String in My Guitar - Bbangsaz

Chapter 09 - Bittersweet

Minji could feel the pounding pain in her head as she stumbled into the bathroom. Her vision was still blurry, and she felt nauseated. With a groan, she leaned over the toilet, emptying the contents of her stomach. The alcohol she had reluctantly consumed the night before had turned her world upside down. Drinking wasn't part of her plan; in fact, she didn't even like the taste of alcohol or cigarettes. Despite having strict parents who frowned upon such behavior, they ironically encouraged her to drink on special occasions. However, she couldn't see herself conforming to what society expected of teenagers or adults.

Last night, after her electrifying performance at the café, the crowd went wild, especially the women. They cheered and danced along, caught up in the energy of her music. Even the café workers couldn't resist joining in, swaying their hips and banging their heads to the rhythm of the performance.

Many old band members were impressed by her performance, with some even attempting to recruit her to join their ranks. Others invited her to join them for a drink, but she felt obligated to accept, especially when Giselle hyped up the crowd, urging her to chug a bottle of tequila until she was completely wasted.

One shot of tequila wasn't enough for Minji to drown out the emotions of longing she felt for Hanni Pham. Throughout her performance, she kept scanning the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of the girl she couldn't forget. Yet, deep down, she knew it was futile. Confusion and fear gnawed at her as she grappled with her feelings. She was all too familiar with the pain of falling in love, and the thought of experiencing it again, especially after only meeting Hanni Pham twice, terrified her. "Why do I get attached so quickly?" she questioned herself repeatedly. When Giselle mentioned that she's falling in love, Minji felt a pang of fear. The idea of losing another friend was too much to bear.

Minji groaned in pain as she rested her back against the wall. "Fuck," she muttered under her breath, feeling the throbbing ache in her head.

The door to her room swung open, revealing her mom standing there with arms crossed, her expression a mix of concern and disapproval as she searched for her daughter.

Her mom's gaze fell upon Minji, who was slumped on the bathroom floor, clearly inebriated. "You look just like your Dad when you're wasted, Kim Minji," her mom remarked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Hi, Ma," Minji managed to muster a weak smile, lifting her right hand and flashing a peace sign in greeting.

"I'm doomed, aren't I?" Minji sighed, the weight of her actions sinking in.

Her mom chuckled at her daughter's antics. "Not really, nak, but you owe me an explanation," she replied, using an affectionate term for "child."

"Come on, get up," her mom said, offering Minji a hand. With a wobbly attempt to stand, Minji nearly stumbled, but her mom was quick to steady her.

"Thanks, Ma," Minji mumbled.

Minji found herself back in her bed, propped up against the frame as her mom bustled around, preparing a late lunch on the small wooden table perched on her bed.

"So what happened to that 'Ain't gonna drink until I turn 20' of yours, huh?" her mom teased, playfully mimicking her daughter's earlier declaration.

Minji chuckled softly at her mom's imitation, a sheepish grin spreading across her face as her mom set the utensils down in front of her. With a shrug of her shoulders, she began to dig into the meal, avoiding her mom's question.

Her mom gave her a confused look, "Don't—" she began, then mimicked her daughter's gesture, shrugging her shoulders, "Me, Kim Minji. Ah? Baka hindi kita pakainin ng buong taon."

Minji couldn't help but giggle at her mom's playful threat. "Actually, Mom, these past few days, I've been seeing someone," Minji confessed, her cheeks flushing red with shyness as she admitted her feelings for Hanni. She waited anxiously for her mom's reaction, but her mom simply waited for her to continue.

"And?" her mom prompted, her tone expectant.

"You don't seem surprised?" Minji remarked, a hint of confusion in her voice.

"I know you well when you're crushing on somebody, Nak. So tell me, who is this lucky girl? Maganda ba?" her mom teased, causing Minji to bite her lip in an attempt to contain her excitement.

"She is. She's one of the reasons why I got drunk last night," Minji admitted sheepishly.

"Why is that?" her mom inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"To make it short, we've only met twice. But these past few days, I've been longing to see her again. Inside the cafe, I was searching for her presence for more than an hour. And Giselle knew about this and she told me that I am in love! Like, Mom, we've only met twice, and falling in love got me thinking about the past," Minji explained, her expression turning into a pout.

Her mom pulled her into a warm hug, comforting her daughter as memories flooded back. She had been there when Minji realized she was falling for her best friend in the past. Minji's mother had witnessed her daughter's heartbreak and had been a source of support during those difficult times.

"Aww, baby, there's still plenty of time to adjust and heal from the past," her mom reassured, gently caressing Minji's hair and planting a kiss on her temple. "Whenever you're ready, just don't be afraid to try again and again until you meet the right one at the right time. Just like when you were a newbie playing guitar. You were stressed, but you didn't stop learning every chord and song."

Minji nodded, her eyes reflecting gratitude for her mom's comforting words. "I know, Ma. But I can't be falling in love too quickly while I'm not fully healed yet. It feels like I'm using Hanni to heal and move on from the past I had." She confessed, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

For Minji, it felt like she was potentially taking advantage of Hanni to fully recover from the bittersweet memories she shared with her best friend. It felt morally ambiguous, yet strangely comforting.

"So, Hanni is her name, huh?" her mom teased, lightening the mood with a playful remark.

Minji couldn't help but facepalm at her own oversight, prompting laughter from her mom. "What you're feeling right now is valid, nak," her mom reassured, her tone gentle yet firm. "Love can be fast and sometimes slow. Just trust what you truly feel about Hanni, okay?"

"And besides, if you're worried about betraying Sheena and her friends, you're not. It's not up to them to dictate your feelings. It's your life, and you're entitled to feel whatever you feel. Plus, they're your friends too, and they'll understand if they find out you have a crush on someone new, especially Sheena. She was your best friend, so I know she'll support you. She's a very understanding girl, and I've always treated her like my own daughter. So, don't invalidate your feelings, anak," her mom advised, her words carrying a sense of maternal wisdom and unconditional love.

Minji hugged her mom, "Thank you so much, Ma."

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A/N: Good morning, every one! I've missed you guys so much. Sorry for being inactive nowadays we just finished our prelim and defense last week so I took a lot of time to rest. To all Filipinos out there, Hi? HAHAHAHA Any idea who is Sheena?🤔

I'll let you know soon once I'm back! Love y'all🩷