Moving On With You, Jinjoo

36: Her Words

Just hours after the sun rose, Minso was seen sitting on the couch with arms folded around the Pochacco soft toy Yujin won for her, a frown plastering all over her forehead as her eyes stayed on the stairs.

As the sound of footsteps and soft mumbling of voices echoed through the hallway, her frown deepened when she saw her sister and Yujin walking down carefully with bags all packed.

Halmi came out of her room in the midst of putting on her knitted vest. "You two have got everything? I have some things I want you to bring back." She quickly waddled to the fridge and slowly retrieved boxes wrapped in traditional fabric.

"I'll go help her," Yujin told Minju, placing their bags at the door before going to the kitchen.

The brunette noticed her little sister sitting there quietly, yet her silence was bothering her. She sits next to her, gently pushing against her forehead. "You're going to get wrinkles if you keep frowning like this."

"By the time you come back to visit, I'll be having wrinkles anyway," Minso said, puckering her lips as her frown persevered.

The older girl caressed her head and heard the front door opening, in came Yujin who finished lifting the bags into the car. The younger girl ran her hands down the sides of her thighs and waited for her girlfriend.

Minju then brought Minso with her to the front door. While she bid goodbye to her parents, Yujin noticed the little one sulking at the side.

With a gentle smile, she lowered herself onto one knee so she could meet her at eye level. "Are you really going to keep pouting until I leave?" She gently nudged her cheek.

When it didn't quite get her to stop pouting, she revealed something she had been hiding behind her back and showed it to Minso.

"What's this?"

"For you," Yujin said, letting her take the notebook.

The brown, plain cover didn't entice the little girl. But as she flipped it open, her eyes widened. The pages were filled with drawings of her favourite animals and cartoon characters, all in a unique yet adorable drawing style, waiting to be coloured. They weren't printed but hand-drawn, as if Yujin had spent a good amount of time putting them together.

Minso's frown softened as she continued flipping and seeing the different illustrations. Her lips curved into a small smile, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "You drew all this?"

Yujin nodded, her smile growing. She went to her ear and whispered, "Your early Christmas present." She pointed at the notebook. "Do you like it? They're all your favourite things."

"Not all..."

"Not all?"

"You're not in here," Minso said. "You're my favourite."

Yujin snickered, patting the top of her head. "By the time you give every page its colours, I'll be back."

"Really?"

"Really."

"I'm going to colour it quickly so you'll come back quicker." Minso hugged the notebook close to her chest, feeling a rush of excitement mingled with a hint of sadness at Yujin's departure.

The taller girl ruffled her hair. "And I'll draw more for you when I'm back."

Before she could stand, the little girl flung her arms around her, hugging her tightly. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.

Yujin reciprocated her hug, running her hand down her tiny back. "I'll be back before you know it," she said before leaning away. She then whispered, "Go hug your sister or she'll get jealous."