but she survived | sae-byeok x ji-yeong

i work, you study, we come out

7-11. The convenience store hadn't exactly been the first place Sae-byeok had thought of when she looked for a job. But no one seemed to need any new employees. Rejection after rejection had her hope shrunk as she had nodded her head understandingly when they came with some stupid excuse as to why she couldn't be their new employee. 

"Sorry but we're looking for someone with more experience."

"At the moment, we're only hiring teenagers. They're cheaper to have working, you know?"

"You just wouldn't fit here, don't take it personal." 

"We don't hire women. They can't lift as much as men can." 

She had lost hope completely. How could not a single one of the places she had applied for, find a spot for her? But there was one place she had forgotten about. The little convenience store on the corner. So when her phone began ringing, an unknown number displayed on the screen, she had not expected an enthusiastic voice on the other end, telling her that she was hired. Sae-byeok's eyebrows furrowed at the news. She remembered her job interview. It had been held in some room behind the store, and she had not been prepared, even the slightest. Her answers were unsure and stuttered, but somehow, she had impressed them enough to get the job. The possibility of no one else having applied for it was pretty big, though, but she didn't mention that, of course. She just thanked them kindly, excited to tell Ji-yeong the news. 

Ji-yeong had, a few times, talked about wanting to continue her school. She had gotten the possibility to study in prison, which she had, but she still wasn't finished yet. She wanted to become something important, not necessarily everyone remembered, but she had very clearly stated that she was not going to waste her life, flipping patties in some disgusting kitchen. But after a while, being home all the time wasn't fun anymore. They used their time together, watching movies or talking in their bed, but what else was there to do in between those four walls they called home? 

They had money. Yes, they were aware of that, but a job could be something good to use your time on. Ji-yeong had talked about a job in a clothing store, but it was obvious to Sae-byeok that that wasn't what she wanted, no matter how much she tried to hide it. The taller girl had tried to convince her girlfriend to study as she worked, but Ji-yeong refused to let Sae-byeok be the only one with a job. And it was at that moment Sae-byeok made up her mind. She was going to get a job first, so Ji-yeong would do what she wanted the very most. To study. She didn't care if she was the only one with a job. She wanted Ji-yeong to be happy. To live her best life, and that wasn't helping customers find out if they were a small or a medium. 

"Hey, we're home!" Sae-byeok would never get tired of yelling that. Never get tired of Ji-yeong's soft response that always consisted of the words, "Welcome home. Have you had a good day, Cheol?" 

His answer was different every day. Either he had had a great day, his mouth going nonstop as he explained every single reason why it had been good, or it had been a not-so-good day, where his head hung low and he only mumbled a quiet 'it's been fine'. When he had disappeared into his room or the living room, Ji-yeong would sneak a sweet peck to her girlfriend's lips, and that day it wasn't different. After hearing about Cheol's totally crazy day at school, he had gone into his room, allowing Ji-yeong to finally welcome Sae-byeok properly.

"Hi there," Ji-yeong told her, a bright smile on her face as their foreheads were resting against each other's, noses clumsily bumping together. 

"Hey." Sae-byeok returned the smile, stealing another kiss from her girlfriend's mouth before wrapping her in a hug, her long arms holding the shorter girl's body close. "I have a surprise."