Salmon Bagel and a Hot Chocolate

28 - Take a Gamble

Minjeong had been going on proper dates with Karina for a whole week already, although if she was being very real with herself, it felt like they'd been going on dates since their first ever night together at Rosy. 

It had been a week since their first date, a week since their first kiss, a week since Jay showed up unannounced, and a week since Minjeong started becoming more distracted than ever. 

She still hadn't mentioned the encounter to anyone but Yizhuo. Part of her was worried Giselle would bring it up, but she'd been surprisingly quiet about it. Perhaps Yizhuo said something to her about never bringing it up. Whatever it was, Minjeong was happy with the outcome.

Jihyo was unavailable, and when she was, Minjeong was unavailable, so meeting the older woman seemed almost impossible. Minjeong didn't want to tell her mother just yet, figuring talking about it over the phone might end up being worse for the woman, especially if she couldn't visit immediately. 

Then there was Karina. 

Karina, who had been nothing but patient with Minjeong since day one, never pressuring her to talk or hang out with her, never pressuring her for an answer for anything, and always having her best interests at heart. 

Minjeong wanted to at least bring up the topic of Jay with Karina– mostly so the older one was aware about why she was as closed off as she was. At least Karina would be fully aware why she had her walls up almost all of the time.

But doing that seemed almost impossible, because every time they talked, the conversation would be so pleasant, Minjeong would end up forgetting every single worry in her life. When she'd talk to Karina, all that's around is Karina and herself. Nothing else bothered her. 

Karina was so different, it made Minjeong want to open up and talk about everything. However, that was easier said than done, considering the fact that Minjeong didn't know how to open up. 

She found herself blanking every time she tried to do so, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try. If she didn't try, she knew Yizhuo would intervene, and that was one thing she was trying to avoid. 

Her mind drifted to Jay again, something she found happening a lot since he tried to beg her to take him back. 

Minjeong couldn't understand what happened. Her best guess was he broke up with that friend and was alone, his last option being herself. That thought was harrowing, because she'd seen this type of behaviour in some of her worst clients– which in the end solidified her notion that everyone was like her clients.

She didn't know how exactly to feel after seeing him again. It wasn't that she missed him, it wasn't that she ever wanted to see him again, but when he was there, there was something in her that sparked. 

Be it a good feeling or a bad one, Minjeong knew she didn't want that feeling there. 

He scared her, there was no doubt in that, but she also found it crazy how she let him into her home. She could've easily shut the door and left him outside, she could've easily called the police and had them deal with him, she could've easily moved aside when he walked closer to her, she could've easily kicked him hard when he was kissing her– yet she did none of that. 

Jay was there during one of the most important periods in Minjeong's life, so he'd seen it all. She was young, she was dumb, and she was so very in love. 

Before everything fell apart, he was her support system. Minjeong had almost always gone to him for comfort– provided Yizhuo wasn't available– and he would always be there to let her know that she'd be alright.