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Love has three types of beauty...
At least that's what Sohyun believed in.
It's almost midnight, but Sohyun is still wide awake, standing in line in a 7-11 shop. Despite having work tomorrow, she still chose to go out and buy a cake.
"Next!" finally...
Normally, she would have just ordered online, just like how she orders for food on a normal day. But since the cake is for a special day, she knows it's worth all the effort.
She placed the small box of strawberry chocolate cake on the counter, pulling a card out of her pocket.
"That will be 4,500 won" the cashier announced, accepting the card from Sohyun's hands.
"Savings or checking?"
"Savings"
After the brief transaction, the cashier gave the card back to Sohyun, and went away to pack the box up.
While waiting, her eyes wander around the shop, there's no other customers inside except for her, and the calm atmosphere made her want to stay for longer than she's intended to.
But she also need to go back home now, knowing that the birthday girl is waiting for her. Afterall nothing's much more calmer than being with Xinyu.
"Here's your cake, ma'am."
Stepping out of the store, the temperature outside is much lower than inside, making Sohyun tremble in coldness. She sure can't wait to get home and hug the heater.
The night sky was pretty, but Xinyu's prettier.
After a few minutes of walking, she's finally arrived at their dorm building, stepping inside, she wasted no time, she hop in the empty elevator, pressing her floor level.
She checked the time on her phone, 11:54, six minutes before midnight, six minutes before Xinyu's birthday.
And as luck would have it, the elevator finally arrived at her destination without any delay.
The hallway was quiet, no signs of any members that's staying in the other doorms just next to hers. They're probably asleep by now.
She typed the password to their dorm room, and carefully slipped in, making sure to not make any sounds that would wake up the others.
She took off her shoes, and walked in tiptoeing.
Expecting to see no one— a figure sitting on the dining area almost made her jump in shock.
"What the he—" Nien stared back at her while munching the last piece of chips she had.
"What did you bought?" The girl asked.
"It's cake" Nien's smile widened after hearing Sohyun's answer.
"Is it for jie jie?" Sohyun nodded, placing the box on the dining table infront of Nien, the latter took a peek, observing the cake with pure curiosity.
"She's asleep now, you know"
"Really?"
"She has schedule tomorrow," Sohyun let out a hum, taking off her padded jacket and cap, placing both on the empty chair.
"I'll go check on her"
She then headed straight to Xinyu's room, opening the door cautiously, trying to avoid making any creak.
And it's nothing but quiet as soon as she steps in the room, closing the door behind her, she noticed the dim light coming from Xinyu's phone.
"Nien said you're already asleep"
Xinyu turned to look at her, smiling softly, "I was waiting for you."
"Don't you have schedule tomorrow?"
"Doesn't matter," Xinyu patted the mattress, inviting Sohyun to lay next to her.
And Sohyun didn't hesitate to slide next to the older, shuffling, she pulls the comforter to cover herself.
"It's still 11:57, you're three minutes early,"
"Doesn't matter," Sohyun replied playfully, moving swiftly to get much closer to Xinyu, wrapping her arms around the latter.
As if it's a common occurrence, Xinyu grabbed Sohyun's left hand, intertwining her hand with hers. And for a moment, Sohyun finally felt the warmness she's been looking for since earlier.
Love has three types of beauty...
First, the beauty of introduction. The awkward phase of meeting someone new, not knowing what to say or do.
The moment when Sohyun first saw Xinyu, she immediately noticed her beauty, the way her eyes reflect the sky, and how she moves swiftly like the calm waves of the sea— but has the goofiness of a silly fox.
Second is the beauty of similarities and differences, the stage of noticing, of knowing.
Despite having different tastes in cereal flavors, and different takes on pineapple on pizzas, they are both still willing to try new foods and look at new perspectives just to understand eachother more.
And lastly, the beauty of silence.
The unspoken comfort of knowing they'll always be there for eachother, for better or for worse, even if they have obvious scars or make mistakes, they will always silently choose eachother.
"Happy birthday unnie,"