{Michaeng} For Just a Minute

Chapter 5: For Just a Minute

"Chaeyoung," Sana said, with her intense eyes aimed directly towards mine. We're sitting alone in the campus dining hall. The subject of our conversation was currently napping in her room. "Mina needs a hand to hold. Everyone needs one. You need one, I need one. We're all in it together. But especially Mina. I've noticed the way she talks with you and the way she always seems calmer and less shy when around you. Please watch over Mina."

I thought long and hard as I processed what Sana related to me. Mina likes me. I like Mina. It's like the unfathomable moment in crush history. I thought it was just those things one sees in Korean dramas, but here it was, happening to me. "So, what do I do to help her?"

Sana sat back and pondered awhile. "She just needs a companion, someone to cuddle her and tell her that they love her. Someone to encourage her smile more and to make her laugh."

"I'm not funny, though," I protested. "Everyone knows Jeongyeon and I get labled as the 'No jam' girls. She probably wouldn't even understand my jokes," I added, remembering my penguin was of Japanese descent, and wasn't fully able to comprehend Korean language.

Sana smiled. "I'm sure you'll be able to, eventually. It just takes time, practice, and determination." She stood up and nodded to me. "My job is to help you, Chaeyoung. I know what you need to do, trust me."

"Thank you, Sana. I really appreciate your help," I acknowledged with gratitude. "You're my lifesaver."

"Hey, since I've given you so many tips, how about buying me one of those chocolate bars?"

"EH?!"

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That was a little less than one week ago. Our conversation, I mean. Since that day, my relationship with Mina hadn't progressed in the slightest. In fact, I'd barely see her. We were caught up in so many different training regimines, it was like we were soldiers preparing for war. When Saturday rolled around, I felt so grateful for the opportunity to relax in my bunkbed peacefully.

"So how's it going?" My roommate, Jeongyeon asked, suddenly out of the blue. She was sitting at her small desk, eating from a bag of Korean chips and watching a Kpop MV.

"How's what going?" I replied, confused. I stared down at her.

"You...and Mina," said she, returing my perplexed look with a innocent smile.

"Who told you anything about us?" I questioned irritatedly, feeling my ears warming from embarrassment.

"Sana did." Oh, that cheeky little Doge.

"She did, did she?" I swung my legs over the railing on my upper bed and shrugged. "Nothing. Seriously, I haven't spoken a word with her all week. Our workload has been enormous."

"It has," agreed Jeongyeon, munching on another snack. "But that doesn't mean you can't talk to her today, does it?"

"You're right," I admitted slowly. "But she's been napping for awhile. I don't want to wake her."

"Dude," laughed Jeongyeon. "Do you know how much that girl can sleep? I heard she almost slept through the entire initiation speech and nobody noticed! Haha, that girl's funny. If you want to talk to her, just wake her up. I'm sure she won't murder you for waking you up, not like Momo did when I tried to rouse her," she added with a rueful chuckle.

"Well then..." I trailed off as Jeongyeon peered at me expectantly. This hadn't been on any of my weekend plans, and suddenly I knew it should've been. "I guess I'll go now... Thanks Jeongyeon."

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Thud. Thud. Thud.

Just like the first time I stood in front of JYPE's entrance, did my heart palpitate in such a manner.