Wheein awoke to the midmorning sun that gently entered their room through the closed blinds. Her body still echoed with the events of the night prior, where the memories still resonated deep within each fiber of her being. She never felt this sense of peace before. As if everything is where it should be. That she is where she is supposed to be. And that place is, currently, under Hyejin's half body. 

She adjusted a bit in order to get a clearer look at Hyejin’s sleeping form. Even in the dim light, Wheein could clearly see a small smile on Hyejin’s content face. She couldn’t help but smile back as she let her fingers pass through Hyejin’s hair, earning an unconscious hum of pleasure from Hyejin. She let her fingers gently glide through Hyejin’s hair as she looked at the form on top of her with no shame. Hyejin’s back was riddled with scratches and Wheein couldn’t help the feeling of pride growing in her chest. Pride that only she has been able to make such a mark on Hyejin. Pride that Hyejin’s hers. As possessive as that sounds, it’s true. No longer does her fear have any merit. No longer does her fear live within her heart and mind. Her fear that after they made love then there is nothing else to hold the relationship. That all milestones have been hit and that’s that. That there’s nothing left for them afterwards. It was a stupid and illogical fear, she’s seen plenty of evidence that suggest otherwise, but she always felt fated to never love or be loved, so that fear took root. But now? Seeing the marks on Hyejin’s back, and feeling the marks and impressions on her own skin? Her heart is at ease knowing that she’s loved and in love. 

Hyejin’s stretch brought her back from her reverence and back to the present. Her eyes meet the still sleepy gaze of the one who her heart belongs to.

“Hey,” Hyejin softly muttered into Wheein’s skin as she didn't’ even bother lifting up her face to speak clearly. A smile easily reaching her eyes as she gazed up at Wheein. Her lips fluttered against the tenderness that still resonated within each of Wheein’s nerves.

“Hey,” Wheein answered with a soft smile and sparkles of love in her eyes.

Hyejin stretched again and nuzzled her face into Wheein’s stomach, as if marking her scent like a cat. Earning a light chuckle from Wheein as it caused a slight tickling sensation. Once more, Hyejin wrapped her arms around Wheein’s still form and basked in her beautiful presence. Her fingers still tingled with the sensation of Wheein’s skin underneath and how it reacted to her touch. 

Neither spoke a word. The silence was all they needed to hear as they stayed like that for the rest of the day. Both enjoying the serenity that is known as being in a lover’s embrace.

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

Not much changed afterwards. At least, that’s what they thought. Ji Yeon saw the change instantly. She saw how their touch, what was once timid as a school child’s, became heated and filled with desire that did not have to be held back. In truth, she was a bit disturbed at how she even noticed such a thing. Or maybe it was how Hyejin now had the habit of sticking her hand in Wheein’s back pocket like she’s seeking a comfort item. And also the fact that Hyejin, and Wheein too, no longer hid their PDA. Much to Ji Yeon’s pain and suffering. No longer did they hide their longing for each other. 

They never told her what happened, but she knew given how they changed. Despite the pain and suffering at being a single third wheel, Ji Yeon was happy for them. She knows Hyejin’s history, and Wheein’s lack of history, so she was a bit worried. But seeing them now eliminated that worry and what replaced it was the feeling of playful disgust. And a bit of jealousy. Oh how she wanted to have a relationship like Wheein and Hyejin, but that’s beside the point. 

Now was the time for halloween and all the parties that come with it in college. 

“I can’t believe you actually got a costume…” Ji Yeon stared at the bag that Hyejin proudly dangled in front of her as they walked back to the apartment complex.

“Wheein was ecstatic when I told her I would dress up,” A cheeky smile made its way on Hyejin’s face.

“Ok, but, did you tell her that you were going to go as,” Ji Yeon gestured at the bag, “ That.”

“Based on her reaction, it is only reasonable to assume that she thought I would be something y,” Hyejin said in a mock british accent as if she were voicing a documentary, “So, no. It’s a surprise.”

“Why are you like this? Better yet, why do I know you and why do I still willingly hang out with you?” Ji Yeon sped up her pace in an effort to distance herself from Hyejin.

“Wh--Don’t leave me! You know I have tiny legs!” Hyejin complained as she had to lightly jog to catch up to the fleeing Ji Yeon.

“I know, and I’m using it to my advantage.” Ji Yeon increased the distance of her stride, easily widening the gap between them.

“You traitor! I thought we were friends!” Hyejin shifted gears to a jog.

“We are. That’s why I’m doing this,” Ji Yeon shifted gears to a fast walk.

“Oh? Are we exercising now?”

“ A DUCK!” Ji Yeon yelled as the new voice and body appeared right beside her and almost made her trip.

“Sujeong!!” Hyejin quickly scurried and enveloped Sujeong in a welcoming embrace as they all came to a stop.

“Where did you come from???” Ji Yeon looked around them to see if there was maybe a hiding spot but there was nothing. Just sidewalks and buildings. Or maybe Sujeong was in one of the storefronts and just saw them pass by. Maybe.

“I saw you giving Hyejin a hard time and I figured it was for a good reason,” Sujeong answered honestly as she returned Hyejin’s hug. Ji Yeon didn’t miss the lingering touch from Sujeong.

“Wait, that didn’t--”

“A good reason? When is any reason a good reason to give me a hard time?!” Hyejin pouted and stomped her little foot. 

“Oh, you’re so tiny and adorable. Like a cub. Awwww,” Sujeong melted at Hyejin’s childish cuteness and began to pinch her cheeks.

“H-hey! I’m a lion, not a cub!” Hyejin tried to fight Sujeong off but their height difference proved to be Hyejin’s undoing. 

Ji Yeon examined the scene before her. There was something almost familiar about it. It was like seeing Wheein teasing Hyejin, but something was off. It was the same but wasn’t. It was like she was seeing an old scene, before Wheein was even in the picture. So familiar, yet so foreign. A lost echo in a time long forgotten and only the trees and the earth will ever know what really transpired.

Ji Yeon tried to get Hyejin to answer her about who Sujeong was, but she kept getting the same response. Sujeong was just someone who was in Hyejin’s seminar class. But she can tell it’s more than that. In a way, Sujeong felt familiar. That’s what upsets Ji Yeon the most. Sujeong felt familiar but with Hyejin’s vague answers and a foggy memory, nothing came to mind. 

But the more she observed, the more she looked at the two and how at ease they are with each other, like old friends, it finally dawned on her who Sujeong really is. It hit her and crushed her heart. She was seeing a lost echo of a time she had forgotten, not due to negligence, but due to circumstance. Then again, how could she forget? How could she forget someone as important as Sujeong. Even after the accident, there were still hints of her everywhere, especially around Hyejin, so how could she forget? 

Sujeong was Hyejin’s first love.