Danielle was in love with her introverted and super shy childhood best friend - Haerin. But how did it all start?
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6 years ago
In the quaint, quiet town of Ditto, two girls named Danielle and Haerin had been inseparable since childhood. Their families, the Marshs and the Kangs, were also close-knit, often gathering for barbecues, holidays, and impromptu game nights. Little Danielle and Haerin, born just two monthlies apart, had taken their first steps together, their first days of school together, and everyone assumed their bond would only grow stronger with time.
For Danielle, a bright-eyed extrovert with a smile that could light up the darkest of rooms, life was an endless adventure. She was always eager to try new things, meet new people, and embrace whatever excitement came her way. In contrast, Haerin was a delicate, introspective soul, her eyes often downcast, her voice barely above a whisper. With anyone else, her shy demeanor was an impenetrable fortress. But with Danielle, she could relax, could talk about her dreams and fears without feeling judged.
One crisp autumn afternoon, as the leaves crunched beneath their feet and the wind whipped through their hair, Danielle and Haerin found themselves in a small square near Danielle's modest house. They had been exploring the city's hidden nooks and crannies, a hobby that had become their favorite pastime. As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the cobblestones, Haerin suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Do you hear that, Dani?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Danielle furrowed her brow, listening intently. At first, all she could hear was the distant chatter of the city and the rustling of the leaves. But then, she caught it - the faint patter of raindrops on the ground.
"It's starting to rain," she said, a grin spreading across her face. "We should head back before it gets too heavy."
But Haerin seemed frozen, her gaze fixed on the darkening sky. "I love listening to the rain," she murmured, a faraway look in her eyes. "There's something so peaceful, so melancholic about it..."
Danielle studied her profile, noting the way her long lashes fluttered against her cheek and the delicate curve of her jawline. A strange fluttering sensation blossomed in her chest, and she felt her cheeks grow warm. She quickly brushed it off, chalking it up to the chill in the air.
"Wow, you're so poetic," she teased, nudging Haerin gently with her elbow. "You should write a poem about the rain sometime."
Haerin blushed, ducking her head shyly. "Hah, how funny you are."
As the rain began to fall in earnest, Danielle felt a sudden urge to protect Haerin from the downpour. Without thinking, she slipped off her coat and wrapped it around Haerin's slim shoulders, pulling the fabric tight to keep out the chill. Their faces were mere inches apart now, and Danielle could feel the warmth radiating from Haerin's skin.
Then Kang gave the other a friendly kiss on the cheek, smiled warmly and thanked Marsh. And it was at that moment that everything changed. It was then that in the following weeks she herself began to blush at the slightest touch from Haerin.
Poor Danielle, she was screwed. And in the sweetest way possible.
6 years later
One rainy evening, as their parents enjoyed wine and conversation in the cozy kitchen, the girls retreated to Danielle's room. They lay on the bed, flipping through the pages of an old photo album, giggling at the candid moments captured during their childhood.
"Remember when we tried to catch fireflies in the backyard and ended up crashing into the vegetable patch?" Danielle asked, her eyes sparkling with mirth.