The Alters. (Purinz)

Fifteen

...Concluding, the reason why water rescuers have childhood experiences related to drowning, contributing to the formation of trauma, yet still decide to study and pursue their career, which constantly plays with the limits of their own stress, is that as humans, we always seek to surpass ourselves, and that... -dramatic pause-. Is the most human characteristic there is.

Yunjin finished speaking, receiving applause and a standing ovation from her classmates, as well as from her teachers; even Mr. Kim congratulated her.

She left a copy of her work on her professors' table.

-For a paper you prepared in four months, it's really good. -Mr. Kim said.

-Thank you. -she simply replied, as if it were a genuine compliment.

She exited her class and, as always, returned to her room, where her lovely girlfriend welcomed her with soft kisses and chocolate cupcakes.

-Hello, beautiful. -she said, while the older one hugged her neck, her hands moving to her waist.

-How did your final presentation go? -she tilted her head; her long hair was slightly curly and messy, looking great.

-Excellent, of course. -she said-. When is your photography exhibition?

-It's the exhibition for the whole class, not just mine... -she corrected-. It starts on Monday.

-Fabulous, we have a date on Monday. -she said, winking charmingly.

They hadn't had any fights or incidents again; they simply worked well together. Plus, Yunjin often used psychological tactics to calmly discuss any conflict, there was nothing that couldn't be resolved without making anyone feel bad.

Sometimes Chaewon felt bad about herself or their relationship; sometimes she was very scared and carried many insecurities, more than she really noticed. But Yunjin was very good to her; she didn't let anything escalate, she didn't let her cry too much or stress too much, and she loved taking care of her.

The two were happy, sharing their lives and their room. With the holidays and the end of the year approaching, they still didn't know what they would do, but they wouldn't stay at the university during the break, mainly because it would be closed.

That's why, with the uncertainty, they enjoyed every shared moment.

Chaewon didn't want to think too much about it because she didn't want to risk believing again that Yunjin would leave her.

It scared her a lot, and she had that bitter feeling in her stomach that Yunjin would leave her at some point.

Yunjin knew she didn't do it on purpose, that it was sad, but that rejection had been a big part of Chaewon's life; she was just thinking about what she knew best.

That's why Yunjin often said things like: "What if we take a trip together far away this summer?" "Where would you like to go to celebrate our first year together?" "Don't you want to adopt a puppy with me in the future?"

All things that took time, that weren't close, so Chaewon could get used to the idea that in a few months or years, Yunjin would be there.

They would see what they would do later with all the hypothetical plans Yunjin invented.

For now, what worried Chaewon the most was that Yunjin would decide to go somewhere else during the holidays, that she wouldn't want to see her, or that she would leave her, that she would spend her days away from her kisses and hugs, and that she would miss her more than anything in the world.

That's why she took the time to hug her and cuddle into her chest, feeling her perfume and the caresses on her hair, the kisses all over her face, that liberating sensation that left her after making love with her, and how pretty the hickeys looked on her neck.