Act Two : Bullseye

Kotone sniffs and jolts awake, hitting her head on the coffee table. She lets out a long groan, nearly sobbing as she nurses her temple. With a sharp punch at the table for good measure, she stumbles towards the door, eyes still half-open from sleep and pain.

“There you are—oh! Long night, Tone-ya?” the visitor chuckles.

“Mm…Haseul-unnie.” Kotone scans the living room, then herself, wiping dried saliva on her chin and pulling her hair aside. “Something like that.”

“Hehe. Ooh, help me with these, won’t you?” Haseul raises the bags of groceries in her hands.

“Ah, unnie! You don’t have to bring these every time,” Kotone groans, but grabs them while Haseul takes off her shoes and enters. 

Kotone stretches and yawns loudly as she starts putting away the produce and condiments Haseul brought into their designated shelves. Haseul quietly waits until she’s finished, gliding closer and closer. “Hey.”

Kotone pats her hand dry after washing them, turning to find Haseul with her arms open. She hums and walks into them, wrapping her own arms behind the older woman. “Unnie…”

“You doing okay?” Haseul whispers, softly patting her back. Kotone sighs into her shoulder, nodding after a long pause. “Mhm.”

“Are you sure?”

“Hm. Well enough.”

Haseul clicks her tongue and pulls away, holding Kotone by the forearms as she stares her down. “I don’t really believe that. You don’t sound like you do, either.”

Kotone smirks and looks down, sucking through her teeth. “I’m…I’m holding on, unnie.”

Haseul sighs, rubbing away some of Kotone’s eye boogers. “Remember. I’m always here if you need anything. Message, call me whenever! I’ll answer as soon as possible.”

“I know,” Kotone murmurs.

“I’m serious. Like, even when I’m at work. My job I can pick up later. But if something happens to you and I don’t know about it, I…tell me. Mmkay?”

Kotone nods. “Of course.”

“Come here.” Haseul hums and hugs her again—quite a bit tighter this time, making Kotone cough a couple times. “Hehe, sorry. Is she still asleep?”

“I think so.” 

Just as Kotone says that, the bedroom door swings open, making way for a groggy Kaede, leaning against the door frame. “Haseul-unnie? Is that you?”

“Ede-ya!” Haseul squeals, jogging over and throwing her arms around Kaede, making her giggle as little kisses carpet bomb her scalp. Kotone watches with a smile as the tension that’s coiled around her heart all week eases up that Haseul is here. 

While Haseul continues doting on Kaede, Kotone goes to clean up her stuff in the living room, taking a glance at the kitchen calendar. “Eighty-eight days.” She exhales a long breath, thankful that another Saturday has come.

That she’s made it to another Saturday.

“Tone-ya!” Haseul calls from the kitchen, donning an apron she got for Kotone which the latter never wears.

“Excuse me, one second. Yes, unnie?” Kotone replies, putting her phone on her chest.

“We’re out of milk. Low on butter, too. Mind if you go out and grab some?”

“Ah, right. Meant to buy them yesterday. Sure thing!” Kotone puts her phone up to her ear again. “Sorry, I have some other matters to get to. Yeah. Yes, that’s fine, I’ll have something on Monday. See you, take care.”

“Geez, it’s a wonder you get any groceries on time. So busy,” Haseul comments, preparing the ingredients they already have. Kotone scoffs in reply, going to fetch her outside clothes. “It was just a call. And I need this to afford the groceries, don’t I?”

“Still, it’s a—” Haseul sighs, throwing up her hands. “I shouldn’t press, it’s your job. But!” She points sharply at Kotone. “If you ever fall sick because of it, I will go there and create havoc.”

“Thank you, unnie. You’re very reassuring,” Kotone jests, grabbing some shopping bags and her wallet. “Anyway, you guys want anything?”

“Mm. What should—”

“Ice cream!” Kaede shouts from her room, hopping excitedly to the door. “Tone-chan, I want ice cream!” Haseul giggles at her eagerness. “Then ice cream for me too.”

“Got it.”

“Hey, wait, wait!” Haseul calls, hurriedly drying her hands and going to her bag, stopping Kotone in place. She watches as Haseul rummages through, then pulls out her big wallet.

“Oh no. No, unnie, you don’t have—”

“I insist. Here, use my card!”

“No, I’m not—uh! You’re not making me!” They both start giggling as Kotone squirms away, trying to avoid Haseul’s dash in an effort to jam her card in her pocket. Kotone’s just a hair faster, grabbing her shoes without wearing them and slamming the door closed.

Haseul chuckles and shakes her head, hands on her sides. “That stubborn little rascal.” She looks at the floor, then at Kaede who’s now on the sofa, reading some new books Haseul bought for her. “I wish you’d use more of that stubbornness for yourself.”

Today’s on the warmer side, as Kotone finds out in droves on the walk home. Stopping in front of the lift, she opens a thermal shopping bag and takes out her ice cream, unwrapping it with a big grin.

She takes one small bite of the cold treat, and is about to start walking until a woman runs into her, bumping hard enough to knock the ice cream out of her hands.

“Oh. Sorry, I’m late for my shift—oh!” The woman gasps upon realising what she’d done. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry! I’m really sorry! That—” 

Whatever expression Kotone’s wearing must be twice as hot as the surroundings, her glare searing through the other woman’s big round eyes and making her stammer nervously. “P–Please forgive me, I—oh. Um…t–tell me how much it was, I’ll repay you!”

Kotone takes a deep, shaky breath, clutching her fist to the point of shaking. “It’s fine,” she replies, voice thin. “It’s just ice cream, I can…I can buy more.”

“No, it’s not fine! How much was it?” the woman retorts, fumbling with her wallet.

“Just…go! You said you were late for your shift.”

“Um…oh! Do you live here? What unit? Let me know so I can pay you back later!”

No fucking shit I live here. Why would I be carrying all this then? “There’s really no need!” Kotone assures, her frustration becoming less sheathed. “Go. You seem to be in a big hurry.”