Fatum: tied by an invisible string - Michaeng

— (memory) —

Before she had opened her eyes, Mina just thought about how strong the younger's perfume was in the room, but then she realized her breathing felt weird, like she had been inhaling the same air many times and it was now warm.

Mina opened her eyes carefully, almost afraid. Her nose was about to touch the younger's neck and she could feel Chaeyoung's hands loosely wrapped around her body to keep her close, making her skin ignite with a combination of desire and confusion. She suddenly was hyper-aware of Chaeyoung's breathing, and if she focused hard enough, she was almost sure she could hear the younger's heartbeat. It felt weird, but good weird, the kind of weird Mina wouldn't mind repeating every day.

Her pulse was thumping so loud Mina was sure it could wake Chaeyoung up, her veins filled with satisfaction and if she had the option, she would stay in this position for the rest of her life just because of how intimate and warm it was.

As softly as possible, she looked up to the window that was over Chaeyoung's bed; the blinds were closed so she couldn't see much, but judging by the lack of lighting, it had to be around midnight.

The debate in her head lasted for what felt like hours, one side of her - the one dominated by her heart - begged Mina to stay there and go back to sleep in the security of Chaeyoung's arms; but the other side also had a point. What if things were weird between them the next morning? But at the same time, if she moved, Chaeyoung would probably ask why tomorrow.

Wasn't it normal for friends to sleep in the same bed? Mina convinced herself it was, but she couldn't say the same about cuddling and hugging.

Using all her willpower, Mina swiftly untangled herself from Chaeyoung's limbs and watched how the younger's nose wrinkled as she grabbed a nearby pillow to replace Mina's absence in her sleep.

Never in her life had Mina wished to be a pillow so bad.

Walking to her side of the room, Mina lifted the sheets and slid into her own bed. It was cold, empty, and uncomfortable, but that might just be because it wasn't Chaeyoung's.

The following morning, no one mentioned anything. Mina could see how Chaeyoung would constantly bite her bottom lip as if she were holding herself back from saying something, but she refrained from asking about it in case it wasn't about her.

They were making pancakes for breakfast, Mina pouring the batter onto the pan while Chaeyoung made coffee, and it was more silent than usual.

"Mina." Chaeyoung called while trying her best to form a heart with the foam of the coffee. Receiving a short hum from Mina, she continued. "Why did you leave last night?"

She knew it was coming sooner or later, they both did, but that didn't make it one tiny bit more comfortable. "Well, you seemed uncomfortable so I moved so you'd have more space."

If there was one thing Chaeyoung knew for sure now, it was that Mina was a really fucking bad liar. She had a double bed, Mina could've moved to the other side if she wanted, but she went to her own instead.

'Maybe I overstepped a boundary and she doesn't like sleeping with other people.' Chaeyoung thought to herself and giggled at the double meaning. "Alright then, sorry if I woke you up or something. I can be a bitch when I sleep."

Mina gave her a gummy smile, thinking she had smoothly covered up her lie. If only Chaeyoung knew how much Mina regretted leaving.

— (present) —

"Fucking car that broke down." Chaeyoung hissed as she tried to cover the sun's rays by putting her hand over her forehead. Although the summer was almost over, there were still some days (like this one) when the hot weather was unbearable. "It better be fixed by Wednesday, I swear."