Devil on a Harley (2018) - Chapter 9
"Finally"
Sunday afternoon.
Sooyoung had, on pretext of playing dutiful daughter, decided she should spend the day with her parents. But in all honesty, it was really her mom's samgyeopsal that was the reason for her making the trip home.
Left to her own devices, Jessica was bored, but was still glad to have the apartment all to herself. Stretched out on the couch, she idled in front of the TV, watching a DVD that belonged to Sooyoung.
It hadn't taken her long, just a couple of minutes in, and she had already gotten the gist of it. In a nutshell, the movie revolved around a pair of young, gay Chinese-American women, one of whom had yet to come out. Further along, there was a bed scene of the two protagonists doing the deed, and presently, being in that particular frame of mind she was in, all the more Jessica found it disturbing.
Ugh. Another gay couple. I don't really wanna watch this?
Shutting off the DVD player, she casually selected something on cable. Animal Planet on the Discovery Channel soon came on, showing the courtship and mating rituals of two chimpanzees in heat.
How is it the whole world is having sex except me?
Miffed, Jessica switched off the TV, tossing the remote control aside. Eyeing a magazine under the coffee table, she picked it up and started flipping through the pages.
"My Clandestine Lesbian Love Affair..." she read aloud.
Shit. I'm losing my mind.
Clapping shut the magazine, Jessica aimed it at the waste bin. Cursing under her breath, she made a mental note, reminding herself to have a word with Sooyoung about her choice of reading materials.
Hands linked beneath her head, she thought long and hard about what Sooyoung had said, that perhaps Yuri wanted clarity about where their relationship was heading. Were they not officially seeing each other? Weren't they already a couple?
Yeah, right...we're a couple who don't hold hands, don't kiss, don't touch, and sex is as remote as Mars.
Jessica wished Yuri would initiate the first move- to make some semblance of physical contact between them. Even if it was something as banal and as basic as simply holding hands. A couple of times when they were out walking, her hand had accidentally brushed against Yuri's and she had had the overpowering urge to just grab that hand with the long fingers and hold it tightly in hers. Needless to say, she had been too shy to do so. Perhaps, it was also her pride acting up.
Jessica, you are clearly, seriously, and without a doubt, head over heels in love with her. Why else would you be so jealous of some random girl at an equally random donut shop? Last night, lying next to her in bed, you could've made something happen, but all you did was fucking sleep? Your mind is all made up-you're ready for this. You know you want her. So, if it's clarity she wants, give her clarity.
Jessica was ready, realising that Yuri needed to be told as to how she really felt about her. Then and there, she made up her mind to make sure that Yuri knew. Somehow, saying those three words was the hardest to do, if not the cheesiest. But it was definitely achievable-nothing in Jessica Jung's book was impossible once she'd set her mind on it. Still, the prospect of having to say 'I love you' to Yuri made her cringe.
With so much going on in her mind, Jessica soon drifted off to Snoozeville.
*
She woke up to a low rumbling sound, and acknowledged that it was her tummy growling in protest to a lack of food. Glancing up at the wall clock, she was amazed at how long she had napped. Hungry, yet too lazy to get up and fix herself a meal, she thought of Yuri and wondered if she had eaten dinner.
I fucking miss her.
*
Yuri was busy in her studio, absorbed in putting some touch-ups to the shots she took that morning, when her phone buzzed. Seeing the caller ID, the broadest smile crept up her face.
"Hey you."
"Hey."
"You still busy?"
"Wrapping up soon."
"Have you had dinner?"
"Haven't had time of day yet."
"Did you even eat lunch?"
"Hyo brought me a bagel this morning."
"Oh my God, that's like how many gazillion hours ago?" Concern showing clearly in Jessica's voice, "Yuri, your gastric problem will act up again if you continue to disregard your meals."
"Yes, Mom, I know."
"I'll bring you some food."
"Jessica, you can't cook to save your own life."
"I said I'll bring you some food. Nobody said anything about cooking."
*
It had been a long day for Yuri.
If Jessica hadn't called, she wouldn't even have noticed that she hadn't eaten anything decent the whole day. She was actually feeling famished now that her work was done and had a free moment to stop and think about the daily necessities in life-such as food, sustenance.
And love. Her love. Jessica Jung, to be precise.
And there she was, her love, standing at her doorstep, bringing her food. Yuri felt ....loved.
Craving pizza, Jessica had arrived at Yuri's with exactly that, plus side orders of buffalo wings, caesar salad, and for dessert, double fudge ice-cream.
"Jessi's Delivery Service. Pizza, wings, salad, and ice-cream," Jessica announced, as she dumped the food packages into Yuri's arms, before sashaying into the apartment like a diva walking the red carpet.
"Ice-cream? Jessica, it's freezing tonight." Yuri frowned, hands full, lifting her foot to kick-shut the door.
"So? Turn up the heating."
"Whatever you say, Boss."
After dinner, they ate ice-cream, seated on the living room floor, leaning their backs against the couch.
Yuri had just showered and Jessica thought she smelt heavenly-a delightful mixture of fruity-scented shampoo and shower gel.
The TV was on some channel showing a rerun of 'The Coffee Prince' and there was a scene where Gong Yoo's and Yoon Eun Hye's characters were making out.
For apparent reasons, Jessica felt uncomfortable. She picked up the remote control and promptly switched to another channel.
"Hey, what...? I was watching that, do you mind?" Yuri protested, trying to get the remote from Jessica.
"That's a silly show. How can he not know she's a girl disguised as a boy?" Jessica grumbled, refusing to give up the gadget. "And then he thinks he's gay when all along he is actually a she?"
"C'mon, it's only dumb old K-drama. They're not known to make sense." Yuri peered into the blonde's face. "Are you like...uncomfortable watching an intimate scene?"
Gosh, her sensitivity, or rather, her woman's intuition, is friggen uncanny. There's no bluffing her.
"Spot on. I'm jealous that they're kissing each other when they're not even a couple in real life." Jessica readily admitted.
"That's just absurd, but I think I know what you're driving at."
"Do you really? You wanna know what's absurd? Well, I'm sitting here, eating ice-cream and watching a fake couple make out on telly, with a goose I've been dating for months, and whose hand I've never once held. That's what's absurd." Jessica's words poured out of her mouth at a speed faster than lightning. "Are we even a couple, Yuri? Are we for real?" There. She finally said it.
Jessica received a quizzical look as Yuri set down her bowl of ice-cream.
"So, you want me to hold your hand," Yuri said slowly, and deliberately, in a teasing tone of voice, gazing at the blonde with a dangerous glint in her eye.
"Yessss." Jessica hissed, staring back, as she slammed her ice-cream bowl down hard on the coffee table.
"Why didn't you just say so?"
"I was waiting for you to take the initiative, Kwon Yuri. Aren't you the 'man' in this relationship?"
"Now, hold on there...what did I just hear? I can't even begin to fathom... I'm the man?" Yuri feigned indignation. I'll forgive you this time, but baby, you have so much to catch up on about girl x girl relationships. "How can I possibly be the man when I don't have...uhm...you know?"
"Like I give a shit. I want to be the woman. Besides, you're taller."
"So that automatically makes me the man? I dunno, baby, but your mind sure works in mysterious ways." A smile slowly crossed Yuri's face as she shifted closer to Jessica, their shoulders now touching. Reaching down, she took Jessica's hand in hers, entwining her fingers with the blonde's shorter ones. "There, I've taken the initiative. Nice fit, huh?"
For all her brazen attitude in front of Yuri, Jessica was actually shaking inside. It had taken all of her nerves and then some, to muster up the courage needed to say all those. Yuri's hand felt warm, soft and reassuring in hers.
"You took long enough."
"I'm sorry. I guess I needed to know for sure that you're committed to this relationship."
"Sooyoung was right when she said you wanted clarity."
"You had a discussion about me with that cranky friend of yours?"
"That cranky friend of mine can sometimes be very wise."
"You could've fooled me. What else does she know?"
"That we haven't had...sex?" Jessica blushed like a beetroot, that last word uttered so softly that it was almost inaudible.
But soft as it was, Yuri still caught it. Releasing Jessica's hand, she positioned herself so that they were sitting facing each other. She gazed at Jessica with an intensity that made the blonde blush even harder.
"Did you know I had the most fucking torturous time last night sharing your bed, so close to you, wanting you so badly, but all you did was sleep?"
This was such a revelation, and of course, the blonde didn't know.
"Well, I was tired," Jessica countered, always on the ready to get the upper hand. "Was it my fault when you had your back to me right from the beginning? I thought you were tired, too, and just wanted to sleep."
"I couldn't possibly sleep facing you when your tits were showing through your top, you thoughtless minx. Did you know how turned on I was?"
Oh my God...revelation after revelation. She SO wants me. If only she knows the feeling is mutual.
Yuri's face was very close to hers now. Feeling her heart do several backflips, and not being able to alleviate the situation, Jessica leaned back further into the couch.
"I just need to know that you're totally committed...because I sure as hell am serious about you." Yuri 's voice was hoarse, almost breaking. "Are you?"
"Why do you even need to ask the obvious?"
"Do you...love me?"
Jessica didn't know whence she found the courage. But the very next moment, she had already grabbed Yuri by her shirt collar, pulling Yuri assertively towards her and then, aggressively pressing her own lips against Yuri's plump ones, kissing her for all she was worth.
Caught off guard but gaining momentum, Yuri began to kiss Jessica back with just as much conviction, slipping her arms around her waist. Being the more experienced of the two, Yuri half-sucked, half-bit hungrily on the blonde's lower lip, her own slipping into Jessica's mouth every so often to caress Jessica's tongue.
Revelling in the kiss, Jessica released her hold on Yuri's collar, moulding herself into the taller girl's embrace, as possessive arms slid around Yuri's neck.
.All good things had to come to an end, eventually. Consumed, they soon broke away, gasping for breath.
"D-does that ....answer your.... stu-stupid question?" Jessica gasped, chest heaving. Her face was flushed a bright pink, lips red and a tad swollen after Yuri's urgent ministrations.
"Such a unique way of answering a question, but you know what? I fucking love it." Yuri grinned, wiping her mouth with her shirt sleeve. "Ew, you taste of double fudge."
"Stop complaining. That's your favourite flavour."
Mischief in mind, dipping a finger into her bowl of melted ice-cream, Yuri proceeded to smear it on Jessica's lips.
"Hey...what the- "Jessica began to protest, but was not allowed to continue as Yuri quickly leaned in, brushing her lips against hers, her tongue savouring the taste of fudge on Jessica's lips.
"Mmm...yes...definitely my favourite. You do know that chocolate is an aphrodisiac, don't you?"
"You're really turned on, aren't you?" Jessica's voice was a bare whisper as she allowed Yuri to draw her body closer.
"Why do you even need to ask the obvious?" Yuri used Jessica's exact same words. She slipped a hand under that oversized sweater, titillatingly stroking the smooth skin beneath. "You started this whole shenanigans, you know."
"So what if I did?" Jessica's hand started some exploring of its own as it groped its way under Yuri's shirt, a finger teasingly making circles around Yuri's navel.
"You have to finish what you started."
The hand that was pacing behind Jessica, fleetingly stroking her back, moved up, hovering about her bra clasp, as if waiting for the go-ahead signal.
"You really want this, don't you?"
Yuri felt needy fingers kneading her thigh.
Dark eyes bored into Jessica's. "And you don't?"
"Say the magic words, then."
"Have a heart...stop messing with me." Brows tightly knitted in a frown, and admitting defeat, Yuri groaned. "All right, what magic words?"
"Say you want me."
"You want me."
"No, silly. Say 'I. WANT. YOU.' "
"Why do you do the things you do?" In a huff, Yuri got off the floor, pulling Jessica up with her. Then, wrapping her arms around Jessica, she half shouted, "Damn it, girl! I. WANT. YOU. I want you, okay? And for the record, in case you didn't know, I've wanted you, like, forever, Jessica Jung...an eternity!"
For her anguish, Yuri received a playful pinch on her cheek.
"Okay, I heard you." Embracing the taller girl tightly in her arms, and standing on tiptoes, Jessica whispered into Yuri's ear, "I want you, too. God only knows how much."
"Will you...stay the night?"
"Which way to your room?"
*tbc
Footnote:
The movie Jessica was supposedly watching - Saving Face (starring Joan Chen, Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen)
A/N:
Jessica's "I want to be the woman" - maybe not in those exact words but remember YulSic's UFO replies way back?