A month means many things to different people, it can be short like an ant. It can be as long as a coast redwood tree. In the end, we still run on the same ground of time. 

To Yena, a month meant more dates for the both of them which left them in a sappy sort of happiness. A month also meant a longer time frame for her doubts to arise, torturing her mind in every possible second they could grasp at. However, she still found herself running towards something she could finally call ‘home’ and rest at last. The question lies in who she could call ‘home’.

Humming a little tune to herself, Yena notes the darkening sky as she returns to her shelf to retrieve a wrinkled navy umbrella. Summer rain brought about just a nice amount of warmth and breeze though it lasted for a short while. And Yena hopes this relationship doesn't last like a simple summer rain.

Having only afternoon classes for the day left her with two options, either of which would involve Chaewon in. For one, she could study in the cafe that the younger one had recommended after seeing less than desirable reviews. Or simply, save her money for another late night snack and fall asleep in the lull of the aircon and people typing away in the library, hopefully being able to keep her mind reaching a new low all by Newton’s stupid laws of gravity pulling her motivation down.

In the end, as Yena stepped out of the train, her eyes trailing the little queue forming for the escalator. The latter would be a better option given that Chaewon preferred to ponder alone in her own world as opposed to the constant grind of coffee beans and the distracting sights of sliced cakes.

Settling into her seat, just as the first droplets of the incoming rain made its appearance.

It was well past an hour into the lectures, when the same professor, clad in his pressed navy pants and crinkled stripes of a button down shirt,threw a question out into the open.

“Tell me, is it possible for like poles to ever be tied in romantically? Even going beyond the constraints of what you know has over us.” With a raise of his eyebrows, he scanned the room intently, hoping to draw out a response only to be met with sleepy nods.

A hand rose in the air, prompting heads to turn towards the owner. Yena followed, of course, her eyes glazing over the rows of heads which turned in unison.

‘It’s her.’ Frowning slightly to herself, trying to find the description to put to the girl who was beginning to introduce herself. ‘The lady who I rejected in Engineering Maths.’

Or better known as Kang Hyewon.

A firm voice followed the introduction, intending to crush the question.

“It’s not possible, Professor. Then it might propel the world we are living into a new state of chaos and I think we have enough on our hands as it is.” Letting out a little chuckle, she continued, “Sure, there were reported cases of temporary magnets falling in love and reverting into polar opposites. Even so, I could probably count them on my hands. What more for ‘like poles’ falling in love?”

Frowning to herself, Yena found a hand raising itself to add another opinion. 

Her own hand that is.

“Everything that Hyewon has said, is what we think theoretically. But I think we should see beyond the theories that confine us. Maybe perhaps we need an apple to hit us squarely on the head to understand gravity exists in this world?” 

With a suggestive raise of her eyebrows, Yena found herself facing her professor who cracked a little smile.

“Maybe there have been untold stories of Like Poles actually loving each other, it’s just that maybe they were too scared to confront it, too proud to admit to it and too blind to even notice it. Thus,-” With her voice constricting itself, her thoughts lost its momentum, her thoughts carrying off into different directions.

“And… and.” Letting out another breath, Yena tried to recollect only to find that it had scattered into the cracks of her emotions. With a disappointed sigh, the poor girl let out a muted apology before resigning back into her seat. Feeling as though eyes were mocking, voices were staring at her every word she said, though the sleepy reality said otherwise.

Only one person listened through everything, their mind running through more theories, crossing each one with a new theory.

The bell ringing signalled a slight pause to Yena’s little voice, constantly mocking her for losing track of her own thoughts.

With her head down, Yena quietly gathered her stuff, failing to notice a presence walking towards her till an outstretched hand, ready for a handshake came out.

“Hyewon. Kang Hyewon. We have classes together in Engineering Math and surprisingly, this class too.” The light chuckle escaping Hyewon’s parted lips brought Yena’s head up and away from her prying thoughts.

Looking back down on the hand which stood rigid, Yena cautiously reached out before shaking it meekly, introducing herself in the process. “Yena. Choi Yena. I’m sorry but your name, it sounds familiar to me?”

“Maybe because I’ve dated your past temporary magnet, Jo Yuri, I presume.”

Bingo.

“Oh.” Yena’s eyes found itself drifting away, trying to ease her way out of the tension though she was feeding into it with her actions.

“Don’t worry. We ended on good terms and I’m gonna be having lunch with her later. Do you perhaps want to join us?” Hyewon slipped in the question easily as she dropped her hands from their little handshake.

“Sorry, I’ve made prior plans with my girlfriend.” Rejecting the offer politely, Yena's hands found themselves fiddling with the hem of her navy blouse.

“It’s alright." Hyewon reassured Yena before asking another question. 

"Chaewon isn’t it? The one whose wardrobe merely consists of black clothes, though I admit she gives quite a seductive palate to it.”

Nodding in a sort of confused agreement, Yena began to walk out of the door, hoping that the conversation would start to break off. However, she found herself a follower who was fumbling about with her bag for something.

Yena ignored the sight, intending to focus on finding a shortcut to her own date.

Without any notice, a searing pain shot inside the upper side of her right chest. As if someone had decided to grip and squeeze her heart tightly. Immediately Yena reached out to grasp her chest, only to get a fistful of her blouse. However, it quickly dissipated into her body to a quiet numbing pain. It didn't catch Hyewon’s attention much to the younger girl's relief.

She didn't want to bother more people than she needed to and she was used to that.

“Also, can I ask for your number? Don’t worry.” Assuring Yena, the older girl continued with her tone taking itself down by a notch as she offered a reassuring smile, “I’m not going to ask you out on dates. I know my limits.” 

With a swift wink, Hyewon continued as she gave her phone, “It’s just for instances where I need to ask for solutions in classes. I can’t keep getting from the same source or the professor will start getting suspicious. But, it’s alright, if you don’t want to.”

Shaking her head in amusement, Yena reached out for Hyewon’s phone, swiftly typing in her phone number, speaking out to hopefully end Hyewon’s relentless questions.

“Don’t worry. I could also appreciate a little help from you every now and then.”

Nodding her head in agreement, Hyewon let off a cheery farewell as she headed off in a direction that Yena could only presume as her route for her lunch with Yuri.

In response to lunch, her own stomach growled softly which brought Yena walking towards the familiar kalguksu shop, ignoring the light drizzle of rain as she didn’t want to bother with opening her umbrella once more. 

By now, the numbing pain in her chest had left her body, but it left a mental note within Yena. 

Nearing the shop, she could see Chaewon glancing at the menu, which held one item in the corner of the shop. The light blush on Chaewon’s cheeks and the habitual scrunched nose made Yena think of the question. 

But it was lunch and Yena didn’t quite want to bother the younger one with such useless thinking, so she left it at that. Time will eventually give her an answer to that question.

With a quick fix of her ruffled blouse and a slight toss up of her hair, Yena slid into her designated seat opposite Chaewon, pleasantly surprising the girl.

“You’re early.” Chaewon pointed out as she looked up from the menu, a little smile playing on her lips before bringing the menu away, reaching out for the jug of water.

“Well, I wasn’t held up by people asking impromptu questions so here I am, about ten minutes early for lunch.”

Letting out a little hum, Chaewon poured a cup of water, pushing the first cup off to Yena who had placed their orders in. Pouring another cup for herself, Chaewon popped another question.

“You seem a little exhausted.”

That phrase irked Yena slightly though she tried to hide her bothered facade, her own words escaping said otherwise.

“I’m fine. Really, I am.”

“Right.” Chaewon mockingly stated before taking a furtive glance over her cup before continuing.  

“Then, I assume we should call off the study session later.”

Taking a split second to register Chaewon’s words, Yena snapped her head up, a noticeable frown appearing on her face.

"What for? I told you I'm not exhausted." Defending herself against something that wasn't meant to be an argument, Yena reached out for her cup.

Chaewon kept to herself as her eyes cast a subtle questioning glance.

"Well, I didn't say anything. Other than recommending to call off the study session.” The younger girl calmly iterated with that mindless tone that was beginning to get on Yena’s nerves slightly, though she wishes for