Anxious feet padded along the tiles as Minjung dodged the influx of holiday shoppers, a wandering eye keeping careful watch over each shop. There were only two shopping bags in her hand, both of which were filled with goodies sheâd bought for family and friends---what little of which she had. It was such a tiring process and nothing had changed. The woman hated shopping all the same but even so, sheâd asked Lian to join her as she couldnât bear to suffer through such tediousness on her own. Long lines and Christmas music seemed to be a common theme among each shop they passed. âThis is too much. If people know the holiday [Christmas] is coming, why not just shop ahead?â Minjung rolled her eyes upon catching a glimpse of the crowded Etude store. âBut I guess I canât talk since Iâm here doing the same thing.â She whispered.
         An almost ironic grin adorned her lips as she stole a glance at Lian. She purposely pushed her weight onto the female and bumped her playfully against the shoulder. It was the same flicker of contentment that faded and caused Minjungâs pace to slow, nearly coming to a stop. âYah!â Again, she brushed a hand against her friend in hopes of catching her attention. The storeâs decor was colorful and faint Christmas music blared from the inside as an array of busy customers piled into its entrance. Ah yes, a kids clothing store. How could the woman have forgotten? Babies were a thing and for the next seven months, sheâd be carrying one.
         Such uncertainty caused her stomach to churn and she raised her eyebrow. Her eyes were shifting between the store and her companion, almost as if she were trying to communicate telepathically through gazes alone. âI should probably go in there,â Minjung narrowed her eyes and noisily sucked in a breath of air through her teeth. âShouldnât I?â
// thereâs been 2 changes to minjung but 99.99% of this post is about her pr*gnancy so basically, thereâs been 1 change. but yeah just wanted to give everyone the rundown for the sake of future plotting purposes.
new hair
last week minjung decided to cut her hair short and dye it black like such.
this literally has nothing to do with anything
pregnancy
in case it wasnât obvious with minjungâs most recent instagram post: she is pregnant.
and yes @wyelijah is the father (sometimes it shines... sometimes it rains... sometimes your childhood best friend knocks you up on accident, oops!)
the pregnancy will take place in real time which means she will actually be pregnant for a full nine months. as a mun, i thought about this a lot and i feel like itâs better to just do real time for the sake of character development so yeah. yâall can math to figure out the due date
even with her posting about the pregnancy on instagram this information is not known to the public but rather to her close friends, family and a handful of co-workers. minjung is minjung and sheâs still very ? ?? ? ? ? ? ????? about the situation so sheâs probably not going to tell anyone for a long ass time or at least until she starts to show and it becomes obvious that sheâs pregnant af
also because her boyfriend (baby daddy) is a music producer and is in a band and that could like ruin his reputation and start shit and sheâs not about that life
other than these two things, nothing about minjung is changing. she is just with child now and should be handled with care for the next 7 months :p if anyone would like to plot anything around her pregnancy, please let me know because I am always open to doing things with it even if its something mundane like shopping for baby clothes. uwuÂ
_seominj94 I thought deeply to myself... when is a good time to announce this? But I think itâs better to be honest with those close to me and openly say that Iâm pregnant. Today I recieved my first ultrasound at eight weeks and the baby is doing fine. I placed a gummy bear there for size comparison~ hehe. #ěě 8죟 #8w4d
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sailormoonlian I was wondering what the red thing was BUT CONGRATS! Iâm so happy for you! Why didnât you tell me sooner?~
seoyathink Looks like your grandpa lost another bet ă ă !! Congrats (:
wooeli Yes, I am the father of the gummy bear ă ă ă
_kyu_joon02_ Congrats! Let me know if you need anything. I might not be a lot of help but you know my wife had a baby last year so... ă ă Weâll help in any way we can.
hanamss So it wasnât food poisoning after all, was it...? đ¤ đ¤ Congratulations Minjung-ah~ If youâre not busy after work tomorrow, letâs go for lunch. My treat, okay? ^^ Â
How does your muse feel about Christmas (or the holiday season in general?) Would they consider themselves a Cindy Lou Who, the Grinch or are they somewhere in the middle? Why? Have they always been this way or have they progressively become this way over time?
Minjung is somewhere in the middle as far as the holiday season is concerned. She no longer gets âexcitedâ about Christmas but itâs been that way pretty much since her third year of middle school. She stopped expecting gifts from her parents and friends because she was older and there wasnât much to look forward to anymore---in her eyes, at least. More often than not, being the middle child means she was forgotten. While her parents did initially provide her with whatever she asked for (though mostly those were mangas and cosplay materials), she eventually stopped after they lashed out at her and explained the strain it was putting on them financially.Â
As an adult, Minjung feels more content with the holiday season but doesnât go all out to celebrate Christmas. She works and is able to afford the things she wants, so she doesnât expect gifts and such from others.Â
As far as decorating or dressing festively, she has no interest in such things so you wonât catch her putting up Christmas lights or wearing reindeer antlers out in public (or at her workplace.)
Her tone didnât warrant his generosity. From where he sat, he looked at Minjung, his eyes blinking steadily, slowly, as he watched her expressions change. Jihan was not sure whether he liked how it became one of determinationâin fact, it made him shift with unease. He became aware that he had offended her by sitting idly by, and it seemed as if a consequence now threatened.Â
The plea meant that Jihan roseâalbeit warilyâto his feet. He moved around the opposite side of the table to where she leaned. Grumbles, accompanied with a deep set frown, left him as he did so. âIâm not your personal giantâŚâ At the shelf, he peered at the books. âIt appears that I was too distracted with your fumbling. Which one was it?â
         How long had it been since she was able to get what she wanted with such ease? Sheâd forgotten. Though this feeling was all too familiar--a sense of pride washing over the twenty-something woman who enjoyed acting out for no reason. She followed him back over to the shelves with her arms crossed beneath her breasts again before unraveling one to point up at a thick white book. âI need that one,â Minjung said proudly. âThe white one.â
         Recently, she found herself being moody and irritable for no reason in specific. It was much of a difference from her usual disposition, however, she could feel a clear difference. Minjung only stood there with these thoughts in mind and waited for him to retrieve the book. âI feel like we got off on the wrong foot so,â She started in a small voice. âIf you want coffee or something, Iâll buy you a cup. Partially because you seem like a coffee guy and also because Iâm tired as hell right now.â
The several amounts of emotions the female threw at him was enough to send him into whiplash. A common occurrence around the highly ill-tempered female, he let out a soft laugh, a hand coming to ruffle her hair as he let her finish her words. Thought it was a lot to take in, he found it quite cute that she was so expressive - one of the reasons he found attraction in her. âSorry for making sure my girlfriend is well taken care of.â he lets out a chuckle, arm going around her. He knew that these would be last few times he could show a large number of public displays of affection as for once he debuts in his group there would be no more of this. Then again he cared not for what others thought, though he didnât want to ruin the groupâs image. âListen, can we just drop the fight thing?â He was more than done with that subject, it was well over with. âBabe, please? Iâve been good havenât fought anyone since and have no plans to any time soon. Well â unless someone wants to act up again.â A cheeky smile appears on his lips as he grabs her hand and tugs her off towards the otters. âSorry about saying the nature of your precious creatures, You just need to know who you aline yourself with.â his tone was matter-of-fact as he squeezes her hand as they moved. Dark hues watched the signs carefully as he tried to figure out where exactly they were going to find her favorite creature.
         âFine, whatever...â Never in a million years had Minjung let the man off easily and even now with a sudden shift in their relationship dynamic, she was determined to stand her ground. âIâm letting it go this once but Iâm serious, Eli. Watch it.â Her gaze remained fixated on Elijah and her eyes bore through his chest before a jolt in movement occurred. The woman allowed herself to be whisked away in some direction and she followed at his side. A subtle touch and comfortable warmth from his hands grasping tightly at her own only made the rosiness in her cheeks grow. She looked around with curious eyes as the walkway begin to take a different turn, gradually luring the couple into an enclosed area that resembled that of an aquarium. It was slightly more crowded and louder than the environment theyâd left behind as people gathered around the glass exhibits, eager to catch a glimpse at whatever animal inhabited the space.
         Sheâd found herself so consumed by his presence in those few minutes that her nerves had seemingly disappeared. Minjung was openly lost in her thoughts and let Elijah take the lead. However, the silence that sliced between the two only allowed room for her mind to wander, more specifically back to a place of uncertainty. The same place it had been moments before. Minjung found herself unconsciously squeezing his hand just that much tighter but caught herself before he could complain. A small child (no older than three years old) managed to jostle the woman as sheâd nearly trampled over them. Only a quiet apology was left behind and she bowed to the parents whoâd been off to the side---another heavy sigh leaving her lips.Â
         Minjung cringed, âWhen we find the otters,â She mumbled. âThereâs something I need to tell you.â
Are they even interested in the Yule Ball? Do they have a partner in mind to ask, or perhaps already invited somebody?
Minjung is mildly interested in the Yule Ball simply because it will provide a source of relief from her school affairs. To her, itâs really just another social gathering and sheâs there to shoot the shit, get a break from work and maybe attempt to socialize with some of her peers. Sheâs not really a person who enjoys dressing up though and the ball is pretty much a âformalâ event so that is the only thing that would put her off. If she feels uncomfortable in her attire, she will become extremely irritable and probably leave early.
Most people find her rather intimidating because she gives off a very mysterious demeanor and doesnât always say too much to those sheâs not acquainted with. That being said, no one has bothered to try and approach her or ask her to the ball--not that she expected anyone would to begin with. In actuality, sheâs thought about asking her good friend, Elijah (a Mahoutokoro student)Â if heâd like to attend the ball with her. However, because of her pride---she is hoping he will do the honors before she is forced to. Minjung is fine with going to the Yule Ball by herself but going with her crush sounds a thousand times better and thatâs the end goal.
Is your muse quick to step forward to volunteer to dance? Can they dance well or do they have two left feet? Or are they remained seated, watching everyone from afar?
Minjung hates dancing so she would never step forward to dance. Really, the only way sheâd even bother is if someone asked her to and even then, sheâd be extremely hesitant to do so. With that said, the woman definitely has two left feet. Rather than staying seated, you would probably find her watching over her sister intently or stuffing her face with the food provided.
Are butterflies fluttering in their stomach well in advance for the big night or will their confidence guide them?
Her confidence will definitely guide her. She usually isnât one to get nervous before social events because she has more confidence in herself more than anything else. She knows that no matter what, sheâll put her all into her appearance (despite having little interest in dressing up) and sheâll look good and feel good. Though, putting her outer appearance aside, Minjung will definitely be nervous if a certain someone shows his face before her. She is more worried about possibly making a fool of herself in front of them and the night ending with her feelings gone unsaid.
For Years 5 and above, what is your Patronus?
A Nebelung Cat named âNyxâ.
What is your museâs love interestâs Amortentia aroma?
He is a mixture of ink, new book smell, and burning wood.
What is your Boggart?
A large body of water because Minjung has Aquaphobia.Â
What are your magical strengths? Weaknesses?Â
Minjungâs strengths definitely lie in Transfiguration as that is a subject she has a vast amount of interest in. She is really good at switching around objects as well as creating them out of thin air. Not only does she find the subject interesting but entertaining as well, which is why sheâs gotten into trouble on more than one occasion for abusing such abilities. Â
Herbology is her weakness as she has never been good with caring for any sort of plants and magical ones are of no exception.
Do you have plans for a future career in a magical field?
Minjung doesnât want to pursue any sort of career in the magical field. Sheâd much rather return home and pursue a career in the arts.
Ahh. [` Her hands came up to pull her cat away from the assortment of ingredients. ] Min-jung, you know we could get in trouble for brewing something so strong right? This is the most powerful âloveâ potion in creation if you call it a love potion. Itâs more of fake infatuation and borderline obsession. [` she lets out a small laugh, patting the otherâs back softly ] You know its a good thing they let me into the restricted section to read about brews like this. [` the younger hums before loving to shut the door to the classroom, pulling her wand out to place a locking spell on it before coming back over to her sister. ] I canât have another strike on my record, but Iâll help you. If anyone comes in Iâm hiding okay? The headmaster still isnât too keen on my last learning attempt with that bone repairing spell I did on that girl, Heather. [` a nervous laugh follows as she pulls out her notebook, which holds the instructions she had written down a month or so prior to all the higher level brews when her teacher allowed her to study in the restricted section. ] This is a very advanced brew so its best we follow exactly what it says. [` the girl begins by taking off her cloak setting it aside, letting Presimmions rest on it as well as her bag She was more than excited to get to work on a high-level potion. ] Now letâs get started, just remember this love potion does wear off after some time and you will need to readminister for the effects to stay.
Yeah, okay thatâs fine. ( `the woman shrugged her shoulders and inhaled deeply, eliciting a heavy sigh as she stared down at the otherâs notes. surely, sheâd learned these things too but had forgotten them just as quickly--the woman skimming and reading no more or no less than she needed to ) Hopefully I wonât need to readminister anything. After theyâre doing chasing after me like an idiot, they can just fall in love with me for real. ( `a girlish giggle could be heard as she cheesed down at the notebook, her fingers reaching to pull the ingredients close ) And for someone who is supposed to be the smarter of the two, youâve been messing up a lot of spells lately. Iâm not really sure I can even trust you with this but I figure at least if I die or get injured, mom will hear about it and Iâll become the star child. ( `playfully pokes the youngerâs forehead and turns back to the notes, moving to grab a bowl containing two medium sized eggs ) First up, I guess we can drop in the Ashwinder Eggs? What do you think?
Take the high ground and walk away, his conscience whispers, itâs not worth retaliating. The little voice in the back of his head urges him to leave it alone, to not provoke the situation further; fighting against the world and everyone in it has become tiring, and his energy is better spent elsewhere.  Their last sparring match had, in his eyes at least, ended with a draw. Both parties limped away wounded, neither willing to accept defeat but pride undeniably bruised. Jihun had no desire to stage a repeat performance.
He canât walk away though. For once not because heâs spoiling for a fight, but because deadlines loom on the horizon and thereâs no way of reaching the media house before they pass. Another roll of his eyes at her words before he lowers himself into the seat opposite without another word. His laptop is pulled from his bag, thankfully unharmed by the extremity of the weather, and hums to life on the table. Jihun doesnât say another word. Doesnât even look away from the glow of the loading screen.
He only pipes up again when the waitress approaches the table, waiting until Minjung is finished before chirping in with his own order. His eyes still donât break away. âIâll take the same. Cut the sugar.âÂ
Itâs too easy to forget that she isnât all venom. Theirs is a cut-throat business where niceties are a sign of weakness. Itâs the first time he can recall seeing anything other than bitterness and antagonism, but then heâs never given her a reason to act any other way around him. The duality is almost startling nonetheless.Â
The silence sits heavy, punctuated only by the sounds of tapping keys and rain splashing against glass. The faint hint of rainwater and cigarette smoke lingers on his person as he types, eyes narrowing in focus. A few minutes pass before he finally speaks up again. âWhy are you even here?â The words come out more hostile than he intends, but he still canât muster the willpower to hold back a barb. âYou have an office, no? Surely you would be better working there. Or does you not sell enough units to warrant a space of your own?â
         The scoff that slipped from her throat, merely accidental couldnât go unnoticed as her lips curved upwards, forming a wicked smile. If sheâd gotten any further from amusement, she would have been called âcrazyâ for appearing hysterical. Just enough focus was provided for the woman to finish the sentence sheâd been working on and then she stopped to gaze at her screen and then towards Jihun whoâd obviously not had enough. But she liked it, sad to say. She enjoyed people who riled her up---people who gave her a reason to act as she always had: insufferable.Â
         Minjung narrowed her eyes at him, her gaze like darts as they hit his face like a target. âIâm guessing youâre not doing any better since youâre sitting across from me, looking like a wet towel,â She retorted. âThat smokes.â The last part was barely audible as her voice had trailed off long before she muttered her finishing remark. The woman, no matter how rebellious, could never find smoking attractive. In the midst of her youth, sheâd naively tried it and nearly choked to death due to improper technique. The very thought of it shown through her facial features that wrinkled, her entire being withering with repulsion. There was no denying the man smelled like an ashtray.
         âFor someone who claims to hate me, you sure stick your nose in my business a lot.â Her words were sharp with a hint of playfulness dripping off them much like honey. âJust admit that you like me and go.â She was happy to get the upper hand with such timely teasing, however, the editor couldnât stop the after effect. Minjungâs eyes barely widened and she moved a hand to cover her mouth briefly, the woman attempting to pass it off as a belch. Hopefully the other wouldnât mistake her teasing remark for flirting--a brief image of her boyfriendâs irritable expression making rounds in her head. âSeriously.â
_seominj94 After much thought and consideration, Iâve decided that it is best for me to delete my old Instagram account and start fresh. My life is taking a new turn and because of my change in path, I want to be more conscious about the things I share. Until further notice~ my personal life will be as such... âď¸
He canât help but chuckle at the womanâs request. People always ask for the same, whenever heâs asked to âteachâ someone Japanese. Itâs always something trivial about themselves. Not that he would exactly call this teaching; the chance of her forgetting what he tells her in a minute or so is high, he guesses. Still, he complies and tells her what she wants to hear.Â
âMinjung wa saikĹdesu,â he replies effortlessly, amused by the womanâs childlike wonder. She must be very interested in Japanese culture, to be this excited at the aspect of meeting a stranger that just happened to be Japanese. Her second request unsettles him, though he still gives her the translation. âMinjung wa hontĹni kireidesu.â His delivery is noticeably more awkward this time, as he fears it might be mistaken for flirting. Not that he thinks anything in the situation calls for it, but one can never know for sure what other peopleâs intentions are.Â
âIâm Kenji,â he replies, attempting a smile in response, though heâs unsure if heâs successful or if itâs looking more like an awkward grimace. At her admission of it being a joke, he feels slightly relieved; she probably isnât making some weird attempt at hitting on him, then. He lets out a laugh, as well, the awkwardness of the situation gone. âIâm not sure how easy it is to learn standing in the middle of a bookstore, but if you want to learn, I guess Iâll help,â he offers, thinking this might be beneficial for him, too, as it will challenge his knowledge of the Korean language. Assuming she actually wants to learn, that is.
         The seriousness in his voice through her off and she took a step back before placing a hand against her chest, the same hand in which the manga occupied. She only half expected him to take her seriously but even so, Minjung couldnât stop herself from jumping for joy. A quiet chirp elicited from the femaleâs lips as she cheesed up at him before bowing her head. âItâs nice to meet you, Kenji.â She started graciously. âIf youâre serious about teaching me then I will quickly buy this book and we can head somewhere else.â
         It was then that she mindlessly wrapped her entire schedule around the male. Sheâd gotten far too excited that she started ahead of him, making her way towards the bare check out line. A sense that something was being forgotten halted her and Minjung stopped in her path to glance back at her new friend. âOh, Iâm sorry. I should probably ask if youâre busy. I mean, if youâre busy thatâs fine. We can like exchange numbers and meet up some other time.â She rambled while running a hand through her hair, purely out of habit.Â
         âIf not, then I know a nice place we can go to talk further. From this day forward, you wonât get rid of me. So you might as well clear your schedule now.â It was the way her lips turned upwards, an almost mischevious smile spreading across her lips as she fixated her stare on him. It was something she did without realizing it, people often becoming unsettled by her unshakable persuasiveness and confidence. However, this did not move her and she only raised her eyebrows before turning on her heal and heading back towards her destination.Â
         Minjung through up her hand and beckoned him to follow, âQuickly! Or Iâll leave you behind. I donât have all day.â She hollered.
When your muse was younger, did they believe in Santa Claus? If so, how long did they hold this belief and at what point did they stop believing in him? If not, why? Suppose your muse has kids, would your muse teach their children to believe in Santa Claus? Why or Why not?
Minjung believed in Santa Claus up until she was ten years old which is when she caught her parents placing several wrapped presents underneath their familyâs Christmas tree. Sheâd initially come downstairs to get a glass of water but ended up going back upstairs to avoid being caught. It was at that moment that the realization of Santa not existing hit her, however, sheâd never said anything about it to her parents or little sister. Minjung didnât want to spoil the fun for Soojung, who was only five years old (at the time) and wholeheartedly believed the jolly old man existed.Â
More likely than not, Minjung will instill the idea of Santa Claus into her children because she sees no harm in doing so and it was something her parents taught her to believe in when she was younger. To her, Santa Claus just adds to the fun factor of Christmas and gives children something to look forward to each year (aside from presents.)
It was that time of year, the season that Elijah got real tired due to an array of reasons mostly steaming from work. Tired eyes slowly opened due to the sound of Salemâs rustling - Saeran was probably gone. It was going to be a long day at the studio if he went - or he could just not go and actually take a day off. After all, he was caught up and actually was halfway into Februaryâs work schedule and everyone was begging him to stay home if only for a day. This prompted him to see if Min-jung were free - knowing she would be if he asked. After all who could say no to him?Â
Almost an hour after the message he was standing in front of the zoo with his âpleasantâ girlfriend, purchasing tickets for entry. Two hours after that he was about done with the animals. Though he was having fun, it was just strange for him not to be in the studio, it had been quite a long time since he took a day off. His eyes started to wander from animal to animal, wondering how they stayed warm in the winter weather when heard Min-jungâs voice. It was surprisingly soft, a rarity from the young female, âYeah, I remember. We should have left you here you would have been at home with the animals.â He let out a chuckle before pressing a hand to her forehead, feeling the temperature of it. âYouâre rather quiet, are you sick or just shy cause youâre here with the hottest producer in Korea?â He lets out another laugh, before leaning down to place a small peck on her cheek, only to pull back to smile at her. âNo, but seriously I remember staying here with our grandparents and you would pull us all the way here to see those damn otters. You do know they swim in their own poop. Did you want to see the otters today, baby?âÂ
         The male caught her off guard, sending her heart into a state of panic as it begun to beat rapidly--excitingly, inside her chest. For a moment, the woman forgot how to breathe and she pressed her lips together in a thin line, biting back an otherwise foolish looking grin. She was never the shy sort but the rosiness of her cheeks gave her away followed by a foreign stillness that lingered between the two of them. Even after all this time, Minjung looked to Elijah with the same set of eyes she always had--the image of them running around noisily as kids etched into the smallest crevices of her memory.
         Being sentimental before him was never an option, not now, at least. The woman eyeballed her boyfriend, peeking at him through narrow eyes before whacking his arm playfully. It was one of the few ways she could show affection and more importantly, disguise the depths of her heart that ever so often showed through her eyes. âIâm not sick, you idiot. Do I look sick to you, huh?â Minjung retorted with a hiss. She wrinkled her face and reached over to grab his cheek, giving it a gentle tug. âFirst you get into a fight, then you kiss me in public. Lately, it seems like youâre asking for a death wish... why is that? I wouldnât get too adventurous if I were you.â
         Her voice was a bit louder than before but honeyed as she peered over at him, her lips curving upwards to form a cat-like grin across her features. It was only at the mention of otters did her mood shift to that of thrill causing the woman to perk up and reach for the skies. âCan we really see the otters?!â Minjung exclaimed. All of her teeth were on display as her smile continued to grow though only for a moment before the male managed to slice through her mood like a knife.
         âHey--â She left a final whack against his arm and frowned, a childish pout adorning her face as she whined with frustration. âWhy do you have to be like that, huh? Seriously? Youâre disgusting, Eli. What the fuck?âÂ
A TRILOGY OF REVELATIONS #2
WAKE-UP CALLÂ ( a self-para )
November 29, 2018, at 10:23amÂ
Eonju University Hospital
I awoke to a familiar sensation of being surrounded by cold air and bright lights. It was difficult for me to open my eyes as the sunlight shown through the windows at just the right angle and onto me. Though today, I felt like no angel--quite the opposite, actually. I allowed my eyes to flutter open and blinked rapidly until my vision was clear. In front of me, I caught a glimpse of a row of beds with strangers laying quietly on top of each one. I then turned my head just enough to notice my grandmother sitting at my side with her hands clasped together, her eyes shooting open as our eyes met. She did not shed a single tear like I expected her to but rather she reached for my hand and stood up, leaning down to place a warm kiss against my forehead. My arm twitched as I went to move it, itâs movement slightly restricted by a number of IVs and such that were attached to it.
A pang of aggravation rush through me and I was ready to spring up when my grandmother started talking to me--advising me to take it easy. Had I really drank that much the night before? I couldnât remember though I was also in no surprise if it were true. Even though everyone was right and I couldnât admit it out loud, I learned long ago that one could not fool themselves. I most definitely had a drinking problem and only when I was down would I let it defeat me with ease.Â
âMinjung-ah... oh thank God, youâre awake.â My grandmother whispered. Her warm hands caressed my face and I continued staring up at her in silence. âAre you okay? Can you speak?â
I rolled my eyes and elicited a sigh, âGrandma, Iâm fine. Just... can you tell me what the hell is going on? Did I really drink that much last night?â
âSurprisingly, you didnât.â She started upon pulling away. Her tone had changed completely, something I grew accustomed to as a child. âYou only had half a bottle of Soju before you passed out on my living room floor but I wasnât surprised. I could tell something was off about you the second you stepped foot in the door and I kept asking you if you were okay and you just kept saying you were fine--â
Again, I opened my mouth to speak only to be cut off by my grandmother once again. âWha--â
Her voice warped as she begun to mimic what I suspected was me the night before, âIâm fine, grandma, Iâm fine~ Everything is fine. Stop freaking out.â She mocked. âDonât you dare try to lay there and tell me youâre âfineâ when I have to escort you to the hospital in the dead of the night in the back of an ambulance.â
I understood her frustration but I could only stare at her in awe as sheâd never been so harsh on me before or at least, itâd been a while. The last time she ever âscoldedâ me for anything was when I misbehaved as a child. Nowadays, she would only briefly state her concerns and whisper pieces of advice here and there before letting me go my own way.Â
Even so, I stood my ground. âOkay, so what? I have a small case of alcohol poisoning, big deal.â I spat while propping myself up. âThis isnât my first time being in the hospital, you know and Iâm not dead, am I? No.â
âThis is serious, Minjung--â
I could feel the tension between us growing as I glared up at my grandmother, not ready to hear another lecture. I had already received a lifetime of those from my siblings and even my own boyfriend, who claimed to have my best interest in mind. The two of us turned our heads simultaneously, shifting our gaze to another doctor who came over with a clipboard and pen in hand. He also looked relieved to see that I was awake and started up a quick game of Q&A about the past ten minutes Iâd been awake. âDid you sleep well?â âHow are you feeling?â âHave you experienced any stomachaches or nausea?â âAre you feeling pain anywhere?â Now more than any other time in my life did I want to shout that I was fine but as I looked back at my grandmother, I knew that would be the wrong thing to say. Those words felt like a trigger and I was far too knowledgeable about my grandmotherâs tongue--her wit, to pull it confidently.
The doctor then took a few notes after I answered all of his questions and proceeded to explain what happened and why I was kept overnight. It was only when I heard him reiterate what Iâd tried to tell my grandmother moments before that I turned to her and stuck out my tongue. Her face was just as stern as it had been moments ago and the woman hadnât budged, her disposition still that of utter annoyance. I, however, was overjoyed to hear that I was clear to go home--something Iâd wanted to do since I woke up several minutes before.
It was with that in mind that he gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder before moving on to another nearby patient. He was quickly replaced by a younger woman who diligently worked to remove any IVs and cords that lingered. A small smile adorned my lips as I thanked her graciously, standing up just before my grandmother who only looked to me with scorn. She beckoned me to go ahead of her and followed behind me, roughly hitting my bottom causing me to jump as I headed towards the hospitalâs entrance.
November 29, 2018, at 10:56amÂ
The Drive Home
The ride back to my apartment felt like the longest one of my life as we sat in silence. I was not usually a quiet person and even then I wanted to break the ice, but I didnât know how. I could tell my grandmother was upset with me though I wasnât particularly sure why. Was she truly that upset about me being in the hospital, about me passing out? Had I said something that struck a cord or was she just genuinely worried about my health? Perhaps it was all of that at once but I was unable to grasp the truth.
âAre you really that mad at me?â I inquired before glancing over at her. âIâm sorry, okay?â
She showed no side of emotion as she focused on the road ahead, driving as calmly and carefully as she did. âWhy are you saying sorry to me, huh? I am not mad at you, I am worried about you. I am wondering when this little âphaseâ of yours is going to be over and when you plan to bring back the granddaughter I know and love.â
Such words struck me to my core as I was overcome with a sense of deja vu, replaying the phrase over and over in my head. I could feel my heart drop into my stomach, leaving my chest empty and I dipped my head to stare down at my lap. Mindlessly, I toyed with the ring on one of my fingers and glowered in the shame that followed.
âEvery day I worry about you, Minjung. I worry that you will drink yourself to death or worse, get picked up on the street by some man never to be seen again.â She started. âAnd I know youâre hurting and I know youâve been through a lot, but you canât keep going on like this forever. I got a call from your sister the other day and she was telling me how pale youâve been looking and how youâve been getting sick and sensitive about every little thing--â
I plastered my body against the passenger seat and grimaced, âSoojung should just mind her business. Why does she go around telling every little thing that happens? Why is she like that?â
âAish, Minjung.â She hissed, her face wrinkling with distaste. âYou stop being like that, huh? Stop talking down to your sister who has only cared about you this entire time.â
âYouâre kidding me, right?âÂ
Those words alone were enough to initiate a full blown argument, the two of us exploding so much so that we endured sat in bitter silence for the remainder of the car ride. Like before, the same familiar feeling of tension and unease made its way back to me and I couldnât help but feel puzzled. I wanted to be angry at my sister for telling my business and at my grandmother who I felt wasnât quite understanding my heart as well as I hoped she would. She was the person I felt closest to in my family and Iâd always told myself that I wouldnât know what to do if something happened to her. When times were tough and I needed a place to run away to, she was always there with open arms and ears that listened to even my darkest of woes. This was the first time that Iâd argued with my grandmother like this or at all for that matter and my heart ached because of this.
Even after the car had stopped and weâd both arrived safely at our destination, I couldnât bear to get out of the car. I slowly unbuckled my seatbelt and used my free hand to run it through my hair, pushing it away from my eyes as if thatâd help to clear my thoughts. Despite not making direct eye contact, I could feel my grandmotherâs gaze on me through my peripheral vision alone and frowned. I gathered the ounce of dignity I had left and unlocked to the car door before opening it completely. I used my free hand to grab what little belongings I had and prepared to exit the vehicle. Only when I heard the sound of something rattling did I peek over to see my grandmother coldly shoving a single piece of paper in my direction. It was folded up and slightly crinkled which made me wonder where sheâd gotten it from, but I took it into my hands anyway.Â
âWhat is this?â I mumbled.
âItâs the paperwork from your hospital visit.â My grandmother answered in a hushed tone. âBefore you storm out of this car and do something stupid, I suggest you take a look at it.â
( 9:46am, my idiot from the stars ) Iâm taking the day off.
( 9:46am, my idiot from the stars ) Letâs go to the zoo.
         To her surprise, such text messages were sent bright and early--long after sheâd showered and eaten breakfast. Today was one of the days sheâd opted to take off and no further plans had been made, that was until her boyfriend demanded she come out for a zoo date. Reading the messages sent a warmth over her entire body and she raised her eyebrows, staring down at her phone with a girlish grin. Theyâd been together nearly a month and in that time they had yet to go on an âofficialâ date. The two of them were either working or dealing with personal affairs and thatâs how it had always been. Though she could not complain as she knew well before setting her sights on Elijah that he was also promised to his job, one he was far too passionate about.
         Theyâd arrived at the zoo about an hour and a half ago, the winter winds slapping against her cheek as her hair continually rested in a position of disarray. Minjung walked alongside her boyfriend in silence, occasionally pulling at his arm to drag him towards whatever animal piqued her interest. The contentment of being at his side, having him to herself seemed to be no match for the guilt that lies deep in her chest. Her entire being was rattled by anxiousness that she repeatedly tried to shrug away as she didnât want to look suspicious. That was the thing about Elijah--he picked up on everything, even the things she kept quiet about. If she were off by even a hair, he would know and interrogate her to no end.
         Minjung kept these thoughts in mind as they walked along and pressed her lips together in a thin line, her eyes fixated on the ground. âYou know,â She started in a voice barely surpassing a whisper. âItâs weird to be coming here like this as an adult. I think the last time I visited this zoo was actually with you, Garam and my grandmother in elementary school--âÂ
         She glanced over to Elijah and tilted her head a bit, âDo you remember that?â
