At This Time [MICHAENG]

Part 7

“Ahjussi, 7th Street Bridgewest please” she instructed the cab driver.

As the cab started to move forward. Mina can’t help but to think of Chaeyoung. City lights flashed at her eager yet worrisome face, staring blankly at nowhere, drowning herself with thought of the other girl she was now sure she loves more than anyone else, the deafening silence inside her head reminded her of that radio program that she was listening to.

“Uhm, Ahjussi, can you please turn on the radio?” She asked politely and flashed him that heaven sent smile. Lazy eyes widened in amazement as he switched it on. Part of the song’s intro is currently being played. Mina’s heartbeat started to speed up.

Hearing the first verse of the song, she frowned, guilt slowly sinking inside her. She should’ve noticed Chaeyoung’s jealousy when Jackson picked her up, now she knows how Chaeyoung felt that day, knowing that the one you love was with someone else and the possibility that she might fall in love with that person . It made her stomach turn upside down while images of Chaeyoung and Yeri together flooded her mind.

 Chaeyoung stood up from where she was sitting and bowed farewell to the DJ and the rest of the crew

“We worked hard today. Thank you for your time and sorry if I sort of messed up the program” she said in her deepest apologies. They shrugged it off and said that it was okay and that they hope for the best for her. The DJ still a bit teary-eyed and awed from Chaeyoung’s confession bowed low at her. A hand landed on Chaeyoung’s shoulder, turning towards the direction of where it came from, she saw Yeri smiling at her.

“Chaeng, that girl you love is very lucky, I envy her though, I wish I had someone like you, I hope everything’s not too late for you Chaeng.”

 Chaeyoung smiled sadly without looking at her, knowing that her situation is the opposite of what the younger girl said.

“Work hard okay you little girl? If you want something, go for it, don’t hold back or you’ll end up just like me” she finished and went back home. When Chaeyoung was out of sight, a single clear teardrop rolled down on Yeri’s cheeks “How can I fight for you Chaeng? I can never have your heart, no matter what I do” she said to herself.

Once home, Chaeyoung debated with herself on sleeping in their bed or on the couch. A small and adorable pout formed on her lips as she let herself fall backwards on the couch looking like she’d been shot dead.

***

The cab’s clean and polished glass windows began to moist as droplets of water started dripping on it. Mina clasped her hands together and turned her head down, forehead resting on her joined hands, as though she was praying for a miracle, she shut her eyes as she listened to the heart-crushing song. Each word seemed alive and felt like they were being carved into her heart with a knife. Images of Chaeyoung moving on, being happy in the arms of someone else, doing things that they used to do, Chaeyoung staring at her with dead serious blank eyes and finally forgetting about her, about them, played inside her mind like a flashback from a tragic accident, made her sob as the downpour of rain continued together with her tears. It’s as if the sky was weeping with her too. She stayed like that for a long time until some car honks and beeps distracted her from her sorrowful assumptions.

“Aish. What’s with the sudden traffic?” said the cab driver as he impatiently scratches the back of his nearly balding head.

Due to some unfortunate turn of events, an accident happened on the main road causing a traffic jam. Irritated drivers peeped their heads out of their car windows to shout curses while frantically honking their horns. Mina who was sitting at the back, crossed her arms and started to tap her feet on the car matt. She studied the surroundings and found out that she was just a few more blocks away from their home. She felt a sudden rush of adventure overflow her.