Indifference | MiShu

Part VI

On Saturday, I went home to see my parents. I've been feeling homesick ever since Dad drove me to the dorm, and the scary feeling of being alone for almost a week, with complete strangers, didn't help.

"Mom! I've missed you so much!" I back-hugged my mother as soon as I saw her cooking at our kitchen.

"Omo! My daughter, how are you? Did you make new friends already?" She turns around to return my hug. The feeling of her arms around me, felt so comforting that it almost makes me cry. And so, I did.

"Mom..! I-I felt so sad back there.. My dorm mates are all kind and I wanted to be friends with them, but..."

"But? But what? What is it, my daughter?"

"But I miss home, I miss you guys.." My tears came flowing non-stop. It's quite embarrassing Miyeon, stop crying!

"Aigoo.. Hey, it's okay." She pulls away slightly to look at my face, "We miss you too, I'm sure, you're doing great. You can adjust quickly there, and you're gonna fit right in with your new fellas because you're a great person." She lifted my chin with her fingers and wiped my tears.

"I'm still scared, Mom."

"I understand. But I know that you're a strong lady, and you're gonna be just fine without us, you're our daughter after all, Cho Miyeon-ssi."

"What if this dream isn't really for me, Mom? What if I'm just wasting all of our time, and you and Dad's money?"

"The only thing you have to focus on is giving your best in everything that you're doing, my daughter. Don't worry about the money, that's our responsibility as your parents." Mom pulls me in for another hug just as we've heard the front door opening then slowly close.

I helped Mom to set the table, and Dad enters the kitchen holding a box, wrapped in a pink gift wrap with a red ribbon.

"I haven't had the chance to ask how you are doing while we're driving because you slept on me, kid." Dad laughs, shaking his head as he sits at his usual spot in the table.

"Sorry, Dad." I smiled, kinda embarrassed of myself, "I'm okay now, I guess, now that I'm back here."

"How was your dorm? Did you make any friends?" Dad asks when we started eating.

I laughed at how similar my Mom and Dad's minds work.

"You know, Mom just asked me the exact same question, Dad."

"Did she, now? Hahaha.. Well, what can I say? We are worried about you. Especially after what happened to you at YGU."

My smile disappears and the atmosphere inside the room became awkward and quiet.

"I-I'm sorry, kid. I didn't mean to remind you about--" Dad tries to reach for my hand, but I gently pulls away.

"It's okay, Dad. I'm alright. L-Let's just enjoy the meal, shall we?"

I laughed humorlessly.

***

My weekends went by in a blur but I know I enjoyed it because I spent it with my family. I really missed them so much, and the limited hours that I will be spending with them in the upcoming weekends and holidays would be more precious than ever, now that I'm not seeing them as often as I would like.

I was back at the university on Sunday night, in front of the closed door to our dorm, hearing loud and clear the voices of Yuqi and Shuhua quarrelling about something. I must admit, I'm getting used to this kind of noise in our dorm, and I kinda might have missed it when I was back at home.

Holding an eco-bag full of different snacks in one hand, I opened the door with the other. I ducked as quickly as I could just as a pillow went past where my head would have been seconds ago.

Yuqi's husky laughs echoed through the living room.

"Miyeon-unnie! Yah! Welcome back!" Yuqi ran to me and gave me a bear-hug. I wasn't expecting it as I just got to know her literally, days before, so I stumbled back a little.

I was sure I heard Shuhua laughing along with Yuqi while I was standing outside, but when I enter and now that our gazes met, her eyes were back to those cold, icy ones that I saw when we first met. Did I do something wrong to her? What's up with that?

"Oh. Miyeon-unnie?" Soojin came out from her and Shuhua's shared room. "I was wondering why these two became suddenly quiet, so I checked, and it was you? Hahaha, that's great. My ears are about to bleed with their loud yelling."

Yuqi hooks one of her arms around Soojin's neck even though Soojin's obviously taller, "Yah! Soojin-unnie! Be honest, you're jealous that we're having fun, aren't you? HAHAHA!"

"No. I'm. Not." Soojin removes Yuqi's arm and weakly shoved her away.

I was left standing at the doorway awkwardly while the two exchanged words, so I cleared my throat to get their attention.

"Ahm.. May I come in and put this away?" I gestured to the bag I'm holding.

"Oh, yeah! Come in, come in, unnie! Woah! What are those?!" Yuqi exclaimed as she took a peek at the content of the bag.

"Some snacks that my Mom and Dad made me bring to share with you guys."

"Heol! Amazing.. I want to meet your parents, unnie. They're God-sent." Yuqi helps me carry the bag to the kitchen as the two roommates followed suit.

"Yah.. Song Yuqi, you forgot the pillow that you threw outside..!" Soojin narrowed her eyes at Yuqi.

"Unnie! It's not me! Shuhua threw that pillow at me!" Yuqi raised her hands in defense and quickly looks at Shuhua, "Yeh Shuhua! You pick it up, it was you who threw it anyway!"

Soojin raises her brows to Shuhua, "Yeh Shuhua.. It was you..! Pick it up, now."

"That's right, Shuhua-ya! Go ahead and get the pillow!" Yuqi copied Soojin's crossed arms after glancing at her.

I was actually surprised when Shuhua talked back to Yuqi while I was around. I hear them always teasing each other, but whenever I shows up, Shuhua would grow quiet and would just talk to Soojin, or use her phone.

"Fine! I'm just doing this because Jin-Jin told me so, and not because you told me to, Song Yuqi!" Shuhua reluctantly obeys with heavy steps.

I find her childish character cute, and I felt my self smiling because of that. But I also wonder why she seems so distant, and felt like she doesn't really care about my existence in here?

That sucks.