Snippets of Time (Part Nine)
Title: Snippets of Time
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: YoonSic/ YoonYul/ YulSic/ 2Ny
Summary: Growing up with you- the things we did, paths we crossed and way we changed.
A/N: Beta credits to jzmasterofall. Now... Yes I know, it's Yoonsic day! But 2ny is my first ship, let them shineeee <3 I'll compensate you guys with an actual Yoonsic, an outtake chapter, later. (Psst. Got myself a twitter, you guys are welcomed to spy)
[Bizarre relationships]
Part Nine
“Pssst.”
Jessica swiped away the offending pen poking at her sides in a futile effort to focus her mind on the uninteresting lecture. It didn’t help that the professor delivered it in the most stoic manner possible: dry, straight faced, and totally mechanical.
“Pssssssssst.”
The pen was prodding once again, but like the accompanying low voice, it was more urgent and violent this time. Jessica slapped it away and tried to concentrate once again by staring at the professor’s shiny forehead.
Stop ignoring me! You pediatric pedo!
The pink words appeared as quick scribbling went across her notepad. Jessica tapped her pen on the table before crossing out the uninvited words to a distinct huff of annoyance. She had to fake a cough to cover the unstoppable laugh that crept out of her throat. It was not discreet enough for some heads whipped around to face in her direction.
“Jessssss.”
Jessica could no longer ignore the source of the disturbance.
Tiffany Hwang was frowning, lips downturned and looking very very sulky.
“Shh.”
A guy seated a row in front threw her a glare and Jessica had to mouth a sorry. She passed the glare on to Tiffany who promptly released an elaborated sigh and resigned her redheaded self to doodling bizarre pink drawings on her own notes.
Jessica’s gaze lingered for half a second, wondering what exactly Tiffany had wanted to tell her before she reeled in all the focus that had run loose.
The rest of the lecture was sufferable.
***
Students filtered out of the lecture hall, animatedly talking about the just transpired lecture. Tiffany’s enthusiasm, though, was about something else.
“Why’s Embryology sooooo mind-numbingly boring when it actually sounded interesting at first?”
“You’re just easily bored, both of us know that.”
“Fine. Then, how is his forehead so oily? Someone needs to buy him those oil absorbing sheets for Christmas.”
Tiffany Hwang was everything Jessica never knew she’d like in a friend, considering how drastically different they were except for the fact that she had spent half her life in America too.
Tiffany was nuts. But she was also effervescent enough to be a distraction when needed, and not airheaded at all despite that image. There was something charming about her excessively bubbly character, and most importantly she never bothered to care if Jessica was on the same frequency as her or not. She carried on with her own bouncy pace, perfectly comfortable with whatever Jessica was willing to show.
“What did Professor Kim ever do to you? You’re so mean to him.”
“Please,” Tiffany scoffed, “Stating facts makes me a bitch now? We’re gonna have bitch influx from the law school then. Wait, it’s really a bunch of bitches there anyway. Remember scandal fountain Song Yemin?”
Tiffany face contorted to such a degree that Jessica had to lightly chuckle.
“I didn’t say you were a bitch, and his forehead really isn’t that bad.”
“The last time I went up to him, I could see my own reflection.”
“At least it helps to keep my attention whenever I felt like I’m drifting off. That’s the best part about him.”
Tiffany blinked at the subtle venom, impressed by Jessica’s style of attack once again. Arms linked with Jessica, Tiffany plodded for a few steps, lamenting about how tedious the modules were and how one professor always gave her lewd looks.
“OH HO! Intruder!” Tiffany burst out abruptly, finger pointing in the direction of some indoor plants.
Jessica looked to where Tiffany was pointing, caught surprised by the sudden exclamation. Before she could voice her confusion, Tiffany had zipped off and pounced on a blonde, shorthaired stranger.
“OOF.”
Jessica clearly heard the painful groan of a familiar voice. Only one person in the whole of the university allowed Tiffany to do this to her over and over again without complaint.
Lee Soonkyu or Sunny, the name she preferred to be known as.
“SUNNNNNNNNYY.”
“Hello to you too.”
Sunny was rubbing her neck, the impact from the pounce still taking its toll.
“You changed your hairstyle again,” catching up, Jessica looked at that short hair that just a week ago was shoulder length and very orange.
“We were talking about, you know, bitches!” Tiffany cut in with hyperactive gestures, which finally ended with an index finger pointing at Sunny.
“Me?” Sunny cocked her head and looked to Jessica, who simply twirled a finger to the side of her head.
“Bitches in law school! Infiltrator! With a wig!”
“Damn. Jessica, you’re right. She’s really nuts. A walking, screaming, nutty nut.”
Sunny solemnly nodded, but the human burden on her back had her eyes in crescents that were beaming ridiculously. Hands stretched out to snatch the wig off, but Sunny, anticipating this move, grabbed them before more destruction happened.
“I haven’t seen you in soooo long, Sunny!” Tiffany whined, while trying to break free from Sunny’s grip at the same time, “What brings you to our sacred grounds?”
“Fany, I believe you saw me just two nights before.”
“Time in my dimension flows differently.”
“Evidence?”
“My word against yours! Sue me!”
The petite girl poked her tongue into her cheek, stretching it in her signature move of annoyance but conceded defeat seconds later. Tiffany reigned yet again victorious.
“Jessica, why are you friends with her? She’s a full-grown terror. Nothing she says is scientific; I fear for her patients.”
“Sometimes, you’re a terror too. I fear for your future clients,” Jessica patted Sunny’s arm.
“Ouch.”
“Nice try, Soonkyu, but Jessi won’t side with you! She’s my bestie!”
“Fine. Let’s settle this out of court, you win!”
“I always win, darling. Besides, I’m no terror to Jessica, she’s gone through little Yoona’s terror training!” Tiffany chirped.
“Oh~ how could I forget that little terror. Of course she’s accustomed to terrors!”
Sunny high fived Tiffany gleefully as Jessica shook her head.
The triple terror trinity in her life-Yoona, Tiffany, Sunny.
***
Yoona sneezed loudly, forgetting momentarily that she was in the library, and rubbed her nose. Ignoring the mild glare that a middle aged lady sent her way, she continued her half-hearted search for a book suitable for the stupid book review assignment. The obvious choice would be to seek help from Jessica unnie, but she could foresee a brain-eating difficult book as a result.
“You have to improve your command of languages, Yoongie,” Jessica’s voice echoed in her mind.
Sighing with frustration, Yoona navigated rows and rows of shelves filled with English words. Books that were too thick, font sizes too tiny, words too packed together were all kicked out of her potential book list. She was half tempted to select a child storybook and cook up a wonderful review of it. It was better than spending this time selecting a decent book.
“Hey!”
A light tap on her shoulder accompanied the whispering voice. Yoona turned to see Yuri’s smile up close and jumped back a little, visibly surprised.
“Oh!”
“Shhhh!”
Yuri put a finger to her lips, shushing Yoona as more glares were sent their way.
“Oops. Hi, unnie.”
“Hi, why are you here?”
“Book review assignment,” Yoona swept her hand toward the books, not even bothering to conceal her contempt.
“I hate book reviews too,” Yuri agreed and she motioned for Yoona to follow her, “Let me see if I can find the book I used last year.”
“Thanks, unnie!”
“Shhh!”
Yuri squinted at the titles of the books on display with uncertainty on her face that almost made it seem like she was having trouble deciphering the English.
Surely not?
“I forgot the title,” Yuri said sheepishly, “But I’ll find it, I remember the picture and colors on the cover. I’m sure it’s here, somewhere…”
“Umm…? Could it be that you’re actually bad at English?”
“Yup, my worst subject, but I try. They gotta give me some credit for that,” Yuri laughed a little as she continued to scour the shelves for the book.
A flash of disbelief crossed Yoona’s face as her admiration for Yuri was dented slightly; no one told her that Yuri wasn’t as perfect as perceived. The Yuri she heard and thought of was someone a hundred percent perfect, exceling in both school and social life, and someone she couldn’t see herself outshining.
Yuri sensed Yoona’s change in expression and responded with an easy smile as she leaned on the shelves and waved a random book before Yoona, “Am I supposed to be good at English in your little mind? Perfect Yuri unnie like what everyone assumed? Wif purrrfick Engrish?”
“Maybe I should get Jessica unnie to help me after all," Yoona snickered, it was fun to find out this part of Yuri, unexpected, but also unexpectedly charming.
“She's good at this English thing?"
"Yep, she was born in America and came back when she was... Uh, eleven? Met her when I was six! The transfer set her back two years in school but she’s in her first year at med school, amazing right? Unnie's ambition’s to be a doctor, kid doctor!"
Yoona rattled off in excitement, her eyes shining with an impossible amount of pride. It was as though she was talking about her own achievements, but the passion in her speech certainly amused Yuri.
"Kid doctor?"
"Yep! The one that cures kids? I forgot the term, unnie always says it in English, I don't even know why."
"Oh! I know, it's um... Shit. I forgot too," the two girls shared a laugh at their similar failure in the language, "Is that why she's not strict about honorifics?"
"Yeah, she insists that everyone calls her by name. Says it's weird to hear unnie out of so many people's mouths."
Understanding dawned upon Yuri’s face though it didn’t solve all the questions she had about Jessica. The new information and Yoona’s clear adoration of Jessica seemed to intrigue Yuri even more as she hummed softly with eyes still scanning book titles and covers.
“So… what about- oh wait, hey! This’s the book!”
The loud proclamation was met with hisses and dagger stares. Yuri had to bow almost five times to different people for her improper volume.
“Shhh, unnie,” Yoona giggled, mimicking what Yuri did earlier.
Yuri swung an arm around Yoona’s shoulder, chuckling softly as she peered through the shelves. Hiding their faces behind the book, Yuri leaned in, close to Yoona’s ear, and whispered playfully.
“Wanna come to my game? I’ve a competition on Saturday. Come cheer us on!”
Yoona grinned, looked around furtively and whispered back, with the mannerism of conveying a secret message, “Yes! Can I bring Jessica unnie too?”
“Yeah, sure. The more the merrier, bring the cheerleaders out!”
“But unnie would fail terribly as a cheerleader.”
Yoona did a halfhearted cheer, mimicking Jessica’s look of disinterest. Yuri blanked out for a moment before breaking out into another bout of laughter with Yoona.
They were promptly kicked out of the library soon after.
***
“You sure you didn’t recommend this place because of the name?”
Tiffany peaked over the menu, which had ‘Sunny Day’ printed on the front, and eyed Sunny suspiciously.
“I own half of this place…”
“AH HA! Knew it!”
“… and the earth is flat so if you walk too far you’d drop into endless space. Dun dun duuun!” Sunny flicked Tiffany’s nose lightly to the rhythm of her own dramatic sound effect.
“If you guys are done with this childish banter,” Jessica rolled her eyes as Tiffany stretched across the table to attack Sunny’s hair once again, “I think we should start ordering.”
“Just a while, Jess… Let me-” Tiffany flailed and struggled as she tried to elongate her arms to grab Sunny who was leaning back as far as she could, “-get this. Almost there!”
“Stop,” Jessica smacked Tiffany’s hand mercilessly so the girl yelped and immediately backed off, looking at Jessica with puppy eyes.
“That hurt,” Sunny spoke nonchalantly as she held out an open palm before Tiffany.
“This relationship you two have is really bizarre.”
Jessica watched as Sunny messaged the sore spot for Tiffany tenderly; however complex or simple things were between them, she felt inclined to stay out of it. As Jessica raised a hand to get the waitress over, her phone vibrated and lit up atop the table’s surface.
“Oh, little terror!” still massaging a whiny Tiffany, Sunny raised an eyebrow at the contact picture-Jessica making a face along with Yoona where tongues hung out and eyes were comically squinted shut.
“Busybody,” Jessica snatched the phone up from the table, “Order something. You’re the one who recommended this place.”
Sliding a thumb across the screen, Jessica picked up Yoona’s call.
“Unnie!”
“Yes, Yoongie?”
“Are you free? I’ve got something reeeeeally important to tell you!”
What was really that important that Yoona couldn’t wait until they got back to their neighborhood?
“Okay, I’m around the area! Just went to the library, coming over now! Bye, unnie!”
Jessica stared bewilderedly at her phone as Yoona’s too playful tone left her ears.
“You two,” Sunny butted in, her finger poking at Yoona’s face on the phone, “are the ones who have a bizarre relationship.”
“Yep yep, agreed!”
“We don’t, I’m her unnie.”
“I’m her unnie, she says,” Tiffany laughed wildly, her head thrown back, “Sunny unnie~”
Jessica scowled. The two loudmouths had always been vaguely suspicious about her relationship with Yoona, even after countless explanations. Something sneaky was going on, Sunny always joked, and she had Tiffany’s firm support on that matter.
“Unnie’s going to Seoul National University so of course little Yoongie shall follow her to a high school in Seoul!” Sunny drenched her words in aegyo, batting her eyelashes at Jessica.
“She decided even before I got accepted,” Jessica pushed Sunny’s face away, laughing a little at Sunny’s dramatic look of hurt.
“Pretty crazy, if it’s just to tag along with you,” Tiffany said as the server brought their drinks and dessert over, “You guys spend so much time to travel. You should just stay at the dorms, Jess.”
“I’ve got a car. Though… I’m kinda worried about Yoongie.”
“You pick her up all the time,” Sunny poked the fork into her cake, “Hey this is good! Try it!”
“Nope,” Tiffany took up the offer, “Not often enough for Jessica unnie at least.”
“Okay, you guys win.”
Jessica threw up her hands in surrender as her two friends congratulated each other with high fives. The topic was closed and Tiffany started complaining about a jerk with pompous attitude who tried hitting on her while not really caring if the others were interested.
Jessica listened though her mind wandered as Tiffany started phantomiming some cringe-worthy instance with the guy as Sunny belly laughed. These two were the only people to whom she felt close in college. At first it was just Tiffany, but Sunny was dragged in one day with her free spirited and anything goes personality. Met her around the dorms, Tiffany had announced with a glint in her eyes.
Something about them was different. Comfortable. Maybe it was simply due to their similar age, or maybe because they looked at Jessica and saw her as the person she was right now, in that moment.
Maybe it was because they doted on Yoona almost as much as she did.
“Lookie lookie!” Tiffany suddenly broke away from her vivid description of the dude’s awful pick-up lines, “Little Yoongie!”
Jessica turned back to see Yoona with her lop-sided grin waving brightly at them. She ran over to plop down beside Tiffany and received a hug from the girl immediately.
“Hello, Yoongie~” Tiffany ruffled the younger girl’s hair, obviously adoring her company, “Order something, I’ll pay for you!”
“Your drink’s on me!” Sunny proclaimed, giving Yoona a huge smile.
“Look who’s fawning on the kid right now,” Jessica sniggered, shaking her head a little.
“All unnies like me~” Yoona chirped happily and sent a charming wink towards Jessica, “I like your new hair, Sunny unnie!”
“Aww, thanks kiddo! I’m glad you aren’t trying to tear off my wig like someone.”
Sunny threw an accusing look at Tiffany who was innocently fluttering her eyelashes. The atmosphere was so warm and cozy that they could probably be mistaken for a family, with Yoona being the youngest sister.
“I’ve got something more important than food now,” Yoona suddenly grabbed Jessica’s hand across the table, “Unnie, I need a favor.”
“Here goes the kiddo.”
“What is it, Yoongie?”
“Umm…” Yoona looked at the other two hesitantly and Jessica suddenly had this gut feeling that whatever the girl was going to say, it would involve Yuri.
“Just say it, Sunny and I will protect you from scary Jessi!”
Jessica arched an eyebrow, waiting for the unsavory news.
“Yuri unnie has this competition… and I said we’ll be going…”
“No. I want nothing to do with the beach or volleyball in this hot summer again,” Jessica paused, weighing her words carefully, “and Yuri as well.”
“Unnie~” Yoona whined, scooted over, squashing herself into the meager space on Jessica’s chair.
“No. No more beaches.”
“Hold on, you’re losing me here. Who’s this Yuri girl?” Sunny got up and motioned for Yoona to take her seat.
“Yeah, who’s that?”
“Ummm,” Yoona looked cautiously at the two older girls, Tiffany now had an arm over Sunny as she leaned her head on the blonde’s with matching looks of curiosity, “Promise me you all won’t be mean?”
“Yoongie…” Jessica began, not sure if she should deter Yoona.
“Of course! We can handle anything you throw at us-”
“Even if it’s a girl crush,” Tiffany completed Sunny’s sentence with a sly smile.
“Wh-what?! How-?”
“Let’s just say we’ve had experience,” Sunny laughed, “and the two of us will make sure Jessica goes to the beach. In fact, all three of us will be there to support you!”
“NO!”
“I’ll make her go,” Tiffany eyes gleamed, “Now, let’s get you some ice cream!”
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: YoonSic/ YoonYul/ YulSic/ 2Ny
Summary: Growing up with you- the things we did, paths we crossed and way we changed.
A/N: Beta credits to jzmasterofall. Now... Yes I know, it's Yoonsic day! But 2ny is my first ship, let them shineeee <3 I'll compensate you guys with an actual Yoonsic, an outtake chapter, later. (Psst. Got myself a twitter, you guys are welcomed to spy)
[Bizarre relationships]
Part Nine
“Pssst.”
Jessica swiped away the offending pen poking at her sides in a futile effort to focus her mind on the uninteresting lecture. It didn’t help that the professor delivered it in the most stoic manner possible: dry, straight faced, and totally mechanical.
“Pssssssssst.”
The pen was prodding once again, but like the accompanying low voice, it was more urgent and violent this time. Jessica slapped it away and tried to concentrate once again by staring at the professor’s shiny forehead.
Stop ignoring me! You pediatric pedo!
The pink words appeared as quick scribbling went across her notepad. Jessica tapped her pen on the table before crossing out the uninvited words to a distinct huff of annoyance. She had to fake a cough to cover the unstoppable laugh that crept out of her throat. It was not discreet enough for some heads whipped around to face in her direction.
“Jessssss.”
Jessica could no longer ignore the source of the disturbance.
Tiffany Hwang was frowning, lips downturned and looking very very sulky.
“Shh.”
A guy seated a row in front threw her a glare and Jessica had to mouth a sorry. She passed the glare on to Tiffany who promptly released an elaborated sigh and resigned her redheaded self to doodling bizarre pink drawings on her own notes.
Jessica’s gaze lingered for half a second, wondering what exactly Tiffany had wanted to tell her before she reeled in all the focus that had run loose.
The rest of the lecture was sufferable.
***
Students filtered out of the lecture hall, animatedly talking about the just transpired lecture. Tiffany’s enthusiasm, though, was about something else.
“Why’s Embryology sooooo mind-numbingly boring when it actually sounded interesting at first?”
“You’re just easily bored, both of us know that.”
“Fine. Then, how is his forehead so oily? Someone needs to buy him those oil absorbing sheets for Christmas.”
Tiffany Hwang was everything Jessica never knew she’d like in a friend, considering how drastically different they were except for the fact that she had spent half her life in America too.
Tiffany was nuts. But she was also effervescent enough to be a distraction when needed, and not airheaded at all despite that image. There was something charming about her excessively bubbly character, and most importantly she never bothered to care if Jessica was on the same frequency as her or not. She carried on with her own bouncy pace, perfectly comfortable with whatever Jessica was willing to show.
“What did Professor Kim ever do to you? You’re so mean to him.”
“Please,” Tiffany scoffed, “Stating facts makes me a bitch now? We’re gonna have bitch influx from the law school then. Wait, it’s really a bunch of bitches there anyway. Remember scandal fountain Song Yemin?”
Tiffany face contorted to such a degree that Jessica had to lightly chuckle.
“I didn’t say you were a bitch, and his forehead really isn’t that bad.”
“The last time I went up to him, I could see my own reflection.”
“At least it helps to keep my attention whenever I felt like I’m drifting off. That’s the best part about him.”
Tiffany blinked at the subtle venom, impressed by Jessica’s style of attack once again. Arms linked with Jessica, Tiffany plodded for a few steps, lamenting about how tedious the modules were and how one professor always gave her lewd looks.
“OH HO! Intruder!” Tiffany burst out abruptly, finger pointing in the direction of some indoor plants.
Jessica looked to where Tiffany was pointing, caught surprised by the sudden exclamation. Before she could voice her confusion, Tiffany had zipped off and pounced on a blonde, shorthaired stranger.
“OOF.”
Jessica clearly heard the painful groan of a familiar voice. Only one person in the whole of the university allowed Tiffany to do this to her over and over again without complaint.
Lee Soonkyu or Sunny, the name she preferred to be known as.
“SUNNNNNNNNYY.”
“Hello to you too.”
Sunny was rubbing her neck, the impact from the pounce still taking its toll.
“You changed your hairstyle again,” catching up, Jessica looked at that short hair that just a week ago was shoulder length and very orange.
“We were talking about, you know, bitches!” Tiffany cut in with hyperactive gestures, which finally ended with an index finger pointing at Sunny.
“Me?” Sunny cocked her head and looked to Jessica, who simply twirled a finger to the side of her head.
“Bitches in law school! Infiltrator! With a wig!”
“Damn. Jessica, you’re right. She’s really nuts. A walking, screaming, nutty nut.”
Sunny solemnly nodded, but the human burden on her back had her eyes in crescents that were beaming ridiculously. Hands stretched out to snatch the wig off, but Sunny, anticipating this move, grabbed them before more destruction happened.
“I haven’t seen you in soooo long, Sunny!” Tiffany whined, while trying to break free from Sunny’s grip at the same time, “What brings you to our sacred grounds?”
“Fany, I believe you saw me just two nights before.”
“Time in my dimension flows differently.”
“Evidence?”
“My word against yours! Sue me!”
The petite girl poked her tongue into her cheek, stretching it in her signature move of annoyance but conceded defeat seconds later. Tiffany reigned yet again victorious.
“Jessica, why are you friends with her? She’s a full-grown terror. Nothing she says is scientific; I fear for her patients.”
“Sometimes, you’re a terror too. I fear for your future clients,” Jessica patted Sunny’s arm.
“Ouch.”
“Nice try, Soonkyu, but Jessi won’t side with you! She’s my bestie!”
“Fine. Let’s settle this out of court, you win!”
“I always win, darling. Besides, I’m no terror to Jessica, she’s gone through little Yoona’s terror training!” Tiffany chirped.
“Oh~ how could I forget that little terror. Of course she’s accustomed to terrors!”
Sunny high fived Tiffany gleefully as Jessica shook her head.
The triple terror trinity in her life-Yoona, Tiffany, Sunny.
***
Yoona sneezed loudly, forgetting momentarily that she was in the library, and rubbed her nose. Ignoring the mild glare that a middle aged lady sent her way, she continued her half-hearted search for a book suitable for the stupid book review assignment. The obvious choice would be to seek help from Jessica unnie, but she could foresee a brain-eating difficult book as a result.
“You have to improve your command of languages, Yoongie,” Jessica’s voice echoed in her mind.
Sighing with frustration, Yoona navigated rows and rows of shelves filled with English words. Books that were too thick, font sizes too tiny, words too packed together were all kicked out of her potential book list. She was half tempted to select a child storybook and cook up a wonderful review of it. It was better than spending this time selecting a decent book.
“Hey!”
A light tap on her shoulder accompanied the whispering voice. Yoona turned to see Yuri’s smile up close and jumped back a little, visibly surprised.
“Oh!”
“Shhhh!”
Yuri put a finger to her lips, shushing Yoona as more glares were sent their way.
“Oops. Hi, unnie.”
“Hi, why are you here?”
“Book review assignment,” Yoona swept her hand toward the books, not even bothering to conceal her contempt.
“I hate book reviews too,” Yuri agreed and she motioned for Yoona to follow her, “Let me see if I can find the book I used last year.”
“Thanks, unnie!”
“Shhh!”
Yuri squinted at the titles of the books on display with uncertainty on her face that almost made it seem like she was having trouble deciphering the English.
Surely not?
“I forgot the title,” Yuri said sheepishly, “But I’ll find it, I remember the picture and colors on the cover. I’m sure it’s here, somewhere…”
“Umm…? Could it be that you’re actually bad at English?”
“Yup, my worst subject, but I try. They gotta give me some credit for that,” Yuri laughed a little as she continued to scour the shelves for the book.
A flash of disbelief crossed Yoona’s face as her admiration for Yuri was dented slightly; no one told her that Yuri wasn’t as perfect as perceived. The Yuri she heard and thought of was someone a hundred percent perfect, exceling in both school and social life, and someone she couldn’t see herself outshining.
Yuri sensed Yoona’s change in expression and responded with an easy smile as she leaned on the shelves and waved a random book before Yoona, “Am I supposed to be good at English in your little mind? Perfect Yuri unnie like what everyone assumed? Wif purrrfick Engrish?”
“Maybe I should get Jessica unnie to help me after all," Yoona snickered, it was fun to find out this part of Yuri, unexpected, but also unexpectedly charming.
“She's good at this English thing?"
"Yep, she was born in America and came back when she was... Uh, eleven? Met her when I was six! The transfer set her back two years in school but she’s in her first year at med school, amazing right? Unnie's ambition’s to be a doctor, kid doctor!"
Yoona rattled off in excitement, her eyes shining with an impossible amount of pride. It was as though she was talking about her own achievements, but the passion in her speech certainly amused Yuri.
"Kid doctor?"
"Yep! The one that cures kids? I forgot the term, unnie always says it in English, I don't even know why."
"Oh! I know, it's um... Shit. I forgot too," the two girls shared a laugh at their similar failure in the language, "Is that why she's not strict about honorifics?"
"Yeah, she insists that everyone calls her by name. Says it's weird to hear unnie out of so many people's mouths."
Understanding dawned upon Yuri’s face though it didn’t solve all the questions she had about Jessica. The new information and Yoona’s clear adoration of Jessica seemed to intrigue Yuri even more as she hummed softly with eyes still scanning book titles and covers.
“So… what about- oh wait, hey! This’s the book!”
The loud proclamation was met with hisses and dagger stares. Yuri had to bow almost five times to different people for her improper volume.
“Shhh, unnie,” Yoona giggled, mimicking what Yuri did earlier.
Yuri swung an arm around Yoona’s shoulder, chuckling softly as she peered through the shelves. Hiding their faces behind the book, Yuri leaned in, close to Yoona’s ear, and whispered playfully.
“Wanna come to my game? I’ve a competition on Saturday. Come cheer us on!”
Yoona grinned, looked around furtively and whispered back, with the mannerism of conveying a secret message, “Yes! Can I bring Jessica unnie too?”
“Yeah, sure. The more the merrier, bring the cheerleaders out!”
“But unnie would fail terribly as a cheerleader.”
Yoona did a halfhearted cheer, mimicking Jessica’s look of disinterest. Yuri blanked out for a moment before breaking out into another bout of laughter with Yoona.
They were promptly kicked out of the library soon after.
***
“You sure you didn’t recommend this place because of the name?”
Tiffany peaked over the menu, which had ‘Sunny Day’ printed on the front, and eyed Sunny suspiciously.
“I own half of this place…”
“AH HA! Knew it!”
“… and the earth is flat so if you walk too far you’d drop into endless space. Dun dun duuun!” Sunny flicked Tiffany’s nose lightly to the rhythm of her own dramatic sound effect.
“If you guys are done with this childish banter,” Jessica rolled her eyes as Tiffany stretched across the table to attack Sunny’s hair once again, “I think we should start ordering.”
“Just a while, Jess… Let me-” Tiffany flailed and struggled as she tried to elongate her arms to grab Sunny who was leaning back as far as she could, “-get this. Almost there!”
“Stop,” Jessica smacked Tiffany’s hand mercilessly so the girl yelped and immediately backed off, looking at Jessica with puppy eyes.
“That hurt,” Sunny spoke nonchalantly as she held out an open palm before Tiffany.
“This relationship you two have is really bizarre.”
Jessica watched as Sunny messaged the sore spot for Tiffany tenderly; however complex or simple things were between them, she felt inclined to stay out of it. As Jessica raised a hand to get the waitress over, her phone vibrated and lit up atop the table’s surface.
“Oh, little terror!” still massaging a whiny Tiffany, Sunny raised an eyebrow at the contact picture-Jessica making a face along with Yoona where tongues hung out and eyes were comically squinted shut.
“Busybody,” Jessica snatched the phone up from the table, “Order something. You’re the one who recommended this place.”
Sliding a thumb across the screen, Jessica picked up Yoona’s call.
“Unnie!”
“Yes, Yoongie?”
“Are you free? I’ve got something reeeeeally important to tell you!”
What was really that important that Yoona couldn’t wait until they got back to their neighborhood?
“Okay, I’m around the area! Just went to the library, coming over now! Bye, unnie!”
Jessica stared bewilderedly at her phone as Yoona’s too playful tone left her ears.
“You two,” Sunny butted in, her finger poking at Yoona’s face on the phone, “are the ones who have a bizarre relationship.”
“Yep yep, agreed!”
“We don’t, I’m her unnie.”
“I’m her unnie, she says,” Tiffany laughed wildly, her head thrown back, “Sunny unnie~”
Jessica scowled. The two loudmouths had always been vaguely suspicious about her relationship with Yoona, even after countless explanations. Something sneaky was going on, Sunny always joked, and she had Tiffany’s firm support on that matter.
“Unnie’s going to Seoul National University so of course little Yoongie shall follow her to a high school in Seoul!” Sunny drenched her words in aegyo, batting her eyelashes at Jessica.
“She decided even before I got accepted,” Jessica pushed Sunny’s face away, laughing a little at Sunny’s dramatic look of hurt.
“Pretty crazy, if it’s just to tag along with you,” Tiffany said as the server brought their drinks and dessert over, “You guys spend so much time to travel. You should just stay at the dorms, Jess.”
“I’ve got a car. Though… I’m kinda worried about Yoongie.”
“You pick her up all the time,” Sunny poked the fork into her cake, “Hey this is good! Try it!”
“Nope,” Tiffany took up the offer, “Not often enough for Jessica unnie at least.”
“Okay, you guys win.”
Jessica threw up her hands in surrender as her two friends congratulated each other with high fives. The topic was closed and Tiffany started complaining about a jerk with pompous attitude who tried hitting on her while not really caring if the others were interested.
Jessica listened though her mind wandered as Tiffany started phantomiming some cringe-worthy instance with the guy as Sunny belly laughed. These two were the only people to whom she felt close in college. At first it was just Tiffany, but Sunny was dragged in one day with her free spirited and anything goes personality. Met her around the dorms, Tiffany had announced with a glint in her eyes.
Something about them was different. Comfortable. Maybe it was simply due to their similar age, or maybe because they looked at Jessica and saw her as the person she was right now, in that moment.
Maybe it was because they doted on Yoona almost as much as she did.
“Lookie lookie!” Tiffany suddenly broke away from her vivid description of the dude’s awful pick-up lines, “Little Yoongie!”
Jessica turned back to see Yoona with her lop-sided grin waving brightly at them. She ran over to plop down beside Tiffany and received a hug from the girl immediately.
“Hello, Yoongie~” Tiffany ruffled the younger girl’s hair, obviously adoring her company, “Order something, I’ll pay for you!”
“Your drink’s on me!” Sunny proclaimed, giving Yoona a huge smile.
“Look who’s fawning on the kid right now,” Jessica sniggered, shaking her head a little.
“All unnies like me~” Yoona chirped happily and sent a charming wink towards Jessica, “I like your new hair, Sunny unnie!”
“Aww, thanks kiddo! I’m glad you aren’t trying to tear off my wig like someone.”
Sunny threw an accusing look at Tiffany who was innocently fluttering her eyelashes. The atmosphere was so warm and cozy that they could probably be mistaken for a family, with Yoona being the youngest sister.
“I’ve got something more important than food now,” Yoona suddenly grabbed Jessica’s hand across the table, “Unnie, I need a favor.”
“Here goes the kiddo.”
“What is it, Yoongie?”
“Umm…” Yoona looked at the other two hesitantly and Jessica suddenly had this gut feeling that whatever the girl was going to say, it would involve Yuri.
“Just say it, Sunny and I will protect you from scary Jessi!”
Jessica arched an eyebrow, waiting for the unsavory news.
“Yuri unnie has this competition… and I said we’ll be going…”
“No. I want nothing to do with the beach or volleyball in this hot summer again,” Jessica paused, weighing her words carefully, “and Yuri as well.”
“Unnie~” Yoona whined, scooted over, squashing herself into the meager space on Jessica’s chair.
“No. No more beaches.”
“Hold on, you’re losing me here. Who’s this Yuri girl?” Sunny got up and motioned for Yoona to take her seat.
“Yeah, who’s that?”
“Ummm,” Yoona looked cautiously at the two older girls, Tiffany now had an arm over Sunny as she leaned her head on the blonde’s with matching looks of curiosity, “Promise me you all won’t be mean?”
“Yoongie…” Jessica began, not sure if she should deter Yoona.
“Of course! We can handle anything you throw at us-”
“Even if it’s a girl crush,” Tiffany completed Sunny’s sentence with a sly smile.
“Wh-what?! How-?”
“Let’s just say we’ve had experience,” Sunny laughed, “and the two of us will make sure Jessica goes to the beach. In fact, all three of us will be there to support you!”
“NO!”
“I’ll make her go,” Tiffany eyes gleamed, “Now, let’s get you some ice cream!”