Summer season of August [Daerin]

Chapter 28

July 28, 2021

"Have a dinner, hun." Mom approaches Hanni with a smile.

Hanni didn't even lay her eyes on us, she walks straight upstairs while recklessly holding the strap of her handbag. The sound of her handbag bumping on the railings can be heard from here.

I looked at my Mom who looks downhearted by now. Letting go of the spoon and fork that I'm holding, I got up, "I'll talk to her Mom." I said, trying not to gnash my teeth. How can she be so rude to my Mom?

"Haerin, isn't it better if you give her some space?" Mom tried to hold my hand but I resisted, gesturing her to stop.

"The fight is between me and her, you're excluded. I don't like anyone treating my Mom a shit, not in front of me." I take a quick but heavy steps as I walk upstairs.

If she's still mad because of that day, why does she need to act like that in front of Mom? Isn't she too problematic? She wants me on her knees every single time but not when it comes to my mother.

Why Hanni's like this? I know she's wise and smart but I don't know that she can be this rude.

"Pham" I called out after opening the door of my room. I can see her from here, sitting on the bed, facing the open window where I could still see Danielle's closed window.

"How many times should I say sorry? Why do you need to be that rude?" I asked.

"Rude? Isn't eating in the living room way more rude?" this time, she turned to face me.

"We decided to eat in the living room so we'd see you right away if you arrive. Stop making excuses out of your rude behavior." I said and rolled my eyes. Hanni's s eyebrows arches and for all know, she's walking to my direction already. I grasps her wrist when Hanni's about to hit me, "Not to my Mom. Not to her, Pham." stated, emphasizing every words.

Her eyes immediately becomes teary as she forcefully takes her wrist from my grip.

"What did you even do?!" Hanni madly asked.

"Giving you the space! What's wrong with me, singing in front of those people?!" I yelled. Hanni got surprised because of the loud bang when I shut the door close.

"Why do you need to bring me in your world every fucking time!"

"N-Nothing's wrong! Until your eyes were perfectly pierced on someone while you were singing that song! I'm your girlfriend, Haerin, but why?" her tears are falling already but she's still
going on. Nothing can really defeat her pride. "Your neighbor? Your sister's girlfriend?!" with that, I snapped out.

My sister's girlfriend...

"y'know what?! Let's go back in Boston before our relationship ends!" Hanni's about to pass by me
but I holds her wrist to stop her again.

"You can't blame me...I'm so envious of haneul, because that was supposed to be me." I bent my head down, loosening my hold onto her wrist, "I loved that neighbor, my sister's girlfriend."

I'm sorry, Hanni. Maybe I only needed you as a support system when I was so down in my chosen world.

A support system I can only hold onto and not someone who can hold me back.

__