Divine Enmity (Catnipz)

XLVIII. Is It Too Late For The Truth?

The next morning came earlier than Minji would have liked. The faint light of dawn slipping through her window woke her with a groan as she buried herself in her pillow, wishing for twelve more hours of sleep. She shifted under her sheets for a while, instinctively seeking the familiar warmth of her girlfriend by her side. However, her fingers only found an empty, cold space.

At that moment, she opened her eyes wide and sat up, rubbing her face to wake up more fully. The weight in her chest and the instant feeling of abandonment struck her hard enough to erase any trace of drowsiness. The spot beside her was completely empty, untouched, as if she had been the only one sleeping there. For a moment, Minji thought that everything from the previous day might have been one of her dreams—it wouldn't be the first time—but seeing her bare body, she knew otherwise. She was certain she would never have slept naked in her cold cabin.

She sat still, feeling her breath leave her body and the weight of disappointment anchor itself in her chest.

"Why...?" she murmured, closing her eyes tightly and letting herself fall back into the sheets.

After everything they'd been through—after solidifying their relationship, sharing beautiful moments, and ensuring that each trusted the other—why was this still the one thing that hadn't changed? Minji truly believed that once they'd overcome their biggest hurdle, their feelings, she would finally be able to enjoy waking up beside the girl of her dreams.

But of course, she was still just the girl of her dreams.

And at that moment, Minji felt farther from her than ever.

With disappointment written all over her face and her eyes stinging from the threat of frustrated tears, she quickly grabbed some clothes to cover her body. Her feet touched the icy floor of the cabin, but she barely noticed.

However, just then, she heard a faint, almost imperceptible breathing sound—not coming from the bed. She frowned, thinking she had imagined it, until she heard it again and turned her head so quickly it almost felt like she dislocated her neck. There, on one of the cabin's sofas, Haerin was curled up against it.

The sight left her frozen for a moment, blinking several times to ensure what she was seeing was real. Haerin was curled into a ball on the sofa, occupying a tiny part of it in an awkward position, as if she wanted to make herself small. She was trembling slightly, likely due to the absence of a blanket to cover herself. Perhaps that's why she'd curled up—to keep warm. Her face didn't look serene like it had the time Minji went to wake her at the cabin. Instead, it bore an expression of unease.

Relief coursed through Minji's body at the sight of her girlfriend in the cabin, dissolving all her worries.

She walked barefoot over to the sofa, kneeling in front of it to rest her arms on its back, allowing her to observe her girlfriend's face. Even in sleep, she could make out the faint shadows under Haerin's eyes, a clear sign she hadn't rested enough.

Minji gently brushed aside a stray lock of hair that had fallen across Haerin's face, careful not to wake her.

"Haerin," she whispered, lightly brushing her fingers against her girlfriend's cheek. "Hey, wake up."

As much as Minji wanted to, she had already learned it wasn't a good idea to wake Haerin with a kiss or be too close when she stirred. That's why she stayed a safe distance from her girlfriend's clenched hand.

Surprisingly for her, Haerin jolted violently, her eyes snapping open abruptly with a mixture of disorientation and something that looked like... fear? For a moment, she seemed not to recognize where she was, her breathing rapid and erratic.