Author's Notes:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Past
Their lips met one another.
And for that one single moment, it felt like the entire world had come to a stop.
For in that one moment, it felt as if the world knew peace.
Because in that one moment, the world, no, the universe, understood that they were witnessing the infrequent instance of pure and untainted love between two souls.
Through the touch of their lips, every other emotion faded away from their bodies, leaving behind only love and bliss.
Soon enough, Jisu found both her front teeth being lightly pushed by Yeji's tongue, asking for permission to enter.
Jisu responded with an open heart, allowing both their tongues to envelope one another. It was a small act that carried a large significance.
To Yeji, it was Jisu fully surrendering herself to Yeji, giving the keys to her heart, an act based upon the trust and love they had for one another.
To Jisu, it was her accepting that she was and always will be Yeji's, that only Yeji could give the happiness and love she wanted and deserved.
As the night grew, so did their love for one another, beyond what they thought was imaginable. They became lost within one another, within their gaze, within their bodies, and most of all within their hearts.
It didn't matter what the outside world had in store for them.
It didn't matter that the world outside was dark and evil, unjust and foul.
They had one another. And that was more than enough.
That night, they explored every inch of their mind, body and soul, fully embracing one another, fully surrendering themselves to each other.
-----
The next morning, with the sun from the window slit shining brightly across her face, Jisu slowly opened her heavy eyelids as she rolled onto her left side. Expecting her arm to wrap around her partner's warm body, instead was the cold cloth surface of her pillow. Confused, Jisu forced herself to sit up, rubbing both her eyes with the back of her arm to fully understand her surroundings, only to realize she was alone in her room.
Yeji was gone.
Jisu, visibly confused, grabbed her phone that was charging beside her bed and lightly tapped the screen, expecting a text from Yeji explaining where she had gone only to be disappointed that there was no text from Yeji and only texts from both her and Yeji's bestest friends; Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Yuna. All three were asking where the two went the night before.
Before Jisu could reply, out of the corner of her eye she spots a small paper note folded in half. Quickly grabbing and unfolding it revealed a small note from Yeji:
Had to go, something urgent came up.
I Love you.
It was only 2 words and 8 letters, yet Jisu's heart couldn't stop itself from beating twice as fast, her cheeks went flush with red. Not wanting to lose the note, Jisu carefully slips it in her phone case, safely tucking it in between the two flat surfaces. I'll thank her when I see her at school.
-----
Yeji never showed up to school. Jisu tried calling, texting, nothing. Nobody knew where she was or where went. If anything, the one person who should was Jisu herself and yet here she was, just as confused as everyone else.
Not even Ryujin, Chaeryeong or Yuna knew where she went.
Jisu couldn't help but worry the entire day, and none of Ryujin, Chaeryeong or Yuna's teasing regarding what they imagined happened between Jisu and Yeji last night could cheer Jisu up.
That afternoon, Jisu with her anxious and worried heart went to Yeji's apartment, hoping to find the cat-eyed girl somehow inside.
Maybe she's sick? Maybe she was too tired to come to school? as Jisu thought to herself in her futile effort to calm herself down.
Creak...
Jisu stepped inside, surprised to find the door just unlocked and wondering whether someone had broken in.
Grabbing the umbrella out of her tote bag in case as a self-defense weapon, Jisu began slowly and quietly exploring the apartment.
The apartment was empty, no sign of life anywhere. Everything was still perfectly placed where it should be. The tv remote laid still on the living room table. Yeji's shoes still neatly stacked upon the shoe rack. However, Jisu has been here many times before. There was something oddly out of place.
Her suitcase is missing.
Where a suitcase should be placed beside the shoe rack was now an empty spot. To the normal eye, it wouldn't have stood out at all, yet to Jisu, that single empty spot reflected the one empty spot in her heart searching and hoping to find Yeji.
Jisu, although rather laxed and slow usually, a reflection of the nickname she's garnered as Sloth Lia due to her laxed and slow personality along with her oddly adorable resemblance to the Zootopia character, was actually quite the intelligent and high IQ-ed girl, often displayed by her witty approach to games.
Knowing that Yeji's suitcase was missing, Jisu approached Yeji's wardrobe.
Nobody travels without clothes on Jisu thought.
And she was right, several of Yeji's clothes were missing, including one of Jisu's favourite CDG grey hoodies that Yeji had borrowed from Jisu. At the sight of this, Jisu felt her knees begin to tremble as she slowly knelt down.
Where did she go? Why didn't she tell me? What was so urgent?
A million questions began scrambling across Jisu's head. Jisu could've stayed in that position for hours, just thinking to herself of all the different possibilities of Yeji's sudden disappearance.
Did she leave the country? Or could she have just gone to somewhere like Jeju Island?
Jisu rushed to grab her phone that she had left outside on the living room table, in a rush to tell Ryujin and the others what she discovered. Upon tapping her phone to awaken it, Lia sighed a huge breath of relief as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulder.
3 Missed Calls – Yeji🖤
Upon seeing the notification, the corner of Jisu's mouth curled upwards, forming a sweet honey-like smile, something Yeji always told her she loved.
Right before she could tap the Call Back button, her phone screen changed, showing that Ryujin was now the one calling her. Puzzled as to why her phone was both not vibrating nor making any noise, Jisu mumbled a tiny curse on herself for forgetting to turn on her phone ringer after school had ended.
"Hello? Jisu unnie? Are you there?" Ryujin spoke, although Jisu noticed the more upbeat tone in Ryujin's voice.
Must be good news then, thank goodness.
"Yea I can hear you, what's up? I just missed 3 calls from Yeji," Jisu pouted. It was instinctive now. The pout was something Jisu slowly began doing ever since she got close to Yeji. It's true regarding what they say about spending time with a loved one. The more you spend time with someone you like, the more you grow to be like them, picking up habits and manners.
"I just got off the call with Yeji unnie," Ryujin spoke in a bright tone. "You can stop worrying now," she teased.
Jisu couldn't hide her embarrassment.
Was it that obvious? she quietly thought to herself.
"Where is she? Why did she miss school?" Jisu quickly asked, trying to shake off the red flush in her cheeks from Ryujin's obvious teasing.
"Yeji is in the U.S."
"WHAT?!" Jisu exclaimed, surprised at how physically far Yeji had gone when there was practically no space between the two of them last night.
"JEEZ YOU SCARED ME! Relax unnie, she said something really really urgent came up and her auntie immediately asked her to take a flight there."
Come to think of it, Jisu wasn't sure why she exclaimed so loudly. It made sense. Both Yeji's parents worked in the U.S. having built up a considerably successful and large entertainment company. Hell even Jisu's parents worked in the United States under the Hwang family.
"When is she coming back?" Jisu said as she slowly calmed herself down.
"I was just about to get to that. She'll be back in a week."
A week huh, that's not terrible. Jisu thought to herself.
Yet a part of her thought a week without Yeji was way longer than she wanted. Jisu wanted to be with Yeji right there and then, and spend every minute forward with her. Jisu craved to feel the love Yeji gave her and also couldn't wait to shower Yeji with the love she had for her.
Ryujin's chuckle on the other side snapped Jisu out of her thoughts.
"Jeez be patient unnie, I know you guys had a lot fun last night but slow dow-"
"HEY!" Jisu yelled, not caring if Yeji's neighbors could hear her.
"Also, Yeji unnie wanted me to tell you to wait for her. Told me along with Chaeryeong and Yuna to take care of you. Man who the hell is the unnie in our circle anyway, you're supposed to be the one taking care of us, not the other way around!"
Jisu let out a light and shy laugh, the first genuine one of the day, at the sweet words Yeji relayed through Ryujin.
"She also told me to tell you ... urgh I can't believe I have to say this. This is gross..." Ryujin whined.
"She told me to tell you that she loves you," Ryujin sighed, "in her exact words, so very very much. Bleeee!" as Ryujin mimicked the sound of vomiting.
Jisu could only let out the widest smile she could as her heart began pounding through her chest. She was amazed at how she Yeji could make her feel, even though the words came through Ryujin. Jisu knew she was head over heels in love with Yeji, but what she didn't know was how much more she could love the cat-eyed girl. It felt as if she had a bottomless well filled with love when it came to Yeji.
Realizing it was getting pretty late, Jisu began to walk out of the apartment, briefly cleaning the apartment, covering Yeji's bed with a bed cover to avoid dust from settling into the sheets, cleaning up the few bowls and utensils Yeji forgot to wash. Jisu took the spare key to the apartment she knew Yeji kept under the potted plant beside the door in case of emergencies and locked the apartment from the outside as the glowing orange orb slowly began to set, gradually darkening the now empty and lifeless apartment.
-----
1, 2, 4,6 days passed.
It didn't feel as slow as Jisu had thought it would be.
With the multiple papers and reports along with mock exams that came with 12th grade, Jisu was kept busy for the days Yeji wasn't around, although never failing to check her phone in the case Yeji tried to contact her.
The multiple texts Jisu sent went unanswered, yet Jisu never failed to tell Yeji her day whether it be through multiple paragraphs or minute-long voice messages, including her stress and complaints regarding finishing her IA's and essays while having to study all day and night, not to mention Choi Soobin's multiple attempts to try and get Jisu to go out with him despite knowing Jisoo and Yeji were together.
Jisu didn't complain though, sure it felt one-sided not receiving or hearing anything from Yeji, but she was 6 days in, one day left and she could whine to Yeji before giving her the biggest hug along with the longest kiss Jisu could muster.
Chaeryeong, Ryujin and Yuna also kept busy within the last 6 days. Chaeryeong constantly had dance practice while Ryujin and Yuna were busy handling the basketball club with their captain, Hwang Yeji, not around, occasionally flirting with one another, something Chaeryeong and Jisu found to be adorable as whenever they confronted Ryujin or Yuna about what they were doing, both would quickly and adamantly deny what Chaeryeong and Jisu were implying.
The clock on her phone showed it was 10:11 p.m. Jisu had just finished her homework for the night and was cleaning her desk, preparing all the books and pencils she needed for school the next day.
Even though Jisu's eyelids were beginning to feel too heavy for her to bear, her heart spoke otherwise as it rapidly pumped in her chest. Jisu was excited at the thought of finally meeting her cat-eyed lover tomorrow. She couldn't wait, even contemplating fun ways to tease Yeji, possibly even ignoring her for a day to see how the tall silver haired girl would react.
That night, Jisu went to bed, as excited as a kid on Christmas Eve waiting to open her present that would be Yeji in just a few hours, soon drifting off to sleep with a soft and gentle smile.
That smile however, didn't last.
First period came and left, along with the second, then break time, followed by 3rd and 4th period, lunch, even the 5th and finally the last class of the day.
All 4 of the girls couldn't help but have their smiles slowly fade. But to Jisu it was more than just her smile slowly disappearing.
Her excitement, her spirit, her soul also gradually faded away as her heart began to feel heavier and heavier which each passing moment.
On the seventh day, the day Yeji was supposed to return, to come back home to Jisu, Yeji never showed up.
Present – 3 Years Later
"Alright, get your asses out of class. Don't forget to get your fabrics ready for next class, we'll be discussing them in depth and if time permits, we'll get started on the project."
Lia quickly stuffed her pencil case, notebook, along with different rolls of small fabrics with various colors and design, into her cream white tote bag as she rushed out of class and into the large university hallway, weaving through the droves of people that were either heading to their next classes or heading home.
Lia hated rushing, if she could have her way, she'd take all the time in the world just to get to the basketball auditorium, maybe even get iced coffee along the way, or one of her favorites, sugar-glazed donut.
But she had promised Yuna to get there as soon as possible. It was an important day for both Yuna and Ryujin as it was the basketball varsity team try-outs, yet Jisu didn't understand why Yuna and Ryujin, and even Chaeryeong wanted her to be there as soon as her classes ended.
It was obvious that both Yuna and Ryujin were gonna make the team, and not just as bench players but as starters.
Ryujin's first year had her become the highest scoring rookie guard in the last decade, averaging a more than solid 18 points along with 6 steals per game, earning her the nickname Ryusoongie for her agile and playful approach to the game of basketball. Yuna on the other hand, was recruited straight out of high school, having skipped ahead by one full grade although barely making the requirements academically. Yet here she was, an 18-year-old freshman and a guaranteed starter for the team, proclaimed to be a once-in-a-generational center player who could both protect the rim with ease while dominating her opponents on the other end with physical height and skill.
With that in mind, Jisu couldn't help why they wanted her there so desperately, even promising Jisu a whole-weeks-worth of donuts if she came. To that Jisu couldn't not agree, who could resist one-weeks-worth of sweet circular delights?
"Hey! Unnie!"
Lia turned around without slowing down her pace, determined to get her donuts from Yuna no matter what.
"Chaeryeong! Heading to the basketball court?"
"Yeap," as she locked her right arm to Jisu's left arm, both making their way to where Ryujin and Yuna were.
Chaeryeong thought she covered her nervousness pretty well, and admittedly she did. If it were anyone else, Chaeryeong would've completely fooled them, but to someone like Jisu who knew her like the back of her hand, it was more than obvious that Chaeryeong was hiding her nervousness behind her cheerful attempt to cover it up.
Before Jisu could bring it up though, the sound of basketball dribbling on a hardwood floor soon became loud enough that their heartbeat began to beat with it, signaling they had arrived at the basketball court.
Chaeryeong's lock on Jisu's arm grew stronger, as if afraid of Jisu escaping her grasp. Jisu noticed too soon however, as the two stepped in the gymnasium. With Chaeryeong's arm lock proving to be a bit more painful than Jisu had liked, Jisu turned to Chaeryeong.
"Ow that hurts! You're locking onto my arm too hard! I don't know what the hell is up with you today but let me go before you break my ar-"
Before Jisu could finish her whining, she noticed Chaeryeong already had her eyes on someone, not paying even a tiny bit of attention to her complaints. Jisu, curious as to what was captivating Chaeryeong so much, turned to look at what seemed to have made Chaeryeong go into a trance-like state.
It moved quick, yet ever so gracefully.
Jisu now fully had her attention on the silver blur right in front of her that passed by her in an instant. Taking ever so powerful yet controlled strides while skillfully controlling the dribbling of the basketball on her right side, almost creating a symphony of beats as the rubber surface of the ball thudded on the shiny hardwood floor.
1 step, 2 step, and a swift upward motion had her athletic body soar through the air, softly putting the basketball through the hoop touching nothing but net, creating a satisfying swish like sound.
Jisu still had her eyes locked on while the silver haired girl wiped the sweat that was beginning to drip down her face with the back of her hand.
Coincidentally, yet fatefully at the same time, the two locked eyes.
And once again it felt as if the world and time itself had come to a stop. Just like it had happened back then.
She was looking right at the girl that left 3 years ago.
The thief who had borrowed her heart and never returned it.
Her single most powerful reason to smile yet also the cause of her never ending tears.
The silver hair could've belonged to anybody, but the cat-like gaze was hers no doubt.
She was looking at Yeji.
Author's Notes:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of this fanfiction. I have chapters 2, 3, and 4 written up already and will update soon. Do let me know your thoughts in the comment section as I want you guys to enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it :). Also, if I have the time I'll add a proper cover later on, for now, enjoy one of my favourite Yejisu photos instead. See you guys soon!