See You Again: MBHEA Book II

| · 8 · | Warm Smiles

AS I sat down on the roof of our apartment building, I let thoughts swim through my head instead of pushing them away.

"Why are you up here alone?"

I looked up to see Hara walking my way. She had two open bottles of soju in her hands. Plopping down on the creaky old bench, she tossed me a bottle.

"Your coming of age just passed and you've already adapted a drinking habit?"

Hara laughed and clinked her bottle against mine. "Cheers." She took a big gulp, seeming desperate to overcome soberness.

"You okay?" I asked, looking at the tempting liquor. It's not enough to make me drunk but it might help me numb the pain. I took a long sip, the feeling of alcohol down my throat refreshing.

"I don't know," Hara replied. "Since when did things become so complicated?"

I stared at the endless blue sky above us. "They just keep coming. Problem after problem. Until you can't take it anymore."

Hara glanced at me, a weak smile on her face. "Yeah, but I know you'll be standing after all of this is over."

"So what's your story? You never told me," I said. "Now that I think about it, you've always seemed to avoid talking about anything about yourself."

Hara took another gulp before answering me. "I've recently read a story, an online book." I nodded, gesturing for her to continue. "It's conveys a deep message, a sensitive one. And it makes me think about life.

"The protagonist was forced to cover up her pain, her emotions, her misery as each day passed. She was waiting for that one day, when she graduates so she'll finally be free. It was her only hope. But life was being unfair to her. She suffered so much and even love wouldn't come easy for her."

Hara sighed, chugging the rest of her soju. "Her father is like mine too. Disabled, weak-minded, ill, ailed, whatever term you people like to use to label them. My father was diagnosed with locked in syndrome after a surgery. He was a police officer and...an accident happened during a chase. Every day I tell myself, I should enjoy life. He wasn't that great of a father anyways—rude, tactless, never gives a damn crap about me. He couldn't care less if I was in his position. So what if he couldn't talk? So what if he couldn't move? At least he survived, right? But my mom makes everything so much harder. Shes reminds me that I have a sick father every day. She wouldn't speak unless necessary, she wouldn't laugh, she wouldn't get herself out of her depressed shell."

"Hara...Why didn't you tell me?" I asked softly.

"Because you have enough on your shoulders. I don't need to be another weight of burden on your shoulders."

I pulled Hara in for a hug, letting her head rest against mine. "You would've been a great actress, Hara. You don't need to act anymore. If you're sad, then be sad. If you're angry, then be angry. By pretending, you're making yourself suffer even more. Let's be true to each other from now on, okay?"

"I'm just glad I met you, Chaeyoung," Hara whispered.

My head felt like exploding. Two friends. Two choices and I can only pick one. "Hara?"

"Yea?" she answered.

"Are you happy here? If you had the chance to leave here, would you do it?" I asked, suddenly nervous.