I start to feel impatient waiting for Ryujin to call, Dana and Eva are already asleep. I told Dana I wanted to hang out in the living room for a little bit longer before heading to bed.
As soon as my phone rings, I answer it. I don't care if I seem too eager.
"Ello. That was fast" she says.
"We haven't talked in four months. I was waiting for you" I say.
"Sorry I was busy. You have remember you're an hour ahead of me."
"What were you doing?" I ask.
"Uhh playing games."
"Ryujin! I'm over here waiting for you and you're just playing games!" I say not feeling happy.
"I'm sorry. I promised my friends I would play with them and I didn't notice the time" she says and I can tell she's actually sorry.
"Fine. I forgive you this time. At least next time send me a text or something so I'm not here waiting" I scoff.
"Yes ma'am,"
"Soooo" I start to say.
She doesn't say anything probably waiting for me to finish my sentence but I'm not sure how to finish it.
"So what?" She finally ask,
"So you and Lia are still friends?"
"Yea, We never really stopped being friends since our first break up. There was some time we didn't talk because I needed to move on but we were still friends. She's actually spending the night tonight" she says.
"What?!" I accidentally yelled.
She laughs at me, "I'm kidding."
"You're mean".
"Is she not allowed to spend the night?" She ask
I don't know how to answer because technically she can. They're friends but the idea of them sleeping together under the same roof makes me feel uneasy,
"She can, I just don't like the idea for some reason" I say honestly.
She doesn't say anything back so we're just silent.
"So" I start again, "aside from being a girl, everything you said about yourself is true? Your stuff about your family? Your hobbies? Everything you shared with me?"
"Yes, My personality and all the information I shared aside from my gender is true. I didn't expect for you to think I'm a guy Then you shared you dont like gay people and I was already feeling somewhat attached to you at that point and I didn't want to lose you, I know it's not an excuse but I was afraid which me made me do a dumb thing."
"I was so mad at you. I wanted to hate you so much but I couldn't. Then I talked to Kiri's girlfriend and she helped me realize that I miss you" I say.
"So friends?" She ask.
"Friends, For now."
"What do you mean?" I sense the curiosity in her voice.
"Remember, I still like you? I still wanna see where this goes" I say.
"Uhh. First of all, you have a boyfriend so it's probably best if we stay friends. Second, are you even comfortable of the idea of being in a relationship with another girl? Like going out in public with another girl by your side?" She ask
"I can break up with Dana, And as for the girl thing no. I'm not comfortable. But with you, I am" I explain.
"That makes no sense to me"
"I still don't think I'm gay or bi because being with a girl just doesn't make me feel right. But I imagine myself being with you and I want that. Maybe I'm just gay for you, I'm just sure I want you still" I try my best to explain.
"Still doesn't change the fact that you have a boyfriend, Yeji. I'm also not gonna ask you to break up with him, I don't want to try to be with you until you know for sure. I think we need to meet in person before you can decide so you'll know how you actually feel" she says and it makes me feel nervous. Am I ready to meet Ryujin?
"How are we gonna meet?" I ask
"I'll go to you, I know you can't just leave without Dana."
"We can't meet here. It's a small island. Everyone around here knows Dana and his family. If they see me with someone else, they might assume I'm cheating" I say to her.
"They can just think we're friends which we are. Were not together" she keeps saying we're friends and it's starting to annoy me.
"We're planning to visit my hometown in a couple of weeks. Can you go there instead?" I ask feeling a slight panic. I don't know why I suggested that. I don't even know if I'm ready to meet her.
"I can tell you're nervous, Yeji, But I think we need to meet to see if we will still feel the same about each other. Don't you want to meet me in person?" She ask.
"I do, I just didn't expect it to be so soon. I'm scared too. I know I'll probably feel the same about you even after we meet but I'm not sure if you'll feel the same."
"Can you turn on the camera? I want to see you" She suddenly ask,
"Sure" I say, confused.
I turn on the the camera and she does the same. This time she's not wearing her hood up or wearing a hat. Her black hair is finally showing and she looks breathtaking. She still looks handsome even with her hair down.
I'm shaken out of my thoughts when I hear her speak, "I'm looking at you right now. I want to see that beautiful face in person" she says making me smile.
"And I want to see that smile too" she adds making me blush.
"Stop it, You're making me blush" I grab a pillow to hide my face.
"Don't hide your beauty from me, woman!" She says.
I slowly put down the pillow and I see her smiling at me. I see her eyes and I can feel how much she adores me.
"Stop looking at me like that" I say.
"Like what?" She frowns,
"Like I'm the most precious thing" I say kind of embarrassed.
"You are though" she says seriously.
"So let me know the actual dates when you're going back to your hometown and I'll meet you there" she says going back to our original topic.
I nod at her. "I'm so nervous and excited to meet you."
"I'm excited. But promise me even if you end up not liking me, that we will still be friends okay?" She ask.
"I promise" I say.
I notice the time and it's 5am already. Dana is gonna be waking up in a few hours. I say goodbye to Ryujin and she does the same. I go to sleep with the biggest smile on my face and my heart feeling happy.