Summary:
Four times Jiyeon and Hyunjung share mornings, and one time they don't.
one.
Some things are inevitable.
A couple of weeks into their second year of marriage, Jiyeon catches a cold.
Jiyeon has done a remarkably good job avoiding falling ill during the past year. She had to spend a lot of time with Hyunjung and she didn't want to put herself in a position that would cause concern or inconvenience. She caught a cold once, had ungodly period cramps a couple of times, and non-worrying aches here and there—she spent those days at her place, sometimes alone and other times with Juyeon. This time when she catches a cold, however, she's at the house and Hyunjung finds out in the morning when Jiyeon doesn't go about her morning routine. Jisoo will arrive soon; her friend insisted on coming over even though Jiyeon'd reassured her that she'd be fine in no time. Jiyeon tells Hyunjung this, but Hyunjung also insists on staying with her until her friend arrives.
She'll be late for work when she shouldn't be late for work, but she's being firm about her decision to stay with her, and truthfully, Jiyeon doesn't try to argue. She's too tired to do so and she doesn't actually want to argue. Not just because she's tired, but also because it's nice having her there with her. It's oddly comforting, in a way that Jiyeon hasn't experienced with her before. Hyunjung makes her tea, and the gesture lands gently between them. Without a fuss, it finds a place in their relationship.
"You didn't have to," Jiyeon says.
"It's nothing." Hyunjung places the cup on the nightstand and hesitates to step away; wrinkles on her forehead, so much care in her eyes.
"Unnie, I'm fine." Jiyeon tries to smile.
Neither her reassurance nor her weak smile seems to ease Hyunjung's worry. She is about to say something when Jisoo arrives, she looks reluctant to leave, too worried to leave, and Jiyeon just likes it so much.
Hyunjung checks in on her later that day with a call, Jiyeon smiles and stays smiling even after the call ends.
Jiyeon feels the abundance of warmth between her and Hyunjung, lingering long after they part. She feels Hyunjung's genuineness that's made her day as painless as possible. She feels a familiar wish in her heart...
two.
It's exhilarating, their little secret. A small 'fuck you' to their families. It is refreshing, it is fun.
Jiyeon feels this when the two of them are invited, ordered really, to have breakfast with Jiyeon's family. One of many breakfasts to come, it seems—with no baby carrying Hyunjung's name, her father must be thinking that appearing with Hyunjung herself would make due, especially now with eyes on her for taking the challenging case of a double murder. Jiyeon's parents talk about the preparations for the marriage anniversary, and strangely, Jiyeon isn't upset. They bring up Hyunjung's work and stress, in their subtle ways, that their duty comes first; that they need to maintain the treatment plan and get their job done, and Jiyeon nearly chokes on her bite. She and Hyunjung have absolutely not been trying to make babies.
three.
Mint chocolate is not Hyunjung's favorite ice cream flavor—in fact, after a year together, Jiyeon gathered that Hyunjung disliked it. But on the spur of the moment, she pranks, pranks, Hyunjung with it. She can do that, right?
