Minji's Voice - Bbangsaz

Chapter 29

Hanni's POV

I returned to work the next day, Maggie gave me a giant hug, pressing me tightly against her broad chest as I laughed and struggled to breathe, and Norm simply said, "Hanni," but gave me one of his rare smiles and nodded. He shook his head before returning his attention to the griddle where he was flipping pancakes. For some reason, the bear hug and the nod filled me with warmth.

I was home.

I chatted with the locals I had gotten to know while working, easily making my way through the restaurant, delivering food, and checking on my customers.

I thought about Minji as I worked, meditating on how difficult it was for her to depend on another person. I had already noticed it before I went to Ohio, but now I understood her much better. I loved her, and I was going to do whatever it took to assure her that I wasn't going anywhere. But I also understood her struggle. I knew what made her feel weak, and I knew she didn't want to depend on me.

The day before she had behaved almost shyly, looking away when I looked at her while we tidied up the room together. I had picked up the copy of Ethan Frome off the floor when I recognized the title, and opened it to read a passage, putting a hand on my chest to fake a broken, pained whisper.

"I want to put my hand on you, touch you. I want to take care of you. I want to be with you when you're sick and alone." I paused, my hand falling to my chest.

I put the book down and raised my hands. It is a beautiful fragment.

She smiled at me and said, I guess if it wasn't beautiful, the tragedy wouldn't be sad.

But then she had remained silent, almost as if she were embarrassed. I tried to snap her out of her reverie by joking with her and acting normal, but she was still a little withdrawn when at the end of the day I kissed her goodbye, I grabbed Milly, and went back to my house to open my luggage and get ready for the next day. . I figured it would take a couple of days for her to feel better.

Over the next few days, she returned to normal, the only difference I could still see, was that there was a deep intensity to our lovemaking that I hadn't noticed before.

It was almost as if she was trying to merge us into one person.

Almost brutal in its passion.

I didn't mind, in fact, every facet in Minji's bed was to my liking. But I couldn't exactly explain the change, and I longed for her to open up to me and tell me what she was feeling. However, when I asked her, she just shrugged, smiled and told me that she had missed me while I was gone and that she was trying to make up for lost time. I didn't believe her, but as always, Kim Minji would comment when she was ready and not before. I knew her well enough now to know that putting pressure on her would achieve nothing; I had to wait until she felt safe enough to open up to me. And she would do it sooner or later, in her own quiet way. I thought it must have something to do with the fact that she liked to understand her own emotions before sharing them with me, and I still didn't know where she was at that moment.

Four days after returning home from Ohio, I knocked on Anne's door and she answered, still in her bathrobe.

"Oh, Hanni, dear!" she exclaimed, holding the door open.

"You'll have to excuse me. I'm slacking off, I've been really tired for the last week."

She shook her head.

"It sucks getting older, I'm telling you."

I smiled and walked into their warm and welcoming home. As always, the comforting smell of eucalyptus perfumed the air. "You old?" I shook my head. "No way"