It was 4 AM, and the stillness of the early morning wrapped around Haerin like a heavy blanket. Despite the tranquility, her mind was anything but calm. The events of the previous night played on an endless loop in her head, especially the three words that Hanni had whispered to her: I love you.
Beside her, Hanni slept soundly, her arms wrapped tightly around Haerin in a snug embrace. The faint rise and fall of Hanni's breathing added a rhythm to the quiet room. Haerin couldn't bring herself to sleep. Her fingers absentmindedly brushed her lips, still tingling from the kiss they had shared.
What does love even feel like? she wondered. For Hanni, love seemed natural, as if it poured from her heart effortlessly. But for Haerin, it felt foreign, like a language she had yet to learn. Did she love Hanni the same way? Could she ever?
The weekend was a welcome reprieve from their busy high school schedules and the long hours they spent at the convenience store. Downstairs, Eunchae and Haerin were preparing breakfast together, the clatter of pots and pans filling the small kitchen.
"These pancakes are amazing!" Eunchae exclaimed, her mouth full of the fluffy treat. She gave Haerin a thumbs up.
"It tastes better when you've worked hard to make it," Haerin replied, smiling faintly. Though Eunchae had helped, the pancakes were mostly her effort.
As Haerin bit into her pancake, her phone buzzed on the counter. Wiping her hands, she unlocked the device and opened the unfamiliar chat notification.
Chatroom: Unknown:
Hi Kitty Kang 😊
Haerin:
Who?
Unknown:
Your future girlfriend. 😉
Haerin:
I'm blocking you.
Unknown:
No, no, wait! It's Danielle.
Haerin:
Oh, where did you get my number?
Danielle:
From Minji.
What are you doing right now?
Haerin:
Eating. You?
Danielle:
Wishing this message didn't have punctuation.
Haerin choked on her pancake reading the flirty reply. Startled, Eunchae rushed over, handing her a glass of water and patting her back.
"What happened?" Eunchae asked, concerned.
"Nothing," Haerin muttered between coughs, her face flushed.
Haerin:
Huh?
Danielle:
I was asking if we could... hang out today?
Haerin:
Hmm, not sure.
Danielle:
Please, Haerin!
Haerin:
Fine.
Danielle quickly sent the address of a nearby café, and Haerin agreed. After cleaning up, she informed Eunchae that she'd be stepping out for a while and headed upstairs to change.
At the playground, Minji crouched near a stray cat, gently feeding it scraps of food. Her eyes lit up as the cat purred against her leg, a small moment of joy in her otherwise ordinary day.
"Minji?" A familiar voice called out. Turning, she saw Haerin walking toward her.
"Haerin? What are you doing here?" Minji asked, surprised.
"I saw you from a distance. Were you feeding this cat?" Haerin knelt beside Minji, patting the feline.
"Yeah, I come here often. Isn't she adorable?" Minji grinned.
Haerin's lips curled into a small smile as she observed the scene. For a moment, she felt an unexpected warmth seeing Minji's kindness.
"So, where are you headed?" Minji asked.
"Danielle invited me to a café," Haerin replied nonchalantly.
"Oh." Minji's tone shifted subtly, though she masked her unease.
"Actually," Haerin said, her voice brightening, "why don't you come with me? We can hang out together."
"Are you sure Danielle would be okay with that?" Minji hesitated.
"If she doesn't like it, we'll just hang out here with the cat." Haerin's playful wink left Minji momentarily speechless, but she agreed with a nod.
Upstairs, Hanni finally stirred awake. Still groggy, she padded to the kitchen in her pajamas, her stomach growling. Despite the late hour, she immediately began devouring the pancakes left on the table.
"These are good! Did you make them?" she asked Eunchae, who was passing through.
"Not really. Haerin made them," Eunchae replied, barely concealing her pride.
"Haerin? Where is she now?" Hanni asked, her interest piqued.
"She said she'd be out for a while," Eunchae replied.
Hanni shrugged, murmuring to herself, "Maybe she's with someone. Well, at least she made me breakfast."
At Ditto Café, Danielle tapped her fingers on the table, glancing at the clock. Haerin was thirty minutes late, but Danielle's anticipation outweighed her annoyance. She imagined this as her chance to show Haerin how much she cared.
Finally, the café door swung open, and Haerin walked in. Relief washed over Danielle, but her smile faltered when she noticed Minji following behind. The duo approached the table, and Haerin introduced Minji with an apologetic grin.
"Oh, Haerin, you didn't mention Minji was joining us," Danielle said, her voice strained as she plastered on a smile.
"Yeah, we ran into each other, so I invited her along," Haerin explained casually. Oblivious to the tension, she gestured for Minji to sit beside her.
The conversation flowed, but Danielle couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider. She watched as Haerin laughed more than usual, particularly at Minji's mediocre jokes. When Minji disliked her drink, Haerin readily swapped hers, even though it was mint-flavored—something Haerin typically avoided.
Danielle's frustration simmered. This was supposed to be her moment with Haerin, but Minji's presence made her feel like an unwelcome guest.
Meanwhile, Hanni was strolling through the neighborhood with Yunjin, enjoying her favorite ice cream.
"So, your girlfriend knows about our secret?" Yunjin teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Hanni replied nonchalantly. "But she's not my girlfriend yet."
Yunjin sighed. "This was supposed to be our secret, Hanni."
Their conversation was interrupted when Yunjin pointed across the street. "Isn't that Haerin?"
Hanni turned quickly, spotting Haerin with Minji, who was giving her a piggyback ride. Haerin's carefree smile stung like a betrayal. To make matters worse, Danielle trailed behind, completing the trio.
Hanni's grip tightened on her ice cream cup, causing it to squish and spill. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.
"Geez, don't waste food!" Yunjin exclaimed, disgusted.
Ignoring her, Hanni stormed off toward the group, her frustration bubbling over as she got closer.
YOU ARE READING
Love In Convenience
Fanfiction| Hanni is the most feared delinquent student at ADOR HIGH. Despite her baby face and short figure, she is almost everyday involved in fights. Everything was going well for her until a new girl joined the school and now the latter seems to be fall...
