FALLING IN LOVE

CHAPTER 33

MINA'S POV

Things began to progress very smoothly after the whole Elkie episode was over. The whole gang was back together, Tzuyu and Dahyun were talking again and my relationship with Chaeyoung was stronger than ever, at least I thought so.

Nothing, however could have prepared either of us for what happened next.
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I woke up with a terrible feeling in my stomach. While I prepared for school, I just couldn't shake off the feeling that something bad was about to happen.

After I got dressed, I went downstairs for breakfast to find my mom and dad whispering in the kitchen.

"Morning mom. Morning dad", I greeted. They jumped like they'd been caught in the act.

"Oh hey sweetheart!", My mom chirped. I stared at her suspiciously. That was a little bit too happy.

"What's going on?", I asked, looking between both of them.

"Nothing, sweetheart. Just go ahead and eat", My dad sighed, not meeting my eyes.

"Okay. Now I know something's up. Both of you only come me 'sweetheart' when you're hiding something".

"That's absurd", My mom objected.

"Spill it, mom. What is it?".

She and my dad exchanged long looks before fixing me with a sad one. My mom walked towards me and caressed my cheek before she dropped the bomb.

"Mina, Grandma passed away", I stared at her in point blank shock, unable to digest what I just heard.

My mind whirled back to the last time I saw her which was pretty much yesterday and no, it wasn't true. It couldn't be possible. It wasn't possible!.

"Mom", I chuckled.

"That's a funny joke. It is a joke right?".

"Mina honey, I'm really sorry to tell you this but it's not a joke. Grandma, she...She had a heart attack during the night. By the time, they got to the hospital, it was too late. She was gone".

My mind was whirling and I had to grab something behind me for support. Grandma. Heart attack. Gone.

It didn't feel real. I literally just saw her yesterday. How did someone just. Oh my gosh! Chaeyoung!.

Pushing aside my own heartbreak and sorrow, I rushed out of the house and ran over to Chaeyoung's. Without bothering to knock, I barged in.

The house felt empty and was mostly quiet except that the TV was on. The channels were also constantly being changed.

I stepped into the living room to find Momo lying on the chair, flipping through the channels with the remote. I sat on the chair beside her.

"Oh hey Mina", She said looking up at me.

"Hey Momo. Where is everybody?", I asked, struggling to keep my voice from breaking.

"Well Mom and Dad are at the hospital, Chaeyoung's up in his room and I'm here", She smiled sadly.

She went back to flipping through the channels while I twiddled with my fingers nervously.

"So how're you holding up?".

"Okay I guess. I knew this day would come so you know life goes on", This she said without looking at me.

Still I could see her lips quiver and the pain she tried not to show flicker in her eyes.

"Momo, do you want a hug?".

"No Mina. I told you I'm fine", She answered, her voice low.

"Well I want a hug so", I spread my hands out. She looked at me without saying anything and I could see the longing in her eyes.

"Fine", She sighed, sitting up and leaning in. I wrapped my arms around her.

"Just tell whenever you want to let go", She didn't say anything in response, she didn't move and didn't seem to react.

We stayed in that same position for a while and then I heard a sniffle and then another and soon Momo was sobbing softly into my chest.

"Why did she have to go like this? I-I miss her so much".

I felt the tears pooling in my eyes but I blinked then away, focusing instead on comforting Momo.

"Of course you do Momo and I do too but things like this, well, they're a part of life and they have to happen sometimes".

"Well, life sucks".

"It does, doesn't it? I just want you to remember Momo, take as much time as you need to grieve. Don't try and deny yourself the time to grieve. It's natural after going through something like this and denying it will only make things worse. That's the only way you can get better".

"Thanks Mina. Thanks a lot", She breathed, wrapping her arms around me.

Neither of us moved for a few minutes before Momo finally pulled away.

"You should go up there".

"You sure you're gonna be okay?".

"Yeah I'm sure. He needs you".

"You're amazing Momo and you'll get through this, I promise", I squeezed her hand a little to which she smiled before letting go.

I stood and made my way up the stairs in the direction of Chaeyoung's room.

Soon, I found myself standing in front of Chaeyoung's room. I could only imagine what he was going through.

He loved Grandma and it was anyone's guess how much her death would affect him. Would I be able to comfort him?.

Eventually, I summoned the courage to knock on the door. No response came.

I sighed and chalked up the lack of response to my feeble knock and knocked again, thus time slightly harder. No response came again.

"Chaeyoung, it's me Mina. We need to talk. Please, let me in", I said while knocking.

I stood back, hoping Chaeyoung would listen to my plea and open the door. Instead a note was slipped under the door. I saw it and picked it up. It simply read.

"MINA, I CAN'T SEE YOU, AT LEAST NOT NOW. PLEASE UNDERSTAND".

I heaved a sigh after reading the content of the note.

It was so obvious that he was in so much pain and I wanted nothing more than to comfort him and be with him in this painful time but it wasn't looking like that would be possible.

"Chaeyoung, all I want is to be with you. That's all that matters to me but I understand if you don't want to see me now. I'll leave now and come back after school, okay?".

I got no response and after waiting for about five minutes, I gave up and left with an aching heart.

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A/N: Sorry if there were typos and grammatical errors.