Unlucky: Luxury And a Lies

Chapter 38: Plan In Motion Minji's POV: Mabel's Annoying Me

I found myself in my bed on a Sunday, contemplating the week ahead. A nagging question weighed on my mind: could I really go on like this for another six days? My thoughts, however, were soon consumed by a more immediate concern.

I stared at my gloved hands, unable to shake the thought that had plagued me for a long time. Why couldn't I bring myself to take these gloves off? The answer was as clear as day, though it pained me to admit it. My hands were ugly, tainted, and marred by scars from an unfortunate incident that I didn't want to dwell on any longer.

As I lay there, caught in this internal struggle, my doorbell rang, providing a welcome distraction from my thoughts. I hurriedly got up and opened the door, my surprise apparent. "What the hell?" I muttered, my eyebrows furrowing.

"Surprise!" they all chimed in, invading my space and flooding into my house. Mia, my closest friend, leaned in to kiss my cheek, and then she joined the others inside. "Indeed," I replied, still in a state of mild shock.

I couldn't help but voice my confusion. "What's the occasion?" I asked, my gaze shifting from one familiar face to another as they settled into my living room.

James was the first to answer, albeit with an ill-conceived attempt at humor. "Is it not your birthday?" he asked, but Peres quickly nudged him, silently signaling that they were way off the mark.

I shook my head. "We just said that to get you out of the house," Jack explained, and James sighed softly, realizing their plan had backfired.

I was still puzzled but didn't want to appear ungrateful for their presence. "May I repeat my first question?" I inquired, a hint of exasperation in my tone.

Mia stepped in to ease the situation. "We're just here to hang out," she said with a warm smile. I leaned down to her level, lowering my voice. "I thought it would just be us?" I admitted.

She maintained her soft smile. "Yeah, but I thought bringing them wouldn't hurt," she explained, glancing at our friends.

James, sensing my hesitation, offered to leave. "I can gladly leave if I'm no longer needed," he said. Jack nudged him, recognizing the tension in the room.

I sighed, my resistance waning. "Okay, let's hang out, I guess," I reluctantly agreed, as I welcomed their company, a mixture of emotions swirling within me.

, we continued to hang out for a few hours, enjoying each other's company. However, my thoughts eventually circled back to my current situation, and I decided to broach the topic with my friends.

"I wanted to let you all know that she said she wanted me back," I admitted. Perez snorted in disbelief, Mia gasped softly, and the room fell into a hushed anticipation. "I said no, of course," I quickly added, and the collective deflation was palpable.

I tilted my head in surprise. "Wow, do you all think that low of me?" I asked, taken aback by their reactions. James, ever the straightforward one, shrugged. "You were hung up on her for a while," he stated, not mincing words. "Following her around like a muppet, more like," he added.

I rolled my eyes at James blunt assessment. But then Jack, usually more reserved, chimed in with an intriguing suggestion. "Then make her do the same," he said, looking at me with a curious expression. I furrowed my brow, puzzled. "What?" I asked, wanting to understand his point of view.

He elaborated, "Make her feel what you felt, right? Let her become obsessed with you." His words hung in the air, the audacity of his proposal resonating through the room. I had to address it. "Wait a minute, stop," I interjected. "First of all, that's impossible and evil. And I wasn't even obsessed with her in the first place," I defended myself.

Perez, ever the one to cut through the ambiguity, chimed in, "Of course, just mildly in love." I let out a sigh, conceding that there might be some truth to that statement. "And how would I do this, if I were to," I trailed off, my voice heavy with uncertainty. Jack raised an eyebrow, leaving the question hanging in the air.

, the conversation took an unexpected turn as Mia praised Jack for his intriguing suggestion. "Jack, you're a genius," she exclaimed with a smile. I couldn't help but add my own input, saying, "In a creepy way," which earned a chuckle from Jack.

Jack, with a self-assured smile, began to explain the concept. "It's all psychological. You have to be smart, not let her get too close or push her too far away. It has to be calculated down to the dot," he elaborated, his tone brimming with confidence.

My brows furrowed as I considered his words. "Somehow you made it seem less appealing," I admitted, skeptical of the intricate planning required for this scheme. Jack, seemingly apologetic, responded with a sheepish grin. "Sorry," he said, realizing the complexity of his own proposal.

Perez, leaning casually on the couch, voiced a concern that had been nagging at the back of my mind. "How do we know Minji won't just fall in love with her again?" he asked, prompting me to reflect on my past experiences.

I felt the need to respond, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. "She drugged me, beat me up, framed me for having drugs. Must I go on?" I recounted some of the darker moments from my past relationship, hoping to silence any doubts.

Mia reached out and touched my shoulder, a sign of her concern. "Minji, will you really do this?" she asked, searching my eyes for determination. I nodded, a sense of resolve building within me. "It's the only thing I could think of," I admitted, a heavy weight pressing upon me.

Jack, always quick to add his perspective, interrupted the moment. "Well, technically," he began, "Shut the fuck up" We all said

-

The next day at school, there was a noticeable sense of calm after the intense discussions with my friends. I felt a sense of trepidation as I thought about interacting with Danielle after everything she had put me through.

As I walked through the school halls lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard Mabel's voice beside me, and it made me flinch. "Something on your mind?" she inquired with a friendly smile, holding her books in her arms. I couldn't help but feel frustrated by how she always seemed to pick up on my thoughts.

I remained silent, not sure if I wanted to share my concerns. Mabel continued to walk alongside me, drawing attention from the passing students. I couldn't help but remark, "They're looking at you, you know that?" She simply shrugged, oozing self-confidence. "Can't blame them," she replied with a smug grin, which only intensified my irritation. Her awareness of her own attractiveness somehow made her even more alluring, and I found myself resenting it.

As we turned a corner and entered an empty hall, I decided to change the subject. "Your friends are coming over," I informed her, gesturing toward the other members at the far end of the hall who hadn't noticed us yet. Mabel's face twisted in a grimace, and she expressed her disapproval by saying, "Hide me." Without hesitation, she spun us around and pushed us against the lockers, effectively hiding us from view.

I looked down at her, puzzled by her sudden desire for concealment. I took a step back, and she bounced off the locker, seemingly relieved. "They're gone," I muttered, and she looked at my hands, which I quickly hid behind my back, concealing them from her view. The hallways of the school seemed to hold secrets and tensions, much like the complicated emotions that swirled within me.

Mabel popped her gum and fixed her gaze on me, prompting me to growl "What?", in frustration. She nonchalantly shrugged, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Nothing," she said casually, her tone almost playful. "I'll see you later," she added before walking away, leaving me slightly perplexed and irritated.

As she disappeared into the hallway, I couldn't help but wonder why her presence had managed to get under my skin. The rest of the day unfolded uneventfully, yet the lingering unease from our brief encounter with Mabel continued to gnaw at the edges of my thoughts, casting a shadow over my otherwise ordinary day.