Yeju

  I hate the summer.

  Even with the fan on, even as I lie on the bed clothes-less and bnket-less, I am still sweating through the sheets. The discomfort is stopping me from falling back to sleep, and the disgustingly sunny weather outside is not helping.

  Lia pokes her head into the room.

  “Oh, good, you’re awake! Rise and shine, babe, let’s make breakfast. We have to get ready soon!”

  “Get ready?” I rub my eyes. “Now?”

  “Yeah, the event starts at three, but Yuna wants us to get there by noon and camp there.” Lia walks to the closet and tosses a random t-shirt and underwear at me. “So we should eat a very heavy breakfast now and then bring some snacks for the rest of the day.”

  “Get there by noon?”

  My exasperation must have annoyed Lia. She spins around and gres at me, a small pout on her lips.

  “Okay, okay,” I relent. “I’ll get up now.”

  I put on the clothes Lia grabbed for me and trudge to the bathroom.

  Today is the first day of a pride event held in the L.A. state historic park, and Lia has been excited about it for weeks now. It will be her first-ever pride event as a fully out lesbian—or at least out to everyone she cares about. I am excited for her too, but the Southern California heat is killing all my enthusiasm.

  As I brush my teeth, Lia curls her hair and rambles, “So RJ said Jon and Adrian arrived st night and are crashing in her apartment in downtown L.A. Have I told you about them? They’re RJ and Chloe’s friends from high school in Singapore, and they both go to NorCal for school. Jon goes to Stanford and Adrian goes to Berkeley.”

  I spit out the foam in my mouth. “You’ve mentioned them.”

  “They’re great. We went to the San Francisco pride event together st year.” She beams at me. “And this year, I’ll be going with a girlfriend. I can’t believe it.”

  My heart flutters. It has been almost a year now, and the way she says ‘girlfriend’ is still so full of awe and amazement. And honestly, I feel the same way too.

  Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pnt a kiss on her cheek. “It’s me who should be saying that. I can’t believe I have a hot girlfriend like you.”

  “Oh, shut up…” She chuckles. “Let’s go make breakfast.”

  In the kitchen, we move as one. Ever since starting my new job at a local biotech start-up, I have been waking up at the same time as Lia. So now, we have a well-practiced morning breakfast routine.

  After almost three decades, I finally have a healthy and regur morning routine.

  “Oh, by the way,” Lia says as she stirs the scrambled eggs, “remember that journal I wrote to? I heard back from them.”

  I look up from the sizzling bacon. “What did they say?”

  “They don’t have spots open for an internship, but they like my pitches and will pay for them if I write for them.”

  “Wow, that’s awesome, Lia!”

  “Thank you! I’m excited. It might be my foot in the door, and then maybe I can get the internship next year instead.”

  “You definitely can.” I give her a quick peck on the forehead before we pte the food.

  For the past few weeks, Lia has been applying for science writing internships at various scientific journals. Her experience of writing for Victoria has hooked her into it. I love that she’s pursuing this path. She’s staying at home a lot more now because of it, which is great. And best of all, she’s not going to pursue research or get a Ph.D.—a fantastic choice, in my jaded-Ph.D.-graduate opinion.

  “What topics did you pitch about by the way?” I ask.

  “Mainly topics that UCLA professors study so I can interview them. The editor seems the most excited about my idea about the gut-brain axis.”

  “Oh, like how the gut microbiome can potentially affect your brain?” I whistle. “That’s a hot topic. I can’t help you there though. That’s beyond my expertise.”

  She winks. “Don’t worry. I have a few contacts.”

  Pride swells in me and I can’t help but give her another kiss. I love this woman so much, and she still surprises me every day with how awesome she can be.

  My stomach is growling by the time we move to the dining table. As I take a huge bite of my toast, Lia blurts, “By the way, while you were sleeping, your mom called me.”

  The toast goes down the wrong pipe, and I have to cough it out. “Huh? She hasn’t even replied to my texts, and she’s calling you?”

  Lia shrugs, but her small smirk gives her delight away. “I don’t know. Maybe she missed your texts?”

  “She definitely did not miss it.” I groan. “I cannot believe I am being repced.”

  “No, you’re not. She talks about you to me all the time!”

  “I am not sure if that’s a good thing.”

  “Of course it is. Anyway, she is inviting us over for July fourth. Wanna go?”

  “Oh, sure, that’d be fun.”

  There is a note of hesitation in my voice. This will be our second time going to one of our parents’ together, and the st time did not go well at all.

  But it’s different this time. We’re different. We’re stronger now. And my mom is much nicer than Lia’s mom, that’s for sure.

  “I want to go too,” Lia says. “You know I love your mom. And there’s no need for us to hide when we’re with her.” Her smile falters as she whispers, “I hate hiding.”

  I take her hand and squeeze it. “No more hiding. Hey, today is the day we’re supposed to be the very opposite of hiding, right? It’s pride!”

  And her gorgeous smile returns.

  “You’re right. I can’t wait.” She points at my full pte of food with her fork. “Hurry and eat!”

  ***

  The trio is already at the rendezvous point when Lia and I arrive.

  Yuna is wearing a maxi dress in shades of pink and orange, resembling the colors in the lesbian fg. Her arms are wrapped around Harvey’s, who is wearing a chic shirt dangerously held together by one button. Meanwhile, Gabby is wearing his usual outfit of a button-up shirt and cargo shorts, except it is all pink. Even his shades have pink frames.

  “Dang, Lia, girl,” he excims, “you look good!”

  Lia giggles and does a twirl on the spot. Both her crop top and pleated skirt have rainbow stripes on them, and she does look good in them. Very, very good.

  The trio shouts compliments at Lia as she finishes her twirl with a curtsy.

  “Go, Lia!”

  “Look at that fit!”

  “You look so cute!”

  “Thank you,” Lia says. “You all look great too!”

  “Why, thank you. But pray tell, Yeju,”—Yuna turns to me, her brows raised accusingly—“why do you look like you’re going to the b?”

  “What?” I gnce down at my outfit. “This is my nicest tank top and jeans. I don’t wear these to the b.”

  “Why are you even wearing a tank top?”

  “What’s wrong with it?”

  “She’s probably showing off her tattoos,” Gabby chimes in.

  “It’s too hot,” I grumble. “That’s the real reason.”

  “You know, this is the first time I’ve seen you come out to a pride event, Yeju,” Harvey points out. “I’m gd you can join us this time.”

  “Oh, she refused to go for any queer events ever,” Yuna adds. “Every time I tried to drag her somewhere, she’d cim to be homophobic because, and I quote, ‘I’m gay and I hate myself.’”

  “Yeah, well,”—I wrap my arms around Lia’s waist—“I’m a reformed person now. Someone here changed my mind.”

  And I pull her into a kiss in front of our friends.

  Yuna and Harvey cheer and wolf-whistle, while Gabby groans. “There’s now two couples who are gonna kiss in front of me all the time!”

  “There will be four couples today,” Yuna teases. “Two more are coming- There they are! RJ! Over here!”

  RJ saunters over with two other people I assume to be Jon and Adrian.

  “Oh my god, he’s hot,” Gabby whispers.

  “Don’t know which one you’re referring to, but do not hit on either of them,” Harvey reminds him. “They’re a couple.”

  “Why am I always the only single one in the group?”

  “Darren’s coming over ter. He’s single.”

  “Is he gay?”

  “Not sure.”

  “Damn it.”

  When the newcomers arrive, Yuna does a quick introduction around the group before asking, “Where’s Chloe?”

  RJ’s face turns into a deep red while Jon and Adrian burst into ughter.

  The rest of us exchange curious looks.

  “What is going on?” Yuna asks.

  Jon is still ughing as he gnces at RJ. “Do you want to tell them, or do you want us to tell them?”

  “Let’s not talk about it at all,” RJ snaps. “Chloe’s at home, resting. She’ll join us for dinner ter.”

  “Resting?” Lia’s shoulders stiffen. “Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, what did you do to my sister?” I narrow my eyes at RJ. I haven’t interacted with her much, but I know her flushed look is not normal. Yuna and Lia’s expressions confirm it too.

  RJ groans. “She’s fine—“

  “Should I call her to ask?” I take out my phone.

  “No!” RJ says immediately. “I already said she’s fine—”

  “RJ almost broke Chloe’s neck st night,” Adrian blurts.

  Our jaws drop.

  “What!” Lia grabs RJ by the shoulders. “How did that happen? What did you do?”

  “N- Nothing!” RJ’s cheeks are even redder now. “What the fuck, Adrian. It’s a, uh, small accident, but it’s fine now. She just needs some rest today.”

  “An accident… st night… that broke her neck, huh?” I raise my brows and gnce over at Yuna. Her expression mirrors mine and we nod at each other. I think we both know what this is about.

  I wrap my arms around Lia. “Don’t worry, Lia, I will never break your neck like that. I’m an expert at face-sitting, unlike RJ.”

  Lia’s face turns into the same shade as RJ’s, while Jon and Adrian return to their ughter. Yuna, Harvey, and Gabby chuckle along too.

  “It’s not my fault these two took my pillows!” RJ gestures wildly at her two ughing friends. “They hated the spare ones I had in the house, so Chloe and I had to use them instead and look what happened!”

  “They don’t have good neck support,” Jon agrees. “It’s a health hazard. You need to buy new pillows, RJ.”

  “Buy your own the next time you crash at my pce!”

  RJ and Jon continue to yell at each other until Darren appears. Another round of introductions ter, we head to the park.

  Rainbow banners and fgs decorated the fields. Everyone is dressed in as much color as possible and smiling from ear to ear.

  I turn to Lia. My hands are still around her waist. She is glowing under the sun, and her eyes are full of wonder as she takes in the lively crowd.

  “There’s so many of us,” she gushes.

  “Yes, but nobody comes close to you, babe.”

  She grins at me before grabbing my face and pnting a kiss on my lips.

  I hate the summer, but I guess pride more than makes up for it.