merely a film, merely a life

- 1997?

Haerin furrows her eyebrows. The others stare at them as Minji tries to not die on the bench. Haerin was just chasing her! That's all!

"Um.." Minji only stares at her, slightly horrified at her freakish stamina. "Don't 'um' me!" Minji replies, panting.

Minji has, lately, realized that her health issues from the real world also bleed into here. It's quite taxing, mainly because she should be running around like an idiot here but…

"I didn't think you were that… that's…" Minji could see the corners of her mouth attempting not to go up.

"If you laugh, if any of you laugh — I will strangle you." Hanni busts out in laughter first, Haerin following.

"At your size I really thought you'd be able to tackle me to the ground."

"If whatever third power will allow me to, I really would, Haerin." She scoffs as Haerin hands her a water bottle. Her water bottle, "You don't mind?"

"Wow, you're a fucking idiot."

"Oh, right." Minji laughs, taking a big gulp. The others stare at her like she just killed a man.

"Did you forget she's your girlfriend?" Danielle asks, she looks so genuinely curious that Minji has a little bit of trouble replying. Hanni only gasps dramatically as Hyein just shakes Minji comedically.

"Oh my god Minji?! Have you been unloyal?!" Hyein and Hanni speak at the same time. She only rolls her eyes before answering.

"No! It's just," She purses her lips, "Just slipped my mind for a second." Haerin frowns, not for the reasons she should be. They're going to find out about our schtick if this idiot keeps forgetting about it.

"This gives me more of a reason to chase you around."

"Don't be upset, you treat me like I'm your bro."

"Well you are, kinda. Like…" Haerin stops to laugh halfway, "You project onto loser levels of girlfriend. I'm so sorry, babe."

"Do not call me that after doing all this!" She gestures to her in a frantic manner. The others only laugh at her, Haerin ruffling her hair. She notices Danielle looking tense amidst the laughter. Haerin, we'll talk about this later. Minji tries to say with her eyes. Haerin only slightly nods.

—

Minji finds herself in the park the next time she enters a haze. Of course, Haerin is there. She turns to Haerin slowly. Haerin turns to her.

"Are we going to talk about—"

"Yes," Haerin sighs. "It's been bothering me for a while. There's certain pairs of people who seem to just fit like a puzzle piece. Us, on the other hand…"

"Woah? Not too much on us," Minji laughs, "Aesthetically, we look good together." 

Haerin only rolls her eyes. She hesitates to speak, Minji realizing and finally saying something. "She likes you."

"I know." Haerin snickers, "Hanni has an odd interest in you as well."

"Right, so what are you going to do about that?" Minji asks Haerin, almost a taunt. It's how they work. Haerin is a little mean, and Minji is a little blunt — it's meant to be.

"Kiss you till hurts." Haerin glances over to Minji, raising her eyebrow. "Not only for us, but for her as well. Satisfied?"

"You're evil."

"I know." Haerin laughs, "Now what are you to do with Danielle?"

"You do all the work for me, do you not?" Minji retorts, ruffling the other's hair. Finding sweet silence overcomes them as Minji helps her fix it afterward. Minji only admires Haerin for a while, it happens, it's nothing weird to them.

"What's with that evil grin?"

"Nothing. It's just that…" Haerin laughs, "I think we may have changed the future by getting together here, sort of. I mean look, these are, for you, recordings and for me they're a photobook."

"So clearly they've happened before?" Minji questions her. She's got a point… however…

"Yes. We both live in the present as well. These may be just us in the past. For whatever reason this was meant to happen. Your calmness and body language explains everything."

"Right…" Minji laughs, "This is implying something very funny, though."

"Yeah?" Haerin asks.

If we manage to create a butterfly effect by getting together in 1997, then it just means our existence in the present was just made to bring ourselves together.

That's what Minji wants to say, she feels it's too sentimental for a conversation like this. She dumbs it down in the most sarcastic way possible. In all honesty, she wants to mask her feelings of want and guilt towards Haerin. Unexplainable, way too unexplainable.

1997. Perhaps there's a reason the universe wants them to rewrite their history. She just doesn't know why yet.

"We're meant to be." It comes out way too desperate than intended. She doesn't know if she's asking, pleading, stating, whatever — she just doesn't know. 

Haerins heart twists and turns at the remark. Shutting her up with a kiss, something way too casual for the short time they've known each other. It's never been short, though. A month or two is enough for her though, it's always been enough and it will always be enough.

"Maybe." Haerin mumbles against the kiss. In times like this, Minji always realizes that her act with the others are real and a part of her personality. She craves and desires, she wants to be told she's loved and somehow Minji is compelled to be the one to do it to her even though she knows, she somehow knows it failed the first time.

They play reckless, almost insensitive. Blinded by desire and need for a type of love that they lost so long ago. Haerin kisses her once more, "We shouldn't."

"We should." Minji only brings her hand to Hearin's nape, using it as leverage to bring her closer and kiss her once more. "Better?"

Haerin tries to catch her breath, "Yes."

"Good. Let's get out of here? Hang out with me for today. You've been spending a lot of time with Dani."

"Jealous?"

"Can't be." Minji giggles, "Not when I know I'm constantly on your mind. Am I not?"

"You are. 24/7." Minji hums in satisfaction, grabbing her hand and squeezing it before walking. Haerin squeezes back.

Haerin knows all too well what happened in 1997, Minji knows no more than baseless heartache. It makes 1997 a little more nostalgic, a bit more painful. They loved each other — it's the only year they ever got to do it.