Starlit Bonds

III

Chapter 3: Enrolled In Hell
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In the following chapter, Minji's senses awaken with her body clock, her eyes snapping open to greet the day. As she sits up in her dorm room, her gaze locks onto Haerin, who's been silently observing her. Feeling slightly unnerved by the intensity of Haerin's stare, Minji quickly looks away, her thoughts meandering into the peculiarities of vampire behavior.

Begrudgingly, Minji makes her way to the bathroom, her body aching from the stiffness of her sleep. She splashes water onto her face, feeling the refreshing coolness against her skin. However, as she dries her face and finally gazes at her reflection, she's jolted when she finds Haerin standing right behind her. Reflexes taking over, Minji reacts on instinct, pinning Haerin harshly against the bathroom wall. Her hands grip Haerin's shoulders tightly as her heart races.

Haerin's response is unlike what Minji expected – no shock, no fear. Instead, those intense eyes remain fixed on Minji, unwavering and unflinching. Awkwardness and a sense of realization wash over Minji as she clears her throat, releasing her hold on Haerin. "Sorry," she mumbles, the moment's tension slowly dissipating. She can feel her heartbeat thudding, a rhythm that seems to echo in the room.

Minji moves on, picking up her toothbrush and carrying on with her morning routine, attempting to regain her composure. As she gets ready for the day, she deftly manages to change within the confines of the bathroom, locking Haerin outside. When she finally emerges, she notices Haerin's gaze wandering towards her open closet, a glimmer of curiosity in those timeless eyes.

"Right, you should probably wear my old uniform," Minji suggested, her attention shifting to Haerin. With a sense of purpose, Minji moved towards the closet, her fingers selecting the items of clothing that she used to don for school. As she handed the white shirt to Haerin, their eyes met briefly before Minji looked away, a mix of emotions swirling within her. The skirt she held in her hands felt like a relic from a different time, a connection to a past that she had outgrown. But in this moment, she was offering it to someone who was anything but ordinary.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when her gaze unintentionally landed on Haerin, who was nearly undressed. Minji's eyes widened, a surprised "woah!" escaping her lips as she instinctively covered her eyes with her hand. Haerin paused in her movements, her presence drawing Minji's attention back to the situation. Awkwardness hung heavy in the air, and Minji stumbled over her words. "You can change in the bathroom," she suggested, her voice slightly uncertain. "Or I can wait in there, whatever you want."

After a drawn-out pause, Minji slowly lowered her hand, revealing Haerin already wearing the white shirt. Minji straightened up, her own cheeks flushing slightly as she shifted her gaze. She held out the skirt to Haerin, an offering that held a strange mix of sentimentality and uncertainty. Haerin took it, her fingers tracing over the fabric thoughtfully.

"Do you not want a skirt?" Minji's voice held a touch of curiosity as she inquired, her gaze flickering towards Haerin. In response, Haerin met her eyes briefly before glancing away. "I'm pretty sure there's an overall option. I can look; maybe Hanni has one," she said in a rush, a hint of self-consciousness tinging her words. With a decisive turn, Haerin rifled through the closet, a cringe of awkwardness settling in as she felt as though she was conversing with herself.

Turning back towards Minji, Haerin held out a short black overall dress with silver buttons. Minji took it in, studying the garment before looking up at Haerin. There was a certain charm to the overall, and Minji couldn't help but think that Haerin pulled it off rather well. "That looks good on you," she said with a small, sincere smile.

As they continued preparing, Minji's mind raced ahead. "We have announcements in the morning. We could go there and then head to the principal's office to try and enroll you," she suggested, her practical side taking over. Haerin nodded in agreement, her focus aligning with Minji's plan. But before they moved on, Minji remembered another detail. "Oh, and here," she said, handing over a pair of socks to Haerin. The dark color contrasted against Haerin's pale skin, creating an almost ethereal aesthetic. As Haerin slipped them on, Minji couldn't help but notice how she looked like a porcelain doll brought to life by a surreal twist of fate.