Work Text:
The rain had just started when Yujin pulled into the parking lot of her small apartment complex.
It was the kind of soft spring rain that blurred the streetlights and made the asphalt shine like glass. Yujin sat in her car for a moment, rubbing her eyes before grabbing her backpack from the passenger seat. Her laptop, textbooks, and a half-finished problem set for Advanced Structural Analysis weighed her shoulders down just as much as the exhaustion did.
“Azzo, I’m home,” she called softly as she unlocked the door.
Normally, the words would trigger chaos.
Tiny paws skidding on the floor.
A burst of excited barking.
The fluffy white blur of her bichon frise puppy sprinting toward her like she had been gone for a year instead of twelve hours.
But tonight…
Nothing.
Yujin frowned as she slipped off her shoes.
“Azzo?”
She walked further inside.
That’s when she saw him.
Azzo was curled up in his small blue bed by the couch, barely moving. His little chest rose and fell slowly, and instead of the usual energetic greeting, he only lifted his head weakly before letting out a tiny whine.
Yujin’s heart dropped.
“Hey… hey buddy.”
She rushed over, kneeling beside him and gently touching his fluffy head. His nose was warm and he felt… sluggish. Completely unlike the energetic little ball of chaos she knew.
“Azzo…?”
The puppy tried to wag his tail, but it barely moved.
That was enough.
Within five minutes, Yujin had him wrapped in a blanket and was racing toward the nearest emergency veterinary clinic.
The visit was long.
Tests. Questions. Waiting.
The veterinarian, a tired-looking middle-aged man, eventually came back with a small bag of medication.
“We couldn’t find anything life-threatening,” he explained, adjusting his glasses. “But he may have an infection or something. Give him these medications and monitor him for the next few days.”
Yujin raised an eyebrow with the unsureness answer but she nodded because she wasn’t an expert.
“Okay… okay.”
She paid at the counter.
Her stomach dropped again when she saw the receipt.
Emergency consultation. Tests. Medication.
The total was enough to make her chest tighten.
Her savings account, already thin from grad school tuition payments, took a heavy hit.
But when Azzo weakly licked her finger from inside the carrier, Yujin forced herself to smile.
“You’re worth every dollar I have,” she whispered.
Two nights later, the exhaustion was catching up to her.
Azzo was somewhat recovering, but the medication and vet bill had left a noticeable dent in her finances.
Yujin stared at her laptop screen.
Her budgeting spreadsheet was not encouraging.
Rent.
Utilities.
Student loan payments starting soon.
Groceries.
Then she looked at Azzo sleeping beside her desk.
“Guess we’re hustling, buddy.”
That same night, she signed up to be a part time driver for Lyft.
Driving at night was strange at first.
Yujin’s apartment was conveniently close to downtown, which meant she got plenty of rides; late-night office workers, college students, people leaving bars, the occasional airport drop-off.
It was tiring.
She would wake up early for her work from home job, attend classes in the afternoon, and drive from around 9 p.m. to midnight.
Sleep became a luxury.
But Azzo was slowly improving, and that was enough motivation.
“Just a few more weeks,” she muttered to herself as she finished dropping off a passenger one Friday night.
Her phone pinged again.
New ride request.
Pickup location: a restaurant just two blocks away.
Passenger name: Wonyoung.
There was even a profile picture.
Yujin glanced at it briefly while stopped at a red light.
A young woman with long dark hair and soft features smiled at the camera.
Pretty.
Very pretty.
Yujin shook her head slightly and turned into the restaurant parking lot.
Meanwhile, on the side of the town…
Wonyoung wanted to disappear.
The team dinner had gone well.
Too well.
The veterinary clinic she worked at was well-known in the city, but it was also heavily male-dominated. Most of the senior veterinarians were men, including Dr. Park.
And Dr. Park had been… persistent.
For two years.
Tonight, after a few drinks and a lot of encouragement from colleagues, he finally said it.
“Dr. Jang, don’t be shy to drink, it’s on me. I can give you a ride home later.”
The table went quiet.
Wonyoung smiled politely. “Ah… I appreciate it, but…”
Luckily, the dinner ended before the situation got worse.
But Dr. Park walked with her outside anyway.
“I can really give you a lift, I insist,” he offered once more.
“Oh, I actually have a ride coming,” Wonyoung said quickly.
“Oh?” He raised a brow. “Is it your imaginary boyfriend again?”
Wonyoung hesitated.
“…Actually...”
“Come on, Wonyoung, it’s just us now. And I know you’re not seeing anyone because I haven’t seen them visit you at the clinic.”
Wonyoung mentally screamed.
Please let the Lyft arrive soon.
Right then…
Her phone pinged.
Your driver has arrived.
She looked up and saw a dark sedan parked by the curb.
Inside, a girl leaned slightly out of the window.
“…Wonyoung?”
Wonyoung was desperate to get away from this man so she quickly thought of a plan. She hurried over to the waiting vehicle.
“Yes…”
“I’m your…”
Before the driver could finish, Wonyoung stepped closer and smiled brightly.
“Hey baby. You’re just in time.” She said out loud for the man behind her to hear.
The driver froze. Confusion filled her eyes.
Wonyoung leaned closer and whispered quickly.
“Please just play along. I’ll give you a huge tip. I promise.”
There was genuine desperation in her voice.
The driver blinked. Then nodded.
She stepped out of the car.
Up close, Wonyoung realized the driver was tall, broad-shouldered, and unexpectedly handsome. Her dark short hair was slightly messy and she looked like she hadn’t slept much lately.
But her eyes were warm.
Wonyoung hooked her arm around the woman’s.
“Dr. Park, this is my girlfriend.”
She nudged the driver slightly.
The girl cleared her throat.
“Uhm, yes. Hello. I’m An Yujin, her girlfriend. Nice to meet you, Doctor.”
She extended her hand.
Dr. Park stared for a moment before awkwardly shaking it.
“Oh… I see. I didn’t know you swing that way.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed.
“Well… uhm, I’ll see you at the clinic tomorrow. Have a good night.”
“Good night,” Wonyoung said sweetly.
They both watched until he disappeared around the corner.
Only then did Wonyoung release Yujin’s arm and let out a huge sigh.
“Oh my god.”
Yujin chuckled softly.
“Stalker at work?”
“Something like that.”
She turned toward Yujin.
“Thank you. Seriously.”
Now that they were standing face to face under the streetlights, Yujin got a proper look at her passenger.
And wow.
She was stunning.
Tall. Elegant. Bright eyes that seemed to glow even under the dim lights.
Yujin suddenly forgot how tired she was.
“Uh… no problem,” she said.
Wonyoung tilted her head slightly.
“You’re my Lyft driver?”
“Yep.”
“Student?”
Yujin raised a brow. “How did you…”
“Your textbook on the passenger seat.”
Yujin laughed. “Guilty.”
They both got back into the car.
As Yujin started driving, Wonyoung looked out the window before glancing back at her.
“So… do you do fake-girlfriend services often?”
“First time,” Yujin said.
“Well,” Wonyoung smiled softly, “you were very convincing.”
Yujin felt her ears get warm.
“Glad I could help.”
There was a comfortable silence for a moment.
Then Wonyoung asked,
“So… why Lyft driving?”
Yujin hesitated.
Then she told her about Grad school.
About Azzo.
About the vet visit.
About the bills.
Wonyoung listened quietly.
When Yujin finished, Wonyoung’s expression softened.
“You must really love your puppy.”
“He’s family.”
Wonyoung smiled gently. “I understand that.”
Yujin glanced at her through the mirror.
“What about you? Long day at work?”
Wonyoung nodded. “I’m a veterinarian.”
Yujin nearly slammed the brakes.
“You’re WHAT?”
Wonyoung laughed. “A vet.”
Yujin stared at the road in disbelief.
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
Yujin groaned.
“You’re telling me I’ve been Lyft driving to pay vet bills and my passenger tonight is literally a veterinarian?”
Wonyoung giggled. “Life works in funny ways.”
When they arrived at Wonyoung’s apartment building, she didn’t get out immediately.
Instead she turned toward Yujin.
“Can I ask something?”
“Sure.”
“Can I meet Azzo?”
Yujin was momentarily confused.
“…You want to meet my dog?”
“I’d like to check on him.”
Yujin hesitated then smiled. “For free?”
Wonyoung grinned. “For a huge tip. I promised, remember?”
Yujin laughed.
As Wonyoung stepped out of the car, she turned back toward the driver’s seat. Yujin had rolled the window down slightly, one arm resting casually on the door.
Up close, Wonyoung could see the faint tiredness under her eyes, but it didn’t take away from the warmth in them.
If anything, it made her look… comforting.
“Thank you again,” Wonyoung said sincerely.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small white card.
Yujin expected a tip.
Instead, Wonyoung handed her a business card.
Dr. Jang Wonyoung, DVM
Veterinary Medicine
But before giving it fully, Wonyoung flipped it over and scribbled something on the back.
Her handwriting was neat and elegant.
Then she handed it over.
“That’s my personal number,” Wonyoung explained. “In case Azzo needs anything… or if you need advice.”
Yujin blinked down at the card.
Her lips slowly curved into a smile.
The kind of smile that made her dimples appear.
“Oh.”
For some reason, that one word made Wonyoung feel oddly shy.
“I mean… professionally speaking,” Wonyoung added quickly. “For the dog.”
“Right,” Yujin said, clearly amused. “For the dog.”
They both knew it wasn’t entirely about the dog.
Wonyoung laughed softly before stepping away from the car.
“I’m looking forward to meeting Azzo.”
Yujin watched her walk toward the apartment building.
And for the first time since she started driving Lyft, she found herself thinking…
Maybe tonight wasn’t so bad.
— — —
It took three days before Yujin gathered the courage to text.
She stared at the number on the card for nearly ten minutes.
Then Azzo sneezed weakly beside her.
Decision made.
She typed.
Yujin:
Hi Dr. Jang, this is Yujin, the Lyft driver with the sick puppy.
The reply came faster than she expected.
Wonyoung:
Yujin! How is Azzo doing?
Yujin glanced at the small fluffy dog curled up beside her.
Still low energy.
Still not quite himself.
Her chest tightened slightly.
Yujin:
Honestly… not great.
Would it be possible to schedule a visit?
A few seconds later…
Wonyoung:
Come tomorrow morning. I’ll make time.
Yujin smiled softly.
That was… surprisingly easy.
The veterinary clinic was warm and bright when Yujin arrived the next day.
Azzo sat quietly in his carrier, occasionally peeking out with sleepy eyes.
The moment the door opened,
A familiar voice greeted them.
“Yujin!”
Wonyoung stepped out from behind the reception desk.
Her smile was bright.
But the moment she saw the fluffy white puppy inside the carrier, her smile somehow got even bigger.
“Oh my god.” She crouched immediately “Azzo??”
The puppy slowly lifted his head.
Wonyoung melted.
“He’s even cuter than I imagined.”
Yujin chuckled. “He knows it.”
Azzo gave a tiny wag of his tail as Wonyoung carefully lifted him onto the examination table.
For the next twenty minutes, Wonyoung worked with quiet focus.
Listening to his heartbeat.
Checking his stomach.
Looking through his previous prescription.
Then she gently pressed one area of his abdomen.
Azzo whined softly.
Wonyoung’s brows furrowed.
“Ah.” She looked up. “I think I found the problem.”
Yujin straightened. “What is it?”
“Minor intestinal inflammation. The medication he was given wasn’t the right one.”
Relief flooded Yujin’s chest. She knew the previous vet was sketchy.
“So he’ll be okay?”
Wonyoung smiled reassuringly. “Very okay.”
She wrote a prescription and handed over a small bottle of medicine.
“Give him this twice a day. He should improve within a few days.”
When Yujin reached for her wallet, Wonyoung gently pushed her hand away.
“No charge.”
Yujin frowned. “Wonyoung…”
“Think of it as repayment,” she said softly. “For saving me from Dr. Stalker.”
Yujin hesitated then sighed.
“…Okay. But at least let me buy you lunch.”
Wonyoung smiled. “You don’t have to but I’d like that.”
As Wonyoung walked them toward the front, the door to the other room opened.
And of course, Dr. Park was the one coming out with a patient and its owner.
Yujin saw the exact moment Wonyoung stiffened.
They made eye contact.
Wonyoung mouthed silently:
Help.
Yujin almost laughed.
Game time.
She immediately stepped closer and slipped an arm loosely around Wonyoung’s waist.
“Babe, what did I say about skipping meals?” Yujin said casually.
Wonyoung blinked at the sudden upgrade in acting.
Dr. Park froze.
Yujin continued smoothly.
“Oh, hey Doctor. Nice to see you again.”
Dr. Park, clearly still embarrassed from their last meeting, greeted her. “Yujin, right?”
“Right. I was just visiting my girlfriend because our child missed her.”
She gently scratched Azzo’s head. “Our baby here has been very dramatic lately.”
Wonyoung nearly choked trying not to laugh.
Dr. Park looked stunned.
“Oh… I see.”
“And we were just about to grab lunch,” Yujin added easily.
Wonyoung quickly nodded. “Yes. We were. I was too distracted with this cutie I forgot to grab my purse.”
She was back in seconds, white coat discarded and purse in hand.
Then without hesitation, Yujin reached out.
Their fingers intertwined naturally.
“Ready?” Yujin asked.
Wonyoung nodded.
They walked out of the clinic together.
The moment the door closed behind them, Yujin turned to her nervously.
“Hey… was that okay?”
Wonyoung tilted her head.
“Was what okay?”
“The whole… Azzo is our child thing.” She scratched the back of her neck. “I might’ve escalated the fake girlfriend situation.”
Wonyoung burst out laughing.
“No, it was perfect.”
Yujin visibly relaxed. “Okay, good.”
Then she smiled.
“Also… I really did mean the lunch thing.”
Wonyoung glanced at the café across the street. “Perfect timing. I actually haven’t eaten yet.”
Yujin gestured dramatically.
“Well then. Allow me to treat my girlfriend.”
The café was cozy.
Warm sunlight filtered through large windows, and the smell of fresh coffee filled the air.
They chose a small corner table.
Wonyoung gently placed Azzo on her lap, immediately playing with his tiny paws.
“You’re such a brave boy,” she cooed softly.
Azzo licked her finger.
Yujin rested her chin on her hand, watching them.
“You’re really good with him.”
“I better be,” Wonyoung teased. “I’m literally a veterinarian.”
Yujin laughed.
They ordered sandwiches and coffee.
And for the first time since meeting, they had the chance to just… talk.
About school.
About work.
About the chaos of their schedules.
At one point, Wonyoung smiled mischievously.
“You know… if Dr. Park keeps appearing, you might have to keep pretending to be my girlfriend.”
Yujin raised an eyebrow.
“Every appointment?”
“Every appointment.”
Yujin leaned back thoughtfully. “Hm.”
She pretended to consider the idea.
“Free veterinary services?”
“Sure.”
“Cute veterinarian?”
Wonyoung tried to hide her smile.
Yujin shrugged. “…I guess that’s a fair trade.”
Wonyoung laughed.
Azzo barked happily in agreement.
And as they continued talking, joking, and stealing glances at each other, neither of them noticed how natural it felt.
Until Yujin reached for her coffee.
And suddenly realized something.
“…Wait.”
She looked down.
Their hands were still intertwined on the table.
Yujin quickly pulled back.
“Oh, uhm, sorry.”
But before she could say anything else…
Wonyoung simply picked Azzo up and placed him comfortably on her lap again.
Then she smiled at Yujin like nothing strange had happened.
“So,” she said casually, scratching Azzo’s chin.
“Same time next week, girlfriend?”
Yujin felt her dimples appear again.
And this time, she didn’t even try to hide how much she liked the idea.
— — —
The first few messages between them were simple.
Practical.
Professional.
Mostly about Azzo.
Wonyoung:
Did he take his medicine today?
Yujin:
Yes, doctor 🫡
He hated it but we survived.
Wonyoung:
Did you mix it with food?
Yujin:
…there was supposed to be a strategy?
Wonyoung:
Yujin 😭
But the conversations slowly stretched longer.
Azzo updates turned into random messages throughout the day.
Then jokes. Then teasing.
And somehow, before either of them realized it, messaging each other had become part of their routine.
One afternoon, Yujin sent a photo.
Azzo sitting proudly in a tiny yellow raincoat.
His fluffy head barely sticking out.
Yujin:
Dr. Jang, is my child still allowed in public looking like this?
A few seconds later…
Wonyoung:
Oh my god.
Wonyoung:
He looks like a marshmallow.
Wonyoung:
I need to see him immediately.
Which was how they ended up at a dog park two days later.
Azzo was already much more energetic, happily sprinting around the grass while Wonyoung watched with her arms resting on the wooden fence.
“He’s doing really well,” she said proudly.
Yujin leaned beside her.
“Thanks to you and the free treatment.”
Wonyoung bumped her shoulder lightly.
“You’re never letting that go, are you?”
“Never.”
They both watched Azzo chase a much bigger dog twice his size.
Wonyoung laughed. “He thinks he’s huge.”
“Just like his other mom.”
Wonyoung turned slowly.
“…Did you just call me his other mom?”
Yujin smirked. ”…Maybe…”
“You definitely did.”
“Okay but technically you’re the one who gave him medical care so…”
“Don’t you dare make me co-parent this dog.”
Yujin grinned.
Too late.
It already kind of felt that way.
— — —
Their coffee “dates” became regular.
Neither of them called them dates.
But they happened at least twice a week.
Sometimes after Wonyoung finished a long shift.
Sometimes after Yujin finished classes.
The café staff even started recognizing them.
“The usual table?” one barista would ask.
Yujin would nod.
Wonyoung would pretend not to smile.
Azzo always sat either in Yujin’s lap or beside Wonyoung’s chair like he owned the place.
Yujin found herself staring more often than she should.
It usually happened when Wonyoung laughed.
Her laugh was bright and unfiltered, the kind that made her shoulders shake slightly.
Or when she pouted, which she did often.
Especially when Yujin teased her.
“You’re doing it again,” Wonyoung complained one day.
“Doing what?”
“Looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re analyzing a math equation.”
Yujin smirked.
“Engineering habit.”
Wonyoung rolled her eyes but tried to hide her smile.
What Yujin never said out loud was the truth.
She liked looking at Wonyoung.
A lot.
— — —
Some nights were quieter.
Movie nights, usually at Yujin’s apartment.
Azzo had claimed a permanent spot on the couch between them, though he almost always ended up asleep halfway through the movie.
The apartment was small but cozy.
Textbooks stacked on the coffee table.
Engineering diagrams scattered across Yujin’s desk.
Wonyoung found it strangely charming.
“You really live like this?” she teased once, picking up a thick textbook.
Yujin groaned. “Don’t judge me.”
“I’m judging you.”
“You literally dissect animals for a living.”
“Excuse me,” Wonyoung gasped dramatically. “I heal them.”
Yujin laughed.
Then she tossed a blanket over Wonyoung’s legs.
“Here.”
Wonyoung blinked.
“You’re cold.”
“Oh.”
She pulled the blanket closer. “…Thanks.”
Moments like that made things feel strangely… domestic.
Yujin cooking instant ramen in the kitchen while Wonyoung sat cross-legged on the couch.
Azzo wandering between them like the tiny king of the household.
For brief moments, Yujin would imagine something dangerous.
What if this was real?
But she never said it.
One night, they watched a terrible horror movie.
The lights were dim.
Rain tapped softly against the window.
Wonyoung had tucked her feet under herself, leaning slightly toward Yujin.
At one point, Azzo shifted and jump down onto the floor, leaving a small gap between them.
Their shoulders brushed.
Neither moved.
The movie played quietly in the background.
Yujin turned slightly to say something, and froze.
Wonyoung was already looking at her.
Their faces were close.
Very close.
Just a few inches apart.
Close enough that Yujin could see the faint sparkle in Wonyoung’s eyes from the TV light.
Close enough that Wonyoung could see the tiny dimple that appeared whenever Yujin almost smiled.
For a moment, the world felt suspended.
Yujin’s heart beat faster.
Should I…?
Her eyes flickered to Wonyoung’s lips.
Then back to her eyes.
Wonyoung didn’t move. Didn’t pull away.
Yujin felt the moment stretching.
Her instincts told her to lean forward.
Just a little.
Just enough.
But then her brain caught up.
What if she’s just comfortable?
What if I ruin this?
What if she pulls away?
Yujin forced herself to breathe.
Then suddenly…
Pop.
A piece of popcorn bounced off Wonyoung’s forehead.
Wonyoung was shocked.
“…Did you just throw popcorn at me?”
Yujin burst into laughter.
“You looked too serious.”
Wonyoung gasped. “Childish.”
She grabbed a handful of popcorn and threw it back at Yujin.
Within seconds they were both laughing, popcorn flying everywhere.
Azzo barked excitedly from the floor.
The moment dissolved into playful chaos.
But when Yujin looked away to grab the popcorn bowl,
She missed the way Wonyoung’s smile slowly faded.
Just for a second.
A small flicker of disappointment crossed her face.
Because she had noticed the moment too.
And part of her had been waiting for it.
— — —
Their routine continued.
Dog parks.
Coffee dates.
Movie nights.
Sometimes they held hands even when not in the veterinary clinic.
Even when Dr. Park was not around.
“Just in case,” Yujin would whisper jokingly. “Dr. Stalker might be lurking.”
Wonyoung would roll her eyes.
But her hand always slipped naturally into Yujin’s.
And each time, neither of them pulled away quickly.
Because pretending was easy.
But the problem was…
The line between pretending and real had started to blur.
And neither of them knew who would cross it first.
— — —
Yujin didn’t expect things to change that week.
It was supposed to be a normal day.
She finished her afternoon class earlier than usual, the lecture ending thirty minutes ahead of schedule after the professor decided the remaining material could be covered online. Most students rushed out of the classroom excited for the unexpected break.
Yujin stayed seated for a moment, stretching her stiff shoulders.
Her brain immediately went to one person.
Wonyoung.
She glanced at the time.
Still early afternoon.
Wonyoung would probably still be at the clinic.
A small idea formed in her head.
A surprise.
Yujin smiled to herself as she packed her bag.
Twenty minutes later, she was walking out of the café near Wonyoung’s clinic.
Two iced drinks balanced carefully in a cardboard tray. A small bag of pastries hanging from her fingers.
The barista had already recognized the order.
“One green milk tea for the pretty vet?” he teased.
Yujin tried not to smile too much.
“You know it.”
Azzo was with her too, sitting happily in his carrier and occasionally poking his nose through the mesh.
“You’re about to see your other mom,” Yujin murmured, tapping his nose playfully.
Azzo wagged his tail in excitement.
Yujin rounded the corner toward the clinic’s back entrance.
And then she stopped.
Just ahead, near the side door, Wonyoung stood with another veterinarian.
Yujin recognized the white coat immediately. They were carrying trays of coffee and small snack boxes.
But that wasn’t what made Yujin freeze.
Wonyoung was laughing.
Not just smiling politely.
Not the professional smile she used with clients.
No.
It was the same bright, genuine laugh Yujin had come to know.
The one that made her shoulders bounce slightly.
The one that made her eyes crinkle.
Yujin had seen that laugh so many times before.
Just… usually because of her.
The male doctor beside Wonyoung said something else.
Wonyoung lightly bumped his shoulder.
Still smiling. Still laughing.
The moment lasted only a few seconds.
But for some reason, it felt much longer.
Yujin slowly stepped backward.
Her grip tightened on the coffee tray.
She could call out.
She could wave.
She could walk up and join them.
But something stopped her.
A quiet thought she didn’t want to admit.
She looks happy.
Maybe… happier.
Yujin swallowed, then she quietly turned around.
The café bag and drinks felt heavier than before.
A trash can stood near the corner.
Without thinking too much about it,
She dropped the bag inside.
Then the drinks.
The plastic lids clattered softly.
Yujin didn’t look back.
That night, her phone stayed silent.
No texts. No calls.
Wonyoung sent one message around 9 PM.
Wonyoung:
How was class today?
Yujin stared at it for a long time.
Then she locked her phone and set it aside.
She lay back on the couch, Azzo curled against her stomach.
Her fingers absently scratched his fluffy head.
“You know,” she murmured softly. “We’re not actually together.”
Azzo blinked sleepily.
“Which means… she can like whoever she wants.”
Her chest tightened slightly.
“And that’s okay.”
She repeated it a few times.
Mostly to convince herself.
— — —
The next few days went back to normal.
Or at least…
They looked normal.
Coffee dates continued.
Dog park visits.
Movie nights.
Wonyoung still laughed at Yujin’s jokes.
Yujin still teased her until she pouted.
Azzo still bounced between them like their tiny shared responsibility.
But somewhere deep down, Yujin started building a small wall around her heart.
Because she had already convinced herself of something.
This is just friendship.
And honestly…
She would rather keep Wonyoung as a friend than lose her completely.
A week later, it was movie night again.
Yujin’s apartment once again.
They finished the first movie, a lighthearted rom-com Wonyoung insisted on picking.
The credits rolled across the screen.
Yujin grabbed the remote.
“So,” she said casually, stretching her legs. “What’s next?”
Usually, Wonyoung would already be scrolling through options excitedly.
But tonight, she wasn’t moving.
Instead, Wonyoung sat quietly beside her, cracking her knuckles.
Yujin noticed immediately.
Because Wonyoung only did that when she was anxious.
Yujin reached over without thinking.
Her hand gently covered Wonyoung’s. Her thumb brushed softly across her knuckles.
“Hey.”
Wonyoung looked up.
Her expression was serious.
A little worried.
“I’ve been wanting to tell you something,” she said quietly.
Yujin felt her stomach tighten.
There it was.
The moment she had been expecting.
The confirmation she had already prepared herself for.
She exhaled slowly and nodded.
“Okay.”
Wonyoung hesitated for a moment.
Then she said it.
“I don’t want you to play my fake girlfriend anymore.”
The words landed like a punch to Yujin’s chest.
But she kept her expression calm.
Because she had already guessed why.
She nodded slowly. “That’s… fair.”
Wonyoung blinked. “Huh?”
Yujin scratched the back of her neck.
“I mean… I get it.” She gave a small, forced smile.
“What do you mean?”
“I actually saw you last week.”
Wonyoung frowned slightly. “Where?”
“Outside the clinic.”
Yujin looked down at her hands.
“You were laughing with another doctor.”
The memory flickered through her mind.
The coffee trays.
The laughter.
“I figured you met someone you actually like.” She shrugged lightly. “And that’s okay.”
Wonyoung stared at her.
Completely confused.
For a few seconds she said nothing.
Then suddenly…
She laughed. Not mocking. Just genuinely amused.
“Yujinnie…” She shook her head. “Dr. Kim is gay.”
Yujin blinked.
“Very gay,” Wonyoung added. “Like… extremely gay.”
Yujin’s brain short-circuited.
“Oh.”
Realization slowly dawned on her face.
Wonyoung smiled softly.
“When I said I didn’t want you to be my fake girlfriend anymore…”
She shifted closer.
“I meant I don’t want it to be pretend.”
Yujin was stunned.
“I want it to be real.”
Silence filled the room.
Yujin stared at her, still processing.
Because just moments ago she thought she was about to lose Wonyoung.
And now…
“…You mean us?” she asked quietly.
Wonyoung nodded.
“Us.”
When Yujin didn’t say anything, Wonyoung started panicking. “Unless you don’t feel the same way?”
Yujin finally came back to her senses and ran a hand through her hair in disbelief.
“I do. I’ve been wanting that for a while.”
Wonyoung raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“I just didn’t want to mess things up if you didn’t feel the same.”
Wonyoung playfully shook her head.
“Yujinnie…”
She crossed her arms dramatically.
“I didn’t agree to be Azzo’s other mom just for us to play house.”
Yujin laughed weakly.
“I thought you were just being nice.”
“I was hoping you’d get the hint.”
Wonyoung leaned forward slightly.
“But when you didn’t… I started thinking maybe you were just having fun.”
Her voice softened.
“But then I’d catch you looking at me.”
Yujin felt her ears warm.
“The way you do things for me… the way you take care of me…”
Wonyoung smiled shyly.
“Those are things lovers usually do.”
She paused.
“So I hoped.”
Yujin reached for her hand again.
“I’m sorry I made you wait.” She squeezed it gently. “But I really, really like you.”
Her dimples appeared.
“And I don’t want to pretend anymore either.”
Wonyoung smiled softly.
Then suddenly…
She pouted.
“But you’re still making me wait right now.”
Yujin blinked. “…wait for wha..”
Then she caught on. Her dimpled smile widened.
“Oh.”
Slowly, Yujin lifted her hand and gently cupped Wonyoung’s cheek.
Her thumb brushed softly against her skin.
She took a moment.
Really looking at her.
At the girl who had become part of her everyday life.
The girl who had somehow turned their fake relationship into something real.
Then finally,
Yujin leaned forward and kissed her.
The kiss was soft.
Tentative at first.
But warm.
Real.
Wonyoung’s hand immediately slid into Yujin’s shirt collar, pulling her closer as she kissed back.
Azzo barked once from the couch beside them like he was announcing the moment.
They both laughed softly when they pulled apart.
Wonyoung rested her forehead against Yujin’s.
“So,” she whispered. “Does this mean we’re officially Azzo’s parents now?”
Yujin chuckled. “Looks like it.”
Azzo jumped into their laps right then.
And somehow…
It felt exactly like the family they had been pretending to be all along.
— — —