love is a joke (michaeng)

What's going on?

After her encounter with Jae, Chaeyoung stormed off in anger. How dare he act so smug about the whole situation. Most of all, Chaeyoung was confused. Exasperated even.

Why hadn't Mina said anything?

Not even a text or a call.

Making her way to her class, Chaeyoung slumped down in her chair with a frown as she pulled out her phone.

To Minari:

What's going on with jae? and where are you?

Chaeyoung sighed as she sent off the text, resting her head in her arms against the table as she waited for a reply.

-

Jae hadn't lied. Not exactly.

Mina lay peaceful in Jae's bed. Quiet as she normally was.

Maybe a bit too quiet.

Strands of her dark hair poked out from underneath the cover as her chest rose rhythmically as she breathed. Every so often she would let out a soft whimper in pain as she tried to find a position to lie in that wouldn't hurt.

But everywhere hurt.

Every single piece of her being was in pain.

But Mina knew she couldn't blame anyone but herself.

A small 'ping' from her phone caught her attention as she looked around for the device. And there it lay in a corner of the room, exactly where Jae had thrown it in anger last night. Mina slowly pushed herself off of the bed, grimacing at the ache that consumed her body.

She promised herself last night when she took Jae home that she wouldn't be weak.

And what was she now?

Weak.

She stumbled to her phone, sinking to her knees and resting her back again the wall as she picked up the shattered screen. Only just legible, beneath the cracked glass, was a message that gave Mina just an ounce of hope.

From Chaeng:

What's going on with jae? and where are you?

Chaeyoung cared.

But what could Mina say? The last thing she wanted Chaeyoung to do was worry. Especially since Jae had made it clear what would happen if she said anything of what had happened the previous night. After a moments thought, Mina typed out an answer.

To Chaeng:

I'm at his place. I wasn't feeling up to school today. Send me any work we get?

As Chaeyoung read this message, she frowned. This all just seemed a bit too normal.

So normal that it was out of place. She navigated to Mina's contact, pressing ring. She held the phone up to her ear, listening to the ringing tone in anticipation.

Mina's hands shook slightly as she pressed 'Answer'.

"Mina? You okay? What's going on?"

"Hey Chaeng, I'm fine don't stress!" Mina answered, trying to lace her voice with enthusiasm.

"Mina...Why is your voice shaking?"

"M-my voice? Oh, I told you I'm just not feeling too good today. I didn't get much sleep."

"Then why are you at Jae's house?"

This question caught Mina slightly off-guard.

"He...he got a little drunk last night, so I took him home."