Lingering Feelings Chapter 2 | Wenrene

Lingering Feelings

Chapter 2

Lonely eyes mindlessly gazing through a distance in the midst of loud and vibrating sounds, Joohyun instantly felt a twinge in her heart watching her subject. The bubbliest person engraved in her memory, returned in this reality differently. Her appearance, from the way she dressed to the way she expresses herself, Seungwan was the opposite of what she once used to be.

How many nights has it been, since she has showed up in this night club? Joohyun could count three but it all felt like eternity with how perturbed she became. She has planned out everything in her head, once they get reunited, endless apologies and hopes of reconnecting their lives were all set to be conveyed. But when the opportunity has knocked, she let it slip away easily. Astonishment, later cowardice kicked in, Joohyun couldn't face Seungwan who has once proclaimed love for her in the past.

Another regret has topped over another, and Joohyun will never get it as to why all of it centered to Seungwan. She has lived fearlessly throughout her life, but she always curled up when Seungwan enters the picture.

"You've been watching that girl from afar for 3 straight nights." A tall and sophisticated woman, with clothes revealing too much skin, approached Joohyun at the bar. Taking a seat next to her, she took a shot of tequila, and continued. "That's not how we do it, Joohyun. If we want it, we get it. You've been doing great all these years, what's up with you?" 

Joohyun turned to Joy. "I'm not supposed to see her here." 

"Is she a minor that escaped the bouncers?" Joy quickly raised as if it's the only reason why one shouldn't be here. 

"No. But... this place is... it does not fit her." She exhaled exasperatedly. Seungwan, is the most innocent person she has ever met in her life. To see her in a hellish place where all types of sinners like to gather, Joohyun couldn't accept.

Joohyun has grown accustomed to this night life, the wicked people, and the activities done before and after the lights goes off. At this point, with years of experience, no circumstances inside nor harsh words of criticisms outside could make her uncomfortable anymore. Not, when she's certain that the person she cares the most in the world, won't ever step into this hell. But ever since Seungwan showed up, her resolve faltered instantly. 

The mind boggling questions from what she's doing here up to how she had been within that 3 years of  absence, couldn't make her sleep at night. God knows how much she wanted to see her after those years she was missing in her life, but she never imagined it to be in this kind of place and moment. 

Lingering Feelings Chapter 1 | Wenrene

Lingering Feelings

Chapter 1

When the sky suddenly weeps, and umbrellas forgotten, everyone scatters to look for a shed. Protecting themselves from getting drenched, to not ruin their day, always had been the norm.

Just like everyone else, Joohyun does the same. Sighting and stopping at a structure with projecting eaves, on her way home from school.

With her mind occupied with other things as she walked earlier, the rain has poured before she could find a place to take shelter. Her waterproof bag, that she used to shield herself from rain, was fully drenched. A few strands of her hair, face, arms and clothes that were uncovered by the bag did not escape from getting wet either. The rain cascaded, a few parts of the uneven road flooded. She missed avoiding them as she ran in a rush, causing her feet ending in a most uncomfortable state.

Drying herself with tissues weren't enough, so she hoped this gloomy weather to disappear quick with the flood and rain. She used a few tissues left to clean an old wooden chair to sit on and wait for the rain to end.

"Stop quickly. Enough with your tears." Joohyun said as she watched the heavy rain.

This gloomy weather, quiet, cold and alone to what seemed like an old house unoccupied, Joohyun felt lonely. Lonely but tranquil, something she'd choose rather than... home.

She looked at a distance, the sound of the loud rain becoming familiar, sleep visiting her slowly. But that was abruptly interrupted when someone appeared on that empty distance she was looking mindlessly. She shrieked in surprise especially when that figure was quickly approaching her location, and it did.

"WAH! That's some heavy rain right there!" The new figure commented with too much, for Joohyun's liking, energy.

Joohyun took a distance from the stranger. She moved the chair and her things while the newcomer, who happens to be a lady, was busy drying herself. She has no desire for interaction with her since she drove her peace away.

"I got an extra towel, here!"

A loud voice rung in Joohyun's ears. The other lady was starting a conversation, much to Joohyun's horror.

"I always bring an extra towel so if I forgot to bring one the next days, then I'll still be safe from the rain!"

"I'm fine." Joohyun flatly rejected.

Silence engulfed them, which made Joohyun calm, but only for a few seconds.

"But you'll get sick with your state."

Joohyun still wasn't looking at her, but with the tone of the lady's voice, she could clearly picture out the emotions on her face.

Not giving her a response, the lady continued.

"My body is usually warm, but I'm cold in this weather since I got drenched. I'm sure you're more cold than I am. So you should take this."

Worried. Joohyun thought. But why?

"Your family and friends would worry if you get sick."

Sad.

One Thing Right Chapter 19 | Wenrene

One Thing Right

Chapter 19

"Life" 

"Will you marry me?"

Those were words Wendy did not imagine she will ask in a small span of time from when she told her sister that she wasn't ready yet. Truly, the thought of marriage stayed in her mind even after her conversation with her sister. 

It's undeniable that she loves Irene dearly and as much as she could, she wanted to make efforts in expressing that to her everyday. However, Wendy was aware that she still has many flaws, mainly evident when she's going through severe depressive episodes. Despite her medication and willpower to act like nothing's going on inside her head, it's still inevitable to get overwhelmed by it and get tired at times too. So when this happens, Wendy pauses, rest and regain her composure away from people including Irene. By now, she has learned how to both disconnect and then reconnect with people after it unlike before which she only shut everyone away for good. The progress was there but sometimes she felt bad for leaving Irene alone in those times.

Even if Irene always welcomes her with open arms, as if nothing happened, Wendy still couldn't ignore the fear building up that Irene might be feeling abandoned during those times. She had asked her about it twice and Irene assured her that it was all okay, she even does her thing of playfully sealing her words with a kiss. That worked always, but still... Wendy remained anxious. So when Mina's support came and brought an idea about marriage, she thought that it was an opportunity for her to give Irene an assurance too that she's not going to abandon her. That even if a depressive comes along, and if ever she needed more time alone, there's something Irene could hold on to, to assure her that she couldn't say often in words.

Wendy had been thinking that Irene might have thoughts like Joy before. How she's also living in uncertainty because of her. 

Other than that, Wendy thought that it'll be an assurance for herself too, that Irene won't leave her even if Bogum portrays his role in the baby's life. It's not like she doesn't trust Irene, she really does, but sometimes during her uncontrollable depressive episodes, this thought instantly becomes the center of her negativity. So perhaps this marriage could help her cope up better.

Lost in her own thoughts again, it was when Irene's hand reached out to caress her face that brought her back to her right senses. As usual, with just one touch from Irene, her mind was tamed. 

When Wendy finally observed Irene's reaction to her proposal, she was smiling and was giving her the same loving gaze like the usual. Wendy was a bit disappointed, she read it like her proposal was something insignificant to her.

"Am I rejected?" Wendy asked, frowning. Her confusion arose when Irene ended up chuckling.

Irene continously carresses Wendy's face in silence with now both hands, admiring every part of her face. She bit her own lip as her touches, with slight pressure applied, glided through Wendy's arms till she reached her hands and intertwined them. Unbeknownst to what's inside Irene's mind, Wendy deciphered the silent treatment as rejection.

Just when Irene was about to say something, Joy and Seulgi arrived with the car. 

"Let's go ladies. We're going home!" Joy enthusiastically invited from the driver's seat. 

Before Wendy could demand for a clear answer, Irene took her by the hand excitedly and entered the car. And that's how Wendy's proposal had ended. 

---

When they arrived at their apartment building, Irene requested Joy to unpack her things for her with Seulgi in their unit and she'll wait and rest at Wendy's unit instead. The three were all suprised at the request and Wendy even volunteered for her to do it instead, but Irene refused. Before Joy could even protest, Irene dragged Wendy again by the hand but this time to enter her unit.

Irene locked the door behind them once they were inside and immediately grabbed Wendy's face and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Wendy was shocked with the sudden intimacy but easily got into the moment when the situation heated up between their touches. Irene lead their bodies closer as they kissed with her arms around Wendy's neck while Wendy automatically placed her hands behind Irene's waist. At this point, they couldn't spare a small distance between them to exist. It's been a while they had a time alone so the need to feel each other intensified that they, especially Irene, could not hold back any longer. Their hands dangerously travelled their bodies putting more fuel to their burning desires. Irene then suddenly transferred her kisses to Wendy's neck earning a moan that drives the older crazier.

After like a minute, they pulled out from the kiss to catch up some air but their foreheads still leaning onto each other, savoring the warmth that spread through their own bodies. Their hearts pumping wild making them lightheaded but instead of diving in for more, they chose to only snuggled back closer to feel each other's comfortable warmth. It's certain that the desire to go past their usual level of intimacy has tripled, they're like walking a thread. But still, out of respect to their agreement to take things slow, they painfully stopped themselves before they get fully blinded by their desires for feeling each other. 

It was Irene who broke the silence first after she sighed deeply. "I'm sorry. I just... couldn't help it. The marriage proposal drove me into this, I was overwhelmed by my feelings for you." She smiled and nuzzled to the crook of Wendy's neck. 

"It's okay. I thought you turned down my proposal but what we did kind of tells me otherwise?" Wendy smiled weakly a bit downheartened at the mention of rejection. 

"There's no way I would turn you down!" 

Wendy nodded but still displayed a frown on her face. Irene wanted to erase that frown and so she did what has to be done and placed a peck on Wendy's enticing lips. 

"I was holding back myself to kiss you there and then. Your proposal came out of nowhere, and we're in public, a hospital even! So when we got home, I just exploded and desired for your warmth and show you how much I love you." She explained herself like she's about to lose her mind. She took deep breaths to calm herself but the tears started coming out from her eyes now. This day was like a roller coaster ride of her emotions.

"Why are you crying?" Wendy got teary eyed as well watching her.

"Because I'm so happy. You proposing is like...a dream. I don't know how to  react properly, I can't explain. I want to laugh because I'm overjoyed but I also want to cry out of happiness... everything's mixing up!"

"So... Is that a yes?" Wendy had to know the direct and clear answer or her mind won't free her.

"Of course it's a yes!"

Wendy was in disbelief, she even took a step back to process everything. Just like Irene, she's also lost for words to explain the overwhelming mixed up emotions she's feeling.

"Yes... as in you're marrying me, right?" She asked again, slowly and completed her words this time, just to make sure Irene's not mistaken.

Irene giggled at the sight, Wendy surely is the most adorable person she has seen in her life. It makes her heart melt. "Yes. I'll be marrying you, Wendy."

"W-why?" That question came out before Wendy could even think. Her insecurties surfacing at this crucial moment. She just couldn't think straight at all, but thanks to it, Irene got provoked to prove herself as to why she agreed on marrying her. 

"Because I want to grow old with you, loving you till the very end. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and do things together no matter how small they are. Because if it's you, whatever we do, all of it will be special." Irene responded with all honesty.

Wendy's tears fell down but she's not over yet with her questions. "Irene will become my wife?" She tried once again but this time talking to herself. 

"Yes. I'll be your wife and you're my baby's mommy too." Irene took Wendy's trembling hand and placed it on her stomach. 

And that's when Wendy felt the realness of what's happening, she brought Irene in a tight embrace like her life depended on her. "I can't believe it. I'm so lucky to have you and you'll even become my wife. This is surreal." 

Irene no longer said anything to that. She just did her best to to savor and instill this adorable and heart melting moment to her memories as clear as possible.

Wendy then remembers the most important token that's needed in this proposal and it was the ring. Of course, she doesn't have it, she didn't expect to propose on this day after all. So right now, she has to only rely on her creativity. She took out a pen from her pocket and asked for Irene's hand. 

Irene read her mind and cackled at the silly idea. She gave her hand anyway.

"I honestly am only going to ask for you to move in with me but this is way better. I not only gained a roommate, I also gained a wife." Wendy was smiling from ear to ear as she drew a ring on Irene's ring finger.

"I love your spontaneity, Wendy. I guess, our life together will be full of surprises." 

"Of course, I will not make you regret your decision in marrying me. There! It's done!" 

"It's the most beautiful ring, Wendy. I love it." 

"Don't convince me that you really love it, I might not replace it with the real thing anymore." Wendy remarked and both of them cracked up at their own silliness.

They stopped for a while and admired each other through their gazes. Without saying anything, their eyes tell how much they are madly in love with each other.

"Kiss me slowly." Irene, already dazed, led her closer and Wendy didn't think twice and fulfilled her wish.

One Thing Right Chapter 18 | Wenrene

One Thing Right

Chapter 18

"Through Thick And Thin" 

Joy found Wendy sitting at the lounge area and her sister was unsighted from the scene, she immediately came running towards her.

 

"Wendy-unnie! Are you alright? Did she harm you? What did she say? Are you okay?" She blurted out rushing, almost incomprehensible. Joy was in panic as she examined Wendy's physical built and face as if her sister might have done her harm. When she finally met Wendy's gaze, her chest tightened and it felt like time has stopped. She gulped. "W-Wendy unnie?"

Wendy was smiling and it wasn't the smile that she always wore whenever she wanted to conceal her emotions. It was strange for Joy, confusing even. How could Wendy smile after meeting her sister who, if Joy would describe it, a pawn of their strict parents. "Have you lost your mind, for real?" She blurted out in a spur of her messy and confused mind and it made Wendy chuckle.

"Get up there and sit beside me." Wendy instructed but quickly supported Joy to get up from kneeling in front of her to sitting beside her.

"You're making me more worried. Seriously, unnie, did Mina unnie hurt you?" 

Wendy shook her head, denying her claim. "I'm all good, in fact, I feel even better." 

Joy knew that Wendy wasn't lying, she seemed more enlightened. It's totally opposing her idea of what kind of person Mina really was in her mind. 

"What did she told you?" She asked and despite the positive atmosphere wrapping around her and Wendy, she still couldn't erase her concern of how their sudden meeting went especially on the topic of Wendy coming back to Canada.

"She told me she'll support whatever it is that I wanted to do."

Joy keenly examined her facial expressions and body language like how she used to when she's with Wendy. It has become a habit of hers to read in between the lines to whatever Wendy was saying to her. But right now, it felt like Wendy was just being... Wendy, like how she exactly met her the first time they got acquainted. A person that wears her heart on her sleeves.

"And what is it that you wanted?" Joy gulped, nervously.

"To stay here, with you, Seulgi and Irene." She smiled and her eyes were twinkling saying their names. 

Joy's eyes glistened and her mouth formed a pout indicating she's about to burst out crying and she did. Wendy embraced Joy tightly, brushing her back to comfort her. It's though as if their spot were reversed, it was now Wendy comforting Joy, an occassion that Wendy had been wanting to do for a long time but couldn't.

"Did you think I will leave you all behind?" Wendy asked with her voice shaking. Joy crying like a child to her was tugging her heartstrings and it makes her emotional as well but Wendy read the situation that she needed to become Joy's strength. Wendy was a lot stronger now, emotionally and mentally than how she had been for almost the entire time that she had spent with Joy in the past. She could feel it, how her mind and her heart were suddenly all clear after her biggest burden was lifted from her shoulders. And with that, Wendy knew that she's capable now to do the thing that she had been longing to do... to finally become useful and help out the person who had stood by her side from the very beginning. To finally support Joy back and become her pillar during her breaking moments, because that had been Joy to her from the very start.

"I won't go anywhere, Joy. I'll stick around you just like how you stick around me all this time. Because you've been my consistent light and hope during my darkest times and I will forever repay you for as long as I live." Wendy said as she expressed her gratitude over Joy. The latter's crying became even more louder and intense as she heard her say those words.

"Stop crying now, Joy." Wendy said softly and made a distance between them to see Joy's crying face and wipe all the tears that kept pouring with her handkerchief. 

"Why are you saying those tear jerking words to me! Now I'm a mess!" Joy struggled through her words but Wendy did her best to comprehend everything. 

"Even if you're a mess, you're still a beautiful child to me. That won't change just because you have snorts coming out of your nose."

"YAH!" Joy shouted and but still ended up crying. "I told you, stop saying tear jerking words to me. I can't stop crying because of that!"

"What? It's tear jerking how you have snorts coming out from your nose?" Wendy joked and Joy finally laugh throughout her crying. 

It took about 5 minutes before Joy finally calmed in Wendy's embrace, and that's when the older girl spoke again. "You're a strong person, Joy. But you're still young and you have weaknesses too so now that I'm getting better, will you open up your worries to me too?"

Joy need not to ask for more details as to what Wendy was referring to when she knew what she did. So she nodded and continued to listen to her unnie while she hang her head low, guilty.

"Will you be honest with me?"

Joy nodded.

"So, can I ask something personal?"

Joy nodded again.

"I heard from Seulgi what happened to your relationship with Sungjae."

Joy gripped the hem of her shirt. She knew where this was going and she didn't want it. The least thing she wanted to do was to hurt her cousin so she had to lie if she had to but, at this point, she knew Wendy would be able to read through her lies.

"You're a person that never settle to a person that treats you badly, so it's confusing to say that you stayed in a toxic relationship. It's not you." Wendy trailed off, she already had a hunch on what will be Joy's response to the question she's about to ask but she had to confirm it so she would know what to do next. "Why did you do it?"

"I've broke up with him several times, unnie, because we're fighting way too often but Sungjae always cry after and begged me to come back. We've been friends before we became a couple, so I have a soft spot for our past. So that's how our relationship kept going for years." Joy rumbled with difficulty but Wendy was not done probing yet.

"Was it because of me?"