The sun was hidden behind the buildings but it’s rays still pierced through the gaps between the cement towers. Making it clear that the heat of the day was not fading anytime soon. Even with said heat, people still were out and about without a care in the world. Some were fellow students that were just returning from the river, while others were headed towards the river. There were people that were returning from work, others going to work. There were other students that had enough for the day and decided to get a head start at the bars that were beginning to open up. Others were leaving before the bar crowd became too much. 

Taking the back alley shortcut, they avoided the flow of the mob of people. Hyejin never once let go of Wheein’s hand and Wheein gladly held on. Despite Hyejin’s somewhat calloused hands, her touch was the softest Wheein has ever felt. Hyejin’s touch was firm and gentle but had that hint of power that was locked away. Before, she would enjoy the sensation of Hyejin’s touch, but now? If she isn’t careful, if she focuses too much on Hyejin’s touch, she would get hot. Especially since she knows exactly what those hands are capable of. 

As they walked, they talked. Wheein asked Hyejin how the exam was, and Hyejin immediately groaned in pain. Hyejin’s grip gently squeezed Wheein’s hand and Wheein squeezed right back. 

“God, it was so stupid! We had to take it in the lab, right?” Hyejin looked at Wheein as the pain of that memory of hours prior came back to her. 

“Mmmhmm,” Wheein nodded so Hyejin could continue. 

“So, I was sitting up front so I could leave easier and, oh boy, do I have so many regrets,” Hyejin exaggerated her sigh and pout.

“What happened?” Wheein’s curiosity piqued again. What could possibly go wrong in a controlled environment?

“The computer wouldn’t log me in, so I went to a different one. Then that one froze so I had to go to ANOTHER one. And you know they take FOREVER to log in,” Hyejin’s grip on Wheein’s hand tightened as she remembered the frustration from hours ago. 

“Oh my god…”

“Then I finally get to a working one, right? Well, I log in, start up the test and I’m flying through it, BUT THEN,” Hyejin’s voice gently bounced off the surrounding buildings as she exclaimed. 

Wheein could only look at Hyejin with concern. What could possibly go wrong after all that? A power outage? Natural disaster? Bad luck?

“The prof starts talkin with some of the TAs in front and yea, sure, they were whispering but THE REST OF THE ROOM WAS QUIET,” Hyejin said in an outburst.

“Really??” 

“Yes, really!! I was halfway done but once they started whispering I kept getting distracted,” Hyejin faked sobbed as she clung onto Wheein for comfort. Nestling her head into the crook of Wheein’s neck. 

“Awww, my poor lion,” Wheein gave a comforting and sympathetic squeeze while placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. 

“I should’ve been done in like an hour but it took almost the rest of the time to complete it!” Hyejin yelled again while still clinging onto Wheein like the koala she is. 

“Are you going to complain or something? A professor should know better than to do that,” Wheein offered some sort of pity solution. 

“Nah, it’s already done so why bother, ya know? Besides, he’s one of the better profs so don’t wanna ruin it for future students,” Hyejin nodded wisely as she swayed the both of them back and forth. Making them both wobble down the open alleyway. Her hair tickling Wheein’s neck ever so slightly, she placed a fluttering kiss on Wheein’s neck. 

Wheein freely let herself giggle without a care in the world. Under the filtered rays and Hyejin’s embrace, Wheein felt at peace. Sure, it was mundane, but she felt like she’s where she’s supposed to be. By Hyejin’s side. Enjoying life and whatever mild bumps are thrown at them. 

“Hey, Wheein,” Hyejin almost sounded hesitant. As if she’s been holding something back, and despite her efforts, she can’t hold it back any longer. 

“Hm?” Wheein hummed in response, enjoying their slow sway down the alley as Hyejin still remained clinging onto her side. 

“What would you do if I did go study abroad?” Hyejin unclasped herself from Wheein to get a good look at her.

“Hmm. Probably stay here?” Wheein cocked her head in thought. She never really considered what she would do if Hyejin were to go study abroad. Hyejin mentioned studying abroad before so the topic isn't a surprise but she never considered herself in the equation.

“Really?”

“I mean, it would be great if I could join you but I don’t know the likelihood of study abroad programs for me that would line up with programs for you,” Wheein shrugged. 

“Hm, that’s true,” Hyejin stared ahead in thought.

“Awww, are the two love birds going out on a date?” 

Both young girls yelped and looked at the sudden offender.

“Ji Yeon!”

“Kei!”

“Ok, did you guys forget I work here??” Ji Yeon looked at their surprised faces and knew the answer. She knew and sighed in defeat.

“Oh my god, your little apron is so cute!” Hyejin cooed. 

“Since when did you work here??” Wheein asked as Hyejin went to inspect the apron.

“Holy , Hyejin-ah, ya didn’t tell Wheein?” Ji Yeon glared at Hyejin and swatted her away from touching her work apron.

“Tell her what?” Hyejin asked as if she were innocent.

“She didn’t tell me,” Wheein said as she went over to drape herself on Hyejin’s shoulder, “But does this mean we can get a discount now? Hyejin is making me pay.”

Ji Yeon glared at them both. Here she was, taking out the trash, and sees the lovebirds coming to the very bistro that she’s been working at for the past couple of weeks. With another tired sigh, and a defeated shake of her head, it really does seem like those two are always off in their own little world. Separate from known reality. 

“Wow, you just find out that Hyejin didn’t tell you something and the first thing you do is ask for a discount?” 

“I mean, you didn’t tell me yourself either soooo,” Wheein shrugged.

“I--” Ji Yeon was taken aback. Caught in the truth.

“Hah! I’m not the only one at fault!” Hyejin turned smug.

Ji Yeon only glared at them before turning to leave them behind with a grumble. 

Wheein and Hyejin just looked at each other before breaking into giggles as they followed Ji Yeon to enter the bistro the back way.

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

“I didn’t know a space like this existed back here,” Wheein marvelled at the space around them as they were seated. 

Ji Yeon sat them in the back of the bistro. A garden patio that screams small europe. The stone walls were littered with vines that crawled along it like veins and potted plants that jutted out like sconces. The roof was filled with grape vines. And it was obvious that they were grape vines as grapes were actually growing from them.

“I wonder if you can eat them,” Hyejin mused as she eyed a cluster of grapes that were within reach.

“Touch them and I will suplex you.”

“You always pop up at the worst times, Kei,” Hyejin pouted as she slouched into the chair. 

Wheein giggled as Ji Yeon rolled her eyes.

“What do you want to drink?” Ji Yeon asked as she switched back into customer service mode. 

“Hibiscus iced tea!” Hyejin immediately answered.

Wheein raised a brow before answering with wanting water.

Ji Yeon nodded then left the two alone.

“Hibiscus??” Wheein asked as she continued to look around. Taking in every detail she could of the space around them. It was scenic. Maybe she should get some reference photos while she’s here. 

“I dunno. I heard it was good?” Hyejin shrugged as she began to look at the menu. 

A whimsical smile made its way onto Wheein’s lips.

“Always the adventurous one, huh?”

“Only in controlled environments,” Hyejin shifted her focus from the menu to focus on Wheein. 

Wheein only hummed as she was lost in all of the details of the garden patio. And Hyejin was lost in Wheein’s own details. The way Wheein’s mouth was gently parted as she looked around them in wonder. The way Wheein’s eyes sparkled as she saw all of the details on the wall and vines that enclosed them. The way Wheein’s expression shifted to different stages of wonder as she saw more and more details. 

Even when Ji Yeon stopped by to give them their drinks and take their orders, Hyejin’s focus was all on Wheein. There were only two times where her focus from Wheein was broken. One, when she saw Sujeong from the corner of her eye and had to verify that she saw right. Two, when a fellow classmate stopped by to ask about a question on the exam. 

Once Hyejin’s classmate started to talk to her, Wheein took this chance to go wash up before their food arrived. 

Entering the cold building, Wheein weaved through the bustle of people to reach the peace that is called the bathroom. Not really though. Upon entering, there was a small cluster of young women also fixing themselves up and Wheein immediately heard the words of her demons. 

They all dressed liked her but they pulled it off better. Looking at them, she saw just how well they fit the look. How slender they looked. How small they looked. Compared to them, she was--

“Hi, Wheein!”

She froze. Why. Why did SHE have to be here?

“Hello, Sujeong,” Wheein tried to sound civil as she went to wash her hands once the cluster of young women finally left. 

“I’m glad I bumped into you here,” Sujeong took no offence at the lack of glee in Wheein’s voice, “I wanted to tell you that you should probably hurry up. Hyejin-ah looks like she’s about to kill a man.”

With that, Sujeong continued walking into a stall. 

Wheein didn’t know what to focus on first. The fact that Sujeong is also here at the Bistro. Or that Sujeong was paying attention to Hyejin. Or that she didn't even notice Sujeong at all until now. 

Shaking her head, she went to dry her hands and finally left the bathroom. The words of her demons had long vanished once the source of her jealousy appeared. As she left, she bumped into a rushing Ji Yeon.

“About time, Hyejin looks like she’s about to kill a man,” Ji Yeon said as she went into the kitchen.

Huh, it must be bad. 

As Wheein turned the corner, she saw exactly what Sujeong and Ji Yeon were talking about. The classmate was still there, talking animatedly, while Hyejin was just nodding along. Clearly no longer interested in the conversation but the classmate just continued talking. Taking no hints at all. Not even the daggers that Hyejin was glaring made an impact.

Hyejin really did look like she was about to kill a man. 

Wheein continued to walk into the garden patio and wondered, in passing, how much of this would affect Hyejin’s mood. And if it did, then what can she do to rectify it? Maybe she can finally tell Hyejin what she wants to try in the bedroom?

As soon as Hyejin saw a glimpse of Wheein from the corner of her eye, Hyejin’s focus went straight to her. As it did, her face melted. A goofy smile easily found itself on Hyejin’s face and her eyes glistened with joy as she saw Wheein coming back. Truly the face of a lion who was head over heels in love.

The shift was so obvious that even the classmate noticed and finally took the hint to leave.

“Wow, you really did look like you were going to murder him,” Wheein voiced her observation as she examined her plate. She didn’t know what to expect from this Prosciutto and Mozzarella with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes but she didn’t expect it to look glorious. Hell, even Hyejin’s sliced cold smoked salmon with herbed cream cheese, fresh dill, and olive oil looked like something out of a painting. 

“Ugh, he came to ask a question on that stupid exam but then the bastard wouldn’t let me talk and kept yapping,” Hyejin grumbled as she took Wheein’s hand in her right. Gently holding it as if she was grounding herself. Letting her thumb rub the back of Wheein’s hand out of habit.

“It seems like this always happens to you,” Wheein mused as she began to play with Hyejin’s hand. 

“I just want to enjoy one night out with my girlfriend without anyone tryin to talk to me,” Hyejin groaned. 

“Hmm, maybe we need to have a night out under the stars?” Wheein offered as she began to eat with her free hand.

“Oh! Date night, but camping,” Hyejin beamed at the idea as she also began to eat with her own free hand. 

“With or without that camper of yours?”

“I was thinkin’ actual camping?” 

“In tents?”

“Yup! The true rugged experience!”

“Does that include foraging for our own food?”

And so on and so forth. Their conversation ranged from their hypothetical camping trip to what to expect during the summer. Their first summer as college kids.

They talked about spending some more time with Ms. Manju. Wheein even hinted at her possibly staying with her grandparents for a bit. Which Hyejin took that as the perfect opportunity to tell Wheein her theory about her grandmother being an undercover agent of somesort. They even made plans to catch up with the others. Maybe a nice weekend party? Wheein said that Hyejin may have to teach her parents more about gardening and plants in general since she knows her mom wants to plant a variety of more stuff. Hyejin mentioned how she should talk to Wheein’s mother about what to expect in different areas of business and what makes a business a business. 

They were in their own bubble of bliss that couldn’t be popped as they talked about their immediate future. All while focusing on each other and nothing else.

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

Wheein knew this was bound to happen. Her mom may have a soft spot for Hyejin, but that doesn’t guarantee safety. So, when a student made an outrageous claim that Yong couldn’t beat them all in a row, including Hyejin, her mom’s competitiveness got the best of her. It also didn’t help that Hyejin neither confirmed nor denied such a claim. 

“Are you sure you did everything you could to convince mom to not beat up my girlfriend?” Wheein asked her mother as they both stood outside the ring and watched as Yong and Hyejin circled each other. 

“Bold of you to assume that your mom would listen to me after she made up her mind,” Byul admitted.

Wheein sighed, “And here I thought our summer would start off without a fight.”

“Hah! You’re dating a fighter, Wheenie. I think you need to get used to it,” Byul patted Wheein’s head, “It might take a while though.”

Wheein looked up at her mother and found that she was lost in a past memory. Humming, she took her mother’s words to heart as Hyejin threw the first punch.