Salmon Bagel and a Hot Chocolate

24 - And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

Minjeong tried to let her thoughts take over her mind as little as possible as she drove all the way to Karina's place. It wasn't that she didn't want to think about what to say, she just wanted a clear mind before meeting the woman. She figured everything she had to say to her should come straight from her heart, not some pre-decided script.

It wasn't easy, though. Minjeong had been making it through tough times with pre-decided scripts, always worried that her heart would say the wrong thing and get someone hurt.

However, things had to be different when it came to Karina. There was no one else Minjeong felt like she wanted to change and be better because of, except for Karina.

Karina, who was selfless to a point she stopped charging Minjeong for her order. Karina, who always made sure Minjeong's seat was empty and that she was comfortable. Karina, who never overstepped a single boundary. Karina, who always looked at Minjeong with the most caring eyes. Karina, who would always go out of her way to make a hot chocolate for Minjeong. Karina, who would stay late to talk to Minjeong for hours and hours. Karina, who could never hold back a smile around Minjeong. Karina, who had slowly become one of the most important person in Minjeong's life.

Karina, who Minjeong was falling for quicker and harder than she ever thought was possible.

Her only plan for this conversation was to fix their friendship– everything else was secondary. Plus, Minjeong didn't really think it was appropriate to tell Karina about her feelings right after a break up.

So, Minjeong was going to let the conversation move naturally. If feelings come up, only then she'd mention it.

She arrived at a familiar street, Karina's apartment building coming into view. Minjeong's heart rate started picking up, having to take deep breaths before she swerved off the road or drove the other way in fear.

Before she knew it, she was in the lift and on the way up to the 11th floor. She'd never been inside Karina's apartment, but she did drop her off at her doorstep once. She stood in front of Karina's door, a small smile playing on her lips when she saw the small dinosaur stickers spread out on the frame. Karina was really so precious.

Minjeong took a deep breath in and lifted her finger to ring the doorbell, knowing that the faster she did it, the lesser her chance of overthinking everything would be.

It didn't even take 10 seconds before the door swung open, Karina looking at Minjeong with glassy eyes.

"Hi." Karina cleared her throat.

"Hi." Minjeong breathed out, almost scared to move a muscle.

Karina moved aside a little, opening her door a little wider, a quiet signal for Minjeong to enter. The younger one took a step forward, another step when Karina didn't reject it, and finally set foot into Karina's apartment, taking her shoes off before following the older one towards her couch.

Minjeong stood near one end while Karina stood across her. Until she was sure Karina was comfortable, Minjeong was not going to move closer.

"Can you say something?" Karina frowned, taking Minjeong by surprise.

"Are you... mad at me?" Minjeong asked, still a little unsure about what Karina was feeling.

"Yes." well, at least she got a clear enough answer.

"Why?"

"You're not seriously asking me that, are you?" Karina scoffed, Minjeong looked down at the floor timidly. "You've been ignoring me since the other night, you completely iced me out from that day until the day you showed up again, you didn't even look at me when you walked in, and you're asking me why I'm mad?"