MICHAENG : THE STORY UNFOLDS WITH YOU

CHAPTER 16 - RECKLESS

Disclaimer ; This part may contain an explicit content 🔞

Time  flies as Chaeyoung finishes swimming and enters the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. His eyes find Mina leaning against the headboard on the bed, engrossed in playing with her Nintendo Switch.

While attempting to put on his pants, Chaeyoung remarks, "Babe, didn't you say you wanted to join me swimming just now? I was waiting for you," his words hanging in the silent air. He steps closer to her, adding, "Mina-yaa, I'm talking to you," as he stands beside the bed.

"Tsk," Mina clicks her tongue, still absorbed in her game.

Chaeyoung then sits beside her, unable to clearly see Mina's face, which is already swollen from crying. She keeps avoiding his gaze.

He reaches for her hand. "Baby... is the game more attractive than me now?" His tone is playful.

Mina gasps, "Stop it, Chaeng... can't you see what I'm doing right now?" Her voice is raspy yet stern as she forcefully removes Chaeyoung's hand from hers.

Chaeyoung flinches in surprise. "What's wrong with you, Mina-yaa?" His voice carries a hint of hurt. "Fine... don't mind me anymore, just play your game from now on," he says, putting on his shirt and leaving the room.

As Chaeyoung left, Mina sighs and turns off the game, feeling suffocated by their argument, adding another wound to her already broken heart. She clutches her chest, tears once again streaming down her cheeks.

Night descends upon the Jeju sky, and Chaeyoung hasn't seen Mina since he left her in the bedroom. Similarly, Mina hasn't left the room since then.

As they gather at the dining table for dinner, Mina emerges with a sleepy face, evidence of her recent slumber. Fortunately, her sleepy appearance conceals the swelling on her face, masking any signs of her tears, unnoticed by others.

Chaeyoung doesn't bother to ask Mina to sit, although he had reserved the seat beside him for her. Somehow, he feels a pang of sadness and confusion as Mina chooses to sit beside Jihyo at the end of the table.

While eating, the atmosphere is alive with chit-chats and banters from others. Mina and Chaeyoung, on the other hand, remain silent. Sometimes, their eyes meet, but they exchange nothing, just a short blank stares, making it too obvious to others that they are not on good terms at this moment. They can feel the tension between the couple.

In the middle of night where others already go resting into their bedrooms, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu hang out together at the balcony. "There's must be something wrong that you did to her. It is weird to be mad at you without any solid reason, Chaeng" Tzuyu utters to Chaeyoung in between of smoking.

Chaeyoung sighs. "Did I? I don't know, Tzu, which part I did her wrong today," his shoulders slump as he tries to piece things together.

"Let me be honest, Chaeng... no woman on this earth likes to see her man being too generous and kind with another girl, even if that girl is your own best friend," Tzuyu hints.

"I don't get it," Chaeyoung furrows his brow. "Wait a second... do you think she's mad at me because of Sana? But why? I can't see the reason," Chaeyoung's curiosity is piqued.

"Maybe should recall back when you helped Sana in the swimming pool today. I know Mina saw you both. You better talk to her, explain to her, Chaeng," Tzuyu suggests gently before taking another puff of his cigarette.

"I was just fucking helping her, Tzu, nothing more. We've always been like that since we were kids," Chaeyoung protests, trying to defend himself.

Tzuyu shakes his head. "Things have changed, Chaeng. Now you have Mina, you need to be mindful of her feelings and heart. Women are sensitive and competitive, especially when Sana is your best friend. Of course, Mina feels intimidated seeing how you treat your best friend the same way you treat your girlfriend. It's not fair to her, Chaeng."