Behind the Mask

Encounter

Mina slowly moved her right hand towards Chaeyoung's left hand. When her pinky finally touched Chaeyoung's pinky finger, they intertwined them. Mina moved closer and leaned her head on Chaeyoung's shoulder.

"Chaeyoungie?"

"Hm?" Chaeyoung asked in a soft voice.

Mina: "Do you still remember how we first met?"

Chaeng: "Of course, I wouldn't forget that. That was the best thing that happened to me that day."

Chaeng: "That was the same day when I saw my dad and Somi's mom talking. I was really angry about everything. I skipped my next classes and wandered every street. I was like a stray cat, feeling lost but not wanting to cry. Then I was brought by my feet to an alley where I saw you with two other guys. One guy holding your arms at your back and the other grasping your cheeks. I wasn't really planning on minding your business."

Mina: "But you came."

Chaeyoung hissed.

Chaeng: "Yeah, that's because you were really cool back then. Your face was swollen and you got bruises on your arms but you seemed so unbothered. I was really scared to meddle but the guy in front of you, the one holding your face, slapped you hard that it sounded so loud. I ended up unconsciously walking towards you, I wanted to stop them but I don't know how."

Mina: "Right! You were like..."
" E-excuse me b-but you s-shouldn't hit a girl." Mina said with a trembling low voice, trying to reenact the past event. "You were really cute tho."

Chaeng: "But instead of frightening those jerks, they laughed at me and great I became the centre of their bullying instead." Chaeyoung said.

Mina: "That's when I pretended to be on call with the emergency hotline."

"Hello 911, I'd like to report bullying... Yes... Alley 8 ---"

Chaeyoung: "Before you could even finish your sentence, the two immediately run. But I really thought the call was real."

Mina: "Then you grabbed my left hand and dragged me out of the alley. You were like..."

"Are you alright? Ahhh why am I even asking when obviously you're not."

Mina: "You were really worried about me when you don't know me at that time. You suddenly dragged me to the nearest convenience store. You bought an ice bag and ice to apply on my bruises."

Chaeng: "I kept on asking you things but you never answered. I was the only one talking and you were just staring blankly. Then suddenly you spoke up."

"Let's make your AWOL worthy."

Chaeng: "I was really confused about what you meant but you stood up and offered your hand and you said..."

"Would you mind going somewhere with me?"

Chaeng: "That was our first time going here together and it comforted me from the pain and anger I'm feeling towards my dad and Somi's mom that time."

Mina: "But I recently found out that that was not the first time we met."

"Eh?!" Chaeyoung exclaimed in confusion which made Mina nod.

Mina: "I found a penguin pendant with minguin engraved on it in your room."

"Wait... What do you mean, Minari?"

"Well... I'm not sure if you remember it 'cause you were too young but I gave you that necklace."

Confusion was written all over Chaeyoung's face as she tries to remember how she got the necklace that Mina is referring to.

"Did you really gave it to me? Ahhh I really can't remember it." Chaeyoung asked while her eyebrows are frowning out of confusion.

Mina: "That day, I just turned 9 and my mom told my nanny to accompany me to the park while she's preparing for my birthday's celebration. I didn't like the idea but my mom insisted. Upon arriving at the park, my nanny saw a friend of hers so she went towards her to have some chit chat together. No one wanted to play with me so I went under a tall tree at the corner of the park watching other kids play together. Then a little kid approached me."

"Unnie!"

Mina: "You said happily tho I don't know you that time so I ignored you but you pulled the hem of my shirt."

"Unnie!"

Mina: "You repeatedly called me unnie, you didn't stop calling me until I finally gave you my attention."

"Do you like the brown one or the pink one?"

Mina: "You asked me. I don't know how to react, I'm not fond of having someone around but surprisingly, I felt comfortable with your presence. Ahhh you were really small that time. Now that I remember it you were really cute, you were so innocent."

"Which color did you choose, Minari?"

"Pink."

Mina: "You were hesitant. You were thinking deeply looking at two lollipops you were holding."

"But I love pink lollipops..."

Mina: "You handed me the pink lollipop."

"Unnie! Can you peel that off for me?"

Mina: "Then you handed me another lollipop, the brown one."

"And this one is for you."

Mina: "You were talking to me about random things. You told me about your toys and your classmates and anything that comes to your mind. But something caught your attention, you looked at my neck. You literally stared at my neck."

"Unnie is that a penguin?"

Mina: "You asked me pointing at my pendant."

"I also have a penguin toy. We sleep together every night. She also watches me while I bathe but she can't get wet. It would be hard to dry her."

Mina: "To make the story short, I gave you my pendant because of your fondness for the penguins."