Yeji is lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling, fiddling with her hands on her tummy. What Yeri told her earlier made her anxious.
"It's your entire fault, Ryujin!" she screamed in their empty house while punching through the air. "You've just turned Yeri to be your newest fangirl because you're so flirty! Ugh! Stupid, Ryujin! Stupid!"
Yeji turned aside to check on her phone. "Why isn't she texting me? Is she busy? Doesn't she miss talking to me?"
She groped for a pillow and hid her head under it.
Yes. She's going crazy now.
---
The next day, Yeji found Yeri already in the office when she got in. She can't deny that this intern is good. Her chances of passing are high.
"Hi there," said Yeji, turning on her PC.
"Morning, Ms. Yeji."
"Wow. Are you partying later?" asked Yeji, noticing makeup on the intern's face that she has not been doing in the past few days.
"Not really." Yeri smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I just want to feel pretty today."
"You are always pretty, dear."
"Thanks."
Yeji grabbed a wet tissue and poured rubbing alcohol on it.
"Umm. Ms. Yeji, can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?" Yeji started cleaning her table with the wet tissue.
"By any chance, are you close friends with Ryujin?"
Yeji's hand stopped. "W-we're friends, why?"
"I just want to know if she has a boyfriend or a girlfriend."
"The last time I checked, she's single." Yeji resumed cleaning her table. "But I'm not sure anymore. In case you're not aware, many women are just throwing themselves at her."
"Oh. is that so..."
"You really like her?" Yeji asked to reassure, hoping that the answer would change.
Yeri nodded. "How about you, don't you think she's cute?"
"Uh. Well. She is charming, yes."
"So, you like her too?"
"Umm..."
"Ms. Yeji..."
"Yes?"
"You're blushing." Yeri giggled.
"Am I?" Yeji's initial instinct told her to look around to see if Lia is already there. "You're a crazy kid. I just easily blush when asked about things like that."
"So, you like Ryujin?"
"All the girls here in the office like her, Yeri. What you're feeling now is normal," said Yeji, dumping the used tissue in the trash bin below her table.
"All the girls? Including you?"
Yeji glared at Yeri. "Do you want me to fail you in your training?"
Yeri raised her hands to surrender. "I'm just asking you."
"Why do you want to know that, anyway?"
"It's because I like her a lot, and I'm planning to confess soon."
Yeji's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. "What? Confess right away? You just met her yesterday, right? And does your confession have anything to do with me?"
"Well... it's because of yesterday," said Yeri, hesitant. "There's just something different with the way you two talk to each other."
Yeji held the mouse this time, pretending to work. She can hear the fast beat of her heart. "Different in what way?"
"It's hard to explain. But you two are emitting the girlfriend vibe. That's why I've thought of asking you first about her before I make my confession."
Yeji is still wondering what exactly these people--Lia and Yeri--see that made them think something is going on between her and Ryujin. As far as she remembers, Ryujin and she had a quick small talk yesterday. Nothing unusual. But then, how come Yeri could sense something from that?
Not knowing the answer herself, Yeji faked a smile instead. "Don't worry, Ryujin and I are just friends."
Yeri's face lit up. "So, you won't mind if I hang out with her?"
Yeji shook her head. "You shouldn't worry about me, instead you should think about the other fangirls here in the office. In case you're not aware yet, they are killing each other to get Ryujin's attention."
"That doesn't bother me, Miss Yeji. I'm gonna start my move today." Yeri clapped.
Yeji rolled her eyes.
---
Office hours are finally over. Yeji is waiting by the elevator area when she saw Taeyong walking alone. He smiled at her.
"You're going home now?" asked Yeji, smiling back.
"Yeah..."
"Where's Yeri?"
"She left a few minutes ago."
Yeji felt something is odd. Yeri and Taeyong always go home together. "Why isn't she with you? Did you guys fight?"
"Nope. But someone's driving her home today."
"Who?"
Taeyong let out a loud sigh before looking at Yeji. "It's Ryujin."
Yeji will definitely kill Ryujin.
---
"Yeri wanted me to pretend I have something else to do, and that she has no one to drive her home. Unfortunately, Yeri's house is on Ryujin's way home," said Taeyong.
"And you played along?" asked Yeji. She invited Taeyong for a cup of coffee to talk about it.
"Yeah, what else can I do, Yeri likes her."
"Why do you seem to be not okay with it? I thought you were like brotherly-sisterly close?"
Taeyong smiled weakly. "To Yeri it's like that. But for me, it isn't..."
"Wow." Yeji blinked. "You're in love with her?"
Taeyong nodded. "For more than a year now."
"Then why don't you confess?"
"It's not that easy," said Taeyong before sipping on his coffee. "We grew up close like relatives. It was just recently when I realized that I'm in love with her."
"How are you feeling now knowing that she likes Ryujin?"
"Anxious. Jealous. I don't know." Taeyong forced a smile. "The thing is, I can't blame Ryujin either. She's just being kind because she thought Yeri was not feeling well today."
"I don't think Yeri would do anything stupid you should not worry." But she will still kill Ryujin tomorrow.
"What if she confessed?" asked Taeyong.
"Do you really think she'd do that?"
"Maybe. Yeri is still naïve and has a tendency of falling in love fast."
"I don't think Ryujin will take advantage of her, so you better stop worrying," said Yeji.
Taeyong let out a loud exhale before grabbing his cup to take another sip. After putting down his cup he leaned closer to the table.
"We're in the same boat here, aren't we?" he asked.
It caught Yeji off guard. She didn't know that it would feel different hearing it from a guy. "How can you say so?"
"Well, we wouldn't have this coffee talk if they don't affect you too, right? And you finished your tea right away. Were you that tensed?"
Yeji could only smirk and shake her head.
"I get it. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone if you're uncomfortable talking about it," said Taeyong, sounding sincere.
Yeji pressed her lips together, unsure of what to say anymore.
---
Ryujin's thoughts drifted back to Yeji. She's inside her car, waiting for Yeri who's buying ice cream outside.
Ever since Lia started teasing them about their closeness, Ryujin felt Yeji has been trying to avoid her. It's not something noticeable or obvious. But for someone like who experienced how to be "close" to Yeji in a certain way, Ryujin knew something's off with them. She understands though, maybe Yeji doesn't like Lia pairing them up.
Because of that, Ryujin is trying her best to hold herself back from texting or even calling Yeji--which is now resulting in terribly missing the smaller lady.
"Hey, want some?"
Ryujin saw Yeri's hand with a spoonful of ice cream ready to feed her. She didn't even realize that Yeri had already stepped inside the car.
Ryujin was looking at the spoon in front of her face. She's not in the mood for ice cream right now but she's worried that it might drip on her car and will leave a stain. She opened her mouth and ate it.
Yeri giggled. "You're so cute."
"I thought you're not feeling well? You shouldn't eat something like that if you're having flu," said Ryujin.
"Are you worried about me?"
"I don't want to be the reason for you being absent."
Yeri giggled again.
Ryujin is now starting to wonder what's wrong with Yeri. "Maybe I should drive you home now."
"That fast? Why don't we have dinner together first?" said Yeri.
"Huh? The reason I'm driving you home today is because Taeyong won't be able to send you home, right?"
"I was not feeling well this morning but I guess you have the magic in you that can cure me," said Yeri.
Ryujin stared at Yeri awkwardly.
"Ryujin, do you think I'm pretty?"
"Y-yeah... I bet lots of boys are courting you."
"Yes, but they don't have the power over me."
Ryujin was unsure how to respond again.
"But you, you have the power to make my heart beat fast all the time." Yeri grabbed Ryujin's hand and placed it on her chest. "Can you feel that? It's beating fast now, right?"
"Y-yeah..." As Ryujin was about to pull her hand away, Yeri held it tight, forced it to open wide, and brushed it on her left breast.
"Hey--" Ryujin immediately felt awkward when she felt the soft sensation on her palm. She forcedly pulled her arm away. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing is wrong, Ryujin. What I'm feeling for you is right."
"I should drive you home now."
Just as before Ryujin starts the engine, she saw Yeri put the ice cream cup on the dashboard. Her initial instinct is to check if there is anything that dripped on the carpet or the chair.
"No. We're not going to my place yet..." Yeri's voice was seductive this time.
"What are you... wha--"
Yeri moved over and sat on Ryujin's lap, her legs spread around the latter's waist. It surprised Ryujin because she didn't see Yeri move. The last thing she remembers is seeing was the cup on her dashboard, and with just a blink she's facing the girl's boobies now. She didn't know how Yeri did that in just two seconds.
Maybe Yeri is a ninja in disguise.
Yeri groped for Ryujin's hands and put it around her waist.
"The only place we're going to now is your place," said Yeri, leaning forward to give Ryujin a kiss.