more than this | mark lee

19 - some things never change

Strokes and strokes, each came by after one. Her eyelids drooped, on the verge of closing. Her back slouched and hunched due to the terrible position she was in. The tiredness was real. Her eye bags looked 10 times heavier compared to last week.

The lack of sleep and the sudden burst hormones, all thanks to the stress she was getting from her final art project.

Sighing, she laid down on the ground, closing her eyes, hoping to catch a quick 5 minutes break before diving back into her work. It didn't help that fact that she was wearing a tank top. The contact of her bare skin with the cold tiles of her floor gave her chills.

But the chills were soon warmed by her fellow friend, Finn.

Seeing her mom laid down to his position, he slowly made his way towards her. Joining in on her resting time.

His black fur tickled her a little, but Jieun was quick to welcome him and held him close. Finn didn't waste anytime and immediately rolled up close to her.

It felt cosy, warm and safe.

This break was very much needed.

I know she goes around telling people how 'busy' she is with her work as an excuse to avoid people. But this time it was finals week. and well, everyone on campus was just as busy as her.

The pressure had obviously gotten to her, and her surrounding didn't make it any better.

Compared to the previous semester she had Seolla to accompany her while the two would grind for finals together. But ever since her best friend moved out, all she had was herself.

Of course, she could always call one of them over, but then she didn't want to feel like a burden.

Seolla was beyond happy when Haechan offered her to move out and live together. It would only be selfish of her to call her over.

Jay, on the other hand, had finally stopped his playboy antics and started to court Stella for real now. The two had been going on for a few weeks now, and she didn't want to ruin his momentum.

And as for Jake, he's a very family-oriented guy. A good boy who always has his family first. And Jieun didn't want to bother him whenever he's at his hometown.

Her friends were amazing people and they are very much perfect at being her best friends. They were always there for her, they always knew what to say and they never judge her for being her.

Whenever Jieun cried over a grade Jake was there to comfort her, telling her that they'll study together for the next term.

Whenever she needed a shopping partner Seolla was there to accompany her, even though the two were very much broke. And whenever she got drunk at a bar Jay would always come and pick her up to send her home.

Her friends did so much for her, and it got her thinking, was she enough for them? If only she could do the same, being an amazing person like they were.

Heaving a sigh, she opened her eyes and sat up straight. Her sudden movement startled the cat, to which she quickly apologised and cooed him, giving him kisses and grooming him.

Her attention was quickly drawn to her phone alarm that went off.

it's already 7 huh? dinner time.

Living alone wasn't an easy task, and when Seolla moved out. She had no one to remind her of the time. Which led her to set many alarms for each different occasion - 3 so that she doesn't skip her meals which was breakfast, lunch and dinner, 2 to feed Finn and another one for bedtime.