HERSHE || BBANGSAZ ||

41. Cannot

Minji didn't get the chance to talk to Hanni again. The weekend passed and she didn't attempt to talk to the woman the following week.

She thought she'd learn to accept everything. Instead, Minji was tortured even more. It got worse because Jake started to drive Hanni every morning and pick her up every afternoon.

Minji just faked a smile whenever Sunoo and Danielle talk about Hanni's love life. There are days when Minji sees Hanni's empty chair and Danielle will just say Jake came to pick Hanni up early.

Not wanting to hear more about it, Minji tried to stay away from that team and busied herself in tennis instead. She put all her efforts into every practice in hopes of somehow forgetting her drama for a while.

Besides, she's got a competition to worry about and that's where she should focus now.

—

It was after a week of avoidance when Minji and Hanni ran into each other in the hallway. Minji was about to go home while Hanni was walking back to her station.

Both stopped abruptly at the sight of each other.

Minji isn't sure what to do. There are only a few people left in the office at that time, a reason she can't say she didn't notice Hanni.

It was Hanni who smiled first. "Hey."

Minji pulls the strap of her bag over her shoulder, trying her best not to melt. "Hey. What's up?"

"Good. You?"

"Likewise." Minji saw Hanni's PC still turned on. "Overtime?"

"Yeah. Got deadlines to meet. You were on OT too?"

"Yeah. Just finished wrapping things up."

Then there was silence.

Minji is staring at Hanni now and all she can think of is how much she missed this woman.

"Um... so... you're going home now or tennis practice?" asked Hanni.

"Home. No tennis today. You?"

"Just finalizing a few more things."

"Umm. Would you... do... do you have a ride home?" asked Minji, taking chances.

"Umm. Jake's picking me up in a while." Hanni looked apologetic.

"Oh. No worries." Minji scratched her head. "So. Yeah. I better go ahead."

Minji is somehow expecting Hanni would say something, maybe stop her or what, but the latter stepped aside to give way.

Minji took this as a sign to go. "Bye."

"Uh... Minji?"

Minji stopped in her tracks. She closed her eyes, realizing how much she missed hearing Hanni call her name.

She turned around. "Yes?"

"We're cool, right?"

"Yeah... Why...?"

"I don't know. It just feels like something's off lately." Hanni brought a hand to her necklace.

"Off with what?"

"With us?"

Minji scoffed to herself at Hanni's usage of "us".

"Were you avoiding me?" asked Hanni.

Minji cleared her throat. "No. Why would I avoid you?"

"I don't know. It just feels like you've been far away these past few days."