| disconnected

xiaoting lies on the couch in the middle of the night, her eyes fixated on the tv playing a few meters away from her, the lights are out in the living room and the only source of light existing around her was from the playing television show. bored and clearly had nothing to do, xiaoting dozes off, her mind far away from the show playing on the screen.

xiaoting blows a deep breath, her body facing the side and her hand holding her phone was swaying from the edge of the couch.

she can't sleep nor does she want to, xiaoting was waiting for a certain someone to message and let her know she's got off her job safely and get home as soon as possible. suddenly, her phone rang, xiaoting was woken up from her million thoughts, snapping her eyes wide open and holding up her hand that had her phone to check at who's calling.

and it's yujin, xiaoting adjusted her position, moving a bit to the right and facing the front, laying on her back as she held her phone on her ear when she answered the phone. "xiaoting, hey you're still up? i didn't expect you to answer." from the other line, yujin could hear vehicles roaring and chattering from the crowd, she suspects yujin is on the way.

"of course i am awake, i can't sleep." xiaoting stated, her voice firm and making sure yujin hears her. there a pause and shuffling from the other side, yujin still hasn't answered— until xiaoting hears a car closing.

"have you eaten dinner? it's like 11pm already." yujin stated, her voice filled with concern and it was genuine. it was her first time taking an overtime, xiaoting probably wasn't used to her coming home late and she's worried xiaoting waited for her to come home before eating dinner, well yujin did already ate before leaving the office.

"yeah, i just microwaved something here." xiaoting replied, shuffling on the couch and trying to fit her tall figure, a sudden ache for comfort hits her as she moved once again to find a better position. yujin nodded, sitting inside a taxi on her way to a train station. "that's good, although i could've cooked you something." she muttered.

xiaoting smiled. "it's all good, have you eaten dinner and where are you now?" xiaoting asked, seeming a bit impatient, she's been waiting all day for yujin and she was updated late about her going overtime today.

"i've already eaten dinner in the office and i'm on a taxi on the way to the train station, don't worry i'll get there soon, i think you should sleep now." yujin said, her eyes watching the bright lights from the city that doesn't sleep, buildings lighting up the whole road and vehicles passing by.

today was a tiring day.

xiaoting huffed. "i don't want to sleep yet, you're not here yet."

yujin giggled, humming as she nodded. "okay, i'll be there as soon as possible." the taxi stops and yujin hopped of from the car, closing the door as she walked inside the train station.

"i'll hang up for a while okay? i'll message you if i got off the train okay?" yujin stated her voice soft as she took her tickets and walked off, her heels tapping the floor endlessly.

xiaoting looked up on the ceiling, blinking a few times before opening her mouth to answer. "okay, i'll wait for you." she muttered. "i love you." yujin replied before hanging up the call before xiaoting was even able to say a reply.

yujin waits for the train while xiaoting stayed glued to the couch, now struggling to fit herself. xiaoting was then able to find a better position, slumping down on the sofa, her feet hanging do the edge, a small blanket wrapped around her body.

tv noises stayed as a background sound while xiaoting started to doze off, her eyelids started to get heavy as a wave of comfort washed over her body.

she fell asleep, the television still open.

yujin sat inside the train along with a few passengers, her cellphone in her hands as she checks through her conversations with xiaoting, realizing that it's been quite a while since they actually got time to be with each other even for a full day only, they were both busy in their respective jobs, adult life is a very busy one and all yujin wanted is to be besides xiaoting now.

the train stops, everyone got off and yujin rushed to get a taxi.

yujin types a message before turning off the phone and putting it on her bag, not realizing the other girl had already fallen asleep.

yujin opened the door of their shared home, to be greeted with the sound of television open, she stood on the doorway, taking off her coat and hanging on the rack, noticing that the lights are off, she turned it on and she trudges her way inside the living room towards the couch where xiaoting is seen laying down.

yujin peeks over xiaoting's head, only to see her asleep.

"she must've waited for a while." deciding that it was better if she changes clothes first before waking the other girl up so they can sleep together in the bed for the night, so she turned off the tv and went upstairs.

it took her only a while to get changed and she walked downstairs from their shared room to the living room and saw that xiaoting is still asleep and looked really uncomfortable with how she couldn't fit the couch. yujin walked towards the couch, crouching the same level and placing her hand on xiaoting's cheek.

"xiaoting...? xiao." yujin carefully shakes the younger girl, xiaoting shifted a bit, her eyes opening slowly and she was greeted by yujin's soft gazes and her sweet smile. xiaoting stared at her, blinking for a few times.

"let's go up?" yujin asked, her voice soft and like a soft harmony on xiaoting's ears. xiaoting sat up, rubbing her eyes, yujin stood up and laughed.

grabbing the blanket xiaoting held yujin's hand and went upstairs to their room, yujin opened the door and closed it after as they enter.

the lights were on and xiaoting pulled yujin on the bed, they laid down, they sank down on the bed with xiaoting's arms wrapped around yujin, her head resting on yujin's back. "yujin..." xiaoting muttered, her voice raspy and muffled. yujin turned her head to see xiaoting. "yes?"

xiaoting looked at yujin, there was a pause, only silence as xiaoting held the older girl tighter in her arms, securing her.

"i love you..." she muttered, before leaning in to peck yujin's lips and then leaning on yujin's shoulder to rest her head.

yujin stretches her hand to pat xiaoting's head, she adjusted to face xiaoting and let the other girl rest her head on her shoulder, fingers scraping xiaoting's scalp, humming to herself. "xiaoting, i love you too." she whispered.

soft snores engulfed yujin's ears, letting her know that xiaoting had already fallen asleep once again, yujin sighed, content inside her chest and she closed her eyes, finally falling into a deep slumber beside her lover.