The room is partly dim, but the fluorescent lamps light up each of the corners of the room. The sound of chatter is faint in the background and Frank Sinatra is playing, but none of those matter much, really. Mina didn’t come here for the music.

“Ma’am, here’s your cup of coffee.”

“Thank you.” She slightly tips her fedora hat back, until a few strands of her red bangs are finally seen. The waiter cut his eyes at her. She glares at him back, but he can’t see through her heart-shaped sunglasses, so he ignores her and walks away.

She takes a sip of her coffee and winces. It’s too bitter. But again, it doesn’t matter. Mina didn’t come here for the coffee either.

Mina came here for no particular reason, really, but there’s a girl, a familiar face in the corner of Mina’s eye, and it’s tonight that Mina decides to approach her.

Mina moves two seats to the left.

“I’ve seen you around lately,” Mina starts. “but I haven’t gotten to know your name yet.”

This girl definitely takes notice of Mina. She gives Mina’s face a good look before ultimately replying, “Well, wouldn’t you like to know?”

Her bobbed chestnut hair brushes at her shoulders when she nods, Mina realizes just today. It’s really endearing - strangely endearing, and oh no, Mina really wants to know her name. “Perhaps you could tell me yours if I tell you mine, no?”

“Okay.” The stranger says. “Let’s start all over again. Hello, miss. May I know your name?”

“Yes; my name is Mina. Myoui Mina.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mina; my name is Chaeyoung - Son Chaeyoung. So Mina, where do you come from?”

“Kobe.”

“What brings you here?”

“You.”

-

Mina and Chaeyoung don’t see each other the next day, or the day after that, or a few weeks after that. But they do see each other in the library around a month later.

“Chaeyoung,” Mina finally taps her on the shoulder, after a struggle of inching herself between groups of people she can’t remember, “Is that you? It’s me, Mina!”

In all her grace, Chaeyoung slowly turns her head back to see Mina. From Mina’s eyes, the scene almost resembles a movie, especially with Chaeyoung’s chestnut hair tucked behind her ear like that, and how it’s a beautiful contrast to her burgundy coat. Mina thinks she feels her heart race.

“I haven’t seen you around lately.” Chaeyoung’s face remains indifferent. She doesn’t look like she’s happy nor sad to see Mina, but then she asks, and kind of slightly grins, too, “Would you like somewhere to sit? Perhaps I can buy you a cup of hot coffee this time.”

“Yes, please.”

-

Mina and Chaeyoung promise to keep in contact after that, and they alternately visited each other’s homes after such meetings; it didn’t imply anything ual, nor did they do this intentionally. Chaeyoung simply didn’t have enough coins to bring herself home one day, and so Mina had asked, “Why don’t you come over with me instead? It’s getting dark, and we can continue this conversation back home.”

Chaeyoung had accepted her offer relievingly, for obvious reasons. However, this sigh of relief was quickly imitated by Mina, who had been thankful that the dimness of the night was able to overshadow the crimson red on her cheeks.

And that was how visiting each other’s homes simply became routine for Mina and Chaeyoung.

-

During one of her visits in Chaeyoung’s home, Mina learns that Chaeyoung doesn’t like having other people pouring coffee in her cup. Mina had thought of it to be a polite gesture initially, but she soon discovered that Chaeyoung was clearly bothered by it, especially when she winced at the whole entirety of Mina pouring her a drink.

She frowned while listening to the sound of Mina refilling her China, and grimaced whilst examining the coffee in her cup. Even after then, Chaeyoung hurriedly pouring the almost scalding coffee down , as if she had wanted to get rid of said drink immediately.

The next time Mina had wanted to pour coffee for her, Chaeyoung had gently (yet hurriedly) grabbed her wrist.

“It’s okay, Mina. I can do it by myself.”

Mina could only watch her in doubt.

-

“So you take an interest in literature, huh?” Chaeyoung skims her fingertips through Mina’s bookshelf one day. “How interesting.”

“Literature is interesting.”

“And so are you.”

“No.” She waves her hand in the air, “How about you, Chaeng? Do you read as well?”

“Zweig is nice. I’ve read ‘A Burning Secret’ at least twice now, I think.”

“Zweig, huh . . .” Mina looks at Chaeyoung in contemplation. “I’m assuming you enjoyed it.”

“You can say that. The first time I read it, my father left the family. I think I was fourteen at the time - and I suppose the novel had seriously altered my perception of the world; I don’t see things through rose-tinted glass anymore, and I learned that, well, frankly - people are scum. I’ve seen my mother shed way too many tears already, and I don’t think I can take that ever again.”

When a mother sheds tears, it will always tug on your heartstrings, Chaeyoung thinks. She wonders why it isn’t the same for her father.

“I agree. People are scum.” Mina nonchalantly examines the pastel green polish on her fingernails. “Stay the night?”

“Okay, why not.”

-

Over the course of their friendship, Mina realizes that Chaeyoung has a lot of weird quirks: One, and the most prominent (and strange) of all, she doesn’t like it when other people pour her drinks. Secondly, she cannot eat her dishes without any vegetables in them, and third, (and the most endearing one), her fingers are abnormally long for someone so short. (It doesn’t help that Mina finds her cute.)

Maybe one day Chaeyoung will tell Mina all the stories behind these quirks. But for now, Mina will wait. Chaeyoung does not usually speak of herself.

And waiting is all Mina can do, because Chaeyoung is not an easy person to love.

-

“Hey Chaeyoung,” Mina calls one day. It’s eight in the morning on Christmas eve, and Chaeyoung is getting ready for church, when Mina says, “I’m in love with you.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, seriously.”

“Well . . .” Chaeyoung breathes through the telephone. She doesn’t seem to be flattered or overwhelmed whatsoever, so replying shouldn’t be a challenge. “Thanks, I guess.”

“Uh, Chaeng,” Mina her lips. This is awkward. “Is that really all you’re going to say?”

“Yes.” Chaeyoung frowns. Mina can swear that she can hear it through the telephone. “You know I don’t like the sound of those words - love, trust, compassion, vulnerability . . . Anyways. I have to meet my mother in church in a few minutes. Goodbye, Mina.”

“Okay . .  . um. See you later, then?”

“Yes, I’ll see you later, Mina.”

-

And they did see each other later.

Tonight, they’re under Mina’s covers. The weather is unusually cold this Christmas day; hence, the tangle of their limbs and the tight pressing of their bodies against each other. Any gesture that may contribute to the warmth of both of them is welcomed.

“Chaeyoung,” Mina suddenly whispers against Chaeyoung’s neck. “Why do you hold such hatred against the world?”

“No . . . I don’t hate this world.”

“Yes you do.”

“No. I really don’t,” Chaeyoung’s eyes are still closed, but she grips tighter onto the arms that are wrapped around her stomach. As if afraid to disturb Mina’s serenity, she also speaks in hushed tones, “The world– does not owe me anything. The world has been here way longer than I have. I either add to it or I don’t.”

“Then why are your hands calloused and rough? Who built this impassable armour around your heart?“ Mina pauses in genuine concern. “Who hurt you like this, Chaeyoungie?”

“Not one soul. I will never blame my hurt on anybody else, because to think so would be foolish and immature. Mina, I am no longer a child.”

“But you are a child, Chaeyoung.” Mina trails her hands onto Chaeyoung’s face from behind, fingertips gently Chaeyoung’s eyelids, “To think that one can possibly live alone in this whole world is childish.”

Chaeyoung sighs.

She continues, “Can you blame me, though? My friends are jerks, and my family would rather migrate anywhere else than have themselves associated with me. I haven’t talked to my father in 3 years . . . because he thinks I’m vile and disgusting for being like this, but I can’t possibly help it; I try, but I can’t do anything . . .” She pauses. “I feel as if I’m living life through a breeze - but not the good kind; I feel cold, I feel lethargic, I feel indifferent, and I absolutely don’t want it anymore. I feel as . . . helpless as the dandelions during the winter. I see myself slowly lose the life around me, and I - I just don’t want this life anymore.”

Mina’s look suddenly softens. She wants to cry, shed tears for Chaeyoung, but she knows that Chaeyoung would rather have her not to. Because Chaeyoung doesn’t like the sound of those words, right? Love, trust, compassion, vulnerability . . .

“Chaeyoung, darling . . .” Mina speaks slowly, as if choosing her words carefully, “You mean a lot to me, you know that?”

“No. You will not want to love me.” Chaeyoung removes Mina’s hands from her waist. “Once you step closer one last time, you will find out, and then you will loathe me.”

It dawns upon her that Chaeyoung is pushing her away. Should she be . . angered? alarmed? worried?

“No, no, Chaeyoung. I would never hate you.”

Mina turns Chaeyoung around in order to face her. She looks at her straight in her eyes. She kisses the crown of Chaeyoung’s head, and she lets her lips linger, whispering against Chaeyoung’s forehead, “I’d never hurt you, never hate you, because you . . . you mean so much to me. Please believe me, Chaeyoungie.”

“I’ll try.” Head buried in between Mina’s clavicles, Chaeyoung mumbles, “Thank you. And please don’t leave me, Mina; I’d like to have you near me.”

“Of course. I will never leave, and no one shall take me away.”

Mina kissed Chaeyoung, and Chaeyoung kissed her, and they both soon slept.

“Goodnight, Chaeyoung.”

“Goodnight, Mina.”

-

The next morning, Chaeyoung had woken up to the sight of a pair of arms still circled around her waist. Mina certainly hadn’t left.

Mina complained about her sore arms over breakfast, but Chaeyoung knows she doesn’t really mind. Mina loves Chaeyoung as she is - and the same thing could be said for Chaeyoung, definitely. Mina had just wanted someone to love, and Chaeyoung had just needed someone to teach her how to love. Sometimes, loving life isn’t about zest. Sometimes it’s just learning how to love the world - slowly and carefully. And Chaeyoung can have Mina help her with that.

And especially with Mina’s hand wiping the food of off her lips, Chaeyoung still can’t believe she’s here. Everything still feels so unreal and it’s strange; Chaeyoung often thinks, How did I get here? How did this happen?

And before other thoughts can permeate her head, Mina says out of the blue, “Chaeyoung, I love you. Did you know that?”

Chaeyoung smiles. Mina, I love you too, but more importantly, do you know that?

Mina smiles back. Chaeyoung isn’t the same woman she has met in a cafe once. There’s a twinkle in her eyes now, and Mina now knows she’s alive and human - because after all, isn’t love the trademark of humanity?

“And I know you love me too, Chaeyoung.”

“Yes. I really do.”

Sometimes, things just happen. But other times, what you’re looking for is just right under your nose.