What are we?

25

A heavy, suffocating silence enveloped the room as the four of them arranged themselves on the bed, a stark contrast to the cacophony of emotions raging within them. The once familiar sanctuary felt like a pressure cooker, each breath a labored effort. Mina's gaze, a captive bird, flitted between Seoyeon and Jeongyeon, the youngest Yoo. Her eyes lingered on Jeongyeon, searching for any sign of vulnerability, but found only a fortress of indifference.

Seoyeon's voice, a fragile whisper, shattered the stillness, "Mina-yah, I-" Her words faltered, swallowed by a sob that shook her frame. Seungyeon, with a maternal instinct, enveloped her older sister in a comforting embrace, their bodies trembling in unison.

Jeongyeon on the other hand bit the inside of her cheek, she have so much to say but no words came out of her mouth.

"J-jeongyeon." Mina uttered, her eyes glistening from the tears that are tempting to travel down her cheek, "Please say something." She stated as if pleading. The last few months between her and Jeongyeon were rough, and she feels awful for sidimg her stupid boyfriend than believing the person whom has been there for her ever since she was a kid.

Jeongyeon's lips curled into a bitter smile, a stark contrast to the warmth they usually held. "What do you want me to say, Mina?" Her voice was sharp, laced with accusation. It was a verbal dagger, striking at Mina's already wounded heart.

Seoyeon, unable to bear the tension, intervened, "Jeongyeon, why are you being like this?" Her voice was gentle, but her eyes held a flicker of disappointment.

The youngest Yoo huffed, and then stood up. "You're bound to leave anyway." she spat, her voice rising in pitch. With a final, contemptuous glance at Mina, she turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

The news of Mina's departure from the Yoo family was a seismic shock that reverberated through the household. No one in the family knew about the Japanese girl's father's will and testament except Changjoon, the Yoo Family patriarch.

The revelation was a tempest, leaving devastation in its wake. Each member of the family bore the brunt of the loss, but for Jeongyeon, the youngest Yoo, the pain was a maelstrom. Her world tilted on its axis. As the weight of the news crushed her spirit, she fled the suffocating confines of the apartment, her fingers desperately searching for solace in the form of Jihyo.

Changjoon's decision to keep the matter private was a deliberate one. He had envisioned an intimate celebration for Mina's birthday, a final, precious moment before the inevitable separation. A year, a mere flicker in the grand tapestry of time, was all that remained of their shared existence. Yet, irony painted a cruel portrait as Jeongyeon, consumed by her own turmoil, retreated into a fortress of denial, unable to confront the girl she was about to lose.

-

The convenience store was a stark contrast to the opulent Yoo household, its fluorescent lights casting an unflattering glow on Jeongyeon's tear-streaked face. Jihyo's eyes widened in disbelief, her grip tightening on Jeongyeon's arm.

"What do you mean, Mina's leaving?" The younger girl's voice was a hushed whisper, as if the mere act of speaking would shatter the reality of the situation.

The football player's lower lip trembled as she tried to articulate the chaos swirling within her. "I don't know how to say this, Jihyo. A-appa... Appa has this... will, it is the last will and testament of Mina's father. Written in it are the plans he has for Mina, it's... I don't know exactly what it is, but... but... s-she has to go back to Japan." Her voice cracked, and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to stem the tide of tears.

The silence that followed was heavy, pregnant with unspoken words. Jihyo's mind raced, trying to comprehend the implications of Mina's departure. She had grown up with the Japanese girl, sharing secrets, laughter, and dreams. The thought of a world without her best friend was unimaginable.