Slow Journey || 2KIM

Chapter 13

"Stop biting your pencil." Chaewon points out, her eyes fixed on Minju's lips, teeth that hasn't stopped nervously and furiously biting on the pencil in her right hand. She sighs a little as Minju doesn't seem to hear her out, too lost in her own train of thoughts as she reaches out to take the girl's pencil. Minju pauses, her eyes widening, lips parting and jaw dropping as she turns to look at Chaewon from next to her, totally caught off guard by the sudden action as she was indeed too deep in her own thoughts.

"You've been trying to solve that exact same math problem for over an hour. I think you need a break." Chaewon adds softly. The two of them have been sitting at one of the many desks in their private classroom, studying as they don't have classes this early in the morning. Minju's shift at the library is only in the afternoon and Chaewon texted her if she wanted to stop by their classroom to study together. So here they are now, two hours before their next class starts, studying hard for college.

Halloween is around the corner and everyone is definitely going to spend it with their families or friends, as well as Thanksgiving later on. It's one of those times that Minju's mind if occupied with the thoughts of her own family, of how her own campus breaks are going to spend with her family back at home and of how much she doesn't want to do that anymore. She's tired of spending time with her family, pretending that everything is fine when clearly it's not. She's tired of lying, of obeying to her parents, of feeling numb and literally like a dead soul prisoned in this damn house until the break season would be over. She can't afford doing that again so she's really considering of not returning home on Halloween... after all, it's just a weekend anyway. Maybe she really shouldn't. As for Thanksgiving... it's still a month away so she can worry about that later. Though not returning for Thanksgiving is kinda odd and her parents would definitely be sad and hurt...

What's the big ordeal of always having to meet your family and relatives on those days though? So what if Minju wants to meet her friends in those days instead? They feel more like a family to her than her actual family ever did. Then again, she knows her friends will definitely spend time with their families so she can't ask them to hang out with her instead. Maybe spending time alone would be the best option, which Minju doesn't mind since she loves and is used to spending time alone anyway so...

"I think so too. I definitely need a break. A break from life. Just... life to slow down? Give me space to freaking sort it out? I know I got this... I just... need some time..." Minju replies softly, not entirely sure why she expressed so many of her inner, yet conflicted and vague thoughts to Chaewon, but then again... she doesn't feel as bad for opening to Chaewon lately as Chaewon has proved herself as a very good companion and listener every time. Minju always cherishes their moments the most as Chaewon has somehow managed to make her feel a lot calmer than how she was before telling her problems out loud.

Chaewon knows Minju isn't talking about the math problem anymore. Yet she's not going to pressure her to tell her something she doesn't want to. She prefers taking things slow with Minju, giving the girl space until she feels comfortable enough.

"Will anyone judge you for taking a break?" Chaewon asks her slowly, her eyes locked on her, looking at her carefully, taking in every little detail of Minju's facial expressions, wondering what's going on inside the girl's head, trying hard to understand the girl's feelings and thoughts by her facial expressions. Trying too hard to read her.

"No. But they surely won't understand." Chaewon hums slowly, not entirely sure as to who "they" are but not sure if she also should ask about it.

"If they don't understand then you should stop being around them."

"It's not that easy. I eventually have to meet them a few times a year." Chaewon can think of a few people Minju has to meet a few times a year. That definitely has to be her family or relatives. Chaewon can tell.