"Have you always lived in this area?" Maejin questioned ordering an americano "Ah.. no. I'm just here to... visit someone", "Ah I see" she nodded "And you? Do you live here?" She for sure did, but right now also not at all "Yeah I do. How are you doing?" Their last meeting was actually something both of them someone wouldn't want to talk about "Normal I guess", "Wow last time we met is so long ago right? How old were you" Maejin asked "I was sixteen, you eighteen right?" She just remembered this whole age faking situation "Hm... yes" She did considered on saying that she wasn't but it would only cause too many following questions.
Kyung-ja got real quiet and it was somehow understandable. It must be embarrassing to face each other after Maejin had to make her believe in herself and saved her from a group bullying her. Her kind of freaking out and punching the girl thing was maybe also the wrong impression that an older one should make. "You..." She suddenly spoke up so Maejin fully gave her the attention "...nevermind" Her hope on having a normal talk sank "no, you can ask or tell me whatever you want"
"I see... well the thing is just... Do you know someone called Ye-jin?" She got straight to the point. Maejins lungs tightened as she raises her eyebrows slightly "huh?", "Doesn't matter, I must've been mistaken" She shock her head. "The Americano you ordered. And for the other lady an orange juice" the waitress interrupted the weird way the situation was going "Thank you"
"What were you tryna say.. about the mention of the name?" She suspected asked "Ah.. there is just a girl I know that mentioned your name. Shin Maejin? You agreed on that, that it's your name. But I mean since you don't know her, she could've probably meant someone else with the same name I guess" Kyung-ja explained taking a sip of her orange juice "Well you see, I may not remeber her by just the name. May you tell me what she was talking about?" Maejin awkwardly chuckled making the question not sound too obvious.
"Ah, she just said something like" Her eyes met the window reviewing on her words. Looking down on her, old friend, she needs to be taught a lesson. It do would've fitted her since she stood up for me last time too, maybe she did the same to Hye-jin.. I somehow need to help my sister and since there could be chance they know each other.
"She was saying that the last time you met you looked down on her or emberassed her or some? Also that you were old friends and that you didn't learn your lesson yet.. I'm really not assuming that it's you I'm just... curious too" it do was her. Why was Kyung-ja with Hye-jin though? Is she maybe another victim of them!? "Why were you with her?" Suddenly she seemed all serious "huh? Uh.. so you do know her?", "doesn't matter" Kyung-ja gulped pretty obvious "I was just... I'm friends with her that's it" she bit her upper lip.
"Kyung-ja, what else did she say?", "she.. wanted to give you a visit" Maejin sighed and leaned back in her chair "You don't need to act like you're friends with her. Because no one really is, and I wasn't either" The younger girl blinked a few times before looking unsure on the floor "Right, I'm not. Since you know her you probably know how she is", "selfish, mean, brutal and... way too rich" she squinted her eyes "May I ask.. in which kind of relationship you were in with her"
Maejin might drop off the strong face she had on in Kyung-jas eyes, but it didn't really matter either. It's just the truth, there is no way that you got to be in a good relationship with Hye-jin when you speak like this about her. "Probably the same one like you are right mow" she confessed "what... You-", "Hye-jin always finds a way to bicker people because of stupid reasons. There even is no use in trying to fight back, I've tried... really hard, but eventually ended up even more broken. At the end there is nothing else you can do, than run away like a loser. There is no need to go against her, she can basically delete you if she wants. Just get as far away as possible..." She got real serious as she threw a side eye to the clock "whatever I gotta go" Maejin didn't know why she opened up like that, usually it's much harder to talk about it. Maybe it's because Kyung-ja can somehow understand her pain and went through almost the same.
"Wait" She called out "I think you really know what it's like. I feel like that's why your words felt so healing that day.. whatever person you are, you seem really strong and brave for escaping.. however, I can't do it. I'm too scared because..." Maejin sat back down "because... she's offering me money" this didn't sound as unexpected as it was supposed to "And honestly I really need it. For my future and for a better life for my sister... the problem is just that, she might also get included with Hye-jin and the rest. I feel uneasy about that because she's only 16, just as old as I was. And remembering those times, I wanted to be everything else than myself, I don't want her to end up like that too. She's handling her pain wrong though... because she wants revenge" It sounded just like Minho, he also wanted this, it sounded almost fair and probably felt like a goal to achieve. And at some point Maejin did too but ended up letting it out on the bullies of Kyung-ja. But once you get your revenge you might not be fully relieved and keep wanting more, it's not the right was of treating wounds that were supposed to heal and not being back cut up.
"I see... but why are you telling me this? Your sister should handle it, unfortunately I can't help if that's what you have in mind" the sudden cold rejection was not what both of them expected "But... wait!" She called out once again "Please listen to the rest too. I feel like you could help me", "Kyung-ja I feel honered that you think of me like that. But there is no reason for it, because I honestly am weaker than you might think also I have a lot of around me already. And I've already made the decision that I don't wanna face this girl again" She took her bag and placed some money on the desk "pay the drinks with that"
"My sister is being abused by her boyfriend" Maejin stopped walking and closed her eyes for a moment. Kyung-ja made her feel like she was the only trustful person around her which seemed like the last help call that she'd probably do. Even though she always thought that denying her past would work it honestly didn't.. just like it said, you have to face it. Some memories need to be buried, but some that are being able to fight against and are able to actually heal a bit are worth it to face.
"Fine... what do you want me to do?"
~
