estrange ✶ huening kai

epilogue.

four years later.

"so, how's your relationship going?"

"ooo, yeah! i heard you guys have been together since your senior year of high school."

at 22 years old, sora was now a junior in college. she majored in medicine, along with her boyfriend of three years.

"ah, we're doing fine," she shyly smiled, poking at the food that she and her roommates had brought for their small picnic.

her oldest roommate, jinju, shook her head, "come on, tell us the details! you've been a relationship longer than any of us!"

"i don't know what you want me to say," she grinned just at the thought of him, her stomach swirling with butterflies, "he's sweet, caring, compassionate. he's pretty much perfect."

her other roommate, yeeun, gently slapped her shoulder, "ah, i'm so jealous!" after a moment, she looked at sora, "hey, do you think he'll propose to you soon? i mean, you guys have been together for three years!"

sora shook her head, "no, no, i don't think so. we've both got a lot on our plates right now with school."

jinju nodded, "that is true.."

looking down at her phone, yeeun spoke up, "ah, my cousin is going to drop by and bring me my laptop. i forgot that i have to go straight to the library from here for a group project, so i'll be needing it."

the two girls nodded, and continued to eat their food while making small talk.

only a few minutes later, sora's phone began to ring. looking down at the screen, she smiled softly at the name.

'TAEHYUNNIE <3"

"i need to take this," she grinned, standing up to walk away from the two.

"take your time, lovebird!"

"oh, is that your cousin?" jinju pointed behind yeeun, so she turned to get a better look.

"mhm, it is." she waved, hoping to catch the man's attention, "kai! over here!" he walked over, handing the computer case to his older cousin. "this is my roommate, jinju. my other roommate should be coming back any second now."

"ah, hello. nice to meet you," he politely spoke, bowing in the older girl's direction.

just as he rose back up, sora made her return. "sorry, he just was telling me he'd pick me up when we're done."

"ah, okay." yeeun nodded, before gesturing to kai, who sora hadn't looked at yet. "this is my younger cousin, huening kai. isn't he cute?"

feeling frozen in place, kai could only stare at the woman before him. she looked... different. a good different in his eyes.

sora stared back, feeling as if worlds were colliding right before her eyes.

the other two stared between them, wondering why the atmosphere had changed so much.

"do you.. know each other?" yeeun asked, hoping to snap them out of whatever was going on.

the two turned towards her, shaking their heads.

"not really." "not really."

awkwardly looking back at each other for a second, they both chuckled a bit, hoping it'd relieve some tension.

kai smiled, albeit a bit sadly, "we just were neighbors."

[ fin. ]