They were staying at Hyunjung's summer vacation house. Well, technically it's her parents, but Sojung kept going on about how Hyunjung's going to own everything anyway when she grows up. To be completely honest, it didn't even look like a summer house, with how modern and luxurious it seemed, and it excites her three friends, even more, when she said that they'll be staying there uninterrupted, aside from the guards hired by her parents sitting outside to look after them in case of emergency.
It was one of those nights where Jiyeon is restless, anxious for no reason, as she tosses and turns around quietly, trying not to wake Hyunjung who was sleeping so peacefully beside her. She tried distracting herself by tracing lines on Hyunjung's back, but that bothered the older girl, considering she flinched when Jiyeon's fingers pressed on her a little too hard.
Darkness was surrounding them, the occasional laughing and yelling from Soobin and Sojung's room couldn't be heard anymore, and silence started to engulf them. And Jiyeon hated it. She had been wary at first when Sojung suggested they go on a vacation together, considering she had found it hard for her to sleep in foreign places, places out of the comfort of her apartment room. But Hyunjung was there, standing beside her, reassuring her that it was going to be fine while Sojung planned out the activities they would be doing as if she was the one who owned the summer house. Hyunjung had told her on numerous occasions that whenever she was in trouble, the older one would console her and that she'd be there to help her to the most possible extent.
"Hyunjung." She whispered in the dark of night, uncertainty laced in her breath as she contemplated waking Hyunjung up just for a petty reason like this. Though Jiyeon pushed all those thoughts away because she would love to believe Hyunjung cares for her that much. That she wouldn't mind Jiyeon waking her up from her deep sleep at 3 a.m., asking for reassurance and soothing words before nightmares got to her.
"Hey, please wake up." Pulling her hands out from under the covers, she nudged Hyunjung's back deliberately, and after a few seconds, she finally flinched, stretching her arms before facing Jiyeon. A sigh escaped her lips as her lids started to flutter heavily, and when she stared back into Jiyeon's eyes, the girl could see the sleepiness and fatigue from early that evening still lingering around.
"What is it?" Hyunjung questioned as she blinked slowly, attempting to get rid of the tiredness that weighed her eyelids. For a moment, guilt crept up into Jiyeon's heart, but she ignored it when she spoke after.
"I'm sorry for bothering you, but I can't seem to get any sleep."
That was how they found themselves walking outside at an ungodly hour.
"Hyunjung, are you sure about this?" Her hands gripping Hyunjung's tightened unknowingly, and a part of her was relieved when the older girl squeezed it back reassuringly. Her fingers slipped around Hyunjung's perfectly like puzzle pieces that had been assembled completely, and Jiyeon truly loved how Hyunjung's hands were occasionally a little bit bigger than her. The stones they were stepping on were uneven, and subtle noises could be heard from time to time.
"It's okay. I'm here with you. We're not going to swim in the lake anyway." They reached the edge of the lake, and Hyunjung halted to a stop at a small area where there were wooden chairs and a small coffee table, where they had their modest barbeque party earlier that evening. Hyunjung turned to her and raised an eyebrow.
"Or do you want to?" Jiyeon couldn't depict what expression the older girl was wearing at the moment, a mix of playfulness but also genuineness as she stared at her through her lashes, and before Jiyeon could answer, she spoke again.
