Aurora | park seonghwa

12: Mess

"Get in loser, we're going shopping."

Mingi's car pulled up to the side with Wooyoung hanging out of it, flicking his blonde hair away from his eyes. "Prom is twelve days away and you haven't bothered getting a dress."

I mean could anyone blame me. Nothing clicked from the numerous images Ella sent me, sometimes even mom.

It was still unspoken, the whole prom ordeal. Mom's dissent was apparent as Ella helped with the dress situation, but at the same time she sent me photos of anything that caught her eye.

We really were mother and daughter.

"I don't have enough money right now."

"On us." Wooyoung cheerfully replied as Mingi pulled him back into his seat, swatting away the dust. "Watch the leather man. Dad will kill me."

"He'd be doing a service to us." Wooyoung mumbled as Mingi flipped him off. "I will throw your ass out of the car."

To anyone else, it would seem like a tense situation but really that was the essence of these two.

"Why don't we go to my house, get some money and then go?"

They both looked at each other for a moment, almost as if engaged in a psychic conversation.

"Sounds perfect! Can't wait." Mingi broke away, flashing me a toothy grin, wider than usual as Wooyoung eagerly nodded in agreement.

Okay then.

I brought out my phone as I slid into the backseat, the bitter scent of freshly polished leather hitting my senses as I texted mom, letting her know.

Mingi cleared his throat as he glanced at me through the rear-view mirror, "You really didn't buy a dress?"

"Didn't find anything that suited me."

I heard Wooyoung heave a sigh and mumble a faint "girls" under his breath, not realising I had heard it until after Mingi slapped his thigh. I stifled a laugh, "Easy for you to say, you just have to wear a tux..."

Wooyoung shot me an impish smile, "Do you have any preferences?"

"Not sparkly, preferably black, not too long—"

"—So a funeral attire, got it." Mingi interjected as I let out a groan.

"You sound like mom."

"Because I got the funeral vibes from what you're describing. Don't girls usually put in a lot of effort and time into planning their prom day, like Seulgi began since freshman year."

"I mean yeah...but I don't know, I'd want something that can be worn again instead of sitting in my closet, never seeing the daylight again, you know?"

Mingi hummed in agreement, "So anything else?"

"Not really, let's see when we get there..." I trailed off as they both shared a discreet look again. They became oddly silent, not even a nod or hum in agreement, continuing to focus in front of them.

I leaned against the window, watching the trees and houses blur past until I furrowed my brows in realisation.

"This is not the path to my house..."

"Yeah we had to take a detour—"

"—But we're already at the city centre." I watched the familiar buildings and stalls appear as we took a turn, the scene vanishing as we entered a street. An all too familiar street.

"Oh hell no! You bastards–" I let out a humourless laugh in disbelief as the car slowed to a stop. I stared at the two who got off without sparing me another glance. Mingi opened my side door, practically dragging me out.