Salmon Bagel and a Hot Chocolate

27 - Ghost of the Past

When Minjeong was 6 years old, she went straight home after school to put her bag down before running back out again, knocking on Yizhuo's door so that the two of them could head over to the playground just down the street. 

Taeyeon followed them, sitting on a bench nearby as she watched the children play. 

Minjeong ran around the park with Yizhuo, the pair chasing each other as their giggles filled the air. The two of them would occasionally play with the other kids, but they always found their way back to each other. 

"Let's go on the monkey bar." was what Minjeong remembered Yizhuo suggesting to her. 

A week before that, the two of them had made it the entire way by alternating their hands– which was an upgrade from their dual-hand technique. 

The pair made their way up the small staircase and waited in line to make it across the monkey bars. Yizhuo went first, Minjeong clapping loudly as her best friend made it to the end without a single mistake. 

"My turn!" was what Minjeong remembered saying before she reached for the first bar. 

The only problem with that? Minjeong couldn't reach it, not without Taeyeon's help, which was how she got up there the first time. 

She figured if she jumped like Yizhuo did, she'd be able to reach it, but Minjeong was really small for a 6 year old and she wasn't known for her high jumps– unlike Yizhuo.

"Minjeong!" was what she remembered hearing before her back hit the rubber ground. 

Her chest felt tight, as if someone was stepping on her, and her eyes felt heavy. She remembered it was hard to breathe and that her vision was almost fading in and out. 

Standing across Jay– a good 27 years later– Minjeong felt that same exact feeling. It was as if she was back in the playground, lying almost lifeless on the ground. 

The only difference was that Yizhuo and Taeyeon weren't there to pick her up and carry her home. 

"Minjeong..." Jay breathed out, snapping the woman out of her panicked state. 

"What do you want?" Minjeong asked, a little harsher than she originally planned, but what did she care? 

"To talk," Jay cleared his throat. "I just need to talk to you." 

"Are you drunk?" Minjeong scoffed. "I'm not gonna talk to you, Jay."

"Please," Jay almost begged. "Just let me say what I have to say, then I'll leave."

"Jay, it's weird enough that you're here," Minjeong said, honestly a little afraid. "You need to leave. I don't want to speak to you." 

"Minjeong, please." 

"No," Minjeong shook her head. "Get the hell out of here before I call security." 

"Just hear me out one time and it'll be the last you hear from me." Jay pleaded, taking a step forward. Minjeong took a step back. Now she was further away than ever from the safety of her front door and she hated that feeling. 

She hated how she was in such a vulnerable position with absolutely no protection. 

"Don't come near me." Minjeong whispered. She wasn't strong. If he pounced on her, she knew she wouldn't have the power to fight him back, so she was terrified.

"I'm sorry," Jay moved aside, giving Minjeong a path to enter her apartment. "You can go in." 

Minjeong looked at him, hands shaking ever-so-slightly. She walked over to her door, nonetheless, pulling out her key instead of keying in her pin. He knew where she lived, she did not need him to know how to get any further.