Love To Hate You(Catnipz)

Sweater Weather

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"Who are you?"

Hearing the sudden voice come from nowhere, the girls turned their heads. Minji stared as an elderly woman stood at the frame of the door, her arms crossed and her face serious. But in Minji's view, she just saw her mother. "O-oh, hey, Mom." The girl awkwardly chuckled in hopes to soothe the tension that was, for some reason, happening between the other two.

Her mom glaring at the cat eyed girl in derision and Minji awkwardly stared back looking at the tension between family members."Mm-Mother... This is my friend Haerin." Minji stuttered hoping that her mom wouldn't make any negative comments back. Her words lingered. Utter silence filled the atmosphere as Mrs. Kim eyed Haerin up and down. "I've never seen you before," Mrs. Kim commented

"What's your name, girl?" Minji's mother asked, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity mixed with suspicion.

"Sh-she was just walking me home, ma. No biggie," Minji stammered, trying to ease the tension.

And out of nowhere, Ms. Kim's face changed from a snarl to a smile, "Well, what are you doing outside, girl? It's pouring. Come on in." The woman opened the door wider, welcoming her daughter's  classmate in. "O-Oh, I shouldn't. I should p-probably get back home-"

"Nonsense! You came all this way to walk my daughter home. Come in, you girls can help me cook," she smiled, her eyes disappearing in a familiar way before turning around to walk inside the house. Minji could feel the warmth from where he was standing.

Minji looked back at the younger, waving for her to come inside. "My mom hates it when people tell her 'no,'" the girl teasingly said before skipping into the house, Haerin hesitantly following. They took off their shoes, the younger  following the older towards the kitchen where her mother was.

"What's your name, girl?"

 Haerin quickly caught on the similarities she and Uncle Tae had. They were siblings after all. "Uh, H-Haerin, ma'am," said the female quickly, a bow following after. Ms. Choi laughed wholeheartedly at this. "No need to be so formal. And don't call me ma'am, it makes me feel old." They really are alike...

"Ah...okay."

"I was starting to cook. I'm glad you boys came at the right time. Come, come." The two high schoolers followed the elderly woman as she took out cabbage, ginger, garlic, chili powder, and salt. "Let's go outside to make some kimchi, hm?"

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Outside, the trio worked-and thankfully, by then the rain had stopped. Making the air around them moist. The clouds starting to segregate between the sun, a bright shine peeking through. The sight was beautiful.

"So, Haerin. Have a boyfriend yet?" Ms. Choi suddenly broke the silence between them, both Minji's and Haerin's eyes widening. "What? It's natural-don't act shocked. So tell me, who's the lucky boy?"

Minji  stopped moving her hands, her eyes darting towards Haerin as she waited for an answer. "Well..." she started, a blush creeping upon his cheeks. She has a boyfriend?! Since when?!

"We just started dating so...-"

"Oh~"

Haerin hid her face as Ms. Kim started teasing her. Minji just watched in complete and utter confusion, the bird in her head that was a cage  was back and was now flapping its wings. This caused him a headache-plus a heartache. And to think she really had a chance, right? She was one out of a million-no, one out of a billion. Maybe infinity even. Haerin wasn't interested in her, Haerin didn't find her attractive whatsoever, and Haerin didn't like her romantically. All this act was just out of kindness and nothing else.