Chapter Text
It all started as one-night stand.
At first it didn’t mean anything. They met in one of the house party college kids threw, it wasn’t love at first sight, there was instant chemistry and it ended in bed. It was supposed to end there.
But Siyeon’s sister Yubin had to get into a relationship with Bora’s sister. It meant a lot of time with Bora. That was fun though, to be honest, they’d sneak into her bedroom and do it until one of them couldn’t take it anymore.
It was all fun and games.
Until they caught feelings for each other.
It was inevitable really. Who would spend 24/7 together and not fall in love eventually? They basically lived together through college ─though Siyeon didn’t study anything in college, she was basically Yubin’s plus one during those years and her now co-worker Handong got her a job as a firefighter after lots of training but that was a whole other story, she wasn’t going to go there now. Anyway, back to the point─ of course they’d catch feelings
Siyeon noticed it when she started to get jealous and restless every time Bora said she’d go to a club or have a girl’s night out. Yes, she was a jealous person and she hated to feel like that. Why couldn’t she just lock everyone she loved in a room so they all could be hers only?
Yubin in one room, Bora in another, Gahyeon; her best friend to another room. They’d all be hers and no one would harm them in any way. It was a good thing she became a firefighter; she’d jump into fire to save people especially if they were the ones she loved dearly.
But that wasn’t possible, was it?
She loved Bora. She loved her weirdness, her unstable self; ready to ignite, ready to explode. She loved her quick-tempered Bora which on its own didn’t sound that nice of a thing to say…
Come to think of it, her way of describing Bora always sounded… weird… off-putting, even. As if she was describing a rival; a bitch she hated but no... that wasn’t it… She loved Bora, it was just her love language; couples tend to call each other mean names after all. No, there was more to it, of course; there had to be! Bora was loving, passionate about the things she loved, caring… and she was the only person who actually cared about Siyeon’s passion about becoming a math teacher one day. It was her dream and Bora always encouraged her to pursue her dreams.
“Why do you love math so much?” Bora asked her when she first found out what Siyeon wanted in life.
Siyeon replied to her simply, “I like a good challenge.” Then she added, “I can’t leave things unsolved. Everything has a solution and I want to find it.”
“I think fires are good challenges no matter how dangerous they are.”
“Yes, but math doesn’t require you to risk your life.” Siyeon would say.
She loved her job, it was fun most of the times, she wasn’t scared of blood or fires but after some time... it did get depressing to see people die in her arms no matter how hard she – and Handong or teammates – tried to save them.
“You’ll find your path someday.” Bora would encourage all the time.
Bora’s job was simple and didn’t risk her life. She studied business in college. Now she worked as a real estate agent, find houses for rich people and sell it for double price to get a good commission.
Their relationship was actually something to be jealous of. They moved in after Bora finished college, Siyeon couldn’t find a job for a long while and Bora was more than happy to take care of her. Because housewife Siyeon meant undivided attention on Bora, she thrilled in it. Then Handong got her a job in the firehouse she was working at – much to Bora’s displeasure – and she took it, she had to because her ego wouldn’t allow her to ask for money to Bora any longer.
They’d often go on dates, sometimes crash the houses Bora sold before the customers moved in and have sex in their pool. They’d have couple dates with Yoohyeon and Yubin. They’d talk for hours to no end cuddled up in their bed. Their chemistry never faded; their love only got stronger over the time.
The problem was Bora’s best friend, Minji, didn’t like Siyeon at all. If they ever had to sit on the same table, Minji would not spare a glance to her let alone try to speak. And if Siyeon tried to initiate a conversation, Minji would be vocal about her dislike. Despite Bora’s endless warnings to her, she just didn’t care.
Not that Siyeon minded her absurd behavior, but it was disrespectful to Bora. It had been years and she just couldn’t get Minji to like her. She saved lives for a living; how could she not like her? Oh, well, she stopped trying after a while; it was fine so long it didn’t hurt Bora.
It went on quite a while like this. They just clicked together…
At least it was good while it lasted, wasn’t it?
But then, little by little, it started to change. It started off small; Bora stopped supporting her to get a job she actually wanted. She’d say, “What does it matter, Siyeon? Money is money, you can’t quit at this age and start a new career.”
It wasn’t like that in the early days of their relationship. Bora would always encourage her to find her own path.
However now, she wouldn’t care it was draining Siyeon, that the people she lost was starting to traumatize her. “Who cares about math anyway? You won’t change the world, forget it.”
And when Siyeon wanted to talk about some equation, Bora would laugh and wave it off, “You’re dead tired from your work, you should be resting instead of wasting your time studying for a dream that cannot be achieved.”
Siyeon didn’t pay much mind to it, her girlfriend was sort of right; it wasn’t her job to do math, it was her job to save people and they needed the money. Bora was just worried; she had every right to be in this economy.
Their deep night conversations turned into small talks during the day and a simple goodnight at night.
Whenever they were in a couple’s date with their sisters, Bora would often prevent Siyeon from talking about the things she loved or was passionate about. She’d give her the side eye or squeeze her thigh under the table. It seemed like she got annoyed the moment Siyeon opened her mouth to speak to someone else.
“I want you to always talk to me only, Siyeon. I don’t like when other people has your attention.”
“But that’s our sisters…” Siyeon would say.
“I don’t care. Just me only.”
Maybe it was a bad day…
Bora loved to be the center of attention and if Siyeon were to talk to anyone for too long, Bora would find a way to get her attention. Siyeon used to love that about her but lately, it was just annoying. She couldn’t have a moment alone with her friends – even with her sister. It always had to be about her.
Bora was a little… selfish. If something didn’t benefit her, it was pointless to her. It wouldn’t matter. Siyeon had a hard time getting used to that but you know that saying… if you love someone enough, all those could easily be ignored.
And one last thing, she could be fake most of the times and if you didn’t know her like Siyeon – or Minji – did, you could mistake her as someone genuine. She wouldn’t even care about the people Siyeon dragged out of fires. She'd say, “If someday you must choose between a stranger and yourself, choose yourself. You don’t know them, I only care that you don’t get cooked alive.”
Thankfully, up until today, Siyeon didn’t even get a nosebleed from her job even though she had been into plenty dangerous situation.
And when Siyeon got promoted from probationary firefighter to real firefighter, Bora… well… she didn’t get happy like she would have back in the day. She shrugged and half-heartedly congratulated her.
It seemed like Bora was having too many off days.
But it was okay; Siyeon knew Bora loved her.
It wasn’t just Siyeon who was annoyed though. Bora was just as tired with her behavior. She was extremely suffocating.
Yes, everybody knew Siyeon was the most possessive and jealous person ever to exist. Even when her sister Yoohyeon, met Siyeon’s sister Yubin, she wasn’t okay with it for weeks. She wouldn’t let Yubin meet her girlfriend without her, always putting her nose where it didn’t belong. She was always mean to Yoohyeon for one reason only; dating her sister.
And Bora found it endearing; it was adorable the way Siyeon would act when she was jealous of someone around her. It was heartwarming because it showed how much she cared about Bora.
But it started to get suffocating after they moved in. Because it wasn’t like that before. She wouldn’t have to get permission to go outside with somebody. She’d just have to ensure her that she didn’t cheat and maybe have a little argument about it but Bora dealt with it every time because she loved Siyeon; she really did. She loved Siyeon’s undying attention on her, it made her feel like the only girl in the world. She loved her passions, her weird interests, her laugh that’d make the sun feel jealous.
She shone brighter than every kind of star in the universe.
Their love was epic, one of a kind and it was out of love, Bora knew.
Minji’s dislike for Siyeon could be the reason why her girl hated the idea of Bora having a night out with her best friend. Bora had no idea why her best friend in the world didn’t like the love of her life; she’d always ask and try to get it out of her but Minji would always say the same, “She doesn’t feel right. You deserve better than her.”
However, it wasn’t just Minji. Siyeon wouldn’t allow her to go out with anyone including her sister. It wasn’t endearing anymore; it didn’t feel adorable. Now it was just suffocating as if her head was underwater and Siyeon was the one pushing it. She couldn’t breathe.
The only alone time she’d have was when Siyeon was working a twenty-four-hour shift and even then Siyeon would call every hour to ask where she was and who she was with. If Bora were to avoid the question, Siyeon would track her down.
Once upon a time, Bora didn’t hear the phone ring while she was out with Minji. It resulted with Siyeon tracking her phone and coming to the pub they were at with a fucking firetruck, sirens ringing as if there was a fire and with all of her team. After some heated argument in the middle of the street, her team drove her back home. Safe to say, the argument didn’t end there and Minji’s dislike turned into hate.
“You didn’t answer my calls. I thought you were in danger! Do you know how dangerous the world is?” Siyeon would try to justify her actions every time.
And both had serious anger issues. God forbid if they had a fight, the house would be a wreck afterwards because they’d both throw stuff – but not to each other.
They loved each other; they wouldn’t dare to hurt one another.
But of course, they wouldn’t talk it out, no; they’d rather bottle it up inside until one of them exploded like a fucking volcano.
They’d endure it all no matter how tough it’d get. They’d endure it even if they were exhausted, depleted, and burnt-out from inside out. They were both tired of too must stress with too few rewards. Either of them had the patience, pleasure, or serotonin anymore.
But it was okay… They loved each other.
Even though they didn’t talk to each other at home, even though they didn’t have sex for ages or cuddled in bed, even though they didn’t tell each other what was wrong or how their day went.
They loved each other.
Didn’t they?