Taylor Swift’s anti-hero playing in the background while Aeri is getting finishing her final plates for the day, the final paragraph is already on its way to finishing, the last words that Aeri needs to type, but before the woman could hit the final key the song was replaced with a familiar voice that the woman made out of the voice of her “best friend” who's also the culprit why her ringtone is like that.
She immediately halts her typing and walked towards her phone.
“Minjeong-ah” Aeri greeted, voice laced with happiness.
“Unnie…” The girl on the other line replied the strains on her voice evident.
The line was filled with sobbing, and Aeri’s sense was replaced with dread, expecting the worse, as she turned around and her steps became heavier, she jog around her living room and immediately run towards the door when she successfully got her and Minjeong’s jacket along with her keys resting on the coffee table.
“Minjeong— where are you?” Aeri tries her hardest to not show the trembling of her voice, avoiding the younger girl to sense her emotion and could cause a much overwhelming emotions.
“I’m in the park, Unnie. Sitting on our usual spot” the girl on the other line responds, now her sobs subsiding.
“Okay, can you stay put for a little bit? Unnie is on her way” the woman reassured.
Aeri might have driven a little bit faster than usual, but she didn’t mind the information as she focused on driving. She doesn’t mind the unfinished plates that were left behind in her apartment and the other notification from her friends as they are also finding the girl sitting in their usual spot. They can all wait for later, as her main goal is to make sure that her best friend is okay.
It didn’t take that long for Aeri to reach the park; she hopped off her car bringing a plastic bag full of snacks that she always makes sure that she has a stock knowing that her dear friends love food and of course making sure that they have eaten something at least for the day.
Aeri made sure not to walk faster toward the younger woman so that she won’t startle her.
“Hey”
Minjeong turned her head when she heard a soft familiar voice, the emotion that she successfully subsides suddenly hit her again, she immediately throws herself on the older girl, and her cold skin made contact with a warm one and she can’t help but melt and let all her anguish out.
Aeri pulled her towards her lap and engulfed her in her arms, trying to shield the girl from the world's cruelty and making sure Minjeong got the message.
“It’s okay, let it all out”
The park was filled with sobs and hiccups, a passerby might think that the place is haunted because the two were hidden behind the old tree that was placed in the center of the park.
The hiccups were slowly replaced with whimpers and sniffles, Aeri keep stroking her back to calm her down, her shoulder was drenched with Minjeong’s tears and maybe some of her mucus but who cares, she softly pulled Minjeong’s wrist and fished out a roll of tissue from her bag when the younger woman pulled away and tries to wipe her tears using the hem of her sleeves.
She let the woman do what she needs but her hand lingers on Minjeong’s waist, reminding her that she’s not going anywhere.
“Thank you”
The sniffles finally stopped, Minjeong bowed her head and fidgeted with her fingers. Aeri pulled out the plastic bag and put it in the space between her and the younger woman.
She let the Minjeong rummage on the plastic bag, waiting for the woman to willingly open up to her. With a smile on her face, she watches as Minjeong opens one of the breads that she got from the bag, she’s delighted to see an uplift of emotion when the woman finally took a bite from the bread. Minjeong never left Aeri’s lap but the woman didn’t utter a word about it.
A few minutes passed, few plastics were opened, finally, Minjeong look Aeri, putting all of her attention on the older woman.
“I’m tired”
The exhaustion was evident in her voice. Aeri’s blood was filled with empathy.
“Do you want to go home”
The older asked as she holds Minjeong’s trembling hands, trying to give them comfort.
“I want to run away, Unnie. I don’t want to go back to a place that felt like I’m stranded in the middle of a blizzard, but the thing is, the storm never stopped once ever since I stepped in high school”
The bitter smile painted on her face, the venom and pain laced in every letter of the word she just spit out. It pains Aeri how the usual Minjeong that sticks with her is breaking down, she threw the mask that hides her true pain. She understands what the woman was feeling but doesn’t know what to do.
“I’m sorry”
She gently squeezes Minjeong’s hand and sends her an apologetic smile.
“You don’t have to be sorry, I’m just sick of them always bailing me out, leaving me behind, then trying to control my decisions. It’s not fair”
Minjeong rests her forehead on Giselle’s collarbone, all the energy remaining inside her is slowly slipping away as she also let herself fade, slowly melting inside Aeri’s embrace. She just wants to stay there, inside those arms feels like a safe heaven that separates her from the harshness of the world and lets her breathe.
“Then let’s go home”
Aeri hooked Minjeong’s arm around her neck as she ushered the woman towards her car, and it didn’t take long for the younger woman to finally slip into slumber. Aeri stared at her with empathy a gaze that could rival the warmth of the fire, she just can’t help herself from falling into a daze.
After a few seconds, she snapped out of it and drive the both of them towards the said ‘home’.
The older woman didn’t have the heart to wake the younger one, by looking at the peacefulness written on her face, she carries Minjeong towards the room and make sure that the woman is comfortable enough before turning to her unfinished plates but before continuing the task, she walked towards the front door and locked it before walking back inside the room.
After a few minutes of typing the final paragraph, she turns toward Minjeong who’s snoring softly, she decided to also rest, the woman beside her stir but didn’t open her eyes.
“Aeri Unnie?”
She tries to reach out for the older woman, they immediately clasped the hands that reached out for her and she scoots closer.
“Hmm?”
Aeri hummed and tucked a stray hair behind Minjeong’s ear. The younger scooted closer and tuck her head under Aeri’s chin.
“Don’t leave me behind, please?”
Aeri’s heart clenched when she hears the pleading, she pulled Minjeong closer hoping that it may convey the words that she doesn’t know how to speak.
“I won’t”