The Storm and the Sea (A MiChaeng Fanfic)

Chapter 21: Mina

Trigger warning: This chapter deals with the topic of suicide. If you're not comfortable, please read with caution or just move on to the next chapter.

The excitement between the storm and sea is put to a halt, as faint rays of sunlight streak through the dark clouds.

***

What just happened?

I've been asking myself the same thing, as if I was in a cave echoing the question, for the past two hours and forty minutes.

What just happened?

There I was, just an inch away from confessing my feelings, our bodies practically melded together. Just two more words to complete my sentence, then Somi shows up—reminding me of my place in this entire narrative. A friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

My toes curl against the sand, just to indicate any amount of movement despite staring at the bonfire, while Jihyo and Dahyun are dead asleep.

"What happened to these two?" Carl asks, handing over a bottle of apple-flavored beer.

"Well, you have an idea of how much they drank." I turn to him, tucking my knees in. "So...how does it feel to be married?"

"Well, apart from the ceremonies and the rings on our fingers, nothing much has changed. I've lived with Suh-yeon for years anyway," he confesses.

Indeed, for them, marriage is probably just a means to an end. It's all semantics, after all.

"How'd you know that it's Suh-yeon? I mean, straight from college, right?"

Carl scoots closer. Against the fire, the blonde hair on his forearms seem like golden threads weaving out of his skin. "I can trust you, right?"

I scoff. "What's with this seriousness all of a sudden?"

He takes off his dress watch and turns his left arm over. Oh my God. Seeing the scar was more than enough of an explanation. I had no idea there's this layer to him. I'm not sure if I should be flattered that he'd expose something like this on his wedding night, of all events.

"I don't want to say that this is purely the reason but, Suh-yeon saved me, y'know? When we first met, I was this art student who can't get anything right. Failed every class. I didn't want to face my parents with the shame, not when I went tooth and nail for their permission to go to art school," Carl shares.

God, now it makes sense. I've always wondered why he perpetually wore an accessory on his left wrist.

"Luckily, Suh-yeon was about to sneak a cigarette break on top of the building where I was on the verge of bleeding to death. And she was also the first person I saw when I woke up at the hospital.

At first, I kept saying that she's not obliged to take care of me like I'm some charity case. But that's the thing about her: Despite the naturally sunny disposition that made everyone adore her, she still never made me feel alone in the country where I was born and raised. That's it—I just found someone that I want to be with. It's that simple."

"Cheers to that. I wish you both the best of luck—I mean it," I say, raising my bottle.

"By the way," Carl adds, pulling something out of his pocket. A keycard with the number 2004 on it. "Some of the guests didn't plan on staying, so you can just sleep in their room."

I sigh. "And here I was—thinking about how to get home. Thanks. Now go be with Suh-yeon, jeez."

Reflecting on Carl's story, I stare into the crackling flames in front of me. Behind it, just by the shore, I see MiChaeng—the real "Mi" not me—taking a stroll, holding hands. Congrats Mina, you played yourself...like a fool.

Of course Chaeyoung would rush over to Somi. Ever since I met her, she's been longing to be with Somi...let alone have the time to converse with her. And now she has both of it.

I wonder what they're talking about. Given the state Somi saw us in, I expected her to at least throw a bottle at me. But no. Instead, we even shook hands. From what I could make out, both of them have neutral expressions. Just walking at a glacial pace.

Just to be fair, Somi's a real looker. Tall, slender, and she got both of what's best in being East Asian and Caucasian in terms of facial features. Like, even if I wanted to, there's no fault to be found on her—unless if you consider her looks to be unrealistic.

From the start, Mina...you should have known better. Early on, you knew the fact that Chaeyoung has a girlfriend, yet you had the audacity to think it's possible for her to love you instead.

I don't feel like crying or leaving. It just feels...empty being me right now. Part of me feels like, sooner or later, someone would catch us anyway.

Well, here's to my ongoing saga with women. "Cheers," I mutter, raising my bottle to the fire.

***

My consciousness kicks in with Dahyun and Jihyo pulling me by the ankle. If they weren't my colleagues, I'd probably greet them both with a kick.

"C'mon, there's only an hour before the breakfast buffet ends," Dahyun cries out, gritting her teeth.

"Now the wedding's over, we don't have to worry about overeating," Jihyo laughs as she attempts to graze her fingernails against my sole.

Like an old foldable chair, I groan as I rise. Even with the white curtains, the sunlight presses against my puffy eyes. Why are you guys making me leave the satin sheets?!

Being a Sunday, on an island resort, is like being at a mall on a clearance sale—too much people for comfort.

Thankfully, we still manage to gather enough food for three trips to the buffet line.

Now, the only problem is finding a table. Seeing that people are either biding their time with their meals or beating the buzzer like us, the dining hall is out of the question. I guess we'll have to try our luck at the patio.

As soon as Jihyo steps out, her face lights up to the left side.

"Aigoo thank goodness you're here," she beams.

Oh God, no. Please be someone else than the people I'm expecting.

Aaaand, of course, it's Chaeyoung and Somi. For a split second, the plate feels heavier and I almost drop it.

As if that's not enough, the only vacant seat left is in front of Somi. Another "win" for Mina.

***

One thing I'm envious about Jihyo and Dahyun is their ability to make everyone feel included, especially new people in a social setting. I try from time to time but, big surprise, people find me intimidating.

So that's what they've been doing for the past twenty-two minutes—bombarding Somi with questions about her job and life in Canada, as if we're in a friendly version of an immigrations interview.

In true Mina fashion, I try to steal glances at the couple in front of us and observe their dynamics. Chaeyoung still leads the discussion in terms of lively responses. Somi, with a perpetually polite smile on her, keeps her answers low and short.

"Excuse me," Jihyo says whipping out her phone for a short text message and goes back to the interrogation with a wide smile.

Seconds later, my phone lightly buzzes. "Wow, it's like talking to you," Jihyo's message reads.

For the majority of breakfast, I just enjoy the cheese and cold cuts quietly—not a word said to Chaeyoung.