8

A sleepless night. Eunseo was lost in thought lying in bed.

Her bedmate has deeply fallen asleep, with evenly undulated breathing. Seemed like she was having a sweet dream that night.

Eunseo did not wish to intervene her dreams. All she did was dazing blankly till dawn. Just like what she has been doing for the past years, quietly, distantly, silently watching over Seola. It is because she does not hope her effort over these years was a waste or she is still waiting the day her effort will be worthwhile.

She got out of bed to prepare breakfast as usual, watching her beloved one satisfyingly finish the morning meal and go for work. Once Seola left, her eyes sank.

Eunseo curved up the corners of her lips looking at the background photo of her phone. The picture was taken while Seola was asleep and to Eunseo, that is the real side of Seola without any disguisement. Eunseo does not want anything but only Seola can truely open her heart to Eunseo while Seola is awake. However, Eunseo is not a fool like Seola, she knows how Seola feels deep down.

Eunseo is not afraid of being worn out. She perceives herself as the one with most perseverance and patience. What scares her the most if that one day, Seola is the one who gets sick of this relationship.

"Hey! Eunseo! Switched your job to a burglar last night?" Meiqi's sudden appear almost gave Eunseo a heart attack.

Eunseo patted her chest, thinking the way to get her revenge. "Hell ya, planning the way to steal your heart."

"Goosebumps.... Leave such flirtatious lines to your lover. I'm immune with your words." Meiqi pushed Eunseo away in disgust and teasingly asked," So how's your night with Seola? Enjoyed a good time till you're suffering a sleep deficit now?"

"If that's even possible.."

"Look at your dark circles...Let's get some eye masks after our discussion ends."

Moving on arm in arm, best friends are always those who can give you strength when you need them.

"Temporary absence from the public eye due to unmarried pregnancy....Hasn't this celebrity declared herself a faithful believer so confidently before and said won't have any pre-martial ?" A stranger spoke so loudly that Eunseo and Meqi could not help but looked at him.

"I won't believe there's pure relationship between a couple after dating for two years in this generation. It may be possible if they only dated for two weeks..but two years..." His companion replied.

Obviously they were talking about the celebrity who announced a temporary hiatus from the entertainment industry few days ago. Eunseo was not surprised with the breaking news, but she felt uncomfortable with the gaze casted by Meiqi.

"Why are you looking at me?" Eunseo pinched Meiqi's cheek.

"Telling them there's such a person here." Meiqi slapped that hand off and raised her eyebrow, looking straight at Eunseo. "Both of you have been dating for two years, isn't it?"

"Another month to go..." Eunseo turned her face.

"So it's true both of you haven't...."

"You know she hates having physical contact. There's no need to force her to do something she doesn't enjoy at all."

Meiqi was dumbfounded. "Hates phycical contact? Are both of you having a Platonic love? Or is she a philosopher by any chance?"

Eunseo knew any explanation would be useless but a coercive threaten may change the game. "I guess someone is giving up on my handmade seaweed soup and..."

"I didn't say a single word before!" Meiqi grinned forcefully. But soon, she changed back to that solemn look and said, " You know, if even you really stop cooking seaweed soup or bibimbap for me, I still hope you give a serious thought if Seola eonnie is really the right one for you. You don't deserve this obsureness. She won't appreciate everything you've sacrificed for her. But those who really care for you feel bad to see you hurt."

"I'm fine. I know you care about me but I'm really good. She is always nice and treats me really well. Don't worry."

"Only that dumb will believe in your white lies."

"Meiqi..." Eunseo resignedly sighed.

"Fine. I keep those words back." Meiqi patted Eunseo's shoulder. That was all she could do as a friend. It all depends on Eunseo what to do now.

Ignorance is not the most terrifying thing. The worst thing is still firmly plunging into the fire even when facts are on the table.

Eunseo has been completely absent-minded during the discussion. SinB tried to rebuke her to wake up from her daydream but remained silent after tipped by Meiqi.

"Her condition isn't good since this morning. No point of doing that. I guess it's about Seola eonnie." Meiqi whispered to SinB.

"Clearly this meeting is meaningless..What conclusion can we get when our group elite's mind is wandering somewhere else?" SinB sighed and rose. She knocked the desk to bring back Eunseo's mind.

"I think all we can do now is complete those tasks we set last week. Gather all the materials we get and think of a way for a better presentation."

Eunseo nodded and silently said, "I'm sorry."

After Meiqi and SinB left, Eunseo walked purposelessly in the campus alone.

The notification light kept glinting, Eunseo unlocked her phone and checked the messages one by one.

None of the messages was from Seola. She dislikes bothering others so she seldom will send message, even to Eunseo. 

Instead, after seeing a picture posted by Bona pretending her being angry, Eunseo smacked her forehead and calmed herself down. She almost forgot such an important thing.

Eunseo quickly typed a long text and sent it to Bona who stays overseas. "Happy birthday! I had some wine celebrating your birthday last night and accidentally missed the chance to send you my blessings in the first time. So sorry about that. But I believe my dearest, prettiest and kindest sister will forgive me, right?"

"Rejected, you've not chatted with me lately!" Surprisingly, Bona who does not read messages often, replied her right away.

It came to Eunseo's realization that Bona might have been staring at her phone all day and was currently sulking over her lateness. "Eonnie, I'm sure you won't mind the time lag between us! Eunseo loves you the most!" Message sent with a witty weird emoji attached.

A blue tick appeared, in the next second, Eunseo received a request for video call. But unsure if she somehow felt uneasy from the buttom of her heart or because of her dark cirlces Meiqi told her, without a second thought, Eunseo refused the video call.

"Why didn't you answer my call?" Bona sent the message with an angry sticker.

"My bad. I can't multitask. I'm on my way back. And I know I'm as pretty as you, you don't have to miss my face that much. Otherwise, you'll be deeply captivated." Eunseo smiled. She could imagine Bona's reaction after reading that message. Rolling her eyes, pouting and being completely speechless.

"Hey! I've not seen you for quite a while. Are you gaining fat? Don't worry, I don't mind even if you turn ugly."

"Come on! I move around so actively and have enough exercise! I'm super fit!"

"Fine. Don't tired yourself out. Let me know if there's anything."

"Eonnie, happy birthday. I love you." Their conversation ended with a big love.

Eunseo always bears in mind on how well Bona treats and cares for her since young. They are not biologically related, but they are even closer than real siblings.

That is the reason Eunseo cannot blame Bona for any reason. She clearly knows what bothers her has nothing to do with Bona at all.

No one can control the feelings for someone. Love is always selfish.

Eunseo looked at the wallpaper of her phone and heaved a deep sigh.

9.

Eunseo walked herself to the supermarket and bought the ingredients for the dishes Seola loves. After that, she went home and took on the role of a chef as ever.

Out of ten Capricorns, nine of them are workaholics. Seola is always overloaded with her works.

It has been times Seola did not fully pay attention while having her dinners. Her mind hung on her unfinished tasks. One hand stuffing the food into the mouth, another hand busy replying the inquiries of her colleagues.

There was high possibilities of Seola did not taste those dishes, or even remember the dishes she was eating.

After dinner, Eunseo cleared the dining table. Seola has returned to her working desk, staring at the monitor screen, typing agressively on the keyboard.

When Eunseo completed her cleaning chores, Seola was still sitting in front of the desk. By the time Eunseo saw her stretching out and stopped typing, Eunseo understood her works would be done in a short while.

Eunseo went to Seola, she gently embraced Seola's shoulders. "Done?" Eunseo whispered.

"Almost." Seola turned to Eunseo and the latter leaned forward and kissed her lips. Less than two seconds, Seola flinched and looked back to the screen. "Not now."

"I'm just trying to cheer you up on your works." Eunseo jokingly smiled, trying to enlighten the awkward atmosphere.

Seola dodged aside when she saw Eunseo tried to lean closer, with a little impatience, she loosened Eunseo's arms on her shoulders. "That's enough, let me finish the report."

"I'm sorry..." Eunseo took two steps backward and muttered at Seola's back.

Seola did not know what was wrong with Eunseo that day. She acted strangely, being extraordinarily clingy. In usual days, Eunseo will show her affections in this way too but as long as Seola gives a glance, a sigh or a cough, Eunseo will stop and behave herself.

Today, Seola has firmly stated her uncomfortableness over Eunseo's affections but seemed like Eunseo was being senseless, trying to cling on her. This made Seola annoyed yet clueless at the same time.

It is not a secret that Seola is not ready and even resist to any intimate physical contacts, even if such intimacy is a very common interaction among couples.

Seola helplessly sighed. She has been lying back-facing Eunseo but Eunseo held her from behind and wrapped her arm and leg on her like an octopus.

"I can't sleep this way." Seola complained.

"Don't sleep then."

Seola held on her reprimand and let out a deep breath. She disentangled Eunseo's arms and quietly get out of bed. She grabbed her pillow and walked to the living room.

Eunseo watched Seola disappear from her sight. A sneer of sarcasm faintly crossed her face. Meiqi was right. It was Eunseo herself who was unwilling to admit such a failure she has been all the time.

To be continued...