They were barely into the second week of school when Wheein finally confronted them all. Confronted them all about their futures. The futures of labeled delinquents and a Ji Yeon

“Alright you guys. The end is nigh and so we must prepare.”

The group just stared at Wheein. They stared at her for a couple of seconds while she just crossed her arms and looked at them with determination. Even with her short stature, sitting on Hyejin’s lap gave her the needed height to seem a bit more imposing than a friendly shiba inu.

Hyejin was the first to break the silence.

“Babe, what are you on about?”

“The SATs and ACTs will be here before we know it so it’s best to prepare.” Wheein stated matter of factly.

“No ? Ya actually talkin’ about studyin’ for them now??” Do-Yeon asked with a tilt of his head.

Min-ah quietly started to eat. He didn’t want to think about that now when school just started. 

“Why though?” Tae-Hee asked.

Wheein whipped her head to face him. Did he seriously just ask that? Does he not know? Or does he not care?

“Why? Because how else are you going to get into a good school?” Wheein responded incredulously. 

“That’s true but a school can only do so much. It’s still up to the student if they will succeed or not.” Ji Yeon finally spoke up.

Tae-Hee nodded in agreement and bounced off of Ji Yeon’s statement.

“Yea so why bother? We’ll try our best and deal with it afterwards.”

Everyone nodded in agreement while Wheein could only look at them with a quizzical expression. She knows they don’t like tests, but they’ve been doing so good lately. So why won’t they take this seriously? It could affect their futures and yet here they are, not caring until it’s right in front of them. 

“Wouldn’t it be better to be prepared beforehand in order to be your best? Why take the chance?”

And so they argued. But not a heated argument. It was the type of argument that you have when you are trying to understand the other's viewpoint. In between words and people talking, they ate, sometimes even talking through a mouthful of food. But, Min-ah never said a word. He just sat and ate his lunch quietly, hoping that it would blow over.

“What about you Min-ah?” Wheein looked at him hopefully.

After helping him last semester with his grades, surely he would understand the importance of the SAT and ACT. But even he surprised her. Surprised her with an observation that she never noticed even with her watchful eyes. 

Min-ah looked at her with downcast eyes. Seeing Wheein’s hopeful look, Min-ah couldn’t help but feel a small string being pulled at his heart. He had to admit it. He likes her. He has a crush on her. He feels things for her that he knows that he shouldn’t be feeling. Afterall, she’s Hyejin’s girlfriend, and he has no right to ruin their happiness. But even if he tries to not give into Wheein’s natural charm, he falters. He falters and he’s angry at himself about it. 

“Because it doesn’t matter to people like us. Even if we do great on them, there are only a few known universities and colleges that take anyone anyway, so why bother?”

“To help you get into a better school?” Wheein was confused. Confused as to why they were being so stubborn about this topic. Don’t they want to get an education in order to achieve great careers? Is that not the goal after school?

“Why? What good will it do us? Get a good job? That’s a lie.” Do Yeon huffed.

“All it will do is put us in debt, and I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want to burden my parents with that.” Tae-Hee said while nodding in agreement with Do-Yeon.

“So, then what? What are you going to do then? Just accept it?” Wheein was getting frustrated at this point. Why don’t they want the chance to be better?

“Wheein-ah, compared to you guys in those honor courses, we’re kinda the ones that all we can do is work to live. No matter how hard we try, it's hard to go against the system designed to let a select few succeed. We can only take it one day at a time.” Hyejin said in a solemn tone. 

Wheein only looked at Hyejin, startled. She never would have thought that Hyejin would say those types of words. But maybe, just maybe, those were the words that she had close to her heart. Words that she dare not verbalise so they won’t become a solid truth.

Before she could say anything to refute Hyejin’s claim, the bell rang. They all packed up and went their separate ways. Wheein and Hyejin gave their goodbye kiss but Wheein gave Hyejin a look that said that they will talk later. Afterall, Wheein still wasn’t through with their conversation.

As they all went their separate ways, only Wheein and Min-ah went the same direction. They did not share a class, just the same direction to where their class was. But as they walked, even Wheein noticed how off Min-ah was. How he seemed distracted as of late. 

“Min-ah, what’s on your mind? You’ve been a bit distant lately.” Wheein asked with a gentle curiosity.

Min-ah only grunted in response. His mind was elsewhere as he tried to control his emotions. It was only reasonable for Min-ah to fall for Wheein. Afterall, she was the first one to truly try to help him. Yes his other friends did as well but she’s the first one to try to help him better himself. She helped him understand things that he thought were too big to handle. He accepted it long ago that he wasn’t smart. That maybe he was just stuck with having to do manual labor for the rest of his life. But she was the first one to not accept it. She was the one who had faith in his intelligence. The others did too but he was use to their praises already so it meant nothing to them. But to hear praises from Wheein’s mouth? Brought him so much joy and pleasure that he knows that nothing else could compare. 

His heart and mind were conflicted. He wants to be the one with Wheein. Seeing how Hyejin and Wheein are together, especially lately, he couldn’t help but feel jealous. He’s seen the difference between how Wheein is with and without Hyejin around. She laughed louder with Hyejin. She was more expressive with Hyejin. She was much more of a warm person with Hyejin. As if the only way her true self is to shine is if Hyejin is there with her. As if Hyejin is the cause of her happiness. Oh how Min-Ah wished it was him that was causing that bright smile on Wheein’s face. 

He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to know. He needed evidence to stop his heart and mind  from being irrational. And how they were telling him that he had a chance at Wheein. That nothing was stopping him but his own cowardice. But he does know better. He just needs to hear those words from Wheein. So, he had to ask.

“Wheein…” He trailed off a bit, uncertain at first but it was now or suffer later, “What do you see in Hyejin? Like, why do you like her so much?”

Wheein was taken aback. Min-Ah was sure full of surprises today. At first, she was confused about the question. Why was he asking such a question? But when that thought came across her mind she became worried. What could this lead to?

“Why I like her so much?”

Min-Ah just nodded.

So, with a reluctant sigh, Wheein finally answered.

“I like her for a multitude of reasons. I like how she makes me feel. How she can understand me with nothing but a simple touch. How she can know what I need and when I need it. I like how loud she is in showing how much she cares for me.  How she is just able to go with the flow but be stubborn at the same time. I like how she sticks to her values even if it meant going against the status quo. I like how she just made her own standards instead of conforming.  I like her duality. How she can be optimistic yet grounded. I like how she genuinely helps a person who is trying their best to learn something. I like how, despite being smart, she still has her moments of questionable intelligence. I like how she’s so humble.”

Wheein could have gone on but they were getting close to Min-Ah’s classroom now. So much to say but so little time. But maybe it was better to finally admit to someone how she really feels about Hyejin.

“Maybe that’s why I don’t like her…” Wheein trailed off and Min-Ah tried his hardest to not get his hopes up.

“I don’t just like her…..I love her.” Wheein beamed.

With those words, Min-Ah finally felt relief. Relief that his own confused feelings have been settled. Relief that his heart didn’t break as badly as he thought it was. But most importantly, relief that he knows Wheein is unwavering in her feelings for Hyejin. That Wheein was able to see a side of Hyejin that so few of them see. He knows now that if anyone is to see Hyejin being the most vulnerable, soft, etc. she’s ever been, it’s Wheein. While her words may have seemed simple and basic, it was Wheein’s face that told him all he needed. The face of love. 

“Heh. I never would’ve thought that a lion and a pup would be together but here we are.” Min-Ah said with a laugh while he patted Wheein on the head.

“Why does everyone see me as a pup? Do I really give off that energy?” Wheein asked with a pout. She never saw Min-Ah’s inner storm so all she thought was that he was being a good friend and checking in on them. And in a way, she was right.

“Well, we do, but Hyejin said one time, back before you two were a thing, that she could see you like a phoenix? I think that’s what she said. Some type of red bird thing.” Min-Ah said with a shrug before finally retiring to his classroom.

Wheein continued on to her own classroom with nothing but a goofy grin on her face.

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

“I swear, you only call me to yell nowadays.” 

“Hey! That’s not true. I also call you to release my woes upon you.”

“I don’t know why I haven’t blocked you yet.”

“It’s because you love me.”

It was finally October. October, the month of their first year anniversary. Hyejin couldn’t help but feel like a soft mess. She wanted to do something grand in honour of their first year, but being a soft mess means that having a coherent thought is nonexistent. So, what to do when your brain is a mess of soft feelings and you’re trying to plan something? Call your best friend.

Ji Yeon loudly groaned before answering, “I told you a million times already. You. Are. Terrible. At. Planning.”

Hyejin only whined, “Why don’t you trust meeee.”

“Do I need to remind you of all the times you planned something to only have it be done haphazardly? Do-Yeon had to get a tetanus shot because of you!”

“Ok, but did he die? No, so it’s fine.” Hyejin casually replied.

“We were almost caught by police!” Ji Yeon hissed.

“That was one ti--”

“Thrice!! We were almost caught thrice in one night! Or do I need to tell Wheein your escapades in evading the law?”

“It was not evading the law!” Hyejin defended herself.

“Fine, not being caught while trespassing.” Ji Yeon lazily said. 

“It wasn’t trespassing either! You--”

Ji Yeon heard another voice interrupt Hyejin’s whining. She didn’t hear what was said, only Hyejin’s response. Looks like Hyejin was spending the night with Wheein again.

“Nothing! No trespassing was done whatsoever. Your lion is an upstanding citizen.” Came Hyejin’s dignified response.

Ji Yeon could feel a sly smile across her face. She knew what she had to do.

“Oi, Hyejin-ah, put Wheein on the phone, or like speaker, I need to tell her something.” Ji Yeon knew how to pitch and control her voice just right in order to not give away her plan.

“Hm? Oh, sure,” A brief pause while Hyejin the speaker, “There. Say hi Wheein!”

“Hi Ji Yeon!” Wheein couldn’t help but stop from changing her shirt in order to wave at the phone.

“Hello~ Your lion is a law breaker~ and has evaded the law at least thrice~” Ji Yeon said in a sing-song voice.

“KIM JI YEON.” Hyejn yelled.

Wheein said nothing. She only gave Hyejin a dead stare. Hyejin could only try to hide behind the bed. 

“Ji Yeon, I love you, but I’mma fight you.” Hyejin responded in an equally as dead tone as Wheein’s dead stare. 

“As long as you don’t get too frisky again. Your hands always do a number on me.” Ji Yeon answered without even thinking about the implications of her words. 

It was only when she heard Hyejin’s yelp, a thud and the phone falling did she realise the error of her ways. Only one thing to do. Retreat.

“Uh, good luck with that. Bye~”

“Ji Yeon you TRAI--”

Ji Yeon hanged up and only hoped that Hyejin would survive.

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

The phone was soon forgotten. It’s black screen clearly reflecting the scene before it. The scene that caused Hyejin to be both frightened and aroused. 

Once Ji Yeon uttered those words, a chord struck within Wheein. She knows Ji Yeon isn’t a threat per se. They’ve had that conversation before, but sometimes, Wheein couldn’t help but be a little jealous. Even with that conversation easing her fears and worries, it’s hard to let go of them. Worries and fears are the weeds of the mind.

She knows that Ji Yeon’s and Hyejin’s relationship was longer than hers and Hyejin’s. And because of that Hyejin has always been affectionate with Ji Yeon and generally treated her differently. How easily Hyejin told Ji Yeon how often she loves her, or how easy and quick Hyejin is willing to give Ji Yeon a big hug.

But, after their talk last year, Wheein knows where Hyejin’s heart is. Where Hyejin’s touch is. She didn’t know about Hyejin getting frisky with Ji Yeon though. It was the word combination that made Wheein react the way she did.

Wheein tackled Hyejin onto the soft carpet and straddled her. 

At first, Hyejin couldn’t think of anything else except for how Ji Yeon left her hanging to dry. How she left without clarifying her words. Was that really a bad thing though? Yes, it may cause a misunderstanding, but they were better at talking things out now. So it would be easy to clarify what Ji Yeon meant. But, she had to give Ji Yeon some credit. If Ji Yeon hadn’t said those words, then Wheein wouldn’t be straddling her right now. There was only one problem.

Wheein’s unreadable expression.

Even with the temptation of the ed view before her, Hyejin only focused on Wheein’s face. Trying to get a read on what Wheein was thinking. That isn’t to say that Hyejin didn’t look. The peripheral view has its uses. 

Hyejin was finally going to ask Wheein what was wrong but Wheein beat her to it.

“What did Ji Yeon mean when she said your hands always do a number on her?” A simple question asked by an eerily calm voice.

Hyejin could only gulp. She was frightened due to how almost cold Wheein was. But also aroused due to their positions and at how Wheein seems to be dominating for once. But she needed to clear this up to ease Wheein’s worries.

“Ah, uh, yeah. She meant with our, uh, fights. I stay just far enough out of her range and, uh, kinda sneak in my punches and jabs.” Hyejin answered honestly.

Wheein only hummed in response but still had a veiled expression. 

“Wheein-ah?” Hyejin softly asked.

Wheein being almost silent for this long felt off. Like there was some sort of  imbalance with the universe. But just as Hyejin’s own worries began to grow,

Wheein took action. An action that Hyejin enjoys immensely. An action that, for whatever reason, makes them understand each other better. Touch.

Wheein grabbed one of Hyejin’s hands and placed them on her lower stomach.

“I don’t like the thought that your hands have been touching someone else.” Wheein’s words were uttered so softly that Hyejin almost couldn’t hear. They were uttered so softly but said with such strength that Hyejin couldn’t help but enjoy this side of Wheein. This was a different kind of possessiveness. The previous ones were just petty. But this? This one had a hint of desire to it. 

“I know it’s selfish and I really shouldn’t think this way, but,” As she continued to talk she dragged Hyejin’s hand up her bare torso, “I want your touch all to myself.” 

Wheein finished her statement by dragging Hyejin’s hand up her face and kissing the palm of Hyejin’s hand. Wheein looked at Hyejin, almost expectantly. Both of their desires stirred again. But Wheein couldn’t help herself. As she said before, she wants Hyejin’s touch to herself. 

Hyejin had to bite her tongue to keep from . She had to admit, she could get used to being under Wheein like this. But as much as she wanted to moan in this pleasure, especially since Wheein dragged Hyejin’s hand downwards along the same path, there was just one issue. They were at Wheein’s  house. And their track record so far hasn’t been great with Wheein’s parents around.

“Hyejin-ah,” Wheein grabbed the other hand and placed them both on her bosom,” I----”

Before she could finally admit her true feelings to Hyejin, a loud yell went through the house. Loud yelling followed by more yelling followed by a loud splash as something went into the pool. The two could only look at each other and sigh in defeat. Another moment ruined. Might as well investigate the situation outside. 

Wheein went back to finally change her shirt, and Hyejin retrieved her phone and sent a single text to Ji Yeon. And as they were getting ready to leave the room, Hyejin just had one question.

“Oh! Hey Wheein-ah, what did ya wanna do for our one year?” 

Wheein paused at the door before answering with a mock serious expression.

“We can commit the perfect crime together.”

“We already stole each other’s hearts though?”

“ No, no, no. Ji Yeon made grave errors  today and must pay in full.”

Hyejin only nodded wisely, “Ah, a revenge kink. I see.”

Wheein playfully smacked Hyejin’s arm, “Oh shush, miss exhibitionist kink.”

“Oh my god I said it one time--”

Wheein finally opened the door. Numerous scenes went through their mind when they heard the chaos earlier. But none of them could compare to the actual scene. Not even the most bizarre ones. For the moment that Wheein opened the door, they were met with the most absurd scenes

It looked like they caught Yong in motion so when she froze, because the door was opening, it looked more like she was drowning Moonbyul. She almost did when she froze but she regained enough sense to bring Moonbyul back up.

“THE HELL WAS THAT YO--” Byul paused, mid rant, when she looked at where Yong was looking.

Wheein and Hyejin could only stare at the older couple. Wishing that they were just seeing things but they also know that this is normal. But that didn’t stop them from looking and Yong and Moonbyul with a deadpan expression. 

Yong and Moonbyul looked at each other before they looked back at the girls.

“We can--”

The door was shut immediately and the girls retreated back into the safety of Wheein’s room. Where they both climbed back on Wheein’s bed and tried to forget what they just saw. They were successful until they burst out laughing. They laughed till it hurt. At first they laughed at the scene they witnessed and then it evolved to them just laughing at the other laughing. A vicious cycle of joy. 

“Man, I hope I get to have that much fun with my future spouse.” Hyejin said with a hint of laughter in her voice still. 

“That was as bad as the time I caught them just rubbing each other’s face with their hands.” Wheein said while she wiped tears from her eyes.

“What?? Why did they do that?”

“I don’t know! I just wanted to ask if I could get some ice cream but then little old me had to see that!” Wheein stifled her laughter when she recalled that memory. 

“I think that’s more evidence for my point to be honest,” Hyejin said as she sat up to stretch.

“Oh? Do you think you’ll find a spouse like that? Wheein asked, curious about Hyejin’s spouse of the future.

“Hmm. Well that depends.” Hyejin continued to stretch. Even her stretching was feline like.

“Depends on what?” Wheein finally sat up as well and looked at Hyejin expectantly. 

“Depends on if you’ll marry me, Wheein-ah.”