The Untold

Chapter 38

So that's it? Mina's gone?

Chaeyoung didn't need to voice it out. Dahyun and Tzuyu read her expression with no effort.

"I mean go back the house." Dahyun clarified. "Her boss asked her to send a report that's why she asked us to pick you up."

"So erase that sadness in your face, shorty." Tzuyu laughed, "You'd still see Mina when you go home."

Chaeyoung's mind contemplate whether to focus on the relief she's feeling that she misunderstood what Dahyun said or if she'd focus on the fact that Tzuyu just called her shorty.

"Yah! Careful with your words, Tzuyu-ah!" Dahyun protested.

"Oops. My bad." Tzuyu said putting her hand on her mouth. "Sorry shorty number 2."

"Yaaaaah!!!!!!"

Chaeyoung just watched her friends banter with each other. She's still recovering from the fear she just felt a while back despite feeling it for only some seconds.

The girls decided to stop by a diner and have a snack before driving Chaeyoung back to Mina's house.

"Sorry, we can't come inside with you." Dahyun apologised, "Momo needs my help with something."

"It's okay, Dahyunie." Chaeyoung smiled, "Thanks again for fetching me. Take care on your way home."

"Bye, Chaeng Chaeng." Tzuyu and Dahyun waved as the shorter girl walked through the gate.

When Chaeyoung got inside the house, she instantly looked for Mina and was relieved when she saw the latter's things are still on the room. Her laptop is closed on top of the dining table and there's some papers neatly arranged beside it. But Mina was no where to be found.

Chaeyoung then decided to go to the backyard and there she sees the older girl sitting on the bench.

"Hi." Chaeyoung greeted as she walks closer to Mina. "What are you doing here?"

The older girl gave Chaeyoung a warm smile. That one that says, 'oh, thank God, you're home'.

To Chaeyoung, Mina looks like she's been sitting here for a while and she knows something is running on the latter's mind.

"Nothing." Mina smiled, "Just want some fresh air."

"Hmmm." Chaeyoung hummed, sitting beside Mina. "Are you done with the emergency on your work?"

"Yeah. Sorry I wasn't able to pick you up."

"Don't apologise." Chaeyoung cuts her off, "I can handle going home, don't worry about me."

And Mina wish she could. She wish she can just stop caring and worrying about Chaeyoung but she can't. Her boss actually called her to report on work. Back in Japan. Without second thought, she told her boss she couldn't.

She can't leave Chaeyoung behind. Though the latter is doing better, Mina, she can't leave her again so with the ultimatum her boss gave her about going back in Japan or resigning from work, she chose the latter.

"I know." Mina nodded. She then looked at Chaeyoung, staight in the face and smile, "Tell me about your day, Chaeng. How's your therapy with Seulgi?"

That smile put Chaeyoung's mind at rest. For a moment she had a mental block like nothing is registering on her brain than Mina's smile.

"I've made some progress." Chaeyoung said proudly.

"What? You just know that?" Mina laughed, then lightly nudged the girl's side. "You always does, makes progress, Chaeng. Right from the very start. So what is it about this time?"

"Seulgi made me see and hear shattering glasses." Chaeyoung responded.

Mina can't help but be shocked by what she heard. But the calmness in Chaeyoung's face made her feel that what Seulgi did was a good thing.

"It wasn't easy at first.. Whenever I heard glasses shattering I feel this nostalgic feeling of being somewhere small, so small that I can't move." Chaeyoung explained, "And it's suffocating and scary because I can't do anything like my body is paralysed."

It is the first time Chaeyoung opened up about what she feels and Mina don't have a word to say so instead of doing such, she just looked at Chaeyoung and listened to her.

"But today I managed to endure it, and get out of that tiny place." Chaeyoung added. "I was able to breathe."

Mina gave her a proud and warm smile and for Chaeyoung that is enough. She don't need the taller girl to say a thing. She just want to explain what she feels and she just wanted Mina to listen. And that's what the latter did.

"I think we should celebrate it with an ice cream, yeah?" Mina smiled, "Or pizza. Whatever you want."

"Hmm. What about go out with me?" Chaeyoung suggested, the words she have on mind didn't actually came out right. And Mina was too stunned to speak.

"I mean, Seulgi asked me to ask you go to somewhere tomorrow." Chaeyoung rambled, "This place where we can smash things, she said it's important that I test it with the real thing and she wants me to ask you so you can see my improvement. But you know if you're busy it's okay."

"Hey breathe." Mina chuckled. "I'll go with you tomorrow."

"Oh." Chaeyoung smiled. She didn't know it would be this easy. She didn't know that when it comes to her, Mina would do everything in a heart beat. "Then I guess you should tell her that we're in for tomorrow."

"Hmm. How about you tell it to her yourself?" Mina raised a brow as she reached for her pocket. "Here. I bought this for you."

Chaeyoung looked at the phone on Mina's hand. It's brand new.

"Please accept it?" Mina said quietly while Chaeyoung is looking at her as if the latter is saying why. "Think of it as a gift for the improvement. Don't you dare say no."

In reality, this is not a gift. She have bought this phone since the day she went out to the mall with Lisa to return the taller girl's beanie. She bought the phone because she can't stop worrying about Chaeyoung when she's away.

"But. You don't have to buy me a phone."

"Chaeng, just accept it." Mina said, "There are times when we need to go somewhere alone or with our friends, like that time you went to Nayeon's. Atleast now you we can contact each other when we're away. Don't worry this doesn't cost much."

And like what she said, Mina wouldn't accept no as an answer so Chaeyoung get the phone from her hands and mouthed 'thank you'.  Which Mina returned by a satisfied smile.

They sit in silence. Staring at each other when the other one is not looking. Both have something common in mind.

"What are you thinking, Minari?" the shorter girl asked, when Mina stopped at staring in the orange sky.

Mina was pulled by Chaeyoung's warm brown eyes. What am I thinking? Something dangerous. Something I might regret.

Chaeyoung, like Mina, was lost in the latter's eyes.

No one is saying anything. Atleast not outloud.

Mina wonders if Chaeyoung hear her emotions at this point, at this moment where they are both taken away by each other's gaze. She wonders if Chaeyoung know what she's thinking when she's not talking.

And Chaeyoung just let herself be swayed by the beauty in front of her.

They both have the same thought right now.

I want to kiss you. Mina wishes she can say it outloud.

And Chaeyoung wants to kiss her. But she wonders,

Would you taste my fears if I kiss you?

They both have the same thing in mind. That is to feel the softness of each other's lips. But both of them also have the same thing in their hearts.

And that is fear.