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It’s the best sleep she’s ever had in a very long time, lavender and green tea with a distinct scent of Eve that makes it hers alone fill her lungs, warming her heart. Villanelle wakes up with her face into the crook of her neck, half-spooning the brunette. The suite consists of two bedrooms but here they are, not even maximizing the queen size bed, does it even matter? Of course not. As long as Eve is comfortable with her, nothing else matters.

"Too loud, V," her voice deeper than usual from sleep.

Villanelle peeks to study Eve’s face. Her eyes are still close with a slight smile on her lips. She returns to her previous and most comfortable position.

"Morning, mon docteur préféré, " Villanelle mumbles, holding Eve closer.

"Because I took you out of a coma?” Eve replies with a smirk.

Villanelle perks up again, looking at her with wide eyes open.

"Est-ce que tu parles français?”

"No. Yo hablo español y ingles. I can only understand French," she laughs lightly, Villanelle can feel the vibration on her chest. And to be honest, she wants to be the reason for that distinct sound Eve makes.

"Hmm, let's go watch the sunrise!" she sits up.

Eve rolls over, burying her face onto a pillow

"Too early, V. We are on vacation!"

"Come on, Evieeee!”

She doesn’t know if it is the nickname that slips out of her mouth or the espresso that convinces Eve to go out. Just in time for the sunrise, they are sitting on the beach towel watching the scene unfolds while Eve eats her makai bowl and Villanelle takes tons of photographs.

"Breathtaking," Eve says while looking at the sun as it peaks and colors the ocean in different hues of sparkling orange-yellow.

Villanelle points her camera to the woman beside her, focusing her lens—

"Hmm... Gorgeous"

Click.

She sees the blonde walking towards her from afar, ice cream in one hand and shopping bags in the other. Eve waves her hand, sitting on a bench near the Under Armor outlet store. Meters apart, green eyes lock with brown ones.

“I chose the metallic rose gold,” Eve informs.

“Oh, yeah? I knew you’ll pick it out of all the colors. It suits you.”

“Thanks, what did you bought?”

“Oh, a surprise!” Villanelle perks up, dragging Eve to her car.

It’s a five-minute drive from the Third Promenade street to the Boxunison gym. Eve is inspecting the area while waiting for Villanelle. She walks into the room adjacent to the reception area where the numerous punching bags are aligned with each other. On the other side of the room, a massive training area. At the back of it all, there are four boxing rings for sparring. Of all the things she expects for the blonde to prepare, this is the least of it all.

Oh, this is going to be so much fun.

"Let's go get change," Villanelle says as she hands her one of the paper bags.
Eve walks out of the cubicle and she immediately notices Villanelle braiding her hair in front of the huge mirror. She is wearing the same sports bra and leggings in reverse color of Eve’s, black with Adidas white stripes. Eve stands beside her to fix her hair, Villanelle looks amused, taking in her body from bottom to top, lingering on her abdomen. Looking at their reflection, Eve realizes how they are each other’s opposite representation that fits perfectly well—yin and yang.

"Eyes up here, Villanelle"

"Oh, I'm sorry," the blonde cheeks turn rosy red.

"It's fine. You look ravishing yourself," she winks at the blonde through the mirror and turns to secure her locker, leaving the blonde in awe.

After the warm-up, Villanelle grabs the training pads and hands her a pair of gloves.

She has no idea who she’s up with.

Eve pretends she doesn’t know how to throw a punch and Villanelle offers to give her lessons. Villanelle demonstrates and Eve mimics her movements.

"Wow, I’m impressed. You're a natural, Eve,” Villanelle says in-between giving a simple combination for Eve to follow.

Eve lets it happen for a while, following the blonde from a simple jab to simple combinations until she thinks she has a reasonable amount of time to learn it to ask the question she’s been eager to the moment they step inside the gym.

"Want to spar in the ring? The winner will have to pay for our lunch!" she says a bit too excitedly.

"Uhm, are you sure? it's your first time, we don't have to do it," Villanelle hesitates but the brunette gets inside to one of the rings, "Okay, Eve! This is just for fun, I'll take it easy on you!" she changes her pads to gloves.

Eve sweetly smiles at her and touch their gloves. The timer starts and a scorer watches them carefully. At first, Villanelle leads the pace. The blonde has no idea that Eve is only reading her movements and patterns.

"Don't worry, Eve. I'll still pay for our lunch," she says as she touches Eve's gloves.

Eve throws a combination of jab-straight-hook-straight immediately when the bell rings indicating the start of the second round, keeping a straight face.

"Wow. You're a quick learner, huh," Villanelle says as she throws a jab-jab-straight-hook-uppercut combination that Eve's receives quite experienced for a first-timer. She quickly recovers and throws another combination.

Eve throws a simple combination, punches she learned from their lessons a while ago. Being subtle until she hears the bell for the last minute. She gives the blonde a devilish smirk then throws punches she hasn't learned through the earlier lessons. The blonde does not realize what is happening until a jab-straight-body hook-uppercut-hook-jab-straight thrown her to the corner of the ring. Eve takes advantage of it by throwing more advanced combinations. Villanelle can counter her effort but falls short when the bell rings again.

"I won, you'll pay for lunch," Eve shouts and raises both of her hands victoriously. A moment of silence until people are giving them a round of applause. Both are too much into the game that they didn’t notice how much people are watching them.

Eve and Villanelle laugh out loud. Eve steps closer to her.

"I think I forgot to tell you I train boxing twice a week," Eve kisses her as light as a feather that supposedly on the cheek but it lands on the end of her jaw below her ear as they reach each other for a hug. If Eve acted on her desire to kiss the blonde without thinking, she doesn’t care—feeling bold. If Villanelle even notices it, she doesn’t say or act weirdly about it. They are both sweaty and hot, but what’s important is they are so happy.

“Earth to Villanelle,” Eve whispers to her ear with a satisfied smile on her face, enjoying the ridiculous surprised face she’s probably making right now.

Villanelle pouts.

“What? You don’t like it? We can go back to our suite if you want to,” Eve sarcastically asks her, pointing to the yacht behind her from afar that’s resting on the pacific.

“No, you told me we are going to a party! I’m not dressed for the occasion, Eve!” she whines. Eve heartily laughs at her misfortune, “and you think this is funny.”

“There’s only the two of us and I’ve seen you worst, V. I wanted to surprise you and your outfit is fine. You look beautiful just the way you are, drama queen,” Eve teases, checking out Villanelle from head-to-toe and with her black tube top straight-cut denim jeans and a black bucket hat paired with white sneakers if ever she needs to carry a drunk Eve in an afterthought—Eve licks her bottom lip.

Slowly learning her effect on Eve, the pout quickly fades away and a smirk takes place. She takes Eve’s hand and holds her as she brisk walk to the yacht. If Eve is not wearing pumps, Villanelle will probably run. Before they reach the yacht, Villanelle halts to take in the view. The four crew members are waving at them while they stand next to each other. It’s a flybridge yacht that consists of an upper deck that serves as a leisure and dining area, a lower deck consists of a master’s bedroom, and a bow (front of the boat) with a comfortable and stylish double sun lounger.

Villanelle looks at Eve only to find the brunette staring at her already. She can’t help but smile, her heart beating like it wants to get out of her chest and be with Eve. And this view—Eve with a smile, the one where she can’t almost see her beautiful brown eyes because it reaches her eyes, while the ocean breeze blowing her curly hair away from her face along with Villanelle’s worries—makes only she could freeze time to stay in this present forever without the care for the past and future. If only they could, right? Then maybe Villanelle doesn’t need to hold back anymore.

Knowing that Eve prepares it for both of them alone does something to her heart. She’s been to a yacht before, stayed at the luxurious hotel, drove around LA late at night, watched the sunrise with another person, and watched movies/series with other people. Yet, excitement is insufficient to describe what she’s feeling whenever she’s with Eve. It feels like the first time all over again.

Eve leads her towards the crew, only to be surprised herself. The moment they step inside the yacht, white confett shower them like snow falling from the sky.

“SURPRISE!”

There, from above them, are Eve’s people lined up behind the railing. Bill, Jess, Elena, Kenny, Hugo, Carolyn, and Eve’s—

“Eomma?! Oh my god!” Eve shouts with disbelief, Villanelle quickly retrieves her hand from Eve’s like a teenager caught by her crush’s parents.

Eve didn’t notice because she’s blinking her eyes several times to make sure she’s not hallucinating or dreaming for that matter. And in some indescribable way, Eve’s happiness becomes hers too.

Irina and Konstantin appear beside Carolyn.

“Eve! V! Come up now, we’re going to partyyyy!” Irina shouts and all of them are giggling with excitement for the fun evening ahead of them.

While they walk upstairs, Eve looks at her and suddenly realize the promise she won’t be able to fulfill to the blonde from the way her facial expression change from surprised to worry. Villanelle knows what she’s thinking. Before another word comes out of Eve’s mouth, she smiles at her.

“I know, it’s fine. They probably want to celebrate your nomination like I wanted to,” she removes confetti from Eve’s hair then playfully pinch her cheek, “I told you I wasn’t dressed for the occasion.”

Eve laughs, “Oh, come on!”

They continue going upstairs and Eve’s mom is waiting for their arrival.

“Annyeong eomma,” Eve bows respectfully to her mother and kiss her on the cheek, Eve’s mother engulfs her with a big hug. All of them are watching the scene unfold, happy for the only person they have in common, Eve.

“You didn’t tell me you are nominated for some prestigious award, Evie,” her mother says.

“I just don’t want to get your hopes up, eomma. Joesonghabnida.”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. This young woman invited me to your surprise party, anyway,” Irina proudly stands beside Eve’s mother.

“Of course, Irina,” Eve states.

“You’re welcome, Eve,” Irina replies.

Of course, her little shit sister has something to do with this.

“Oh and eomma, this is Villanelle,” Eve says.

Villanelle tries to muster her best smile but she’s having a panic attack inside. She’s is conflicted about whether to bow as Eve did or to just shake her hand. She’s nervous and Villanelle is never nervous. And for the love of the universe, Eve’s mom saves her from her misery by hugging her.

“Nice to meet you, Villanelle,” she lets go, “I heard a lot about from—”

“Okay! Eomma, have you eaten yet? Let’s get some food,” Eve interrupts her mother and guides her out of everyone’s amusement.

Villanelle blushes but before she can process a single thing that’s happening right now, Hugo is pulling her for a hug.

“Now, it’s time to partyyyy!” Hugo shouts and takes Villanelle with him to the bar.

Everyone is having their best time, most especially the doctors—perhaps, a yacht party is necessary once in a while to blow some steam off.

The sun is about to set in a few minutes and the people are divided into small groups. Interns are playing pool in the middle of the deck, Konstantin and Carolyn are enjoying their coffee beside the jacuzzi, Bill and Jess are drinking at the bar, her mother and Irina are chatting about something on the phone, and Eve is casually leaning at the railing—taking in the scene around her. Maybe, after all, she did some good things in her life to deserve these amazing people.

“Lost in the moment?” the blonde suddenly appears from nowhere.

“Oh my god, Villanelle. You should wear a bell or something, you’ll give me a heart attack!” Eve playfully swats her arm.

“Oh, Eve. Don’t be so dramatic,” Villanelle rolls her eyes, “Care to join me at the bow to watch the sunset?”

Eve nods. Villanelle takes her hand, feeling bold. They reach the double-sun lounger at the bow in no time. Eve notices the two drinks waiting for them. They sit beside each other, shoulder-to-shoulder, enjoying the sea waves and the beautiful scene unfolding around them.

“You know it’s your fault,” Villanelle plainly states out of the comfortable silence they are in.

“What is?” She turns to look at the blonde only to be stunned by how the sun accentuates the sharp and perfect facial features of the young woman. Villanelle smiles.

Beautiful asshole.

“Wow, you’re that bad at giving compliments, huh?” Villanelle says, she turns to look at her and Eve is drowning in how her hazel eyes change colors under the sun. She forgot how she might have said what she’s thinking out loud the moment before from the way the blonde reacted, “You know Eve, I’ll be back in the hospital in no time at this rate.”

Eve notices how her jaw clenches, trying hard to pretend she’s not cold with only her plain black tube top. Eve takes off her gray Burberry plaid tailored jacket and put it over the blonde’s shoulders.

“You know for a Russian, you’re not used to the—what are you doing?”

“Keeping you warm. You’ll get cold in no time with only your white shirt, doctor. We do not want your patients to get mad at me back home, yes?”

Eve blushes, silently thanking whoever it is from above that the blonde cannot see her from behind. Villanelle is effectively keeping them warm by holding Eve closer to her chest with her long arms protectively covering Eve from the cold ocean breeze. As they watch the sun sets— meeting the ocean and slowly getting lost in it—Eve thinks that above all else, Villanelle is keeping her warm by making her feel things she forgets that exist. It’s the same but different in all ways from what Eve had to experience in her life. It is too strong to wrap her mind around, and enough to keep Eve warm.

Click.

Irina chuckles, waving the polaroid up in the air while running away from them.

“For Eomma’s scrapbook!” Irina informs them.

“Scrapbook?!” Villanelle asks, “Eomma? She gets to call her Eomma, Eve!” she whines and rests her chin on one of Eve`s shoulders.

Eve laughs.

“I can feel you pouting, V.”

“No, I’m not.”
“Whatever you say,” Eve shrugs, “Don’t take it personally, Eomma likes brilliant young adults who want to pursue a career in medicine or law. You know, it is the Korean in her.”

Villanelle stays quiet for a few minutes.

“Eve?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you think it’s too late for me to change career and start medical school?

Eve laughs heartily but doesn’t say anything. They join the group at the second deck a few minutes later for dinner. Maybe it’s the incoming holiday season, the event the following day, or the place. But Eve is sure that these people are what she only needs in her life. She gave her whole life to medicine and medicine somehow gave her people who she can depend on no matter what. If it comes with a young, gorgeous, and blonde Russian, then who she is to complain?

“Let’s take a group picture!” Irina announces as she hands one of the servers the polaroid.

“One, two…,” Eve feels Villanelle leaning closer from beside her and the action makes her smile even wider, “Smile!”

Moments later, they find themselves alone at the yacht after the others go back to their hotels to rest for tomorrow’s main event. They are observing the lively nightlife of Santa Monica Pier from the comfortable couch of the yacht on the upper deck.
“I simply cannot believe how Irina was able to invite your mom and agreed to share a room with her,” Villanelles says as if she’s lost a battle.

“You sound jealous, hmm?”

“Please Eve, parents love me. I was just unprepared.”

“It is not what it looks like, but okay,” Eve shrugs, “I can’t thank your family enough for bringing them all here, V. I never thought I needed this.”

“No, this is our family giving thanks to your hard work for my case,” Villanelle smiles at her then looks at the bay again, “Besides, you deserve to be this happy all the time, Eve.”

“Thank you. Can you please send me Irina’s number so that I can thank her personally later for taking care of my mom?”

Villanelle pouts again, “That little shit.”

Eve laughs, “She’s a good sister you know. By the way, what it is with your family and photographs? You and Irina take a lot of pictures almost every time.”

Villanelle takes a deep breath. Eve notices the change in her eyes, a mixture of emotions until she looks at Eve and the brunette recognizes that it is a deep love she’s looking at.

“My mother is a photographer when she was younger. She always reminded us that time is the most valuable thing one can ever possess. It is cannot be taken from us nor we cannot take it back. What we can do is to spend it in a way we are truly happy and when we do, make sure to capture it. A moment only lasts a split second and it will never happen again ever in this life. And, that’s when the beauty of photography comes in, the only trick to freezing time—to make a moment last forever,” Villanelle sips from her wine glass while Eve absorbs the information given, “Besides, you know for sure how important time is. You saw life and death almost every day in your work,” she adds.

“That’s brilliant and wise, I wish I was able to know your mother.”

“Me too, she would have like too much.”