A lovely change with love|2min

chapter 19

Seungmin stepped into the apartment, the soft thud of the door closing behind her. As she placed her bag near the entrance, she barely had time to register the space before a trio of eager meows reached her ears. Soonie, Doongie, and Dori padded up to her, their sleek bodies weaving around her legs in greeting.

A wide smile spread across her face as she crouched down, scooping up Dori. The little feline purred loudly, licking her cheek with rapid, wet swipes that made Seungmin giggle. "Did you guys miss me?" she asked, her voice soft and full of affection. In response, a chorus of meows echoed through the apartment, each one sounding more insistent than the last.

Seungmin’s heart swelled as she carried Dori to the sofa, the other two followed closely behind. She settled down, Dori curling up in her lap while Soonie and Doongie took their places on either side of her. She stroked their fur absentmindedly, her fingers gently brushing through the soft strands. “Your dad isn’t home, huh?” she muttered, glancing around the apartment. The empty space felt strangely hollow without him, and an unbidden wave of longing hit her.

"I miss him," she whispered, her heart speeding up at the thought. A whine escaped her lips as she rested her head against the back of the couch, eyes closing for a brief moment. “Oh, that’s crazy,” she murmured, feeling the warmth of Dori on her lap and the comforting presence of Soonie and Doongie beside her.

After a while, Seungmin forced herself to get up, careful not to disturb the cats too much as she started gathering some of Minho’s belongings scattered around. His scent lingered faintly on the throw blanket and the jacket draped over the back of a chair, causing her chest to tighten with a bittersweet ache. She neatly folded everything, trying to distract herself from how much she already missed him.

Next, she moved to the bathroom, taking a quick, refreshing shower. The hot water did little to wash away the jumble of emotions swirling inside her, but it helped her relax, if only a little. Stepping out, she wore a comfy dress, a hoodie and sweat and moved back into the living room, where Soonie and Doongie were now stretched out on the couch, lazily basking in the afternoon light.

Seungmin glanced at the clock, realizing it was time to feed the cats. She grabbed their bowls from the kitchen, giving each of them a bath before setting down their meals. Soonie, Doongie, and Dori eagerly gathered around the bowls, their tails flicking in anticipation.

With them settled, Seungmin returned to the kitchen to make herself something simple to eat. She was just about to chop some vegetables when the doorbell rang. Her hand froze mid-motion, and her brows furrowed slightly in confusion.

"Who could that be?" she wandered aloud, wiping her hands before heading toward the door.

Seungmin stood frozen for a moment, her hand gripping the door handle as she stared at Areum. She hadn’t expected to see her, and certainly not like this. The tension in the air was palpable, an invisible thread stretched taut between them as Areum’s eyes flicked over Seungmin with a mix of surprise and something darker, annoyance.

“Is Minho home?” Areum asked, her voice flat but sharp, like a blade slicing through the silence.

Seungmin shook her head slowly, her own gaze softening as she watched Areum. Despite the hurt lingering between them, she still felt a strange affection for her, a protective instinct that hadn’t faded with time. But Areum wasn’t interested. She turned to leave without another word, her body language cold, distant.

“Don’t you want to talk to me?” Seungmin’s voice was quiet but firm, stopping Areum in her tracks. Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for a response.

Areum turned halfway, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s there to talk about?” she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. “You promised to take care of Hyunjin. Where is he?”