Weak Blossom!

Cool Down

Chapter 8: Cool Down

.·:*¨❀✘❀•°𝕎𝔹°•❀✘❀¨*:·.

Hannah used to say that I was an ugly crier. In fact, it was one of the few things I had in common with her. I couldn't shed dainty tears while I lay fashionably collapsed on a nearby surface surrounded by woodland creatures like your average Disney princess. Instead, my face would puff up like Majin Buu if he got stung by a hive of bees. I could already feel that my face was red and puffy and splotchy with irritated eyes and a congested nose as that snotty cherry on top of my miserable state.

"Here you go hun, this should help you feel a bit better." The receptionist sat by my side, a steaming cup of her newly purchased drinks in her hands. She held it out to me, her encouragement gentle yet insistent. I blew my nose in the handkerchief she let me borrow one last time before taking the cup, the warmth a grounding presence for my hazy mind. I tried to contain my sniveling, stuttery hiccup breathing in order to take a sip without spilling it all over myself or choking on it.

The drink was nice and warm, flavored just the way that I liked it. My shoulders slumped a bit as I could feel the soothing effect it had. "F- Fank ooou~." I managed to mumble out, getting a gentle smile in return.

"It's no problem. Just continue taking deep breaths and relax, kay?"

Well gee, that was easier said than done now, wasn't it? Coming down from a breakdown was never a smooth process for me. It came in choppy, dizzying stages that would leave me disoriented and exhausted- bone wearyingly so. Regardless, I knew I had to get a grip eventually. Just, you know, better late than never.

It was needless to say everything that just took place at the pool house rattled me quite a bit. It wasn't until shortly after Alex and the other Eunjang guys left did the stress and severity of the situation truly hit me. The brutality Jimmy Bae brought and the fear he left was enough to almost have me collapse to my knees again.

Now that all the threats were gone, my bravado and determination from earlier had left me like air from a punctured balloon. No longer propelled by adrenaline and the need to help, the fear I was holding back was quick to reintroduce itself.

I didn't regret standing up to Bae and (accidentally) defending myself against Kim and trying to help Alex, but even I couldn't delude myself into believing that it wasn't scary to do so. Because it was scary. Terrifying even. 0/10 would not want to experience it again!

I took another sip of my drink, sighing as the warmth soothed my nerves with every gulp.

"See, what did I tell ya? You're looking better already!" The receptionist cooed, her hand gently rubbing the middle of my back.

"I sure don't feel like it..." I grumbled in response, already feeling a headache brewing from all the crying I had just done. Ugh, this was gonna make training later suuuuck.

The sympathetic shine in the receptionist's eyes seemed to grow at this. "Yes, well I can't blame you there. The whole situation from earlier must've been very stressful for you..."

'Understatement of the freakin' century...' I huffed to myself, a humorless smile on my face. "Not to mention it was a situation I could've avoided if I wasn't such an idiot..."

The receptionist blinked, looking taken aback. "Wha- hey now, you're not an idiot!"

"Oh, yes I am." I stared at my warped, miserable reflection in the liquid of my cup. "See, a not-idiot would've come up with a better idea than talking back to a delinquent and punching another in the nose. She would've kept her cool and managed to avoid the whole situation altogether..." Yeah, the mind of a not-idiot was one that I wished I possessed. It certainly would come in handy for situations like this...