The Silent Canvas (Catnipz)

|| 6 ||

Minji's mind remained a blur as she walked through the empty hallways after the final bell. The sounds of students chatting and gathering their things seemed distant, as though muffled by the chaos inside her head. She had hardly been able to focus on anything all day, her thoughts constantly circling back to Hanni's words and Haerin's absence.

Her footsteps slowed when she passed the art studio, the familiar hum of the room seeping through the cracks of the door. It was then that something caught her eye. She glanced through the window and saw a figure inside, hunched over a table. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized who it was; Haerin.

Minji stood frozen for a moment, staring through the window. Haerin's back was to her, her head slightly bowed as she worked on something, the soft glow of the studio lights casting a quiet, intimate atmosphere around her. Minji felt a sudden pull in her chest, a mix of longing and uncertainty that made her hesitate.

It was as if Haerin had always been a constant, a quiet presence in her life, and now that she was standing outside, separated by a thin pane of glass, Minji was painfully aware of the distance between them.

She could feel the weight of everything, the conversation with Hanni, the unspoken words with Haerin, pressing down on her shoulders. It was overwhelming, and yet, there was something about Haerin's presence that calmed the storm in Minji's mind.

Without thinking, Minji pushed open the door to the art studio, the cool air inside immediately filling her senses. She took a slow, tentative step forward, unsure of what she was going to say or even if she should say anything at all.

Minji's gaze lingered on Haerin for a moment as she quietly worked, her hands moving with practiced ease over the paper in front of her. The silence in the room felt comfortable, a contrast to the storm in Minji's head. Haerin's focus was entirely on her work, her expression soft and peaceful, and Minji couldn't help but feel drawn to the way she seemed to exist so effortlessly in the world around her, a calm center amidst all the chaos Minji had been experiencing.

As Minji watched, she took another step forward, but before she could think further, Haerin suddenly turned around, not realizing Minji had entered the room. The sudden movement caught them both off guard, and Minji instinctively reached out, her hands grasping Haerin's shoulders to steady her.

In the next heartbeat, Haerin collided into Minji's chest. The impact startled both of them, but Minji's grip tightened, catching Haerin before she could lose her balance completely. Haerin froze for a moment, clearly startled, her wide eyes meeting Minji's.

Minji signed an apology to Haerin, her hands moving with practiced gestures. "I'm sorry for startling you," she signed, her face soft with concern. But Haerin quickly shook her head, her expression reassuring. The gesture was simple, nothing to worry about, her eyes seemed to say.

Minji paused for a moment, watching Haerin's response, before she signed again, this time curious. "What are you working on?" she asked, her fingers moving fluidly in the air.

Haerin glanced down at her work, then back at Minji. She smiled faintly, almost shyly, and gestured to the drawing in front of her. It was a sketch, intricate and detailed, of what looked like a landscape. There were soft curves of rolling hills, a winding path through them, and a small house sitting at the edge of the scene. The way Haerin's hand moved with such precision showed how much care she put into her art.

Minji leaned in slightly, intrigued by the drawing, her eyes tracing the lines Haerin had carefully drawn. It was beautiful, simple, yet full of emotion. Haerin's art was always like that; quiet, yet filled with stories.

Minji's hands moved gracefully as she signed, "It's beautiful," her fingers gently forming the words.

Haerin's face softened at the compliment, a small but genuine smile forming on her lips. She tilted her head slightly, acknowledging Minji's words with a nod before returning to her drawing. There was something calming about the way Haerin worked, something peaceful in her focused movements.

Minji stood there for a moment, watching her, a gentle silence settling between them. She felt a pull in her chest, a mixture of emotions she couldn't quite sort out—regret, longing, and perhaps even something more.

Minji was lost in her thoughts, still trying to process everything, when Haerin suddenly turned around. There was a brief moment of hesitation before Haerin signed to her, her eyes searching Minji's face with a subtle curiosity.

Minji's eyes widened slightly as she took in the question. Haerin's expression was neutral, but Minji could see the quiet concern in her gaze, a silent understanding of how much weight certain words could carry.

Haerin's hands moved fluidly, asking, "Who was the girl you were with at lunch? You seemed close."

Minji's hands moved quickly, signing back, "An old friend," her fingers conveying the simplicity of the truth, even though the meaning felt more complex inside her.

Haerin nodded, her expression softening slightly, as if satisfied with the answer. There was no judgment in her gaze, only quiet acceptance, and it gave Minji a small sense of relief. She wasn't sure why she felt so nervous answering such a simple question, but Haerin's calm presence helped settle her thoughts.

The silence that followed was peaceful but heavy, as though the brief exchange had opened up a space between them that neither of them quite knew how to fill.

Minji's heart warmed at Haerin's gesture as she signed, "Thank you for walking me home yesterday." The words felt simple but meaningful, and Minji could see the sincerity in Haerin's eyes as she gave a soft smile, clearly appreciative of the kindness Minji had shown.

Minji signed back, her hands slow but gentle, "It was nothing. I wanted to."

There was a pause before Haerin nodded again, her smile lingering for just a moment longer. It was a quiet exchange, but in that simple act of gratitude, Minji felt a deeper connection to Haerin than ever before. The world outside, with all its chaos and confusion, seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in the peaceful silence of the room.

Minji lingered there for a moment longer, not ready to leave, as if the moment was something she didn't want to break. But, eventually, she knew it was time to go, to return to the outside world, even though she would much rather stay by Haerin's side.

Minji's smile softened as she signed to Haerin, "I should go now," her fingers moving slowly, the gesture both gentle and warm. She gave Haerin a light ruffle on the head, her fingers brushing through Haerin's hair as she did. The touch was casual, but it carried a kind of tenderness that Minji wasn't sure she had shown before.

Haerin blushed, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink at the playful gesture. She quickly brushed her hair back, a shy smile tugging at the corner of her lips, but she didn't speak, she didn't need to. The warmth between them, the shared moment of quiet understanding, spoke volumes.

Minji lingered for a second, her gaze softening before she turned toward the door. With one last glance back at Haerin, she left the room, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the silence that remained. Haerin stood there for a moment longer, her fingers lightly touching the spot where Minji had ruffled her hair, still blushing, the small exchange lingering in her thoughts.