Splashing in Puddles || An Ryeji Story

Training Days 2

Ryujin and her new roommate, Lia, were setting up their room. Lia liked Ryujin's broad smile and self-deprecating sense of humor - she'd laugh at herself before anyone else could. Ryujin was positive that she and Lia would get along. Lia had gorgeous long hair and an incredible disappearing eye-smile, and they both liked the same kpop groups and k-dramas.

They had gotten their things put away and were tired and sweaty. Lia left to get a soda, and Ryujin sat on the bed and let out a tired sigh. Suddenly it was quiet. Ryujin realized that her dreams had come true, but that now is when it got tough and the hard work began. Would she make it after all?

There was a knock on the door frame. Ryujin looked up and her breath caught in her throat.

"Do you know where 1117 is?" the woman asked.

"It's down the hall, and then take a right," Ryujin said. "Oh, and by the way, my name is Ryujin."

The mysterious woman smiled at her. "I'm Yeji." She tiptoed into the room and shook Ryujin's hand. "Well, Ryujin, you're officially my first friend as a trainee!"

"I like that," Ryujin replied, hypnotized by the girl's beauty. For once, try not to get weird,  Shin, she thought.

"I once dislocated my shoulder!" Ryujin said loudly. She blushed bright red. Shin, you're hopeless.

Yeji smiled. "Well, I once broke my big toe. So why don't you come down to my room later on, once we've finished unpacking, and we can share our medical histories."

"I like - well, er, what I mean is - I'll be there." She burst out laughing. "Sorry, I'm not so good with new people. I usually scare them away, but I don't mean to!"

Yeji grinned. "I'm a little shy, and sometimes that has the exact same effect."

"Can I help you carry your things to your room?"

Please say yes...

"That's really sweet, but I've got it, I think. In fact, I should probably get running."

"It's so nice to meet you, and I look forward to coming to your room," Ryujin said.

Yeji left. A moment later, Lia came back to the room.

"Like any great roommate, I was around the corner the whole time, listening in. You were a bit nerdy but you hid your crush well," she said. Ryujin smiled nervously. "The shoulder thing was a bit... random, though." Ryujin put her face in her hands in embarrassment.

Lia continued "Ryujin, that girl was gorgeous. Did you see her eyes? They make her look like a tall, beautiful, elegant cat. And everything else beside her eyes looked really good, too." Lia winked. "I'm pretty sure her mouth was saying one thing, but those eyes were saying something else to you. The question is: does she even know what they're saying? Whatever it was, it's giving me the shivers!"

Ryujin blushed. From what Lia said, Ryujin wondered if she liked women. Ryujin hoped so, since it would mean she wouldn't have to hide from her roommate. But getting to the point where they could share that could be a complicated dance. She didn't know how to come out. You didn't just blurt it out, right?

"If you haven't figured it out, I'm gay," Lia said. "Based on the fact that you've been blushing nonstop since you met that chick, I'm thinking that maybe you are too."

Ryujin sat up in bed, flabbergasted. "Aren't you afraid to... to just share that with a stranger like me?"

Lia laughed. "I've been down that road. I hid it when I was younger. You know where it got me? Depression. Anxiety. Eating disorder. And worst of all: shame. Ashamed of everything about myself. I had to deal with it from my religious parents, too. I even got kicked out of school. I bet you and I both know people still living that way. I just couldn't do it anymore. If people want to judge me, that's fine with me."

"But what if JYP finds out?"

"I don't care," Lia said confidently. "I'm hoping that I make it, but after what I went through, it's not worth hating myself the whole time."

Ryujin sprang off the bed and wrapped Lia in her arms, her eyes watering. "Thank you," she whispered. She hadn't known Lia for more than an hour, and she already felt like they had known each other for years. It was the first time Ryujin had come out to someone, and now she had a friend that was like her.

"Do you always make things weird, girl?" Lia asked, with her eyes completely scrunched and her electric smile flashing.

Ryujin laughed. "You have no idea!"

. . . . .

Yeji's back was to the open door, so Ryujin knocked on the frame. Yeji turned around and smiled, a strand of hair hanging in her face.

"I thought I'd take you up on your invitation," Ryujin said nervously.

"I've got boxes everywhere, so is it ok if we sit on the floor?"

"Sure!" Ryujin replied. "How are things going so far?"

"I didn't count on two things: one, the dorms would be this small, and two, that I would pack so much stuff I don't need. I'm going to have to have a yard sale outside of the building."

Ryujin laughed. "If you do, I'm in 100%! I have some stuff that I've forgotten why I even packed it. We have a cafeteria. Why did I bring a hot plate? They're banned anyway!"

They were silent for a moment. Ryujin started to feel awkward. "You have really pretty hair. I've been thinking about growing mine out again."

"Why? There's not many women who can rock short hair, but you're one of them. Promise me you won't change it, unless I give you permission!" She smiled.

"Deal," Ryujin said. She felt shy that such a beautiful woman had told her she was beautiful.

Yeji turned serious. "Are you nervous about all this?"

"You can't imagine! Why do you ask?"

"It hasn't hit me yet," Yeji said. "I'm getting nervous that I'm not nervous."

"I guess what gets to me is that it was so easy when I was a kid to think about making it. Now I'm close, so I can see it, and I can see what I'll lose if I fail."

"Is it worth it?" Yeji asked. "I feel like I've never thought about it, but like you said, I'm too afraid to look closer now, if that makes any sense."

"That makes total sense. Looking deeper can be scary. But it can also be exhilarating."

Yeji smiled. "We're going to get along great. I feel like we were separated at birth!"