The Girly Watch Remade

Chapter 17: "It's always weird stuff."

Hana's thumb presses down on the remote control, the buttons emitting a soft clicking sound as the pointer methodically scrolls through a vast array of multicolored movie posters on the streaming site. The volume is turned up high, and she watches intently as a romantic comedy trailer about some academy plays out. Her own face appears briefly on one of the posters, causing her to cringe. "Jimin... I- Lov-" The scene abruptly cuts off as she switches to another movie, her gaze momentarily lingering on her phone, where a social media feed is swirling with some drama that fails to capture Hana's interest.

Sprawled out comfortably on a large gray raccoon bean bag chair, Hana can feel the oppressive heat from outside seeping in, prompting the AC unit to kick into high gear, its hum filling the room. A long, drawn-out trill dinging echoes through the penthouse, and Hana lets out a groan as she reluctantly rises to her feet. She trudges towards the door, using the back of her hand to wipe away the beads of sweat that have formed on her forehead, leaving a damp mark on her white t-shirt adorned with a small rabbit.

"Who is it?" she calls out in a half-yell, her posture straightening as she pulls the door open to reveal Brian standing on the other side, holding a Tupperware container filled with something that emanates a sweet aroma. "Brian! You didn't text... what are you doing here?" Hana's eyes quickly scan over her own disheveled appearance.

"I-I just wanted to drop these off," Brian stammers, his gaze momentarily drifting down the hallway, a heavy weight seeming to settle on his features. "But I can go if you-" He takes a step back, but Hana reaches out, halting his retreat.

"Wait." Brian turns back towards her, his eyes meeting hers. "You haven't really said anything since you came over last time. Are- are you okay?" She studies his expression as he looks at her, his eyes traveling down quickly towards the ground, and a scowl forms on his face.

"Come in," Hana says, stepping aside to allow him entry. Brian cradles the Tupperware container in his hands as he moves past her, and Hana's eyes linger on it, her curiosity piqued. "Come sit down. I was just looking for something to watch." Brian shifts his weight from one foot to the other, finally settling on the couch, with Hana joining him on the other side of the small sofa, leaving a comfortable distance between them.

A few moments of silence pass before Hana speaks up. "So what's up? You look like a kicked puppy," she jokes, attempting to lighten the mood, but her words fall flat as Brian lets out a sigh.

"Lena came over today, and I think she lied about what happened at the dinner," he confesses, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty.

Hana's expression shifts, her brows furrowing slightly. "Why's that?"

Brian shakes his head slowly. "I'm not sure. I mean, I can't remember most of the dinner, but recently, things have been coming back to me, and I'm not sure what was real or not because she seemed so sure, and we agreed to be honest with each other about things." He turns to face Hana, a frown etched on his face, his eyes reflecting an odd emotion. "And then, after radio silence and no one else really telling me what happened..." He pauses, letting out a weary sigh. "Other than you, it's like no one really cared about how I felt."

Hana's features soften as she moves closer, patting him reassuringly on the shoulder. "Brian... I think you're being a bit of a little bitch right now," she says, her tone surprisingly comforting despite the blunt words, causing Brian's eyes to dart towards her as his mouth falls open in surprise.

"I don't really get why Lena would lie. She's not really the type," Hana says, her brow furrowing as she considers Brian's words. "But if you're so sure, then I believe that maybe something did happen." She pauses, carefully choosing her next words. "Lena might be ashamed of something and covering it up."