Starlit Bonds

VI

Chapter 6: "Do something about it"
ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ
Minji sat in the classroom, her mind still wrestling with the idea that over time, her bond with Haerin would become a source of comfort. Her gaze remained fixated on the back of Haerin's head, her lustrous dark brown hair cascading gracefully down her chair. Haerin, on the surface, appeared like any other shy student, but Minji knew better; she understood Haerin's underlying discomfort with humans all too well.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, a group of chatty girls swarmed around Haerin. They bombarded her with questions and conversation, their voices blending into a cacophonous symphony. Minji couldn't help but clench her fists in frustration. 'She doesn't like people,' Minji thought to herself, her protective instincts surging.

Watching the girls overwhelm Haerin, Minji felt her frustration grow. 'They're overwhelming her,' she grumbled inwardly. 'Perhaps it's you who feels overwhelmed, Minji.' The voice in her mind was Haerin's, breaking through the swirl of emotions. Minji froze, her internal turmoil momentarily stilled by Haerin's presence in her thoughts.

'I'll be okay, you should go to your friends,' Haerin's telepathic reassurance gently flowed into Minji's mind. Minji watched as Haerin offered a polite smile and nodded, responding to a girl's request. The group of girls eventually dispersed, leaving Haerin to herself.

A strange mixture of annoyance and aching concern swelled within Minji as she witnessed the interaction. 'I should've done something,' she muttered under her breath, feeling an unshakable pang in her chest. She couldn't help but rise from her seat and exit the classroom, her footsteps echoing with the weight of her emotions.

The raindrops whispered their secrets on the pristine campus of Crestwood Heights, creating a serene ambiance that belied the turmoil within Minji's heart. She wandered through the picturesque landscape, her thoughts as turbulent as the gray sky above. The world seemed to hold its breath beneath the veil of rain.

As she turned a corner near the tranquil courtyard fountain, her eyes caught sight of a familiar face. It was the girl who had been in their classroom that peculiar day. A group of students sat by the fountain's edge, and among them sat Haerin, her dark hair cascading like a curtain of shadows.

Minji approached cautiously, a torrent of curiosity propelling her forward. Haerin, for all her aloofness, seemed a part of the group. Occasionally, she would interject with a comment or a fleeting smile, but her gaze always gravitated back to the soothing dance of water in the fountain.

Minji felt like an intruder, a shadowy figure lurking on the fringes of their world. The whispers of the group's conversation teased her ears, pulling her closer to the secrets they held. She inched closer, her senses sharpened by the urgency of her curiosity.

And then it happened – Haerin turned her enigmatic gaze directly toward Minji. Her eyes, orbs as deep as the abyss, seemed to pierce through Minji's very soul. A chill of apprehension coursed down Minji's spine, paralyzing her in place.

Caught in the act, Minji realized that Haerin had seen her. Panic welled up within her, and her heart pounded in her chest like a caged beast. She was vulnerable, exposed, and Haerin's gaze was unrelenting.

However, Haerin's attention shifted back to the group, and Minji seized the moment to disappear from view. She melted away from sight, like a phantom vanishing into the shadows, leaving no trace of her presence.

Back with the group, Haerin concealed her irritation behind a mask of practiced charm. She couldn't afford to let anyone suspect the true nature of her relationship with Minji. Her lips curved into a serene smile as she declared, "I must go now. I have... a meeting to attend to."