So maybe Ryujin was abusing the fact that she was on a "tiny" boat with Yeji, in front of the full view and attention of all her family and friends, who fully expected her to display her affection for Yeji for everyone to see.
Okay, maybe that was another lie she'd told herself.
But Yeji seemed to be just as easy-going and along for the ride as before, and Ryujin really was enjoying their seating arrangement, she sprawled out over the deck of the boat, glorious legs open for Yeji to sit between, to lean back into her.
And it wasn't like they were acting that differently. They were still the same old nerd and dork, gossiping about life and making the absolute lamest jokes to each other in hushed whispers that confused just about everybody else.
Occasionally, Yeji would lean back into Ryujin. Ryujin, ever the helpful friend, found that it was her duty to wrap her arms around the brunette, and murmur things into her hair, and to yelp out cutely whenever Yeji would pinch her after a particularly cruel comment.
They had sat like that, enjoying the LA sun beating down on them, tanning them further, while breathing in the scent of each other's faint perfume amongst the salty mist they were sprayed with from time to time, as Keith enjoyed the only other lady, he loved more than Lana, his beloved "Dropship."
"Why the Dropship, Ryujin?" Yeji asked in her curious tone, cocking her head to the side innocently, and Ryujin swooned internally for maybe the eightieth time that day.
"Why the name?" Ryujin clarified, clearing her throat. "Is that what you're asking?"
"Yes." Yeji smiled apologetically, her arms resting on either side of Ryujin, who was absently playing with her fingers, trying not to notice how soft and elegant they looked.
"Well, if you follow me to the tiny little bathroom, I'll show you." Ryujin quipped, smiling wickedly.
Yeji frowned. "I'm afraid I don't follow, Ryujin."
Ryujin's smirk deepened. "Because I can drop your panties on this ship-"
Yeji swatted her arm, cheeks burning. "That doesn't even sound good, Ryujin."
Ryujin barked out a laugh, glad to hear Yeji's soft chuckle infront of her. She sighed contentedly for a moment, wishing away everything and everyone else in the world.
For just a second, she pretended Yeji was there because she liked Ryujin, and not for some business transaction with her father. God, it felt so right.
But Ryujin knew better than to ruin a perfectly smooth plan with crazy ideals of perfection and love.
She wouldn't do that to Yeji.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Yeji mumbled into her ear. "Although, Ryujin, I've never understood the saying. Your thoughts are priceless."
Why did Yeji have to go off and be like that? For such a nerd, she was one hell of a smooth talker. And it was genuine, which made it all the worse.
Ryujin blushed profusely. "I was just thinking.. Jisu and Chaeryeong. They make a cute couple."
Yeji nodded, her gaze finding her friend and Ryujin's friend, both sitting by the edge of the railing to the far left, appearing to be deep in conversation.
"They do." Yeji mumbled, her eyes watching the way Jisu's softened eyes, and they didn't do that for just anyone. Lee Chaeryeong was special.
But, like Shin Ryujin, Lee Chaeryeong was off limits. Perhaps for different reasons, but untouchable, unattainable all the same, like a beautiful mirage that tempted and tantalized until the hallucination was no more.
"They should go for it." Ryujin shrugged.
Yeji's brow furrowed. She felt her throat dry a little. Swallowing rather numbly, she pressed on. "What do you mean by that?"
"I'm saying they're a match made in heaven." Ryujin chuckled, eyes still trained on the two girls in question.
"So you're saying they should sleep together?" Yeji asked quietly.
"Well, hell yeah." Ryujin smirked. "But-more than that. I'm saying she should grow one and ask her out."
Yeji laughed softly. "Grow one? To the best of my knowledge, they come in pairs, Ryujin."
Ryujin made a face. "Okay, A, you're one to talk, Ms. I only date girls, and it was the same girl for the past year. And B, I'm talking about female anatomy. Because honestly, we go through so much more shit."
Yeji rolled her eyes, nodding at the latter statement. "Is this a reference towards Minju, Ryujin?"
"Yes." Ryujin grumbled. "Why don't you like her, again? You had, what, all of two conversations with her?" Yeji asked amusedly, seemingly unable to mope about her ex-girlfriend while she was fake dating Ryujin.
"I don't like her because I like you." Ryujin answered with a huff, softly turning Yeji's chin around so that she was facing her. "You're my best friend." She added quickly.
"I appreciate the sentiment." Yeji murmured, her smile soft and her heart aching.
"She hurt you." Ryujin sighed absently, her fingers tracing the tips of Yeji's features dreamily.
Yeji's breath hitched in her throat. "I'm fine, now, Ryujin."
"You're my best friend, even more so than everyone else here." Ryujin mumbled again, pouting ever so slightly. "I want to make sure you're always happy. You deserve that, Yeddeong."
Yeji felt emotions threaten to overwhelm her. "Ryujin, I..." She sighed, lacing her hand with Ryujin's own, eyeing the matching bracelet on her wrist. "You make me happy." She settled on that, failing to notice the rosy tint it brought to Ryujin's cheeks.
"Well, I-"
"Hey hey, heads up!" Jefri called from his seat by Karina, the ball Changbin had thrown from his spot in the water whizzing way over his head, hurling towards Ryujin and Yeji.
"Shit." Ryujin ducked, squeezing her eyes shut for the inevitable impact that never came. She cracked an eye open, after a moment, noticing those elegant fingers of Yeji's curled around the football. "Huh?"
Yeji smirked, tossing it back in a neat spiral, landing it into Jefri's waiting arms. "Here." She called out confidently.
Jefri smirked. "That was very impressive. Care to come here and show these amateurs how its done?"
Yeji laughed, turning to face Ryujin. "Do you mind?" She asked softly.
Ryujin was busy staring at her in awe. "You're a jock too, nerd?"
Yeji blushed a little.
"Seriously?" Ryujin whined from her seat, which was Yeji. "There's not even room to play."
"There's room to throw it to Changbin." Yeji pointed out. Then she felt a tug in her chest, telling her to forget everything and cater to Ryujin's whim, and she happily would've done so, because she lived for Ryujin's smiles.
"Oh, come on, Ryujin." Karina rolled her eyes. "Let's let our kids have a playdate. We can catch up."
Ryujin was now fully aware of how everyone was watching her, and her response to Yeji.
"Fine." Ryujin smirked, pulling Yeji down as her hands went around Yeji's neck. She shocked Yeji by pulling her into a hot, suggestive kiss, biting Yeji's lip softly as she soothed it with a quick brush of her tongue before releasing Yeji.
Yeji, knees buckling, struggled to stand, eyes dazed, heart hammering. "I..." she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Um, I-"
"Have fun." Ryujin teased, leaning back in the space where Yeji had just been sitting, patting it for Karina to come and switch spaces with Yeji. "Bye, babe." She waved innocently, dismissing her.
"Uh..." Yeji inhaled sharply. "Bye." She mumbled, stepping over to Jefri, who looked eager to spend some time socializing with Karina's friends and family.
"Wow." Karina smirked, flipping her brunette locks over her shoulder as she sat beside Ryujin on the deck, nudging her with her elbow playfully. "You finally got a keeper."
Ryujin rolled her eyes. "You think?" She asked playfully.
Karina nodded. "What's not to like? Hot, pretty damn smart, knows how to put Felix in his place."
Ryujin chuckled at that, watching Yeji's retreating figure. "Hah. Yeah, I guess you're right."
"You guess?" Karina scoffed, angling her chest up to get a better tan. "Your heart eyes are a little sickening, to be honest."
Ryujin bit her lip.
Oh, no. Was it that obvious?
"Well, same for you." Ryujin shot back. "How long have you been seeing Jefri for?"
"Almost two years." Karina admitted somewhat sheepishly.
If Ryujin had a drink, it would've been sprayed all over the deck in her shocked gape. "What?" She blinked. "Since when? What happened to Brian?"
"Well.." Karina sighed, averting her gaze. "We were on and off for a little bit. Brian was a dick, and I ended that faster than you could imagine. I was pretty pissed after that, and so obviously not ready for another casual hookup, and Jefri happened. He was sweet, wanted to take things slowly, I let him in, I guess."
"You never said anything. I didn't see you settling down like that." Ryujin admitted. "You were always Karina the party animal. The casual relationship type of person."
"I love Jefri." Karina shrugged. "A lot."
"How'd you know?" Ryujin asked, her tone softening as she smiled in happiness.
"That I loved him?" Karina thought for a moment, blinking in surprise. "I don't know, honestly. You just feel it. Ryujin, whenever I look at him I don't know, this is some sappy shit, but It makes my whole world brighter. He makes my heart beat faster even now, and all I can think is damn, I want to wake up next to him every morning. I want to share his good days and his victories, and his bad days and his defeats. I just want him." She trailed off, glancing at her boyfriend.
"Whoa." Ryujin breathed, her gaze settling on Yeji, who was leaning against the railing with Jefri, her head tilted as a beautiful laugh escaped her lips.
Karina smirked. "Hitting pretty close to home, am I?"
"Whoa!" Ryujin reiterated, this time in pure panic as she faced her friend with shock. "Huh? No! I mean, we're so not there!"
"You haven't exchanged 'I love you's'?" Karina scoffed, eyes widening. "What are you, twelve? Waiting for the perfect time to say it? It's not during sex, by the way."
"It's complicated." Ryujin sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "We've only been together for a little while."
"Ryujin, you've been pining over this girl for a year and a half. You became best friends. That's the foundation for a perfect relationship. Beyoncé said that about Jay in an interview."
Ryujin rolled her eyes. Now she had to take advice from her family and Beyoncé? "Thank you very much, Karina."
"Jefri started out as my friend." Karina pressed on diligently. "But I mean, I always knew we'd be something more. Just felt that way. Ryujin, I would do anything for him now, because that trust is already there. There wasn't a huge transition because we already knew all there was to know about each other."
Ryujin realized that she really did know Yeji better than she knew anyone else. The time they shared was quality, unaffected by the trials of dating and the façade of trying to be someone she wasn't, or a better version of herself.
They truly loved everything about the other in the purest, most wholesome form, without expectations of reciprocation. Wasn't that special? Didn't that have merit?
"You weren't afraid of damaging what you already had?" Ryujin asked, her voice small and insignificant.
Karina paused for a moment. "Damn, Shin, you're deep today. But, no, I guess. I mean, of course I valued our friendship, but I knew I'd never be satisfied like that. I can't put it into words, Ryujin, it was beyond frustrating. Could you even imagine what it's like to be in love with your best friend, but neither one of you is brave enough to actually sack up and just tell each other? It's the dumbest situation, I swear to god."
"HA!" Ryujin laughed, feeling a hollow ache inside. "That is wild, Karina."
"Tell her you love her." Karina muttered lowly as she heard Jefri and Yeji approach. "You won't regret it. I mean, shit, it's very obvious that those feelings are mutual."
Ryujin's throat dried as she glanced up at Yeji, hair wind tossed and exotic, her soft but toned arms extended out to Ryujin in a playful invitation.
"Where are we going?" Ryujin asked numbly, knowing their options were severely limited.
"I don't know." Yeji hummed thoughtfully. "The back, maybe?"
Ryujin nearly stumbled at the thought of being alone with Yeji at the back end of the boat, content to watch the sunset with her best friend that she might have had intense feelings for. Unreciprocated feelings, she reminded herself.
Ryujin swallowed the lump in her throat. "Uh, yeah. Okay..." She took Yeji's hands, allowing her best friend to pull her up.
"Go get 'em, Tiger." Karina winked, causing both girls to blush profusely. Ryujin was sure, in that moment, in the heat of the slowly descending sun, bleeding into the horizon's waters, that she would follow Yeji anywhere and everywhere, if only she asked.
"Oh my god." Ryujin's eyes widened as she grinned at Yeji through the doorway of the hotel bedroom to the suite's balcony. "Seriously?"
Yeji glanced up from her game of chess, part of the lavish and expensive décor of the suite, likely untouched by ninety percent of the guests who came to actually have fun outdoors.
Yeji glanced up at Ryujin with a sigh. "Are we going to discuss this again?" She asked, tongue sticking out adorably as she pondered her move against her own opposing pieces.
"You know, I'm sure there's an old geezers club in the hotel that does chess in the mornings! Oh, and bingo if you're really feeling loose." Ryujin smirked, making her way over, failing to notice the way Yeji's mouth dried at the sight of Ryujin, freshly showered, changed into her dress.
"Ha." Yeji rolled her eyes. "Rather clever, Ryujin. Might I remind that, last time you cockily challenged me, I, how did you put it, again? Beat your ass into next year?"
Ryujin laughed, a husky sound, tilting her head back. She stepped out onto the balcony, allowing the cool evening air to kiss her warm skin. "It's beautiful out here." She murmured, eyes finding the dark and placid ocean across the way.
Yeji's eyes were on Ryujin. She nodded slowly, murmuring, "It is."
"These balconies are so private." Ryujin noted, grateful that a wall separated her from Chaeryeong and Jisu's balcony, just imagining how positively annoying Chaeryeong would be with that advantage. "I mean, technically, Chaeryeong could scale it if she were drunk enough. The dividing wall is just an obstacle."
"And it's about seven stories higher than the one you had to so bravely leap across back home." Yeji muttered, her focus on the game at hand, her eyes narrowed at the white rook. "So, you'd have to be drunk to try something that stupid."
"Yeah." Ryujin chuckled to herself. "The things I do for you, Yeji."
"Don't say you did that for me." Yeji rolled her eyes. "That would look bad if you fell and injured yourself in the process."
"But I didn't, did I?" Ryujin hummed cockily.
Yeji glanced up at her with an amused smile before looking back down at her game.
"Well, as much as I love watching you play with yourself..." Ryujin smirked, and even in the relative lack of light, she could see Yeji's blushing and inability to respond properly. "We have to go."
Ryujin stepped inside, turning her attention to the wall that separated Ryujin and Yeji's suite from Jisu's. She knocked on the wall, taking little to no care when she bellowed, "Ryeong, Lia! If you two are done eye fucking, we have to get to dinner!" And really, she was one to talk.
Yeji stepped inside, eyes widened and gaping at Ryujin in horror as she hurriedly shut the sliding door of the balcony, practically yanking Ryujin from the wall.
"Ow!" Ryujin whipped around, eyes widening. "Yej, what the hell?"
"Ryujin." Yeji couldn't help it. She burst out into a fit of laughter, which was incredibly rare for the usually composed businesswoman.
Ryujin's eyes widened even more, her hazel depths searching Yeji, who was now heaving, for answers. "What?" She demanded. "Was that too blunt?"
Yeji nodded, wiping at the tears that had formed in her immaculately made up eyes. "Yes. Because you just disturbed a couple on their honeymoon. Chaeryeong and Jisu share that wall with us." She grinned, flicking her gaze to the complete other side of the hotel room.
"Oh." Ryujin suddenly remembered that, blinking several times. "Oh, yeah."
Yeji was still chuckling and Ryujin would've loved the melodious sound, if she weren't so busy cursing herself and blushing.
"Well." Ryujin bit her lip. "Fuck."
"I'm just saying, you didn't have to kick him off." Chaeryeong smirked. "You could've just bought me dinner."
"As if that was my intention." Jisu rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."
"Oh, so you just don't like Chan?" Chaeryeong challenged.
Jisu shrugged. "Am I experiencing déjà vu, or did we already have this conversation?" She asked in exasperation.
"So, you wouldn't mind if I asked him out?" Chaeryeong teased.
"I wouldn't, but I'm thinking Jin, your boyfriend, might." Jisu retorted.
Chaeryeong paused, a look of disappointment on her features. Before she could answer to break the silence she'd awkwardly created, she blinked, hearing a muffled cry.
From somewhere, someone yelled "If you two are done eye fucking, we have to get to dinner!"
Jisu was busy opening the door, holding it for Chaeryeong. "You coming or not, Chaeryeong?"
"Did you... hear that?" Chaeryeong muttered, walking slowly over to Jisu.
"Hear what?"
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"Another dinner." Ryujin scoffed as she and Yeji made their way downstairs, figuring that the lack of response from Jisu and Chaeryeong's room symbolized that they were already down. Or, incredibly occupied, which Ryujin doubted, claiming she "would've heard something" from Chaeryeong. "How many times are we going to do this?"
"Likely a few more, considering your birthday is in two days." Yeji responded playfully.
"Shut up." Ryujin grumbled, pressing the elevator button with disdain. "How'd the talks with my dad go? He asked you to replace me as his daughter yet?"
Yeji chuckled softly. "Is that jealousy, Ms. Shin?"
"Yes." Ryujin teased, and Yeji knew she was incredibly happy for her. "He really likes you." She added the last part with a tinge of sadness.
"He essentially offered me the deal." Yeji admitted sheepishly.
"What?" Ryujin wheeled around on her, grinning in delight. "Ddeong, that's fantastic! Did you discuss terms? Did you accept?"
Yeji frowned momentarily, realization flashing across her features.
"Oh." Ryujin froze. "You didn't?"
"You had actually disappeared beneath the surface, and I was worried. I completely left him there." Yeji recalled quietly.
Ryujin frowned. "Fuck, seriously, Yeddeong? You left him for me?"
Yeji's expression softened, and she gave her best friend a smile. "My best friend was drowning." She shrugged. "Not much room for options."
"Okay, firstly, I was not drowning." Ryujin retorted airily. "Secondly, Changbin probably would have gotten me if you waited a sec."
"Right." Yeji shrugged with a knowing smile. "I'm still glad it was me. I actually was concerned, Ryujin."
Ryujin's heart melted as she watched the elevator descend to her mother's second dinner, or, better yet, the depths of hell itself. "Afraid I'd leave you all alone with this hell family?" Ryujin teased.
"I quite like your family, Ryujin." Yeji responded optimistically. "They're so warm."
"Yeah, well..." Ryujin rolled her eyes. "Warm only does the trick for so long. And you know what tonight is, right?"
Yeji shook her head innocently. "The trip down memory lane." Ryujin's response was dry and her eyes narrowed at the thought.
"What does that entail?" Yeji smirked, knowing it wouldn't end well for Ryujin.
"Old pictures, old photos, bad memories." Ryujin grumbled.
"Bad?" Yeji asked, mild concern in her tone.
"No. Embarrassing memories. Like, when I had a bowl cut when I was five. And a bob that made me look like I was forty when I was twelve. I had cruel parents, my dad wanted to fend off the boys." Ryujin muttered, folding her arms like a petulant child. She gave Yeji a once over. "Well, technically, he succeeded. Maybe that's why he likes you so much."
"Oh, this I have to see." Yeji grinned, and it was so brilliant and bright that Ryujin felt her insides melt all over again, swooning over Hwang Yeji for the billionth time that day.
And, wow, it was never this bad before. Had she damaged her brain a little when she'd gone underwater earlier?
The elevator doors slid open, revealing the ever bustling lobby, which Yeji cut through, absently grabbing Ryujin's hand, much to Ryujin's secret delight, so that she wouldn't lose her in the crowd.
"I cannot believe my mom booked an event room." Ryujin grumbled as they made their way down to a decently sized room, brightly lit with chandeliers and elegant tables, frosted with fine white tablecloth and table settings.
"Isn't this for weddings?" Yeji asked, biting her lip.
"Here's hoping you and I get married right here and now and call it a week." Ryujin retorted absently, missing the way Yeji's heart skipped a beat, or twenty, at the mention of being with Ryujin for life.
"Isn't that a bit sudden? We've only been dating for months." Yeji responded playfully.
"Hell, we're already there, right?" Ryujin shrugged as her eyes scanned the room. "We already know everything about living together, and I- God damn." Ryujin rolled her eyes.
"What?" Yeji asked softly. She wanted so badly to hear Ryujin finish that sentiment. She knew it was her own little fantasy, and that Ryujin was just being Ryujin and saying things she didn't mean, but she couldn't help the aching, the longing in her chest, in the pit of her stomach. A permanent future with Ryujin seemed so idealistic.
Of course, she was the poster child for the number one trope: Don't fall in love with your best friend. It felt like a cliché movie. She hoped, in whatever twisted universe this was, that her audience was getting a good kick out of the torture she was going through for Ryujin. And her business, of course.
"Girls, glad to see you made it on time." Lana smiled when she saw Ryujin and Yeji enter, Ryujin grumbling incoherently and Yeji looking at her as if she were the moon and the stars.
"Mom, you got the room with the projector and the screen?" Ryujin sighed, shaking her head. "This is for weddings!"
"I don't see that written anywhere." Lana replied, rolling her eyes. "God, Ryujin, always the theatrics with you."
Ryujin squeezed Yeji's hand, and Yeji stifled a laugh.
"Go ahead and grab a seat, they just served food buffet style tonight. Your father and I are trying to get the damned disk to play."
Ryujin nodded, dragging Yeji to the table where the group were sitting.
"Hey guys." Ri-ki smiled at the girls, offering up the space beside him that wasn't occupied by Sunoo.
"Here." Yeji pulled out Ryujin's seat for her, and when Ryujin visibly swooned, Yeji offered her a wink.
"Damn." Sunoo nodded in approval. "She's got game."
"Hey, where were you today?" Ryujin frowned.
"Sunoo gets sea-sick." Ri-ki replied with a knowing smirk. "But I did brew up something special for our celebration tomorrow."
Ryujin grinned. "You didn't."
"Didn't what?" Yeji asked, now completely confused.
"Beer, Yeddeeong." Chaeryeong announced, clapping Yeji's back from behind as she made her way over, Jisu in tow. "Ri-ki's famous homemade beer."
"No fucking way." Karina smirked. "Last time we had a group's club night, Ryujin couldn't remember her own name. That shit is brutal."
Jefri and Yeji exchanged looks, both clearly newcomers.
"You'll see, baby." Ryujin smirked, patting Yeji's thigh. "It's tradition."
Jisu had sat beside Chaeryeong, and the two were now bickering over where Chan was going to sit, as he approached the table with a smirk.
"Why do we invite him, again?" Changbin piped up from his seat, already digging into his dish.
"Because he doesn't drown people." Ryujin fired back, smirking.
"You started it, princess." Changbin smirked right back, watching Ryujin bristle at the nickname.
"You don't like being called Princess." Yeji noted quietly, watching Ryujin's back and forth with an amused smile.
"Not unless you treat me like one." Ryujin whispered back, licking her lips.
Yeji stiffened, feeling an odd rush of heat. Okay, that wasn't supposed to be suggestive, right? But Ryujin's hand was still on her thigh, which was mostly covered by the table cloth, and she was beginning to feel overwhelmed.
Felix had come over, a frown on his features, glancing back at the group parents, who were staring awkwardly at Keith's laptop with little to no knowledge of the situation.
"Guys, looks like we might not get to see bad hair cut Ryujin after all." Felix sighed, taking a seat beside Jefri.
"Aw, what?" Chan sighed, shaking his head. "I got all excited. I've heard the legends."
"Fuck you." Ryujin grumbled, tossing back her drink with an air of exasperation.
"You're just jealous you don't have locks like these." Chan smirked, flipping his hair dramatically.
"Yeah, you look like you're straight out of a Pantene commercial, we get it." Jisu chimed, earning raucous laughter.
"I'll go have a look." Yeji rose, feeling the loss of Ryujin's hand on her thigh.
"Fine." Ryujin pouted. "That's two strikes today, Hwang, that's the second time you've left me."
"Ooh, someone's in the doghouse." Chaeryeong muttered with a smirk, watching Yeji wink at Ryujin before slipping away.
"She's so hot." Chan commented to his "testosterone corner" of the table, as the girls had dubbed it.
Jefri glanced away disapprovingly, ever the gentleman, while Felix looked for Ryujin's reaction.
Changbin, however, nodded in agreement.
"I know." Ryujin smirked, deciding to be honest for once. "Too bad she's taken."
Chaeryeong and Jisu exchanged surprised glances.
Their eyes followed Yeji as she leaned in to greet Keith, hugging him briefly and then pointing to the computer, explaining something with a laugh.
"Damn, Shin, is Hwang dating you or your dad?" Changbin smirked, earning him a punch on the arm from Felix and a few shocked laughs.
Ryujin grit her teeth, unsure of how to rationally explain why Yeji was spending so much time with him at every available occasion without giving away any secrets. "They're being friendly."
"A little too friendly." Felix nodded in agreement. "I mean, not the way that this idiot is suggesting, but I've never seen your parents so nice to any of your dates before. It's like they're actually rooting for you this time."
"Maybe that's because Yeji doesn't look like she's in a biker gang." Karina smirked.
Ryujin rolled her eyes, covering her face in embarrassment. "That was ONE guy!"
"Remember the way Lana reacted when she saw him?" Chaeryeong grinned, mimicking Lana's stern voice. "Ryujin! He's like a human pin-cushion! Are you on drugs, Ryujin? Didn't we raise you better than that?!"
The table erupted into a chorus of laughter, and Ryujin banged her forehead on the table, avoiding everyone's gaze.
Jisu watched the entire ordeal with a grin, enjoying the new gossip she'd not heard before.
"Lana thought he had piercings..." Chaeryeong motioned to her crotch with a smirk. "Down there."
"Okay, kids, it's working!" Keith called from the corner of the room, giving Yeji a pat on the back. "Grab your dessert and have a seat!"
Yeji made her way over, cocking a brow when she saw Ryujin with her head down in embarrassment. "What did I miss?" She asked curiously, leaning back in her seat, a hand going to Ryujin's back gently.
"Oh, nothing. We were talking about how hot you are. Oh, and Lana's just glad you're not pierced below the belt." Jisu smirked, enjoying Yeji gaping at her in shock.
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"How many fucking pictures did you guys take!" Ryujin grumbled, her profanities muffled by Yeji's arm, which she buried herself into to avoid the glowering screen, filled with what she politely called "fashion mistakes" from her early childhood.
Yeji had laughed, the vibrations calming Ryujin, and Ryujin instead focused on the way her best friend's arm came around her.
The group had enjoyed every little memory, and even though Yeji, Jefri, and Jisu were newcomers, they enjoyed watching the adventures of their significant others, fake, real, or otherwise.
"God, why was I wearing overalls?" Ryujin mumbled. "On the first day of school, too. Way to be cool, Ryujin."
Yeji surprised her by pressing a kiss to her forehead, drawing a silent squeal of approval from Karina, who'd been sitting beside them.
"Oh, and there's little Ryujin crying because she missed her dad." Lana commented as the screen filled with a picture of a little blonde version of Ryujin, pouting adorably as tears stained her cheeks.
Yeji's heart clenched a little, as her gaze took in every bit, every second, every aspect of Ryujin's life and childhood.
"But there he is, picking her up!" Lana grinned, as a picture of Keith filled the screen, his younger, smiling face looking down at Ryujin like she was his world.
Yeji swallowed the lump in her throat. "Oh, the family dance!" Karina cried out, squeezing Jefri's hand fondly at the memory.
The picture filled the screen until it displayed little Ryujin and Karina holding hands, wrapped in the tight embrace of Keith, Lana, Aira, and Felix.
Yeji's breath hitched, and Ryujin heard it. She glanced up in concern, any façade of their fake relationship gone. This was Ryujin worrying about Yeji, her best friend, the most important person in the world.
"Yej?" She asked in a mild whisper.
"Excuse me, for a moment." Yeji murmured, rising out of her seat, turning sharply on her heel, making a beeline for the hallway.
Lana cocked a brow and Ryujin murmured, "I'll handle it."
The group continued to "ooh" and "awe" as Ryujin slipped out of her seat, stepping into the comparatively bright hallway, her eyes finding the restroom sign. She followed the hall, her concern written all over her face as she pushed the door open, finding Yeji leaning against the wall by the sink, taking a deep breath, her eyes welling with unshed tears.
"Oh my god, Yeji?" Ryujin asked, her voice ever so gentle, grateful that the restroom was seemingly empty.
"Ryujin." Yeji's voice was a civil war: two sides, one controlled, and the other emotional, desperately trying to gain control over the other. "I'm so sorry, I just-" "Hey."
Ryujin shook her head, approaching slowly, taking both of Yeji's hands in hers. "Don't. It's me. Do you want to talk about it?"
Yeji took a breath, keeping herself from crying.
"Was it the haircut?" Ryujin teased gently, watching as a smile found its way to Yeji's previously quivering lips. "I mean, I know it was awful, but it wasn't that bad, right?"
Yeji allowed her shoulders to shake softly as she laughed quietly, allowing Ryujin to envelop her in a hug.
Yeji clung tightly to Ryujin, breathing in the scent of her shampoo, allowing herself to simply be. But, she felt she owed Ryujin some sort of explanation, if Ryujin wouldn't allow her an apology.
It's just.." She sniffled ever so gently.
God, even her crying was heart-wrenchingly cute.
"It was the family pictures, Ryujin." Yeji breathed gently. "I know this is petty, infantile, but-I never had that. I don't even remember some of the people I lived with, I-" She trailed off, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment.
"Shh." Ryujin nodded, still embracing Yeji in the tightest of hugs. "I know. It's not. It's perfectly okay. I'm so sorry."
Yeji fell silent on Ryujin's shoulder, allowing Ryujin to hold her, like she was a pillar, keeping Yeji from colliding into ground.
Karina's words echoed in her mind.
"Hey, Yeji." Ryujin murmured softly, rubbing circles on her back, soothing her. "I love you."
And it was natural. It wasn't overt, forced with sexual tensions or desires, or expectations that came with love and courtship. It was love in its purest form, unquestionable and trustworthy as the sunrise the next morning.
Ryujin loved Yeji with all her heart. She never imagined her telling her this way, but Yeji needed to hear it now, more than ever. She loved Yeji to a degree that hurt. She knew it. She'd come to terms with it. But there were a million ways to love Yeji, and she needed Ryujin, her best friend, now more than ever.
Yeji let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her head against Ryujin's shoulder. "I love you too, Ryujin." She whispered quietly. Her heart was like a jackhammer in her chest, never thinking she'd get to hear those words uttered from Ryujin's lips.
It came naturally, like the waves that lapped at the shore just outside their view. It wasn't a confession, because it was so blatantly obvious that both women felt for each other.
If they'd been staring into each other's gazes, they might have realized that they both meant a lot more than what was said.
"Hey, let me see you." Ryujin murmured, stepping back.
Two little trails of wetness grazed Yeji's high cheekbones, hardly noticeable.
Ryujin felt her very soul ache as Yeji smiled through her tears, and Ryujin beamed at her, her thumbs caressing Yeji's cheeks as she wiped away the wetness, leaning to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"We can just leave, if you want." Ryujin murmured. "And not just this dinner. If you want to leave early, to go home-"
Yeji shook her head, lacing her hand with Ryujin's, clearing her throat. "No, Ryujin, don't be ridiculous. I'm fine, now."
"Okay. If you're sure." Ryujin nodded, squeezing Yeji's hand.
How could Ryujin expect Yeji to go home when Ryujin was her home?