itotoro

“Hey, Heejin.”

On the other end of the call, the sun hasn't set yet. Heejin is wearing a hat over the short, blonde hair Jiwoo chose for her.

“Jiwoo, hey. You're still up?” Heejin's voice rumbles differently from when she's a meter or a breath away, but it's still Heejin's voice.

“Of course!” Jiwoo brings out the last jolt of energy she can muster, propping up her pillow behind her so she can sit. “I wanted to wait for you. What time is it there?”

“It's a little past 7PM. Isn't it so cool? The sunset is a lot later here.” The camera shifts away from Heejin's face to a haphazard tour of the scenery—the hotel room shared with Jungeun, the window that leads to a view of the quiet city—then it's back to her face, a little too close but not close enough. “The weird thing is that everything's closed by 5. Except the bars and some other stores, but this city seems to be very relaxed.”

Everything looks so far away from the phone screen. Jiwoo sighs. “It looks so pretty there.”

“It is. They even have trams, like in the movies.” Heejin in pixel still oozes excitement. “The next time we tour, we can go together.”

The promise sends a pang of guilt through Jiwoo's gut. Guilt and a little dismay.

“Sorry,” Heejin says, eyes downcast, “I shouldn't say that, should I?”

Now Jiwoo becomes the optimist. “It could happen in the future, who knows?” She lookes at Heejin, timezones away, and hopes. “We can still tour. But even if we don't, you can take me around. Or we can go to Switzerland.”

“Yeah, we can.” Heejin nods, then sighs. Then looks at Jiwoo with hopeful pixel eyes. “I bought you stuff today.”

“More stuff?” Jiwoo puffs out her cheeks. “And you won't tell me?”

“Yeah.” Heejin's smile widens by the second. “I'm filling up a whole suitcase by the time this tour ends.”

Jiwoo yawns. It's time to lay back down, prop her head under her pillow. “What else have you been up to there?”

“Just missing you,” Heejin laughs when Jiwoo whines. “Tonight we're going to explore the nightlife.”

“Don't forget your passport—”

“That was one time.” Heejin pulls the hat down on her head. “You look so cuddly.”

Jiwoo hums. Her eyelids get heavier when she shuts off her bedside lamp, barely opening for the screen. “You should come back to cuddle me then.”

“On top of all your schedules?”

She does have a lot of schedules, spanning most of her waking hours even when the girls return from the tour. “I'll schedule Heejin-time. Priority overnight gig.”

“Heejin-time.” Now Heejin hums in approval. From the other side of the call she's looking around, then in a blink of an eye brings the camera to her lips for a goodnight kiss. “I'll let you sleep now.”

It makes Jiwoo feel warm. “Goodnight, Heejin.”

Heejin, timezones away, smiles as if she's there with her. “Goodnight.”