Invisible String || PURINZ

05 • memory lane

The first thing Chaewon felt was irritation. She hadn't even opened her eyes yet, but she could already tell it was much too early in the morning.

She was a morning person who hated mornings. It was something she just couldn't get out of: no matter what time she went to sleep, she'd always wake up at the very same hour.

Only after a few seconds did she realise this morning wasn't as bad as the others. Huh Yunjin was lying next to her, and their legs became tangled in their sleep. The back of Chaewon's hand was touching Yunjin's balled up fist on her pillow, sending warmth through the whole of her arms.

Yunjin never woke up as early as she did. But Chaewon didn't mind waiting: it was nice and cosy in her bed, and her best friend was the perfect source of heat and comfort.

At times like these, she thought back to the past few years that they've known each other. It was funny how she was lying here so peacefully in her bed when a little more than two years ago she'd have probably burnt the room down before stepping foot in it.

Chaewon never discovered why Yunjin used to be so hesitant and distant towards her. It was one of life's biggest mysteries that couldn't be unveiled. She'd asked during their late nights up, during dinner, breakfast or even when they were batshit drunk and barely walking straight.

But the only answer her best friend ever gave her was 'I don't know, it was so long ago'.

The smaller girl held her breath as she slowly tried to wiggle her legs free without waking the other. Only Yunjin wasn't a deep sleeper like her, and stirred awake when Chaewon was ready to swing her legs over the side of her bed.

"Where are you going?" Yunjin grumbled, her voice low and full of sleep still.

The small girl looked to her side. She watched her best friend attempt to open her eyes, but after a single blink they were glued shut again.

"You can keep sleeping," Chaewon reminded her.

She shuffled around some more, but Yunjin felt around her pillow until she grabbed the small girl's wrist. "Just a little longer?" She pleaded, still unable to force herself to wake up.

The other chuckled at the sight of her. She figured a little longer wouldn't hurt if that's what Yunjin wanted.

Even though deep down she knew that wasn't entirely true.

"Fine, but only an hour at most. We've got–"

"I don't want to think about work." Yunjin groaned in protest.

She tugged at Chaewon's wrist so the girl fell back down on the mattress with a quiet thud.

So there she was once again, on her bed, staring at her half asleep best friend. She started counting the hairs on Yunjin's head, and after the third time of losing count she noticed a few stray ones.

She had memorised every aspect of Yunjin already. The shape of her nose, the colour of her eyes, her arms... she could probably even count the amount of moles she had on her body.

And she was also painfully aware that this wasn't normal best friend behaviour. Though she suppressed that thought and kept it deep, deep down where it belonged; because Huh Yunjin wasn't her hallway crush anymore.

The small girl heaved a sigh, which Yunjin seemed to notice. Nothing managed to wake her up except a friend (or maybe just specifically Chaewon) in distress. Her brown eyes met Chaewon, and all the peacefulness on her face had shifted into worry.

Yunjin looked at her a few seconds before blinking for an awfully long time and having to force her eyes open once again. "What's wrong?" She mumbled.

"Nothing's wrong, Jin." Chaewon replied softly, fumbling with the cover of her pillow.