The Storm and the Sea (A MiChaeng Fanfic)

Chapter 19: Chaeyoung

Being aware of its own nature, the storm reproached the way it played with the sea. But it's too late-the storm already saw the abyss and lifted the waves.

***

Mina twirls in front of her mirror with the cornflower gown. "Are you sure this is the one I should go with? Doesn't it make me look old?"

I keep squishing my cheeks, still processing what just happened outside her room a while back. Me, closing my eyes as she held my face...were we about to kiss?! Furthermore, do I want us to?

"Hey," Mina snaps her fingers in front of me, her soft voice now louder. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, sorry. That's right, go with that one."

Mina runs her hands through the gown. "I dunno, it's kind of plain, isn't it?"

Sheesh, there she goes underestimating herself. "You know, with the way you look, you could use a trash bag for a dress and I'd still say you're the prettiest there," I mutter, resuming rubbing my palms against my cheeks.

"What...?"

I look up at her and realize the gravity of what I just said. "Omo! I-I mean...uh, just let me get my accessories so we can finalize your look!"

Mina hums as I rush out of her apartment. Keep it together, Son Chaeyoung!

***

"Sorry, I had to find a bigger box."

Mina chuckles, rummaging through my box of trinkets. "Chaeyoung-ah, I assumed you owned a lot of accessories, but this is...wow."

Seeing her delicate fingers swimming through an assortment of gold and silver presents an urge to meddle, with the hope of our hands intertwining and staying that way. The cliché thought scrunches my face immediately. What the hell is wrong with me?!

Judging from Mina's picks, it seems that she needs a lot of work on accessorizing herself.

"You need to pick something that provides contrast with your dress-something more outlandish. Try these," I suggest, pulling out a gold necklace with a little ruby pendant, a gold double T cuff bracelet with diamond beads, white gold climber earrings with ruby strawberries. I position her again in front of the mirror and place the necklace around her. The sunlight from her window reveals light, soft hair from her nape down to the base of her spine.

I wonder how she'd feel if I graze my lips and the tip of my tongue against it. Would the hairs on her body stand on end, showing goosebumps on the shoulders I have my hands on? Fuck, get a grip! Now's not the time to think of pleasuring a woman, let alone your...friend.

"I'll do it," Mina sighs, reaching for the latch of the necklace on her nape.

As I observe her flawless armpits on the mirror, I ponder: When did this start? Granted, I found her pretty from the get-go, but when did I start getting these thoughts about Mina? Was it because of all the times we shared in this apartment? The office? Maybe that's what it is-The Proximity Theory.

Weirdly, thinking about Somi in all of these comes last. Should I just end things with her and tell Mina how I feel? Fuck, I'm such a mess right now!

"Ow," Mina softly cries as I put the earring on her earlobe. "Take it easy, Chaeyoung-ah."

"Sorry."

"Are you sure you're okay?" She faces me again, planting the back of her hand against my forehead and neck.

I withdraw from her touch and nod. "Yeah, I just have to have breakfast, I guess." It's a valid excuse, since it's already 11 a.m.

Mina clicks her tongue as she pats my head. "Aigoo, I'll whip up something. Wait," she says.

"No need. Umma's cooked something earlier. I'll just have that." I can't have Mina confusing me any further with her kindness towards me. It's as if I'm not being unfaithful enough to Somi.

***

Come on, pick up. Please.

It's the same automated message again. Either my calls aren't getting through, or Somi can't even be bothered to answer me. Is she really making me pay for leaving her back in Toronto?

I pull out the collages we both made for our first anniversary to remind myself of my place: in a long-distance relationship with a very pretty girl who loves me (How sure are you, Chaeyoung?), not someone pining for her childhood friend's ex.

No matter how much I look back at the very vivid memories associated with these images, my thoughts circle back to Mina-despite most of it being mundane and platonic.

"Oh, you shouldn't have," Umma exclaims from the living room. "Honey, Minari's here!"

Don't project your relationship (or lack thereof) on Mina. Poor thing's been through so much with Jeongyeon and her friends.

As soon as I step out of my room, I see Mina fully made up-she even curled her hair into waves. Just when I said not to project the void onto her, she announces herself like this?

"I brought some of the sweets my parents sent me," she exclaims as Umma starts to unpeel a Cheesecake KitKat.

"You're right-the ones you picked out turned to be better," she giggles, showing that gummy smile once more.

"Omo, you look like a goddess," my mother comments while munching. Thanks, Umma-you took the exact words right out of my mouth.

If there's an expression to depict how I'm viewing Mina right now, it would be similar to those cartoon characters whose eyes pop out as their jaws drop.

"By the way, my trip got cancelled. You can bring the car to the wedding," Umma shares. "Why don't you go with Minari?" she suggests. Umma! If you only knew what I'm going through right now. The thought of me being alone in a car with Mina sends me reeling.

"But I have to be there by tomorrow-for the rehearsals," I say. "Unless you're willing to book a room overnight, Minari..."

"It's like you always tell me..." she mutters with a smile that causes her eyes to glimmer.

"...'Just say yes.'"