Chapter 18: Mina

The sea's waves rose, with a height enough to decimate half of the port town nearby, and brushed against the clouds that coaxed it.

***

Chaeyoung has been incessantly texting and calling the past few days, ranging from checking up on me to updates at work.

Normally, personal problems do not faze me when it comes to reporting for my job, but I find it hard to face Chaeyoung right now-especially since she saw me after Jeongyeon's attempt at sex.

It's like having your crush see you intimate with another girl. I know that it shouldn't matter, since Chaeyoung has Somi, but still... My chest tightens every time I remember how she stared at me, with a box of trinkets, just outside my apartment.

My phone buzzing snaps me out of my spiraling anxiety. The screen shows a photo of Chaeyoung that I took while she was growling as we teased her. I let the ringing run its course and put it against my stomach. Sorry, Chaeyoung.

A few seconds later, the phone gives one short buzz. At least it's not a call. I hate it when I have to let it ring unil the call's automatically ended. Again, it's Chaeyoung.

"Okay, you leave me no choice," her message says.

Wait, what's that supposed to mean?! Don't tell me she's planning to go here via the balcony!

I spring out of the bed and rush towards the balcony, waiting for her little feet to show up from above. A few minutes later, the front door's knob rattles slightly. Then, a card snakes its way into the seam. Shit, someone's attempting to break in!

Grabbing the tanto replica my uncle gave me, I wait for the door to open so this burglar could feel twelve inches of cold steel in his insides. (A/N: A tanto is a Japanese dagger.)

The lock clicks and the door creaks. Here we go. Just a little more, you fucker.

With my right arm cocked and ready to lunge, Chaeyoung's face peers in.

"What the fuck?!" I shout, retracting the dagger with my whole arm trembling. "I could've killed you!"

With a puzzled expression, her eyes move down to my hand. "Yo! What the fuck?!" Chaeyoung yells as well.

"Couldn't you just use the doorbell like a normal person?!" I drop the dagger beside its sheath.

"Hey, that's what I've been doing for the past two days," she justifies, still looking at the tanto.

I run my palm against my forehead, releasing a loud sigh in the process. "God...I'm sorry-I thought you were a burglar."

Chaeyoung chortles and leans against the door frame with a mischievous smirk. "Why? Are the burglars in your head this cute?" She rolls her shoulder forward and adds in a deeper register: "You have to be upfront about these fantasies right now."

For the first time in days, I laugh. Where's all this flirting coming from? Don't underestimate me, Son Chaeyoung-I may be quiet, but I can be game if I want to. "Why? Are you going to commit to the bit?"

She chuckles, shaking her head. "Gross! Roleplaying isn't my thing."

Our laughters die down gradually. Chaeyoung then stares and smiles with the corner of her mouth, raising the little mole underneath her lips. "I'm glad to see you smile again-I mean it. You holing up here had me worried."

"It's not like..." I glance up at the wall clock, "...two days and fourteen hours of inactivity is new to me. Sorry for worrying you."

"Do you...want to talk about it?"

I shake my head as I invite Chaeyoung in.

"Look, if it's about Jeongyeon-unnie..."

"Let it rest. I'll be fine," I say, grabbing a pitcher of cold water.

"I-I talked to her about it..." she murmurs.

My stomach drops upon hearing what she did. Why is this somewhat worse than when Chaeyoung saw me the other night? "Now, why would you do something like that?" I breathe my words lowly.

"I know it's about my unnie. I heard it." Chaeyoung gets off the sofa and heads over to me.

Oh my God. Great. Just fucking great. To prevent my jaw from shaking, I bite the tip of my tongue. A heated pressure builds up inside my chest. "Chaeyoung-ah, no need to concern yourself. It's between me and my ex." I can't be in the same room as her right now. "Sorry, I think I need to rest."

I quickly head over to the room without giving her as much as a glance. Before I turn the knob, two tattooed forearms wrap around my midsection.

"Minari, please...don't go," Chaeyoung cries as her hug tightens.

"I just want to sleep, okay?!"

Wriggling out of her embrace, she presses her whole body against me. "And how long would that be?! Days? Weeks? Months?" We're so close that I practically feel her mouth move behind me. "I just don't want you thinking you're alone. Not anymore," Chaeyoung sobs into my shirt.

Are we already at this point? I turn around, her arms not wavering their hold on me. "Why? Is it because I'm your friend?" I want to ask her upfront about what's going on between us, but I withdraw as she stares up with tears trickling down her cheeks.

"I-I...just care about you, okay?" She whispers with a sniff.

Why? We're colleagues. We live one floor from each other. Why would you cry for someone like me? Am I worth your tears?

With impending tears starting to blur my vision, I cup Chaeyoung's cheeks with both palms. To my surprise, she closes her eyes and leans forward.

This is it, right?

This is the moment that all those dramas and movies show, wherein the leads are about to kiss, right?

With just about three inches before our lips collide, I could smell a faint trace of toothpaste on Chaeyoung's breath.

What're you waiting for, Mina? This is like God handing you a huge blessing on a silver platter! It's not everyday your crush tiptoes for a kiss!

Overwhelmed, I close my eyes. I don't know who this Somi is, but images of Jeongyeon making out with that snake Nayeon flash on my mind. Once Chaeyoung and I cross this bridge, will I be like that bitch who ruined my relationship?

Ugh, fuck me.

"Chaeyoung-ah..." I wait for her to open her eyes again before wiping the tears with my thumbs.

She closes her eyes again, nestling her cheek deeper into my right hand.

With apprehension, I pull her in for a tight hug and sigh. "Thanks for being such a great friend."