As Minju's eyes fluttered open, she winced at the harsh sunlight streaming through the windows, exacerbating the throbbing in her head. Slowly, the events of the previous night came back to her in fragments, and she couldn't help but wonder if it had all been just a dream.

She turned to her side, her heart sinking when Yujin was no longer beside her.

With a heavy sigh, Minju swung her legs over the edge of the bed and grabbed her phone off the bedside table. 

Yuri: Before you say anything, I'm sorry. 

Yuri: She's the only other person I trust to bring you back safely.

Yuri: You should be thanking me. 

Minju snickered at the sticker she sent of a cartoon duck sneering. 

Slowly, she made her way downstairs. The scent of freshly cooked food greeted her as she descended, causing her stomach to growl in anticipation.

As she entered the kitchen, Minju's eyes landed on the neatly set counter. A bowl of beansprout soup, a remedy for those pulsating throbs in her head, and a side of rice and Kimchi. So simple yet it held a special place in Minju's heart.

There, next to it, was a small note, written in Yujin's handwriting, accompanied with some hangover supplements.

Good morning, my love. I had to head to class early, but I made you some beansprout soup and got some supplements because I know you get the worst headaches after drowning yourself in alcohol. Heat them up before you eat. There are heat packs and your favourite Lindors in the ziplock. I got a notification saying the Red Sea was coming to get you. As much as I wish to be in bed with you, I have an assignment due tomorrow. My things are back at the dorm. If it gets bad, call me.

Minju suppressed the smile making its way onto her lips. The relief and joy that everything was okay turned into agony when the pain struck her abdomen to remind her what it was like to be a woman.

—

Minju adjusted the strap of her bag as she and Juyeon made their way through the bustling halls of the university hospital. Her blood sugar levels were screaming for help.

Seeing her discomfort, Juyeon glanced at her with concern. "Are you okay?"

Minju managed a weak smile and nodded. As they approached the reception desk, Minju reached into her bag and pulled out a lollipop, unwrapping it and popping it between her lips.

Once they finished filling up some forms, Juyeon turned to her with a friendly smile. "How about we grab a late lunch together? My treat."

Before Minju could respond, she felt someone steal the lollipop from her hand. Startled, she turned to see Yujin standing there, a mischievous grin on her face as she stuck the lollipop into .

The younger girl circled an arm around Minju's shoulder, keeping her close. "Hate to burst your bubble but she has plans with me," Yujin announced, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Minju blinked in surprise, caught off guard by her girlfriend's sudden appearance. We do? Her mind echoed, her brow furrowing in confusion yet relief made its way to her chest.

Yujin was back. My Ahn Yujin is back.

With that dimpled smile of Yujin's, it was as if the girl was answering her thoughts. She couldn't deny the flutter of excitement that stirred within her, dismissing the dread of spending the next hour with a guy her best friend had been weary about.

Doesn't she have an assignment due tomorrow? Minju couldn't help but wonder, feeling the soft squeeze of Yujin's hand on her shoulder.

"If you don't mind." The younger girl gave a small polite nod to Juyeon, bringing Minju to walk with her.

The brunette's eyes were stuck on Yujin, words not leaving . Nestling the lollipop back between Minju's lips, the younger girl asked, "Is he bothering you?"

The question made the brunette aware of what was happening. "He's...uhm, he," she snickered softly, still surprised. She took the candy out of . "What are you doing here?"

"To make sure you're eating. You'd prefer to lie dead on the bed than eat and I'm not letting you pass out," Yujin said. "Does he do that often?" She went back to asking about Juyeon.

Minju only knew how to smile with the girl around. Her smile turned into a grin. "I didn't know I had a jealous girlfriend," she muttered beneath her breath.

"Hm?" Yujin didn't catch her mumbling, earning a little smile from the girl.

"Nothing," Minju said and stopped walking, taking Yujin's arm off her shoulder. "If you think I ever said yes to him asking me out for lunch, you're not my girlfriend." She turned and walked with a hint of pettiness in her steps.

"What do you—"

Minju snapped back around with a finger pointed at the younger girl. "As if I'd spend my time with someone else other than you. I know this face. You're jealous."

While Yujin was busy comprehending the situation, Minju stuck the lollipop back into . She interlocked their hands and pulled the girl to walk.

Yujin denied, "I'm not jealous."

"You totally are," the older girl retorted.

"So what if I am? I'm your girlfriend. Technically, I am allowed to be jealous if someone is trying to hit on my girlfriend when I'm not around," Yujin said, taking the tote bag from Minju and carrying it. "I'm not jealous. I just don't like the way he looked at you."

Minju walked ahead, lips fighting a smile. She turned around. "How did he look at me?"

"Like he wanted you."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because I'm your girlfriend—you're going to hit something." Yujin grasped her hand, making sure to hold onto the girl, favouring her safety over anything else.

The older girl glanced at her, then at their hands, as the pleasant feeling of having Yujin around started swirling within her. "Where are we going?"

"Your place."

"Perfect." Minju had no arguments.

"But first, lunch." 

—

With an arm clasping onto Yujin's laptop, the other busy with her tote bag, Minju settled her shoes by the door. "Why did you get so many things?"

Yujin tailed behind her with a recycled bag full of groceries, locking the door and pushing her shoes to the side neatly. They had a quick meal before spending the next hour at the supermarket.

"You didn't have any," she said, tiptoeing to the kitchen to settle down the bag before heading to the bathroom. "I can't let you go hungry."

Minju looked into the bag, unbeknownst to the smile she had on her face. Yujin came back, helping to put the ingredients into their respective places, pacing from the fridge to the dry cabinet.

When the older girl was in the way, perhaps amid awe, Yujin's hand went to the small of her back. "Go take a shower. I can handle this," she said.

With a gentle nudge, the younger girl guided Minju towards the living room, urging her to take a shower while she handled the groceries. The younger girl's touch sent a shiver down Minju's spine, a subtle reminder of the warmth and comfort that always seemed to emanate from Yujin's presence.

Yujin turned her attention back to the groceries, unpacking them with practised efficiency.

Hearing footsteps, she thought Minju had gone into the bathroom but was greeted with a small kiss on her cheek, causing her heart to skip a beat.

Before she could even take a glance, Minju had disappeared into the bathroom, leaving her to feel a pang of longing in her chest as she thought about how much she had missed Minju during their time apart.

Yujin couldn't help but smile to herself as she worked, feeling a sense of contentment settle over her. Despite the challenges they had faced recently, being able to take care of Minju in this small way brought her a sense of peace.

When Minju descended from the loft, hair half-dried, all comfortable in her sweats, she saw Yujin sitting in front of her laptop, busy with her said assignment the older girl thought she had forgotten about. Seemed like someone decided that doing her assignment here was better than the dorm. 

She quietly settled next to the girl, her presence earning immediate attention from Yujin.

The latter shifted a mug to Minju.

"Hm?"

"Chamomile tea," Yujin said, turning to her right.

The older girl watched her grab a crab plush toy, about two palms big, receiving it from her.

"I warmed it up for you."

Minju snickered, feeling the warmth of the toy creep past her fingertips. "What's this?"

"Hyewon said it helps. So I got one for you." The younger girl reached over, running her fingers through Minju's hair, giving it a soft ruffle. "Why didn't you dry your hair fully?"

The older girl couldn't pry her eyes off Yujin. People said that one could only fall in love with a person once. The next time they do so, they'd be falling in love with the memories instead.

But here Minju was, not knowing how many times she would fall. With their memories, with the girl in front of her, with Yujin, she fell too deeply, beyond salvation.

After all the girl had been through, Yujin was still here, with no thought of running away. She was here to stay.

As Minju gazed into Yujin's eyes, she felt a warmth spread through her chest, her overwhelming feelings washing over her—her inner desires wanting a chance to take over.

Without a word, she leaned in closer, closing the distance between them until their lips met in a soft, gentle kiss.

The moment Yujin felt her lips against hers, she melted straight through them, fingers lightly tangling at the ends of Minju's hair before gently cradling the girl's jaw.

The brunette deepened the kiss, resting her hand along Yujin's thigh, grasping onto her. Losing themselves in each other was probably the easiest thing to do.

At the moment, it was all Minju wanted to do.

Yujin pulled away, just in time before the older girl lost it all, her sanity included. "I have a few more pages." What a killjoy.

Minju leaned back. She understood, nodding slowly as she remembered the plush toy on her lap. Yujin took a second glance before putting her hands back on the keys of the laptop.

The older girl fought hard to hold back, finding an alternative to stay close to the girl. She decided to go onto her side.

As Minju settled her head on Yujin's lap, the younger girl's fingers instinctively threaded through the brunette's hair as she continued typing on her laptop.

Inevitably, the older girl dozed off with the little crab clasped between her arms and her abdomen.

Yujin glanced down once more, this time captivated by the serene expression on Minju's face. The soft light of the evening sky illuminated her features, casting a gentle glow over her skin.

Her eyes traced the curve of Minju's cheekbone, the delicate slope of her nose, and the way her lips settled as if she were smiling. There was a certain beauty in the way her girlfriend seemed so at peace, nestled against her lap.

Yujin found herself momentarily forgetting about the assignment on her laptop as she reached out to brush a strand of hair away from the brunette's face, her touch lingering on her cheek.

The older girl stirred slightly at her touch, eyelashes fluttering to reveal those mesmerising eyes Yujin could get lost in for hours.

"Sorry," the younger murmured, realising she had been staring. "I can't help it."

A playful glint reached Minju's eyes. She reached up and gently cupped the girl's cheek. "I like it when you stare at me like that."

Yujin felt her cheeks flush at the admission, a warmth blooming through her chest at Minju's words. She leaned into her touch. And for a moment, they stayed like that.

Until the younger girl covered Minju's face with her hand, earning a soft yelp. The brunette threw a petty glare at her.

"I won't be able to hold back if you do that," Yujin warned, trying to free herself from distraction. "Just let me finish this." Her soft, stuttered breath showed her limit that Minju badly wanted to exceed.

"Why did you come here then?"

"Because I wanted to see you."

That certain answer made the brunette's heart quiver. "That's all?"

Yujin shifted her gaze onto her, knowing she wanted a full answer. But she knew she wanted to get things done before speaking whatever was on her mind. That's the only time she knew her words would be sincere.

"That's not all but it's most of it," Yujin said. "Now, seriously, go take a nap upstairs while I finish this. I don't want your back to hurt." She sat Minju up, pestering her to go.

The older girl pouted, dragging her feet along and turning back.

"I'll be with you in a minute," Yujin assured.

"More like an hour." Minju sulked, lunging herself up the stairs.

—

Closing her laptop, Yujin rubbed her eyes just to realise the sky had already turned dark. She circularly rotated her wrists, stretching them out along with her arms before standing up.

Swiftly, she hopped up the stairs, light on her feet and saw Minju curled up into a ball on the be