Eventually her friends calmed down and regained their normal breathing patterns. Hyejin only growled a little bit as her friends jokingly mocked her for, once again, forgetting about the handkerchief. 

“Are you guys done?”

They could barely squeeze out a ‘yea’  before bursting into laughter again. Even Ji Yeon gave in and started to laugh. No doubt she will berate Hyejin later, but upon hearing her friends laugh, she couldn’t help but give in. 

“Do you guys wanna know what happened next or what?” Hyejin said with a fake serious tone in her voice. She won’t admit it but she was smiling too. Though, for a different reason. While her friends were laughing at her forgetfulness, she was smiling on how much of a blessing it was. A blessing in the guise of a curse. For this blessing only meant all the more reason to see Wheein again. Soon.

Eventually, the laughter died down and all that was left were the sound of gentle chuckles. Once it was clear that none of them were going to burst out laughing again, Hyejin continued to tell them the rest of her day with Wheein.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even after leaving the restaurant, Hyejin never let go of Wheein’s hand. And neither did Wheein make a move to let go. In fact, they only let go of each other when they needed their other hand. But other than that, they clung to each other like a pair of koalas.

But they didn’t mind. Or more like, they did not even notice they were clinging to each other. All they noticed was how natural it felt. And how empty and cold it felt when the other had to let go. But that was how they spent the rest of the day.

Going from shop to shop, arm in arm, laughing and giggling all the while. Truly, they were two young girls. Two young girls without a care in the world. Two young girls with dreams and hopes and desires. Two young girls who were currently being a minor menace. But the shop employees did not have the heart to run them out. They were also blinded by the brilliance of these two young girls and their happiness around each other. 

It was at the first store when  Hyejin draped an old outfit across herself and took on an old timey persona. 

“My dear lady, what brings you to such horrendous parts such as these?” Hyejin said with a dramatic voice while, also dramatically,  gesturing to the poorly done taxidermy head of a lion.

Wheein laughed aloud at Hyejin’s antics. Everytime Wheein laughed, Hyejin felt her heart soar. Oh how she wanted to keep hearing that laughter. It was so loud and full of heart that Hyejin couldn’t help but break her persona for a little bit and crack a lopsided smile.

After her laughter died down a bit, Wheein shot Hyejin a smirk before telling Hyejin to stay while she went off and disappeared for a bit. But, even if Wheein didn’t tell her to stay, the smirk froze Hyejin in place. It wasn’t a naughty smirk. It was something more playful, mischievous. But nonetheless, it was a smirk that made Hyejin’s heart skip a beat. 

Eventually Wheein popped back into view with a surprise of her own. For in her hand, also draped across her, was another old outfit. 

“My kind sir, I come here bearing news.” Wheein said in a tone that matched Hyejin’s old timey persona. 

Hyejin only grinned, before clearing in order to go back into old timey persona mode, “I suppose that is reason enough. But, quickly now, what news do you bear?”

Wheein paused just a moment before she sauntered over to Hyejin. As she sauntered over,  Hyejin had her own own heart attack. Again. Hyejin could swear that was a hint of naughtiness in Wheein’s eyes. Upon seeing that glint, Hyejin’s mind went wild. What could Wheein be planning? Wait, she’s getting closer. Hyejin don’t lose your cool now. Wait, she stopped. Oh no, she’s leaning in, wh--

“The news that your outfit is goddamn awful.”

A pause. A blink. A break.

“My lady, this outfit is of the finest cloth!” Hyejin made her point by gently flicking a sleeve towards Wheein. 

Wheein laughed again and Hyejin joined her. Soon afterwards, both girls returned the outfits and continued their journey. But it was a common theme. At every antique store, they would don a new outfit and take on the same persona, and create elaborate dramas. Ranging from the silly and mundane to more elaborate and retrospective filled drama. But eventually the sun began to set, and shops began to close, so the two young girls decided to call it a day.

But, there was one last pit stop. 

They were walking back towards Hyejin’s car, arm in arm. Hyejin had her hands in her pockets while Wheein easily clung to one of Hyejin’s arms. THey were close enough that they kept brushing past one another but they paid no mind. Like with the hand holding, they didn’t notice how close they were to each other. The only thing that they noticed was when the other wasn’t close to them. So, with separation so near, the both of them elected to be as close to each other as possible. 

Or at least until Hyejin stopped then quickly ran off. Leaving a surprised Wheein behind.

“Wh--” Wheein quickly followed Hyejin and was about to ask her what’s wrong before the answer presented itself in the form of the type of shop they stood in front of. 

A simple flower shop. It looked like they were just preparing to bring the flowers back inside so they could fully close for the day, so until then, there were still flowers outside. Flowers that Hyejin is engrossed in. By the time Wheein caught up, Hyejin was crouched in front of a couple of flowers and seemed to be tending to them. 

Wheein crept forward to the point of being directly behind Hyejin. As she peered over Hyejin’s shoulder, she saw the flowers that Hyejin seemed to be currently gently humming to. To Wheein’s eyes, it seemed to be a cluster of light purple roses. But before she could find a tag or label that would name the kind of flower, Hyejin finally stood up. 

Hyejin fished for her wallet to grab some cash before finally turning around to face Wheein with a flower in her hand.

“Here,” Hyejin passed the flower over to Wheein, “This is for you. I’mma go pay for it before the old lady gets mad at me again.” 

She flashed Wheein a quick smile before quickly jogging inside. While Wheein waited for Hyejin’s return, she examined the flower. A single light purple, more like lavender, rose. And to her surprise, it was thornless as well. 

But before Wheein could fully entake the beauty of this singular flower, she was interrupted. 

“Wheein?? Is that you?”

A deep but overly confident voice. A familiar voice. 

Wheein moved her head to face whoever spoke to her, and the answer hit like a freight train.

Dimir. 

There he was. Standing before her with wide eyes, an apron, and a handful of flowers. Oh how she wishes she can just bolt. 

“Uh, yea. Hi.” Wheein quickly turned around, desperately hoping that he would not try to engage in any further conversation.

“What brings you out here this late?” Hint obviously not taken, Dimir continued to try to talk to Wheein. 

Wheein internally groaned, there was no way out of this. She could try to be engrossed in the plants before her but it’s very apparent that he works here so that would be a moot point. Time to cut her losses, afterall, Hyejin should be done soon. She can hold out that long. 

“Oh, just hanging out with a friend.” A strained smile easily found it’s way on her face. It was hard to actually feel enjoyment when Dimir is around. Annoying who can’t take a hint for . 

Dimir only laughed, “If you wanted to hang out, you could’ve just called me.”

She felt her eyebrow twitch in annoyance. An annoying who can’t take a hint for , and is self centered. A truly annoying combination that Wheein despises. But of course, he won’t know that. And since he won’t know that he will continue to try to get with her no matter how many times she says no. 

How desperately she wanted to punch him, but she can’t. She has a flower to protect. 

Dimir looked her up and down, and Wheein had to bite her tongue. It was obvious what he was doing, you can easily see what he was thinking in that empty head of his.

“It ain’t that cold. You could’ve worn something nicer. Maybe a nice form fitting sweater, leggings, and boots. Man, that would’ve been hot.”  Dimir said with sick glee in his voice.

That’s it. She was gonna deck him. But one thing stopped her.

A pair of warm arms wrapped around Wheein’s waist from behind and pulled her close as Hyejin rested her head on one of Wheein’s shoulders . The sudden intimacy of their position froze Wheein in place. However, Wheein did wish that her coat wasn’t so thick. 

“Dimir, what the do you want?” Hyejin’s voice could cut through steel. Even though she wasn’t the one in trouble, Wheein couldn’t help but feel a bit fearful. There was something in Hyejin’s voice that dangerously teetered on something more animalistic. Something towards violence. That, if she wasn’t holding onto Wheein, she would get into a fight right now.

Dimir looked confused and looked between them. Whatever was going through his head isn’t important. 

“The hell? You two together now or what?” His voice was confrontational. As if his girl was just stolen from him. But that’s all just a false illusion he built for himself to make himself feel important. 

“And if we are?” Hyejin’s voice matched his confrontation. But her voice was somehow bigger. Wheein couldn’t help but envision a  lion confronting an overzealous little creature. She was distracted by said vision so much that she wasn’t able to fully comprehend the words Hyejin just said.

Dimir puffed out his chest and took one step towards them. Or barely a step. He barely moved towards them before a broom came crashing down on his head. 

“You damn brat, leave these girls alone. Need I tell your parents that you are bothering my customers?” An elderly woman appeared, broom at the ready.

Hyejin relaxed her grip on Wheein, “Thanks Ms. Manju.”

Ms. Manju gave both Wheein and Hyejin a huge, friendly smile. 

“Of course! I know how you are in a fight and I don’t want to lose any flowers.” Ms. Manju gently waved her broom at Hyejin.

“Now you two better get goin, you hear? I’mma teach this boy a lesson.”

Dimir only looked at Ms. Manju with fear before scampering off.

Hyejin laughed aloud, “Will do ma’am.”

With those parting words, Hyejin pulled a still silent Wheein along.

They barely got into the car when Wheein finally broke her silence.

“Hyejin-ah….” Wheein's voice trailed off so delicately that Hyejin didn’t even bother to start the car. 

“Yea?” Hyejin faced Wheein as much as she could in the seat. 

Wheein remained silent for a couple more seconds. But those seconds were long enough that Hyejin had a million thoughts go through her mind. Was the back hug too much? Did meeting Dimir disturb her that much? Did it finally register that Hyejin just implied that they we’re a couple?

“What the is this flower?” Wheein looked at Hyejin in desperation. While she may have been silent at the flower shop for a little bit, there was a reason. One, the sudden intimacy. Two, an old lady with a broom. And three, she was trying desperately to see the name of the flower but to no avail. They left before she could even locate a label. 

Hyejin only stared at Wheein. And continued to stare before she finally laughed.

“You know what? I’m not gonna tell ya.” Hyejin finally started the car and began to drive Wheein home.

“Hah? Why not?” Wheein pouted and whined.

“Cuz I want somethin.” Hyejin said, while a grin slowly made its way onto her face.

“Wh- Hyejin-ah. Please. Just tell me.” Wheein just stared at Hyejin. Noticing the grin on Hyejin’s face, she could only imagine what was going through the other girl’s brain. 

“ Hmmmm. How bout this, you get three tries to guess what I want, and if you get it right by the time we get to your house, then I’ll tell ya.” Hyejin said with a eating grin. There was no way Wheein would be able to guess what she wants now.

Wheein only groaned but gave in. They weren’t that far from her house now so time was ticking.

“Food.”

“Nope.”

Wheein looked at Hyejin with confusion all over her face. How could Hyejin not want food? Time to think. But not harder, smarter.

A few more minutes ticked by but Wheein was having no luck. What could Hyejin possibly want?

The more time passed, the more the grin Hyejin wore grew. She had to admit, seeing Wheein struggle was kinda cute. Dangerously so. She almost gave in to telling Wheein what she wanted. But she had to remain strong. Besides, the payoff of seeing Wheein’s reaction is gonna be worth the wait. 

“A pair of tickets to your favourite band?” Desperation was starting to kick in. Sure, she could just get home and look up the flower herself but that won’t be as satisfying. Hyejin gave her this flower and she wants to hear it from Hyejin.

“Nah.”

They were finally on Wheein’s street. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Time to think outside the box. Wheein went through the mental list and eliminated all the similarities. It seemed like the answer would be an absurd one.  

Hyejin finally pulled into the driveway and took a moment to appreciate Wheein’s house. It had a short front, but the back seemed huge. It may not be three stories like the houses around it, but it was just as big if not bigger than those said houses. 

“Wow, you didn’t tell me you lived in a mansion.” Hyejin finally turned to face Wheein. And to her mild shock, Wheein was still concentrating. The look of concentration on her face was cute and Hyejin gave in to her impulses.

She reached over and pinched Wheein’s cheek.

“Hey! What was that for?” Wheein could only pout. Hyejin still had her hand on Wheein’s cheek. She was gently caressing Wheein's cheek now. 

“Sorry not sorry. But your cheeks,” Hyejin shook her head, “They were too damn cute!”

Wheein only stared.

“I’m leaving.” And she made a move to get out of the car. Much to her pain of no longer having Hyejin’s warm hand on her cheek anymore.

“Nooo! Don’t leave me!” Hyejin playfully clinged to Wheein’s arm and gently tugged her back in. And to her surprise, Wheein gave in.

“Only if you tell me what this flower is.” Ah, Wheein’s terms and conditions. 

“But you didn’t even guess a third time!”

By the time Hyejin finished her sentence, Wheein was out of the car.

“How the hell do you move so fast?” Hyejin called out after Wheein once she was able to roll down her window. 

“Practice.” Wheein’s nonchalant reply as she began to walk back to her house. 

Hyejin, realising that this was her last chance, she took it.

“Get back here! I need to tell you the name of the flower!”

Hyejin could visibly see the deep sigh from Wheein before she turned around and waited for Hyejin to answer.

“It’s a sterling silver rose but before you go, I have a question.”

“Shoot.” Wheein didn’t even look at Hyejin. She was focused on the flower. A sterling silver rose huh?

“Wanna go on a date?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Damnit Hyejin-ah!! You can’t just end it there!”

“We need to know what she said!”

Her friends were all yelling at her to continue but she can’t.  She was on a mission.

“Sorry, my dudes. But I can’t do that right now.” She put on her boots, and double checked for her wallet and keys.

And so they continued to whine. They whined all the way up till she ended the call. But, as she made her way to her bike, her phone buzzed with a message from Ji Yeon. A simple message.

You better not break into a house