Chapter Text
minju is not alone, but she gets her own space. she has a company, and the company lets her dwell in her own little bubble. the preference of spending quality time like this has always been at the top list. she may not be a fan of pure science, but she enjoys learning things, nonetheless. although a 10 cm thick old, french physics book definitely squeezes the last brain cells outta her head.
she takes a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. inhaling the aroma of wood and a hint of old, yellowish pages’ typical smell. for minju, this is just right. this is how she prefers her healing time would be like. the private library itself is consuming two floors of the house. the high, classic ceiling with a chandelier rocks its medieval style. reminding her that she had to take a portable wooden stair to get the current book in her hand.
when minju thought that chaewon was her type, she didn’t expect the older one would share the same exact taste with her. chaewon likes her home to be— homey, and it happened to be like this. a modern and minimalist home interior, then you push a secret door, leading you to somewhere magical. the door to the library hits so close to platform 9 3/4, it welcomes you to a whole new world, just like how hogwarts made theirs.
chaewon likes this place as much. it has been her workspace for god knows how long. the secret side of a château, she said. minju can see the older woman on her desk from her peripheral view. typing on her laptop with some piles of papers on her right and left, building herself a fortress. she is cool and gangster until you see her behind the stacks of paper, curled up like a ball in which her chin rests on her knees. all in her glorious checkered pajama pants and a black, oversized hoodie. and a ponytail. and a pout. cute.
page 233 out of 802. perhaps she can do another 20 pages tomorrow.
as much as she hates how a reading session sounds to her, she can’t deny she loves the atmosphere. minju decides to put the book on the long table and makes her way to the kitchen outside. pouring herself a glass of cold water, a sense of relief runs down her throat along with a long sigh. now she can take a bath before going back to the library. roaming the older’s dressing room, she heads to her own closet to pick up a pair of shorts and a sweater. much to her like, it smells like chaewon now.
she remembers she has yet to tell yuri whether she would be back tonight or not. but if not, then what is her excuse? going home to her parents? staying overnight at a friend’s house? but her friends are yuri’s too, they share the same circle of friends and the busan girl knows too well that minju doesn’t have any other than that. sucks. well, she can deal with yuri later.
[20.10]
mj: don't wait for me, eat dinner first
[20.12]
yul: bold of u to assume i would wait for u
yul: but i did, ew im regretting my life
[20.13]
mj: maybe if u apply for a soap opera instead
[20.13]
yul: maybe if u tell me hours ago so i wont starve and eat somewhere with yena instead
[20.14]
mj: ok that's my fault, i’m sorry. but go eat rn!!!
[20.14]
yul: yea yea, dw. i’ll be out with yena unnie then, tell me if u’re back <3
[20.15]
mj: sure, but dont heart heart me, ew fuck off
[20.15]
yul: ouch </3
minju has so many regrets in life, but the existence of her friends sure is one of the things she is the most grateful about. words will never be able to describe how she questions the universe and its algorithm. to intersect her path with her friends, a bunch of amazing people in the form of dumbasses. she is happy about that and won’t trade it with anything else. she is content. the warm bath accompanied her train of thoughts. until the grumbles in her stomach ring like a broken morning alarm.
she walks out of the room, putting her phone somewhere in the kitchen, then proceeds to check on the fridge. anything i can cook for dinner? she must say that she is not as good as chaeyeon, yet. but that fact doesn’t make her want chaewon to be near the stove in any way. it’s not like she doesn’t put faith in her, but well, past experience is the best teacher anyway. better not burning the house when both of them still need a roof to stay under.
her way back to the library is filled with recipe thoughts. or maybe she should just ask chaewon what she wants to eat.
as she opens the heavy wooden door, chaewon is not on her desk anymore. the older sits sideways on the long sofa minju had previously occupied. her right arm leaning against the soft chair with her back facing minju. chaewon most likely didn’t realize when minju was gone, then looking for the younger in the library and ended up on minju’s previous seat in the middle of the room.
“hi,” minju positioned herself in front of the shorter woman.
“oh, done?” chaewon looks up from her phone, realizing that minju just took a bath earlier.
“you think?” she replies while tilting her head a little, “anyway, what do you want to eat?” minju scoots closer, sitting sideways like chaewon so they are face to face. her right hand hovers near chaewon’s collarbone, delicately taking the hoodie string and starts to twirl it. giving herself a toy to play with.
“i can eat anything as long as you make it edible, ms. kim,” chaewon lets out a tease with her little grin following behind.
“hey i’m a good cook!” she replies, right hand punches the older kim’s chest lightly. but it stays there longer and she starts drawing random patterns on chaewon’s upper chest.
in return, chaewon takes the latter’s left hand to caress it, “any recommendation, chef?”
minju chuckles at the remarks, chaewon's childish-like voice makes it ten times cuter than it should be. “uhmm, western-like food would be faster, me thinks,” minju says as she points out chaewon’s chest with her index finger, giving out a suggestion for the older. “then i trust you with that, ma’am.”
a comforting silence resumes along with how minju plays with the hoodie string and back to drawing patterns once in a while. “you should not forget asian recipes once you are abroad,” chaewon says slowly, still caressing the back of the latter’s hand. minju pouts at this, “do you think i will survive?”
“and why are you doubting yourself?”
“i don’t know, i’m not quite sure if i can adapt to a much different culture and such…” she trails off her words, “and…”
“and?”
“and if i were to ask myself a year ago, i would laugh at myself for being attached to someone to the point i’m doubtful i can live far from this someone.”
chaewon doesn’t respond for a few seconds after, but then lets out a hearty laugh with tears brimming in the corner of her eyes. “yeah, you are allowed to laugh on my behalf,” the pout that minju has on her can resemble yena and that is because of how deep she is in her thoughts. she unconsciously pulls the hoodie string a bit too strong, pulling chaewon to her in the process. welp. “sorry,” minju says faintly, pushing the older’s chest with her fingers in an attempt to bring her back to their previous position but to no avail, seems like chaewon likes this better.
“you know…” the older offers a soft smile, “you have to live in a new place with its new people and new culture, it would be a brand new challenge. and you start it alone, in addition to all of your misery,” chaewon chuckles lightly, her free hand put the younger’s strand hairs to the back of her head, caressing the crown of minju’s hair all the while sending her a soft stare, “everything won’t get easier, but you’ll get stronger.”
minju takes a deep breath. yeah, easier said than done.
“how did you survive?” minju asks.
“hmm, i’m not sure. maybe because i heard a whisper saying that a pretty girl would be waiting for me in my homeland?” chaewon says with her shit-eating grin.
“shut up.”
engulfed in silence is a choice, and chaewon lets it happen for a while. she takes note of how minju starts daydreaming. probably roaming in her head and imagining a to z. her eyes are a bit cloudy. minju lowers her gaze, and her right hand is now done playing with the string, finding its way down to play with the hoodie’s sleeve instead.
“and what if i miss you?” minju asks again.
the sight before chaewon’s eyes is what makes her want to keep minju in her pocket forever so no one would hurt her. minju looks so fragile, so tiny and pale. “well, video call exists for a reason?”
“and what if a video call won’t make up for it?”
“oh?” chaewon raises her eyebrows, minju sure always finds her way to get back to every answer, “then let’s see, maybe i can knock on your door the next day.”
finally, minju smiles at the answer. “i was joking, chae,” she sheepishly grins, showing off her indian dimples, “you are busy and i don’t want to get in your way. we will find some ways to overcome it, maybe.”
“yeah we will,” chaewon smiles back. “you should not make it hard for me, old kim,” breathed minju.
“and what did i do, young kim?”
“looking this cute.”
there is a pause in which chaewon puffs out her chest and pouts, “well, i’m attractive, i know. and if you are weak to that, then that’s on you.” by cute, this is what minju meant. and what is she being so cute for?
as much as minju likes to hear her bluff and all, there is a point where she just wants chaewon to shut up and take her seriously. putting that into practice, minju pulls the latter by her collar, setting them face to face a few millimeters apart. minju could hear a big gulp go down the older’s throat, giving her another tricky idea to try on chaewon.
minju stares at her softly, “maybe i really won’t be shocked if later i find you on my door, flying miles away to see me.”
chaewon nods slowly at this. silently agrees.
“you will do it?” minju whispers.
“will do it.”
“i’m your top priority?”
“top priority.”
“i want you to top me.”
“top you— WHAT?”
chaewon’s widened eyes and her shocked demeanor gives minju nothing but complete entertainment. she bursts out laughing, tears are ready to stream down her cheeks. chaewon looks at her in horror. she could pay bill gates a dinner for one year by now if she gets a buck every time minju tricks her.
she should have known. she should have expected that minju always has her way to get the last string of patience chaewon has. no, it’s not like chaewon would get mad. rather, it’s the patience of playing a push and pull game and chaewon happened to be so damn impatient at this. she is a hot-headed person, she admits. at least for this kind of stuff.
“okay, kim minju you won,” chaewon sighs, “now give me the food i’m starving.”
“i’m the food.”
chaewon remained with her blank expression on her seat, not going to lose again, “hi food, give me a plate of food.”
minju then lets out another laugh, she likes the older’s reaction so much that her belly starts to growl again.
“fine, let’s go,” minju replies, the back of her hand on her face to cover the airy chuckles she lets out. chaewon stood up right after minju, letting the girl lead them to the kitchen. but before minju could open the library door, someone turned her around and pinned her to the door.
wrists are being held up at the side of her head, a blank face stands so close to hers and it sends her chills down her back.
“if your stomach was not screaming, i would prefer to eat you up.”
chaewon plants a quick peck before letting go of her who is by now still stunned at her place. so chaewon opens the door on her behalf, “kim minju first.”
—
the house is in a quiet neighborhood. even some of them are located a bit far from each other, depending on the size too. but much to chaewon’s dismay, her neighbor chose to blast music at their backyard at an ungodly hour.
fucking bbq party poopers.
she sighs.
heaven, sent you to me
i'm just hopin' i don't repeat history
and a fucking ariana’s.
the oldest in the room tries to shake off her thoughts by pulling the bar stool in the bar counter, opting to see a cooking show. her eyes follow minju’s delicate fingers that are cutting the meat and doing all the god’s work.
i'm tryna meet your mama on a sunday
then make a lotta love on a monday
never need no, no one else, babe
'cause i'll be
oh god please, lower the volume. let me behave.
“chae? you look pale, want some water?”
the said woman can’t even answer properly, so she just nods and buries her head on her folded arms.
switchin' the positions for you
cookin' in the kitchen and i'm in the bedroom
i'm in the olympics, way i'm jumpin' through hoops
know my love infinite, nothin' i wouldn't do
that i won't do, switchin' for you
her chest tightens. her head hurts. her ears melt. chaewon wants to combust. she sits up straight to take the water, drinking it in big gulps hoping her ears can automatically function again. she doesn’t want to hear that kind of song. she wants to hear minju, that would be much better. she wants to hear her voice.
or is it?
maybe she just simply— wants her.
perfect, perfect
you're too good to be true (you're too good to be true)
“fuck,” chaewon breathed it out silently. but minju heard it, she turns around to see the older, a bit confused but managed to answer anyway, “uhm, yes please do?”
but i get tired of runnin'
fuck it, now i'm runnin' with you (with you)
chaewon walks closer to the kitchen counter, making sure that minju doesn’t really have anything to do while waiting for the meat to be cooked. “min, how long did you set the oven’s timer?” she leans towards the empty counter at the corner, looking sideways at minju.
“around 20 minutes, why?”
said, boy, i'm tryna meet your mama on a sunday
then make a lotta love on a monday
“nothing,” chaewon says, almost a whisper. before minju can even register what is happening, she is being pulled into chaewon’s arms. trapping minju in between her arms in front of the kitchen counter, chaewon leans to the latter’s ear, “i’ve got an idea.”
there is this mutual understanding that finally the younger’s arms easily find their way to chaewon’s waist, she hums in response.
never need no, no one else, babе
'cause i'll be
switchin' the positions for you
cookin' in thе kitchen and i'm in the bedroom
their lips crash like a truck. electricity flows on their skin, sending a warm, uncomfortable feeling in their belly. the beginning was a bit sloppy, but then minju takes the lead, slowing down her pace and sending short pecks in between their kisses, “needed much, huh?”
i'm in the olympics, way i'm jumpin' through hoops
know my love infinite, nothing i wouldn't do
that i won't do, switchin' for you
chaewon obeys. she is going slower, but needier. it’s much like minju is taming the older and it works somehow. chaewon sucks the latter’s bottom lip, grazing it with her tongue, begging for an entrance. minju moans lowly, she voluntarily lifts up her upper lip to let the soft muscle explore her mouth. the warm cave chaewon explored is so soft, so wet, and yet another tongue asks to fight a battle inside their connected lips.
this some shit that i usually don't do (yeah)
but for you, i kinda, kinda want to
chaewon takes this moment to pull minju a bit, giving her space before grabbing minju’s thighs and lifts her up to sit on the kitchen counter. she puts her hands on minju’s lap, stroking it softly with her thumbs. the latter deepens the kiss, she caresses the older’s warm nape, then nibbles on chaewon’s lower lip while gasping for air in between. her moans sound like a luring music to chaewon and she likes it so much. so much to the point that her belly tightens, something is begging for more.
'cause you're down for me and i'm down too (and i'm down too)
yeah, i'm down too, switching the positions for you
chaewon’s right hand slowly roams further up, tucking out minju’s shirt and lets her hand in, up to the younger’s abdomen, drawing lines on minju’s faint yet toned abs. minju whines when chaewon cuts off the kiss, but back to a smiling mess when chaewon starts pampering her face with small kisses. From her forehead, to the bridge of her nose, to her right cheek, to the tip of her nose, to her left jaw, then chaewon goes down to kiss her neck.
minju moans a bit too loud when chaewon starts to nibble on her earlobe. not gonna lie, “chae–” it’s her weakest spot and chaewon got it with an all-kill. the hand that was previously on her abdomen now goes up a bit, grazing minju’s bare skin until it cups her left mound softly. and minju hates it so much when a bra separates herself with the roaming hand on her. chaewon teases again, groping the right mound to give it the same pressure. “chaewon,” minju says breathlessly. she whimpers under the touch.
the said woman answers with a hum, sucking minju’s upper collarbone and leaving another reddish mark, “cute.”
the music outside is long forgotten somewhere along the line. chaewon pecks the red mark before going back to capture the other’s lips. nibbling on the swollen lips making the latter’s moans muffled. minju pulls her closer, trapping chaewon’s waist with her legs. her feet are so much weaker, if chaewon didn’t lift her up the counter she might just melt on the floor. minju is down so bad that things are getting wet. her belly crunched, fingers tightened in chaewon’s hair, ears burn with the sound of her own pleasured voice.
minju tugs on chaewon’s hoodie before her hand makes its way inside, caressing the older’s fine abs. she worked out so well, no wonder she is good good at physical activities. chaewon breaks off the kiss, she traces minju’s jaw to the side, opting for another earlobe while messaging the mound in her grasp—
*ding dong*
a sudden bell’s ring echoes throughout the first floor.
*ding dong*
minju takes a sharp breath as chaewon stops and pulls herself. she asks breathlessly, “who?”
with a pout, chaewon shakes her head. she doesn’t remember she invited someone over, let alone a formal appointment. the younger signs her to check the front door, so chaewon obeys half-heartedly, cutting off the heated cooking mama class. she walks off to the cctv of the front door’s bell. the screen shows two heads of girls, and apparently she can recognize one of them.
*ding dong ding dong ding dong~*
and one of them definitely is so annoying.
“it’s yena unnie, my cousin!” chaewon shouts from a far. minju, who just washed her face and fixed her appearance, wonders where did she hear this oddly familiar name. to the point that it’s getting uncomfortably familiar.
before she knew it, chaewon already opened the door for the late guest(s), letting the intruders see further into the house. much to the guest(s)’ surprise, they found another girl around the kitchen stools who seems to be in deep thought.
and minju did wander in her thoughts, but not until someone called her over, “kim minju?!”
it hits minju real hard. she knows the voice very well. her neck snaps so fast to the source of it, probably almost breaking her neck in the process. “jo yuri?!”
—
the dinner for two turns into a dinner of four. it was extra work for minju, but girlie got extra hands as well. their usual calm and quiet supper has become a bit too loud. chaewon said that she shouldn’t mind yena’s antics as the oldest woman is a comedian herself.
“so…” yena trails, “you two have known each other for almost two years?” yena says as she leans towards the table, “and yet you didn’t tell me, chae? man, the betrayal,” she sighs desperately.
“obviously i opted to keep it a secret as you are so loud, choi. and known doesn’t mean we were close right away, okay?” chaewon answers, “we were starting off as an acquaintance and it lasted for a year,” chaewon shrugs off her shoulder, “technically, minju started to court me less than a year ago.”
the said girl burrows her eyebrows, “me? you did the first move, tho?” she throws a dagger stare at chaewon across the table.
before the banter could go even further, yena steps in between the conversation to save yuri from seeing two wifeys’ debate, “yup, that’s it! save the chit chat for later without us because better now tell me how you come to know each other. yena grins, “i mean, i share mutual friends with yuri so that makes sense.”
chaewon nods to minju, signing her to answer. but instead of answering, she stepped on chaewon’s foot under the table, making the older grimacing in pain.
“well, parents are besties,” chaewon answers curtly.
with that, the dinner ends with the maknaes in the kitchen washing the dishes. it’s now yuri’s chance to talk privately with her friend. she has so many questions in her head, but there is one thing she wants to make sure that minju would take note of.
yuri asks, “do you have a class tomorrow, ju?”
the latter seems to be in a thought before answering, “uhm, at noon. why?”
“wear a turtleneck, they are turning purplish,” yuri winks.
—
they sent off the guests later at night when the backyard bbq party was over too. the tv is on, but chaewon is on her phone with minju nuzzling on the crook of her neck. the house is much quieter now that minju’s whisper can be heard by the other occupant, “chae, did you see my phone?”
“where did you put it last time?”
“i don’t remember, hehe,” minju sheepishly grins.
exhaustion is an understatement for the older woman. she has so many things to take care of in one day. there is just no extra energy to walk around the house, looking for a tiny phone between cabinets and anything around. “i’ll call your number and you look for it.”
minju nods obediently and chaewon turns off the tv.
they start to hear a buzzing sound from afar after chaewon clicks the call button. the incoming call is here.
can you stay up all night? (all night)
love me 'till the daylight
thirty-four, thirty-five
“what the fuck, min?”
“what?”
you drink it just like water (water)
you said it tastes like candy
“ariana’s?” chaewon questions her.
“and why is that?” minju asks back, “i’m not a call person, but i make sure if it’s you then i’ll pick it up. so i use a different ringtone for you, hm?”
sighs.
“alright, get your phone quick,” chaewon says as she massages her temples. she can vividly hear the song from where she stands right now, a bit more clear than before since she knows the lyrics— and it disturbs her sanity so much.
so what you doing tonight? (tonight)
better say, "doing you right" (oh babe)
watching movies but
we ain't seeing a thing tonight (yuh)
seems like, ariana adds something to chaewon’s headache. and minju could only wonder what did ariana do wrong to chaewon to make her that pissed. maybe she is just tired.