Serendipity (Ryeji)

Art Hwang

"Yeddeong." Ryujin lightly taps the girl's shoulder. She's trying her best to be gentle, but she's more amazed than anything right now.

Regardless of her endearing hopes, not once did she wholeheartedly believe this day would come, and when she first woke up, she pinched herself to make sure it wasn't a dream. Even after, she wasn't entirely convinced, and if her arms weren't securely wrapped around the brunette's waist, she would've considered punching herself to confirm this.

"Yejiiiiiiii~ "

"Please don't wake me up."

"But you're already awake...?"

"Nope. I'm asleep."

"Sure you are. Then who am I talking to?"

"Yeji's subconscious."

Ryujin stifles a laugh. More than anything else, she'd love to indulge in their freedom and lounge around, spending every waking moment with Yeji. However, there's no room for decision-making here. It's a weekday, specifically Monday, which means they have somewhere to be. "You know we have school today, right?"

"School's irrelevant. Why do we need to go?"

"Because your mom is the principal. She'll know if you didn't go."

"Why do you have to be right... " Yeji grunts against the pillow. She opens her eyes, the quick thought leaving her lips before it has a chance to disappear. "What if we show up a little late?"

"Not to sound paranoid but wouldn't your mom check to see if you attended and then notice we both came late to school?"

"I guess that's true... " Yeji pouts, yet the frown is short-lived. Her eyes soften soon after.

She stares at the athlete while leaning her head against her palm, can't help wondering why Ryujin makes her feel so warm and complete. Why Ryujin makes her heart thump slowly and feel at peace. How she can love and admire with those feelings being reciprocated—

Her mental thoughts stutter there. That four letter word startling herself.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

The answer to that should be simple, except it's not. Perhaps she's making it more complex than it needs to be, but that's besides the point. The are so many ways to word her response, but the one that sticks out the most is too daring, too bold. She isn't even certain she's at that level yet despite her mind claiming it so nonchalantly while looking at Ryujin.

"Because you're beautiful," Yeji mumbles. It's quiet. Soft-spoken. Honest.

At the same time, the blue-haired girl blushes, the compliment catching her by surprise. Eager, Yeji pecks her cheek, earning a bit more redness, and the reaction makes every single second of this disobedience toward her mother worth it. She can't fathom how her mom can hate anything about Ryujin.

"S- stop... " Ryujin ducks her head, turning away. "We should be getting dressed for school."

"Yet you're still sitting here." Yeji teases, and they sit in silence for a while after.

Ryujin refuses to meet Yeji's gaze, but there's a new kind of warmth settling in her chest now. It's touching to know they have no fear-struck reasons to hide their feelings anymore. At least, not around each other. Hiding from the principal until she breaks the news and stands her ground is an entirely different story.

Still, being able to express her feelings openly makes her happy.

"Can I ask you something?"

Pulled out of her thoughts, Ryujin sits up eagerly, palms clasped in her own lap. She doesn't know what will be said, but she's all ears, always ready to listen. "Of course."