By the time Yeji and Ryujin had made it back to the others, they'd calmed down considerably. Both girls had their hands laced, comfortably pressed against each other's shoulders as they stepped back into the grand room, surprised to find the slideshow paused on teenage Karina's face.
The lights, while dimmed, were significantly brighter than before, when Ryujin had blindly stumbled out to chase after Yeji.
Ryujin furrowed her brow, noting that everyone at the tables had stood, eyes fixed on something she couldn't see. Ryujin pulled Yeji behind her, frowning. "What'd we miss?"
Jisu delivered an accurate blow to her side and Ryujin huffed out in surprise.
Yeji's jaw tightened and she made a movement to step in front of Ryujin protectively, a look of indignation on her face at her friend, until Chaeryeong chimed in with a hiss.
"Jefri's proposing, shut up!"
Ryujin and Yeji both froze in place, craning their necks to see.
Jefri had, in fact, stepped forward, kneeling in front of Karina, his eyes regarding her as if she were some holy goddess, descending from miles above, just to see him smile.
Ryujin swallowed audibly. That was oddly familiar. Karina was blinking back tears, her hand clapped over her own mouth in shock, while Aira was absolutely the giddy mother of Ryujin's nightmares, giggling and squealing and making all sorts of incomprehensible noises while Lana patted her back supportively.
"Karina Park." Jefri cleared his throat, the emotions thick and tangible in his deep baritone voice. "We've come a long way, haven't we?" He Chuckled when she nodded.
Felix was watching with his arms folded, looking like he was trying not to cry. Ryujin smirked and gave him a little nudge.
"We've been through it all. We've broken up, we've made up, and we've been lovers, acquaintances, friends-maybe that last one for a little too long." He added with a wry laugh.
Yeji wasn't sure when or how her hand had found Ryujin's again, but she felt a squeeze, and her heart tripped over itself in pure bliss and exhaustion.
"What really makes us special is that friendship." Jefri spoke, his intense gaze boring into Karina's cobalt stare, his hand in hers, while the other clutched a small velvet box. "We've really gotten to know each other, as more than lovers. As best friends. Your good days are mine, your bad days are mine. Your happiness is mine, your sadness is mine. Your darkest days will be mine, and the best days of my life will be every day I get to wake up to that beautiful smile. That's what makes this so sweet- I'm marrying my best friend. I already know what the future holds for us, this way. You pick me up, you help me stand up every time I've been knocked down. I hope to do the same for you. I couldn't think of a more beautiful love story than ours, the one that's written in your gaze every time I see you. And now-" He turned to motion to everyone in the group. "You've broken the final barrier. I've met your wonderful family, and I'm ready to take them as my own, if you all have me. If you will marry me." He finished, turning to Karina with a grin that rivaled anything Ryujin had ever seen.
Karina nodded her head so vigorously that Ryujin thought it was liable to fall off. She laughed out a little, "Yes, Jefri. Yes!"
Jefri grinned and slid the diamond ring onto her finger, watching the way the light danced off the simplistic design, ever fitting for Karina's simple nature.
"I love you." Jefri grinned once more against her lips as she leaned in, pulling him into a searing kiss as his arms went around her.
"Oh my god!" Aira cried, a sobbing mess already. Lana grimaced slightly, and Ryujin stifled a laugh into Yeji's shoulder. "My baby! Oh my god, we have to plan the wedding!"
"Mom." Felix grumbled in embarrassment. "It just happened. Maybe ten seconds ago."
When Karina and Jefri parted from Aira's bear hug and hail of kisses, they accepted individual congratulations from everyone, stopping at Ryujin and Yeji.
"Congratulations." Yeji smiled sweetly, hugging Karina, and laughing in surprise as Jefri swept her into a hug as well. Ryujin had noticed the two bonding earlier. She felt her heart swell.
Nothing, no sound was more melodious and pleasing as Yeji's laugh. It rivaled the voices of the angels singing, the harps of the heaven themselves. It meant Yeji was happy, and Ryujin was soon realizing that was all she wanted in life.
"So, can we expect a double wedding?" Karina smirked, over the sound of Aira hailing the waiters to come with celebratory champagne for the toast.
Yeji froze and Ryujin laughed nervously, glancing back at her.
"Uh." Ryujin spoke, her throat suddenly dry.
"No rush." Karina smirked, looking ever like the confident little girl Ryujin had known all her life. "Has she told you that she loves you?" Karina added, glancing at Yeji's forest brown gaze. "Ryujin's a bit obvious."
Yeji nodded, licking her lips and then smiling, completely unsure of what to do.
Luckily, though, Keith had come to her rescue, tapping her and Ryujin on the shoulder to hand them two flutes of champagne.
"Just sip and smile." He winked as he whispered to Yeji, as he'd warned her earlier that their so called "family" was prone to interrogating their newest additions.
Yeji felt Ryujin give her hand a squeeze, and she turned her attention back to the toast, feeling light and heavy all at once.
She wasn't sure about her resolve, about the entirety of the plan itself, and it was only the second evening of a seven day venture.
Oh, this had to have been some sort of divine torture.
"Can you believe that just happened?" Chaeryeong asked in awe as she, Ryujin, Yeji, and Jisu stepped off the main elevator, onto the carpet of the lavish hotel hallways.
"I know." Ryujin nodded in agreement, regretting letting Yeji's hand go from the minute they stepped into the elevator. "That's Karina. Rina. Party girl extraordinaire, never tied down by just one man. This seems so sudden, doesn't it?"
"They were together for years." Chaeryeong countered.
Yeji and Jisu remained silent, watching the conversation with curiosity, lingering towards the back of the group together.
"What's your minimum?" Ryujin asked suddenly.
"Huh?" Chaeryeong echoed, tossing her hair over her shoulder with a look of confusion.
"Like, your minimum amount of time before a proposal is acceptable?" Ryujin shrugged.
"A minimum time?" Chaeryeong scoffed. "That's stupid. Everyone takes their own time."
Ryujin smiled, inwardly delighted at the answer. "Why, you planning on popping the question to my girl?" Jisu teased, smirking at Ryujin and Yeji with a devilish look in her eyes.
Ryujin froze, and Yeji walked right into her back, arms going out to steady herself.
"No." Ryujin shot back with a smirk of her own. "I was wondering when Chaeryeong and Jin were gonna tie the knot, actually, but-" She eyed Jisu with a knowing look.
Yeji breathed a silent sigh of relief. She'd been on the hook too many times for one evening.
"Anyway.." Jisu rolled her eyes, tone suddenly sharp.
Chaeryeong swallowed loudly, eyes finding the floor pattern suddenly incredibly interesting.
"Do you mind if I have a word with Yeji for a moment?" Jisu addressed Chaeryeong and Ryujin with a tone that was just begging for them to argue. "Maybe in one of our rooms?"
Yeji's brow shot up in surprise, tone hardening, her more commanding side surfacing. "Jisu." She tsked. "You can't just kick Ryujin out of our room-"
"No, go ahead." Ryujin offered kindly. "I'll just hang out with Chaeryeong until you guys- are finished." She added the last part awkwardly.
Yeji nodded slowly, watching Ryujin carefully, looking for some sign of discomfort, anything at all to symbolize that she wasn't alright.
She just smiled back.
"We'll be quick." Yeji promised, turning to follow Jisu into the room, key card in hand.
Chaeryeong shrugged. "Well, Ryujin." She rolled her eyes.
"Those two have a flare for the dramatic, huh? Let's get some drinks from the mini-fridge and enjoy the breeze."
"More?" Ryujin sputtered behind her. "
It's called a nightcap, Ryujin." Chaeryeong informed her as if she were new to the concept of imbibing alcohol to induce sleep.
Clearly, she hadn't seen Ryujin in her neediest days when Yeji was just a wall away.
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"Do you want to sit outside?" Jisu offered as she followed Yeji into the hotel room, noting how orderly and clean everything was. Yeji ran a tight ship.
"No, Ryujin will be out there." Yeji replied, stepping off of her heels, knowing that Ryujin was a few walls away, likely doing the same with an over-exaggerated moan. The thought made her chuckle.
"You know this because...?" Jisu decided to bite, her hands on her hips.
"Ryujin has a thing for balconies. You know what, never mind." Yeji shook her head, motioning to the couch. "You so rudely kicked Ryujin out of the room her own parents paid for, mind you, so what is it? What's going on?"
"Nothing. I just missed you." Jisu smirked, plopping herself down on the couch like it was her home.
Yeji sighed, neatly tucking her legs as she found her seat in the comfortable chair in the corner, where Ryujin's laptop had been sitting. "Bullshit, Lia. What's the meaning of this?"
"Look." Jisu sighed, her smirk fading slowly. "Yej. Think. Why did you invite me to this?"
Yeji made a face, and yet, she allowed herself a little chuckle at her friend's antics. "I don't believe I did."
"Okay, girl, ignoring that blow to my self-esteem right there." Jisu quipped, lax and at ease with Yeji, as always. "But my point is, I'm here for you."
"That would explain why you've been spending so much time with me." Yeji retorted playfully.
Jisu averted her gaze, unable to face the truth spelled out in the forested expanse of Yeji's eyes. "You wouldn't want me interrupting your quality time with blondie, would you?" She challenged.
Yeji bit her lip.
What was she supposed to say? That she'd made a dire mistake by coming? That she'd done the one thing Ryujin had warned her not to do, jokingly or not, and fell in love with her? That she felt like, maybe even for a moment, a passing second, she'd lied to herself and pretended that this wonderful, amazing family could love her for who she was?
Of course not.
Jisu was a fellow pragmatist. Jisu believed that Yeji was here with purpose, with circumstance, and reasoning.
"I see you're getting closer to her father." Jisu remarked, eyes now investigating, prodding, searching the depth of Yeji's as the assault was flipped onto her. "What'd he say?"
"He essentially told me to take care of his daughter." Yeji replied, her jaw tightening, her knuckles whitening as her vice like grip on the edge of the seat tightened.
Jisu let out a low whistle. "Cool it, Yej. What's got you all wound up, then?"
Yeji glanced away shamefully, as if she were a monster, an abomination. "He offered me the deal."
The silence after that comment was thick, palpable.
Jisu broke it first. "And this is unsatisfactory because?"
"Because it's a lie, Jisu!" Yeji hissed, careful not to raise her voice in volume, but in intensity. "All of this! These fake smiles, these stories." She shook her head. "I resent it all." Her bottom lip quivered like it had earlier, but this time, she bit down, keeping from exposing herself in yet another display of pathetic weakness.
Jisu's expression softened immediately. "No, it doesn't have to be, Yeji."
Yeji sniffled in response, glad the tears that were going to pool in her eyes had ceased.
"I saw you leave, earlier." Jisu spoke gently, her tone uncharacteristically soft. She knew what Yeji had been through. No prodding was necessary. "Did Ryujin understand? Did she take care of you?" Yeji nodded, feeling a simple warmth bloom in her chest at the mere mention of Ryujin.
She tried not to think of her soft touches, her bright smiles, the way she whispered "I love you" with such beautiful intent.
But Yeji wasn't ready. She wasn't ready to accept whatever turmoil was burning within her. She wasn't ready to fall and pick herself up all over again. All she'd known was heartbreak. All her life. From her lack of a childhood, tossed around in the system, forgotten and unwanted, to her romantic endeavors, Minju leaving a foul taste in her mouth.
Yeji was exhausted, and she didn't want to hurt again. She'd thought it all through. Pragmatically. With hard facts and evidence, leaving feelings out of the equation completely, she decided that she could pull through and soldier on for just a few more days.
For the company. For herself.
"What about Chaeryeong?" Yeji's voice was quiet, and her tight grip relaxed.
"What about her?" Jisu asked, suddenly finding the ceiling to be rather interesting.
Jisu was using the best tactic she and Yeji knew of. Failure to acknowledge the issue at hand.
So that was the way it was going to be. Unrequited love? Or, worse, in Yeji's case: possibly mutual love, built on a foundation of lies, and abuse, and a very broken heart.
At least, then, they had each other.
"Oh." Yeji nodded, reaching her hand out to squeeze Jisu's. "Me too."
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The familiar warmth of Chaeryeong's chosen scotch radiated throughout Ryujin's body, and within seconds, she was feeling more relaxed than she'd been earlier.
Of course, that was no menial accomplishment, considering she'd been worrying about Yeji ever since she saw the tears on her cheeks, and the little wobble of her normally set lower lip and jaw.
It tore Ryujin up inside.
Suddenly, life was very much all about making Yeji smile again, making sure that she was alright and happy. Ryujin never wanted to feel that hollow ache within her soul again. She wanted to simply scoop Yeji up and protect her, as ridiculous as it seemed.
Yeji needed no protection. She was intelligent, incredibly so, as well as tough, hardened by a life Ryujin never knew, sheltered by privileges she wished Yeji could have had instead.
Ryujin's mind was rampant with thoughts as she stepped out onto the balcony, allowing the breeze to counteract the effects of the alcohol, which had warmed her considerably.
Ryujin's eyes found Chaeryeong's, in the darkness, and the two clinked glasses before settling into the chairs.
"So." Chaeryeong began wistfully. "I'm pretty sure that we did this exactly five years ago. Although, I'm also pretty sure we were drinking some shitty vodka instead." At that, Ryujin grimaced, embarrassed for her past self. "And you were hung up on Chan." She added with a wry smile.
Chaeryeong shrugged. "I was hot. He was available. It happened."
Ryujin always admired her confidence, her ability to accept her decisions and her choices with such open mindedness. It was so beautifully, uniquely Chaeryeong.
"And now you're almost engaged. Karina's engaged." Ryujin shook her head, numb to the sensation. "Wow. Who's going to have a kid for the next one?"
Chaeryeong averted her gaze instead of laughing at Ryujin's joke, and Ryujin found herself frowning.
"Ryeong." Ryujin cleared her throat slightly.
No response.
Ryujin had her suspicions. She bit her lip, allowing the moonlight to bathe them in a natural glow.
Chaeryeong's eyes met Ryujin, and they weren't teary or hazy like Ryujin had expected them to be. They were sad, however, lacking their usual glimmer of humor that endeared her to Ryujin and so many others.
"When?" Ryujin asked softly, without ever directly asking. She'd known Chaeryeong long enough to know when they were on the same wavelength.
"A few months." Chaeryeong admitted, taking another bold gulp. She blinked hard, and then met Ryujin's gaze once more. "He's been living-God, I don't know." She shook her head. "I don't know."
Ryujin's heart clenched, and she felt the familiar sensation of secondhand heartbreak rage through her system. She shook her head, hand falling to Chaeryeong's thigh comfortingly.
"You knew?" She asked softly, assuming Chaeryeong was comfortable discussing it.
"I caught them." Chaeryeong admitted sullenly, and yet, there were still no tears.
Ryujin was thoroughly impressed. "I'm so sorry." Ryujin whispered.
Chaeryeong deserved everything in the world, as far as Ryujin was concerned. She was gorgeous, brilliant, and insanely well humored. It destroyed Ryujin to think that some asshole like Seokjin could just trample her feelings and her trust with his infidelity, as if she weren't human.
"You know what?" Chaeryeong Chuckled softly. "I'm not."
"You're not?" Ryujin repeated, unsure.
"Fuck no." Chaeryeong allowed herself a wry smile, and it was contagious. "It was my way out. I was scared. It wasn't right, Ryujin. I guess we weren't loving each other in the ways we wanted to be loved."
Ryujin suddenly felt incredibly sick to her stomach. Those last words hit hauntingly close to home.
Ryujin shoved down her thoughts of Yeji and nodded.
This was about Chaeryeong.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Ryujin asked. "Does Jisu know?"
Chaeryeong shook her head immediately. "No. I didn't-I don't want everyone worried about me. I-he's moving out. After that, it'll be official, and-I'll tell the world. Hell, I'll shout it from rooftops." Chaeryeong grinned.
Ryujin had to crack a smile at that. "So, Jisu..."
"So, Yeji." Chaeryeong countered with a smirk.
Ryujin's blush gave her away. "Is it that obvious?"
"To everyone but her, apparently." Chaeryeong snorted. "What's wrong with you? Why don't you just sit her down and talk?"
Ryujin shook her head. "It's not that simple, Ryeong. Yeji's special. She's been through so much, and this can't have been easy for her, given her past. I just-I don't want her overwhelmed. Besides, I'm her best friend. I'm supposed to be here to mitigate the damage, not cause it."
Chaeryeong nodded, tapping the wall behind her. "No heroic balcony stunts, then?" She smirked.
Ryujin rolled her eyes at the sudden change of pace. "Do you know how hard it would be to get across with that stupid dividing wall?"
Chaeryeong snorted. "It's possible."
Ryujin sighed and stood when she heard Jisu slip into the room, her cue to leave.
"Share the bed, guys." Ryujin smirked as she set her glass down, slipping past Jisu by the entrance.
Jisu grabbed her wrist, and not too delicately, either. She turned Ryujin around, locking gazes with her, a fire in her eyes.
"Don't hurt her, Shin." Jisu spoke solemnly, and the threat was received. "I've never seen her like this."
Ryujin simply gaped. "Huh? I-I wouldn't, ever, she's my best friend. Why-"
"Good." Jisu cut her off, noticing Chaeryeong coming over. "We'll see you tomorrow, then." She relinquished Ryujin instantly, closing the door with a thud.
Ryujin blinked, numb, as she leaned against the wall for support. What had Yeji told her? What had just happened?
"Hey." Ryujin greeted Yeji, who'd been sitting under the covers, reading something on her laptop, glasses sitting on the bridge of her nose.
Ryujin swooned for Yeji in glasses.
"Ryujin." Yeji greeted with a questioning gaze. "How was your interrogation?"
"Probably no better than yours." Ryujin blew out a breathy laugh, heading towards the bed to grab her designated "pajamas", which she'd haphazardly thrown on the bed that morning, much to Yeji's dismay.
"Jisu can be intense." Yeji murmured, her eyes emptily scanning the words on the page to ensure that she wasn't staring at Ryujin, who was changing just a few feet away.
"I'll say." Ryujin grumbled, donning her short shorts and thin top, carelessly tossing her dress aside with a grunt of disdain. She made her way for the bathroom, where Yeji had organized all of their toiletries for perhaps the billionth time.
Yeji sat up immediately, eyes widening. "She spoke to you, too?"
Ryujin smirked, her mouth full of toothpaste, muttering an answer that sounded something like: "Oh yeah."
Yeji folded her laptop with a sigh, rising to put it on the dresser, not noticing how Ryujin's eyes were glued to her "leg slit" in what was becoming Ryujin's favorite little dress that Yeji wore to sleep. She patiently waited for Ryujin to finish cleaning up, and then she prodded once more. "Well?" Her voice sounded anxious, unsure.
Ryujin bit her lip. Okay, maybe she shouldn't have mentioned that. "I'm kidding, Yeji. She just said goodnight."
Yeji heaved a visible sigh of relief. "Why?" Ryujin countered with a smirk. "Got some big secret?"
"Hardly." Yeji scoffed. "Hmm, you're not a secret murderer, are you?" Ryujin grinned, making her way for the bed.
"Ryujin. You ask that on the first date, not after being best friends with someone." Yeji reproached, tactfully directing the conversation elsewhere.
Ryujin giggled and kneeled on the bed, putting both her hands on Yeji's shoulders. She eyed Yeji with great concern. "You're okay, right? This isn't too much for you?"
Yeji's heart hammered and she felt an indescribable warmth spread through her entire body, weaving its way into her aching soul. She nodded slowly, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry." She winced. "I cannot believe I just-"
"Hey." Ryujin tilted her chin up, forcing Yeji to meet her eyes. "Don't ever apologize for feeling the way you do. This is a favor to me, and I don't want it to hurt you. Say the word, and we're gone. No questions asked. And I'll always be your dork. Nothing changes if you want to go, Yeji. We can figure out your business some other way."
Yeji shook her head slowly, allowing a light smile up at Ryujin. She didn't understand what she was feeling, but it overwhelmed her, in the sweetest way. Ryujin had her unraveling with simple, caring words, words that she'd never heard growing up, words that she needed. That it was okay to feel a certain way, to have doubts, to be less than stoic and unfeeling.
She'd forgotten that, somewhere, along the way.
"Ryujin." Yeji sighed. "I'm fine. I'm enjoying myself, even. I-we'll be fine." She assured, mostly herself, as her eyelids felt heavy. She stifled a yawn, and Ryujin chuckled.
"Me too. Did you have a nightcap?" Ryujin asked, courteously sliding Yeji's glasses off for her, folding them and setting them on her nightstand.
Okay, maybe that was a bit more than courteous, but neither girl had time to analyze it, past Ryujin's sudden realization of what she was doing, and Yeji's little reaction of touched surprise.
"Hmm? Oh, no." Yeji shook her head. "I guess I'm just exhausted."
"Saving people will do that to you." Ryujin winked, referring to her lifeguard antics from earlier as she dimmed her lights, turning to Yeji. "I'm freezing, Yeddeong."
Yeji rolled her eyes. "You're always freezing."
"You're always hot." Ryujin smirked, watching Yeji shift slightly. "C'mere." Ryujin grinned, wrapping her arms around Yeji as she spooned her, giving her an extra squeeze.
"Oh, so in this relationship, I'm the little spoon?" Yeji sighed, melting into Ryujin's touch.
"Mhmm." Ryujin hummed. "You can call it the front spoon, if it makes you feel any better."
"Shut up." Yeji grumbled into her pillow, eyes closing.
"Love you, Yeddeong."
"Love you too, Ryujin."
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Yeji was coming back from her early morning run, disappointedly thinking of how Ryujin had gotten hot and rolled away in the middle of the night.
Not that it mattered, or anything.
Little had she known, of course, that Ryujin had woken up not too long after her departure, and sighed at the missing warmth.
Yeji had slipped her keycard into the slot, slick with sweat, absolutely dying to take a shower. She pushed the door open when the lock turned green, and then froze in place when she heard Ryujin's voice, specifically uttering her name, in conversation.
She knew eavesdropping was wrong, but technically, she was just coming back to her hotel room.
She cringed at the argument- she would have made a shitty lawyer.
"Right, exactly." Ryujin's voice was awfully chipper, and the entire room smelled of fresh coffee. "Just, don't tell Yeji. Perfect, I'll see you then. I'm excited. Bye!"
Yeji heard the click of the phone's receiver, and before she knew it, Ryujin was walking into the living room, already showered and smelling of coconut and vanilla.
Her eyes locked with Yeji's and she nearly jumped in surprise, cheeks turning red, smoothing down her summer dress with a gasp. "Yeddeong." Her eyes tried not to linger on Yeji's exposed abs, and failed considerably.
Yeji decided to play it cool. Was Ryujin having an affair? During their, albeit fake, relationship? Who was on the other end of the line? Was it Chan? Felix? Changbin? Chaeryeong? Jisu? Yeji bit her lip, forcing out a smile. What didn't Ryujin want her to know?
"Hi." Yeji breathed, removing her earbuds and their wire from her neck, where they'd been sitting. "You're up early." She commented.
"It was cold." Ryujin replied, heading over to the coffee pot.
Yeji nodded awkwardly, licking her lips.
"So, Ryujin" She drawled. "what's on the agenda today?"
Ryujin rolled her eyes to the heavens and back, and Yeji bit her cheek to keep from smiling. "Karina wanted to go shopping. And then, of course, there's the dumbest tradition we have, aside from celebrating my birthday on these damned reunions."
"What's that?" Yeji hummed.
"Family game night." Ryujin almost growled, her grip like a vice around the mug. "Which we will own."
Yeji actually snorted at that, and Ryujin grinned at the sound.
"Competitive much?" Yeji teased. "I hope you don't play like you play chess. Otherwise, we're screwed."
Ryujin feigned a look of hurt. "This coffee was for you, but-"
Yeji smirked. "How sweet."
Ryujin handed it to her with a smile. "Don't say I can't cook."
"This is not cooking, Ryujin. Might I remind you of the ramen incident?" Yeji reminded, savoring the hot sip.
"Shut up and take your shower." Ryujin teased. "I'd hug you but, you're wet."
Yeji shook her head, stepping into their bedroom with a smile, trying to ignore the feeling of despair in her stomach.
What was Ryujin planning, and more importantly, what was she hiding from her best friend?