A lovely change with love|2min

chapter 14

Trigger warnings
Mention of rape and suicide

Seungmin entered her office, her steps slow and deliberate as she crossed the room. She placed her phone on the desk with a soft thud and sat down, her eyes drifting to her right hand, now wrapped in a compression bandage. She flexed her fingers slightly, feeling the tension in her hand—a constant reminder of the little accident at the café earlier that day.

Flashback

The scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods greeted Seungmin as she pushed open the door of the café. The bell above the entrance chimed, announcing her arrival. She scanned the cozy interior, her mind already on the piece of chocolate cake she planned to buy for Minho.

As she made her way toward the counter, she felt a sudden force collide with her, throwing her off balance. Before she could react, she stumbled and fell to the floor, her body twisting awkwardly as she tried to catch herself. Pain shot through her right hand as it bore the brunt of her fall. Seungmin winced, the sharp discomfort bringing tears to her eyes.

She looked up, her gaze landing on the person who had collided with her. It was a man wearing a mask and a cap, his face partially obscured. He didn't stop, didn't even glance back to check on her, instead turning on his heel to leave. But something caught her attention—a tattoo on his neck, partially visible above his collar. It seemed familiar, as if she'd seen it somewhere before, though she couldn't place where.

"Hey, are you alright?" A concerned voice broke through her thoughts. Seungmin turned to see a woman standing over her, hand extended in an offer to help. Grateful, Seungmin took it and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.

"Yeah, I’m fine, thank you," Seungmin replied, though the throbbing in her hand told a different story.

She dusted herself off and approached the counter, doing her best to shake off the encounter. After placing her order for a piece of chocolate cake, she couldn’t help but ask the cashier, "That man who collided with me... is he a regular here?"

The girl behind the counter frowned slightly, shaking her head. "No, I’ve never seen him before. It was my first time too."

"Oh, I see," Seungmin murmured, her curiosity tinged with unease. She paid for the cake and, as she reached for the box, a sharp twinge of pain shot through her right hand, making her wince.

The cashier noticed and offered a sympathetic smile. "It looks like you hurt yourself. You might need a compression bandage for that."

Seungmin nodded, managing a small smile despite the discomfort. "Thanks, I’ll take care of it."

As she stepped out of the café, the afternoon sunlight felt warm against her skin, a stark contrast to the cold unease still lingering from the encounter. Seungmin pulled out her phone and dialed Changbin’s number. He answered on the second ring.

"Changbin, are you free right now?"

Present

The soft ding of her phone pulled Seungmin out of her thoughts, grounding her back to the present. She picked up the device, her bandaged hand still aching slightly, and saw a message from Changbin.

"Delivery done"

A small smile tugged at her lips as she quickly typed a response.

"What was his reaction? Did he like it?"

A few moments later, her phone vibrated again.

"Yeah, he ate it deliciously, and I also saw him smiling"

Seungmin’s smile widened, a wave of relief washing over her. The tension that had been coiled tight in her chest finally began to ease. Minho’s smile was a rare and precious thing, something she hadn’t seen enough. Knowing that he enjoyed the cake—her small gesture—gave her a sense of satisfaction, like a job well done.