Fatum: tied by an invisible string - Michaeng

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"You know, you don't have to take your stuff back to the room every time you leave." Chaeyoung started moving some bottles from one side of the counter to the other. "Why don't you use this side," she pointed to the now empty space, "and I'll use this one." she pointed to the opposite.

"Thanks. I just don't want to make you feel like I'm invading your privacy." Mina was feeling shy, or, well, shyer than usual.

"You wouldn't be here if I didn't want you to be." Chaeyoung had never been good at knowing what to say, she hoped that was the right thing. "So, where do we start?"

"Right, do you have a headband?" She asked while looking around the bathroom.

"Yes, wait here." Chaeyoung exited the room skipping with joy while humming lyrics to a song the Japanese girl didn't recognize.

Mina smiled lightly at the act, it was impossible to feel down around Chaeyoung. 'She's so cheerful it's almost contagious.' Mina leaned her back on the counter as she heard Chaeyoung opening and closing drawers in the bedroom.

Chaeyoung entered the room again with a huge smile. She was wearing a yellow headband with a small blue pompom attached to it in the middle, mimicking the crown Princess Bubblegum from Adventure Time wore all the time. Chaeyoung's grown-out bangs that flopped on top of the headband onto her forehead only made it worse; it was so fucking endearing Mina almost melted on the spot.

"Now what?" Chaeyoung asked curiously while tilting her head to the side, she was all in now.

"First you have to take your makeup off with this." She gave Chaeyoung a cotton pad with some liquid absorbed and the younger obeyed immediately.

After she completed the task, more instructions were given to her. "Now you have to wash your face with this. I think we have the same skin type so we can share it." Mina put one pump of the product on the younger's palm before doing the same on her own and spreading it on her face. It was quite embarrassing to do it in front of someone who she met less than 12 hours ago, but she felt the responsibility of taking the initiative as the older between the two.

After rinsing that out and applying toner, Mina gave her instructions on how to apply a facemask. Seeing Chaeyoung so confused and lost (because she only understood half of the things she was being explained) but so attentive to everything made Mina happy, her plan was working.

After they had both applied it, Chaeyoung turned to Mina and furrowed her eyebrows, "Is this how I'm supposed to do it?"

Mina chuckled, she had done a lot better than expected but still had some product smudged on her lower lip. Grabbing a paper towel from the counter with her right hand, she cupped Chaeyoung's jaw with the other, tilting it until she found an angle comfortable enough to clean the small mistake.

Chaeyoung's eyes were tightly shut; she didn't expect Mina to do that and it even made her a bit uncomfortable. She understood the reason behind it, she just wasn't used to having skinship with someone she barely knew.

Once Mina let go, she realized she might have crossed a line. "Oh- I'm sorry, I didn't really think before doing it. Sorry if-" She looked down in embarrassment, regret all over her face.

She rambled so much and all Chaeyoung could do was wonder what made Mina doubt herself so much. "Mina." She gently grabbed the girl's shoulder and shook it, making her slowly raise her head. "It's no big deal. I was just surprised. Don't worry about it." Chaeyoung showed her a comforting smile. "What are we supposed to do now?"

Mina cleared her throat, "Rinse it, you do that. I'll be back in a sec'." Mina exited the room to take a breath. She felt like she was running out of air.

After giving herself a minute to recover, she returned inside to share with Chaeyoung all her knowledge on the topic while the younger listened attentively.

Once they got in bed Mina didn't even try to fight sleep off, to say she was exhausted was an understatement. A phone vibration that wasn't from her own woke her up a few hours later. She stayed in place, curious as to what had happened but knowing damn well she couldn't ask, this was her only option.

She barely got to pick up a few 'whats' and complaints from Chaeyoung before the phone call ended. She squinted her eyes, trying to see in the dark, but failed miserably.

Chaeyoung tiptoed out of the room, cursing silently whenever the floor creaked or the door chirped; she really needed to work on her sneaking out skills. She exited the house and crossed the street, where Nayeon's house was.

The door was already open, Nayeon leaning on the frame with a smug smile plastered on her face. "Hi, Chaeng!"

"What's so important you couldn't tell me on the phone?" As a means to keep herself awake, she rubbed the back of her hand over her eyes.

"Come in." Nayeon led her inside, where they settled on the living room couch. Nayeon's dog welcomed Chaeyoung by leaning his head on her lap. "We went on our first date and it was amazing." She put heavy emphasis on the last word and squealed.

Chaeyoung started rubbing the dog's head, "What did you do?" She was invested in their relationship; Jeongyeon seemed to be a good influence on Nayeon.

She started moving her hands as if it would make the storytelling easier to understand. "First we went to an amusement park, it was SO cute." She squeaked from delight again. "After that, we went to her place and she cooked a meal from scratch."

"Cute." She smiled

"It's more than cute, it was perfect." She let herself fall on the back of the couch and sighed.

"Did you kiss her?" Chaeyoung asked with a daring smile and squinted eyes.

"No." Nayeon pouted, "I thought we would but- she kissed my cheek instead."

"You can make the first move, you know?" Chaeyoung chuckled. Nayeon was acting nothing like usual.

"I wasn't ready, maybe next time." Nayeon jumped and hit Chaeyoung's arm, she was back. "The Japanese girl arrived today. Tell me everything."

She didn't think Nayeon would remember, "She's nice, a bit quiet but she's really sweet."

"Sweet in a grandma way or in an 'I wanna marry you' way?"

"I don't know, just sweet." All of a sudden, she didn't feel like talking about Mina.

"Is she pretty?" Nayeon raised her brows repeatedly while smirking.

"Stop teasing," Chaeyoung huffed and wondered how much time she would have to stay until she was allowed to go back home. "I guess you could say she's pretty."

"You're so boring, I swear." Nayeon asked a couple more questions to which she only received vague answers in return. Seems she'll need to answer them on her own when she meets Mina.

---

Due to the window's view of Nayeon's place, Mina could see Chaeyoung as she entered the house. 'Who lives there? What is she doing?' Mina's brain was going too fast, 'Maybe a boyfriend? A girlfriend?'

Seeing that she wouldn't get answers anytime soon, she got back into bed and tried to fall asleep again. Although she counted sheep and told herself stories, she couldn't rest knowing what was going on, or, well, not knowing.

She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep when she heard the door chirp, listening to Chaeyoung hang her jacket on the racket next to the entrance and get in bed.

"Mina? Are you awake?" Chaeyoung tried asking just in case she'd have to explain herself.

The older girl decided not to answer because perhaps it was something Chaeyoung didn't want to talk about.

Chaeyoung, exhausted to the utmost, fell asleep immediately. Meanwhile, Mina was lulled to sleep by the sound of her roommate's light snoring.