One Thing to Another

The front door opened. Haewon walked through, tossing her bag on the counter and kicking her shoes off. 

“You’re back early,” you said, not looking up from your phone.

“I skipped my last class.” She shrugged. “I’m not sitting through stat on a Friday.”

“Fair enough.”

She opened the fridge, stared into it for a few seconds, then closed it.

“So,” she said, leaning against the counter. “There’s a party tonight.”

“I heard.” 

“Good.” She joined you on the couch. “So?”

“Am I carrying you home again?”

Haewon grinned. “Who knows? But I’m not the one who passed out in our bathroom last time.”

“Hey. I cleaned up after myself afterward.”

“The bar is in hell,” she said. “So we’re going?”

“Yeah. I’m down.”

You never really met Haewon; she just kind of appeared.

Freshman year, her door was directly across from yours. On the first morning of classes, you opened your door to see her doing the same thing as you. You’d exchange a quick nod, only to end up walking the same path to the same class. The next day, the same. On the third day, she spoke up, saying it’d be weirder if you didn’t walk to class together.

So, you started walking to class together. Eventually, you started waiting at her door whenever she’d run late, which ended up being quite often. 

“Sorry, sorry,” she’d say, still tying her hair up as she stumbled out. “My alarm didn’t go off.”

“Your alarm doesn’t go off every day.”

“Whatever. Let’s go. We’re late.”

“We’re late because of you.”

"Details." She'd wave you off and start walking ahead.

It took about four days for her to get comfortable with you. At first, she was reserved. Small talk as you walked to class, still figuring each other out. By the end of the first week, the filter had come off. Her sense of humor could only be described as the worst type of unhinged, and even she knew it. Sometimes, you’d match her. You’d play into whatever bit she had going, making it even worse. Other times, you’d look at her and say nothing, letting her sit with the embarrassment of whatever cringe joke she’d spat out. 

To you, that was Haewon. Weird, off-putting humor from whatever depths of the internet she was on. One night, she texted you at 3 AM saying she hadn’t even started on the presentation she was supposed to give in six hours. You woke up to the message and almost felt bad for her. She was quieter than usual on the walk over, which you figured meant she was screwed. She gave the best presentation of everyone, then sat back down next to you like it was nothing.

By sophomore year, things had gotten too comfortable. She had figured out that you never locked your door, a fact she exploited often. You’d come back from class to find her on your couch, shoes off, rummaging through your snacks. She’d show up at midnight to complain about an assignment, lock in to finish her work, then annoy you while you were trying to focus on yours. For junior year, getting a place together just made sense. You'd been through everything together—you’d blown up on her during an all-nighter on finals week, she’d cried in your arms after the worst night of her life. You’d seen every side of each other, and none of it changed a thing.

One of Haewon's friends asked you once, a few months after you’d moved in together. 

“So… like, why aren’t you two dating?”

“Hm? Why would we be?”

“You literally live together. And she’s hot. Don’t act like you don’t know.”

“I’m not looking for anything. And besides, we’ve been good for three years now.”

She raised an eyebrow at that.

“Sounds like you’re just deflecting.”

She wasn’t wrong, you knew that. But you weren’t going to make a move on your best friend and risk your friendship because she was attractive. Things were already good the way they were. If something happened, fine, but you weren’t going to force it.

Haewon was next to you on the couch, knee against yours, scrolling on her phone.

“I’m gonna get ready,” you said, pushing yourself up off the couch. “Before you take forever in the bathroom.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She waved her hand at you. “Whatever. Go get ready.”

You showered and got dressed in about twenty minutes. Black jeans, a linen overshirt over a clean white tee, a watch, and chain. You stepped out, and she was still on her phone.

“So, how do I look?”

She put her phone down, and looked you up and down.

She whistled.

“Okay. I see you,” she said, nodding. “What a fuckboy you are.”

“Thank you,” you said. “Go get ready. We don’t have all day.”

“Mhm.” She got up. “You better not have used all of the hot water.”

She took forty-five minutes, which was faster than you’d expected.

She came down the hallway still putting in an earring. A fitted button-up tucked into a black skirt, with knee high boots.

“How’s this?” she asked.

You looked for a second longer than you needed.

You clicked your tongue and gave her the okay sign. “Pretty good.”

You stood up off the couch. “Okay, are we going right away? Or should we pregame a bit?”

“Dumb ass question,” she said, opening the cabinet where you kept your liquor. “Who’s walking into a party sober?”

After two shots each, the two of you started heading out. The walk was about fifteen minutes. Haewon talked the whole time. 

"Okay, so you know my lab partner?" she started. 

“Yeah. He’s pretty chill.”

“But he’s dumb as rocks. I don’t even know how he’s made it this far.” She groaned. “For the lab report last week. He just disappeared on me the whole time. Then he sends me his part an hour before it’s due and it’s just all wrong.”

“So you did everything?”

“The whole thing.” She shook her head. “And he’s getting the same grade as me. I should beat his ass.”

“You want me to talk to him?”

“And say what?”

“I don’t know. Put him in his place?”

“…Do not talk to him.”

She went on about a few other things after. The dining hall food, some drama in her friend group, the same complaint about her professor that you’d heard a million times. You watched her talk — the way she'd get loud when she was annoyed, the way she'd bump into your shoulder without noticing. You didn’t mind. Haewon rambling about nothing was better than most others at their best.

The party was loud. Inside, it was packed, music blasting, people spilling out onto the porch. Haewon dragged you along as you got drinks.

“I don’t know half of these people.” you said, sipping on your drink.

“Like that’s ever stopped you before. Give it a few—“

“Haewon!”

A girl from across the room pushed through the crowd toward her. Before Haewon could say anything, she was pulled into a hug.

Haewon looked back at you, being steered away as you smiled at her.

“Meet back up later?”

She flashed you a thumbs up before disappearing into the crowd.

You didn’t have a chance to get settled before a guy from your club came up and put a hand on your shoulder.

“Yo, didn’t know you were coming.”

“Kind of a last minute thing.”

“Come outside. We need one for pong.”

You played two games on the front porch before you called it quits, knowing there was someone you had to get home with at the end of the night.

Inside, one of the guys you played against brought you into their group in the living room. At some point, you ended up on a couch next to a girl you hadn’t seen before. Dark hair, conventionally attractive. You didn’t remember how the conversation started, but you were a few drinks in, and talking was easy. She asked what you studied, you asked her the same. She laughed at something you said and leaned in closer over the music. At some point, her hand ended up on your knee while she was making a point about something, and it stayed there after. 

It was fine. You glanced past her toward the kitchen and your eyes met Haewon’s. She was with her friends, listening to their conversation. But she was looking at you with an expression you couldn’t read. She looked away first, rejoining her conversation.

You turned back to the girl.

“Hey,” you said, finding a gap. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Oh. You’re leaving?”

“Yeah. Gotta make sure my roommate’s okay.”

She smiled, a little disappointed. “Okay, well, see you around?”

“For sure.”

You got up and made your way to the kitchen. Haewon leaned against the counter near her friends.

“Hey. Having fun?”

“Mm.” She swirled her drink, still full. “I’m ready to call it a night.”

“So early? That’s not like—”

“I’m tired. Let’s just go.”

“Hey. You okay? Did something happen?”

“No. I’m fine.” Haewon walked ahead of you, pace quicker than normal. “Just wasn’t feeling it.”

You worried, looking at her blank expression. “…You sure? Did someone do something? Say something?” 

“No. Nothing happened.” 

You walked in silence for a bit.

“You were talking to that girl for a while.” she said, eventually. “She wanted you, bad.”

“Huh? Oh, on the couch?”

“Yeah.”

“That was whatever. She was cool.” You shrugged. “I left to find you.”

“So you were just leading her on? Asshole.”

“What? No. It’s just a party. I mean, if I have the ball, I’m going to put shots up, you know?”

She laughed. “Wow. You might actually be an asshole.”

“I’m just saying. I’m not going to not talk to someone. But I had to check on you.”

“I can take care of myself, you know.”

“I know.” You looked at her. “But I’m still going to make sure.”

Haewon didn’t respond. Her pace slowed until she was walking next to you again, side by side.

“You’re quiet,” you pointed out. “Did someone kill you and replace you?”

“You’re so stupid,” she said, shaking her head. “But no. I’m just thinking.”

The rest of the walk home was quiet. She kept her eyes forward, but you caught her stealing glances at you with an expression like she was working through something. 

Back at the apartment, Haewon kicked her shoes off and dropped onto the couch. You went to the kitchen and filled two glasses with water before joining her.

“Here,” you said, handing her a glass. “Drink up. I’m not dealing with you hungover tomorrow.”

“…Thanks.” She took the glass and drank half of it. “I’m gonna go shower first.”

“Sure. Don’t fall in.”

“Shush.” She grabbed her things from her room, and then closed the bathroom door behind her.

You sat on the couch, scrolling through your phone as you waited over an hour before Haewon emerged from the bathroom.

“No more hot water, I’m assuming?” 

“Probably not.” She slouched down on the couch, hair damp, in an oversized shirt and shorts.

You glanced at her. She was staring at the TV, not even on.

“…Okay. What’s going on? You’ve been off since we left.”

“I’m just thinking.”

“You said that already. Thinking about what?”

Haewon sat up straight, looking at you now.

“I don’t know. I think I caught feelings. For you.”

You let out a nervous laugh. “You’re not still drunk, are you?”

“No. Listen, I don’t get it either, okay? I literally put you on with Lily before, and I didn’t care then.” She put her hands up in exasperation. “And I know you talk to girls at like every party we go to, but when I saw you with that random girl tonight, it really pissed me the fuck off.”

You looked at her. “Oh. You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Dead fucking serious. You gonna say something?”

“I might need a shower to think too.”

“You’re not taking a step off this couch.”

“…Okay, okay.” You sat back. “So… how did this start?”

She sighed. “I have no idea. Like, I knew from the start that you were good looking, but I didn’t think anything of it.”

“Thanks.”

“Come on. Give me something here. Tell me I didn’t fuck up our friendship after what, four years?”

“You didn’t fuck anything up, okay? We’re good. Nothing’s changed.”

“That’s not what I’m asking and you know it.”

“What do you want me to say, Haewon?”

“Stop saying we’re fine. Stop acting like I didn’t just tell you I have feelings for you.” Her voice cracked. “That wasn’t easy for me. So be real with me.”

You paused and lay back on the couch, looking at the ceiling. You’d thought about this before.

You sighed. “I’d be lying if I said I’ve never thought about it.”

“Oh? Go on.”

“I mean, it was the same for me. Like, I thought you were pretty, but we didn’t see each other that way, and we already had a good thing going on, so… yeah.”

For a moment, neither of you said anything.

“…What now?” you asked, not looking at her.

“So… you think I’m pretty?”

“That’s what I just said, yeah.” 

“Just pretty?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“You said you’ve thought about it. Give me more.”

“…You’re just fishing now.”

“Yeah, and?”

You looked at her. Her chin was on her hand, looking at you with a waiting smirk. You sighed.

“Fine. You’re really pretty. You know you’re pretty. And tonight? Yeah. You looked good. The outfit, the accessories, all of it.” You stopped, then kept going before you could think about what you were saying. “You’re funny, even though you’re a dumbass most of the time. And… I don’t know. It’s just comfortable with you. You’re the one person I don’t have to think around. I can do anything, say anything, and it’s never weird.”

You glanced over at her. Her face was red, mouth slightly open. 

The room was silent for a moment.

Haewon closed her mouth, and turned toward you, the corners of her lips curling up slowly.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” 

“You think I’m hot, huh?”

“That’s— I said a lot of other things, too.”

“You did. You’re totally whipped for me, huh?” She shifted closer to you on the couch.

“…That’s not what I—”

Haewon grabbed you by your chain, forcing you to look at her.

“That’s what it sounded like to me. Or am I wrong?”

You opened your mouth, but nothing came out.

“That’s what I thought.” 

Her hand gripped tightly on your chain, her face inches from yours. Your breathing overlapped, growing heavier as her eyes went from your eyes to your lips.

Haewon’s lips met yours, forceful and eager, your hand finding her waist before settling into something softer. Then, she made a sound against your lips that you’d never heard from her in four years, and something in you just snapped. You pulled her in deeper, one hand on her waist, the other on the back of her neck, her hair still damp.

She pulled back slightly to look at you. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes had that glassy look she got when she was a little too drunk, except she wasn’t. Her breath was warm against your face.

“So,” she said, grinning. “Still need that shower to think?”

“No. Fuck that.” you said, breathless. “Besides, you like this look on me, don’t you?”

“Cocky now, huh?”

“Answer the question.”

She bit her lip. “Maybe I do.”

Without hesitating, you pulled her in for another kiss, Haewon climbing into your lap. Your hands went to her hips, as hers found the hem of your shirt, tugging it upward. You caught her wrists, stopping her.

“You’re eager. Can’t even make it to my room?”

“No,” she said, pulling her wrists free. “I can’t.”

You lifted your arms as she pulled your shirt over your head and tossed it aside. Haewon’s eyes followed her hands as they glided down your chest.

“You’re enjoying this quite a bit, huh?”

“Like you’re not rock hard under me.” She pulled her shirt off, tossing it to the side. 

You swallowed, staring at her body as your hands slid down, finding their place on the curve of her waist. She was warm. You’d held her before, on nights she’d fall asleep against you on the couch, when you carried her to her room after she’d had too much, but it never felt anything like this.

“What, you expect me not to be?” you said, breath uneven.

She opened her mouth to respond, but you kissed her neck before any words could come out. You eased her down, her back pressing into the couch as you settled over her. Her fingers dug into your back, her other hand sliding down your chest as you wrapped your arms around her. You kissed along her collarbone as your hand slid behind her, finding the clasp. She let you pull the bra off, her eyes on your face the whole time. You stared at her bare chest, rising and falling with every breath.

You stopped. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous, Haewon.”

Her hands went to her face, trying to cover a smile. 

“Fuck. Since when were you good at this?”

You kissed under her belly button, and she trembled. “Always was. What? Didn’t hear about it?”

She laughed shakily. “Now I get to see if the rumors are true.”

Your fingers grasped the elastic of her waistband. “Can I?”

She lifted her hips, not quite looking at you.

You pulled her shorts off, tossing them behind you.

You kissed her stomach, going lower as you grazed your fingers over her panties. Haewon’s breath shook, and you slipped a finger past her panties, gliding along her wetness. 

“Were you holding back this whole time?”

“Asshole.” She breathed. “Stop teasing.”

You slipped her panties off and pushed a finger inside her. Haewon’s back arched, a sharp breath escaping her as her hands found your wrist.

You added another finger, curling them inside her. She moaned, her eyes closed as her head sank deeper into the cushion. Your thumb grazed over her clit, and her mouth stayed open as she squirmed, her hips chasing your hand.

You took your time, kissing the inside of her thigh as you settled between her legs.

“I said—” she breathed. “Stop teasing.”

You continued, replacing your fingers with your tongue. Haewon’s hand went to your head, gripping your hair hard as her back arched off the couch.

“Fuck—”

You kept going, figuring out what made her react the most. A flick that made her gasp, a lap that pulled a deep moan from her. You stayed there between her legs, building a rhythm as Haewon’s thighs tightened around your head, her breaths getting shorter and sharper.

“Right there—“ She gasped. “If you stop—”

Her legs trembled, her grip in your hair tight enough to sting, and she came, soaking your face and making a sound that started as your name.

You stayed for a moment before sitting up. You looked down at her. She was wrecked. Her skin flushed, chest heaving, eyes lidded and glossy.

You wiped your mouth with the back of your hand and grinned. “So? Were the rumors true?”

Haewon stared at you, catching her breath. You reached for her chin. Her hand grabbed your wrist before it could get there. She shoved you back against the couch, and climbed into your lap.

“Fuck you. You’re getting way too cocky.”

You smirked, her hands around your wrists. “Should I not have? You didn’t seem to mind.”

“Shut up.” Her hands went down to your belt. “Let’s see what I’m working with.”

Haewon unbuckled your belt and unzipped your pants, her hand reaching in and closing around you.

“For real? The stories are true?”

“There are stories for a reason.” 

“You’re talking too much. I said shut up.”

She slid down your body, looking at you from the other end of the couch.

“And what are you gonna do—“

Haewon’s lips wrapped around you before you could finish your thought. Your hips bucked up off the couch, and your hand went to her hair before you could think.

“Haewon—”

She looked up at you as she stroked what didn’t fit in her mouth, her eyes daring you to say something snarky.

“That all you got?” you managed, the words coming out shakier than you intended.

Haewon pulled off, squinting her eyes at you before smirking. Then, she dove back in, taking you deeper, and your hand found its place on the back of her head again, any words you had ready crumbling.

“Yeah,” she said, pulling off with a pop. “That’s what I thought.”

“Since when were you good at this?” you asked, breathless.

“I’m good at everything I do.”

She dove back in again, and you let out a sound you’d never heard yourself make. She took her time with you, finding a rhythm that had your grip on her hair tightening with every stroke. Your other hand gripped the side of the couch, knuckles going white. Her eyes flickered into a smile, her pace slowing as she noticed.

“You’re teasing too much,” you breathed.

She hummed around you before pulling off with a grin.

“Am I?” She said, stroking you with both hands. “You want to cum, hm?”

She looked at you, and you could only muster up a pathetic nod.

Haewon took in all of you, going down to the base. She wasn’t teasing anymore. Her mouth worked you with purpose, one hand on your thigh, the other stroking in ways that left you unable to think. Your hips jerked, sending you deeper into her mouth, and she didn’t flinch, just taking it in and pushing you further. It was building fast. Your abs tightened, and your grip in her hair loosened as your hand started shaking.

“Haewon, I’m—”

She didn’t slow down. She took you even deeper, her hand moving faster, and her eyes looked up to meet yours as you broke. You felt your entire body shake, and you came in her mouth with a groan you couldn’t control, your vision blanking out for a split second.

Haewon kept going until you stopped shaking, then pulled off and swallowed without breaking eye contact.

“Gross.”

“You didn’t have to—”

“I know,” she said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “I’m just saying. Gross.”

She sat up, looking down at you dazed, your arm over your face.

“You’re still hard,” she said, taking you in her hand. “Good. I’m not done with you.”

You sat up as she shifted toward you. She settled onto your lap, then stopped.

Her face was inches from yours. Whatever words she had ready for you died as she fell silent. She stared into your eyes, then your lips.

“…Hi.” she said.

“Hey.”

You reached up and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. She leaned into your touch.

You pulled her in and kissed her. Not rough and eager like before, but soft and exploring. Her lips parted for yours, and she kissed you back the same way, her hand on your cheek.

When she pulled back, she let out a nervous giggle.

“This is a bit weird,” she murmured.

“Yeah.”

Haewon reached down and positioned you against her. You held her waist. She met your eyes.

“Do you want me?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes, Haewon. I want you.”

Haewon sank down slowly, her wet warmth enveloping you. You groaned, your hands gripping her waist harder as her mouth fell open, her fingers digging into your shoulders. 

“Fuck,” she breathed.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Fuck— you’re big. Just give me a second.”

She stayed there, impaled on you. She stared at you, breathing hard. Then, she rose up slowly before sinking onto you again. She rolled her hips hesitantly at first, and it took everything you had to resist taking control. That hesitation didn’t last long. Her pace picked up as she started riding you properly. She threw her head back as she lifted and dropped onto you, taking you deeper each time.

“Oh— fuck, that’s—”

“Haewon—”

You looked at her face and had to look away. If you watched her like this, you weren’t going to last.

“I could’ve been getting dick like this the whole time?”

You laughed, and she used the moment to grind down hard on you, and the laugh turned to a groan.

“Haewon—”

“It’s not funny. I’ve been missing out on— fuck— this for four years?”

Haewon’s thighs were trembling against yours, her pace slowing, and her movements getting smaller. 

You let out a short laugh. “Tired?”

“No, I—”

You flipped her over.

“Hey, what the fu—”

Haewon was under you, her hair fanned out on the cushion. Her hands moved down from your shoulders before settling on your back.

“Oh.”

You lined yourself up with her entrance and paused. Haewon was looking up at you, waiting.

You slid back in as a moan escaped her, and her nails dug into your back.

“Haewon, you feel so— fuck.”

“Feel so what, hm?” she said, smiling at you.

“You feel so fucking good.”

“You—, fuck, go faster.”

You did, and her legs wrapped around your waist, pulling you in deeper. Your rhythm sped up. You felt Haewon clench around you every time you bottomed out.

“Haewon, I’m going to—”

Haewon could only nod as her hands moved from your back to your head, and she pulled you down and kissed you. It was sloppy, and your rhythm became erratic as Haewon moaned into your mouth, getting more desperate with each thrust into her.

“Haewon, I can’t—”

“Don’t stop,” she breathed against your lips. “Please—”

She broke first. Her legs shook as they loosened their grip on your waist, her back arching off the couch, her hands pulling your face onto her neck. You followed seconds after, finally letting go. You pulled out at the last second, finishing on her stomach with a groan. You collapsed on the opposite end of the couch.

“Tissue,” she muttered.

“Huh?”

“Grab me a tissue, dumbass. You just came all over me.”

You laughed and reached for the table, grabbing a few tissues before turning to her and wiping her down yourself.

“I could’ve wiped myself down.”

“Shush. Let me clean up the mess I made.”

She stayed silent as you cleaned her up.

“I need to shower again.” she said. “I can’t move. Carry me to the bathroom.”

You didn’t say anything. You tossed the tissues to the side, stood up, and leaned down to pick her up. She let out a small yelp in surprise, her arms wrapping around your neck as you carried her.

In the bathroom, she sat on a stool in the shower.

“Get in. Help me shower. I can’t move.”

You stepped in after her, pulling the glass door behind you shut. The water was hot on your skin, steam coming up off the ground. You adjusted the temperature knob, but Haewon set it right back.

“Come on. There’s no way you shower with the water that hot.”

“Deal with it.”

You sighed, grabbing the body wash. “Turn around.”

Haewon did as she was told. You worked the soap over her body as she let her head droop, letting out a deep sigh. You poured shampoo into your hand, and worked it into her hair, your fingers running through her scalp. Haewon closed her eyes, and let out a small hum.

“...Thanks.”

“It’s the least I could do.”

She insisted on washing you too. She took her time with it, her hands lingering as she lathered soap over your body. As her hands traveled down and glided over you, you felt yourself harden slightly.

“...No.”

“...I wasn’t going to ask.”

She smirked but kept her hands moving, cleaning you in silence. You rinsed off and stepped out, grabbing a towel. You wrapped the towel around her and dried her off carefully. When you were done, she took the towel from you and stepped into the hallway. You grabbed another towel for yourself and dried off quickly, tying it to your waist. Haewon was already in the hallway, heading toward her room.

“Alright,” you said, turning toward your door. “Good night, I gu—”

“Where are you going?”

“...My room?”

Haewon was standing at her door, towel still wrapped around her, hair dripping. She looked at you like you were stupid.

“Get in here.”

“...”

“I said. Get. In. Here.”

“Okay, okay. Let me put on some clothes first at least, okay?”

You went to your room and pulled on a shirt and sweats. When you got back, Haewon was sitting on her bed, in an oversized shirt and shorts.

“...That’s my shirt, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“...Never mind.”

Haewon pulled the covers back and climbed into bed, settling in. You sat on the edge of her bed.

“Your room is a mess. How do you—”

“Keep talking and I’m kicking you out. Are you getting in or not?”

You sighed and got into the bed next to her. She turned toward you, putting you face to face with her.

“Turn around.”

You did just that, and you felt her arms wrap around you from behind.

“So I’m the little spoon?”

“Yup.” She tightened her arms around you. “You’re taking me out on a date tomorrow, by the way.”

“So soon?”

“Mhm. So you better come up with something good.”

“I’ve had four years to figure out what you like. I think I’ll be fine.”

She went quiet. Her arms tightened even more around you.

“...Shut up. Go to sleep.”