Chapter Text
December 13
* HEEJIN'S POV *
Heejin sat at her desk, looking quite dissatisfied with the drawing she had just finished on her tablet. She could not get the proportions right, and it was so frustrating. She was not used to not being able to draw exactly what she wanted. She had drawn for years, but for some reason, this time, she could not draw that rabbit right. She sighed and stood up. The more she would think about it, and the harder she would try, the uglier she was going to make her drawing. She had to take a break.
She grabbed her phone and decided to head downstairs. Her mother was in the living room, watching some kind of soapy tv show.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” she asked as Heejin came by.
“Yeah, I just need a break.”
“Were you doing homework?” her mother asked with a soft smile.
“No I was drawing on my tablet.”
The forty-something woman smiled wider. The tablet was a gift she and Heejin’s dad have given her for her birthday a few months ago, and she was glad to see that Heejin used it often. They had been scared that she would not like it, but apparently digital art was a thing, and even better: a thing Heejin had wanted to get into for a long time. Her mom did not need to say a thing, her smile said long enough.
The high schooler walked into the kitchen and noticed the advent calendars pinned to the wall. There were three of them: one for herself, a simple one that her parents had brought her from the mall, and two others that she had designed and handmade herself for her parents. In every box, she had folded a paper with kind words written in her best calligraphy and put a piece of chocolate with it. It was her way of showing her parents how much she loved them. She would sometimes tell them out loud or hug them, but it could never hurt to find more creative ways to let them know how much she cared, right?
She grabbed a clean cup next to the sink, set it on the counter behind her, and opened the fridge. As she grabbed the milk, her phone vibrated. She closed the door, laid the milk on the counter and opened her text. It was from Chaewon.
Chae: Sorry, I forgot about our study session, I’ll be there in 5!
Little did she know that Heejin had forgotten too. Heejin poured herself a cup of milk and joined her mother in the living room. She sat next to her on the couch, holding her cup with both hands.
“I forgot to tell you, but Chae’s coming over”
“I’m glad. Maybe if Chaewon is there, you’ll do your homework.”
She winked at her daughter. Heejin knew her mom was kidding, although it was a good way to remind her that she had been neglecting school work for a while. But she could never tell her mom what had been keeping her mind busy, so what she usually did was saying she would try harder. Her mom kept talking.
“She’s been coming over often lately. Are you two…?”
Heejin almost choked on her milk. Was her mother implying they could be dating? Her and Chaewon? Hell no. Chae was not her type at all. But then again, her mom had no idea what her type was.
“Dating? No mom, are you out of your mind? Have you seen Chae?”
Her mom shrugged.
“Well, she’s pretty, kind, and polite. That’s what I’ve seen.”
Heejin rolled her eyes. She knew her mom was right.
“You’re right, but she’s my friend.”
A mischievious smile appeared on her mother’s lips.
“I said that about your dad too.”
“MOM! Stop it! I don’t wanna know. And I can’t even imagine going out with Chae, it’s disgusting!” Heejin shrieked.
Just at that moment, the bell rang.
“Talking about the devil…” her mom said.
Heejin drank her milk in one gulp and headed towards the front door, dropping her empty cup in the sink on her way. She opened the door, and her cheeks were burning. Chaewon stepped in and took her shoes off, while looking up at her friend.
“Are you okay Heej? You look a bit… red.”
The only effect it had, was making Heejin blush even more.
“My mom was just being embarrassing seconds before you arrived” she shrugged, trying to cool off.
Instead of heading upstairs, Chae went to the living room.
“Hi Mrs. Jeon! Heejin told me you were embarrassing her? I’m curious about how you managed to do that, I need to try it”
The. Little. Devil. Heejin would have never thought her friend capable of such treason, but she had underestimated how comfortable Chae had started to feel with her parents.
“I was asking Heejin if the two of you were dating” her mother said very naturally.
“Oh right! You wish!” she winked at Heejin’s mom. “But Heejin’s not my type.”
Chaewon was so casual about it that Heejin got jealous. She was not able to be so chill when discussing potential relationships. Maybe because she had something to hide.
“Are you saying my daughter is not good enough for you?” the older woman joked.
“Mrs. Jeon, come on! I love Heejin, but she’s a mess.”
“Hey! That’s not true!” Heejin intervened, and the two others laughed.
Heejin liked seeing her mom and friends have fun with each other, but not at her expense.
“Okay, Chae, let’s go! We have homework to do!” she said, hoping that it would enable her to just escape the situation.
She pulled on Chae’s sleeve, and tried to drag her out of the living room.
“Wait! Chaewon, do you like gujeolpan?” her mother asked suddenly before they left.
“Yes, why?”
“Well, tell your father that you’re staying for dinner.”
“Uh… Okay.”
Chaewon’s smile vanished for a second but she regained composure. Her relationship with her dad was… complicated, at the moment. Heejin led her to her bedroom, and the tiny blonde immediately threw herself on her bed, face first.
“I love your bed, Heej.”
“I know, but it’s mine.”
“I wish I could just sleep there every night” she pouted.
Heejin’s face fell a bit.
“How are things at home?” she asked.
Chaewon looked away, to Heejin’s giant rabbit plushie that stood in the corner of the room.
“Usual. My stepsister is kind of getting worse, honestly.”
She shook her head, as she shook the thought. But Heejin knew her heart was full that she needed to talk about it.
“What did she do, this time?”
“She got mad at her mom because she picked me up from school today. I finished early, and it was pouring rain, so she offered to pick me up. But my stepsister didn’t like it. She literally told her mom that she loved me more than she loved her, and that she had replaced both her dad and her with my dad and me…”
Chaewon’s eyes were starting to tear up. Heejin sat next to her on the bed and hugged her.
“I have never felt more unwelcome before, Heej” her voice cracked, and she started crying for real.
Heejin still hugged her, while rubbing her back in circles. She hated knowing that her friend was so unhappy at home, that every day was a fight. Ever since her dad had remarried, she had been living with her stepmother and her daughter, who clearly was not happy about her mother’s new husband. All of the tensions fell on Chae, who never said anything. And Heejin, could not do anything except for providing her with a safe, happy place when she came over. Which was the reason she always came over. It made it easier for everyone, and Heejin’s parents loved Chaewon and did everything they could to make her comfortable.
“Maybe she got worse because it’s Friday the 13th” Chaewon said, interrupting her crying.
Heejin had never completely understood Chaewon’s superstitions, but she nodded anyway.