Knew You Were Trouble | KAZUJIN

Chapter 26: Figuring Stuff Out

Yunjin woke up to the faint, early morning light filtering through her window, casting a soft glow across her room. She blinked, slowly adjusting to the light, and realized with a small smile that Kazuha was still nestled close beside her, her breathing slow and peaceful. Yunjin's heart swelled at the sight—she couldn't remember the last time she'd woken up feeling this calm, this complete.

Carefully, she shifted a bit, not wanting to wake Kazuha, but the movement was enough to make Kazuha stir. Her eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep, and she gave Yunjin a soft, drowsy smile that made Yunjin's stomach do a little flip.

"Morning," Kazuha murmured, her voice soft and warm, like she'd just melted into the day.

Yunjin grinned, brushing a strand of hair away from Kazuha's face. "Morning, sleepyhead. Did you sleep well?"

Kazuha nodded, a small smile curving her lips as she looked around, seeming both a little shy and entirely at home. "Yeah, better than I have in a while. This... this was really nice."

Yunjin's grin softened, and she let her hand linger on Kazuha's cheek, her thumb brushing gently. "It was more than nice."

For a moment, they lay there in comfortable silence, just taking in each other's presence, the quiet intimacy of the morning surrounding them. Yunjin could feel her heart pounding slightly as she took in the warmth in Kazuha's gaze, the softness of her expression.

After a few moments, Kazuha glanced at the clock, her eyes widening a bit. "Oh, we should probably get up soon... I don't want to get you in trouble with your mom."

Yunjin chuckled. "Don't worry about her. She's probably thrilled that you stayed over. Besides," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye, "I think she likes you more than she likes me."

Kazuha laughed, shaking her head. "That's impossible." She reached for Yunjin's hand, intertwining their fingers, and for a while, they stayed like that, holding on to each other as if the morning were theirs to keep forever.

Eventually, though, the reality of the day settled in, and they reluctantly got up. As they made their way down to the kitchen, they found Yunjin's mom already awake, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee and a warm smile that lit up when she saw them.

"Good morning, girls!" Mrs. Huh greeted cheerfully. "I made breakfast—you two must be starving after last night."

Kazuha shot Yunjin a look, her cheeks slightly pink, and Yunjin bit back a laugh. "Thanks, Mom," she said, guiding Kazuha to a seat at the table.

They settled in, laughing and chatting with Mrs. Huh over breakfast. Yunjin stole glances at Kazuha, feeling that warm, giddy thrill each time their eyes met.

As they ate, Mrs. Huh kept the conversation light, occasionally asking Kazuha questions about her family, her favorite foods, and little things about her interests. She seemed genuinely invested, her eyes lighting up each time Kazuha responded, clearly charmed by the warmth and sincerity in Kazuha's answers.

At one point, Mrs. Huh leaned forward, glancing between the two of them with a slightly mischievous look. "So, how long have you two been... friends?" she asked, her emphasis on the last word making Yunjin nearly choke on her orange juice.

Kazuha's eyes widened, and she glanced quickly at Yunjin, her cheeks growing pink. Yunjin, after recovering, shot her mother a pointed look. "Mom," she said, half-scolding, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes.

Mrs. Huh just chuckled, raising her hands in mock innocence. "I'm just asking. You know I'm nosy."

Kazuha smiled, her expression shy but fond. "We're... still figuring things out," she said softly, giving Yunjin a look that made Yunjin's heart flutter. "But... I like spending time with her. A lot."

Yunjin's mom's expression softened, her usual teasing look replaced by one of genuine warmth. "Well, that's good to hear," she said gently. "Yunjin's always been a bit of a handful, but she's got a good heart."

"Mom," Yunjin muttered, rolling her eyes, but there was a small, grateful smile tugging at her lips.

Mrs. Huh reached across the table, placing a hand over Kazuha's for a moment. "If you ever need anything, Kazuha, you're welcome here anytime. I mean that."

Kazuha's eyes brightened, and she looked down, clearly touched by the gesture. "Thank you, Mrs. Huh. That... means a lot."

They finished breakfast, and Yunjin helped clear the table, glancing over her shoulder every now and then to steal a quick, happy glance at Kazuha, who chatted with her mom as if she'd always been part of the family.

As they moved to the door to say their goodbyes, Mrs. Huh gave Kazuha a quick hug. "Don't be a stranger," she said warmly. "And good luck at practice today!"

After she closed the door, Yunjin turned to Kazuha, who still looked a bit dazed by the whole morning. "See?" Yunjin grinned, taking her hand. "I told you she likes you more than she likes me."

Kazuha laughed, squeezing her hand. "I like her too. I can see where you get your charm."

"Oh, so you think I'm charming?" Yunjin teased, pulling her closer.

Kazuha rolled her eyes but smiled, unable to hide the fondness in her gaze. "You're okay, I guess."

Yunjin chuckled, leaning in and pressing a quick, soft kiss to her lips. "I'll take it," she murmured, her forehead resting gently against Kazuha's. "I'll take anything you'll give me."

As they stepped out of Yunjin's house and into the crisp morning air, Yunjin slipped her hand into Kazuha's, intertwining their fingers with ease. The street was quiet, and the faint sounds of the city just waking up drifted in the distance. It felt peaceful, like their own little world where nothing could intrude.

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, each of them savoring the gentle warmth of the other's hand. Every so often, Yunjin would glance over, catching the faint smile on Kazuha's face, and it made her heart race all over again. She never imagined she'd be this lucky.

As they approached Kazuha's house, Kazuha suddenly paused, tugging Yunjin gently to a stop under the shade of a nearby tree. She turned to face her, her gaze soft but searching.

"Thank you for last night," Kazuha murmured, her fingers gently grazing Yunjin's knuckles. "I don't think I've felt this... at home with someone in a long time."

Yunjin's eyes softened, and she brought Kazuha's hand up, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "You don't have to thank me," she said quietly. "I'm the one who's grateful. For you. For... this." She squeezed Kazuha's hand, her thumb tracing gentle circles over her skin. "Being with you just... makes everything feel right."

They stood there for a moment, their breaths mingling in the cool air as Yunjin reached up, tucking a stray piece of Kazuha's hair behind her ear. She let her hand linger, her fingers brushing Kazuha's cheek as she leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can I kiss you?"

Kazuha's gaze softened, her cheeks a faint shade of pink, but she didn't hesitate. She closed the distance, their lips meeting in a soft, tender kiss that felt as natural as breathing. It was unhurried, each of them savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment, feeling the unspoken promises lingering between them.

When they pulled back, Kazuha let out a small, content sigh, her forehead resting against Yunjin's. "You know," she whispered, "you're starting to make it really hard to say goodbye."

Yunjin chuckled, her fingers gently caressing Kazuha's cheek. "Then don't. Just stay close. I'll walk with you every chance I get."

Kazuha laughed softly, shaking her head but with a warm smile still on her lips. She glanced back at her house, reluctant but knowing she had to go. "I'll see you soon," she said, giving Yunjin's hand one last squeeze before reluctantly letting go.

As she walked up the steps to her house, Kazuha looked back, catching Yunjin's gaze and smiling one last time. Yunjin waved, standing there until Kazuha disappeared inside, feeling a warmth settle in her chest that stayed with her long after she'd walked away.