End of April 2024
"You have a basketball court in this neighborhood?" You asked Yongbok as you're standing next to each other by the kitchen sinks, doing the dishes after a well deserved dinner. "Yeah. I used to play there when I was younger, I don't know if it's still open though." Yongbok replied as he's getting the last of the utensils soaped up.
"We have to check it out some time. Mate if I knew there's a basketball court I would've want to play there from the beginning." Yongbok could only chuckled by how Aussie you're trying to sound and in all honesty, he's proud that you're slowly picking up the Australian accent while switching between Korean and English.
"Mate just tell me when and we'll go and have a pop at it. I think I still have my basketball back in the garage, it just need some air in it." Yongbok replied as you got all the dishes sorted out. "Then tomorrow it is." You suggested as he just nodded his head. "Sure." Yongbok agreed as the two of you then went over to your separate rooms and getting ready for bed.
As you're humming yourself Hanni's favourite song while getting your clothes sorted out on your bed, you heard your phone rang and you went over to the table and a wide smile spread across of your face upon seeing her name on your screen. You then grabbed your phone up before answering. "Hey there beautiful~" You greeted her as Hanni's filling up your whole screen before she just chuckled lightly.
"Hi there handsome~" She replied as she settled down on her chair, still wearing her usual white outfit as a barista. Seemed like she just got home from work and she already informed you beforehand that she'd be having a long day today and could only give you a call once she went home from work. "...did you wait for too long?"
"I don't mind. I know that you had a long day and I thought I told you to just go to bed if you're tired right my love?" You asked, obviously worried as she just pursed her lips into a pout. "I know but I still have some energy left in me and I didn't see you for the whole day okay~ I miss you~" You never knew a sassy Pham Hanni mixed with a tired Pham Hanni would create this cute and adorable Pham Hanni until now.
"Fair point. I miss you too Hanni. How's work today?" You asked as you then seated down on your bed as she's getting her bag onto the table. "Oh, oh, oh right something funny happened back when I was working this afternoon." Hanni was chuckling in between her words as you couldn't help but snickering as well while listening to her.
"So I was just doing my work as usual and there's this one point, nobody's in the café except me and Chaeyoung unnie and out of nowhere someone was calling me..." Seeing her being all excited was and always will be the source of strength you ever need. "...and I thought that it was you who called but instead it was my driving instructor from before."
"What... That's so random... but why though..." You couldn't help but laughed a bit at where her story's going so far and Hanni's laugh was as twice as yours. "...I know right, so I picked up the phone and out of no where she said..." She had to get the last laugh out before continuing. "...Can I have two portions of black bean noodles and a side of pickled radish please."
Then the two of you burst out into more laughter. "...and then, and then, of course I went, umm excuse me miss this is Hanni, not the local restaurant while I'm trying to stay calm that time. And out of no where she was like ehhhhh~" You barely managed to calm your laugh down as she's continuing her story.
"...and then all of the sudden she was like... Ohhhh it's you Miss Pham, it's been a while right dear? You're dating your best friend already now? And I just went, Yes~ Yes Miss~ me and him are now officially dating. You happy now?" That last part left you a bit surprised, seemed like people tends to question the relationship you and Hanni had in the past before dating each other. "And you know what she did? She just gave me a hum and she hung up. Like what was that all about seriously... You know how every time I did a class with her back in the days, she always asked me if me and you were dating already and obviously that time, we're not so it gets repetitive but I guess a lot of people seemed to see something between us in the past as well"
"Yeah I guess so. By the way, you look extra beautiful tonight I'm not going to lie." Your statement made her cheeks flushed in red as she's chuckling. "My whole outfit right now are actually the ones I recently bought..." Hanni then got her bag as she stood up before turning her body to both her sides, showing you her outfit proudly.
"...I actually loves this piece. The colors combination are so pretty." She said as she's running her hands on her pink outer top. "...and the long skirt as well. I actually started liking long skirts nowadays, they're so comfy to wear." Hanni was too immersed in showing her outfit and you're not bothered at all, you're happy in fact.
"Oh by the way honey..." She called you with your favourite nickname as you just hummed gently at her. "I'm actually going to Japan by June. It's kind of a mini vacation." Hanni said as you were slightly surprised but mostly glad for her. "Japan? Wow~ With your parents?" You asked and she just nodded.
"Actually, the plan was to bring you as this was already planned by my parents since last year but what happened, had happened, so now we're actually bringing Minji along with us. Too bad Haerin couldn't join us as well because her family's going to have an event by the same time as the trip." She explained as you just hummed while nodding your head. "It's a shame but hey Minji's there with you so the guiltiness is not too heavy to bare."
"There's always other opportunities for us to travel together in the future. Don't worry too much okay? And don't worry, by the time you're going back home, I'll be waiting for you at the airport. I promise." She raised her pinky finger as your heart fluttered. "I know. I'll be looking for you the moment I stepped out of that gates."
And the longer you two continuing the conversation, the more you noticed how Hanni's been closing her eyes from time to time as she's talking to you and somehow it made you worried. "Hey, you're tired right? Let's sleep okay?" You said rather softly spoken and knowing Hanni would always ask for a bit more time, now she just nodded her head.
"Yeah... I can't lie, I am a bit tired more than usual tonight. I'll get ready for bed then." She giggled to herself rather weakly. "I love you Pham Hanni." You made her eyes a bit woken up as she gave you a heart before waving goodbye at you. "I love you to the moon and back. Good night honey~"
Early June 2024
As you promised, you kept your strength and manage to go through the long months of waiting and being away from the woman of your heart and now it's only a matter of time before you're going back to your home. Back to her...
Just two more weeks... and you'll be home by then...
The morning felt a bit slow and in all honesty, it's the first time you're feeling lonely in months and it's all for one reason. "Why the long face? Missing someone already?" Yongbok's teasingly asked you as you're both sitting by the dinner table, having your breakfast.
"Of course. I hope they'll land safely in Japan..." Apparently Hanni's parents wanted to bring their daughter to a vacation overseas and it's actually been planned since last year. But the original plan was to bring you and Hanni together but since you're in Australia, Minji was being tagged along while Haerin couldn't make it because her family's preparing for an event at the time.
"They'll be fine. Once they settled down and got themselves new phone numbers there, they'll give us a call." Yongbok being optimistic as you immediately felt a bit relieved while nodding your head. "You're right. If anybody deserves another vacation, it's them. Too bad Haerin couldn't tag along with them."
"Yeah... I bet she'll love Japan..." Yongbok now reflected the expression you were having moments before as you just snickered slightly. "Why the long face? Missing someone already?" You teasingly asked him back. "Shut up~" Yongbok laughed out, feeling a bit embarrassed but nonetheless had a good breakfast with you.
"Can you help me after this? I'm tidying another guest room for my cousins." Yongbok asked you as you're confused. "Your cousins? Which one?" You asked as Yongbok's standing up. "Cherry and Isabelle. My cousins from America." Yongbok told you as he's walked past you.
"You never mentioned them before though..." You asked as you immediately followed him behind and heading upstairs. "Is it? Well now you know..." Yongbok clarified as you arrived at the room next to yours before getting inside and you've noticed the room's tidied up quiet a bit already.
"I cleaned up a bit last night, now we're just going to move the bed over to a better spot before getting some sheets on it..." Yongbok explained his plan as you're nodding your head while you're examining the room. Upon finding a perfect spot, you and Yongbok safely moved the bed before getting the bed covered with sheets along with the pillows.
"I'm just going to check the showers first; you can just sweep the floor here." Yongbok immediately went over to the shower while you're getting the broomstick and took your time sweeping the floor while your mind was filled with Hanni's last video call chat with you yesterday just before they're heading for the airport.
"You done?" Yongbok's voice echoed from behind as you turned around, facing him before nodding your head. "Great, we'll be going to the aiport in two hours to pick my cousins up."
"I'm tagging along?" You point to yourself as you're confused while Yongbok nodded. "I need help with their luggages as I know they'll bring a lot..." Yongbok's reason was reasonable as you nodded. "Alright. I'll help."
After everything finished tidied up, fast forward a couple hours later, you're now on your way to the airport with Yongbok's driving and you're by the passenger's seat. "They... won't converse with me in English right? I mean not that I couldn't speak English but fluently though..."
"They can speak Korean so no worries." Yongbok clarified as you breathed out in relief. "Maybe I'll just stay silent and not speak unless they ask me something. Wait do they even know I'm staying at your house at the moment." You asked and Yongbok just nodded his head.
"You'll be fine." Yongbok comforted you while you're checking your phone, hoping for an update from Hanni but she hasn't text you yet and secretly you're worrying about her and Minji as well but knowing that she's going with her parents somehow lessened the worries a bit and you're just praying for their safety silently in your heart.
"How's you and Haerin these days? I hope she's alright as well." You asked as Yongbok's smile was a bit bitter along with a sigh. "We're doing okay but yeah, long distance relationship is definitely what they say it is, it's hard and full of missing each other's company."
"Haerin's blessed to have you. I just want you to remember that. A caring man not just for his life but for others as well. I pray that it'll be only you and Haerin till the end." You patted his shoulder as you could see the genuine relieved smile on his face eventhough Yongbok just remained silent.
"I actually haven't told my parents about this..." Yongbok sighed silently as you're listening. "...I'm actually searching for a job back in Korea at the moment..." Yongbok confessed as you just nodded your head as you don't have anything to add to that.
"When you're ready, take your time and sit down with them and tell them. I'm sure if it's for the right reasons, there's no reason for your parents to say no to that." Yongbok just nodded to your suggestion.
After a long ride to the airport and got yourself a parking spot, you and Yongbok made your way to the arrival's terminal gate and the waiting game begins as you're standing by the metal fence across of the gate with Yongbok next to you.
"They should be arriving soon..." Yongbok stared at his watch as you turned your attention to your phone and yet again, still no updates from Hanni but you needed to be calm and so you did by reading the usual online book you always read to in your phone.
"I think those are the passengers from their flight..." Yongbok said after a ten to fifteen minutes and you reverted your eyes to the gate as dozens of people were walking out the arrival's gate before you looked back down on your phone to continue reading and just waiting for Yongbok to notice his cousins.
"Lee Yongjae~" You suddenly heard someone called out your name in the distant and instantly you recognized that voice. "Pham Hann-" As you lifted your head, immediately Hanni was already in front of you and immediately she wrapped her arms around you.
Couldn't believe your eyes, you had to make sure as Hanni looked up to your face and your eyes landed on each other and it was indeed Hanni, she's here in front of you, you're in her arms as you're struggling to say anything while your hands slowly cupping her cheeks.
"You're here..." You whispered as Hanni nodded with her brightest smile while she immediately wiped off the tears running down your eyes. "I'm here Yongjae..." She whispered as you immediately wrapping your arms around her tightly. "...you're here..." You heaved out as Hanni's patting your back gently.
"Look at you..." Then you glanced over at Yongbok and saw Minji was there next to him. "Kim Minji!" You called out to her as she just raised her hand up. "Yo~ It's actually Isabelle while I'm here okay? Don't worry, you're not dreaming. We're really here now." Minji chuckled as you looked back at Hanni. "I thought you two are going to Japan... I don't understand..."
"Well it won't be a surprise if we tell you the truth beforehand right?" Hanni let you off her embrace as she's chuckling lightly while drying your tears with her thumb. "Don't cry okay? I'm here now and that's all that matters."
"Thank you..." Immediately you gave her another tight hug as you're caressing her the back of her head softly. "...God thank you for bringing her to me now." Her smile grew wider as she couldn't contain the joyous emotions she's feeling as now, she felt safe again, in your embrace, where she's been longing to be.
"I'm sure you two are jetlagged a bit, it's a ten-hours flight as well..." Yongbok and Minji then shared a hug. "...how've you been?" He asked as Minji just shrugged lightly. "I've been doing okay; we're all doing okay right now. Even Haerin."
"How's Haerin by the way?" Minji immediately saw the sadness in his smile after asking that before she just smiled at him. "Why don't you ask her yourself" Minji replied as Yongbok's confused before he saw Minji's eyes were reverted at someone behind him.
As Yongbok turned around, he saw her, he saw Haerin, standing right in front of her with her soft smile. "I'm here Yongbok~" Haerin called out to him as Yongbok immediately had his arms around her tightly and started bawling his eyes out by the emotional rollercoaster.
"What is this..." Yongbok cried out as the surprise wasn't meant for just you but for him as well. "...you told me you couldn't come..." Haerin just chuckled silently. "It's called a surprise for a reason right? I will not miss this chance for the world..." She whispered to his ear as Yongbok just silently crying his pent up emotions out.
"I miss you too..." Haerin whispered calmly in his ears as she hugged him back gently while caressing his back, trying to calm his sobs down. "...I miss you so much." Yongbok was also lost for words.
And Minji could only look at the two couples on both her sides with a happy smile and a genuine feelings of relief for them. "Nobody's missing me...?" Minji called out to them jokingly with a pout, making both you and Yongbok snickered lightly before Hanni and Haerin got to Minji's side and hugged her and you and Yongbok formed a group hug with the five of you finally together again. "With this, our surprise mission to Australia is a great success~" Hanni cheered up all of you and the mood's immediately lightened up between you all
"Come on, let us get lunch." Yongbok said as he's getting behind the trolley carrying Haerin's luggage while you immediately went over and gave Minji a hug as well before helped pushing Hanni and Minji's luggage and bags while Hanni's walking next to you, hooking her arm with yours.
"You look tired..." You whispered to her as she just nodded her head with a weak smile on her face. "Ten hours of flight really is something else..." Hanni murmured with a pout as you're making your way back to Yongbok's car and finally arrived.
After safely getting their stuffs into the back trunk, you, Hanni and Minji got in the back seats while Haerin's on the passenger's seat and immediately you're on you way out of the airport on this probably the best day of your life by far.
On the ride, Hanni instantly had her head resting on your shoulder as her arms hugging onto your arm while she's sound asleep from the fatigue. You looked down at her sleeping face, peacefully yet so beautiful in your eyes and you still felt like this was all just a dream so quietly again you pinched your cheek, and you felt it.
It's real, Hanni's next to you right now...
"She worked hard for this day..." Minji's whispered echoed from your side as you glanced over to her as she's smiling lightly. "...only God knows how much effort she put into making this trip works."
"How did you came up with this ide- Wait don't tell me, I think I know whose idea was this..." You then looked at the front seats as you could see Haerin's giggling to herself silently. "I should've known Kang Haerin..."
"How did you three made this trip work? I need to know the full story..." Yongbok asked. "Well..." Minji doing the honor of story telling. "...it all started with just a simple discussion..."
Flashback
"...It might seem crazy what I'm about to say..." Haerin hesitantly whispered to Minji and Hanni who's waiting for her to explain her plan of a 'ladies' day out'. "...but umm, I was thinking if it's possible for us to travel to Australia by the middle of June..."
And despite being obviously stunned with Haerin's ideas at first, Minji somehow agreed the next minute with her plan while Hanni needed a little bit of a push and that video call she had with you on that Sunday morning was key to her actually agreeing to Haerin's plan.
After having discussions with their respective parents and were given green lights all around, the plan immediately commencing as the first part was to notify Yongbok beforehand but through Haerin's request, she was hidden from the plan as she wanted to also give Yongbok a surprise.
So after thoroughly planning things through, the main issue here would be financial issues and upon agreeing with each other, Haerin's going to be working with Minji while Hanni on the other hand had to sacrifice so much of her time and energy as she decided to take another part time job while also doing her first job as a barista by the café.
Hanni really had to manage her time properly to balance out between University, works, daily commitments and making time for you so that you remained unsuspicious and there were times where Hanni felt like giving up but she knew that this will all be worth it once she's on your side again so she kept going.
That goes with both Minji and Haerin as well, especially Haerin who had to try her best everyday when she's working even though being an introvert around random people was a big obstacle for her, Minji's there for her all the time and being the source of her support until slowly, day by day, Haerin's now a bit more confident around people.
The three woman spent the past four months, earning money to use for their trip and with the help from their parents and also Mingyu's supporting his sister and both Hanni and Haerin financially, the three ladies got everything sorted out, from flight tickets to the stuffs they're bringing.
Everything led up to that point now, where the five of you now sitting together after such a long time.
End of flashback.
Sudden TMI. The title for this book originally supposed to be 'Hug Me' as it was inspired by this one song by iKon. Maybe give it a listen and probably some of you will notice where I got the title for this story within the song. Peace~ ✌️
So after the title's sorted out, my choices for the male character at the time were a person who's into sports, a someone's who's cold yet secretly caring or someone's who's into poetry.
Coincidentally at that time, I'm reading a little bit of poetry books and I thought that I'll just go with a character who's sentimental and poetic. Is it safe to say that I made right choice? 🗿🤗