In the quiet of the garden, it felt like nothing else in the world mattered. Jiyeon glanced over at Yura, who was sprawled on the picnic blanket, her body basking in the warm afternoon sun. The remnants of their meal lay scattered around them—carefully crafted sandwiches, bright red strawberries, and an assortment of homemade treats that Jiyeon had meticulously prepared. Now, with their bellies full, they let the afternoon lazily pass them by, the soft rustling of the wind in the trees the only sound breaking the stillness.
Yura stretched out lazily, a content sigh escaping her lips. "You know, I think this is the life. A beautiful garden, good food, and you next to me. What more could I possibly need?"
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."
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.