five
Wonyoung wasn’t sure when she started noticing.
Maybe it was the way Yujin never forgot to text her goodnight anymore, even when Wonyoung didn’t always reply. Or how she never let too much time pass before checking in, even if it was just a simple Did you eat?
It was the small things.
Yujin never tried to force her way back in. She didn’t push, didn’t demand Wonyoung’s time or attention. Instead, she just… showed up. Quietly, patiently.
Like when Wonyoung stayed late at the library, and when she walked outside, Yujin was there, leaning against the gate, pretending she wasn’t waiting for her. She didn’t say anything, just fell into step beside Wonyoung, hands in her pockets. She never asked if she was allowed to walk her home. She just did it.
Or when Wonyoung mentioned offhandedly that she was craving something sweet to her friends. The next day, a small bag of her favorite pastries was left on her desk, no name attached, but she knew.
Even after two months, Wonyoung still hesitated.
She told herself not to get pulled in so easily. She reminded herself of how much it had hurt, how long she had spent feeling like an afterthought.
But Yujin never asked for anything in return. She just kept showing up. Kept proving, little by little, that she was different now.
And Wonyoung was starting to believe it.
—
One evening, Wonyoung found herself lingering outside a café on campus, staring at her phone.
There was a message from Yujin. Nothing grand, nothing demanding.
yudaeng 💙
i’m at a cafe near the library, wanna stop by?
She didn’t have to go. She could ignore it, pretend she was too busy. But her feet were already moving before she could think twice.
When she arrived, Yujin was sitting by the window, stirring her drink absentmindedly. Wonyoung hesitated at the door. Two months ago, she would have walked in without thinking. But now, things were… different.
Still, Yujin must have felt her presence because she looked up almost immediately. A flicker of surprise passed over her face before she sat up straighter, her lips parting as if she wasn’t sure she was allowed to be happy about this.
Wonyoung took a slow breath before stepping inside.
She didn’t sit down immediately. Instead, she glanced at the drink in front of Yujin, then at the extra cup placed across from her.
“You got me something?” Wonyoung asked, her voice softer than she intended.
Yujin nodded. “It’s your favorite drink.”
The warmth in her voice made Wonyoung’s chest tighten.
She pulled out the chair. Sat down.
For the first time in months, they weren’t just passing by each other. They were sitting together.
Wonyoung held the cup in her hands, feeling the warmth seep through her fingers. She stared at it for a moment before taking a small sip. The familiar taste settled on her tongue, and something in her chest tightened.
Yujin was watching her carefully, like she was afraid to say the wrong thing. It was different from before. She used to be so careless with her words, brushing things off, laughing at problems like they would solve themselves. But now, there was something cautious in the way she sat, in the way her hands rested on the table like she was resisting the urge to reach out.
Wonyoung wasn’t sure how she felt about it.
For months, she had been waiting for Yujin to realize—waiting for her to finally see just how much she had been hurting. And now that Yujin was here, now that she was trying, Wonyoung didn’t know what to do with it.
She traced the rim of her cup, feeling the warmth against her fingertips. “You don’t have to keep doing this,” she said quietly.
Yujin stiffened slightly. “Doing what?”
“Trying so hard.” Wonyoung exhaled. “It’s been two months.”
“I know.” Yujin’s voice was steady. “And I’ll keep trying for as long as it takes.”
Wonyoung looked at her then, searching for something—doubt, hesitation, the old carelessness that had once been there. But Yujin just met her gaze with quiet determination.
“I love you.” Yujin’s voice was steady, sure. “There’s no one else for me, Wonyoung. There never has been.”
Wonyoung felt her breath hitch.
“I was too caught up in everything else,” Yujin continued, leaning forward slightly, her eyes never leaving Wonyoung’s. “Too stupid to realize what should have been my priority all along. And I hate that I made you feel like anything less than the most important person in my life.”
Wonyoung swallowed, feeling warmth spread through her chest. Her heart was pounding, loud enough that she was sure Yujin could hear it. She hadn’t heard Yujin say those words in so long, and yet, they still made her feel like she was floating.
She hated how easily Yujin still made her feel this way. How just a few words, spoken with such honesty, could make her look at Yujin the way she used to—like she was everything.
Like she was still so in love.
Her fingers curled slightly against her lap as she looked down, trying to will away the heat rushing to her cheeks. But when she finally met Yujin’s eyes again, there was no point in pretending. She softened, sighing quietly.
“Let’s give it a go again,” she murmured. “But… let’s take it slow this time.”
Yujin blinked. For a moment, she looked like she couldn’t believe what she just heard.
Then, her face broke into the brightest smile Wonyoung had seen in months—so wide her eyes turned into crescents, her dimples deep and unmistakable.
“Okay,” Yujin breathed, nodding quickly, like she would agree to anything Wonyoung asked. “Yeah. Slow. Whatever you need.”
Wonyoung couldn’t help but smile a little too, shaking her head. “You look like an idiot.”
“I don’t care,” Yujin grinned. “I’m just happy.”
Wonyoung rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance in it. She pressed her lips together, trying to suppress the way the corners of her mouth wanted to lift.
Yujin was still looking at her like she had just told her the best news in the world. Like Wonyoung had handed her the sun, the stars, and everything in between.
It was ridiculous.
It was so Yujin.
And Wonyoung hated how much she had missed it.
“So… what now?” Yujin asked, her voice softer now, careful.
Wonyoung thought for a moment, staring down at her hands. “Now… we take things one step at a time.” She glanced up at Yujin, testing, searching for any sign of impatience. But Yujin only nodded, listening intently, as if Wonyoung’s words were the only thing that mattered.
“No rushing,” Wonyoung continued, “no pretending things didn’t happen. I want to trust you again, Yujin.”
Yujin swallowed, the happiness in her eyes dimming slightly, replaced by something more serious. She nodded again, sitting up straighter. “I’ll wait for as long as you need, Wonnie. I promise.”
Wonyoung’s heart skipped a beat at the nickname. She had almost forgotten how soft it sounded coming from Yujin.
She sighed, shaking her head as she reached for her cup, taking a sip just to give herself something to do. “You’re making this a bigger deal than it is.”
“It is a big deal,” Yujin said without hesitation. “I messed up, and you’re giving me a second chance. That means everything to me.”
Wonyoung felt her throat tighten. She wasn’t used to this—to Yujin laying everything out so plainly, so sincerely. Before, Yujin would’ve just laughed it off, changed the topic, brushed past anything too serious. But now, she was looking at Wonyoung like nothing else mattered.
It made Wonyoung’s chest ache.
She didn’t respond right away, just letting herself sit in the moment. Yujin wasn’t pushing, wasn’t asking for more than what Wonyoung was willing to give.
Maybe she really had changed.
Wonyoung looked at her again, taking in the girl sitting across from her—the girl who had broken her heart, but who was also the same girl she had loved for so long.
—
Wonyoung’s body felt warm and safe against Yujin’s, her head resting comfortably on her chest as Yujin absently played with her hair. The soft rhythm of Yujin’s fingers combing through her strands was grounding. It felt like the world was paused, just for this moment, with no rush or expectations.
Yujin's voice kept flowing, talking about school, about how the professors were being particularly stubborn with their deadlines, how she’d tried a new coffee shop on campus. Wonyoung listened, enjoying the sound of Yujin’s voice, the ease of it, the way Yujin seemed so much more present now. She didn’t interrupt, letting Yujin speak freely, even about the smallest details. It felt familiar, comforting, like things used to be.
But after a few minutes, Wonyoung stayed silent. She didn’t really feel the need to respond. She was content just being there, letting Yujin talk.
Yujin noticed the quiet. The silence stretched, and she shifted slightly, looking down at Wonyoung with a soft frown. “Hey, you’re really quiet. What’s up?” she asked, brushing her fingers gently over Wonyoung's hair, looking at her with concern in her eyes.
Wonyoung smiled softly, not lifting her head. "I like hearing you talk," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "It’s been a while since I’ve heard you yap."
Yujin’s chest tightened. She stopped moving, her fingers freezing in Wonyoung’s hair. “I… I didn't talk much before, huh?” she whispered, her voice tinged with guilt. She could feel a lump in her throat, like something heavy was weighing on her heart.
She didn’t remember the last time she had let herself just talk freely to Wonyoung like they used to. She had been so wrapped up in her own mess, in trying to fix everything, that she had forgotten how to just be with Wonyoung the way she used to.
She pressed a gentle kiss to Wonyoung’s forehead, her lips lingering there for just a second before pulling back to look at her. “I’m sorry, Wonnie. I didn’t mean to stop talking to you like that... I—”
Her words caught in her throat, and before she could say anything else, she leaned down to place another kiss on Wonyoung’s forehead, then another on the top of her head. She mumbled in between each kiss, as though her heart was bursting out of her chest and she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “I love you... I love you so much... I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel like I was shutting you out.”
Wonyoung’s eyes fluttered shut at the repeated kisses, her heart skipping in her chest. She could feel the sincerity in Yujin’s voice, could feel the way her touch was softer, more careful, more present now. She lifted her hand to gently cup Yujin’s face, stopping her for a moment, guiding her to meet her eyes.
“It’s okay,” Wonyoung whispered, though her voice was a little thick with emotion. “I know you’ve been trying. I see it. But just... don’t go quiet on me again, okay?”
Yujin nodded, her eyes glistening with something softer, more vulnerable. “I won’t,” she promised, brushing her thumb across Wonyoung’s cheek, her voice thick with emotion. “I swear, I won’t ever take you for granted again.”
Wonyoung didn’t say anything else. She just leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Yujin’s lips, feeling the warmth of her affection. It wasn’t perfect. They weren’t perfect. But in this moment, with Yujin holding her so close, Wonyoung could feel that this was different—this time, it was real.
“Can I kiss you, again?” Yujin’s voice is much lower now.
Wonyoung nods her head subtly. She closes her eyes and feels the older girl’s lips on her own. Yujin’s being gentle with her.
Yujin gave Wonyoung full control of the situation, following her lead. She had been longing for this—everything is perfect.
She feels herself melting into the kiss. However, much to Wonyoung’s disappointment—Yujin opens her eyes and gives her a tender look.
“Was that okay?” Yujin gently asks.
“Please—Yujinie, just kiss me.”
Yujin didn’t need to be told twice, leaning in forward to kiss Wonyoung a second time. A small little noise escaped her mouth, and she could tell it affected Yujin.
The older girl pulls her closer, deepening the kiss. Wonyoung gives her the same amount of intensity to Yujin’s relief, and smiles into the kiss softly.
They both separate from the kiss, needing air to breathe.
As they pulled away from the kiss, Yujin couldn’t help herself. A huge, beaming smile broke across her face, lighting up her entire expression. It was like the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders, and in that moment, she couldn’t hide the joy she felt. The smile was so wide, so genuine, that Wonyoung’s heart fluttered in her chest. She found herself biting her lip, trying to suppress her own smile, but it was hard to keep it in when the happiness on Yujin’s face was so contagious.
Wonyoung watched her, her eyes softening. "What?" she asked, her voice quiet, but curious.
Yujin’s smile didn’t fade. In fact, it only grew bigger as she looked at Wonyoung. “I’m just really happy,” she said, her voice full of warmth and affection. “And... I’m so in love with you.”
Wonyoung’s breath hitched, her heart thumping louder in her chest. There was something about the way Yujin said it—so sure, so filled with feeling—that made her believe every word. It wasn’t like before, when things had felt uncertain or off. This was different. This time, Yujin's voice and eyes matched, and Wonyoung could see how deeply she meant it.
“I can feel it,” Wonyoung replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper, but it held so much sincerity. “I can feel how much you mean it.”
Yujin’s smile softened as she brushed a stray lock of hair from Wonyoung’s face, her hand lingering against her cheek. “Good,” she whispered, her thumb gently tracing the line of Wonyoung's jaw. "Because I really do love you, Wonyoung. More than anything."
Wonyoung’s heart warmed, and for the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel any doubts. She didn’t feel the hesitation that had clouded her mind for so long. In this moment, with Yujin holding her so close, she could feel everything between them was right again. And as the smile spread across her face, she knew they had found their way back to each other.
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward, but comfortable. Wonyoung stayed nestled in Yujin’s arms, feeling the love radiating from her, and it was enough to make everything else fade away.
They lay there for what felt like hours, just enjoying the comfort of each other’s presence. Yujin's fingers lazily ran through Wonyoung’s hair as the quietness wrapped around them. It felt safe, warm, and real. There was no rush, no pressure, just the simple act of being together, and for the first time in a while, it felt perfect.
But as the time passed, Yujin glanced at the clock on the wall. She felt the familiar pull of responsibility, the thought of needing to leave. “It’s getting late,” she murmured softly, her voice breaking the stillness. “I should probably get going.”
Reluctantly, she gently nudged Wonyoung off of her, but as she attempted to get up, she felt Wonyoung's arms immediately wrap around her. Wonyoung’s grip tightened, and before Yujin could fully rise, she was pulled back onto the bed, Wonyoung’s arms holding her close.
“Stay,” Wonyoung whispered, her voice soft and a little pleading. She kissed Yujin’s cheek, her lips lingering there for a moment. “Just stay a little longer.”
Yujin was taken aback for a second, her body frozen in surprise. She never expected Wonyoung to say that, but the tenderness in her voice, the way she kissed her so gently, made her heart melt. Yujin couldn't help but giggle softly, feeling her cheeks warm.
The way Wonyoung looked at her, all sweet and sincere, made her feel like a lovesick fool. She smiled, her eyes softening as she let herself sink back into Wonyoung’s embrace, surrendering to the feeling. "You’re really going to make me stay, huh?" Yujin teased, her voice filled with affection, though she didn’t really need any convincing.
Wonyoung hummed, the sound vibrating through Yujin's chest. "Yeah, you should just stay here for the night," she said, her voice quiet but firm, eyes glimmering with a softness that made Yujin’s heart flutter. "I want you all to myself tonight."
Yujin raised an eyebrow, playful. "Oh? You want me all to yourself, huh?" she teased with a grin. "Are you sure? I’m kind of a handful, princess."
Wonyoung rolled her eyes, though there was a fond smile tugging at her lips. "Not like that," she said, her voice lighter than before, but still with a hint of sweetness in it.
Yujin chuckled, feeling that familiar warmth flood her chest. "I’ll take that as a challenge," she said, winking at Wonyoung before leaning in for another kiss, this one slow and full of meaning. There was no rush, just the soft, lingering touch of lips that spoke more than words ever could.
Finally, she sighed, letting herself relax into Wonyoung’s arms. “Okay, okay, I’ll stay. For tonight,” Yujin said with a soft laugh, her fingers gently tracing circles on Wonyoung's back. “You really know how to get what you want.”
Wonyoung smiled contentedly, resting her head on Yujin's chest once again. “Good,” she whispered, her voice muffled but sincere. “I just want you here. With me.”
Yujin's heart softened at the words, and she tightened her embrace around Wonyoung, letting the world outside slip away. "I'm here," she whispered back, her voice low and full of affection. "I'm not going anywhere."
And this is all she ever wants.