Work Text:
"Happy National Puppy Day!" is the first thing Jiwoo hears when she's jostled awake, loud and clear even over the grogginess fogging her mind. Her mattress dips as another weight settles on it, and Jiwoo grumbles as her blanket is tugged away. Cold air brushes against her exposed skin. She lets out another drowsy grumble, turning onto her side, only quietening when a cosy warmth melds with her back.
Yoona wraps her arm around her waist, pulling her closer to snuggle up to her. Her breath tickles the back of her neck, and Jiwoo sighs, basking in the warmth of her hug. "Unnie," she mumbles into her pillow. "What time is it?"
"Still early. Our alarms haven't gone off yet, so you can sleep more if you want."
"Why did you wake me up..."
"Sorry." Yoona giggles softly, though she doesn't sound the least bit apologetic. "You were whining a little in your sleep. I couldn't resist coming over to your bed."
Jiwoo sighs again. She turns over, squirming a little in Yoona's hold until she's face-to-face with her. When she pries open her eyes, still hazy from sleep, Yoona greets her with an equally drowsy smile. "Happy birthday, Jiwoo," she says, and she strokes her hair, running her fingers through her strands.
Jiwoo hums, her eyes drifting shut again under her gentle touch. "Thanks, but what did you say earlier? Happy National Puppy Day?"
Yoona pauses in her stroking. "Did you know there's an actual day to celebrate puppies? It's on March 23rd."
"Today isn't March 23rd."
"It isn't, but it's your birthday," Yoona says, voice full of confidence like her answer explains everything. "They say it's a day to spoil your puppy, so I think it's only fitting to celebrate it today." Her hand moves again, patting her head.
"Unnie…" Jiwoo whines in embarrassment. It's not the first time Yoona has called her a puppy, but she still can't get used to the affection she says it with. "Waking me up way before my alarm rings is your way of spoiling me?"
"I didn't wake you up way before. There's only an hour left before it sounds."
"That's even worse," Jiwoo groans. She'll just wake up even groggier if she tries to sleep for an hour.
"Mhm, yeah. You're right, puppy. I'm sorry for waking you up," Yoona apologizes again, more sincerely this time. "But we can cuddle until we have to get up? If you want to?"
We can cuddle every night if you want to, Jiwoo's tempted to say, but she knows Yoona will only give her the same apologetic look she probably has on her face now. So instead, she turns her back to her.
"Oh." Yoona makes a quiet, disappointed noise in her throat, pulling away from her waist. Jiwoo drags her back before she can go far, keeping her arm snug around her as a silent answer to her question. She hears a sharp hitch of a breath—loud in the silence of their room—before Yoona's warmth seeps into her again. She presses her front against her back, wrapping her in a tight hug from behind and slipping her leg between hers.
"Comfortable?" Yoona murmurs, her voice low but clear by her ear.
Jiwoo nods, her neck heating up at her closeness. Yoona lets out a sigh of contentment, nuzzling into her without another word.
The room quietens again. Her heart hammers in her chest. Jiwoo tries to sleep, but it's impossible when Yoona's embracing her so naturally, like she's hers to hold.
What are they even doing?
Why is Yoona doing this to her when she's the one who drew the line in the first place?
Jiwoo squeezes the bedsheets into her hands.
"We can't, Jiwoo. Not when we're idols."
What's this then?
Jiwoo can't kiss her, but Yoona can just—cuddle her like everything's fine?
She swallows a bitter lump in her throat. "Unnie…"
Yoona tightens her hug, squeezing her arm around her waist. "Just let me spoil you for today."
For today.
Selfish. Coward. Hypocrite.
Jiwoo wants to scoff at her.
"Happy birthday, Jiwoo," Yoona says, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of her head.
But Yoona's also loving, and Jiwoo can't bring herself to say anything to that.