another world

chapter 8 "Insanity"

"No! My answer is NO. I can't marry you.

I'm sorry, but I want to have a normal life, and marrying you will not make that happen. Everyone knows about your family, and even you have a mental condition. I can't trust my future with you, Minji. I'm sorry, I love you, but I have to think of myself, my future, my dignity, and my family."

Those words are constantly echoing in my brain. It's non-stop, and I can't seem to escape it. She can't marry me because she thinks I'm crazy. I can't have a future with her because she believes my entire family, including me, is insane. We're not normal, and she's convinced that I'll never be mentally stable due to my schizophrenia.

"Minji, no one will like you or love you. You are crazy. You are like your mom and sister. Karina will never love you because you are not normal. Your father left you because he despises you; he knows you are crazy. Your best friend just pitied you and eventually left you. No one will be there for you. You will be alone and live in a mental institution. Those words are repeating inside of my brain. I want to stop it but I don't know how. I want to scream, to cry, to relieve this feeling, but no actions are coming from me. I can't even sit or do the slightest movement in my body. The mix of emotions I feel right now: anger towards myself, thinking I am useless; overwhelming sadness and depression because the love of my life left me. God help me, I don't know what to do."

Haerin POV

After Karina refused Minji's proposal, it sent shockwaves through everyone, myself included. I've never been supportive of Karina being in a relationship with my best friend, but her rejection of Minji left us all bewildered. My worry was solely for my best friend, as she had never faced rejection before and I knew this would take a toll on her mental well-being.

I instructed my colleagues to return to their work and give Minji and me some space. It was disheartening to witness Minji's girlfriend callously reject her and then leave. What a nerve. I will definitely confront her after I comfort my best friend.

"Minji, buddy," I murmured softly, my eyes filled with concern as I looked at her after the heartbreaking incident. "Are you alright? If you need, I can take you home. You don't have to hold back, Minji. You can lean on me and let your emotions out. It's okay to release everything you're feeling," I said gently, observing her stillness and the absence of tears in her eyes following the painful rejection by Karina.

This scares me, When her mom and sister died, she cried continuously like a river. All her emotions and feelings were expressed through tears and angry outbursts. But now, not even a single word is coming from her mouth. It worries me because all of her emotions are being kept inside internally. I'm afraid of seeing my best friend break down at this point. She has fought too hard with her mental issues to live a normal life. She made promises to herself that she will not have the same fate as her mother and sister. I am so worried about her, but I promise myself that I will never leave her no matter what happens to Minji. She is the only one who truly cares and loves me, she is the only family and home I have ever had because my parents don't even care about me.

As I drew near to her, I wrapped my arms around her for a warm embrace. "Min, please don't hold back. If you're angry, let it out. If you're feeling broken, you can cry on my shoulder. I'm here for you, Minji, and I'll always stand by your side," I whispered to her, feeling tears streaming down my cheeks.

I was taken aback when she abruptly broke free from my embrace and seized the collar of my clothes. Her eyes blazed with an intensity of anger I had never witnessed before. With a firm grip, she propelled me into her office and unleashed a tirade. "You! Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted? You don't want me to be happy! You are so selfish and self-centered! Get out of my life and don't show your face to me again!" With force, she expelled me from her office and secured the door behind me.