epilogue

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a/n: short little something to celebrate the ending of venomous woohoo

It's been one year, forty-three days and counting. That's how long Hyejoo and Chaewon have been together. Everyday was just like how it used to be, they figured. And it's exactly what they wanted it to be and more. Chaewon was Hyejoo's entire world, and the feeling was easily reciprocated.

"Chaewon plEASE—" Hyejoo said through a laugh, unable to breathe as she watched Chaewon fight Yeojin for the last controller.

"HYEJOO TELL HER TO GIVE IT TO YOUR LITTLE SISTER," Yeojin shouted (or maybe she didn't— her normal volume is shouting anyway) to Hyejoo.

"Keep in mind you have a beautiful, amazing girlfriend, too!" Chaewon exclaimed.

"They're so weird," Hyejoo muttered, shaking her head.

"It's summer vacation, what can I say?" Haseul answered, laughing.

"Technically not for you," Hyejoo replied. "You've graduated now. Get out of your student headspace."

Haseul laughed in agreement. "Forever vacation," she whispered dreamily, watching Hyejoo giggle at that. Or at the way Yeojin swiped the controller from Chaewon's hand and wore a victory face so bright that it shone.

"Yes!" Yeojin exclaimed giddily. "Hyejoo!! I call being Princess Peach!"

"Fine by me," Hyejoo said with a shrug. "Toad is the best character anyway."

That was what days were like a lot now. For the family to be back together again with the same fuckery as always, and for Chaewon to be back in Hyejoo's life, for Hyejoo to revolve around as if Chaewon was the sun to her solar system. Days were brighter now, as if a cloud had been covering Hyejoo's head since the day she'd stop talking to Chaewon. But the cloud has dissipated now. Now, she can feel the way her heart beats with love every time Chaewon smiles in that way that reaches her eyes, looking at Hyejoo like she's found the one. Hyejoo melts every time Chaewon mutters her shy "I love you"s, and her heart collapses when Chaewon hides behind her hands because she gets so embarrassed when Hyejoo says she loves her too.

Hyejoo basked in the way Chaewon would never have to ask to hold her hand. Chaewon knew she had hand-holding rights 24/7. Her tiny, cold hands would slip perfectly into Hyejoo's, warm and welcoming for her. And each time, they look up at each other with shy grins. Hyejoo still falls in love all over again when Chaewon kisses her lips. She still feels electricity in her veins when they cuddle for hours and hours. She still can't help but to smile up at Chaewon whenever she watches her reaction to something, waiting for her to smile back. And when she does, Hyejoo's heart still bursts with soft thuds.

Hyejoo was doomed from the start, she just couldn't see: she was always meant to be here, by Chaewon's side. Meant to fall for the girl with charming eyes and a crazily irresistible smile. This was home. And she wouldn't even wish for it to be any other way.

---

The room is brightly lit and it has such an uplifting atmosphere. The day every high schooler dreams of has finally came along, and Hyejoo and Chaewon are no different when it comes to the celebration.

"FREEDOM!" they exclaim with wide smiles on their faces. They've grown a bit since day one of dating, and today marks five hundred exact, but they still feel exactly the same for each other. Chaewon loved Hyejoo like the earth loved the sun. The tales of two souls that had intertwined despite the circumstances and the world; those are the tales of hope and persistence. They just so luckily got a have a real-life reenactment of it.

Chaewon was the brightest star. Hyejoo could wish on her and it felt like anything could come true. Nothing felt impossible with that charming girl by her side. Chaewon was exactly what Hyejoo needed, and she didn't know how to let her go. Luckily for her, Chaewon didn't either.

Even in nights where dreams were shot with arrows set aflame, igniting them into bright yellow flames to turn to ash, Chaewon would still be there for her. It was amazing, really, how love can bloom so beautifully even when your garden was dead, with no hope of life again. But somehow, Chaewon did it. She always found a way. She healed Hyejoo's aching heart and cupped it with her open palms, assuring that for now, it's safe— forever, it's safe. Chaewon was Hyejoo's safety. She felt the most alive when watching her beam happily. She was an ephemeral goddess that walked the earth, somehow falling into Hyejoo's arms. Hyejoo couldn't stop being thankful for Chaewon and everything she's done.

The feeling was mutual, too. Chaewon loved Hyejoo with what she felt was the entirety of her heart, but she doesn't want to say that as a definitive because she falls in love more each day. Her eyes always feel attached to Hyejoo, the shining girl always by her side. She could feel the way her heart beats faster when Hyejoo squeezes her hand a little tighter, or when she laughs at herself. Hyejoo was the cutest thing, hidden behind a tough shell.

She's spent what feels like forever in a minute with Hyejoo, and she never wants it to stop. It's moments like this when she feels like more than anything else, she belongs. She was always the one in Hyejoo's eyes. After today, they'll have forever to themselves, though. And she couldn't wait for what that infinite forever held.

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