Starlit Bonds

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Chapter 10: Who is she?
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The night had been a restless one for Minji, marked by her inability to sleep as her thoughts swirled in a tumultuous mix of paranoia and jealousy. She lay in her bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, questioning the unnecessary turmoil that had taken root within her.

"I thought we had an agreement," Minji grumbled inwardly, addressing the inner conflict that had kept her awake. Her reflection in the mirror seemed to stare back at her with a sense of normalcy, devoid of the torment that had been plaguing her mind. She wasn't even tired; she was just grumpy.

With a heavy sigh, Minji exited the bathroom, feeling a sense of frustration cling to her like a second skin. She moved to her closet and began to shuffle through her uniform, selecting the pieces she needed for the day ahead. As she focused on the mundane task of dressing, Hanna's voice cut through the silence of the room.

"What's got you all worked up?" Hanni repeated, her expression a mix of concern and mischief. She had observed Minji's restlessness throughout the night and was genuinely interested in unraveling the mystery that seemed to have taken hold of her usually composed roommate.

Minji turned to face her roommate, a mixture of irritation and reluctance etched across her features. She knew Hanni well enough to realize that this inquiry wouldn't be a passing comment. Her friend had a knack for digging into the heart of the matter, even when Minji wasn't quite ready to confront it herself.
Minji hesitated for a moment, her internal turmoil conflicting with her desire to maintain some semblance of composure. Finally, she let out a sigh, her voice carrying a hint of fatigue, "Nothing" She said, Hanni, ever perceptive and understanding of her friend's need for space, chose to let Minji be. She offered a nonchalant shrug, as if to say, "Whatever you say." It was a testament to their friendship that she could sense when Minji needed to process her thoughts in solitude.

With a sense of urgency, Minji quickly changed into her uniform, her movements sharp and efficient, as if dressing herself in her school attire was the easiest part of her day. She practically flew out of the dorm room, leaving it behind in a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

In what felt like mere seconds, she was out of the dormitory, down the corridors, and into the common room. It was a room that had seen countless gatherings and shared moments among the students, yet today, it seemed oddly quiet and deserted.

There was still a good thirty minutes before the scheduled assembly in the chapel. Minji found herself a cozy spot to sit in the common room, the weight of her thoughts settling upon her shoulders like an unshakable burden. She stared into the distance, her mind wandering through the labyrinth of her emotions, grappling with the complexities of her relationship with Haerin.

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In the hallowed silence of the chapel, Minji's eyes scanned the assembled students, searching for a familiar figure among the sea of faces. It didn't take long before she spotted Haerin, making her entrance with the mysterious girl in tow. A scowl involuntarily crept across Minji's features. The sight of Haerin accompanied by someone else stung, and she couldn't help but think, 'Seriously?'

As they found their seats and settled in for the morning assembly, Haerin's gaze locked onto Minji's. It was a silent exchange, charged with unspoken tension. Minji, refusing to acknowledge the intensity in Haerin's eyes, turned her attention to the front, where the morning announcements and rituals unfolded.