Beneath the Surface ( Asa and Chiquita )

Chapter 11: Shifting Boundaries

Winter had settled over the campus of Seoul University, blanketing the quad with a thin layer of snow and casting a quiet, reflective hush over the usually busy grounds. Asa had always liked winter—the cold air that made her feel awake and alive, the stillness that made her think more clearly. But this year, the cold had come with complications, and the stillness only reminded her of the distance that still lingered between her and Chiquita.

It had been weeks since the last time they had truly spoken, since the coffee shop conversation where Chiquita had apologized, and Asa had quietly promised to think about rebuilding their friendship. Things were slowly shifting, but Asa was still unsure whether she could truly forgive Chiquita for everything that had happened, especially after the bet, the lies, and the betrayal. And even now, as the holiday break drew near, there was still something in the air between them—an unspoken tension that neither of them could fully ignore.

On the afternoon of the first snowfall, Asa was sitting at a study desk in the library, her textbooks spread out in front of her. The soft rustling of pages and quiet footsteps echoed in the space, the only sounds in a room that felt far too large for a student body that had all but disappeared for the winter break.

She was getting through her work—biology notes, a few philosophy essays, some Korean grammar assignments she'd been putting off—but her mind kept drifting back to Chiquita. Their last conversation had been civil, even slightly warm, but it had been hard for Asa to shake the nagging feeling that things hadn't fully healed.

She'd known Chiquita since the beginning of her journey at Seoul University. Asa had been the quiet, studious scholar from Japan—quiet, reserved, and coming from a modest background, with no illusions of grandeur. Chiquita, on the other hand, was like a whirlwind—a confident and charismatic girl from Thailand, with a reputation that preceded her. Chiquita was everyone's friend—or, more accurately, everyone's obsession. And it was hard for someone like Asa to fit into that world. Yet, somehow, they had become close. Almost inseparable. Until that fateful bet.

Asa sighed and closed her textbook, rubbing her eyes. She knew she still couldn't completely erase the bitterness she'd felt when Chiquita had first betrayed her. That day when Chiquita had tricked her, using Asa's feelings against her for the sake of winning a silly bet—everything had changed in an instant. Chiquita had been cruel, and Asa had been too naïve to see it coming.

The door to the library creaked open, and Asa glanced up from her desk, her heart giving a small jolt. Chiquita stepped in, shaking off snowflakes from her hair and looking around, as if searching for someone. Their eyes met across the room, and for a moment, it felt like time stopped.

Chiquita walked over, a timid smile on her lips. "Hey," she said quietly, as if unsure how to begin. "You busy?"

Asa hesitated, her heart pounding a little faster than she expected. It wasn't that she hadn't been expecting Chiquita to reach out—it was just that after everything, after the bet, the lies, and everything else that had happened, it still felt strange. She'd been trying to move on, to put the past behind her. But Chiquita was still here, still a part of her life, whether Asa wanted it or not.

"I'm always busy," Asa replied, her voice laced with a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "What's up?"

Chiquita smiled back, but there was a nervous edge to it that Asa hadn't seen before. "I was thinking, maybe we could grab some coffee? I know we've both been... busy, but I thought we could talk. Just... catch up, you know?"

Asa's heart hesitated for a moment, her eyes lingering on Chiquita's face. The girl seemed sincere, but Asa had been burned before. She wasn't sure if she could afford to trust Chiquita again, even though a part of her wanted to.

"I don't know, Chiquita," Asa said, standing up slowly and grabbing her bag. "I think I need some time. Time to figure things out, you know? I still don't know what to think about everything."

Chiquita's expression faltered slightly, but she quickly masked it with another forced smile. "I understand. I really do. And I'm not asking for everything to go back to how it was, Asa. But I really do want to make things right. That's all I'm asking for."

Asa paused, glancing at her for a moment longer before nodding. "Okay. I'll... think about it."

The next few days were uneventful, but Asa found herself checking her phone more often than usual, waiting for a message from Chiquita. Her mind was constantly circling back to their last conversation, the faint warmth in Chiquita's eyes that almost made Asa want to believe her. But she had to be careful. The pain of their broken friendship was still fresh, and Chiquita's relationship with Ahyeon—their Queen Bee, as everyone called her—loomed over everything.

Ahyeon was Chiquita's girlfriend. And while Chiquita had made it clear that she was trying to move on from the past, Asa couldn't ignore the obvious: Ahyeon was possessive, assertive, and used to getting whatever she wanted. Her eyes always lingered on Chiquita a little too long, her touch just a little too firm when she was near her. And Asa could feel it—the possessiveness, the undercurrent of control. Ahyeon wasn't just some random girl to Chiquita. She was someone who held Chiquita in a tight grip.

The thought of Ahyeon made Asa feel uncomfortable. It wasn't that she had anything against the girl, but there was something in her presence that made Asa uneasy. Ahyeon had been a big part of the reason why things had fallen apart between her and Chiquita, and now it felt like she was standing in the way of anything resembling a normal friendship between them.

It was New Year's Eve when things began to shift.

Chiquita had invited Asa to a small gathering at her apartment—nothing fancy, just a few close friends and of course her girlfriend Ahyeon. Asa had been hesitant at first, but something in Chiquita's voice, something in the way she spoke, made Asa say yes. Maybe it was the desire to heal the rift between them, or maybe it was the fleeting hope that, despite everything, they could return to being friends.

As Asa stepped into Chiquita's apartment later that night, she immediately felt the tension in the air. The apartment was decorated for the occasion, with fairy lights draped over the walls and a table full of snacks. Chiquita was there, of course, but so was Ahyeon—sitting on the couch with her arm around Chiquita's shoulders, her presence dominating the room.

Asa stood just inside the door, her eyes scanning the room, trying to decide if she should leave or stay. But Chiquita spotted her almost immediately, and with a smile, she walked over, leaving Ahyeon behind.

"Hey," Chiquita greeted her softly, her hand brushing Asa's arm in a casual touch. "I'm glad you came."

Asa smiled back, though it felt like a small weight settled in her chest. "I wasn't sure at first."

"I know," Chiquita said, her voice tinged with a quiet sincerity. "But I'm really glad you're here."

Ahyeon's eyes flicked over to Asa from the couch, her expression unreadable, but Asa caught the possessive glint in her gaze. It wasn't subtle, but it was there.

Asa felt the tension tighten in her chest but forced herself to stay present. "I'll get some drinks," she said quickly, excusing herself before the situation could become too uncomfortable.