HEAL || Lee Minho

1. Haejin

Bright sun rays shone upon Haejin's face from the small window in her bedroom, whose curtains she had forgot to close the last night. This led to her being woken up by the sun, her eyebrows twitching as gradually, she was coming to her senses.

Instinctively, her hands wandered over her bed and to her side table as she searched for her phone, her eyes still closed. Below the covers, under the pillow, on the side table, even near the foot of her bed, she had checked everywhere making good use of her limbs. But she couldn't find what she was looking for, her mobile phone.

Sulking, Haejin sat up on her bed as she opened her eyes slowly, trying to adjust to the brightness and then looked around. And she found her phone, on the study table which was in the other end of her small room.

As she looked further around her room, the memories of last night flooded her mind, how she had returned home completely wasted after having a 'Who can drink more soju' competition with her best friend, Hwang Hyunjin. She did win the competition but it resulted in her own downfall because now, her room was a mess.

Her clothes from the last night were scattered all around the room, everything kept in the wrong place and the excruciating headache she was experiencing right now.

"Fuck off, Hwang!" Haejin groaned, throwing her tired body back on the bed as she cursed her best friend for suggesting such a competition prior to a weekday.

After laying down for what seemed like five or seven minutes, Haejin gathered some strength and stood up, walking towards her phone. A sigh escaped her mouth as she checked the time. She was late. Again.

When it came to time, Haejin was always behind. No matter how much she would try to wake up early, time was always a step ahead of her. So, she had trained herself to get ready in a span of thirty minutes which is exactly what she was going to do now.

Making good use of her limbs, again, Haejin managed to get ready, still five minutes late but doable. She settled on wearing a full-sleeved shirt with a pair of straight-cut jeans.

Haejin made her way out of her room in search for her mother or at least a plate of some food but she was met with none. None but a note which she already knew what it had written on it.

Either a 'I had some urgent work, have something on your way.' or 'Cook yourself dinner because I'll be late tonight.'

And, indeed! It was the former one which was written on the small sticky-note.

Haejin rolled her eyes, a pang of disappointment evitable in her reaction because her mother never had time for her. Be it in the mornings or at nights, either she would leave too early or return home too late.

Sure, a single mother's life wasn't easy at all. Earning money and managing the household were two big tasks on their own, but not big enough to not even spare an hour or two for your own daughter.

And, now that her mother had a handsome pay, Haejin did expect her mother to work a little less and pay attention to herself and her daughter a little more.

A little disheartened, Haejin exited her house after putting her favourite pair of shoes on, in hopes of them being able to make her feel a little better.

Haejin's phone suddenly started ringing. On seeing the Caller ID, Haejin huffed. It was none other than Hwang Hyunjin.

"Yeah?" Haejin asked as she walked further towards the bus stand where Hyunjin was probably waiting for her.

"Can you not be late for once?" Hyunjin dramatically sighed.

"Well, it's your fault today. I woke up with a headache because of your stupid competition." Haejin retorted.