Second Time Around

Chapter 3.

Min-Sun could hear the sounds of footsteps behind her but had no will to turn around to see who it was. She wanted to go home and she was going to, even if she didn't have a clue where home was. Suddenly the person following her tugged on her arm and turned her to face him. "Min! Hey Min-Sun!" It was Hyunjin. Min-Sun stared at him and realized how pretty he was, and wondered how could one man be so pretty. She reached her hands out towards his face before he swatted her hands away. She frowned at him as he stepped away and let go of her arm and ran his hand over his forehead and pushed back his hair in frustration.

"You can't walk out like that. It's late and you know how the streets are out here." He lowered his hand from his hair and this time grabbed her elbow and started dragging her in the direction that she was heading. Even though she stumbled behind him, his grip never faded.

"I would have been fine! I can defend myself!" She tried to reason with him, but the look that Hyunjin gave her told her that she probably couldn't defend herself against a toddler at this very moment.

"Did you leave because he mentioned Jia again?" Hyunjin asked continuing to walk. Min-Sun gave him funny look staring at the back of his head. He turned to look at her and she nodded no. It was't all true, she left because she was tired. She couldn't deny though the mention of her name did make her stomach turn a little and her chest tighten. She was jealous of a girl she didn't even know.

"I was tired is all." She said and Hyunjin slowed down and stoped to stare at her. "Seriously?" He said looking her in the eyes searching for any hint of mistruth. His brown eyes continued to search her face and all she gave in return was a half-hearted smile. She looked down at his hand on her elbow and lightly removed it before looking back up at him.

"He's happy Hyunjin. I don't need to meddle or get ridiculous feelings involved when he is already happy with someone else." She began to walk again on her own not bothering to see if Hyunjin was following behind.

She heard Hyunjin finally come up behind her and then grabbed her arm again to stop her again. "Are you serious? How can you say that when you have been in love with him for years." She froze and looked in his eyes which were searching hers frantically. She couldn't figure out if he was referring to the time they were in now or her own time, but she couldn't deny that she did love him with her whole heart. That is what made it all hurt the most. She felt tears in her eyes at the frustration of the whole situation.

"Well maybe this is a sign for me to give up. I mean honestly did I have a chance anyways?" She pushed Hyunjins hands off her and stared at him. Hyunjin looked like he had a lot to say, but he just settled on a sigh and a frown. "You should have told him how you felt last year at the festival. He wouldn't be with her right now if you had told him."

It was her turn to furrow her brow. She stared at him wanting to ask more questions but before she could Hyunjin grabbed her wrist this time and they continued in silence to what she hoped was her house.

They continued walking until they reached a four story building. Min-Sun stared at the building and she thought it was adorable for being in such a shady portion of town. It was painted a light beige color and each housing unit had a pretty good size terrance. She believed Hyunjin was right though, she definitely should not be trying to walk alone at night. There were many alleyways around the neighborhood, and while there are streetlights around they don't reach enough to light up the entire street. When she glanced over to Hyunjin he was staring at her almost as if waiting for her to do something.

"What?" She asked confused. She didn't like how quiet he was after their talk.

He said nothing as he headed for the stairs. "Chan was right, you really are out of it today."

She raised an eyebrow following behind him on the stairs until they finally reached the top of the stairs. On the terrance, she surveyed the skyline before looking over to Hyunjin who had his hand held out to her. She stared at his hand and then back up to his face and he nodded to the door behind him. Realization hit her and she grabbed for her purse and started looking for her keys. When she finally found them after almost dumping her entire purse, she handed them to Hyunjin who opened the door and stared at her.

She walked past him and took off her shoes and she heard the door close behind her. She looked back to see that Hyunjin also came in and was also taking off his shoes. She gave Hyunjin an odd look as he continued to take off his shoes and head to the kitchen that was in front of them. He opened up a couple cabinets before finding what he wanted and grabbed two glasses filling them both with water.

"Do you plan to stay there the rest of the night?" He gave her an odd look. She looked at him confused but followed him into the where he sat down on the couch. She took a seat next to him and took the glass of water thanking him.

"Are you sure you are okay?" Hyunjin asked and she set her glass down on the table in front of her. She turned to face Hyunjin and nodded possibly trying to convince herself more than anything. She had to admit she hadn't felt okay ever sense she woke up in the library.

"I am alright. I can't say I know what is exactly wrong with me, but I promise I am okay." She could see the tension in Hyunjins face receding and he let out a sigh setting his glass along side hers.

"After what happened with Woojin we were worried that you.. We thought you were gonna drop out or maybe worse.. Anyways we were just worried about you." He trailed off leaving Min-Sun to wonder what exactly happened. Woojin was a former member of stray kids, but what did he have to do with any of this? More importantly what did it have to do with her?

She reached out and touched Hyunjins arm to get him to look at her. "Honestly I am okay. I am just really tired and want to get some sleep." Hyunjin smiled patting her arm before getting up and taking his glass with him. He went over to the sink and put the glass in it before turning around to stare at Y/N on the couch once more. "I'm still glad you came out tonight."

She smiled at his heart warming words. "It was nice seeing everyone laugh and smile." Hyunjin walked to the door before turning back to her. "I'm going to head home, if you need anything just text okay?" She laughed at the way he sounded like her overprotective brother and nodded as he walked out the door.

After he left she stared at the room around her before looking at her water glass and seeing a notepad and a pen beside it. She stared at the items and contemplated before writing down everything that she figured out from the conversations at the restaurant.

What we have figured out:

We are in Korea and understand Korean perfectlyWe are in college - career path unknownSomething happened in the last year concerning Woojin

She stared at the list feeling like she was missing more points, but she was tired and the lights were hurting her head. She finished her glass of water and went to the kitchen filling up the glass again before grabbing the notebook and heading into her room. She placed the glass on the nightstand beside her bed went over to the dresser and pulled out some clothes to sleep in.  

Once she changed into them, she laid in the bed and stared at the list confused on where everything fell in to place.  She placed the notepad beside her and stared at the ceiling with more questions than answers at this point. She placed her arm over her eyes and suddenly laughed. Why was she trying to solve a mystery when it was all a weird dream anyways. She got up to turn off the lights and then went underneath the covers tossing the notepad to the side as she went to sleep.