to Minjoo’s favorite spot at the right side of the room, the comfortable chairs at the back a little far away from where the kids and their parents were making a mess in the middle row. “Today we’ll compensate for the last time we came to the movies.”

“Thanks.” Chae said as she took a seat, letting out a relieved sigh as she safely reached it without spilling all the popcorn. Maybe being around Minjoo made her a little less unlucky too. “You mean not leaving halfway through it?” Giving her a half smile, she watched as the other girl sat beside her. Luckily the place wasn’t crowded and they could quietly talk while the trailers played on the big screen. “It seems like movie dates is our trademark.”

Getting herself comfortable on her seat, Minjoo was quick to lift up the protection between the seats, allowing her to snuggle up to Chaewon. “I wanted to do it in the first time we were here.”

Instinctively, the older Kim accepted her in her arms, hugging the girl back as they assumed a position that was becoming quite common in her life – she couldn’t complain about it. However, there was a confused expression on her face as she looked for Minjoo’s eyes. “But you didn’t even know me back then.”

A smile made its way to Min’s lips as she left a quick kiss on Chaewon’s jaw. She wondered how much Yuri had told the brunette about how she convinced Minjoo to join the double date, by the confused look in Chae’s eyes, she hadn’t said anything – Minjoo would thank her for it later. “I knew it was you, it was enough.”

Frowning a bit, Chaewon’s warm chestnut eyes looked at her girlfriend with a mix of confusion and skepticism. “Are you saying you fell in love at first sight?” It was hard to believe, that out of so many people, Minjoo would fall for her when she was nothing but a clumsy, stuttering mess that day – she knew now that Minjoo never cared about her scar.

“Maybe?” Minjoo bit back a grin, shaking her head slightly as she found a more comfortable position on Chaewon’s shoulder. Luckily for her, the intro song for the movie was starting, giving her an excuse to end the topic there. “Now be quiet, I want to watch this movie.”

 Chaewon was still a little confused – and slightly flustered, a childish happiness filling her being –, but she didn’t have a choice since the movie was now playing on the big screen and she was forced to pay it attention.

Two hours later, as the ending credits rolled, she stole a glance at younger brunette. Minjoo was focused on the animation throughout the whole movie, so invested in every scene that watching her reaction was as much fun as seeing the beautiful work on screen – Chaewon preferred the former, but she tried to pay the movie enough attention in case Min wanted to discuss it later.

“I don’t think I need to ask if you enjoyed it.” Chaewon said as the movie ended, a soft chuckle as she watched the younger girl who still had her eyes wet with tears – She pulled her closer, kissing her cheeks affectionately. “I liked it too. But I would rather if it didn’t make you cry like a baby.”

Pushing her away lightly – not enough to really break the embrace –, Minjoo used the back of her hand to get rid of the last traces of tears on her face. “You’re the weird one here for not crying. It was a beautiful movie.” And she always had been a little prone to tears as well, but it wasn’t like she was the only one crying there.

Chaewon’s answer was just hugging her closer for a couple of seconds more, before standing up to leave the place. “I’m not making fun of you. I just don’t like seeing you cry.” The explanation came along with an apologetic smile. “Come on, we should go before it gets late. I want to take you that park again.”  

The offer was enough to make Minjoo jump out of her seat to follow her as they slowly made their way down and out of the room.

It was still day when they reached the park, a much different atmosphere from their first day, with kids and dogs running around, people coming and going, birds chirping and green everywhere they could see – it was quite the sight and Chaewon took in a deep breath, enjoying the clean scent of the cherry blossoms. “What about some ice cream? Or snacks?”

“Are you really trying to recreate our first date?” Minjoo asked, but there was a pleased smile on her face as she nodded in agreement. It was a lot like their first meeting, but at the same time it was so different. There was no awkwardness or fear of rejection, it was comfortable and natural and she loved every second of it. Even the ice cream tastes better – not so much as she tried to steal a bit of Chaewon’s green ice cream only to receive the unpleasant surprised of the taste of toothpaste it had; Chae laughed at her grimace.

They sat by the shadow of a tree, resting against its large trunk as they watched the cherry blossoms swing slowly as the breeze hit it lightly, carrying the petals away. The sounds of people could still be heard, but they were relatively alone there and Minjoo regretted not having a blanket with her so they could just lay down there and watch the sky – they still could, but it would ruin her jeans and Chaewon’s white sweater. So, she just held her free hand as they finished the ice cream in a comfortable silence.

“Min?” Chaewon started gingerly, a hint of hesitation in her voice.

Turning her head slightly to face the older girl, Minjoo gave her a lazy smile. “'Hm?”

Moving a little closer, Chaewon mustered the courage to continue. “I still don’t get why you would fall for me when you cou-”

“It’s you. I told you, I wouldn’t want anyone else.” The firmness of Minjoo’s tone didn’t give place for arguing, her sweet dark chocolate eyes fixed on the older Kim. “You could’ve just said you fell for me too.”

Chae gave her a small smile. It was hard to not wonder if she really deserved someone like Minjoo. “Anyone would. You…” Her eyes took in every detail of the beautiful face that was only a pretty cover for an even more precious content. “There’s nothing to not like about you.” The brunette was one of a kind and Chaewon couldn’t think about a single thing she hadn’t learn to appreciate about her, from her sweet voice that was so nice to the ears, to her resolute personality and kind heart. Minjoo was perfect in her eyes. “I can see it the more I get to know you.”

Chaewon slowly leaned in to touch her lips with hers gently, the type of kiss she had given her so many times and always brought the same feeling of safety and happiness.

Minjoo smiled softly, reaching out to bring her face close again for another sweet kiss that tasted a little bit like chocolate and mint, but she minded it, caressing her jawline as she pecked her lips a couple of times, kissing the little scar right above it before pulling away.

She was met by Chaewon’s fond smile, chestnut pools that were her gaze filled with a special glint as she hugged her a little closer to rest her forehead against hers. “MinMin, I guess I will fulfil that promise now.” The younger would have asked what she was talking about, but soft lips were on hers again and she could just sigh happily, her eyes closing to enjoy the moment.

Like she said, Chae wanted to keep her promise and she was more than happy to do so.

Kissing Minjoo was so normal and natural now, but it didn’t take away the thrill of every moment, especially now. The night they met and shared their only intimate kiss, she was a nervous mess, however it wasn’t the case now. Her lips were in perfect sync with Minjoo’s, gentle touches that matched the soft motions of her hands on Minjoo’s back, slowly bringing her closer. Nibbling lightly on her bottom lip, kissing it softly as she slowly turned their long pecks into a proper kiss, deepening the contact as Min hugged her by the neck, reciprocating the kiss and allowing her to taste the sweetness of .

The kiss lasted for a long time, slow and patient, careful at first and more confident as they both established a comfortable pace that was as perfect as Minjoo was for Chaewon.

She smiled slightly as her girl kissed the scar again, and for once she didn’t hate the mark, even if only a brief moment.

Minjoo pulled away slightly, mirroring Chae’s smile, her chest light and warm with so much affection filling her up. Moments like this made her sure she had made the right decision by not giving up on Chaewon.

“I love you.” She couldn’t help it, the words left before she could stop them. Yet she didn’t feel embarrassed, it only multiplied the feeling of happiness within her heart as she looked into Chaewon’s beautiful eyes and could only see fondness on them as the girl kissed her again.

Chae didn’t say the words that day, but it was okay, Minjoo could feel her love in every touch, look and action and it was as meaningful.

A few months later, Chaewon conclude that having her own apartment was the best thing.

Chae used to think so because this meant there was no one to fight with or have to deal with them judging her, but right now she could only think it was great because it gave her the chance of having her girlfriend over almost every night and no one would blink an eye – Maybe Minjoo’s roommate, but if the other opposed to the Kim’s escapades, Minjoo never told Chaewon about it.

It was just another Thursday night for them – what meant a lot of cuddling, some light hearted bantering, and enough kissing to make Chaewon feel all giddy inside.

They were supposed to watch a movie and go to bed after – they were indeed sitting on her bed, but she couldn’t recall what the movie was about or even remember if they had turned off the TV. Minjoo was particularly affectionate tonight and it would be a lie to say she didn’t appreciate it, actually, she was as much to blame as the younger girl for their current situation.

Her hands gripped a little tighter to the other girl’s waist, tilting her head slight to have better access to as they kissed. Minjoo’s soft lips were addictive and she couldn’t help but nibble gently on them before deepening the kiss, melting into her girlfriend’s warmth and delighting her ears with the small noises she produced every time Chaewon explored with her tongue – not that Minjoo was one to be left behind, returning the kiss with as much passion, pulling her so close that it was almost uncomfortable but the older wouldn’t ever complain about it, pulling her to her lap instead.

Chaewon was forced to separate from the girl to take a breath, her heart beating like drums on her ears as her erratic breath could be heard in the silent room – it was matched by the one coming from her girlfriend in the moment. But different from her, Minjoo didn’t seem to need much oxygen, already directing her lips do Chae’s jaw.

She bit her lip slightly to refrain from letting out a moan – even thinking about it was making her embarrassed, since when their make out session got to the point of making her forget about the building rules and make inappropriate noises? This thought left her mind as quick as it came, Minjoo lips were once again on her skin and this time she couldn’t contain a pleasured sigh.

Minjoo was leaving a trail of open-mouthed kisses on her neck, the kisses becoming longer and wetter as she progressed towards the space where Chaewon’s shoulder met her neck. Minjoo nibbled on the skin there, using her tongue to soothe the light pain her gentle bites produced – any thoughts Chae had in mind went blank, only the girl in front of her occupying her mind. Every cell on her body answered to Minjoo’s kisses, urging her to return it, to bring the woman even closer and make her hers.

She wasn’t sure when she became like this, but right now nothing else seem to matter except Minjoo for her.

Pulling away just enough to have a good look at her, the older Kim marveled at the sight of a disheveled brunette in front of her. Minjoo had her light brown hair loosely tied in a precarious ponytail, her chocolate eyes filled with the usual glint and something more that Chaewon knew all too well by now, her slightly swollen lips pushed into a small disappointed pout as she tried to come closer again. Chaewon was certain she had never seen a cuter and ier woman in her life.

“Chae...” Minjoo whined softly, her hands on Chaewon’s shoulders as she tried to pull her back in.

The shorter woman didn’t budge, her eyes still staring at her figure intently.

“You’re wearing my shirt again.” She pointed out the grey plaid the younger Kim was wearing over a simple white shirt. Minjoo blinked, the light of confusion illuminating her eyes for a second.

“Oh, this? I just...” As if she changed her mind halfway through, Minjoo gave her an alluring smirk. She had noticed Chaewon’s gaze still on her, and a hot feeling warmed her body as she continued. “Do you want it back now?”

Chae’s hands come to meet the lower of her back, under the plaid and on the thin shirt that covered her skin. The girl had her sharp eyes on her face, a look of need on it. Minjoo wasn’t only attacking her heart but also her hormones today. “Would you let me take it back?” She pushed her down lightly, and Minjoo didn’t oppose, laying down on the bed with her hands safely around Chaewon’s neck.

As a final blow, Min’s smirk was replaced by a sweet smile, the girl lifting her head slightly so her lips could meet Chaewon’s face – kissing the small scar over her lips, allowing their lips to touch for a long moment.

“If you think you can, come get it yourself, my love.”

And being the fool in love she was, of course Chaewon did it. Her eager lips meeting Minjoo's, rushing to deepen the contact as her hands run wild, her slightly cold palms sending shivers through the brunette's body – all her enthusiasm was more than welcomed by the other girl who pulled her even closer, making their bodies find just the right fit, one of her hand massaging Chaewon’s scalp while the other pressed her shoulder to make sure she wouldn’t go away again; her lips inviting Chaewon back, conceding her passage as her tongues brushed against each other and the taste of mint invaded just like the scent of it was filling her senses. She never knew mint could be addictive but Chaewon surely was and she wanted more of her.

Letting out a soft moan when Chaewon hand caressed the bare skin of her back before she backed away slightly, her hands focusing on her shoulders this time – soft palms caressing it and pushing the fabric of the shirt to the side, making it slid down Minjoo’s arms so the girl could just take if off completely.

Chae’s gaze once more appreciated the sight of her girlfriend, a mix of hot agitation and a light, soft feeling filling her chest as she took in every detail of the other girl. She felt blessed for having Minjoo with her right now, not only because her kisses took her breath away and made her forget about everything, but also because the simple presence of the younger Kim was enough to make her feel like they were in their own little, almost perfect, yet so familiar, world. She didn’t want it to end.

She noticed the way Minjoo’s lips turned into a small smile, not her playful smirk, but a fond smile that reflected so well the glint in her eyes as she run her hand through Chae’s hair, tugging her in for another kiss that was less needy and more loving this time. Chaewon greeted her back with a couple of pecks, brushing their noses together to make Minjoo’s smile grow into a foolish grin that she kissed away with her own, going for Minjoo’s upper lip then her bottom one, sliding her tongue through it after softly biting it in the way she knew her girlfriend loved.

Her hands brushed back Minjoo’s hair, undoing her ponytail completely before descending to her back, feeling hot skin under the thin shirt, sizing her sides with a light grip. They were kissing once again, lips perfectly in sync, the taste of the milk chocolate Minjoo loved so much filling mixed with Min’s natural taste that always made her want to taste it over and over again.

Yet, she also wanted to taste her girlfriend’s sun-kissed skin that was so warm and soft.

Minjoo felt her brain becoming like mushy as the other broke the kiss to gently the sensitive skin of her jaw, nibbling on it as she made her way down, making her rest her head against the fluff pillow as Chaewon kissed her neck until she reached the little mole near the base of it, her girlfriend giving this small area of skin special care, giving it a small peck that made Minjoo smile like a fool.

“Chae.” It wasn’t an ‘I love you’, but they both knew what it meant, the feeling this single word carried, all the fondness that she couldn’t contain. Somehow, she felt that they were closer than ever now, not only because of their physical closeness, but more for how much care and love they were showing each other now, how Chaewon could still focus on her little details and how much love she could see every time they locked eyes.

She had shared a couple of kisses before with other people, but it didn’t feel even remotely like that, it was something special and she wanted it more than anything.

Stretching her arms to reach Chaewon’s lower back, she pulled her up, hands hastily finding their way to the hem of her shirt, jangling with it for a moment before finding the warm skin that felt so inviting to her touch. Her bare legs brushed against Chaewon’s, tangling them together, sending a wave of pleasure through her spine with the feeling the contact brought.

Chaewon searched for again, a little less gentle this time, rushing to deepen the kiss as their bodies hugged each other completely. Their breaths were hot mixed together, heartbeats almost loud enough to be heard in the silent room only filled with their soft sounds, hands roaming around everywhere, tentatively at first but soon gaining confidence.

“Do you want me too?” Chaewon whispered, her loud warm breath caressing Minjoo’s skin just like her hand did to her exposed knee, her thumb brushing softly against the little scar there before going up to her thigh – gentle, exploring it, but giving her all the time to reject the contact.

Minjoo just pulled the older to another kiss, short but intense, making it clear she didn’t want to stop.

“When have I ever not wanted you?” She whispered against her ear, biting on it gently before placing a kiss on it.

Her only reply was the weight of Chaewon on her as the older went down her collarbone with kisses that wouldn’t stop anytime soon.

Hours later as Minjoo hugged her like she was the biggest plushie ever, allowing Chaewon to listen to the beats of her heart, she felt incredibly happy and safe there in the space between Minjoo’s arms.

The plaid shirt that started it all was nowhere to be seen, forgotten somewhere on the bedroom floor, a detail that wasn’t relevant now.

Running her hands through the smooth skin of Minjoo’s back, she placed a soft kiss on the mole on her neck, the sleepy taller girl pulling her even closer as if even in her sleep Minjoo wanted her.

In that moment Chaewon didn’t think about scars and broken hearts, she only thought that she wished for this moment to never end.

She loved Minjoo too. Maybe a little too much.

Chaewon was sleeping soundly when Minjoo woke up, limbs entangled in a mess as they cuddled under the blanket. Sunlight was filtered by the white curtains, illuminating the bedroom with a soft yellowish light. She moved slightly, hiding her face on the crook of Chaewon’s neck, snuggling up to her even more. It was so warm and safe, so intimate and romantic in its own way…It was perfect.

Memories of last night filled her mind like the scent of mint and strawberry filled her lungs, every single one so precious to her. It was bound to happen since they’ve grown closer in the last couple of months and it never felt unnatural or unpleasant, it happened just at the right time and in the right way – there wasn’t a single drop of regret in her being as she hugged Chaewon and all her mind could think of was how perfect they were for each other.

Minjoo wished they could just stay like this for the rest of the day, but she could see her phone screen lit up at the bedside table and she didn’t need to check it to know the messages came from a very familiar number. It was Friday and she didn’t have morning classes, but she had somewhere else to be at.

If she was meeting anyone else, she would have rescheduled it, however it was a special case.

With a sigh she opened her eyes again, leaving a trail of soft kisses on Chaewon’s neck to wake her up – she couldn’t go without saying good morning to her properly, she didn’t want to have a bittersweet memory of this moment.

Slowly the sharp chestnut eyes were fluttered open to stare back her, sleepiness making them darker as she blinked slowly to adapt to the clarity. “Morning, my love. Did you sleep well?” Minjoo chirped, leaving a quick kiss on her lips and grinning like a fool. Maybe she should feel nervous, maybe she should fear Chaewon’s reaction and a possible rejection – wasn’t it common in these cases? But she didn’t, she couldn’t when Chae’s arms still hugged her and she smiled back at her in such a loving way.

“Good morning, Min.” Chaewon managed to say, brushing her sleepiness aside to enjoy the beautiful smile her girlfriend gifted her with. “Friday…No morning class…Why are you up already?”

“I need to be somewhere…Family stuff, you know.” She explained, her smile smaller now as she looked over her shoulder to see her phone vibrating on the table again. Heaving a sigh, she kissed the brunette once more. “I’ll meet you at lunch. Just wait for me.”

The older Kim nodded, still a little confused as she watched Minjoo sit up to reach for her clothes at the ending of the bed – Chaewon looked away to give her some privacy, even if it was foolish and they both knew it. “Are you planning on borrowing my clothes again?”

Chuckling lightly, Minjoo nodded as she slid back into her shirt and went to grab a new change of clothes from Chaewon’s closet – she knew it like the back of her hand by now. “It was always the plan.”

Usually they would bicker about her 'stealing' all Chaewon’s favorite clothes, but the older only watched silently as she went to take a shower.

Once she was done Chaewon greeted her with cookies and milk – probably everything she could find at the kitchen – that Minjoo still accepted even though she was about to have a proper breakfast outside.

“Is it anything important? I...I could accompany you.” The shy offer came as Minjoo finished her second cookie and it was one of those silly moments that made her fall in love all over again. Chaewon who usually avoids people was willing to face an unknown territory just to support her and all this while feeding her cookies herself had baked -- not the best ones, but she still loved it– and looking at her like a protective tiger cub.

Minjoo gave her a fond smile, reaching out so her thumb could trace the contour of her lips, stopping to brush gently against the little scar. “It’s nothing much really. But I’d love if you could meet my family someday…When you’re ready.” Leaning in, she left a long peck on her lips. “I’ll text you later, okay?”

Part of Chaewon felt like Minjoo was hiding something from her, but this part was too small compared to the rest of her that was overflowing with love for the girl. “I will wait.”

Minjoo had a large smile on her face as she sat in front of the pretty woman who was busy eating her breakfast – unsurprisingly, she didn’t wait for her to start. “Good morning, Hye.”

“Minjoo.” The older greeted, giving her a quick nod. “How are things going with your soulmate?”

“It is…” Taking her time, she bit back a smile as she reached to get a glass of orange juice for herself. Hyewon arched an eyebrow, giving her a questioning look and Minjoo couldn’t help but crack a smile. “It couldn’t be any better!”

A/N: This chapter feels like an OS itself and remind everyone that consent is the real deal always! By the way, happy holidays everyone! The plan is to finish this story before the new year, so updates as schedule for the last 2 chapters. The next chapter won’t be so fluff, be ready for it.

As usual, thank you for reading and I apologize for any mistakes. See you in 2 days :)