Michaeng (Short Stories) Vol. 2

IIY 7

Mina's POV

I squinted against the sunlight streaming through my window, my head pounding from the aftermath of last night. 'Ugh, fuck. My head' I massaged my temples and was about to sit up when I noticed her—Chaeyoung—lying beside my bed, her head resting on the edge, fast asleep.

'What is she doing here?!' Then it hit me—last night wasn't a dream. I cursed under my breath. I barely remembered the details, but I knew she helped me. I was drunk, but I could still feel her warmth, the way she took care of me. 'Did she sleep like this the whole night?' Her body must be stiff as hell from staying in that position.

I shifted, trying to get up quietly, but she must have felt my movement because her eyes fluttered open.

"Mina?" she asked groggily.

I quickly tried to compose myself, pulling on that cold exterior again. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"You...you asked me to stay the night," she replied.

'Dammit, Mina!' I mentally cursed myself.

"Is that so... uhm are you hungry?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"I-I'm okay," she said, standing up awkwardly. "I should go."

"Uh... have breakfast with me first. I can cook," I said before I could stop myself.

She raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "You can?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Why? You don't think I can cook?"

"No, it's just... I mean, I thought you must have hundreds of maids to do that for you," she teased.

"Well, yeah, but I've been on my own a lot, so I had to learn how to do things like cooking." I rolled my eyes.

She just hummed in response, looking around my dorm. "You stay here by yourself?"

"Yes. I'm not fond of co-living."

"This place is huge for one person. Don't you get sad?"

I froze for a second, her question hitting closer to home than I wanted to admit. "I-It doesn't matter. Stop asking so many questions, Son."

"Okay, chill..." she said, chuckling and backing off slightly.

As I started preparing breakfast, I felt her move closer. "I can help," she offered.

"No, just... sit there. I got this," I insisted.

"Okay..." she murmured, taking a seat but watching me with that same interested look on her face.

As I cooked, I could feel her presence behind me, and for the first time in a long while, I didn't feel so alone. Even though I tried to keep my distance, something about her made the empty space around me seem... less lonely.

"Are you just gonna watch me?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder. "You can watch TV in the living room, you know."

"I'm okay here," Chaeyoung replied, leaning on the counter with a playful grin. "You're more fun to watch, and for once, you're not hating me."

I glared at her as I chopped onions. "Who told you I don't hate you? In fact, I despise you," I said with a smirk.

"Oh yeah? What did I do, Ms. Perfect?"

"I just hate your existence, that's all," I shot back.

Chaeyoung chuckled. "Oh... well then, I should probably go," she said, getting up from the stool.