Zoa catches a glimpse of her flashing phone screen and grabs the device to check the notification. A small smile instantly appears on her face when she sees the comment Jihan just wrote on her latest Instagram post and she quickly types a reply.
Since that night after dinner with Monday and Jiyoon weeks ago—when they decided to start over as friends—their interactions have increased steadily. They occasionally comment on each other’s Instagram posts, chat through the messenger app regularly and even met for lunch or coffee a few times.
At first, Zoa thought that it would be like getting to know someone new. People change, after all, and they have eleven years of life experience behind them so it would only be natural for Jihan to be different from the fifteen-year-old girl she once knew.
She was therefore very surprised when she realized that nothing much has changed after all.
Yes, they look older, their way of thinking has matured, how they view the world is different… but it’s still the same Jihan who’s cheerful, warm, passionate and positive, and who still laughs at her jokes. That last part is her favorite surprise of all. It never crossed her mind during the past eleven years how much she missed hearing Jihan's laughter or seeing that bright eye-smile until she heard it again. And to be the one who caused it made her feel unexpectedly happy, proud and warm all over.
She has also forgotten how well they get along, how they connect and have the same sense of humor, how comfortable it is to be around one another. It feels almost natural to be friends again and Zoa is reminded why she started having feelings for this girl.
When Monday asked her how things with Jihan were going, her lips twitched into such a sincere and soft smile that her friend couldn’t help but ask whether she’d fallen for her for the second time in her life.
Zoa denied it but her best friend wouldn’t believe her.
“Maybe you don’t realize it yet or maybe you refuse to admit it but mark my words, Jo Hyewon, it’s going to happen sooner or later. Han Jihyo is like a magnet to your heart,” declared Monday. “She’s like the lock to your key.”
“That sounds so bad and cheesy,” remarked a frowning Zoa who then dismissed her friend’s words.
She doesn’t want to think too much about it because she wants to take it slow, enjoy it for what it is: a blossoming new friendship.
After posting her Instagram comment reply, she leans back and sips her warm drink calmly.
It’s Saturday afternoon and she’s at a coffee shop waiting for Jihan. The brunette had to cancel their dinner last night because she had urgent work-related matters to attend to so they’re rescheduling it to coffee today.
Zoa posted the photo of her hot chocolate and Jihan replied that it looked good and that she was on her way.
The red-haired girl is early and thought that she would be able to spend her waiting time playing games on her phone. But she’s restless and instead of focusing on her game, she keeps stealing glances at the door.
Finally, after what feels like the longest fifteen minutes of her life, she sees Jihan walking through the door and waves when the brunette scans the coffee shop looking for her.
A smile starts to spread across her face as she watches her walk towards her and sits down on the empty seat across from her.
“Hi!” greets Jihan cheerfully, taking off her jacket. “Whew it’s chilly out there. Sorry for making you wait.”
“It’s okay. I was early.”
“I was going to get coffee but your hot chocolate looked so good,” Jihan says, eyeing the half empty cup on the table. “I think I’m gonna get the same thing. Do you want to share a muffin? Or a cupcake?”
