If you were a bug?

Two Steps Forward And Three Steps Back

Haerin stayed in her bed for the rest of the week, too afraid to go out and get attacked again. She thought Danielle was different, she really thought she was kind and forgiving. She broke the promise they made, to always be happy, healthy, and kind. Every once and a while, Haerin would think of what happened and would start to cry. How could someone hate a person so much but still love and adore them at the same time? She shouldn't have trusted Marsh so easily with her emotions. They were already fragile enough, but she was glad that at least Minji had been there.

The reason they even met was because of bullies in their highschool. They shoved Haerin to the floor, threw her bag into a fountain, kicking her relentlessly until she vomited or until they got bored. Minji arrived in the second month after school began and Haerin felt saved. Kim had no hesitation to fight back and take the hits for Haerin, which she admired. Minji was very popular, but she never cared about that. The two didn't care about what others had rumored behind their backs. As long as they had each other, they would be okay.

Now it was no different as Minji checks on Haerin between classes, if that meant changing her bandages or just checking in on her thoughts. The weekend arrived and it felt just like any other day, changing bandages, talking, eating, resting, and being caught up with work. Minji decided to call Hyein and Hanni over so the four of them could hang out, which the two were quick to do.

Minji shut the door behind her as she trailed the girls who walked to the living room, all of their eyes focused on Haerin. "Stop looking at me."

"Sorry." Hanni replied, sitting down on the couch next to Haerin.

The group sat in a long silence until finally Hanni decided to bring up the topic everybody's minds were distracted by. "How do you all feel about it? Y'know," She paused, the words almost too painful to say. "about Dani."

"I think that she was bad in the first place." Haerin spoke, the lies and denial staining her tongue. Her eyes were glossy as she stayed focused on the glass table in front of her. "If she were the person we were imagining her to be, she wouldn't have done anything like this."

"I think that's a bit far–" Hanni began, quickly cut off by Minji.

"FUCK THAT-" She took a deep breath, "Did you see her then? She didn't care about Haerin." Minji showed nothing but blind rage.

"There must be a reason." Hanni argued as she stood up to turn to the ones on the couch. "Look, I got a message that had a location and time so we can see her. She can explain everything to us."

Hyein glanced at Hanni and then the other two, her expression sad and conflicted. "I want to see Dani. Her heart still beats, so there must be something we can do." Hyein gets up, standing next to Hanni as if she were picking sides.

Minji and Haerin stayed silent, their eyes lost in violence (in Minji's case) and thought (in Haerin's case). "Go." Minji spoke, pushing herself off the couch as she let out an aggravated sigh. "GO! Be with her if you want but we won't be joining you."

Hyein stood in front of Hanni protectively even though her body still feared what Minji might do. Hanni grabbed Hyein and rushed them out of the dorm. Quiet sobs left Hanni's mouth as she tried desperately to swallow them down. Her face dripped with tears that were wiped away with hands that couldn't keep up.

"Hanni." Hyein spoke softly as the two sat down in the hallway. "How do you feel about all of this?"

"I want to believe there's a reason Dani did what she did. But it feels so wrong. Just last month we were best friends." Hanni hiccuped as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I learned a lot about Minji and I know that her anger is dangerous. I'm afraid of what she might do to herself and what she might do to Danielle."