A drabble (exactly 100 words each) sequence written for Primaveril for the Seasons of Drabbles - Fall Round 2022 fic exchange.
From Land to Water
"Did whales evolve? Or have they always been about the same?" Jun-ho asked Young-woo curiously as they slid into their seats at lunch.
It was gimbap day in the Hanbada cafeteria, so they had gone through the line together. However, Young-woo had managed to hold in her whale talk until they made it to the table. Therefore, Jun-ho knew exactly what would happen when he asked that particular question. He didn't mind, though. He just sat back and watched contentedly as Young-woo's beautiful brown doe eyes sparkled in pleasure when the floodgates opened and she launched into her favorite topic.
...
"Whales evolved from land ungulates about fifty million years ago," Young-woo informed him enthusiastically before she paused to eat a piece of gimbap.
"Ungulates?" he asked uncertainly.
"Hooved animals such as horses and cows," she explained promptly.
Jun-ho nodded in understanding. Despite what others might think about their lunchtime conversations, he was never bored. After all, he always learned something new. The fact that his teacher was simply adorable certainly didn't hurt matters, either!
"Whale ancestors then gradually evolved into fully aquatic animals over the next eight million years," Young-woo continued, completely unaware of his thoughts.
Jun-ho just smiled fondly.
...
"Do you know why whales left the land for water in the first place?" Young-woo eventually asked.
"To escape from predators?" Jun-ho guessed.
"Yes! That was one of the main reasons," she replied and Jun-ho felt a flash of accomplishment when he saw the obvious approval in her eyes.
"They had to adapt and overcome," Young-woo continued before her face grew thoughtful. "In that regard, you and I are also similar to the whales."
"How so?" he asked.
"We also had to evolve...to venture into new territory...when we decided that we liked each other," was her surprising answer.
...
Jun-ho realized that Young-woo was right...as usual.
After all, they had both struggled to move out of their previous comfort zones...and create an entirely new one together...in order to become a couple.
For him, he had to redefine what was most important in a relationship in the first place...and ignore what was not...in order to accommodate her unique needs.
For her, it was even harder, because she had to actually expand her worldview to even be able to include him into her previously solo lifestyle before she could adjust to meeting his needs, as well.
...
That evening when Jun-ho walked Young-woo home, he thought about their lunchtime conversation as he noticed all the little things that they regularly did to adapt to their new circumstances.
She immediately tucked her hand into his elbow as their mutually agreed upon alternative to handholding while he automatically restrained his long stride to meet her shorter one. She attempted new topics of conversation that she thought he might like and he filed interesting information away to research later in order to keep up with her keen intellect.
They both tried to make each other feel as comfortable as possible.
...
It wasn't until they stopped in front of her house to say goodbye, though, that Jun-ho really understood the analogy.
After all, Young-woo stayed with him instead of immediately walking away as she used to do. Then, she easily relaxed into Jun-ho's "personal hugging chair" style embrace before she turned around...on tiptoe...to initiate their sweet goodnight kiss. Soft caresses followed as the kiss deepened naturally before they gradually moved apart in mutual appreciation. They were finally in their right "environment"...together!
"We really are an evolving whale couple!" he exclaimed then.
"From land to water," Young-woo agreed happily.