"Yoooo," Chaewon drawls lazily, hanging with her torso flipped over her gurney (which Haseul still hadn't pushed back into its original place). She flaps her hands, making them land wherever.
And awkwardly, her right hand lands on the part between Hyejoo's stomach and chest, knocking the air from her lungs a little. Hyejoo pushes the hand away and continues reading.
"What book is that?" Chaewon asks, twisting back to lie on her belly, propped up by his elbows. The needles and tubes don't seem to bother her anymore. Hyejoo offers her a hand, and Chaewon takes it with much enthusiasm, gripping it tightly.
"A biography of this North Korean girl," she mumbles in response, eyes boredly scanning the words. "'The Girl with Seven Names,' by Lee Hyeonseo. She did some stuff to escape, and it's a really good book."
"I like this book," Chaewon whispers, rubbing circles into Hyejoo's hand.
"You haven't even read it," Hyejoo snorts in humour, releasing a dry, pent-up laugh.
"Yea, but it sounds interesting."
"Do you want to read it together?" Hyejoo asks, palming the white sheets with her hand to prop herself up onto her elbows. She moves higher, sitting up. Chaewon follows suit.
"...it must be nice to have seven identities," Chaewon comments absentmindedly.
"Not really," the older interrupts. "You'd have to balance a lot of things, and what if one of your identities got you into trouble, like with the police or the gangs? Wouldn't be so nice then."
"Well, then it would be nice to have seven lives," Chaewon murmurs. "like a cat."
"It's nine lives for a cat," Hyejoo corrects her.
Chaewon switches the subject. "She bought a teddy bear and talked to it in fear that she'd die of depression? Must've been hard for her... Do you think I'd need to do that, if you weren't with me?"
"...No. 'Cause I am here," Hyejoo says curtly, pressing Chaewon's head to the crook of her neck so she nuzzles there. She places a soft kiss to her forehead without thinking.
"What was that?" Chaewon chirps, surprised.
"Affection," Hyejoo replies, blandly.
"Ah. I like affection. You wanna... uh... be my-" Chaewon scratches her nape.
"Huh? I am already your friend, Chaewon."
Chaewon feels a slight disappointment, but says nothing as she squeezes Hyejoo's hand harder.
