INEVITABLE

Chapter 23 (M)

"I want to kiss you... right here and now."

Jisu stands there, eyes wide, mouth open.

Her hand pinches the fabric of her shirt as her mind keeps replaying the words she just heard.

Ryujin wants to kiss her.

She unconsciously bites her lower lip.

Ryujin wants to kiss her... Too?

She's had that urge since the first time she invited Ryujin over. She didn't make a move or showed any motive because... well... it isn't right. And even if Ryujin keeps telling her how beautiful she is, Jisu can feel how her soulmate has been trying to be careful around her all this time.

Well, not until tonight.

She realizes it just now; that Ryujin's resentment towards Yeji isn't just because they were together before, but because Ryujin's still jealous of her ex-girlfriend.

She wouldn't blame Ryujin for feeling that. She knows exactly how it feels. She's had her share of jealousy towards Yuri that she keeps to herself.

Admitting it out loud would mean trouble anyway.

But with Ryujin standing there, voicing her feelings out, how is Jisu supposed to respond to that? Because after those words left Ryujin's mouth, Jisu knows they've already crossed that line that they have been tiptoeing around for months now.

"Ryujin..." Jisu exhales, not sure what to say.

Ryujin takes a deep breath and looks away. "Look. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I'll... I'll just leave."

"No..." Jisu calls when Ryujin turns away. Her feet move to follow the woman, her hand grabbing Ryujin by her coat. "Please stay..."

Ryujin turns to her, and Jisu's heartbeat rises.

"I... I missed you," Jisu whispers, looking down. "Two weeks, Ryu. I haven't seen you for two weeks. Please don't go."

Ryujin steps closer, gently placing a hand on Jisu's waist. "Hey. I'm here. I missed you too."

As if out of instinct, Jisu wraps her arms around Ryujin's neck and pulls the taller closer.

And boy did it feel right; like they were supposed to be like that in the first place.

"Stay..." She cups Ryujin's cheek. "Stay here tonight."

Ryujin nods. She leans in and kisses Jisu's forehead, down to the tip of her nose, and finally pressing their lips together.

Jisu feels like everything in her life suddenly made sense as soon as their lips touched, like every thought and question that wandered through her mind suddenly had answers.

And for someone like her who's always been an achiever, this is the first time she felt contented, secured.

It amazes her how they seem to perfectly fit each other, like pieces of a puzzle combined to make one.

As their kisses become harder, Ryujin walks her backward to the counter, lifting her onto the marble surface and proceeding to kiss her jawline down to her neck.

Jisu wraps her legs around her soulmate's hips. "Ryujin..." she clutches the other woman's hair, who keeps peppering her neck with kisses.

Ryujin hums.

"Let's..." her breath hitches when Ryujin's hands went under her shirt.

"Mmm?"

"Bedroom..." Jisu says.