again?

Neither of you moved for a long time. The car was quiet— you could only hear the hum of the wind outside the car.

The silence was softer now. Her hand was warm on top of yours.

“Hey.” you said.

Your voice was rough and used up.

Minju’s fingers shifted against yours, and she slowly turned toward you, not quite looking at you.

“I’m sorry.” you said. “For yelling. I didn’t want to do that.”

Minju only nodded.

“I just—” You rubbed your eyes. “This whole week, it—”

You stopped, then started over.

“This whole week, it’s been…” You let out a defeated sigh. “It’s been really nice.”

“I… really enjoyed seeing you again. I really did. I enjoyed it so much, but I think that’s what made me feel so awful.” you confessed. “I missed you.”

Minju’s expression softened, and the two of you sat still for a moment.

“I don’t know how to do this.” you said.

“Do what?”

“This.” You gestured around. “Us. I don’t want to go back to how it was. I don’t want to leave tomorrow and have this be it again.”

Minju looked at you.

“You made me wait a long time, you know that?” she said.

“Yeah.” you said. “I know.”

She was quiet for a moment. She let out a long breath.

“Just so you know,” she said. “I’m not going to chase you again.”

“I mean it.” she continued. “I tried that already. And I can’t do it again.”

You nodded.

“If you say you want to try, you have to actually try, okay? Not just when it’s easy. No more hiding things and then disappearing. Just… be real with me.”

“I’ll try.” you replied.

She stared, searching your face. “If you disappear on me again, I’m not giving you another chance.”

“I know.”

She held your gaze for a second, then let out a tired breath. “Okay.”

Neither of you said anything after that. You sat there, looking out of the window, letting the words hang in the air until they didn’t feel as heavy anymore.

Minju sat up and sighed. “God, I feel like I just got hit by a truck.”

“You kind of look like it too.”

She looked at you like you’d lost your mind.

“What?” You laughed a little. “You told me to be real.”

“Not like that, idiot. You should tell me I’m pretty no matter what.” she said with a light smile.

She pulled down the visor, looked in the mirror, and groaned. “Oh. You might’ve been right. God, my manager’s gonna kill me tomorrow.”

She flipped it back up and sat there for a moment.

“Are you hungry?” she asked.

“...I could eat. Why?”

“Good.” She turned her key in the ignition. “I’m not going home like this.”

Even from outside, the lights of the convenience store were too bright after the dark of the hill.

Minju put the car in park, then reached over to her glove box for a mask.

“Not gonna fix your parking?” you said.

“Hm? I’m parked fine.”

You looked out the window, then back at her. “You’re taking up two spots.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” she said, pulling up her mask. “There’s barely anyone here anyway.”

You sighed, then shook your head. “How the hell did you pass your driver’s test?”

She pouted. “Keep talking like that and you can walk home.”

You smiled while stepping out of the car. “Okay, okay.” 

Inside the convenience store, Minju darted ahead straight to the snack aisle as you grabbed a basket. You followed behind her, watching as she scanned the shelves with intense focus.

“Okay,” she said, turning to you. “Sweet or savory?”

You shrugged. “Both?”