Where Iris Bloom

Ch. 36 Trinkets

A/N: Another flashback 🙃🙃🙃

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"Tell me something about you that nobody knows about." Kim hummed as she tucked Iris's stray hair. Lying next to each other, their faces inches apart. It was one of those nights that Kim would ask Iris to stay over and they would spend the night with conversation like this.

It was like a routine that they have created unknowingly and became a ritual before they would succumb to slumber. These little things are the ones that's making Iris fall for Kim even harder. Kim has this habit of knowing the little details about Iris which the younger woman appreciates the most.

"Hmm." Iris looks sideways seemingly thinking of something before a mischievous smile erupted in her lips making Kim anticipate more. "Whenever I feel alone, I watch this particular movie and have the same reaction like watching it for the very first time though I really lost count on how many times I had repeated it." Iris chuckled and it was a music to Kim's ears.

"What movie is that?" Kim probed as she's getting intrigued by the new fact she has learned about her lover.

"Don't laugh at me, you have to promise." Iris breathed with a wide grin on her lips while the blush on her face was gradually spreading on her cheeks.

Kim suppressed her giggle and held her pinky fingers between them and Iris intertwined them sealing the promise like kids do.

"The Princess Diaries." Iris watched as Kims brows furrowed trying to remember if she has seen the movie.

"Don't tell me you haven't seen that movie?" Iris shrieked feigning offense.

Kim chuckled as she takes in Iris adorably. It hit her that there was no time that the woman in front of her was never genuine. Maybe it was the main reason why she unexpectedly fell for the younger doctor. No matter how she tries to cage herself in her high walls, Iris always manage to get in without even trying that hard.

"Did you know? I have a favourite line in the movie." Iris bit her lip as she sees her reflection through Kim's orbs.

"Tell me." Kim breathed whilst holding their intimate gaze.

"Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all." Iris whispered word for word and Kim felt as if those words were meant for her.

Then it hit her. She needed courage.

"It's beautiful." The older woman shook her head and flashed a meek smile. "I was never a fan of movies, Mavy. It's not that I didn't like watching 'em, it's just that, hmmm how do I put it," Kim clicked her tongue evidently having trouble of eloquently explaining herself.

Iris held her hand as a sign of encouragement whilst she wait for Kim to gather her thoughts. She has always been patient when it comes to Kim's pace and this too wasn't left unnoticed by the older woman. As time passes by, they have developed this dynamic that no one else could relate with.

"I never had the chance to tell you about my childhood." Kim cleared her throat as she's trying her best to muster the courage to speak about her tumultuous journey. "Funny how we're talking about movies yet here I am, struggling to express myself." She laughed nervously.

"I'm here for the whole nine yards, bummy." Iris smiled warmly as she held tightly on Kim's hand.

Unbeknownst to the younger woman, that simple gesture was enough to make Kim's heart flutter far more than she can imagine.

Truthful to her words, Iris listened intently and slowly digested every part and aspect of Kim's life. There were parts of her childhood that Iris couldn't help but tear up. She saw on the latter's eyes how Kim relived the moments they had when it seemed the world was against them. She felt how much the woman in front of her fought and worked for whatever she has right now.

This is the part where she's learned the blindspots she was trying to piece out and where Kim's coming from aside from her departed fiancée's tragedy.

Hearing how Kim had to go through on all the hardships at young age made her think how blessed and lucky she was to grow up with such lavish lifestyle with a loving parents and loving brother. Iris couldn't fathom the feeling of being on Kim's shoes and she admires the woman she has become.

"Tell you what," Iris scooted closer, hugging Kim on her waist. "I'll treat you coffee for being brave in letting your guards down and for finally trusting me with your past."

Kim closed her eyes as she leans forward to rest her forehead against the younger woman's. "Mavy," Kim hummed discreetly savoring the moment.

"Yeah?" Iris quietly replied.

"Thank you." Kim mumbled and kissed Iris on her forehead.

"For what?" Iris inquired with puppy eyes earning a chuckle from the older woman. Iris doesn't have the slightest idea on how adorable she was in Kim's eyes.

"For coming into my life." Kim paused as she's getting overwhelmed with all the emotions that's making her vulnerable. "For being such a blessing. I've never thought there's still someone like you in this world. Such a bliss." This time, Kim gently captured Iris's lips for a chaste kiss.

"I'm here to stay, bummy." Iris smiled offering reassurance to Kim's ever wandering heart.

For the longest time, Kim's heart has finally found her way back home. Iris was her home. She's found home but still scared to let Iris know.

They stayed that way for sometime before Iris spoke. "Cofu?"

"Cofu." Kim mimicked and laughed at Iris' silly way of saying coffee. It's one of her antics that she finds cute. "C'mon."

Kim got out of bed and extended her hand to Iris who's staring innocently. "We're on our pj's." Iris stated and still refuses to take Kim's hand.

"So? There's this nearby convenience shop that sells coffee. That's where we're going." Kim wiggled her hands still hanging mid air. "With our pjs on."

Iris laughed but took Kim's hand nonetheless. The two were wearing couple pajamas. They walked in the streets hand in hand on the way to the convenience store to buy some cofu as Iris calls it. They didn't care about the stares people were throwing at at them. They were trapped in their own bubble, afloat, high enough to get bothered by minuscule attention from strangers.

"Mavy," Kim called as they were enjoying their budget coffee.

"Hmm?" Iris smiled anticipating what Kim has to say.

"I just wanna say, for the longest time, I've never been this happy." Kim stared at Iris as she takes a pause. "Don't ever let me go."

"I will be your constant." Iris breathed and leaned on Kim's shoulder whilst they seat on the sidewalk watching the moon above them.

This is the side of Kim that only Iris get to see. The soft and sweet side that only resurfaces when Iris is around.