Parallel Lives | BBANGSAZ

S I X

M I N J I
—

I've been avoiding Hanni Pham for twelve days. Impressive, right?

Ever since I got that email, I've been picking up more shifts at the diner, focusing on my new classes, and hiding in my room, making excuses like "I'm studying!" or "I can't, I'm tired," to my friends when they want to go out. Twelve days of hiding because I sure as hell don't want to face the person who's doing the Winter Showcase with me out of pity.

I had a lot of time to think, and that's what I came up with. She's helping me because she feels sorry for me.

I haven't looked for her, and in twelve days, she hasn't communicated with me—which makes me think she's on the same page I am. She must be thinking that if I needed her that badly, I'd reach out to her. Well, I'm not, and I won't. I can participate next year; I don't need her.

Then why am I avoiding going out? Because I don't want to face her—it's kind of impossible to run into her. I've been here for a year, and I've never even seen one of the hockey royalties once; the first time ever was Hanni Pham, and I know it went like shit, so I'm praying I won't run into her or anyone else again. It's easier if I'm hiding.

Maybe I shouldn't call it hiding. I'm just busy: school, my job... eat, sleep, and repeat. That is basically being busy, right?

Today isn't any different. My first two classes of the day are easy. Music History can be a little tough but just because it's kind of boring for me, but it's doing okay so far. I'm with Dani in almost all my classes, while I know Haerin shares the majority of her classes with a certain brunette I'm not mentioning anymore.

By eleven thirty a.m., I'm walking down the hall toward the outside of the building when I hear a familiar, feminine voice calling my name. Turning, I see Haerin heading toward me, a soft smile on her face, her pink hair tied in a ponytail, and she's holding two books in her hand, balancing her bag on her free shoulder.

"Hey," I flash her a smile, stopping for a second until she makes her way to me. "Do you have any classes? Wanna grab some lunch?"

"Oh, please. I'm starving," she nods, linking her arm with mine. "Is it your day off?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna hang out with my brother."

Her lips form into a smirk. "Ohhh. Are we finally meeting the Kim Taehyung?" she elbows me softly.

I roll my eyes so hard I think they might get stuck in my brain. "No, you won't. He's only here for the day."

"Why don't you want me to meet him? That's the best friend rule number one. Gotta meet your brother," she says. We're walking towards her car, a red Mercedes that was gifted by her dad when she turned sixteen.

When I turned sixteen, my mother got high in front of me and asked me for money, but why compare, right?

"He's just busy. He doesn't live here," I say, getting inside the car at the same time as her. Haerin throws her things in the back seat, and I do the same. "Wait. Where are we going? I was thinking of making something at the dorm."

She chuckles, shaking her head. "Please. You haven't been out with me in forever, I'm taking you to Sally's."

My heart races. "I think this is called kidnapping."

"I prefer... a best friend taking you out for lunch," she shrugs. "I invited Dani, but she said she had a thing."

"I don't wanna go out," I whine, brushing my hair away from my face. "Just go through the drive-thru."