The ice cream parlour

Three.

When Ryujin and Chaeryeong were finally down with their baths, they collapsed onto the bed and Chaeryeong rolled around trying to grab the television controller. She went into Spotify and played some music before turning to Ryujin.

"Do you want to talk yourself? I would like to know more about you," Chaeryeong said.

"Uhh... my parents are still kinda supporting me. I'm studying at a private school and I'm taking the basic subjects, music and dance," Ryujin said.

"You're doing dance?" Chaeryeong blurted out. Ryujin nodded. "Me too!" she exclaimed.

"We should practise together someday," Ryujin thought aloud. "What about you?" she asked Chaeryeong.

"I study at the public school a few blocks away from the shop and I take dance and music too. I think you may know my sister, Lee Chaeyeon-"

"Lee Chaeyeon? The one who was crowned best freestyle and solo performance last year?" Ryujin exclaimed, giddy with excitement. Chaeryeong laughed and nodded.

"You said your parents still supported you. Why can't you pay your rent?" Chaeryeong asked.

"My dad got into an accident. My brother is studying overseas so he can't come back. He does transfer some money back home every month though. My mom is working. But she earns very little. So I decided to work for my rent because I didn't want to be a burden to them," Ryujin explained.

"Where do you work at?"

"At the bookshop," Ryujin replied, bopping her head to the beat of the music.

"You can stay with me for as long as you want," Chaeryeong said while looking at Ryujin. There was a moment of silence and Chaeryeong noticed how attractive Ryujin really was. Despite looking tired and sad, the older's eyes were sparkling.

"You're really pretty," Chaeryeong commented.

"Really? You are too," Ryujin said with a smirk, causing Chaeryeong to blush.

When it was time for dinner, Ryujin offered to cook.

"I don't trust you..." Chaeryeong trailed off as Ryujin washed the knife.

"Don't eat then," She said simply, taking out the chopping board while laughing.

"Fine! Don't hurt yourself, okay?" Chaeryeong said. Ryujin nodded.

—

"Dinner's ready!" Ryujin yelled. Chaeryeong rubbed her eyes sleepily, and trudged out. Yawning, she sat down at the table, watching Ryujin bring out one large bowl and two smaller ones.

"You were sleeping?" Ryujin asked, pushing Chaeryeong's hair away from her face. She nodded.

"Is this how you treat every girl? Like you're her girlfriend?" Chaeryeong asked in a hoarse voice.

"I was crowned biggest flirt in the cohort last year and I'm definitely going strong for the title this year!" Ryujin said, pretending to be offended.

"Is that something to brag about?" Chaeryeong questioned while scooping up some rice.

Ryujin scoffed. "Of course!" she exclaimed and sat down opposite Chaeryeong. "Eat up, darling," she said with a smirk. Chaeryeong blushed.

—

Over the next one to two months, Ryujin and Chaeryeong became closer. The older girl would always bring Chaeryeong to school on her motorbike before going to school herself. Sometimes, Ryujin had lessons online because of events being held at the campus.

And Ryujin would pick her up everyday without fail, online lesson or not. She would bring Chaeryeong to the ice cream parlour and sit in the corner to complete her work or watch her dramas. Unless she had a shift at the bookshop. Ryujin would work till 7pm and Chaeryeong's shift ended at 5. So, when Ryujin had to work, the younger girl would walk to the shop and sit in the small cozy room at the back of the shop to wait for her best friend so they could leave together.

It was also because of Ryujin that Chaeryeong started eating lunch. She knew that Chaeryeong was the sweetest most precious girl ever and she would definitely eat the lunch that Ryujin painstakingly prepared for her in the morning so as to prevent hurting her feelings.

Ryujin usually prepared dinner unless she had to work. During those days, Chaeryeong would cook and allow the older girl to rest for a bit before eating.

After dinner, the two friends would usually watch an episode of whatever drama they were on. An episode would mean Ryujin whining after it came to an end and Chaeryeong begging her to go to sleep because she was so tired. In the end, Ryujin would watch it on her phone while Chaeryeong turned on her side to sleep.

Ryujin would sometimes fall asleep with her phone and Chaeryeong would make sure to take it away and tuck the older girl into bed when she got up to use the toilet.

They also slept in the same bed since Chaeryeong didn't have another and the bed she had was big enough for both her and Ryujin to sleep in without having their backs pressed against each other. However, they did occasionally end up tangled in each other in the morning since Chaeryeong moved around a lot while sleeping.

Chaeryeong was used to waking up to a 'morning, darling' by Ryujin with a lazy smile. At first, she would ask why she called her 'darling' but after a week or two, she got used to it and even enjoyed it until Ryujin told her that 'darling' was her favourite pet name. But she still called her that and honestly, Chaeryeong didn't really mind.

On weekends, the duo would sometimes visit Ryujin's father at the hospital. The first time they went there, Mr Shin nearly has a cardiac arrest when he saw Chaeryeong. Ryujin had to explain to him that Chaeryeong was not her fiancé and that she was just her friend. ("But you never bring any of your girlfriends to visit me!" croaked Mr Shin.)

Sometimes, they would go on little friend dates to cafés, vinyl stores and amusement parks. Chaeryeong enjoyed going to the library and although Ryujin would really rather go have lunch with her, she would accompany her there.

As time passed, Chaeryeong started feeling weird around Ryujin. For example, when the older girl would call her 'honey' or 'sweetheart' or basically anything other than 'darling', Chaeryeong would find herself becoming a whole blushing mess on the inside and in an attempt to hide it, she would smack Ryujin while telling her to stop. Or when she would ask Ryujin 'do you treat every girl like your girlfriend?' and she would reply 'why do you ask? don't you like my little pet names and kisses?' and Chaeryeong would find herself becoming a whole gay mess on the inside or in other words, agreeing with with her. However, she refused to think about the possibility of her even having feelings for Ryujin.

In short, Lee Chaeryeong refused to believe that she may or may not like Shin Ryujin.