Darling, I Love You | MiChaeng✔️

[26]

////Chapter 26////

"Happy birthday Mina!" He cheered, slowly singing the song as he cautiously held the cake in his hands. The little girl smiling as she watched him enter.

Everytime she remembered that memory, Mina felt refreshed. But now, it only provided anger and frustration. She looked up to him like her own brother, a brother she could trust. Someone she could lean on in her times of trouble.

The way he turned away, walking off with no answer to her questions. Leaving on her birthday, not even leaving a single bit of explanation. It was as if she was losing a part of her.

It was painful.

"What are you doing here?" Mina asked, snapping out of her own trance. He looked up, his hair was messy and it looked as if he had been tired. He flashed a weak smile, chuckling faintly.

"I was going to meet someone. I didn't know I'll see you again." He adjusted the strap of his bag, looking anywhere but Mina's eyes.

"Of course you won't. After all, you left without saying anything right?" Mina retaliated, Chaeyoung's eyes widening as she could hear the angered tone. Something she doesn't hear so often from the elegant ballerina.

The man stayed quiet, looking down as he felt small under Mina's gaze. "I'm sorry. I should've-"

Mina grabbed her bag, fumbling with her things as she messily slips them into her bag. The corner parts of her textbook sticking out. "You're to late." She growled, croaking out her words. She was about to run off, but he held her wrist.

"I know. But I did it for your own goo-" He was cut off as he felt his body being pushed away. The sight of Mina leaving his eyes as he saw someone step in front of him. A girl who was a little shorter than himself, her facial features resembled that of a tiger.

"Let her be." Chaeyoung spoke, her voice was soft. The man sighed, glancing at Sana, who of course he knew from Mina's childhood.

"I apologize." He let out, before turning on his heel, looking at Sana before fully disappearing into the crowd. Chaeyoung arched an eyebrow, who was confused out of everyone else.

"Who was he?" Chaeyoung asked, looking at Sana for answers. The latter was deciding whether or not the provide them. "I understand it's not for you to answer. You don't need to say anything." Chaeyoung reassured.

"It's not that." Sana sighed, "It's just-He holds a painful memory to Mina. You might have thought it's her ex or something, it's not." Sana answered, increasing Chaeyoung's curiosity even more.

"May I at least know his name?" Chaeyoung asked, looking at Sana with this pleading look in her eyes. The latter nodded, looking up at the tiger, a look of sadness in her eyes.

"His name is Mark." Sana sighed, looking back down, "Mina treated him like an older brother. But let's just say-"

"-He left her at her darkest time."

~

Was it his voice? Was it the way he looked sorry? The guilt? Or was it herself. Mina ran across the streets, her feet taking her anywhere but the university. The look on her face expressed one of two emotions she felt. Fear. She was afraid. Afraid to face him.

After all the pain Mark had caused her, Mina was willing to run away as far possible just to avoid his face. She shook her head as she ran, her bag slapping against her side as she ran up a hill. Ignoring the stares of others, probably concerned as to why a girl was running with a look of frustration.

"Don't worry! I'll be here everytime it's your birthday."

Mina's hand wrapped around the strap of her bag, her grip tightening as she remembered his words on her 11th birthday, his smile as he handed her a teddy bear. Something she had always treasured, until he left.

"Your birthday is very special to me, Mina." 

"Liar." Mina grumbled, ignoring the pain in her legs as she kept running. Aiming to reach the top of the hill.

"You can always count on me!"

"Liar." She choked out, her tears threatening to fall. Mina remembered the many days when he had given her this love, something her parents couldn't do because of all the work they were buried in.

"No matter what happen, I'll always be here with you."

Mina hastily wiped away her tears, finally reaching the top of the hill. She dropped her bag, walking closer to the edge that overlooked the city. The lights that stood out, the cars that drove amongst the roads. The city was so alive, yet here she was. Feeling so, tired. Exhausted.

"Every birthday you have, I'll always be there. I promise, Mina."

"Liar!" Mina screamed, grabbing whatever rock she could find, throwing it with all her might as if to throw her memories with him. But of course, that could only work as a metaphor. She kicked the dirt on the floor, a brown mist forming due to her action.

She could feel her body go weak. Mina only stared at the view, every minute that passed by felt like a painful breath. It felt as if she was drowning under millions of rocks, her hand reaching out, knowing full well that no one would notice.

Why.

Mina wondered. She questioned herself, why she had to see his face once more. She thought the pain would have already passed but it seemed as if this proved her wrong. The heavy weight of the anger and frustration from when she was younger, came back. Harder than it did before.

She let out a shaky breath, her knees collapsing as she let her body go. Mina closed her eyes, letting the breeze brush against her. She knew that if she dropped to her knees it would hurt, but it won't compare to the pain she felt now. Mina waited, she waited to feel the gravel floor scratch against her smooth skin.

"You'll hurt yourself if you do that." A voice whispered. Mina's eyes opened wide, pushing the one who caught her, almost falling down as she did so.

"Chaeyoung." Mina muttered, glancing at the younger girl, who wasn't smiling. "H-How did you find m-me?" She stuttered, looking away as she wiped away the dried tears that stained her cheeks.

"Sana told me your favourite place. So I came here." Chaeyoung answered, her voice as soft as ever.

Mina cursed under her breath, of course Sana knew where she'll be. After all that squirrel knew everything about her, it was something that was both admirable and troublesome. "W-We should go back. It might rain and I don't want to get sick." Mina mumbled, picking her bag up from the floor, stepping her foot out to walk.

"No." Chaeyoung spoke. "If it rains. Let's stay. If it snows, let's stay. If it gets darker, let's stay. Let's just stay, here."

"Then stay." Mina sternly answered, showing her hardest attempt at being stronger. Although the crack in her voice had made her plan fail, giving her the sense of weakness she didn't want to show to Chaeyoung.

As she was about to walk off, a hand caught her wrist pulling her into a tight hug. A hug that showed a side of protectiveness, something Chaeyoung had been with her lately. "No. I want to stay here. With you."

Mina put her hand over her mouth, holding the temptation to let her tears run. She was trying her best to contain her emotions but she knew it was over once Chaeyoung tightened the hug. Mina chocked on her words, hiding her face into Chaeyoung's chest. "Chaeyoung, please.." She trailed off.

Chaeyoung's hand grazed Mina's back, "You don't need to talk. Just stay here-"

"I'll be here as long as I'm with you. So let's stay, together."

::

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