It was easy for them to fall into a routine. After that first weekend, everything fell into place. But, there were slight differences. They were hyper aware of how they found themselves teetering towards going back to old habits.

Wheein would wait for Hyejin outside the apartment complex and her in. They would share a dinner, mostly they would make it but it depends on the kind of week they had. Afterwards, they would clean up and lounge around before it was time to bathe and go to sleep. Saturday would be filled with more lounging, or, sometimes, they would take a stroll around downtown and visit a shop or cafe. Here they would talk about their week and any woes they have for anything that’s coming up for their classes. Sunday was filled with more lounging and preparing for the upcoming week. 

And that’s how it was for a while. Very mundane. Very lacklustre. They meant it to be that way. They kept everything on the surface level less they give into their desire of speeding things up. 

But, as with all final semesters for serious students, things begin to pick up during October. 

Wheein’s course load looks light on paper but it was actually fulfilling her assignments that were a challenge. Between meeting the requirements but also having to deal with critique from people that have no merit was beginning to weigh down on her. She knew this was coming, having her art under scrutiny, and yet she still felt unprepared. After the focus of her art shifting from lions and felines to more nature and landscape types, her peers held nothing back. While she knew that some held merit, there were others that did just the bare minimum yet were more critical. Honestly, it was frustrating. 

Hyejin’s course load also looked light, and it was so. Well, except for the papers she had to write for that so-called throw away class. It was getting on her nerves how she had to be catered to due to her injuries and she steadily grew more frustrated at people who thought they were helping but instead they treated her like a helpless baby. She despised the way her peers looked at her. They looked at her with pity.

“Wheein-ah, can you murder me?” Hyejin lazily drawled as she stared up at the ceiling from the couch.

“Where would I hide your body around here?” Wheein nonchalantly asked as she continued to sketch ideas in her sketchbook for the next project while also making mental notes for the theme for the exhibition project for her final semester.

“Ya can just leave me in the dumpster,” Hyejin flung her arm in the air for dramatic effect. 

“That means dragging your corpse around,” Wheein put down her pencil to give Hyejin a quizzical look, “and I have noodle arms, remember?”

“You can get Ji Yeon and Sujeong to help,” Hyejin grumbled.

“I think Ji Yeon would just leave your body on the side of the road though.”

“That’s even better. Let the buzzards pick me apart,” Hyejin let out a long sigh.

“Alright, Prometheus, what happened?” Wheein put down her sketchbook and placed it on the table in front of her as she got comfortable in the chair. 

“Group projects.” 

“What’s different about this one?” Wheein prompted.

“It’s a 20 minute presentation and it’s like we’re presenting in front of the board. So that means having in-depth knowledge in what we’re saying and the evidence to back it up since questions will be asked,” Hyejin sighed again.

“And what exactly are you doing?” Wheein prompted again. If Hyejin wasn’t naturally telling her about this project then it must really be heavy on Hyejin’s mind.

“Think of it like a case study. We look at these two companies and determine if it’s good for them to merge or not or for one to buy out the other,” Hyejin shifted a bit in order to get more comfortable while also being mindful of her limbs in casts.

“Ah,” Wheein paused for a moment to see if Hyejin would say anything else but she was met with silence, “So, which part makes you wanna be picked apart by buzzards?”

Hyejin softly growled. Her frustration was apparent but Wheein couldn’t see where it was directed at. Glancing over Hyejin’s lounging form, Wheein saw how Hyejin only stared at one spot on the ceiling. Truly, this is the first time Wheein has ever seen Hyejin this bothered by a group project before. 

“We only got the gist of it this week but there’s no one in that class I want to work with,” Hyejin huffed, “Everyone’s got senioritis early.”

“Surely there are a couple that can put in the work?”

“Yea, maybe,” Hyejin shifted in place. Her body begged for any sort of movement but her casts say otherwise, “But I don’t wanna be pitied either.”

There it is. The core of Hyejin’s frustration.

“Hm. Worried about people trying to be quote unquote helpful?” Wheein got up from her spot and beckoned Hyejin to do the same with a simple finger motion. It was time for a change of scenery.

Hyejin followed Wheein’s beckoning without question.

“It’s been almost two months and people think I’m a newborn baby!” Hyejin growled again.

Wheein gave a soft hum as she gathered their jackets, the October evenings have been proving to be colder than usual lately. Freely letting Hyejin rant as she does so. With Sujeong and Ji Yeon being in similar, or the same, majors it must be relieving to be able to speak to someone that is in a completely different environment. Thus, Wheein will gladly let Hyejin talk if it means relieving the tiniest bit of stress. 

“It’s like they think these physical injuries also impared my mental capabilities! Hell, I didn’t even get a concussion when that damn light fell on me!” Hyejin continued to rant as Wheein put on her jacket and began to help Hyejin into her own. 

Wheein said nothing as she adjusted Hyejin’s jacket. Checking to see it wasn’t weirdly scrunched up somewhere and making sure the sleeve didn’t get caught in the cast. She nodded to show that she was still listening.

“I wonder if I can talk my prof into making an exception or giving me an alternate assignment. Maybe a solo one?” Hyejin told no one. 

Wheein made a questioning noise as she went through her mental checklist. Checking for phones, keys, cards, and money. And making sure to leave at least one light on. Who knows when they’ll be back. The one old habit they fell back onto. The habit of forgetting that time exists while they’re around each other. But can that even be called a habit when it’s something that happens naturally?

“Then again, I don’t think just because I’m the favourite means I can get special privileges like that…...” Hyejin’s voice faded as she finally noticed what Wheein was doing.

“Oh? Where we goin’?” Hyejin asked as Wheein finally ushered Hyejin outside the apartment and locked the door behind them.

“Just a place with fresh air,” Wheein answered. Not caring how ambiguous it was. 

“And here I thought you were actually taking my plea for murder,” Hyejin sighed as she followed Wheein to the elevator. The soft clank of her crutch against the floor echoed around them. 

“Again, I need a sound cover story before any murder could happen.”

"Who needs a cover story for murder?" Hyejin said as she leaned against the wall as they waited for the elevator.

"It's called not wanting to go to prison, Hyejin-ah," Wheein grinned at the absurdity of their conversation.

She missed this. She missed these throw away conversations that showed more about a person than any other conversation she ever had. She tried to recreate such talks with So-yoon but all she got in return was judgement. So-yoon called her weird for even thinking such things. So-yoon actively avoided such conversations with her and tried to get her to talk about things like, as So-yoon put it, a normal person.

"With your smarts, you can break out of prison easily," Hyejin nodded as she playfully scratched her chin in mock thought. Her sour mood from before vanished and it was replaced with the cub that Wheein loves.

"Maybe I can form my own gang while I'm at it," Wheein couldn't help but giggle. 

"First it's a small gang then it's the world!" Hyejin exclaimed as the elevator dinged and she got in with Wheein.

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

"So, what are your woes, Wheein-ah?" Hyejin asked as they walked to their favorite cafe across the street. A cellar cafe. 

“Woes??” 

“I just ranted about my woes,” Hyejin shrugged, “So, lemme hear yours.”

Wheein forcefully giggled, nervous about facing what she doesn’t want to face.

“Hyejin-ah, I--” Wheein began to decline but Hyejin knew her well enough.

“Wheein-ah,” Hyejin stopped walking to give Wheein an intense look. As much as she wanted to reach out to let her touch do the talking, her hand was unfortunately occupied by clutching onto the crutch. So it was the next best thing. Her gaze.

Wheein felt vulnerable under Hyejin’s gaze. But it wasn’t uncomfortable. Hyejin saw right through her facade and instead of judging her, there was a sense of comfort. A welcoming warmth in Hyejin’s gaze that Wheein never noticed before. No, that’s a lie. She has noticed it in Hyejin’s gaze before, it’s just that she never noticed it in anyone else’s gaze. Well, except maybe her parents but that’s different.

Wheein gave in.

“....A-alright…...But, can I tell you after we get comfortable at a table or something?” Wheein asked. Despite the many layers she wore, the sudden coldness from the outside world was starting to reach her bones. 

Hyejin stared for a bit longer before finally nodding in agreement.

“Ok, but can we get an outside table?” Hyejin asked as she finally started to move again. The cafe was closer than she expected.

“Outside??”

“You don’t want to?” Hyejin raised her brow.

“It’s cold!” Wheein exclaimed and pointedly flapped her arms to showcase her long sweater and big, fluffy jacket.

“It is???” Hyejin furrowed her brow. Wondering how it could be so cold so early in the season.

“Well, you did always run hot anyway so this must be nothing to you,” Wheein made it to the door first so she could hold it open for Hyejin. 

“When did it get cold?? It’s still October!” Hyejin’s turn to exclaim.

“That’s what I said when I saw the weather forecast,” Wheein took a moment to look around to spot an ideal table. A table that was far away from the door in order to avoid the cold and a table that was easy for Hyejin to get in and get out. But there was none. Only the bar area was open.

“Huh, maybe I should start paying attention to it then,” Hyejin said to herself as she also looked around and saw what Wheein saw. Without a second thought, she made her way over to the open bar. Luckily, there weren’t many people so their conversation will be safe. 

“Just a little bit,” Wheein moved ahead of Hyejin in order to pull out the chairs, “Especially since it’s about to be rainy here soon.”

Hyejin nodded her thanks to Wheein before quickly plopping herself onto the chair in one fluid motion. 

“I swear, it better not flood again or I’mma riot,” Hyejin grumbled before grabbing a menu for them to share.

“Hopefully this time you aren’t caught again,” Wheein grinned at the memory as she looked over the menu with Hyejin and heard her whine at said memory. 

It was mundane times like these where Wheein truly noticed how much she took Hyejin for granted. The way Hyejin treats her, and everyone else, was a standard that Wheein thought everyone had. But, after So-yoon, did she realise that Hyejin was just a higher standard. Sure, anyone’s first argument would be that she was only with So-yoon for a month and how that isn’t enough time to pass judgement, but she already went through that line of thought. With Hyejin, she never changed who she was. What she saw is what she got with Hyejin. There was no drastic shift of character or personality once they were together, if anything Hyejin became a bit more self aware. While So-yoon was the opposite. She started off being a caring friend, asking how Wheein was and offering advice, but once they were together everything changed. The caring person that Wheein knew vanished and in its place was someone who Wheein didn’t even recognize. So-yoon became more controlling and demanding, all in the guise of it being the best for her, and Wheein despised it.

But, Wheein did appreciate it in the end. For it let her realise what she really loved and valued in a person. And it made her fall for, and miss, Hyejin even more. 

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

“So…..” Hyejin patted clean and leaned back into the bar chair to get a clear view of Wheein with her eye, “Your woes.”

“Can I just say it’s a bit surreal to have you asking me about my woes,” Wheein tried to delay the inevitable.

“I never really took the time to ask you before when we were dating and it’s something I want to get better at,” Hyejin shrugged, “But yes, it is a bit surreal. Anyway, woes.”

Wheein could only sigh. She never noticed how Hyejin never asked before either until today. Hyejin took the time to reflect how she was back when they were dating and spotted areas for improvement. And it made Wheein’s heart skip just a little bit.

“Well, my main woe is that I want to suplex my classmates,” Wheein started.

“That’s valid,” Hyejin nodded in agreement, “But why?”

“Mostly because of critique….” Wheein paused and tilted her head in that puppy fashion of hers, “Well, 95% critique and 5% just standard art student ery.”

“Oh?” Hyejin made a motion to signify that they were done with their meals and the waiter at hand gave an acknowledging nod before quickly, and quietly, taking away their plates. 

“Which one do you want to hear first?”

“Hm. Considering how they combine to a 100% of your woes then just lay it on me,” Hyejin gave a grin, “I’m always eager to hear about art student ery though.”

Wheein couldn’t help but grin back.

“That’s right. Well, since it’s just 5% it’s nothing much. Just how one thought it would be fine to use previous art and turn it in as new art.”

Hyejin’s eye widened, “Wait, someone actually did that??”

“Yup! She only did minor changes to it but the only way she was caught reusing old art was that another student was in her class last semester so that student recognised it. She made the claim that it was still original since she did change things, but I don’t think that counts.”

Hyejin could only blink as she contemplated on how a person could ever think that they could get away with doing minimal work. 

“So, what’s the rest?” Hyejin prompted. As much as she wanted to focus on that one story, that’s not where Wheein’s woes lie. She made a promise to do better and to check up on Wheein more often, even if Wheein doesn’t say anything. It was something that she found as she reflected on the hospital bed when she made her vow. She wanted to prove herself, but she also wanted to do better. Looking back, she wasn’t the best that she could’ve been. It was as if she became stagnant and stopped trying. So, time to do better and now was her chance. 

“The rest is how critique is mostly bull and full of lies,” Wheein huffed, “I get why we have to do it but also, it’s well known that we are not all gonna be decent enough artists that we’ll have our own studios and get into galleries and stuff.”

“Hm. So besides the disillusion of your future,” Hyejin started, “It’s the constant stress of having to listen to people that have no merit?”

“Yes!” Wheein immediately agreed. The first part of what Hyejin said was just a ghostly shadow in the back of her mind. It will come back, but now it was time to rant. The future can be saved for later.

“Wait, so what exactly happens in critique besides the obvious??” Hyejin held onto Wheein’s gaze long enough to push the check just enough for the passing waiter to pick up. She wanted to pay for the meal and she knew that if Wheein saw the check then she would want to pay. But not today. Today it was her treat to Wheein since she can’t get flowers.

“It’s just that. The obvious,” Wheein deflated, “It’s nothing too fancy and it’s more informal if anything. Yeah, there are guidelines to kinda follow but it’s all just fluff in the end.”

“Useless information then?”

“A lot of it!” Wheein exclaimed once again and took a sip of her water. Her eyes briefly glanced over the counter for the check that she knew she saw earlier. But her eyes found nothing but the grey of the counter. 

“Is anything actually useful?” Hyejin probed. She knew that one of the things that tend to bother Wheein the most is constantly getting useless information. And she also knew that Wheein was one to bottle up her emotions. Hence why she made that mental vow to be better than she was in the past. She was so used to Wheein just opening up to her that she never took time to consider that Wheein was only opening up part way.

“Kinda sorta??” Wheein scratched her head in frustration. It was harder to express herself than she expected. 

Hyejin only raised a brow and waited for Wheein to continue. As much as she wanted to pipe in, she stopped herself. Wheein needed to let this out herself, without outside help. As frustrating as it is.

Wheein let out a soft growl of her own. She was used to Hyejin piping in with helpful words that she feels lost without it. She had half a mind to ask Hyejin to speak up, but taking one glance at Hyejin’s patient gaze did she realise that she wasn’t getting help. She had to figure this out on her own with no one to guide her. She had to figure out her emotions for herself instead of just relying on whatever was told to her. 

“Kinda in the way that there are those that I do know have the best interest at heart. The ones I know that have merit and actually do the work to better themselves and better those around them,” Wheein paused as she took another sip of water, “So there are a few that actually give useful information. Helpful tips.”

Wheein paused to contemplate further. Is that really it? Is her woe just the frustration of dealing with incompetent people who would rather do the bare minimum than put in an effort? No, her woe is a conglomeration of things. A conglomeration of her frustration and her desire to find someone that can listen to her again. Her woe lies in how much she had neglected to listen to herself and instead let everything fester. But, what was festering? How far could it go? And what would happen if it reaches over the edge? 

“Notice something else?” Hyejin asked as she saw how Wheein’s eyes became focused on one spot on the counter as she went silent. A clear sign of how Wheein was becoming swallowed by her own inner thoughts.

“Yea……” Wheein muttered. 

“Wanna talk about it or….” Hyejin’s question faded as she saw Wheein shake her head immediately.

“I….” Wheein gave a reluctant sigh, “I don’t have the right words for it yet....”

“Ah, need some time to digest it then,” Hyejin gave a knowing nod as she finally took the copy of the receipt and stuffed it in her pocket before Wheein’s focus could return to the present.

“Just a little bit…...By the way, what happened to the check???”

“I already paid for it,” Hyejin gave a nonchalant shrug as she hopped off the bar chair so they could finally leave. She saw a small gathering of food trucks in an empty lot and she was curious as to what they had. 

“Hyejin-ah! Wh--” 

“It’s the least I could do.”

“But--”

“Wheein-ah, you’ve graciously let me stay with you for the weekends for the past couple of weeks, it’s the least I could do. Besides, if ya wanna make up for it then ya can pay for dessert,” Hyejin gave a wide grin.

As much as Wheein wanted to say more on the matter, she knew it would be a moot point. And she couldn’t help but feel her heart flutter a bit again. It was like old times. Them arguing who would get the check to the point where they had to sneakily find ways to pay for it in advance or pay for it without the other noticing brought a wave of nostalgia throughout her entire being. It was always the little things that made her love Hyejin more and more. And now that they nearly spent a year apart, she savored such moments. She savored and held them dear to her heart as she is painfully aware of how it could be gone the next day.

“Dessert? Where?” Wheein double checked that she had everything before getting off the chair.

“At the food trucks! One of them is bound to be full of desserts!” Hyejin beamed as she made her way outside. The hostess saw them and already went ahead to open the door.

Wheein gave the hostess a soft thank you before finally catching up to Hyejin. To Wheein’s surprise, Hyejin has gotten quite fast on her crutch.

“Have you always been this fast??” Wheein said as she finally made it to Hyejin’s side, “Or are you just that eager to get desert? Or did you want to make me sweat?”

“Yes!”

“That answered nothing, Hyejin-ah!”

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

As much as she told herself to remain calm, she couldn’t. Her heart raced with a panic and it took all of her willpower to remain cool on the outside. She only left Hyejin for a couple of minutes and in that time frame Hyejin managed to vanish. The familiar cold of being alone once again started to creep onto her very soul. 

As she quickly walked around the grounds, checking every little gap, she finally felt her phone buzz. Not even bothering to step to the side, she stopped in the middle to check and, to her relief, it was from Hyejin. But, there were only two words and nothing else.

Alley cat