STAR WIND FLOWER SUN

Christmas Break

THIRD PERSON POV

The December air is chilly as expected. Tall pine trees sprinkled with snow surrounds the small cabin Yongsun, Moonbyul, Wheein and Hyejin rented. They decided to spend time together before Hyejin goes back to her hometown for Christmas break. It was Yongsun’s idea that they stay at the recreational center in the mountains. It was far from the bustling city and near to nature, perfect for retreats and vacation. Besides, Yongsun knows the place since she has trained in the same center years ago in which she even had a certificate.

Not that their cabin was isolated, there are several others too but at a good distance away to give a peaceful ambience for everyone. Two hours of rest and settling in after their arrival was enough for the two pairs to recharge in the two bedrooms. Of course, it was already given who the roommates are.

It was noon by then.

Yongsun and Moonbyul decided to catch fish by the frozen lake nearby while the two young girls settled in strolling near the forest. The unnie’s catch will be their dinner and Wheein will find some inspiration to incorporate in her artworks.

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“You got your gears, unnie?” Moonbyul throws back at the woman trailing behind her. She squints her eyes from the scorching sun. It’s winter but the afternoon heat makes the temperature at least bearable to go outside.

Yongsun fumbles with her backpack and the other things she’s tied around her body. “Uh…huh, yeah… I think so.”

“Unnies! We’ll go the other way. See you later.” Hyejin called out, pulling Wheein with her.

“Yah! Hyejin-ah, don’t wander off the trail. Follow the map. Wheein-ah! Look after your maknae!” Yongsun called to the two figures excitedly strutting away from them. Not that they’re ignoring their unnie but Wheein and Hyejin is already in their own happy bubble.

Moonbyul looks longingly at the woman she adores. She’s amazed how thoughtful Yongsun is of their maknaes. The blonde-haired looks like a mom watching her grown up kids. “Ddunnie, come on. Let them have their fun. Then let’s go have our fun.” She reached for Yongsun’s hand.

The action got the woman’s attention. She smiled back at Moonbyul, swinging their arms as they went towards the direction of the lake.

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“I thought you got all your things, unnie.” Moonbyul exhaled. She feels slightly disappointed that Yongsun had forgot to bring her foldable chair being the Yeba that she is.

The older scratched the back of her head as she laughs nervously. “I thought too. Mianhe...”

“It’s fine. We could just take turns sitting on mine. I don’t want you hurting your legs from not sitting comfortably.” Moonbyul took out her things to arrange them.

She settled the chair in between two drilled holes on the ice where they will fish. The holes were left by some people who had fish in the same spot. Why not make use of it, right?

“Thank you, Byulie!” Solar gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

Moonbyul tried to act it cool as the weather but deep inside she’d willingly stand there until night if it means she’s getting these little kisses from Yongsun. She crinkled her nose to brush it off. “You can sit first. I’m going to put the bait on the hooks.”

Yongsun gladly obliges. She sits on the chair watching Moonbyul prepare their fishing rods. She loves how Moonbyul works with her hands.

Once, their fishing rods were done, Moonbyul handed one to her.

They waited, with Yongsun sitting on the chair as Moonbyul crouches beside her. For about half an hour Yongsun feels guilty for letting the younger crouch uncomfortably even if she was the one who left her seat and not Moonbyul. She does not sense any distress from Byul’s position but she’s sure the girl must be tired at some point.

“Hey, let’s switch.” Yongsun nudges the one beside her.

They exchange positions with a little stumbling from the younger’s. They continued to wait, humming songs so they don’t get bored.

It wasn’t even past quarter an hour when Yongsun already feels the numbing pain from her legs and feet. She shifts her weight from either foot. She turned to Moonbyul.

The other one is sitting comfortably in her chair, holding the rod with one hand as she continues to hum a song Yongsun had already stopped humming with a few minutes ago. A mischievous idea pops up in her mind.

Moonbyul is surprised when without any warning Yongsun stood up and plops down at her lap. Not that she did not like it but the sudden proximity caught her unaware.

“U-unnie…wha-…what are you doing?” She stutters.

Yongsun grins at her. “What does it look like I’m doing? My legs and feet hurts. Besides, being closer will keep us warm.” She said in a matter-of-fact tone. She even shifted closer to Moonbyul then focuses back in fishing.

It sure made Moonbyul warmer than usual as a blush slowly creeps up her face. Yongsun just sat there, her legs dangling on one side of Byul’s lap as she outstretched her hands to hold the rod in place.

“Yeah…but this is dangerous.” The younger whispers.

Before Yong could respond, there was a tug in Byul’s fishing rod. Yongsun knows it as she felt the other jerks under her.  She turned to Byul’s side of the fishing hole.
Moonbyul felt it. It was faint at first then the tugging became persistent. That’s how she knew she had caught one which is probably a medium-sized one. Whatever that is. She wedges a foot firmly against the ice to counter pull but the action had caused another thing to happen.

She was right. Yongsun thought as she heard the ice beneath them crack. A zigzag line formed from one of the drilled hole passing them then towards the other fishing hole. Her sitting on Moonbyul’s lap increased the pressure on the ice, in addition to Byul’s forceful wedging to pull the fish.

“Uh-oh.” The younger one realizes the jeopardy they’re in.

Yongsun is in the act of standing up when the ice totally give way when her feet reached the ground making her fall into the freezing water. She shrieks loud enough for the other nearby fishers to come at their location.

Being with faster reflex, Moonbyul was able to at least hold on the ice’s edge, giving her the leverage to save her upper torso from dipping too. She immediately pulled herself out of the water and reached out for the Yongsun who is relentlessly flailing both her arms.

Yongsun was successfully out of the water as she fell on top of Byul, consequently getting the younger one’s body wet. Some people went to check out if they’re fine and helped them up.

“To-told you…it- it’s dange-rous.” Moonbyul stuttered, lips quavering as she puffs fogs of air. She slightly chuckled at Yongsun who has her hair chaotically plastered on her face.

Yongsun struggles to glare at her. Her face and body starting to numb from the cold. She lightly punches Moonbyul in the arm. “It’s no-not fun-ny…Le-let’s g-o ba-ck.”

Moonbyul giggled some more. “Yeah. We should.” Deciding to leave their things, they held hands while struggling to walk back in their cabin like a couple of penguins in a stroll.