#obciidian

how many had she gone through now ?  three boxes ? two ?  -- each test was different but all with the same result .  the idea of a stomach bug long gone as the answer sat before her .  nervous    breakdown is close  and wisteria can    almost   taste it . uncertainty boiling in the pits of her stomach as her back feels the cooling sensation of the tile wall behind her .    ❛   of course this would be the outcome .   ❜  not much to expect when she recalls the lack of protection between namoo and herself ;  rational thinking and caution had always been tossed in the air when they were both deep into the world of sin .  now all those times , had come with a prize that was forming within her womb .  it explains why lately her magic had been off  -- how her abilities had been more sensitive and the way her aura felt off .  it all made sense now as she stared at the little faded but still noticeable plus sign glistening back at her .  

suffocation felt too real as wisteria pulled herself off the floor ; hands immediately going for the tests and empty boxes , tossing them into the bin as she then walked out of the suddenly too small bathroom .  she loves namoo  ---  a confession that had   barely   been made and a relationship that was just   f l o u r i s h i n g    .  over the course of the past few months , they both had been learning about each other while diving deeply into endless nights  .  a sense of home she never thought would be found had now grown within the man’s arms to suddenly pull this on him ?  she can’t deny that the sense of dread washes over her neck as her hand goes to her stomach -- flat  ; still with nothing to show but she knows that something forms within her .  a creation they both crafted together .   while her emotions were a whirl of fear and happiness  --- she can’t help but also wonder if they were both ready for this step in such a new relationship .   oh , how would  she even begin to explain this to him ?  it’s a thought that has wisteria running through her brunette locks  , frustration and distress noticed on her features .   

               sohyun hadn't expected dohyun to take her spa day request seriously. she knows they don't have the money to go to any fancy spa, and really it had just been her wanting an excuse to pamper herself. when dohyun had taken her out of school early, she'd assumed the worst and that she was in trouble for something, so imagine her surprise when she'd walked into the living room to find sheet masks and lotions and other things you'd find in #selfcare posts on instagram. ❝ whoa, spa day, ❞ she says, dumping her backpack by the side of the couch and making her way towards the pile. ❝ did you do this just for me? ❞

it had been four days since the first encounter .  four day since she had heard the talking on the opposite side of her wall and made the decision to introduce herself to the new neighbor that  mrs.jung had told her about .  she had to admit , maybe her approach was too strong , not that nari could help herself too.  being raised on a farm with the nearest town being a few miles away  ;  when people came into the picture , excitement danced  in her .   however , now it was time to make a better impression as  nari found herself leaning against the door of layla’s apartment .  yes, at least she had gotten a name that practically made them close friends already if anyone asked her .   every time , she had tried to catch layla , it seemed like the other had been avoiding her  ----  not that nari mind .  she knew she was   a lot    to handle but she also knew that eventually , the other would give in .  or at least that was her plan  ---  after hearing that odd conversation the first night that layla had moved in   ;  it had sparked an    interest   within the little country girl’s heart  and brought her the need to learn more about the woman that lived next door to her . hence why she had found herself waiting before the other in the early morning ;  ears perking at the sound of movement coming behind the door she stood by and allowed herself to move away ,  a grin playing on her tiers as she watched the knob begin to turn.

" why not? " 

a simple question, yet one that lingers in the back of his throat. digs its nails into his windpipe and squeezes. vulnerability and self-loathing is not something kitae makes a habit of showing to others, but it seems his old friend caught him at the most inopportune time. 

" it's true, isn't it? i'm a coward. " 

but then, kiha doesn't understand. how could he? he is a successful, popular student. he's doing things with his life, activism which is nothing but admirable. and kitae... is just here. trying to survive dead-end customer service jobs and make it through every day like it's some sort of battle. 

The timing was off-putting. Saturday was set a certain way for Eunjin: teach for 8 hours, grocery shop after teaching, arrange her supplies upon arriving home, have a head start on lesson plans for the upcoming school week, work on her college assignments, and finally, head to bed for the night. Her daily routine did not consist of the same cycle, but it still left her equally as exhausted. The last semester of university was definitely challenging, but that’s how they’re meant to be. If she kept pushing, graduation would be her ultimate reward. However, her schedule did not go according to plan by the end of that day. 

In the midst of changing into a large black shirt and white shorts, a doorbell distracts her. She takes a look at herself in the mirror, eyebrows drawing in closer. Who could it be? Her father was out of the city-- unless he decided to come home earlier. However, that was unlike him. Eunjin knew it wasn’t him. 

Her door viewer had the answer to her question. After taking a glimpse at what her security camera provided, she recognized the figure. Jaekyung, her friend since high school. Not only was his visit unprecedented, so was the timing. In spite of that, a little reunion never hurt Eunjin. Neither did her schedule of the day. After all, plans were meant to be partially ruined at times. It’s been a while since Jaekyung appeared in front of Eunjin’s apartment, almost to the point that it surprised Eunjin that he remembered her safe haven. For her, it was heartwarming when friends remembered such details.

Cue a marathon of movies that were put on hold by both of them; Parasite being one of them. Albeit the movie broke records, it couldn’t break Eunjin’s immense exhaustion. She was able to fight it during the first two films they watched, but by the third, it was game over. The couch and blanket over Eunjin were not helping either. Inevitably, she falls asleep a quarter into the film, missing out on its dramatic storyline. Nothing else mattered to her at that precise moment except resting after a long day, although not aware she was resting on Jaekyung’s shoulder. 

Slight nudging awakens her from her short slumber, brown eyes widening once realizing she was not in her room. Then, reality set. 

“I’m so sorry, Jaekyung-ah!” 

Her cheeks grow red as her small hands cover her mouth in embarrassment (and slight shock for her actions). Her eyes still felt tight and her mouth dry, but her mind quickly caught on how she feel asleep on her friend’s shoulder. A sigh escapes her lips, accepting her condition. She lost her fight against exhaustion. “I’d lie and say I wasn’t tired, but you’ve already witnessed it yourself...” 

Yeonjae straightened, looking concerned and baffled for a moment before looking off to the side. “While I thank you for your assistance...we can’t hire you short notice like this,” she admitted with a small, embarrassed smile, “You seem really young, and it would be terribly unfair for me to start you on an entry-level job here in Changjo if you’re still studying. Not to worry, however, I’d be happy to write you a recommendation letter for your troubles, and you can be on your way. It would look great on your university entries to have someone like me assisting you.”

He’s chewing on his lower lip as eyes lock onto the phone screen, a cheery text message brightening the display. A simple one that reads: be there in 5!, but to Minwoo it reads: be ready in 5, and ready – he was not. Forcing himself to tear his gaze away, he looked over at the other, a small grin on his lips. “ Thanks for coming, ” Voice soft, softer than normal, as he tries not to dry out his throat. Moving out of his parent’s house had been a dream he’d had for years, but every time he seemed to have saved enough money to do so, something or another came up. First it was his car that broke down, then his aunt had needed funds for a surgery, and then consequently came the wave of weddings and the questions of whether he was next in line. He’d made it his goal last year to move out soon, and soon was now. But now made him incredibly nervous. Wearing his best blazer, probably over dressed for the apartment viewing, he turned to his companion. “ Okay, how do I look ?? ” Before he has an answer, his fingers are already in his hair to comb through locks that had gotten too long. He’s back to biting his lip as the collar of the blazer warms up around his neck.