Part IV
she sang to me about the moon, I told her all the stars were hers to own
It was a matter of balance, Juyeon liked to say - the balance that forced us to hold on tight.
Hyunjung, for one, didn't get it - not on her first try, not on her second, not even after endless sessions of meditation. Jiyeon, as well, when faced with the tranquility Juyeon had while talking about it, always got equally as lost as Hyunjung since she couldn't see that so-called balance anywhere and her surroundings seemed way more fond of chaos and instability than anything else.
Not that Juyeon's codes and secret messages were too difficult to decipher or anything. Juyeon was an open book, it didn't take much for someone to figure the more superficial stuff out, and even if Jiyeon weren't the observant person she was or Hyunjung concluded that ignoring Juyeon's perfectly clear signs was less tiring than recognizing them, they were both sure of their abilities to read her with no effort.
But of that, Juyeon was also aware: exaggerated titles weren't exclusive to Hyunjung.
She knew about the cons of it, knew how vulnerable that openness made her, and Hyunjung's overprotectiveness, one that would be echoed by Jiyeon in the future as well, wasn't all that unreasonable. So as the months into the building of what they would later call their relationship began to pay off, as they finally began noticing what Juyeon seemed to have known like a sixth sense all along, Hyunjung and Jiyeon were left to realize not only the inherent rhythm the three of them followed out of habit but how the silver and blue strings that led them to Juyeon and tied her to them had been present in a silent rule for ages.
"I think it's extremely unfair of you to be cuddling Hyunjung like this when I'm busy," Jiyeon complained, making a funny face as she finished preparing their breakfast and glared at them from time to time.
"It's your day to cook, stop whining."
"How can I not whine if you brought her here just to make me jealous? I want cuddles too."
"You can have your cuddles later," Hyunjung said, still sleepy as she sat on the counter and hugged Juyeon's waist with her arms and legs, the scolding in her tone making Juyeon grin. "Focus on the cooking, I'm hungry."
"And she takes your side," she whispered with a pout, to which Juyeon responded by sticking her tongue out to her and hugging Hyunjung back. "You always had a thing for being in the middle of the crossfire, Juyeonnie. Is that why you like being between us two in bed?"
Juyeon rolled her eyes at the false innocence she used.
Jiyeon shrugged, smiling like nothing happened.
"I like being in the middle because it's warm, Jiyeon." She heard a soft giggle from Hyunjung and she didn't have to turn to be certain of the disapproving look she was getting. "Besides, I can hold you both at the same time."
"You're greedy."
"Look who's talking."
"I wasn't the one who confessed to someone who was already taken."
"I wasn't the one who kissed you first."
"I should've kissed you sooner."
