HANNI & HER WAYS || Bbangsaz

Sex education

There's something pretty cool about hanging out in a café. Especially when you have your drink in your hand, enjoying it sip by sip while trying to work on school papers that won't be due for a while. Other students crowded the café too, minding their own business and occasionally visiting with their peers on the same table.

I was alone, my wireless earbuds in my ear and writing notes for English. Haerin had told me to come visit her at work and now I have three drinks lined up on my table that were given to me for free because they messed up on orders. The drinks were sweet, and I love every one of them.

"Look at you, looking all basic and everything." Haerin said as she approached me, her apron dirty and her hands on her hips. "Didn't peg you as a let's-study-in-a-coffee-shop kind of girl."

I chuckled, and shrugged my shoulders.

"I didn't either." I replied. "But I think I'm going to be more often. Look at all these free drinks! All thanks to you."

"Yeah, we've been training a new barista lately and he is struggling." Haerin scratched the side of her face apologetically. "Man, I am so exhausted."

Haerin's short dark hair looked ruffled and her forearms were stained with random coffee splashes. She does look a little rough, especially with the noticeable bags under her eyes.

"Heard from Jungwon lately?" She asked as she took her apron off and sat across from me.

I shook my head.

"He lives next door to me, but I haven't seen him in a while." I said. "I have no way to contact him either."

"You could always knock on his door." Haerin suggested, a desperately look in her eyes. "He's been ignoring me lately. It sucks. I've just been working nonstop to distract myself from all this."

I pursed my lips, feeling awkward about the situation. She must've been thinking a lot about her younger brother lately. With a sigh, Haerin stretched her neck and smiled at me.

"Are you done work now?" I asked.

"Actually, yeah. Finally." She replied with a nod. "Anyways, how are you doing? We have never hung out just the two of us before. It's pretty cool."

"It's different." I replied awkwardly, and shrugging my shoulders. "It's weird."

"You're so fucking awkward, Hanni." Haerin said her tone amused. "Why are you like this?"

"I don't know! It takes time for me to warm up to people. Just be glad that I'm putting myself out there to hang out with you." I replied, crossing my arms.

"What would you usually do?" She asked, now curious.

"Hang out with Dani, I guess?" I put away my school notes, because I'm done with it anyways. "I feel like she's ignoring me. Do you know anything?"

Haerin looked down, scratched the back of her neck and I could tell she was trying hard not to smile.

"What?" I questioned.

"She's been ignoring me too." She said, now looking up and giving me an almost nervous smile.

"Everyone is just ignoring us." I said, and taking a sip of my drink. "Even Jake is ignoring me. They're going through their own things, I suppose. Normally I would demand what was going on and try to solve things but now I... I guess I'll leave it to them for now."

"Minji mentioned you having a hero complex." Haerin said, and I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, well there's nothing wrong about caring about your friends." I replied defensively.
I didn't say it was a bad thing." Haerin said, shaking her head. "You're pretty cool."