Chapter 9: Mina

As the sea looked up to the storm, it saw how dark the clouds were up close-with flashes of lightning barely being contained inside the fluffy exterior.

***

Despite me explicitly identifying as an introvert, I'd be lying if I said that reunions with my friends from college didn't excite me-even if Jeongyeon's there. There's just something about intermittently seeing the people you used to be with almost everyday for four years-weird.

Momo (MM): So it's settled-we're going to Lucca's on Friday?Sana (SN): Yes! A legit wine and dine. Jeongyeon-ah?Jeongyeon (JY): You know I'm down for it. Is it cool if I bring someone with me?MM: Of course!SN: The more the merrier-miss you girls! 😘JY: Cool, see you on Friday! 😘🤗

Even if I'm the black sheep. Maybe if Jeongyeon wasn't my ex, Sana and Momo would ditch me in a heartbeat-despite Jeongyeon being at fault for our relationship imploding in the first place.

Why'd I have to be in a relationship with a friend? Had I known the repercussions, I would've strayed off that path from the get-go. Was it the convenience of not actually putting a front during dates that drew me in to the whole "friends-to-lovers" setup? Most likely.

I wonder, if I die the next day, would they even shed a tear for me? Or would they just attend my wake and use it as an excuse to hang out again?

Damn it. Thanks to Carl, I've steadily gone back into smoking. Even the slightest stress trigger sends me reaching for a stick...like I am right now, by the apartment's balcony. But, hey, at least it's chilly tonight.

"No, I'm not complaining! It's just that..." a girl from the balcony below sobs. "Come on, you know I'd always support you," she continues after taking a loud, deep breath. Wait...is it Chaeyoung?

I try to lean forward, just to the extent I wouldn't fall to my death, to steal at glance. There's no light, but you could easily tell that someone's there by the intermittent sobs and sighs. Is she crying?!

"I'm just asking you for a little more of your time...we've barely talked since I got here," Chaeyoung continues. I wish I could hear the person she's talking to, just to get the overall context of this surprising development.

She stays silent for a minute or two, and proceeds with lackluster responses.

The tension, and the cold weather, force me to vacate the balcony to pee. Not wanting to miss any juicy details, I do so in haste and grab another stick on my way out. To my chagrin, I do not hear anything else--not even any indicators of Chaeyoung's stress. Seems like she already went inside their apartment.

As I finish this stick of regret, my brain goes haywire. Who was Chaeyoung talking to? Why was she crying? Should I beat him, or her, up? Is it safe to ask her about this tomorrow at work?

With the cigarette's embers nearing the filter, I flick it off the edge. Seeing the butt fall into darkness, a thought pops up: Is this why Ms. Choi's cold towards me, just because she saw me carelessly disposing a cigarette before? Nah, she couldn't be that petty...right?

***

The day's off to a great start. Before she freshened up in the comfort room, Jihyo announced that she would be treating us to breakfast. While Carl and Dahyun cheer, I ponder as to why there's a sudden act of generosity on her part.

But that skepticism quickly vanishes as I think of Chaeyoung--who's not yet in the office--and the little episode last night. Don't tell me she'd be absent because of that? Then again, it must've been a really serious issue.

As we head over to The Pancake Place, we see our junior member casually walking over to us. Instead of contacts and eyeliners, she's wearing eyeglasses with a nondescript frame.

"Chaeyoung-ssi, hurry if you want to have breakfast-my treat," Jihyo exclaims.

Carl raises an eyebrow, as he eyes Chaeyoung. "Why do I feel weird seeing you in glasses?"

Chaeyoung bows to us and rushes over to the badge reader, logging in. "Sorry, I woke up late and had to commute," she justifies, forcing a curt smile that raises her obviously puffy eyes.

Jihyo orders a smorgasbord of pancakes, waffles, hashbrowns, eggs, and bacon-enough to feed about ten people.

"Sunbaenim, what's the occasion?" Dahyun asks, already taking a sip off her iced tea.

Jihyo pouts at her. "You seriously don't know?"

My phone buzzes with a Facebook notification. Today is Park Jihyo's birthday! Let her know your thinking of her! Well shit, I'm two days off. I could've sworn that it's on Saturday.

I slowly sing, eyeing Carl and Dahyun. "Happy birthday to you...happy birthday to you..." Soon enough, all of us, even Chaeyoung, get into unison. Jihyo's wide eyes twinkle as she grins, waving her fingers like a maestro would to an orchestra. We end the song with clapping before gorging down on the feast in front of us.

Minutes later, Chaeyoung leans into Carl's direction. "Carl, I have some bad news," she murmurs in English.

He hums, still preoccupied with slathering a waffle in maple syrup.

"I don't think Somi would be able to attend your wedding."

Carl winces at the news. "Eh? That's a bummer. Did you talk with Somi last night?"

I was about to cut in, but Dahyun's curiosity quickly got the best of her. "Uh, who's Somi?" she asks in her hard, enunciated version of the English language.

Chaeyoung stares at her plate and huffs. "She's-"

"-Chaeyoung's girlfriend from Canada," says Carl.