The Dialects of Quality Time: Part 1

Shuhua popped her head around the corner to peer into the kitchen. “Jinjin,” she started, her tone jovial and half an octave higher than her speaking voice, “You still like walks right?”

Spoon to her lips, hovering over a pot on the stove, the woman in question nodded. 

“Great!” Without explanation, Shuhua retreated. She had plans. Big plans. Plans that Soojin didn’t need to know; not yet, anyways. 

In her room, Shuhua snatched her phone off the charging dock and, with the utmost focus, composed the text. 

Okay . Do it, the message said with a string of emojis. 

The replies were immediate. 

Tossing her phone somewhere on her bed, Shuhua beamed. She had plans. Big plans.

“Shuhua is plotting something, isn’t she?” 

Yuqi sputtered, “W-w-wha?” Her chuckle pitched and ended with a mouse-like squeak, “Why’d you say that? Hahaha.” The laugh sounded forced.

“That’s why,” Soojin pointed to Yuqi, “Your ears are pink and your left eye is twitching.”

And sure enough, Yuqi was twitching and her ears were pink. 

Hands clamped down over her ears, Yuqi swore, “Oh !” Eyes trained on the roof, she barked out, “Shuhua has nothing planned!” Her voice cracked. 

“And you’re just here to distract me?”

“And I’m just here to —” her gaze snapped down, “—Yah!” 

“So how do you feel about Rummy?” Soojin asked as s