Sweetener || SaHyo
In all of the tastes of love, there is a bitter taste. It's a bit like espresso.
Letting someone go when you don't want to.
That is the bitter taste of love.
Sana gazed out the window, the sky was a bit cloudy, and the occasional chatter going on around her simply served as background noise to the pensive mood in her bubble. Thoughts entered and left her mind as people passed outside, but just as one person stayed with her, one thought remained.
"I feel like my choice of words was too specific..." She mumbled to herself whilst twirling her hair.
"What are you talking about?" Jihyo asked, tracing random patterns on the table they were seated at. Sana quickly whipped her head, she had apparently forgotten about Jihyo's presence for the few seconds that she was spacing out.
"Oh uh...Nothing really!" Sana looked down, and Jihyo, who was sitting across from her, stared silently.
She's giving me that look...
The older sighed and leaned back onto her chair
"Alright alright, fine. What I meant by that was...was...uhhh-"
"Is this about how you so confidently repeated 'Alcohol Free' after Dahyun? Because if so, I agree. It was too specific." Jihyo interrupted.
"Yeah...That's exactly what it's about! How'd you know?"
"I just do. But really, what is it Sana?"
"...It's nothing I want to talk about. I'm sorry."
And now, they just stared at each other. Not even the chatter around them stopped the scene from feeling extremely awkward. Sana then turned her attention to Jihyo's coffee.
"Jeez, I don't know how you even drink that...I can't handle the bitter taste."
"What's it to you anyways?" Jihyo lifted an eyebrow.
"You should really stop holding onto the bitterness. Enjoy yourself!!" She reached over for Jihyo's coffee and stared at it. Deep down, they both knew what this was all about.
You say he was your best mistake. With him, you tasted the bitter side of love in the end...
The older contemplated for a bit whilst gazing at her own coffee.
But I want you to at least have something sweet in your life again. Even if it's just a simple cup of coffee.
She reached for the coffee, her small hands holding it with much care. Then, she added the sweetener.
"Here, something sweet for the sweet Jihyo!" A soft smile painted across her face as she gave the coffee to her beloved friend.
Wow...
That's all Jihyo could think to herself at that moment. Sana had this light about her lately but never was it more evident than today.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Sana stood up slightly from her seat to place the coffee closer to Jihyo. And at that moment, something she never would have expected happened.
///
No more words were said after that. Sana sat back in her seat, they both quietly finished their coffee, and after that, they were on their way back to the dorm.
"I'm sorry. For doing that earlier I mean...I just-"
"Oh no, you must be cold! Your nose is getting red..." Sana stopped walking and turned her body towards Jihyo.
"Here." She took her scarf off, the very scarf Jihyo had knitted for her and wrapped it around Jihyo's neck neatly.
"All better now!"
"Right, but can we please talk? Please?" The older sighed.
"You don't have to apologize." She said in a gentle voice.
"But...Why? I mean I didn't even ask."
"It's true, you didn't. But...I never said I had a problem with it." Jihyo felt a soft hand intertwine with her own and looked down in response. When she looked back up, she saw the sweet smile she came to love beyond belief over the past few months.
And at that moment, she had an epiphany.
How could I ever be unhappy? I have you by my side...My sweetener.