it's been a while since shuhua's been home, but she realizing what she's been missing when she gets there
implied relationship
it was a somber night, shuhua was taking a former path home. she decided to take in the air and the old feeling she got taking this path.
observing the pathway home, she notices how the leaves are slowly turning into their fall colours and falling from the tree, she notices how more cats are popping up since the days are growing shorter now, she notices how the bench she used to sit on everyday is now looking older and wiser.
she saw how some of the old stores she remembered are still open, even the small flower shop by her home. she looked at her watch and saw how it wasn't as late as she thought it was. she decided to take a small stop at the shop and pick up some flowers for someone she had in mind.
she opens the door and hears the familiar jiggle she still remembers.
"shuhua! hey!" she's met with a certain older thai girl she used to talk to all the time. she looks around the shop and sees how it hasn't changed even after 2 years have past. it always stays the same, it always has that warm vibe to it. she took a deep breath in, inhaling the flowery scent that was radiating everywhere.
she sees behind the counter countless pictures, several of them with her old friends in it. the florist was always known as the sentimental one of the group. oh how she missed her so much.
"hi minnie! you got some flowers i could buy." shuhua giggled knowing the irony of her statement. minnie gave her a warm smile. "of course, what were you thinking?" shuhua looked around the small shop. a certain bouquet caught her eyes, a bright pastel pink on one of the higher shelves. the bouquet of peonies, that was perfect.
before she could point and ask minnie to get them for her, she heard a loud voice coming from behind her. suddenly she felt the air get knocked out of her.
"yeh shuhua!"
she could recognize that loud voice anywhere.
"hey qi."
shuhua returned yuqi's hug after regaining her senses. "i missed you a lot." shuhua smiled and patted yuqi's head. "i missed you too yuqi." the beijing girl gave her a big grin.
"here to buy flowers?" shuhua nodded her head. "why else would i be here?" shuhua pointed at the peonies to usher yuqi to get them. yuqi rolled her eyes as she took out the step stool to reach them. "to see your best friend of course!" minnie stared at both of them and chucked at their antics.
yuqi handed the younger girl her flowers after wrapping them tightly, making sure to put a small green bow around it. "so how much would that be?" both yuqi and minnie shook their heads at the same time like it was telepathy. "don't worry about it! it's on the house."
"yeah! don't worry about paying, giving away one flower won't ruin our business." shuhua was hesitant. "are you sure? i have money to pay for it, i'm no longer broke." she chuckled out the last sentence. she remembers when she couldn't even pay for a bowl of ramen.
"yeah we're sure of it, now get going, it's getting dark." minnie said. minnie was always like a mom to her, she was always worried and took care of shuhua. "alright mom." minnie gave her another warm smile.
shuhua hugged both of them tightly before she left.
now she was on her way back home.
she saw how the road had little cracks in them now, and how the walls of some of the buildings had paint chipping off. the street light that was always broken had finally been fixed.
just a block away, her feet stopped at an old restaurant. a restaurant she had a lot of memories from. she decided to go in and order, it wouldn't hurt to take a little longer. she wasn't in much of a rush anyway.
she walked in to the familiar scent of the mouthwatering food. she loved eating here all the time.
"shushu!"
she saw a familiar short girl waving from the counter.
"hey soyeon!" soyeon gave shuhua a big smile and walked towards her. she gave her a tight hug and ruffled her hair. shuhua whined. "im not a kid anymore!" soyeon chuckled. "you'll always be a kid to me" shuhua humbled in fake annoyance but her lips slowly curled into a smile.
"want some food?" shuhua nodded her head. "two of the regulars to-go please." the korean girl nodded knowing what she meant.
"soojin! two regulars to-go!" suddenly the cook popped out from her kitchen. she hasn't heard that order in so long she just had to check if it was true. coming out she was surprised to see the taiwanese girl standing there next to soyeon.
she made her way to shuhua and gave her a warm smile.
"your finally back."
"i'm finally back." shuhua gave her a small smile and hugged her. soojin returned to the kitchen to prepare her meal while soyeon stayed to talk. she noticed the big bouquet of flowers she had in a brown paper bag with a familiar logo.
"did you get those flowers from minnie and yuqi?" shuhua nodded her head. "of course i did, they have the best flowers in town." soyeon couldn't agree anymore with her statement.
a few minutes past by and while shuhua and soyeon were catching up with each other, a bag of food gently got set on the table.
"i threw in a few extra things you used to like, i hope you still enjoy them." shuhua was grateful for soojin, she always made sure she ate well. when she couldn't afford meals back then, soojin would always pay for her. "i'm sure i'll love them, you always make the best food." soojin gave a small laugh.
shuhua set her bag down and pulled out her wallet. both soyeon and soojin were quick to decline her money. "no it's ok, you don't have to pay us." shuhua whined and stomped her feet. "you're just like minnie and yuqi, they didn't accept my money either." soojin came and patted her arm.
"take this as a welcome back gift."
shuhua sighed in defeat, she knew she couldn't fight with soojin. she'd end up losing anyway. before she could leave, soojin gave her two drinks to bring with her home.
"thanks again! i'll make sure to see you guys soon." shuhua gave both of them one last hug before exiting the warm restaurant and feeling the cool air against her skin.
finally after walking more along the road she still remembers by heart, she arrived home. she tightly gripped the bag of good and took the flowers out of the bag to hold in her hand. she took a deep breath before firmly knocking on the door three times.
she could already hear the angelic voice before the door even opened. "who could be knocking on my door at this—" the girl who answered the door had her mouth wide open, wet tears started to flow out. "wait don't cry!" it's only been 2 seconds and shuhua already made the girl cry.
"you're back?"
"forever this time, love."
miyeon lunged at shuhua to give her the tightest hug she could. she held on like shuhua was going to go away for 2 years again. "you're finally back."
miyeon finally let go a couple of beats later. she let shuhua in and put the flowers she bought her in a vase.
"wanna eat dinner with me? i bought food from soyeon and soojin's restaurant." miyeons smiled at her. "that'd be lovely." miyeon set the table while shuhua unwrapped the food. soojin really outdid herself this time, it was like a feast.
as shuhua was waiting for miyeon to finish setting up, she looked around the house. everything was still the same from when she left it, maybe a few different tweaks, like how miyeon finally got a new table since the other one was beyond broken and they always had to sit on the floor, or how miyeon finally replaced the old couch that had many stains on it.
she noticed the old photos around the house. they were still the same photos even after these two years. some were of the whole group and some were just her and shuhua.
she snapped out of her daze when miyeon back hugs her. "you're daydreaming." shuhua gave a small giggle. "just observing the house, it's been a while." miyeon hummed
"it hasn't change that much since you left."
they both made their way to the table and started to eat in a comfortable silence. even if it's been so long, they still don't feel awkward around each other. it wasn't until miyeon decided to speak up again.
"so how was taiwan?" shuhua had to think about it. it was nice to see her family, but she also had a loving family here. she always missed the girls. "it was fine, i did a lot of things." shuhua said while picking at her food. she wasn't supposed to stay there for 2 years, but her parents kept begging her to stay longer and she didn't have the heart to say no.
"i'm glad your back." shuhua looked up to meet miyeon's eyes. "i'm glad im back too."
once they finished eating, miyeon volunteered to clean up while shuhua freshens up in the bathroom.
shuhua came out of the bathroom to miyeon swaying to the music she put on. it was light and slow.
shuhua offered a hand out to miyeon.
"would you like to have a dance?" miyeon blushed slightly and took her hand. "i'd be honored to." shuhua giggled and lead them to the living room. two souls lightly dancing to the music together, following each other's footsteps.
as the song came to a close miyeon pulled the younger girl close to her, capturing the lips of the younger girl. it was a slow and sweet kiss. shuhua started to turn as red as a tomato. no matter how many times miyeon has kissed her, she always would feel butterflies in her stomach.
as the next song came on, shuhua laid her head on miyeons chest. both of their feet are still swaying to the beat of the music.
she slowly stopped focusing on the song and only focused on the heartbeat of her partner.
finally she is home.