Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ga-yeong still feels the jet lag from the plane.

12 hours non-stop on a plane really does something to you, huh.

Ga-yeong thought to herself.

She was in the middle of the park that her ana d her dad would go to often on his weekends. The summer breeze in Seoul soothes Ga-yeong. The memories for her father plague her mind. She hasn't heard from him in 5 years, almost 6 now. Ga-yeong doesn't know what she did to not deserve at least a single letter from him trying to reach her. Of course she has tried to reach him, because maybe he just doesn't have their new address. But to nobody's surprise, especially not her parents, he never replied. The letters were just sent back. After a few attempts she lost hope. She just believed that her father had more important priorities to attend to, and she just wasn't one of them like he'd promised her to be.

~~~

"Oh my sweet girl of course you'll come first! You always will!" Her father, Gi-hun, said. Ga-yeong had just woken up from a terrible nightmare. Her father had left her and told her that he had more important things to do. He had left her and never came back. When she woke up she screamed and cried for her appa. He rushed into her room, breath still smelled of cigarettes. She cried into her appa's arms and told her about her terrible nightmare. Gi-hun was doing his best to comfort her. "There is nothing that would keep me from you, Ga-yeong, your appa's little girl and I would do everything in my power to make sure to always be there for you." Her father says, trying to soothe her of her worries. Ga-yeong sniffles, eyes glassy from crying, "You p-promise?" Ga-yeong asks. Her father nods his head while tucking her in again. "I promise." Gi-hun said contently. He kisses her forehead and heads towards the door. "Even if I was super duper far away?" Ga-yeong asks one more time. Gi-hun turns to look at her, "Sweetheart you could be all the way across the world and I'd still find my way to you." He says gently. He turns off the lights and goes to close the door. "Goodnight Ga-yeong." Her father said sweetly. "Goodnight appa, love you." she says tiredly.

"I love you too, my sweet girl." Gi-Hun says as he gently closes the door.

~~~

Ga-yeong tries to dab off her teary eyes. It's one of her favorite memories of her dad. But at the same time this memory was why she wanted him to burn, because he had broken a promise she had held so close to her heart. Sometimes Ga-yeong thinks that the dream was a prediction of the future, but maybe that was just her being bitter. Ga-yeong starts to walk along the playground's perimeter. She sits at the old and rusting swing set. Thinking of the found memories of her and her childhood friends.

She had just landed yesterday, although the time difference had gotten to her, she was still determined to reconnect with old friends. Ga-yeong had already gotten in touch with many familiar faces. She had just come from a little cafe with her old friends catching up, everyone seems so ... different. They seemed like they had their lives so put together. Meanwhile Ga-yeong is moving back and forth from country to country. She had forgotten the whole culture of Korea when she first came. She felt lost, in a cultural war inside her. Ever since she moved to America, she feries so hard to fit in. It took a long time to get use to, but even longer for American teenagers to get used to her. But finally, finally when she was fitting in. That’s when Ga-yeong found out they were moving back to Korea, after her mother was getting racially harassed by her workplace. Now she has to get used to Korea again. It’s not like a switch can be flipped in her head. It was so frustrating!

Ga-yeong was pulled out of her trance by shouting.

 “Senorita! You can’t ignore us forever!” A purple haired boy her age shouts. He has his arm around a boy with a bowl cut who looks embarrassed by the commotion that’s going on, shrinking trying to hide his face. On the other side of the purple haired boy is another boy whose hair ends at his collarbones. Sleek and black, he wears a wicked smile on his face. Beside the embarrassed boy is a boy who simply looks too good of a kid to be hanging out with this crowd, but either way he smiles without stopping, looking at the others. They’re following a girl who looks a little younger. Her hair short, she’s wearing an expression of pure annoyance. All their outfits, except for the boy who wouldn’t stop smiling, his outfit felt more cozy, looked like they were from LA. It reminded Ga-yeong of the many kids she went to school with.

Ga-yeong breathes out a laugh at the sight of the scene. She feels warmer knowing that maybe she isn’t so out of place as she thought she was. Her mom would definitely kill her if she ever did that in public, Ga-yeong has always liked the LA fashion. She entertains the thought of dressing like that here. Again her mother would probably act like she wasn’t with Ga-yeong if she ever did try to dress like that in public. It’s not like her mom is unsupportive, it’s just that her mom was very… traditional. Ga-yeong’s phone lights up with a notification, her mom texted her.

Speak of the devil.

The message read. ‘Ga-yeong, come home, dinner is ready’, her mom sends another message. ‘I’ve also got a surprise for you!!!’ Ga-yeong tilts her head slightly, wondering what her mother could’ve possibly gotten her. She turns around and starts heading home, sending her mom a message.

‘Okay eomma!!! Can’t wait to see what’s for dinner!!!’

 Ga-yeong is walking down the street. It’s the usual route to her apartment. Somehow her parents managed to get the same apartment that they used to live in before they moved. She used the same route that her father had taken her on the last time she had seen him. 

Certain memories bring a visceral heaviness in her heart, and those were a can of worms Ga-yeong was not ready to open. She walked past every painful memory on her way home.

Stepping out of the elevator, Ga-yeong walked to room number 208. Taking out her keys with a kitty paw key chain attached with a jingle. Twisting it in the keyhole and entering the apartment, still littered with both opened and unopened boxes. Which reminds her, Ga-yeong has yet to unpack. “Eomma! Min-jae! Do-young! I’m home!” Ga-yeong called out, her little brother peaked his head around the corner. He saw her and beeline for Ga-yeong. “NOONA!” Do-young is screaming off the top of his 7-year old head. “DO-YOUNG KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN!” Ga-yeong heard her mother’s voice from the kitchen. Do-young slams into Ga-yeong with a big hug. Ga-yeong lets out a little ‘oof’ on impact. “It’s nice to know I was missed.” Ga-yeong hugs her brother back. Do-young displays this wide toothy grin, that always seems to brighten her day no matter what. But today. Today she just wanted to rest. Rest from the emotions. Rest from the flights. Rest from the endless tainted memories of her father.

“Ga-yeong! Welcome back sweetheart!”

That voice can only belong to one person. If Ga-yeong thinks her father should burn then this man is the devil himself.

Min-jae.

Her mothers new husband, her step father.

Ga-yeong doesn’t hate him because he’s a massive jerk, which he most definitely is. Not because he acts like he’s better than everyone else, which again he does. It’s because he acts like he’s been here all of her life. Like he was there in the delivery room.

Ga-yeong rolls her eyes and walks into the kitchen. “Hi Min-jae.” She says in this abrasive tone. Not even batting him an eye. “Hi eomma!” Ga-yeong changes her tone in a flip of a dime. Bubbly and cheerful. “Ga-yeong.” Her mother stretches her name out, the way she always does when Ga-yeong does something that annoys her. Like when she isn’t polite to Min-jae. Although they’ve been over this hundreds of times, her mother still hopes that Ga-yeong will warm up to him. Her mother, Eun-ji, knows better than to expect her to even slightly like her husband.

Ga-yeong walks up to her mother and hugs her from behind as she cleans some dishes she used to make dinner. “Set the table, yeah Ga-yeong?” Her mother says as she kisses the top of her head. Ga-yeong unlatches herself from her mother. “And take those shoes off I just mopped!” it comes out steer, Ga-yeong yelps and scrambles to take off her shoes.

The table is silent. It’s not the comfortable silence Ga-yeong is used to with dinner. 

Just then her mother clears her throat.

Great.

“Do-young, please go to your room sweetheart. Appa and I need to have a private conversation with Ga-yeong.”

This is just fucking peachy.

“Ooooooooo, Ga-yeong, you’re in trouble!” Do-young scurries off to his room. Leaving his dishes in the sink. This has Min-jae written all over this, he probably got her mother to put her in some stupid summer math program.

Fuck Min-jae.

Ga-yeong wears an expressionless mask on her face. She’s learned that living with Min-jae, it’s better not to show any emotion before the ‘reveal of the surprise’. That way she doesn’t ‘accidently hurt his feelings’. But it isn’t her fault, if he wants to act like her dad then he’s gotta get to know her like one. But even Ga-yeong has to admit. Even Min-jae looks confused.

Ga-yeong’s Mother takes a deep breath. 

“Ga-yeong, sweetheart, I love you more than anything and you know I would never make a decision that I think wouldn’t be good for you,”

Oh god here we go.

“Since we’re back in Korea again, the visitation order from the court is back in order.”

Ga-yeong heart drops. Her blood stops flowing. Her whole body freezes.

“What,” is all that Ga-yeong can muster up.

“What court order?”, Min-jae is just as clueless as always.

“Ga-yeong, I contacted Gi-hun. He said he can take you this weekend.” Eun-ji spoke clearly and firmly, her voice was steady in a way Ga-yeong knew there was no other option.

“Wait, that piece of shit? No, I'm not letting MY daughter see that dead beat!” Min-jae’s voice is harsh and unkind. He carries his voice as if he has any power in this situation. 

“Min-jae,” Eun-ji says in a honey-like tone. It’s sickening.

“No! We moved to America for this exact reason, Eun-ji!” Min-jae’s voice climbs an octave. 

“Well we’re back in Korea I don’t know what to tell you!” Eun-Jim’s voice cuts sharper this time.

Min-jae and Eun-ji go back and forth with Eun-ji saying that it’s not her choice and Min-jae saying he’ll get the best lawyers in Seoul for Ga-yeong.

Now, Ga-yeong is really thinking, weighing her options:

1) She could speak up for herself saying she doesn’t want to see her father, neither is she even remotely ready for that.

Or…

2) Ga-yeong can use this time to get back at Min-jae. Piss him off to a whole other level. 

It all really boils down to who she hates the most.

There’s a clear winner.

“I don’t mind going. It’ll be nice actually. We can catch up.” Ga-yeong smiles through her response. Playing around with her barely eaten food.

That’s all she needs to say to push Min-jae over the edge. 

“No! No daughter of mine will see that dead beat!” Min-jae is losing his fucking mind. His face is visibly getting red, his voice jumps ten octaves. One moment he’s gesturing wildly, the next he’s slamming his fists on to the table. Each insult Min-jae throws toward Gi-hun’s way just gets worse. Ranging from ‘Dead beat’ to ‘Scum of the Earth’.

At first this was all supposed to be for shits and giggles. But this is actually starting to piss Ga-yeong off. Eun-ji is trying to calm her husband down from whatever rampage he was storming up.

 “Why are you so against me going to see Gi-hun? Unlike you he actually gave a damn about me!” Ga-yeong’s voice matches the rage of Min-jae.

This is unfair. Min-jae shouldn’t be able to act like a piece of shit then get a say in if she could she her dad. It’s her choice. Ga-yeong hates Min-jae, hates him more than her father. Did she even hate her father anymore? Maybe Ga-yeong had never even hated her father.

Whatever, Ga-yeong can’t think, can’t breathe, can’t exist in the same room as Min-jae.

“You know what? I’m leaving! I can’t stand when you’re like this!” Ga-yeong slams her palms on the table and leaves the kitchen, leaving a stressed Eun-ji, a furious Min-jae and a cold plate of food behind.

“GA-YEONG! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!” Min-jae’s voice is rising.

Screw Min-jae. Screw him and his stupid ass ‘rules’.

Ga-yeong opened the door and slammed it shut behind her. Tears wielding in her eyes.  Ga-yeong turns on her heels and leaves. She takes the stairs, she can’t stand being in any kind of room right now.

Chapter Text

The elevator chimes open and Ga-yeong is out of the building in an instant. She walks down the street. She’s not going to run away, that’s stupid. She just needs fresh air.

Ga-yeong starts to feel a really inconvenient grumble in her lower stomach. She stops in her tracks, breathes in and holds her breath, “Uggghhh! Why now? This is what I get for eating slowly.” Ga-yeong mutters as she lets out her breath.

She begins to walk around, the bustling streets distracting her from her bad mood. She finds a fried chicken shop.

She walks in and the aroma immediately hits her. Scents of sweet and savory swirling around, adding to the already beautiful environment. The decor shades of yellows and oranges, making it seem like it’s golden hour in there. Like the cafe was cut off from the rest of the loud world. It’s now where she starts to think of memories that really should stay out of her head now, especially now. 

~~~

The sour flavors of kimchi hits her tongue. Kimchi is her favorite. “You like dinner tonight, Ga-yeong? I would’ve gotten you something nicer, but umm…,” Gi-hun takes a second to think, he hesitates and then starts speaking again. “Appa had to spend much more time at the workshop than I imagined so I didn’t have that much time to buy or make you anything.” Gi-hun scratched the back of his head. He’s clearly embarrassed, but Ga-yeong doesn’t pick up on it. Instead she replies with, “It’s okay appa! I love kimchi! It’s my favorite!” Her voice is high pitched because of her 8 year old voice. Ga-yeong looks at her father with big eyes, like she always does before asking for anything. “Appa…,” Ga-yeong begins, waiting for her fathers acknowledgment. Gi-hun looks at her with a smile that says ‘tell me what’s on your mind.’ “Yes little lady?” Gi-hun says while pinching her cheek lightly. A frustrated huff comes out of Ga-yeong as she tries to fend off her father’s loving touch. “Appa stop! I’m being serious!” She says, as he finally stops. “Yah, okay okay tell me what you were gonna say.” Ga-yeong cleared her throat, “Appa, I want to help you with the cars! So that you can come home earlier.” Ga-yeong's voice carries out with all the gentleness an 8 year old can. “Aah my honey bunny! You worried about me?” Ga-yeong nods “Oh but I’m fine Ga-yeong!” Gi-hun says, trying to relieve his daughter of her worries. “But you always come home late!” Ga-yeong counters. “Aah, my little bunny," Gi-hun pauses and then continues his sentence after a breath “When did you become so empathetic? Caring about me when I should be caring for you.” Gi-hun rests his cheek on his left hand holding chopsticks in the other. “We can take care of each other!” Ga-yeong exclaims. “Sure sweetheart. That way we’re never alone.” Gi-hun’s tone is bittersweet as tears pool in his eyes, not quite breaking free. Ga-yeong starts to tear up as well. “Don’t cry Appa. You’re making me cry.” Her voice is weak, trembling like she’s trying to hold up a dam. “Aah sweet girl don’t cry.” Gi-hun pets the back of her head and brings her closer into a hug. “Here have some,” Gi-hun brings his chopsticks up to Ga-yeong's mouth and feeds her some kimchi. Ga-yeong starts to chew. “You know what they say?”, “Who’s ‘them’ Appa?” Gi-hun chuckled lightly at Ga-yeong’s question. Ga-yeong felt the light rise and fall of his chest. “It’s just a saying, my honey bunny.” Ga-yeong’s mouth makes a little ‘o’ shape like she just discovered something new. “What do they say then Appa?” Gi-hun lifts his chopsticks to her mouth again, feeding her more kimchi as he clears his throat.

“They say ‘There’s Nothing like Food to Heal the Soul.’”

~~~

Ga-yeong shakes her head lightly. Her father was a gambler. That’s why he could never afford anything expensive for her. Not that she hates him for that. Ga-yeong could have cared less how much money her father spent on her. It’s just that growing up taints memories, changes your view. Knowing that he’s a gambler, Ga-yeong knows why he hesitated, why he was on the verge of tears, and why her parents got divorced. It was because of the addiction.

“But he tried…” Ga-yeong mumbles to herself.

Now truly wondering what matters more.

The fact he tried or that him and his addiction were at fault for everything terrible in her life.

Ga-yeong returns to reality with a breath and takes a seat in a small booth by the window. This suddenly feels familiar in a distant way.

It’s just fried chicken this time. No, this is not the same.

She looks through the little cardstock menu looking at all the flavors, it’s peaceful. The restaurant’s not too crowded. It’s just what Ga-yeong needed.

Until…

“Hiya!” a voice exclaimed, totally startling Ga-yeong and totally not what she needed.

“Umm… Hi?” Ga-yeong’s voice raises towards the end making it more of a question than a greeting.

The girl in front of her is not what she was expecting. Dark brown hair, it looks impossibly dark for brown hair though and curls at the ends. Her hair is placed into neatly tied pigtails, wrapped by 2 black scrunchies. She was wearing a black turtle neck underneath a dark gray shirt with an artist that Ga-yeong remembers from America, Frank Sintara. She was wearing a black skirt paired with tights and black leg warmers that were laid on top of black boots.

How the hell is this girl not hot in this terrible summer heat? She must be an American or some sort of foreigner. No Korean in their right mind would dress like that in this heat.

Her face makes a little ‘o’ as she comes to a realization. “You’re not Soo-jin, are you?” She speaks. Ga-yeong looks at her, finally understanding it all.

“Ahaha, no I’m not, sorry am I in your seat?”

“OH, No! Not at all! Sorry I think I just got stood up,” the girl precedes to weakly chuckle.

Ga-yeong and the brunette stand there awkwardly looking at each other and then away.

“Um, do you mind if I sit with you? The restaurants’ kinda crowded.” The girl let out another weak chuckle, trying to relieve her embarrassment.

Ga-yeong takes a look around the clearly empty restaurant. She could say no, she probably should say no. After all, she doesn’t even know the girl. But …

“Sure, why not? I was starting to get lonely anyways!” Ga-yeong says, trying to make her tone welcoming.

The girl smiles lightly and shuffles into the seat in front of Ga-yeong. “My name is Chae-won by the way. And thank you for letting me sit down with you.”

She sits straight, but relaxed. Like it’s her most comfortable position and not like she’s been told to do so. Not like Ga-yeong. Another thing Ga-yeong notes is that she always seems polite even with her loudness. Also not like Ga-yeong. Not well-mannered, not always polite, and definitely not loud.

(Well Min-jae brings out a different part of her, but we don’t talk about that.)

“Ugh, Ga-yeong clean up and stop chewing with your mouth open! My goodness just like your father”

It’s what Ga-yeong’s mother would say when Ga-yeong forgot her table manners when she was younger. She doesn’t say it anymore, not because she realized it genuinely hurt Ga-yeong. But because Min-jae hated remembering him and Ga-yeong weren’t blood.

“No problem! Like I said, I was getting lonely. And I’m Ga-yeong, nice to meet you.” Ga-yeong states in a calm manner. She can see the smile on the girl's face start to reappear.

Yangnyeom-chikin sounds really good right now. Wait, maybe I should actually talk to her.

“So,” Ga-yeong starts, she’s really unsure what to say. Why did she even start a conversation she can’t even finish? The girl, no, Chae-won was looking up at her with her doe eyes. She looks so similar. Why? “So?” Chae-won looks like she finally got a joke. Her mischievous grin shows back up. “So, your Korean is good for a foreigner. I mean like almost no English accent.” Ga-yeong is being genuine. Her only friend, Xena, an odd name even for an American, but she was the friendliest person there. They had instantly become friends. Xena had been insistent on learning Korean, so that they could talk in Ga-yeong’s native language. Even though Ga-yeong had said it was okay. But Xena did it anyway; she was just stubborn like that. She learned Korean in 2 months, honorifics and everything. The only thing that gave her away? Her accent. Although Xena had done a good job covering it up. Her strong countryside accent shone through some words she would say in Korean. Sending her and Ga-yeong into fits of giggles.

“Huh?” Chae-won's head tilts to the side, reminding her of a puppy. “I’m no foreigner.” Chae-won starts to giggle, the high-pitch, super girly, bubbly kind of giggle. Definitely not what she was expecting from a girl who dresses like black is the only color she knows. The blood drains from Ga-yeong’s face. In utter horror of what she just said to this poor girl. “Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry! Please don’t be offended! See I just ca—” Ga-yeong tried to explain herself, do anything to clarify she wasn’t being rude. The blood suddenly rushed to her face. She probably looks like a red bean roast pastry. Cha-won’s laugh echos so loud and so suddenly that almost everyone in the cafe turns around to look at them. It sounds like a laugh only a man could have, but from her it’s so feminine. Not like Ga-yeong at all. Ga-yeong’s almond-shaped eyes stretch wide trying to explain herself over the laugh. “Really I didn’t mean to be rude! It’s that I just moved back from America and you look like how people dress in America! And—and—!”

“So we’re profiling people based on looks, I like where this is going.” Chae-won cut in, wearing a hurt expression on her face, clear as day. Ga-yeong goes to defend herself, but then realizes.

“You’re messing with me aren’t you?” Ga-yeong questions, her head tilts, her long black hair cascades like a waterfall. Soon a fit of giggles bursts from Chae-won. “You’re too easy to tease.”

Ga-yeong lets out a quiet breath that soon turns into a laugh.

The kind where you throw your head back.

The kind she doesn’t get much of.

A waitress comes over and Ga-yeong immediately thinks they're about to get thrown out.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry! We’ll keep it down!” Ga-yeong says, kind of forgetting where they are.

“Oh you’re fine ma’am. I’m here to take your order.” The waitress replies.

Oh shit! What was I going to order again?

Chae-wong giggles again. “I’ll have the Padak fried chicken please.” The waitress writes it down on her little pad. “Any drinks?”. Chae-won pushes the menu to the side while replying. “Just water will be fine.”

The waitress finishes scribbling down Chae-won’s order, then turns to her. “And for you ma’am?”

“I’ll have Yangnyeom-chikin with water as well please.” Ga-yeong replies. She pushes the hair out of her face and places the menu where it previously was on the table. The waitress scribbles down Ga-yeong's order and walks away with a ‘your orders will be out soon.’

_______________________

Time passes by and the conversation flows smoothly between the girls.

“Damn this chicken better be good, we’ve been waiting 40 minutes for this chicken.” Ga-yeong remarks. Another fit of giggles comes out of Chae-won.

“Hungry much?” Chae-won pushes back.

“You don’t even know the beginning of it.” Ga-yeong responds with a tired sigh.

“Why? What happened?” Chae-won looks concerned. Her head tilts. Her doe-eyes are a little bit wider.

Still looks like a lost puppy. Ga-yeong laughs to herself.

“You don’t want to kn—.” 

“Yes I do.”

Chae-won cuts her off firmly for the first time in this conversation. Ga-yeong truly didn't think she had it in her.

“Okay well.” Ga-yeong starts, she leans against the table with her elbows.

“I moved back from America 2 days ago. And my parents are divorced.” Ga-yeong doesn’t really know how to talk about this. How do I even say I fucking hate my mom’s husband without sounding like a brat? But it’s easier when Chae-won gives Ga-yeong her full attention.

“And my mom remarried to some asshole. He wants me to accept that he’s my father, my mom as well, but less than him. Anyways, he wants to be my dad without putting in any effort. So we often get into fights.” Ga-yeong takes a breath and continues. “I have to see my actual dad, even though he hasn’t talked to me in 6 years, nor has he put in any effort at all to contact me at all since I moved to America. But at least when he was around, he gave a damn about me as a person. My mom’s husband didn’t like the news. He thinks I don’t want to see him because he’s ‘my dad’.”

“Do you want to see him though?” Chae-won asks.

And being honest, Ga-yeong doesn’t know. Saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ feels like picking sides.

“I don’t know, I don’t want to pick a side yet.” She replies before she can’t overthink anything.

“You’re not. Your head won’t be put on a spike for saying what you think. This is more complicated than that.” Chae-won makes a point. A good one at that.

“Well it doesn’t really matter, ‘cause I said yes to piss off Min-jae. We fought, I left and I haven’t eaten so, yeah that’s why I’m here.” That’s all that needed and could be said about the situation.

“That sounds really shitty, I’m sorry that was how your day went today.” Chae-won says. Ga-yeong throws a confused glance her way.

“What?”

“You cursed.” Ga-yeong points out the obvious.

“And?”

“I just didn’t expect it from your mouth. You’re so polite and everything.”

Chae-won throws her head back, her angelic manly laugh back again, harmonizing with Ga-yeong chuckles.

Chae-won clears her throat.

“I could tell you why I’m here, that way you don’t feel singled out.” Chae-won offers.

Ga-yeong shoots up in her seat. Her hand spread out waving. “Oh no I could never ask that of you.”

“Well too bad I’m going anyway.” Chae-won crosses her arms and slouches back in her seat.

Ga-yeong is silent and attentive.

“I met this girl at school.” Chae-won starts off.

Ga-yeong watches attentively.

“We talked in class, exchanged phone numbers. You know the works.” Chae-won moves her hand in a circular motion. The implication was obvious.

“We were supposed to meet here today, made the plans and everything. But it seems like I got shown up.” Chae-won breathes and adds one more thing.

“You looked like her from behind, with long black hair. But, umm, obviously you’re not her.” Chae-won finishes.

Ga-yeong straightens her back again, “Well what can I say people are shitty, especially when they come to romance and love. Out of all the things we find difficult, it’s this.” Ga-yeong breathes out a laugh. “I hope that you truly find someone that loves you as much as you love them.” Ga-yeong finishes her sentence with sincerity thick in her words.

“You’re not weirded out?” Chae-won says, her voice now fragile and delicate. Like she would shatter like a china vase if dropped.

“Of course not. It’s stupid to hate someone for something so innocent like love.” Ga-yeong says, lightly, with a sincerity Chae-won doesn’t hear towards her when she talks about her sexuality.

Chae-won starts to tear up.

“Oh no don’t cry, it’s okay.” Ga-yeong tries to comfort her. Ga-yeong reaches her hand to hold Chae-won’s. Running her thumb over knuckles.

They stayed like that for a minute or two when the waitress came with their food.

The waitress laid out the food in front of them with a small ‘enjoy ladies,’ paired with a smile.

Ga-yeong hasn't started to eat yet. Just watch Chae-won eat her fried chicken.

“You know what they say?”  Ga-yeong starts.

“What do they say Ga-yeong?” Chae-won teases a little, head tilted.

“They say…” Ga-yeong falters.

Is she really doing this? This is so cringe.

She looks at Chae-won cheeks full of chicken.

Oh why the hell not.

“They say ‘There’s Nothing like Food to Heal the Soul’.” Ga-yeong finishes her sentence.

That pulls a laugh out of Chae-won. “What?” Ga-yeong asks, with a clearly fake offended tone.

“You sound like my dad.” Chae-won giggles some more and then says.

“Always saying the stupidest shit. But it works.” Chae-won looks down and starts eating.

Ga-yeong starts to eat too.

_____________________________

They’d already had finished their food. Chae-won had paid since Ga-yeong had forgotten her wallet at home.

“Bye Chae-won.” Ga-yeong waves bye to her.

“You sure you wanna go home?” Chae-won asks.

Ga-yeong looks down and then up at Chae-won.

“Yeah I’ll be fine.” She replies.

“Well see you later Ga-yeong.”

She turns to start walking home. Ga-yeong does the same.

It’s not until Ga-yeong is in the elevator in her apartment complex that she realizes.

“Shit! I forgot to get her number!”