Shutters and Strings - MICHAENG

1

And admit it, because you want to spend just a bit more time with her.

Mina shook her head, trying to shoo away the thoughts forming in her head. She took another sneaky look at Chaeyoung.

She looks cute.

Chaeyoung turned to look at her, a small smile forming on her face, and let out a small nod.

Both of them left the store they found themselves entering and were, once again, hit with the freezing wind, almost knocking one of them over.

"Since when does the weather get like this here in Japan?" Groaned the smaller one of the two, trying to hide her face with her hands from the wind. Mina noticed this and hesitated with herself at the thought forming in her head.

Would it be weird if I...

"Could I offer you my overcoat?" Mina's words spoke faster than thoughts.

Chaeyoung turned to look at her, hands still covering her face.

Mina couldn't make out if there was a blush growing on Chaeyoung's face. It could be from the cold.

"C-can I?" Chaeyoung muttered a bit quieter but still loud enough for Mina to hear. Without a beat, Mina started to take off her long overcoat, wrapping it around the other girl's frame. It definitely looked a bit bigger on her, and that made Mina grin at the sight in front of her.

Mina, get it together.

"Thank you." Chaeyoung let out, wrapping it properly around her. She put it on and immediately placed her hands in the pockets.

"Ah, you're such a life saver Mina." Chaeyoung sighed in relief, no longer feeling as cold.

She said my name.

"Are you sure you're going to be fine?" Asked Chaeyoung in worry. Mina gave her a small smile. Under the coat she previously had, she was wearing a rather long and thick cotton undershirt. "Don't worry about me, I should be fine."

Mina adjusted the bag that was wrapped across her and they continued to walk, turning a few left and right turns.

"So, I take it that you're a photographer?" Chaeyoung finally spoke up, pointing at the camera bag Mina had.

"You could say that. It's just a hobby at the moment, but I love it. I actually work at a local bakery my mom runs, you should check it out whenever you've got time." Mina commented, proudly patting the bag her camera was in. Chaeyoung smiled at this, revealing the dimple that was placed perfectly on her right cheek. If Mina wasn't feeling any warmer before, she definitely was now.

"Photography, I think it suits you. I've always admired photographers and their ability to capture special moments. How did you get into photography?"

"Well, I guess you could say that it started when I was younger. The bakery my mom runs needed a few promotional pictures, and my father bought me a camera, so that's where it all really began. He asked me for a favor. That favor was to help my mother out, and so I did. I found it so fun and entertaining. The different angles you could take, the different types of lighting, the way each and every shadow plays an important role, all of it. I find it all beautiful." Mina smiled, recalling the memories of getting her first camera and immediately getting to work. Some of the pictures she took all those years ago were still up in the store, and Mina's mother couldn't be any more prouder, having her daughter's work plastered around her store.

"So photography really places a huge impact on your life huh," Asked Chaeyoung, turning to meet Mina's eyes. Mina let out a small smile and nodded.

"I'm not the best at many things, but yeah, photography is my escape. You could call it my way of communicating with the world without having to utter a single word. I try to capture the beauty of nature and human emotions with my camera. Though, sometimes I feel like I lack the confidence to fully pursue my goals. It scares me. Sometimes I fear judgment and other times failure."