Passion and Power

Chapter 68

After a very cold and rather rough swim in the ocean, Hanni and Minji eventually stumbled back onto the beach and forced their wet bodies into their clothes. Hand-in-hand and laughing, they made their way over to the spot on the beach where their little crew was settling in near the dying fire that Hanni had built. Minji thought they looked pretty cozy, especially given all they had been through to get there. She was determined to give the three of them as much time off as she could during their two weeks on the island. Partly because she wanted the staff to have a break and partly because she wanted more time for Hanni and herself to be alone.

The two women zipped their sleeping bags together so that they were connected into one large bag. They set themselves up away from the fire ring so that they could strip off their wet, sandy pants just out of sight of the crew. They jumped into their sleeping bags and cuddled together to gaze up at the stars.

"Isn't it amazing? You can see so many stars, it feels like we're in a different universe." Hanni said, her head resting on Minji's arm like a pillow as Minji teased fingers in her hair to relax her.

"Yes, it's incredible." She was having a hard time reconciling all the memories that were rushing back from her family vacations there many years before. As much as she loved visiting, she was always coping with the competition with Taehyung for their father's attention, along with the general disapproval she got from Jihyo over the adventures she got up to in the forest.

The memories with her family struck such a contrast to her feelings now, laid out on the beach half naked in a sleeping bag with Hanni. Those before times felt far away, yet Taehyung's latest aggression made Minji feel she could never really leave them behind. She tried to put it out of her mind. The battle with her brother would have to wait until after her vacation.

"I wish we could stay here. Leave it all behind." She whispered into the top of Hanni's head.

"Let's just enjoy the time we have." Hanni said, lifting her head so she could see Minji better, seeming to sense her unease.

"As you wish." Minji whispered, kissing Hanni and then encouraging her to roll over so she could wrap up her body from behind. Eventually they both drifted off to sleep with the sound of the surf nearby lulling them to sleep.

***

The next day was filled with a lot of hard work by all, carried out under a blazing sun without a cloud in the sky. Minji couldn't remember working so hard, at least not on cleaning and doing chores. As Minji attempted to sweep out their cabin, Hanni had to laugh at her ineptitude in trying to get all the dust into a pan.

"Surely they've invented something more effective than this system by now..." Minji mumbled to herself as she struggled.

"How long's it been since you swept a floor?" Hanni teased.

"Ummm..."

"Have you ever swept...anything, before?"

"No comment."

"Minji! Here, let me..." Hanni attempted to take the broom away from her.

"Absolutely not! I'm going to make this floor so clean we can eat off it."

"Well, I'm not interested in eating off of it." Hanni said with a smirk. "But there are some other things that might be fun."

Minji flashed her eyes at Hanni at the implication of what they might do on the floor together, but she managed to stay focused on the job.

"Be good." Minji warned and returned to her sweeping efforts.

"Oh, I will." Hanni chuffed, watching Minji closely as she continued to try to corral the dust. "You can believe it."