can you see me? / purinz

american cuisine

Wednesday, the day before they make the flight to Thailand, Chaewon wakes up early to pack. She smiles when she sees a notification waiting from Yunjin.

Yunjinnie 🦒

date tonight?

yes plz

Chaewon takes a picture of herself in bed, snuggling with the stuffed puppy Yunjin gifted her, and sends it. Yunjin's reply comes only seconds later.

Yunjinnie 🦒

pretty

that should be me 🤬🤬

come to my room

as soon as i'm done packing

so in about two years

Rolling her eyes, Chaewon drags herself out of bed, not bothering to fix her bed head as she waddles into Yunjin's room.

"Pupu," Yunjin smiles at the sight of Chaewon standing in her doorway like the Grudge and rushes over to mess up her hair even further, "Come lie down."

Clearing a spot in the mess of clothes on Yunjin's bed is like parting the red sea, and Yunjin eventually relents and moves a pile to the chair as she continues to fold and pack.

"We're only going for four days," Chaewon reminds her, climbing into Yunjin's bed and breathing in the clean scent of her hair that lingers on the pillow.

"You never know what could happen," Yunjin points out, "I could trip and fall in a puddle and have to change. I could trip and fall in three puddles in one day, then I'd be so relieved I packed extra."

"If you trip and fall in three puddles you can borrow my clothes," Chaewon promises.

"Thank you, Pupu," Yunjin pauses to kneel by the bed so their faces are on the same level, "You know, you should start packing too."

"I can pack in less than 20 minutes," Chaewon brags.

"Then you can go do it now and be back here in 20 minutes," Yunjin says with a grin.

"Why are you trying to kick me out?" Chaewon whines, frowning at the younger girl.

"I'm sorry," Yunjin fluffs Chaewon's bangs, "If I come cuddle with you for a minute will that help you get started?"
"Five minutes," Chaewon counters.

"Three minutes?"

"Five minutes."

"Five minutes," Yunjin agrees, climbing into bed beside her. Their bodies press together to avoid the pile of clothes taking up half of the already-small bed and Chaewon feels herself growing hot.

Yunjin's fingertips trace Chaewon's reddening jawline, an adoring smile on her lips. "What am I going to do with you?" She murmurs.

Chaewon floats through rehearsal in a haze of slender hands brushing against hers and Yunjin's bright eyes in the mirror. Sakura and Kazuha, too, are wrapped up in their own shy smiles and quiet conversations. During their lunch break, while Yunjin and Eunchae goof off, the two Japanese girls sit together with their legs touching and Chaewon marvels at the peaceful happiness between them. She notices the admiring gaze Kazuha directs at Sakura when the older girl isn't looking and the way Sakura's eyes sparkle with pride when she sees Kazuha dance, both girls unaware of just how much they are adored. Chaewon wonders if Yunjin loves her in these silent ways, then wonders if it's too early to even be thinking about that word. Still, she thinks it all the same.

That night, Chaewon opens her closet only to find that she hates every single item of clothing that she owns. She pulls out her phone in a panic, wishing she'd had the foresight to try on every possible outfit combination while she still had time.