∆ Within Spirit || ChaeDa [ © Listerinee ]

07

"So? How was it yesterday? Did you find her?" Hikaru leaned over the table, eager to hear Dayeon's answer.

"No," Dayeon lied with ease, "I guess I'm not too worried about it anymore though." Dayeon let her drink swirl in the cup. Hikaru fell back in her seat, fairly disappointed. She pouted. Maybe she should've tagged along with Dayeon.

"Aw. So what's caught your attention, since you're apparently not worried about it anymore." Hikaru asked in a rather teasing manner.

"..What do you mean by that?" Dayeon knew where this was going, but she asked just to be certain.

"You know what I mean.. Did you get a girlfriend yet?" Hikaru's fingers tapped on the table, excited.

"Oh my god.. You ask me that everyday." Dayeon groaned out of annoyance and sighed. The Japanese laughed, full of amusement.

"Okay, I'll let you go this time. I only ask you because your life just seems to get boring more and more everyday. I don't even know how that's possible." Hikaru leaned back in her seat as she took a sip from her drink.

"You're really rubbing salt into the wound. Did you know that?" Dayeon sounded rather pissed and Hikaru chuckled as she rubbed her fingers together.

"You do the same things everyday. Pictures in the morning, afternoon, and the evening. Then you call it a day. Take a break and find something else to do for heaven's sake! Didn't Chaehyun tell you that before she left?"

Dayeon slouched in her seat, her leg bouncing. "Mhm.." She sighed.

"Where is Chaehyun anyways? She's been gone for longer than she said she would be. Do you know?"

Dayeon's eyes were glued to the petite portion of the shortcake in front of her, nearly spacing out. Her lips pressed together and she shook her head in response to Hikaru. It felt strange for the brunette to be hiding Chaehyun from everyone. She was sure that everyone would be glad to hear about Chaehyun being back, but she guessed it was for the better. The better for Chaehyun.

"Aren't you worried about her?" Hikaru blurted and it was like that question slapped Dayeon across the face. She slowly sat up straight and took her fork, picking at the piece of cake.

"Of course I am, I just don't mention it. And, I guess I'll take a break from photography and find something else to do." Dayeon looked up at Hikaru, finding the Japanese eyeing her shortcake. The brunette smiled and pushed the plate closer to Hikaru, the younger one gladly taking the plate. Dayeon took a glance at her watch and took her drink in hand, ready to leave.

"I need to go."

"Whaaat?" Hikaru took a bite of the cake, "I thought you were going to help me clean after my cafe closes."

"Don't you have employees? What's her name- Shana? Just ask her. I have something important to do. Sorry, bye." Dayeon apologized lamely as she left Hikaru's cafe.

The brunette stood outside of the cafe for a brief moment. It was unfortunate for her to only find out about the rain the moment she stepped out of the cafe, but thank goodness it was light- as of now. Dayeon took the risks and began walking outside in the rain with no protection whatsoever. Earlier, Chaehyun stated a need for something from a convenience store. So here Dayeon was, retrieving it for the older one. Again, Dayeon doesn't know why Chaehyun is hiding. Chaehyun has completely isolated herself in Dayeon's apartment room and is basically avoiding any sort of human interaction that isn't with Dayeon. She often dragged Dayeon to vacant places, where it was only the two of them and it could only leave the brunette to question without receiving any answers.

"What was it she wanted again.?" Dayeon mumbled to herself as stepped foot into the store. She began wandering around a bit, trying to remember Chaehyun's needs.

"Oh, right. A lighter for some reason." Dayeon approached the counter, took a purple lighter from the stand and awkwardly handed it to the cashier.

"Are you a smoker?" The cashier randomly blurted and caught Dayeon off guard.

"What? No." Dayeon read the nametag of the cashier. Seo Youngeun. The familiar name tickled her lips as she thought for a moment. The gears in her head spun, as the name finally clicked to her.

"You're Chaehyun's friend, right?"

"Yeah. Did she tell you about me? I know she told me a ton about you.. goodness. Feels overwhelming just thinking about it." Youngeun joked as she was given the money to put into the register. Dayeon couldn't help but smile.

"What'd she say about me?" Dayeon's curiosity grew as she received her change.

"There's a lot. A lot of good things I'm sure you'd be glad to hear. Like the way you took care of her despite being younger, the way you sweet-talked with her, and the way you.. looked at her with those apparent loving eyes of yours." Youngeun chuckled as she teased Dayeon, seeing the brunette's cheeks grow a shade of red.

"Well, what's in it for me? What'd she tell you about me?" Youngeun leaned forward against the counter, her arms crossing as she did. She was definitely ready to capture an earful of what Chaehyun has said about her. Whether it was good or not.

"Uhh," Dayeon paused, trying to recollect the things Chaehyun has said about the girl, "She said you're clumsy in a funny way. She said you're somewhat of a troublemaker and always gave her headaches." Dayeon fiddled with the lighter between her fingers.

"Ah, of course. My favorite part of the day was giving her killer headaches." Silence drove past them. "I'm kidding by the way." Youngeun smiled.

"Did something happen between you two? It sounds like you two haven't.. talked in a while." Dayeon felt like she shouldn't have asked that question, seeing Youngeun's smile drop almost immediately.

"Yeah," She admitted, "But it's nothing to worry about anymore. It happened about three years ago and maybe half a year too." Youngeun played with a coin in her hand.

"What happened?"

"Nosy, aren't you?" Youngeun caught the coin that was flying in the air a second before. She laughed and tossed it back into the register.

"Seeing that Chaehyun never told you, I guess I won't either." Youngeun smiled in amusement when she caught Dayeon's harmless glare.

"Fine."

Dayeon chuckled as she made her way towards the exit. She waved goodbye to Youngeun, appreciating the very small talk they had.

"Fuck." Dayeon muttered.

When she stepped out, the rain was pouring heavily. It's not like it stopped her though. She took a breath and ran through the rain, maybe slipping when she reached her apartment building, but it wasn't a long jog for her.