Epilogue
"Oh my god, finally!" Seola rushed to wrap Yujin into a hug.
"Ah, miss, she's taken." Xiaoting taps Seola before pointing to Yujin. She pouts and continues to point at herself and Yujin. "Miss, hello, miss. She's mine, miss."
"Your girlfriend is so annoying, Yujin." Seola chuckles after breaking from the hug.
"Annoying? Me? Excuse me? Me, annoying? Wow." Xiaoting acts offended. Her playful expression makes the two laugh at her.
After it eased, Seola took the couple's hand and shook them excitedly.
"I'm so happy you're now dating. You guys are starting to get frustrating to watch, so you know. I thought I'd just hear your stories of hesitation forever", said Seola to the two.
The couple volunteered to pick her up from the airport. She has gone some months abroad for her modeling work and didn't know that the two have started something new. Although both have confided in her from time to time as she plays a big part in why the two are in a relationship now, they didn't give any hints of them being officially girlfriends. Yujin wanted to personally tell her, so they waited until she was back in Korea.
"Aww. You look good together." Seola suddenly commented while they were eating.
"Thanks, unnie. I think so, too." Yujin replied and looked at her girlfriend with so much adoration.
This is the thing about the couple. They are not always lovey-dovey. You can't almost guess they're together now.
But when they look at each other, there's awe in their eyes. A smile follows and it is genuine and with contentment. Their body language and actions also speak greatly of their care and attentiveness to each other.
"Wait, you mean, you were going out since then? So, it was..." Seola paused to count the days backward. "Almost three months? Already?" She gasped.
"Yes, unnie. We just celebrated our 100th day last week. Kind of?" Xiaoting chuckles.
They didn't have the chance to enjoy their 100th day. Their days were hectic as if the company was trying to squeeze in another year's worth of activities in just a few months. The two were drained and exhausted, so they just shared some late-night snacks and bought a small cake to commemorate the day.
The exchange of stories then continued. The two agreed to see Seola off next month to another modeling work. After catching up with her, with Xiaoting thanking her mostly for encouraging her to take her chance with Yujin, and Yujin thanking Seola for assuring her about Xiaoting, the couple drives her to her apartment.
They head to the Han River after. The two decided to have a short date to properly celebrate their 100th day. They tried biking, ate together, and strolled alongside the famous place.
They came back to the car after. Yujin entered first as she was the driver, but was surprised when Xiaoting, instead of sitting on the passenger's seat, opened the door to sit behind Yujin.
"Let's take our time, please unnie?", Xiaoting requests.
Yujin chuckled. How can't she not give in when Xiaoting is giving her the puppy-eyes look and a pout? She quickly moves to the back joining her girlfriend.
The two sat face to face with each other. The eye contact makes the two giggle, finding each other cute.
After a while, Xiaoting took something.
"Jjan~", she exclaimed, handing Yujin a box the size of her torso. Yujin saw it already sitting when they drove earlier but thought that it was their manager's. "Open it, love."
As soon as Yujin gets a hold of the ribbon, Xiaoting pulls out her phone and leans back so she can film her girlfriend better. When Yujin pulled the ribbon, the sides of the box fell revealing several wind-up rubber band-powered butterflies which flew on all sides of the car. It made Yujin shout in surprise, instead of awe. The car roars with laughter from the two, as they find the reaction hilarious. Xiaoting is already teary as they continue laughing.
"It's so cool! It's just surprising. I was shocked." Yujin said in between laughter.
"I know. I saw you." Xiaoting replies, still wiping her eyes from so much laughing. "You were like, 'WOAH!' You're so funny, love!" And they burst out laughing again.
It took them some time before the laughter eased. When it does, that's the only time Yujin paid attention to another medium-sized box within the one she opened earlier.
Inside was an envelope, which Yujin know is a handwritten letter, a box of Yujin's favorite chocolate, and a dried flower bookmark that Xiaoting revealed she made.
"Aww, Ting." Yujin is in deep awe. Her eyes are almost teary. "When did you have the time to prepare for this?" Yujin asked. It's obvious from her tone how amazed she is.
"For a while. It was supposed to be for our 100th day. But you know what happened. So, there. Happy 100th day." Xiaoting greets.
Their first three months together were days full of learning and adjustments. Learning how to handle each other during a bad state, learning how to be more open with their emotional needs, and learning to be more considerate. They're also adjusting to always meet halfway.
Xiaoting took the boxes from Yujin and placed them on the seats in front. She did this so she could hold Yujin's hands to intertwine them with hers. "Happy 100th, love. Here's to more and more and more to come." She said, eyes glimmering with hope, as she kissed Yujin's hand.
"Thank you, Ting. You never fail to make me feel special and loved. " Yujin said smiling. She feels so much loved that her heart swells with pride and happiness just by looking at Xiaoting. That made her want to hold her girlfriend close, so she moved forward to cup Xiaoting's face with both hands.
"You're such a cutie!", Yujin gushes and proceeds to squish Xiaoting's cheeks.
"Aing! Why are you so cute, love? Nyom nyom nyom."
Yujin's nose is scrunching while pretending to munch on the younger's cheeks which makes both of them laugh.
Then there was silence. A long, tense full silence.
Yujin realized it late, but their faces were too close for comfort. Unconsciously, her hand also no longer squishes but instead caresses the younger's cheeks slowly.
They had moments like this before, and it always ended with nervous giggles. Mostly, a peck on the cheeks or a forehead kiss wraps it up, but nothing beyond that. It's not that they are left alone often as well to have a moment for themselves. So aside from the dare that happened almost a year ago, they never shared a real kiss before.
Xiaoting took this chance to change that. She moves forward not breaking the eye contact. She's searching for any refusal or resistance from Yujin. But through her eyes, Yujin is also asking for permission. Both express a shy smile when they meet each other's warm approval.
Xiaoting moves slowly, pulling her girlfriend closer. The next thing Yujin knows is the space between them completely disappeared. She feels the sudden sensation of having Xiaoting's lips move against hers.
The kiss started sweet, slow, and delicate. Soon, Yujin could taste Xiaoting's watermelon lip balm making her lick her girlfriend's lower lip. Xiaoting reciprocated the act by snaking her hand on Yujin's nape, pulling her closer in an attempt to deepen the kiss, which she easily succeeded.
Yujin then cups Xiaoting's face again, caressing her cheeks while their lips are still pressed together. Xiaoting cannot describe how the touch brings a new heightened emotion, but what she knows is that she feels so much loved by the simple gesture.
They broke apart for air, but their giggles, give away that their hearts are both full. Yujin planted a quick kiss on Xiaoting's lips again and the younger returned the gesture by pressing their foreheads together.
"Ting~" Yujin calls her girlfriend cutely after a brief silence. She grabs her hand and gets something from her pocket. A black scrunchie is then placed around Xiaoting's wrist, which confuses the latter.
"Oh? What is this for? I mean, I know it's a hair tie, but why?", Xiaoting asked.
"It says that when you give someone a scrunchie, you want that person to be with you. And if they wear it, it means that person likes you too. It's like a token of a relationship." Yujin explains, her tone bright.
Xiaoting swats Yujin's arm and shakes her head. "Just saying whatever you want, huh." She chuckles.
"No, it's true. Wait, wait." Yujin quickly searched on her phone and showed it to Xiaoting. "See, it says here I am right. Giving scrunchies have that meaning."
Oh, Yujin and her cute gifts.
Xiaoting can't help but chuckle at her. Yujin is a pure soul. Just expressing her love in the cutest ways.
"Thanks, babe. I'll always wear it", said Xiaoting.
"You prepared a lot for me, and I can only give you a scrunchie. I'll make it up to you", Yujin then continues.
"Ayy, baby, you know there's no need for that."
"But still." Yujin pouts.
Xiaoting gave her pouty girlfriend a peck on the lips. Really a natural cutie. That quick kiss makes Yujin smile.
"Told you there's no need to make it up to me, ok? You've prepared a lot for me too. I would just like to reciprocate what I'm receiving", Xiaoting explains.
Yujin reacts by beaming at her: brightly, like a ray of sunshine she is.
"Really?" The cutie asked and she nodded. "Ok," Yujin said, there goes her lovely smile where her eyes also smile.
Xiaoting loves to see those eyes shaping into little crescent moons beaming at her. That smile that makes her feel she's the most precious person in the world. That smile that even a person with a heart of stone can melt at. At that moment she didn't know it was possible to feel a thousand emotions in one sitting. Her heart flutters looking at her adorable girlfriend.
"I really, really love you, Yujin. You're making me a happy person. I'm smiling a lot more because of you."
Xiaoting said proudly before leaning in to give her girlfriend another kiss.
Yujin slowly opened her eyes as the kiss lingered. She smiles shyly at her, feeling her heart pound hard against her chest hearing those three words followed by that gentle kiss.
"I love you too, Ting. So much."
She throws herself at her and Xiaoting welcomes her with a tight embrace. The younger figured out that her girlfriend loves hugging and burying her head on her shoulder just like this.
She started running her fingers through Yujin's hair as she hummed a song that suddenly came into her mind, 'The moon represents my heart.' She whispers to Yujin every 'Wo ai ni' in the song. As she does, she feels the older melts into her touch and Xiaoting loves this feeling so much. Nothing in the world would equal the happiness she gets from this person in her embrace.
After indulging in each other's love, the couple has to drive back to the dorm as it's getting late.
While on the road, Xiaoting glances at Yujin from time to time and the older girl is curious why.
"Yes, love. what is it? You've been--"
Yujin finally asked when they were at the red light although she was cut off from what she was saying. Xiaoting kissed her similar to earlier- one that she could easily grown into if weren't for a honk from the car behind them.
"Oh my god, Xiaoting! That was--"
"Good? I'm trying to be better each time."
Even without looking at her, Yujin could tell Xiaoting was sporting that proud smirk on her face.
"But I'm driving." She pouts.
"We were on a red light though. Besides, I don't know when I'll have the chance to do that again."
"Well, well, how lucky you are, Xiaoting? It will be Chuseok a day after tomorrow remember?"
"And?"
"And Hiyyih will spend the holidays with her family, while Chaehyun will go with her cousins. We'll be left alone. You can come to my room and we can cuddle all you want."
"Oh."
Xiaoting grins. She already feels excited knowing that she'll finally get to have Yujin by herself in the dorm. Just imagining the endless things they could do together makes her heart leap already.
"I can't wait for it." Xiaoting excitedly said.
"Me too. Oh, to sleep with you in my arm and wake up with you by my side." Yujin gushes.
"I would love that so much."
"I wish we could have more moments to do that. But at least we'll have a night." Yujin smiles and continues driving with a light mood.
They settled into their rooms separately after they got to the dorm. Yujin was still waiting for Hiyyih when the door opened. The girl who just entered came to sit on the sofa before Yujin got through her surprise and pulled her to the bed to lie down. Her bed is cramped with two people on it, but with how they embrace each other, the space is enough.
The girl started to brush her fingers through Yujin's hair.
"Jjan~ Now we'll have tonight, tomorrow, and the day after to sleep together." Xiaoting whispers.
"How did you make Hiyyih agree with this?"
"I asked her if I could sleep with my girlfriend and she said, she thought I'd never ask. She said she was wondering why you never ask either."
"And Chaehyun-i?"
"She said if I want to sleep with you, she doesn't mind changing roommates. Much like what Hiyyih said. So... now I'm here."
"We're lucky to have them as members."
"We do. I think it's because our leader is also considerate, that's why the members are too."
"That's so sweet, love."
"You know what's sweeter?"
"What?"
"This."
And they shared a kiss once more until they both settled in the comfortable silence. Words wouldn't be enough to describe what they feel inside.
So much love.
So much love.
What started hot and cold has become steady. Pushes and pull, until they are ready. Theirs is a story that braves fear. And nothing will be stronger than the love they feel. All roads they journeyed led them to this. Because as it goes, the heart recognizes where home is.