Chapter 140: Garden
Jiyeon smirked, leaning back on her hands as she turned her head towards Yura. "Oh, I don\'t know. Maybe someone to challenge you in a kimchi-off?" Her voice dripped with amusement as she referenced their earlier banter.
Yura groaned in mock agony. "Why must you bring that up again? I thought we were having a peaceful afternoon."
"Peaceful? You, who can\'t go five minutes without declaring you\'re the better cook?" Jiyeon teased, raising an eyebrow.
Yura sat up dramatically, her hair falling messily around her shoulders as she puffed out her chest. "I *am* the better cook. You\'re just too proud to admit it."
Jiyeon let out a short laugh. "You do remember who taught you how to properly chop vegetables, right?"
Yura narrowed her eyes playfully. "That was a long time ago. I\'ve surpassed you since then."
"Surpassed me?" Jiyeon\'s voice was full of disbelief. "Last I checked, you were still struggling to make a perfect omelet."
"Hey, that\'s not fair!" Yura threw a half-eaten strawberry at Jiyeon, who deftly dodged it with a laugh.
"Oh, it\'s completely fair," Jiyeon replied, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye. "But, I will admit…" she paused, her expression softening as she looked at Yura with affection, "you\'ve gotten a lot better. I\'m proud of you."
The sudden sincerity in Jiyeon\'s voice made Yura pause, a blush creeping up her cheeks. She looked away, trying to act nonchalant. "Well, I did have a pretty great teacher."
Jiyeon smiled, reaching out to gently brush a stray strand of hair from Yura\'s face. "You did. But you\'ve always been talented in your own right."
For a moment, there was a comfortable silence between them. The teasing and playful banter had given way to something more tender, a reminder of the deep connection they shared. Jiyeon felt her heart swell with warmth, the kind of feeling that made the world seem just a little bit brighter.
After a while, Yura broke the silence. "You know what would make this day even better?"
Jiyeon looked at her curiously. "What?"
"A nap," Yura declared, flopping back onto the blanket with a satisfied grin.
Jiyeon chuckled, shaking her head. "Of course. You\'ve eaten your fill, and now you want to nap like a cat in the sun."
Yura nodded enthusiastically, her eyes already closed. "Exactly. You\'ve read my mind."
"Always so predictable," Jiyeon muttered, though there was no real annoyance in her voice.
Yura\'s breathing began to even out as she relaxed, clearly on the verge of drifting off. Jiyeon, meanwhile, sat quietly beside her, watching as the sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a dappled pattern of light and shadow over Yura\'s face. It was moments like this, the quiet in-between times, that Jiyeon cherished the most. The world slowed down, and all the pressures and responsibilities that normally weighed on her seemed to fade away.
She reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against Yura\'s hand. Yura stirred slightly but didn\'t open her eyes. Jiyeon smiled to herself, her thoughts drifting as she sat there in the peaceful garden. Despite all the chaos in their lives—between running her restaurant and the unpredictable twists and turns of Yura\'s schedule—they always found their way back to moments like this. Just the two of them, the world shut out, their connection stronger than ever.
A soft breeze stirred the leaves overhead, and Jiyeon let out a content sigh. She leaned back on the blanket, her head resting next to Yura\'s, their fingers still loosely intertwined. The warmth of the sun, combined with the gentle rustling of the trees, created the perfect lullaby, and soon enough, Jiyeon found her own eyelids growing heavy.
They must have dozed off for a while because when Jiyeon opened her eyes again, the sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting the garden in a soft, golden light. She turned her head slightly, smiling as she watched Yura sleep peacefully beside her. Her heart swelled with affection, and she gently squeezed Yura\'s hand.
"Yura," she whispered softly.
Yura stirred, her eyes fluttering open slowly. She blinked a few times, her gaze focusing on Jiyeon before a sleepy smile spread across her face. "Did I fall asleep?"
"Only for a little while," Jiyeon replied, her voice soft. "But the sun\'s starting to set."
Yura stretched lazily, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Guess it\'s time to pack up then, huh?"
"Yeah," Jiyeon agreed, though she couldn\'t hide the reluctance in her voice. She didn\'t want the day to end, but the fading light was a reminder that they couldn\'t stay in their little bubble forever.
They packed up the remnants of their picnic in comfortable silence, the soft chirping of birds and the rustling of the wind their only company. As they finished gathering everything, Jiyeon glanced over at Yura, who was looking out at the garden with a dreamy expression.
"You know," Yura said quietly, "we should do this more often."
Jiyeon smiled, slinging the picnic basket over her arm. "Yeah. We should."
Yura turned to her, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "And next time, I\'ll make the food."
Jiyeon raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Oh? Should I be worried?"
"Very funny," Yura replied, rolling her eyes. "But seriously. I want to spoil you for a change."
Jiyeon\'s heart softened at the sincerity in Yura\'s voice. She reached out, pulling her into a gentle hug. "You already spoil me, Yura. Every day."
Yura hugged her back, resting her chin on Jiyeon\'s shoulder. "Well, I want to do more."
Jiyeon pulled back slightly, looking into Yura\'s eyes. "I love you, you know that?"
Yura grinned. "I know. I love you too."
They stood there for a moment longer, wrapped in each other\'s arms, before finally breaking apart. Jiyeon took Yura\'s hand, and together they made their way back toward the house, the golden light of the setting sun guiding their path. Stay connected with M V L
As they walked, Jiyeon couldn\'t help but think about how lucky she was.