Haziel

“So many boxes.”

“You’re a box,” you chuckle as you tear open what is probably the thousandth one.

“Yujin the box; Not the cutest nickname, but I guess…” she shrugs, devoid of energy at this point as she reaches into the package sitting in her lap.

It has been a long day, and you’ve spent almost the entirety of it opening boxes with Yujin. Both of you are tired, and it’s definitely time to call it for the night.

But Yujin won’t make that decision, she’ll happily tear open these boxes all night with you if you let her.

The tiredness on her face is simply more confirmation that it’s time to leave the rest for tomorrow, so you make the decision to stop.

You toss the cardboard on your lap aside and meander over the remnants of the day’s labor littering the floor. While Yujin keeps her eyes down, fingers fumbling with the contents, you lean down and kiss her cheek softly.

She hardly reacts, and you feel a slight pull at your heart. She’s obviously exhausted, but you’re fairly certain you caught a glimpse of her smile just now – certain enough to calm your mind.

“Wanna have ice cream tonight?” you rest your hand on her shoulder.

It takes her a second to respond, during which you let your fingers press against her soft skin.

“If you want,” she shrugs again, still looking down.

“Sure thing,” you smile to yourself, pat her shoulder, and leave the room.

Please don’t trip.

She’s walking over, and you’re struggling to hide your smile. You know what’s coming and you want it more than anything else. Just as long as she doesn’t trip, of course.

Your fingers feel tied up, and you don’t know how to make it seem like you’re actually working. You don’t know if it matters.

She’s going to know you’re just pretending anyway.

Even if she knows, she doesn’t care. She’s still going to lean in until you can feel her breath on your skin.

And there it is.

Just a quick little kiss, and the muscles in your face immediately betray your faux tiredness. You tuck your chin a bit more in hopes that you can hide your smile from her – as if she doesn’t know.

You almost feel your heart jump out of your chest the second her hand touches your shoulder. Along with hoping she didn’t notice, you’re thanking the universe for putting you in a sleeveless top today. You wouldn’t want anything to interfere with her touch.

“Wanna have ice cream tonight?” Yuri’s gentle fingers give you a tiny squeeze.

Yes! Yes more than anything! You want to cuddle with her and hold her and kiss the ice cream right off her lips!

“If you want,” your body jolts with excitement and you play it off with a little shrug.

“Sure thing,” Yuri lifts her hand from your skin and you can hear the smile on her lips.

You’re suddenly hit with a wave of emotions as if Yuri’s hand leaving your shoulder has a deeper meaning. It doesn’t, obviously, it’s not like she’s leaving you.

Yet for some reason, you almost want to cry. You want to reach after her, stop her from leaving, even if it’s just for a minute. You’re probably being too clingy, but you can’t help it.

Regardless, you toss your emotions aside and quickly jump to your feet as soon as the door shuts behind her – you only have a couple of minutes.

“Neapolitan or cookies and cream…” you mumble to yourself as you peek into the freezer.

Well, it was neapolitan before you destroyed the pretty borders in hopes of finding the perfect bite for Yujin. In your defense, it’s your favorite way to eat it: A scoop of vanilla, a scoop of strawberry, and then speared right into the chocolate.

It doesn’t really matter. You’ve already taken out the cookies and cream – Yujin prefers it.

You make sure to add a third scoop even though the two of you have never in your lives finished a third, but there’s just something about the face Yujin makes when she sees the bowl overflowing. You’ll happily buy extra ice cream just to see that face.

Even now, as you’re putting the tub back, you can’t help but smile as you imagine her reaction. It’s just a sweet treat, yet it always works. Especially after such a long day, you can’t wait to see that adorable smile of hers.

After stabbing two spoons into the bowl – even though one will be forgotten as soon as Yujin starts feeding you – you make your way back to the room.

“Yujin, why are the lights–” you stop dead in your tracks as the door swings open all the way and you’re greeted with a little semi-circle of candles.

“Wait, one second!” Yujin scrambles around on her knees, bouncing from candle to candle and lighting them. “Close your eyes or something!”

“Sure,” you answer through a smile as your heart bounces right against your ribs.

You watch tenderly as her delicate hands work with as much care as her stressed mind allows, lighting the remaining candles. Your eyes drift to her side profile, flickering under the flames: brows furrowed, tongue poking out of the corner of her lips, and her gaze focused.

Other than the bowl making your hands numb, the rest of your body flushes with warmth from head to toe. Your smile can’t be turned off, and your heart won’t stop fluttering.

“Okay! You can open your eyes,” Yujin huffs, turning around towards you.

“How did you possibly get this setup so quickly,” you step closer and drop to your knees on the blanket Yujin set across the floor. “Where’d all the boxes go?”

She wipes her forehead with the back of her palm and giggles.

“It was nothing,” she scoots over to make room. “I figured we might as well get comfy.”

You reach over her lap and set the bowl next to her before wrapping your arms around her waist and rolling over her.

“Yuri!” Yujin gasps as her back presses flat against the blanket.