Me, Myself & I (Catnipz)

Kang Taeyeon

 She captured my lower lip with a unique sweetness, so different from other kisses. Unconsciously, I raised my hands to her neck. Just as I was about to respond to the kiss, the loud bell rang throughout the campus. How unfair!

Suddenly, she pulled away from me, said a few words, and I nodded. Then she disappeared running through the gardens, but my state of bewilderment was so great that I didn't even understand what she said.

I shook my head a couple of times, still unable to believe what she had said to me. Minji "I don't have feelings" Kim had admitted that she liked me.

I grabbed my bag and searched through all the mess inside until I found my phone, I looked at the time. I still had five minutes to get to class on time. I stood up and brushed off any traces of dirt or grass from my shorts before walking towards the building and entering class.

***********************************

"Whatever happened with the striking Haerin?" Eunchae's voice echoed in my ears.

"Her alarm didn't go off, so she stayed home," I said without paying much attention.

"Anyway, you always look beautiful," I turned to look at her. And what about your girlfriend?

"Shall we go?" Minji's voice prevented me from answering.

"Of course," I replied, pretending to understand.

We walked to the parking lot after Minji and Eunchae got tired of glaring at each other, indicating that my plan was going perfectly.

"Thanks," I laughed. "You saved me."

"I saved you?" She narrowed her eyes. "Just a few weeks ago, you were the 'perfect couple.'" She mimicked a high-pitched voice that made me laugh.

"It was all a facade," I said amidst laughter. "She suddenly left me for Garam," I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt. "But oh well..." I trailed off and turned around. "See you later." I had barely taken two steps when I heard her voice again.

"Hey! You said we would finish the Physics project today." I turned again to see her.

"When?" I honestly didn't remember saying that.

"Today," she took a few steps towards me. "This morning, in the garden." That was what I hadn't understood; it was understandable since I was in shock. "Please, Haerin... don't make me regret what I said."

"No," I hesitated. "You're the one at fault, going from practically shouting 'I hate you' in my face to 'I like you'—I was shocked!"

"I didn't say 'I like you,' I said I was starting to like you," she clarified. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch," she said mockingly.

"Look, Kim..." I warned. "Don't push it."

"Okay, okay, okay... Will we finish it today?" she returned to the main topic.

"Fine," I agreed. "But it will have to be at my place." I made a face of displeasure.

"Are you still upset? Why don't you want it at my place?" She put her hands in her pockets.

"No, it's not that," nothing would be better than spending more time away from my house. "But my mom is in one of those yearly phases where she pretends to care about me."

"Pretends?"

"That's right," I adjusted my hair. "Anyway... at my place?"

"I'll follow you," she said, taking out her keys and then walking towards her motorcycle.

We entered my house, and it seemed empty. Or rather, it was empty. Surely my mother was at the office working, as usual. I slumped into one of the armchairs in the living room, and she sat next to me.

"Nice house," she said, scanning the place with her eyes.

"Thanks," I smiled.

We started with the project; there wasn't much left. Minji and I's link was almost over, which wasn't very good. After all, we had made a lot of progress. Danielle would lose the bet... if she still remembers it.

"You were almost at my house all week, don't your parents say anything?" she asked with laughter.

"My dad would probably scold me," I smiled sadly. "But my mom wouldn't even notice if I'm here or not."

"And your dad?" she asked, not understanding very well.

"He passed away when I was nine," I explained. "And since then, my mom has been in charge of the company they both had, so she's always busy with work."

"Hae..." my mother's voice was heard entering the house.

"In the living room," I replied.

"Do you know whose motorcycle is outside?" she entered the living room, and I think she figured out who the owner of said vehicle was. Minji stood up, and then I did too.

"Kim Minji," she said politely, extending her hand to my mother as a greeting. My mother looked her up and down, while I prayed inside that she wouldn't say or do anything rude.

"Kang Taeyeon," she said, turning around completely ignoring Minji's greeting, leaving her with her hand in the air.