Clean [kim mingyu]

06

once the day was over, suri took her time picking up her books, trying to avoid being in contact with the other students. the halls could be very, like, very crowded, and she'd sometimes feel like she was suffocating. the girl zipped her bag closed and stood up, touching the back of her chair with her fingertips to push it back under her desk.

"there you are! you're taking forever." a voice took her by surprise, making her flinch. "oh. sorry, i didn't mean to scare you." she looked up, meeting mingyu's gaze. she noticed for the first time how tall he was conpared to her... not that she was that short but he was still few inches taller, making the top of her head touch the tip of his nose.

"let's go, i'm starving." the girl looked at him with squinted eyes. "come on! don't stare at me like that. i'd like to pull your hand like a normal impatient person would do, but i can't really do it." mingyu smiled, showing his white teeth. suri couldn't help but feel bad...

this boy she barely knew was trying so hard to break her walls. they both knew it wouldn't be an easy task. sadly, he was still far from making a hole through them.

"hey, don't feel bad about what i said. it was a joke. i don't mind. i'm not too fond into skinships either." mingyu turned on his heels, ready to head out. and unconsciously, suri followed him.

mingyu came back, holding a bunch of sandwiches he bought at the nearby convenience store. he caught suri at a bench, playing with her fingers. there were children not so far, playing in the playground, and few mothers talking to each other.

"oh, you're here." the girl tried to look friendly, but obviously, failed to. but it only made mingyu chuckle. "you don't have to force yourself. i'm not rushed. and i think you're pretty cool like this, to be honest." mingyu sat next to her, handling her a chicken sandwhich and a carton of strawberry milk. to her own surprise, she took them without hesitation.

she was silently drinking the last drops of her pink milk as he was drinking a carton of soja drink, when he took out another one for her. "it's fine, thanks." she refused it, but he insisted. "just... take it." the boy grabbed her hand, and put the pink box on her palm.

she felt butterflies in her stomach and her heart was racing in her chest. that's when realisation hit her. mingyu was holding her hand — he was touching her... and she didn't mind at all.

it was few minutes past midnight and suri couldn't seem to fall asleep. her eyes wide open, staring at her plain ceiling, she let out a sigh. suddenly, her cellphone vibrated. she tried to ignore, thinking it was probably someone who wrongly composed her number — not even her mother would call her, so who would? especially at this hour? — but it rang a second time.

"hello?" her voice was barely audible, but the person on the other side of the line managed to hear her. "this is my number, in case you need anything. i will answer whenever you call me. at four in the afternoon or at two in the morning, i'll answer... well, that if i don't get in an accident or anything." she didn't want to know how he got her number or how she got his in her contact, and only listened to him babbling about his day and his family.

when he had nothing left to say, there was a moment of silence. they both listened to each other's breathing. strangely, it was slightly comforting to her.

for once, she felt at peace. no one to tell her she was unloved. no one to tell her she was ugly. no one to tell her she was dirty.

she didn't really want to hang up, but she remembered they had school later that day. "goodnight, mingyu."clittle did she know, on the other side of the line, mingyu was smiling, as if he was expecting her greetings.

"goodnight, suri."

swollensoul: here is another chapter of clean. to be honest, i have no idea how this story is going to end. that's why i'm not planning of making it long. so the next chapters (i'm planning on writing four(?) more) will be rushed, so there will be time skips. so if you get confused at some point, don't hesitate to comment.

about that picture of mingyu, i changed my brother's contact name and picture and call myself. shame on me.