"Let me Laugh Again" Book 2 V Fanfiction

1 - A Fresh Start?

      Min-ji was all healed but she was real cold. She drove to school today and was glad for Fred spraying Tyre Grip on the tires so that she won't slip on the icy roads. She rubbed her hands together because she forgot to bring her mittens. She blew on them then shoved them in her coat pockets and ran to the Racing Club's building to scavenge for coffee.

      "Oy, Min-ji. You're early!" greeted her teammates. Min-ji greeted them back with a weak wave and headed straight for the coffeemaker. "You're early pretty girl..." said Minjun, annoying as ever. She didn't reply but just waited patiently for the coffee to be ready. The brewing coffee gave off a wonderful aroma that permeated the hall and caused the others to troop to where she was.

      "Hey, when are we racing?" asked Minjun again. "Yah - are you still going on about that?" Yoonsu asked him. "Whatever - I'm still not acknowledging her until she can beat me in a race!" Minjun declared. "She almost died you know! Why do you want so bad to race against her?" Hyejin said. "I don't care. That's my requirement for her to be acknowledged by me..." Minjun shot back. 

      "Yah - are you a kid?" Eunsung finally spoke up. Min-ji kept quiet as she sipped her coffee. She didn't really pay attention to their banter because she hated small talk and she didn't really care if Minjun acknowledged her or not but it annoyed her that he might keep on provoking her all semester so she said suddenly, "Why do want to lose against me so bad?" then smirked at him. "Ohhhh...." chorused the team.

"What did you say?!" Minjun whispered but his voice dripped with barely contained hostility.

      Min-ji shrugged her shoulders. "I mean - why do you really want to show off? What could you possibly gain from losing against me?" she kept on. The members were now dead quiet. She stopped talking not because she was afraid to offend but she challenged them all with her confidence.

      Even the leader Eunsung's hackles seemed to rise because she was goading them all and mocked them. "Yah - are you looking down on us?" asked Hyejin. "I never said that - but well - if the tires fit..." she said offhandedly. "Yah - who do you think you are?" asked Yoonsu since everyone's ego was riled up because she was so arrogant and mocking.
      Min-ji just shrugged. She didn't really want to leave. In her own way, she wanted to be friends with these idiots but she didn't know how to express herself so she attacked first. She didn't want to feel left out of the group but she was no pushover either. She was pissed that Minjun mocked and challenged her so she gave back as much as she got.

      All she wanted was some peace and quiet this semester but trouble seemed to follow her everywhere. Min-ji sighed as drifted off to the other side of the room. She waited almost impatiently while the whole team were discussing quietly on the opposite side of the room. Hyejin finally walked over to her and stood beside her. "Why do you keep pushing people away?" she asked.

"I don't push people away-"

      "Oh yeah? That's what you do. When people want to get close to you, you push them away..." the other girl replied. "I-" Min-ji looked over at the team on the other side of the room and said, "I don't push them away...I just, I want to be friends with you but I-" Min-ji stopped talking as she was getting angry. 'Why am I even explaining myself to this girl?' she thought. 

      But Hyejin was perceptive and spoke, "...but you don't know how, correct?" Min-ji only glared at her. "I'm thinking that you're a person who doesn't initiate relationships although I find it quite surprising because you seem full of confidence..." Hyejin said. 'Damn this girl is right!' Min-ji thought as she realized that the other girl has seen through her. 

      No one has done that since her best friend Mi Rae, many years ago and she was hopeful that she would find a new friend in Hyejin as well. But she just said, "Whatever..." while her face was still crunched up into a frown.

      Hyejin just laughed and patted her hand because she now knew a little bit more about the Min-ji's secret. Min-ji glared at her and pulled her hand away, "Aww you look so cute...hey guys I've discovered something!!!" she called the others.

Min-ji rolled her eyes but she didn't walk out.