The next day
Nari checked her phone before heading out of the lecture hall, no new messages from her. Her eyes lingered for a bit before switching it off and slipping the phone back into her pocket as she headed to the cafeteria.
"Hey, Nari!" A voice called, she turned to see a senior waving with a few other people, " we're grabbing some food at the new place that opened near campus, wanna join?"
"Sure," she smiled in response, pausing as she saw Younghee and Ari in the corner of her eyes, "oh actually can you wait for me? I need to say hi to someone."
"No problem."
"And look, Minny's gotten so fat," Ari giggled as she zoomed in on a picture on her phone, a shot of a chubby light grey British shorthair cat yawning as she stretched her paws.
Younghee rested her chin on her hand, in the busy cafeteria, her focus remained on their conversation as Ari gushed about her pets, until she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Younghee, hey," Nari said, retreating her hand as she walked into the other's view.
"This is?" Ari looked up.
Throb. "Oh, this is a classmate of mine, Baek Nari," Younghee introduced, "and Nari this is Bae Ari, my friend."
"Nice to meet you," Ari smiled, extending her hand.
This must be who she was talking about yesterday then.. Nari thought as she scanned the other discreetly, hmm.. Ari had shoulder length brown hair, a few shades lighter than Nari's as the light bounced off it, she had 2 dainty piercings on her left ear and one on her right. her downturned hazel eyes seemed welcoming at first glance but it lacked sincerity. Still, her coral lips that had a visible cupid bow would melt away any suspicions anyone ever had of her whenever she smiled, with her nose scrunched up and her lips reducing to half its original size.
"Yes nice to meet you too," Nari replied, shaking the other's hand, "our names are similar, no?" she said in a teasing tone.
Younghee flinched as Ari laughed a little, "haha you're right. Bae Ari and Baek Nari, what a coincidence."
Nari smirked, looking at Younghee, "anyways I've got to go, I'll see you later Younghee."
Younghee watched as Nari walked back to the group, the slight frown on her face softening as Nari turned to wave goodbye.
"Later? Do you guys have plans?" Ari asked as Younghee turned back to her.
"Oh yeah, we're just going to hang out."
"I see," Ari smiled. "Oh what major are you?"
"Law, you in literature?"
"Yeah," Ari laughed, "we probably didn't see each other around because we weren't in the same department then." she said, stirring her drink.
"yeah…" Younghee mumbled.
Bzzt! "oh sorry I think I'm getting a call," Ari said picking up her phone. "hello? yes that's right… mhm… I see, is there any other units available? Oh really? ..Yes ok, thank you," she let out a big sigh as she hung up and plopped her head onto the table, "youngyoung what do I do.."
"What's wrong?"
"...for some reason I can't live in my apartment anymore."
"Are you sure it's ok? If it's too much of an inconvenience I can stay at a hotel until my situation is sorted,' Ari said as she set her suitcase down in Younghee's apartment.
"No, don't worry about it, though I'm sorry there isn't a spare room or anything since it's a loft," Younghee smiled. "my family offered to pay for a bigger apartment but I liked this more, it feels less empty."
"yeah you're right, it feels a lot more cosy in smaller spaces," Ari looked around.
The door was in the centre of the apartment, right as you walk in there was an area for your shoes and a coat closet, then about 10 feet away was the living room, it had a massive cloud white L shaped Couch, with a glass table in front and a flat screen TV lined up against the wall. The entrance was on the right side of the stairs, which had lights installed under each step, giving the apartment just enough light even when no other lights were turned on, to the left of the stairs was the open kitchen, it was obvious it wasn't used much as all the appliances still seemed brand new and untouched, it had a double oven, a electric cooktop, a wide fridge and some chairs lined up against the island. To the right of the entrance was the bathroom and on top, on the second floor, was the office area, there sat a wide desk with 2 display monitors, and a white office chair with a grey-ish blue stuffed bear on it, behind that was a little corner that had a bookshelf, full of textbooks as well as story novels, accompanied with a bean bag that also looked as if it was never used. A few feet away, on the other side of the second floor was the bedroom area, barricaded by sleek white glass railings. There was a king sized bed with pure white blankets, with a pale blue throw on which matched with the two pillows that lied on the end against the railings. Furthermore there was another stuffed animal on the bed, this time, a golden retriever teddy, which resembled Younghee's pet puppy.
"It'll be less lonely too now that you're here," Younghee said.
"haha did you miss me that much?" Ari teased. Younghee felt her heart throb again but just let out a small laugh in response.
"Are you alright with sleeping on the couch?" She asked.
"...I think it'll be more than ok," Ari giggled. The couch was almost the size of a bed, the end was big enough to lie down on comfortably.
"That's good then," Younghee sighed with relief, "oh right, our schedules are probably completely different so here's the spare key," she said, rummaging through a drawer before handing the key to Ari.
She jolted as she heard a notification from her phone, "oh, sorry Ari, I've got to go, make yourself at home, I'll see you later," she waved as she hurriedly left the apartment.
"Sorry I'm late, I picked up some food on the way over but there was a long queue," Younghee panted as she entered Nari's apartment, changing her shoes to the slippers that were laid out in front of the door.
"Oh you're here," Nari perked up.
"Why are you sitting on the floor?" Younghee asked as she settled the food onto the glass coffee table alongside two cups of taro milk tea.
"It's more comfortable like this," Nari smiled, "You bought it~" she exclaimed, her excitement almost like a child as she took the milk tea out of the bag.
"Oh not this one, it has ice in it," Younghee said, lifting the one Nari was just about to reach for.
"Huh so what?"
"Your stomach, you can't," patting Nari's head before down on the floor beside her.
"Fine.." Nari grumbled, sticking the straw into the other one.
"Don't get pouty," Younghee laughed slightly, smooching the other on the cheek.
"I'm not.." Nari said, biting on the straw. She felt a hand pull her face away from it and a kiss on her mouth.
"You're in a bad mood?"
"No…" Nari muttered.
"Are you lying?"
"..." Nari looked away.
"What's wrong?" Younghee peeked in Nari's view.
"I said nothing," Nari replied, pushing her face a little.
"..hmm.. Are you upset I didn't spend time with you at lunch?" Nari didn't answer, she just looked at the other with a slightly sullen expression. "Aw poor baby," Younghee teased.
"..ew gross, get off," Nari cringed. "Anyway, what did you buy?"
"Just some chicken," Younghee said, opening the other takeaway bag.
"Hmm I don't want it," Nari shook her head.
"...just one bite, you'll be hungry if you don't," Younghee plopped one into the other's mouth. Nari chewed as the other looked at her with a warm smile on her face, tucking Nari's hair behind her ear.
"Was the girl earlier.. Her?" Nari swallowed.
"Yeah, but let's not talk about that now," Younghee slipped her arms around Nari's waist, "wanna do it?"
"Pfft, yeah," Nari chuckled, wrapping her arms on Younghee's shoulders.
An hour later.
"You're leaving?" Nari sat up on her bed as Younghee got dressed.
"Yeah," the other replied, pulling her windbreaker zip up.
"Why? You usually stay over."
"...no reason, just wanted to go home today," Younghee smiled, pausing to turn around as she reached for the door handle, "oh yeah, Mina's back tomorrow." she said, before shutting the door behind her.
… Nari flung herself onto her back and stared at the ceiling, her mind running as she lied in the dark room alone.
The door to Younghee's apartment opened softly as her keys jangled against each other. She slipped her shoes off and tiptoed over to the couch, seeing the asleep Ari, one arm supporting her head and the other clinging onto the blanket on her side. Younghee grinned as she saw Ari's peaceful face, she gently pulled the other's grip off the blanket and placed it over her instead.
"Mm.. ugh, Younghee?" Ari rubbed her eyes.
"Oh sorry did I wake you?" Younghee whispered, backing up a little.
"No it's alright," Ari sat up, "have you eaten yet?"
Younghee nodded, "what about you?"
"Ah," Ari paused, hesitating before she answered, "...I forgot to."
"Are you hungry?
"No I'm fine, you should go to sleep," Ari laughed lightly.
"Alright, goodnight," Younghee smiled.