Chapter 16
Yoohyeon was worried when she didn’t see Siyeon that night. But then she remembered that she had scheduled some kind of study session with her ex and now she couldn’t even think properly. Her mind was clouded with so much that she nearly burnt her instant ramen in the microwave.
She set her cup on the table, getting ready to eat when she heard someone knocking on her door. She let out a groan, almost about to ignore it when another rapid knocking came at her door.
“I’m coming! Sheesh…” She muttered before opening the door.
“Told you she’d open it if you pretended like it was urgent,” Gahyeon chuckled.
“What do you guys want…” Yoohyeon mumbled.
“We have a message from Dongie,” Dami smiled.
Yoohyeon slammed the door in their faces, not even caring about the message. If she had a message she could come over herself. So she could slam the door in her face personally rather than word of mouth.
The door clicked open the second she sat down, causing her to glare at Gahyeon.
“This is now breaking and entering,” Yoohyeon frowned.
“It’s not if there’s a probable cause!” Gahyeon pointed. “I passed my classes,” She glared.
“And your cause?!” Yoohyeon frowned.
“Dami?” Gahyeon pushed the smaller framed woman in front of her, both now in the apartment.
“Dong wanted us to ask you to join her tonight at the observatory,” She sighed. “But after you slammed the door, we’ll convey the message that you hate her guts and would rather dive into a pit of nails than see her,” She stated.
“How did you get that from a door slam?” Gahyeon frowned.
“I’m dating Bora, I speak fluent door slam now,” Dami chuckled.
“Good. Tell her that. And also tell her if she ever crosses my path, I’ll harm her myself,”
“Yoohyeon… I really think you should go… Dong is really harmless. And Minji…”
“I don’t care! I told her I was burned before and now she had gone off and slept with Siyeon’s ex. Siyeon walked in and fucking heard it! Do you know how traumatizing that is?!” She snapped, watching both girls shake their heads. “You have to live the rest of your life… unsure if you’re ever going to be enough for someone. Wondering what you did wrong rather than what they did wrong. Then when you finally find someone who cares enough about you… You still wonder when it’s going to happen. Wonder when they’ll just throw everything away to fuck the next person that is so much better than you,” She whispered.
“Dong isn’t like that… Just hear her out…” Dami frowned. “You don’t have to accept her apologies or talk to her. Just go and listen.”
Minji sat in the library, pushing a pencil across the desk and watching it roll back. However, this time she shot it too far and it hit Siyeon’s textbook, causing the younger to look up at her.
“Sorry,” She chuckled.
“Aren’t you supposed to be studying?” She frowned.
“I hit the part where I have to describe the rocks, so I can’t do that here,” She mumbled.
“Why?” Siyeon asked before pushing the pencil back.
“Well… I can guess how it feels, how it looks and smells… But taste? I’d rather not lick a rock in the library,” She chuckled.
“You… lick rocks?” Siyeon frowned, watching her nod her head. “Why..?”
“All geology majors lick rocks?!” Minji laughed. “Like quartz tastes like salt.” She shrugged her shoulders looking at Siyeon’s extremely concerned face. “Jealous you can’t lick a robot?” She smirked.
“No, I’m just concerned you might eat a rock one day…” Siyeon frowned.
“Forbidden candies,” Minji smiled.
The two went back to studying, causing Minji to ultimately move her things closer to Siyeon and start to read over her shoulder. She wasn’t going to lie and say that artificial intelligence wasn’t interesting. But it was just daunting. And to see someone like Siyeon tackling it was impressive.
“What are you doing?” Siyeon frowned.
“Reading.”
“Why?” She whispered.
“I’m bored, I can’t do my portion,” Minji pouted. “Teach me this.” She pointed at the page, causing Siyeon to laugh. “What’s so funny?” She frowned.
“I can’t teach you that. You need to have a basic understanding of computer programming and the transfer of data…” Siyeon stopped, watching Minji stare at her with a raised eyebrow. “You do, don’t you…” She whispered.
“Remote sensing is a lot to deal with computers rather than just rocks go boom. I have to be able to read what the explosions give me. And use a computer to transfer that data into the explosive. How far to go into the earth, when to detonate, how to explode… And be able to control it,” She explained with a wink.
“Well… okay then.” Siyeon chuckled. “Do you really send explosions?” She whispered.
“It’s more satellite work these days. But sometimes,” She shrugged. “Now teach me to skit the little robots please…” She pouted.
Yoohyeon didn’t know how she was dragged out here, but she was and now she could go back but at this point, she just wanted to get things over with.
She walked into the building and saw Dong at the top of the stairs, wringing her hands.
“Wow you came…” She whispered.
“You have five minutes.” Yoohyeon shoved her hands in her hoodie pocket, waiting for her to speak.
“Oh, okay. Um…” Dong frowned before walking down the stairs. “Look, I don’t know how to apologize for this. Because an apology doesn’t even begin to cover what I did. You were right. I shouldn’t have even done what I did. I should’ve learned that Siyeon was dating Minji earlier on, but I didn’t think I could get to know Siyeon that well… it felt intrusive to ask that question. So it is my fault on that part.” She spoke quickly, unsure how long Yoohyeon would stay there. “But I just wanted to say… you… you’re the most perfect person in the world and I don’t want to try and sway your feelings because they’re valid, but I just want to say all of this since I’ll never get the chance ever again.”
“Three minutes.”
“Right. Right. Yoohyeon, you’re incredible. Your mind is amazing, how fast it’s able to move and how quickly you can find constellations in the night sky always astounded me. Your brain is so full of knowledge that I find it admirable. Your little robot dog on your desk never fails to amaze me. It’s incredible how much you’ve been able to achieve and I wish I could have at least a small portion of your brain. I loved how you would always have snacks on you, how you would explain the most basic things to me, and would recommend so many books and movies to me even though I was only through the second book recommendation.” She explained. “I still have the biggest crush on you and I just wanted to say that… you have beauty inside and out… matching perfectly and whoever gets you at the end of the day is the luckiest person on earth because honestly… they get the best person ever…”
Yoohyeon blinked twice, trying to process everything.
“But that… was pretty much it… besides the fact that I wanted to apologize but I don’t think the amount of apologizing I want to do will cover everything…” she frowned.
“Was it just the one time…?” Yoohyeon asked.
“A few times…” Dong answered honestly. “But every time… it was because she was readily available. And I know it was wrong… I really just wanted you and I’m so confused and conflicted and I hate myself for it,” she sighed.
Yoohyeon shook her head, tears filling her eyes.
“Okay,” Yoohyeon whispered. She took a step back, turning away from her to leave.
“That’s all you’re going to say?” Dong asked.
“What more is there to say? Are you going to beg for a second chance? Why would I give you a second chance? In fact… It would be your third chance. I’m done. I’m done with this bullshit game Dong,” Yoohyeon sighed. “I’m tired and I… I just don’t want this anymore.”
She continued her few steps, walking away from the older woman. It was the truth. She was tired. And she was done.