“Have you landed?”
The message instantly brings a smile to Jihan's face.
“Yes,” she replies. “Waiting for my luggage now.”
“You sure you don’t want me to pick you up?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Jiyoon's giving me a ride home.”
“Oh okay then. Will you be picking Hyobi up today?”
“Yeah.”
“Is Jiyoon giving you a ride there too?”
“No. I plan to drive myself there.”
“How ‘bout I drive you so you can rest? You must be tired after your flight.”
“It’s only a two-hour flight, Hyewon.”
Then she pauses and thinks about what’s been on her mind since that talk with Jiyoon yesterday. What her friend said really hit home and she realized that she’s been presented with an incredibly rare opportunity to reconnect with someone who was special to her—someone she wanted to be with—so why isn’t she doing anything about it? Especially considering Zoa's positive responses so far.
It’s risky, that she knows. There’s still a chance that both she and Jiyoon could be wrong. Maybe Zoa considers what they have as simply platonic. Maybe Zoa's just being nostalgic. Maybe Zoa has moved on completely and realized that it was all silly teenage love and that she doesn’t like Jihan that way anymore.
But despite the doubts, the mixed emotions and jumbled thoughts, there’s one thing Jihan can’t deny, the one thing Jiyoon said that was right on target: Zoa makes her happy and brightens her day. Even the thought of her brings a smile to her face.
So at the end of it all, right before her flight landed in Seoul, Jihan finally came to the realization that she still likes being with Zoa and that she still wants what was taken away from them, to find an ending for their unfinished story. That’s why she decided to take Jiyoon's advice to follow her heart and have an honest, open talk with Zoa.
Her original plan was to ask Zoa whether she’d want to have dinner with her some time this week but since the red-haired girl sounds eager to see her today, it might be okay to talk about it sooner than planned.
So she adds another sentence to her last message, “But I don’t mind if you want to come pick Hyobi up with me.”
“Okay. I’ll see you at your apartment later then. Let me know when you’re ready to go pick him up.”
“Will do. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
—-
Jihan pulls the door open and gets inside the car, sitting on the passenger seat, greeting the driver with a bright smile on her face.
“Hi!”
“Hi,” replies Zoa, a soft grin adorning her face, “How was the trip? Had fun?”
Jihan nods then shows Zoa the large paper bag in her hands. “I have something for you.”
“Aw thanks! You shouldn’t have,” said Zoa as she takes the bag and peeks inside.
“You’re welcome and I want to.”
The taller pulls out a pair of pajamas and she can’t help but chuckle. “Pajamas?”
“You told me that you practically live in them when you’re home and this brand is good so why not?” explains Jihan. “I got myself the exact same pair, by the way.”
