“Jae-Woo,” she breathed. She raced to the bedside and wrapped her arms around his sitting form. He returned the hug with a smile on his face.
“Hey, M," his voice was low, soft, and comforting. "How are you?”
Hae Mina pulled back and gave him a bright smile as sh
Hae Mina woke to Rhee Min-Jun’s soft touch on her shoulder. “Wake up,” he whispered. She turned around and stretched. “Hmm?” “We’re here. Let’s go.” Hae Mina blinked a few rapid times to wake herself then st
As Hae Mina sat in the windowsill, the moon's gentle beams rested on her face, and although they held no warmth, they comforted Hae Mina. The chaos of the day swirled in her mind, but soon, a piano's soft melody pulled her from her inner thoughts. At first, she thought she was imagining the sound, but as it continued she realized someone was playing the piano. She slid from the sill and ventured into the hall. She paused at the steps then tiptoed down them. She made it to the bottom and found herself closer to the fading sound. She hurried down the dark halls lit by small dim lights.
Hae Mina heard a knock on her door early the next morning. She rolled out of the bed and stumbled to her door. “What?” she muttered in a tired voice.I can’t believe I was up till two last night.“You have class today, Hae Mina,” Nathan’s voice declared.
Hae Mina sat in the office with her arms crossed. She had failed in obeying Nathan and knew a lecture awaited her upon his arrival. She scanned the room to preoccupy her mind. Cho Mi Cha lay on a couch across the room. Tears streamed down her cheeks and Hae Mina knew she had hit the girl too hard, but she really did not care at this point. The girl deserved it and had struck her first.She clenched her right hand when she continued to look around and saw the younger girl, whose name she had yet to learn, whimper. The principal pointed at the girl and motion
After practicing from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm with no breaks, Duskin curled on the couch and fell asleep. “Can we take a break now?” Hae Mina asked. In truth, she needed the break more than wanted it. Her left hand ached and she did not know how much longer she would be able to keep the pain hidden.“I guess so,” Yang Dae-Su muttered. “What do you say, Jiho?”
As the two climbed into his car, Rhee Min-Jun spoke, "If you don't want to go to practice, I can tell them you are worn out.""No, I'll go. Jiho would never let me hear the end of it if I skipped practice because I was worn out, and I am in no mood to argue with him."He gave her a nod as he started the car and the trip back to the university began. After a minute, Hae Mina broke the silence, "Thank you for helping him. I know you haven't forgiven him for," she paused, "for choking me but--""I do not know that I will ever forgive him for that. Any man who would attack a woman is worse than trash.""So you see Jiho as trash?" she countered."What?""Jiho
Rhee Min-Jun entered the room a few minutes later to find Hae Mina curled up on top of the covers on the bed. Her brown hair fanned around her and hid her face. Her right hand was wrapped in covers and the left lay on a lump of covers. Rhee Min-Jun stepped forward and looked at her hand. Her left hand appeared to be swollen. He slid her hair from her face, and then with two fingers, he applied gentle pressure to her hand. Her face crumpled in pain. He removed his fingers and Hae Mina’s eyes jerked open.Rhee Min-Jun had backed up in time for Hae Mina not to notice he had touched her. She flexed her left hand and her face flinched in pain. “Did you hurt your hand in the fight earlier?” Rhee Min-Jun questioned. She jumped and looked to the side to see him. Her wide eyes let him know she had not noticed his presence until then.“No
Hae Mina woke to the sound of rushing water. Knowing it was Rhee Min-Jun washing let Hae Mina know it was time for her to get dressed. She quickly grabbed her clothes and changed in the corner, far from either door. She pulled her shirt over her head when the water in the bathroom silenced.Hae Mina glanced down at her hands. She tugged at the brace and pulled it off her hand. She then unwrapped the gauze. “How is it?” Rhee Min-Jun questioned as he stepped from the bathroom. She turned and let him see. “It feels a lot better today.”
Hae Mina lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling. The scene with Cass replaying in her head. She had never been kissed before, not even a peck on the lips. Cass’s lips had been warm even if she’d only felt them for a few brief seconds. Her excitement had been shattered only seconds later.Hae Mina rolled onto her side and stared at the bathroom door.Why did I expect anything from it? I knew why I was there, but if only he’d kiss me because he wanted to. No, I can’t want that.She argued with herself.I’m just like every other girl.She admitted and rolled on her back again.I fell for his charms.
“Ready?” Cass asked.“For the party? Yes. To meet your appa again? No.” The last time had been rough and she doubted she could remember everything they told him.“You’ll be fine. Appa liked you last time, so his opinion shouldn’t change as long as you stay you,” Cass assured. Hae Mina freed the rush of air.“Okay, I can do this.”“How’s your hand?” Cass questioned, but the anger that had been present earlier was now absent. Now, he sounded concerned.Hae Mina closed her fingers into a fist. A small pain hit her palm, but it didn’t hurt as much as when she had dropped the glass. “It’ll be fine, at least
Cass pulled into Hwan Chin-Sun’s drive, and Hae Mina was already opening the door before he had parked. They were late and she knew Hwan Chin-Sun was going to be furious. On top of that, Hae Mina did not want to stay too close to Cass when he was seething over her hand.She rushed up the steps and knocked on the door. Cass was soon after her. The door slid open and Hwan Chin-Sun gave a puzzled look to Hae Mina.“Hello, Jae-Woo,” she greeted.“Uh, Noona, that’s Hae Mina,” Cass informed.“Heavens, why are you dressed like Jae-Woo?” she questioned as she backed out of the way.“Long story, but to sum it up: We were in town and Hae Mina didn
“You look tired,” Cass stated after the waitress had left.“I am,” Hae Mina replied and let her eyes close. “Stupid nightmares,” she muttered.“Nightmares?” Cass questioned. Hae Mina gave an inward groan.“Yeah. Haven’t you ever had nightmares before?” Hae Mina questioned. She hoped he would not ask what they were about.“I lived with Chin-Sun Noona most of my life, so I assure you, I’m familiar with nightmares especially living ones. Was it bad?”“Was what bad?”“The dream. Was it really bad? Chin-Sun Noona used to get horrible nightmares, a
Rhee Min-Jun heard a knock and figured it must have been Hae Mina and Cass back from Hwan Chin-Sun's. He made his way downstairs then opened the door. Hae Mina gave him a soft smile. “Hey,” she whispered. She wore her boy clothes and her wig.“It’s late. Come in,” he stated and backed out of the way. Cass was nowhere to be seen. She entered the room, and he shut the door. "You should try to remember your card next time," Rhee Min-Jun muttered.“I know. I'm sorry, Sunbae. I’m so tired,” she dropped back on the bed. He fought the smile.“That’s because it’s nearly midnight and you have been up since seven. Go on and take your shower.”“I don’t want to. I&rsq
Cass thought about her comment. What was she hiding? “How’s your hand?” he asked.Hae Mina paused in her eating, “My hand?” she questioned.“Yeah, you cut your right hand, remember?”“I kind of forgot everyone knew, but it’s doing fine, so you don’t need to worry,” Hae Mina replied.“Can I check?” he asked. She sighed.“You boys are all alike,” she stated before laying her hand on the table. He lifted it and checked the side. The cut was healing well. Cass didn’t drop her hand after he had looked at the wound, instead, he examined the rest of her hand. It was so small compared to his and felt delicate, but h
Hae Mina shook her head. Cass was something else when he was being a Casanova. Something that made Hae Mina want to slap him. She thought about the little favor she was about to do for him and about what she was supposed to be. Well, she had the right to do it. Besides, she was dying to see the look on his face when she acted like she was his in such a public location.She approached the two and tapped Cass’s shoulder. He turned. “Cass, oh, who is this?” she questioned looking at the girl. The girl looked Hae Mina over with a puzzled expression.“She’s was just helping me select some food,” Cass stated.“Why didn’t you ask me? I am your girlfriend, after all, I don’t mind helping you. He’s so silly sometimes. Always having others do for us
Cass, how did I ever let you talk me into this?Hae Mina wondered as Chin-Sun tossed another dress at her. “Try it on. I don’t like the way that one fits you.”“Chin-Sun Unni,” Hae Mina complained, “this is the seventh one.”“Eighth. Now, go change. I will not send you looking like a ragdoll.” Hwan Chin-Sun turned Hae Mina around and pushed her by her back into the dressing room. Hae Mina sighed and changed again. The second Hae Mina slid the fabric on, she knew the dress was an absolute no. Hwan Chin-Sun did not know about the wound healing on her back, so she would not have realized that Hae Mina could not wear that dress; however, even if her back was completely healed, she refused to wear this dress.
A few minutes later, Hae Mina found herself sitting in the Maid’s Diner with Nightide. Kyung Jiho and Hae Mina had yet to say a word to each other or to any of the other members.“Jae-Woo, we’re here for a reason,” Rhee Min-Jun whispered. Hae Mina groaned.“I don’t want to say sorry,” she whispered back. A waitress stopped next to them and took their orders.“Kimchi with water to drink,” Duskin stated.“Cucumber Kimchi and water,” Dae-Su ordered.“I’ll take Samgyetang and Misutgaru,” Cass stated.“Chap Chae and Misutgaru,” Kyung Jiho replied.