Limerence (Chaelisa)

Chapter 19: To a Happy Ending

"Where do you see us in a year?"

"Huh?" Chaeyoung asks, looking up from her books.

It's been a couple weeks since the incident at Roses with a Twist and the two of us sit across from each other at a coffee shop. The original plan was to study together for any upcoming exams, but in the end it was just me scrolling through videos on my phone while Chaeyoung calmly read out of her English textbook with foreign words I couldn't even begin to understand.

"As in how far our relationship will have gone?" Chaeyoung asks, to which I nod. "Well..." she starts off, "if things continue to go as well as they have been this past week, maybe we could've moved in together?"

"You think so?" I can't help the smile that spreads across my face.

Chaeyoung nods. "We could get a small apartment near both of our universities. Just the two of us."

"Sounds great," I say, "Jennie and Jisoo are getting disgusting-er everyday."

"That's not a word, Lisa," Chaeyoung says.

"How would you know, genius?" I retort back sarcastically, childishly sticking my tongue out.

"I'm a language major, I think I know a thing or two about words," Chaeyoung responds.

"Okay, then say, 'Lisa is the best,' in English."

Chaeyoung takes a few seconds to think before saying, "Lisa is the best." I simply nod, not knowing if Chaeyoung had actually said what she was supposed to say. "I've actually been working on my Thai, as well, you say something and I'll translate."

I take a moment to think of what to say.

And I think I'm ready.

"Let's make this relationship official and let everyone know we're together."

"Hey, that's not fair!" Chaeyoung exclaims, completely not understanding anything I just said. "I'm not that good at Thai, don't give me long sentences," she whines.

Without wasting any more time, I lean across the table and press a quick peck of a kiss against Chaeyoung's lips before backing away. Chaeyoung gasps, eyes darting around the room to see if anybody had just saw that. "Lisa—why—why did—but there are—aren't you—huh?" she stammers. Chaeyoung takes a few sips out of her drink before speaking again. "I didn't know that you were okay with the other people knowing we were together. That's what you said a couple weeks ago... but you just kissed me in public and—"

"I'm ready," I cut her off. "For people to know."

Chaeyoung simply stares at me, her lips resting in a straight line. But after a while, the corners of her lips start curving into a smile, a smile so joyous that it brings tears to her eyes. She wipes at her tears, careful not to mess up her makeup. "Shit," she cusses, "you're making me ugly-cry."

"Did you really just say 'shit' in the middle of a romantic moment?"

"Did you really have to make me cry?" she asks.

"Fair enough," I answer with a shrug.

"Look," Chaeyoung motions towards the window, "it's starting to rain."

It starts off as a light drizzle before quickly turning into a raging downpour. The door then swings open and a young man around our age enters the coffee shop, clothes soaked from head to toe. Judging by the backpack, I'm assuming he's a university student as well.

"Fucking hell," the guy mutters, wiping at the water on his face. "Mother Nature can go suck my d—" His words suddenly come to a stop. I look into the direction he's staring at.

He's looking at the cashier, a girl that I recognize from my university.

"It's us," Chaeyoung says to me. "All those months ago."

I nod and pick up my cup of coffee. "To a happy ending?" I ask.

Chaeyoung picks up her cup, "To a happy ending," she agrees.

We tap our near-empty cups together and down the rest of our drinks.