Minah's P.O.V.
Arriving at my house after work, I take out my key, unlock the door, and immediately bolt straight inside. Leaning my back against the wall as I dashed in, I then let my feet give me away; as I find myself collapsing on the ground with my hands covered over my mouth.
Minah.
He called me Minah.
The sudden rush of adrenaline jolted again as my heavy pants resonate through my ears, mind not knowing whether to feel excited or anxious.
"Minah."
I feel my face flush just at the reminiscence of his words, wanting so badly to hear them again.
I missed that name.
I sigh, arms coming around to hug my knees close to my chest. Sitting there, I close my eyes, calming myself from all the rush of energy that had bubbled inside me.
But my moment on the floor didn't last long, as soon I realised I currently have someone else now living in this house with me as well.
"Hwamin? Why are you on the ground?" I see my mom come out from the living room, eyes staring at me peculiarly. "You looked liked you just sprinted back home. What's the hurry?"
"Ah?" I come back to my senses, feet bringing myself to stand back up. "Oh, hi mom."
She tilts her hand, arms crossed as she doesn't move. The TV remote was still in her hand as she gently leans against the entrance frame, still peering at me suspiciously. "I would say hi back, but you didn't answer my question. Why are you all tired?"
"Eh?" I jump up a bit, only to realise how shallow my breathing still was.
I basically ran home today after work, riding on the leftover shock of what happened. I was planning to tell Jisung after I get to my room, but it seems like I've made someone else curious as well.
But the amount of explaining I'd have to do for mom was probably a bad idea enough in my mind, as my brain went over to choose the option of a lame excuse.
"Oh, uhhhh," I say, bending down on my feet to take my shoes off, and to avoid eye contact. "I just thought some exercise would do me good, that's all."
She gives me another pointed look, and I can tell she doesn't fully believe me.
Beginning to panic, I quickly change the topic before she could say anything else.
"W-well ahhh, anyways, have you eaten yet mom?" I ask, neatly placing my shoes to the side as I made my way inside. "It's kinda late, so I'm just making sure."
"I ordered take out. Too tired to cook after those stupid clients today." She replies, seeming to them have immediately drop the previous conversation, in which I mentally sigh in relief. "Do you want to eat with me? This drama I'm watching is really good, we can binge it together."
"Oh, no thanks, I'm going straight to bed tonight." I say, setting down my bag at the edge of the stairs as I take my phone out. The screen lights up, already showing a few new messages.
You have 2 unread messages from "Hyunjin's husband :D"
I giggle, tapping on the notification.
"MIN. My mom agreed with the dinner thing. When do you think you're free?" Jisung's text reads.
Seeing the sudden news, I smile. "What about Saturday?" I reply. "We'll go grocery shopping and get the stuff beforehand."
"Hey, I probably have enough stuff in my house to pull something together!" He says.
"Sure," unbeknownst to him, I playfully roll my eyes. "We could have instant noodles with some cookies on the side."
"....................................fine we can go grocery shopping first."
"Good. Will Hyunjin be there?" I ask.
"Well, probably. WiLl mInHo bE ThErE?"
"Don't mock me >:o."
"Try me >:)."
"Han Jisung, I'll tell your mother." I pout.
"Wait no I'm sorry," he suddenly says. I can almost hear his panicked tone from the text.
"Hehe~" I giggle, although he can't hear me currently. "Hey, the kid lives with you, remember?"
He pauses a bit before answering. "...Fair enough. Anyways, I'll see y'all Sunday, tell your mom I said hi."
I look towards my mom, who was currently staring at the TV , watching some random drama playing on the screen.
"Me too. See you then. And don't say y'all >:l."
"Sorry, y'all. Bye!!!1!!"
"...ByE."
I turn off my phone, gripping the device in my hand whilst grabbing my bag. "Hey mom, you told me you're free Saturday, right?"
"Yeah?" Pausing the episode with the remote, she turns her head to look at me from the couch. "Need something?"
"Jisung say's they're free on Saturday. Wanna go shopping for ingredients then?"
I see my moms face light up. "Yeah! Saturday is tomorrow, isn't it? I can't wait to see Seohwa again."
I smile. "Yeah, I'm off to work tomorrow, so I see you when I get home."
My mom nods, still beaming. "Sounds good," she changes the channel, going through about a dozen before being content again. "Oh, but work on a Saturday? That's unfortunate."
"I guess so," I shrug, not really caring. "I've worked on Saturdays before, though. My weeks used to be 6 days long."
"Tsk-tsk," she shakes her head. "You know, your employers really shouldn't be doing that. But if you're okay with it, I suppose it's fine."
"Mom, if I had a problem with it, I'd tell them."
"Would you really?"
I roll my eyes. "Yes, Mom."
She stares at me for a moment, slight concern in her eyes, before looking away again. "Will Jisung's boyfriend be there?"
I grin. "You'll have to ask Jisung. Or his mom, she'll probably know."
"Pfft, you think Jisung would really tell Seohwa about who he's dating?" She nearly starts laughing. "I like to think he'd be that open with her, but the teasing would just be unbearable."
"Y'know, you're probably right. I remember her doing that when we were little."
My mom laughs. "It sure sounds like her, alright. Hey, you look kind of tired. Is everything okay?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah, today has just been kinda crazy." I admit, kind of yawning.
"Ah! Go to bed, then! I don't want any tired kids at the meet-up tomorrow," suddenly she stands up, pulls me by the hand, and drags me to my room. "Sleep, Hwamin."
"Yeah, I will mom." I smile at her, turning the lights on as I walk in my room. "You should get some sleep too. Goodnight.
"Goodnight." She pats my head. "Sweet dreams." Closing the door, she gives me one last wave, before it shuts with a small thud.
I let out a small sigh, setting my bag down into the corner and putting my phone to charge.
"Ah, wait." Spinning around, I quickly walk over to my top dresser.
On top of it, sat a painting of a flower, the one I did with Minho. I carefully pick it up, hugging it close to my chest whilst closing my eyes.
As I do so, I softly smile, whispering a silent reassurance to myself.
Things will get better, Minah.
Tomorrow will be a sign of that, right?
___________________________
First chapter of 2020 :0 (even though it's just a small filler lol)
And also
I have a thing
Lemme show you something
Wait for it
As here, I feature
AL
The webtoon version :3
Coming out eventually
On March 25th, 3020 :]
See y'all then~