Chapter 40: I'm Glad We're Friends.

Sunday | January 28th, 2024 | 12:38 PM

I don't know what I was expecting a soup kitchen to look like. I mean, I'd imagine it was some sort of outdoors, food court area. Like, there would be a bunch of tables set up, with different chefs cooking for the volunteers. Maybe they would hand out food trays, and volunteers would sit down and eat with the poor.

That was the image I had in my head, and, well, I was pleasantly shocked when the address Danielle told me to show up at a nice, clean, brick building. It was located in a decent-looking area of the city, and the people walking around seemed like nice, regular people.

"You've arrived at your destination," the navigation voice spoke as I parked on the side of the street.

It looked more like a private community center, or maybe even a rec center for the elderly. When I walked inside, my assumption was confirmed when I realized the soup kitchen was the community center in decoration. A lady behind the front desk greeted me, and I awkwardly told her I was a volunteer, not knowing what I was doing. She gave me directions to a large room with a sign-in sheet and some other information.

A couple of people were there already, talking and hanging out, filling the room with a light and friendly vibe. The people all seemed pretty happy and excited to be there, which I guess was a good thing.

"Minjae! You made it!" A voice exclaimed. I turned and saw Danielle and Hanni walking towards me, smiling and waving. They were wearing the same white aprons and matching hairnets over their tied up buns.

"Hey guys," I nodded, a bit relieved to see them before I wandered around looking dumb.

"I'm so happy you're here," Danielle grinned, giving me a tight hug. "I'm so glad you showed up."

"Of course," I smiled, hugging her back. Hanni stared at me from behind Danielle’s back, shifting her weight between her feet. Danielle pulled away and Hanni came in to greet me with a hug as well, albeit a little more hesitant after Danielle, "I'm happy you're here too."

"Thanks, thanks, I'm excited," I replied, brushing past the weird look Hanni was giving her friend.

"So, here, follow me," Danielle stated, grabbing my wrist and pulling me towards a table. On the table, there was a big sheet of paper with everyone's name. "You're gonna sign in, and then when the organizers say so, they'll tell us what we're doing. Usually, they'll ask for volunteers to help with giving out meals or essentials kits."

"Dani and I usually volunteer for that," Hanni added. Danielle smiled and bounced her head, "If you don't want to do that though, they'll have you in the back helping with prepping and making the meals, or cleaning and organizing. There's no rush or anything."

"Yeah, it's really up to you. Everyone usually just goes with whatever feels right, and helps the organizers the most," Hanni continued.

"Ah, alright," I nodded. Looking down at the table, there were a good handful of names already written on the sign-in sheet. I scribbled my information and placed the pen down, taking a deep breath as I straightened up.

"You're a bit overdressed," Danielle giggled, tugging at my hoodie. I looked down at my outfit and compared it to theirs. The two of them were wearing simple jeans shorts and a shirt, a bit plain. I, however, wore my favorite pair of sweatpants and a hoodie, a simple outfit that I wear on days where I'm not planning to go outside.

"I, uh, didn't really know what to wear," I confessed.

"You're fine, don't worry," Hanni grinned, "We're just messing with you."

"Haha," I forced a laugh, seeing something that took my interest. I noticed two guys approaching us and they joined the conversation, introducing themselves as volunteers as well. They were dressed a lot simpler than me, wearing nice, casual clothes, not much different from what Hanni and Danielle were wearing.

"Hanni and Danielle! Hey, welcome back," One of them, a tall guy, smiled, giving both girls a tight hug. The other, shorter guy did the same, giving both a smile and a quick greeting.

"Hi!" They replied. I stepped back, giving the two space as I assumed they were already acquainted with these people considering they volunteer more often than I do.

"Glad to see you guys again," The shorter one stated, looking at the both of them. Danielle broke into a sweet smile and said, "I'm always happy to be here." She held her hands behind her back and cutely twisted side to side as she stood in front of the two boys.

"Yeah, us too," the taller one added, fixing his hair. Hanni dropped her hands and held them behind her back, politely nodding her head.

"I'm betting the two of you will be working together today, in the front like always," He chuckled, looking between the two of them.

"You're probably right," Danielle agreed, nudging her friend.

"Yeah, that sounds right," Hanni nodded, glancing at her friend. The tall one stared at her with a warm expression, before turning to the other guy and saying, "They're always together."

"Right," The short guy grinned. I stood awkwardly, listening in and watching the four of them. Hanni and Danielle smiled, staring at the two guys with a polite expression. I could tell they were just being friendly, but the way the two guys were staring at the girls, I could tell there was something going on.

"Will you two be working the kitchen again? It'd be fun to see you two up front this time," Danielle suggested, her weight shifting from side to side.

"We can definitely work that out," The short one responded. The taller one nodded after his friends. Danielle tilted her head, her smile widening. "That sounds great," She beamed, her hands finding the side of her apron and pulling it around her waist. Watching the conversation from an outside point of view, Danielle's little move caused a little bit of commotion in the guys' minds.

"I can't wait," The taller one finally spoke, a wide grin on his face. Hanni was staring at Danielle from behind her, a confused look on her face. She didn't say anything, though, and simply nodded along with the rest. Danielle, however, turned back to look at me, letting herself smoothly exit the conversation.

"Oh! Minjae, did you sign in yet?" She asked, coming over to me and the table. She looked down and spotted my name, "Oh, good. Good." Then she bent over the table, letting her finger trace my information while her bum stuck out behind her. My face flushed and I looked away, trying not to stare.

The other two boys on the other hand were completely staring, their eyes glued to her butt. Hanni, without looking back, scoffed and stood behind Danielle, her hands folded in front of her.

The two boys took the hint from Hanni and nodded, dismissing their eyes and coughing.

"Well, uh, I'm gonna get going. Nice seeing you two again," The tall one spoke, taking a step away.

"Me too, we'll see you later, ladies," The shorter one grinned, following after his friend.

"See you guys later," Danielle waved, her hand raising above her head. Hanni didn't say anything, but instead kept her eyes glued to her friend. Once the two were out of earshot, she stepped away from Danielle, giving her room to stand up straight.

"You don't even like them," Hanni stated, her face in disbelief.

"I didn't do anything," Danielle defended.

"You totally were," Hanni accused, her arms crossing. "They're not even your type."

"No," Danielle groaned. "I just thought it'd be funny. I wasn't actually flirting with them, I promise."

Hanni's mouth opened and she paused, staring at her friend. Then, her eyes glanced at me for a brief moment, as if she was realizing I was still there with them.

"Anyways," Danielle coughed, changing the subject. "So, yeah, once the organizers are here, they'll tell us what to do. Then, the meal hours start, and that's basically it. They're not that strict here, you can talk with the people if you want. It's more like a friendly community, than a strict donation and charity service."

"Cool," I replied, nodding my head, brushing past whatever I just witnessed.

"Yeah, the organizers are nice," Hanni added.

"It's a good cause," I spoke, not sure what else to say. Thankfully, another subject of conversation was slowly approaching us. I spotted Haerin making her way towards us, her eyes darting around the room. Danielle and Hanni both waved her over, greeting her as soon as she approached.

"Hey, sorry, am I late," She immediately apologized, her eyes widening.

"No, it hasn't started yet," Danielle assured, pulling her in for a hug. "We're happy to see you, though."

"Hi," Haerin mumbled, slowly smiling at us.

"How are you," Hanni grinned, stepping in for a hug as well.

"I'm okay, I'm nervous," Haerin confessed. "I thought I was a little late."

"You're a bit overdressed," Danielle giggled, eyeing her up and down.

"Oh, I, uh," Haerin stuttered, her hands pulling at her sweater. She was sporting a simple sweater and sweatpants combo, like she just left her house with whatever she had on.

"We're just joking, it's okay," Hanni laughed. I found myself laughing, seeing them joke with Haerin the same way they did with me was kind of funny.

"Yeah, you're good," I smiled at the girl, trying to ease her. Haerin laughed a bit, her hands falling to her sides.

"You guys are mean," She whispered, her head shaking.

"Yeah, they are," I agreed, waving my finger at the other two, "Shame, shame."

"Don't get started, Minjae," Hanni pouted, her hands finding themselves on her hips.

"We were just messing around," Danielle grinned, "Haerin's our favorite, so she could get away with anything. You don't have an excuse, though."

"What!" I gasped, shocked.

"What," Danielle mimicked, laughing. Haerin and Hanni both shared the same look, smiling and watching me get teased by Danielle.

"But, Minjae, are you excited? This is your first time at a soup kitchen, right?" Haerin asked, her attention on me.

"Oh, yeah, it is. I'm happy to be here," I smiled, a bit relieved that the topic changed.

"Me too," She nodded, her eyes wandering around the room. Danielle and Hanni had gotten into their own conversation, talking about who else they knew was here, and how many times they've come back. Haerin and I shared a glance and a silent, knowing nod. We were both technically newcomers, since Haerin hasn’t visited a soup kitchen since she was younger, and didn't really know anyone else there. So all we really had was each other.

"Do you think this is going to be a regular thing? Coming back here?" Haerin asked me.

"I don't really know," I responded, "Maybe."

"Hmm," Haerin hummed, her eyes finding the floor. "I like hanging out with each other, it doesn't have to just be the soup kitchen that we meet up outside of school." Haerin looked up and scratched her head, "I mean, like, it's fun. It'd be nice to hang out more."

"Yeah," I nodded, a smile tugging on my lips, "I'd like to, yeah, we should."

"Mm, okay," Haerin nodded.

"Yeah, it's getting more busy, everyone's arriving now," Danielle spoke up, noticing the people around us. The organizers and some of the other volunteers had come in and were getting ready, setting up and checking off the lists.

"Alright, it looks like we're starting," Hanni sighed. Right as she said that, a woman stood at the center of the room, calling everyone's attention.

"Hi, everyone, thanks for coming out tonight. I see some familiar faces and some new ones. As you can tell, we're getting started. So, I'll explain a few things before we get started."

"As a soup kitchen, the goal is to help serve and support the community. There's no need to stress over what we're doing. The kitchen is fully staffed and prepared. Everyone who arrives, whether they're homeless, or low-income, or simply struggling, should have a full meal. Our job is to make sure that happens."

"We will have a group of volunteers upfront serving meals, and another back here prepping and preparing the food. Everyone else is free to join whichever one they'd like. It's pretty open, no rush. There's no pressure either. So, please, if you'd like, feel free to talk to the people and offer them a hand or an ear, if needed."

"Thanks, and, please, have a good time, everyone," The lady smiled, before moving off to the side. "Follow me to the front if you would like to work the service line. Follow my friends if you would like to prepare the meals. I'm sure both teams would appreciate the help."

Hanni held onto Danielle's wrist and the two of them started following the group towards the front. I started trailing behind them, not wanting to separate but when I turned around, I noticed Haerin had stayed put, her feet not moving. A frown was plastered across her face and her eyes were looking between the girls and me, unsure of where she wanted to go.

Even if Haerin had experience at a soup kitchen, the uncertainty in her face made me understand it wasn't easy for her. I stopped walking and waited, giving the girls a few feet of space. I'll just stay with Haerin and keep her company in the back.

"You alright," I asked, my eyes meeting her worried ones. She snapped out of it and quickly nodded her head, "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks."

"I was thinking, maybe I'd help out in the kitchen. I don't really feel like interacting with people today. Want to work in the back with me," I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. Haerin's frown lifted, and she let a smile grow on her lips.

"Yes, please, thank you."

"Yeah, of course," I smiled. The two of us watched as the front group moved on and went out the doors, presumably to set up the line. Then, our small group followed another woman back into the kitchen, where she explained what we'd be doing.

"So, I'm glad we have a group who's willing to work in the kitchen. If everyone can follow me, I'll show you where the supplies are. You'll all be assigned stations and then, it'll basically just be cutting and dicing, peeling and mixing, nothing too hard. The organizers will be the ones cooking, so you'll mostly just be helping them prep and get everything ready."

"Also, we don't mind if you take a break. There's not too many of you, so if you'd like to take a walk and stretch your legs, that's fine. But, as soon as the kitchen gets busy, it'd be appreciated if you come back and help," The lady explained.

"We got it," A volunteer next to me nodded, holding the door for her. "Let's go, guys," he announced. I let Haerin go ahead of me and then I trailed after her, letting myself get a view of the inside of the kitchen.

It was big and spacious, with several stoves and ovens spread out on the far wall. Several chefs and cooks were already there, chopping away, boiling water and stirring ingredients. In the corner, the lady showed us the fridge and cupboard full of veggies and other food items, "Everything's labeled and separated, so you won't get lost. Let me know if you have any questions, or just ask the chefs, they know their way around here."

Then, she started assigning spots and told us to get to work, the volunteers taking up spots next to the chefs. Thankfully, Haerin and I were assigned in the same area, and we got to work next to each other, cutting veggies and cleaning fruit. Haerin washed, rubbed, and peeled a carrot, before handing it to me and moving onto another.

"This is what I usually did with my mom when she brought me," Haerin admitted, her hands working at a speedy pace. "I wasn't really good with knives so she would cut while I cleaned for her."

"You're a really good helper," I laughed, slicing the carrots she had passed over. "That's why she brought you along."

"I think so, too," Haerin chuckled, "She'd bring me, and we'd get lunch afterwards."

"Lunch at the center? Or do you guys go somewhere else," I asked, placing the sliced carrots on a tray.

"Usually we'd grab lunch at some place nearby and come back to eat with some of the others," Haerin spoke, her eyes focused on the peeler in her hands. "My mom is very friendly, so she'd often make new friends while we were here."

"That's cool," I replied, reaching for another washed carrot. "Sounds like she had a good time."

"She did. A lot better than me, honestly. If you didn't know, I'm not exactly the best at socializing. So, when we would get lunch, I'd usually stay quiet," Haerin confessed, her hands slowing.

"No, really?" I joked, nudging her shoulder. She let a giggle escape her mouth, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.

"Shut up," She mumbled, "I got better, though."

"Of course, of course, sorry, you're a total social butterfly now," I continued, my mouth turning into a grin. Haerin let out a sigh and looked up at me, a playful look in her eyes. "Alright, now I know you're teasing me," She said, a laugh escaping her mouth.

"Maybe a little. You're right, though, I think you've gotten better. At least from what I've seen," I admitted.

Haerin let out a relieved sigh, her shoulders relaxing. "That's good to hear," She nodded. Her hands had slowed down, the carrots and the peeler still in her grip. "Thank you," She spoke softly, her head dropping.

"Yeah, of course," I replied. We took a moment of silence, giving me a chance to reflect. Haerin has improved a lot since I've met her, especially since we had gotten closer. She used to be much more introverted and shy, barely able to keep a conversation interesting with her dry statements. But, since we had spent a lot of time together, I felt like she was growing more comfortable and showing more emotions.

Haerin was a lot more relaxed and expressive, her body language more open, and her eyes more confident. Seeing the progress made me proud. Although I didn't think I had a significant impact, it felt nice to see her grow and for her to be grateful for it.

"Anyways," Haerin broke the silence, clearing her throat. "Did you know only 10% of the world is left-handed?"

"What?" I chuckled, caught off guard by her change of subject. "Where did that come from?"

"I don't know, I saw it online the other day," She shrugged, her hands getting back to work.

"Huh, well do you know what percent of the world is ambidextrous?" I asked, "You know, left hand and right hand."

"It's about 1%, it's super rare," Haerin answered, a small smile on her face.

"Wow," I nodded, a bit impressed, "You really have too much time on your hands, both of them."

"I like facts," She stated, shrugging. "They're cool."

"Well, fun fact about me, I'm ambidextrous," I announced. To prove my point, I swapped my knife into my other hand, continuing to chop the carrots. Haerin let a surprised sound come out her mouth and she leaned over to look at me.

"Really?"

"Yup," I answered. "I learned how to use my other hand back in middle school for fun, and I can somewhat use either hand. You can tell my left hand isn't my dominant hand because my handwriting is more messy and sloppy," I explained.

"Well then, that's not true ambidexterity, Minjae. You can't say you're ambidextrous," She objected.

"But, it is," I laughed, shaking my head.

"It's not, you weren't born with the ability to use both hands equally. You're not actually ambidextrous," Haerin argued, her voice sounding more like a laugh.

"Whatever," I huffed, my attention on the carrots, "You're just mad that you can't use your other hand, or whatever."

"Well," Haerin started, putting the peeler into her other hand and making a move to try and hold the carrot with her left.

"Ha, look at you, you can't even grab a carrot, you're definitely not ambidextrous," I teased, laughing. Haerin's eyes were looking down, her eyebrows furrowed. Her hands were struggling to hold the peeler and the carrot, the peeler sliding and her fingers losing their grip.

"I- this is, this is not working," She huffed, dropping her arms. We both started laughing, enjoying the stupidness of the moment.

"Told you," I grinned, picking up the peeler for her.

"Yeah, yeah," She scoffed, picking up a different carrot, "Here, just keep going, we're almost done."

"Alright, thank you," I chuckled, accepting the carrot. "What other dumb facts do you have off the top of your head?"

"Okay, uh," She paused, thinking for a moment. "Did you know, the average adult sleeps 25 years of their life."

I whistled, "Wow, that's a lot."

"Right," She nodded, agreeing, "I wonder how much I've slept."

"Probably more than that, you seem like the type," I said, placing the last of the carrots on the tray.

"I'm not," Haerin defended.

"Really," I questioned, raising my eyebrows. I picked up the tray and walked it over towards the chefs. Haerin trailed behind me, "I don't sleep a lot. I just stay at home and study, or read, or watch YouTube. You know that."

"Mm," I hummed, handing over the tray to the chef. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry I thought so little of you." I patted Haerin on the shoulder, a small smile growing on her lips.

"Hey, thanks for helping," One of the chefs said, "Can you guys bring these finished trays out to the front of them?"

"Oh, sure, of course," I agreed.

"Here, I can help," Haerin offered. The two of us each picked up a tray and started walking out to the front, our pace matching each other.

"It smells good," I commented, looking down at the tray of food in my hands.

"Yeah, it does," Haerin agreed, sniffing her tray of food. We continued walking, a comfortable silence filling the air, until we arrived in the front of the building, where we saw a bustling cafeteria of tables and chairs. People were already lining up, and the volunteers were starting to get food on plates and handing them off to people.

We spotted Hanni and Danielle at the end of the line, their heads and hands moving as they served and talked with the people.

"How are things out here?" I asked as we walked past them, setting down the trays next to the group.

"It's starting to get busy," Hanni replied, taking a break and looking at us. "You guys doing good back there?"

"Yeah, things are good," Haerin answered, "You guys okay out here?"

"Yeah, yeah, everything's alright," Danielle answered, sending a smile towards the person in front of her. She turned her attention back to us, "We'll see you guys when we're done."

"Okay, thanks," Haerin smiled, the two of us saying our goodbyes and heading towards the back again.

"You think it'll die down?" Haerin asked, her hand pulling on my sleeve. I looked back at her and slowed my steps, letting her catch up.

"Probably not," I shrugged, "It looks like we’re only getting started."

"Oh, okay. We have our work cut out for us then," Haerin sighed.

"Yup," I agreed, pushing open the kitchen door for us. "Don't worry, we got it."

"Mm, if you say so," Haerin chuckled, walking ahead of me and back towards the chef. As we got near the chef, we were directed towards another station, a smaller table where we had to clean and slice up potatoes.

"This looks easy enough," Haerin muttered, washing her hands.

"Same thing? You wash and peel, and I'll cut them up?" I suggested while picking up the peeler for her. She took it out of my hand while I went to rinse my hands.

"So where were we?" Haerin spoke up, her focus on peeling the potatoes.

"I believe it was random fun facts," I said, taking a spot next to her. "Let me see, I might have one."

"Go ahead," She laughed.

"Hmm," I hummed, trying to remember something. "Oh, yeah. Did you know that I have a fear of needles?"

Haerin looked up from the potato and glanced at me, an eyebrow raised, "Really? You're afraid of needles?"

I nodded with a grin, taking the peeled potato from Haerin's hand, "Yup, needles. It's not too bad, my heart just beats a million times a minute. And it's only when it's going inside of me, I'm fine with just looking at one."

"Why, though?" Haerin asked, grabbing another potato.

"Not sure, just the whole feeling of a needle going into your skin doesn't feel too great," I shuddered, cutting the potato.

"Hmm," She hummed, her hand slowing down. "So, you'd be fine with getting stabbed with, like, a knife over needles?"

"Oh, yeah, for sure." I chuckled, "Is that foreshadowing something? Are you going to stab me?"

"No," She giggled, rolling her eyes, "Just wondering."

"Well, what about you? Are you scared of anything?" I asked, switching the subject.

"Mmm," She paused, her lips in a pout. "Not really. I guess I'm not scared of anything."

"Really," I asked, surprised. "Nothing scares you?"

"Nope," She answered, a confident tone in her voice. "I'm pretty sure the worst thing I've been scared of is failing a class, and that doesn't really count as a fear. Just stress."

"Okay, that's understandable. That sounds like you," I laughed, understanding.

"Of course, it does," She responded, an amused smile on her lips. "So, what else?"

"What else," I repeated, a confused expression on my face. "Well, did you know my favorite flavor is citrus? Lemons, lime, oranges," I went on as I cut up the potato.

"Interesting," Haerin commented, taking a second to look at me. "I don't think I have a favorite flavor, I like eating anything. Maybe avocados, those are really good."

"Oh, for sure, they're very good," I agreed, a chuckle leaving my mouth. "I don't eat them often, but they're pretty tasty. What's your favorite fruit, then?"

"Hmm," Haerin hummed, her eyebrows furrowing. "Peaches."

"Yeah, those are pretty good. They're sweet and soft," I commented, finishing up the potato and adding it to the pile.

"But, you have to have them in the right season," Haerin added, her hand stopping. "When it's not summer, the peaches aren't sweet or soft. So, that's the problem. Sometimes you just want a nice, juicy, soft peach."

"Yeah, that's true. They're not all perfect," I nodded, a slight laugh coming out of me. "Kind of like watermelon, they're usually best during the summer. And if you're getting one off-season, sometimes it just doesn't hit as much."

"Mhm, yes, exactly. That's a good example," Haerin nodded, agreeing.

"Anyways," I sighed, reaching for another peeled potato. "This is just turning into a fruit talk."

"Well, let me change the subject then," Haerin giggled, picking up another potato from her pile. "Did you know I can tie a cherry stem with my tongue?"

"No way," I grinned, my head shaking. "Is that even true? Or is that a lie? Well, I have to see now."

"I don't know why, but it's something that I taught myself when I was younger," Haerin admitted, her nose crinkling up. She craned her head around, looking towards the fridge and cupboards.

"There's probably a bag of cherries around here, I'll show you," She mumbled, moving from her spot. She opened the fridge and peeked inside, taking out a plastic bag of cherries.

"Look," She said, a big smile on her face. Her teeth were showing, and her eyes were squinted, a cute giggle leaving her lips. She put the bag of cherries down and reached for a single cherry.

"I haven't done this in a while, but I'm pretty sure I can still do it," She spoke, her teeth biting and plucking the cherry off of the stem. She took out the seed from her mouth and swallowed the cherry. Haerin held out the stem in front of my face and stuck it into her mouth. I watched on with a growing smirk, watching her focus and concentrate.

"Hold on," She said, her words muffled and jumbled. Her tongue stuck out slightly, her cheeks puffed and moving, her jaw moving back and forth. After a few seconds, she pulled out the stem from her mouth, her tongue still sticking out, a triumphant smile on her face.

"Ta-da," She exclaimed, a lopsided cherry stem knot between her tongue and teeth. My eyebrows raised and I gently clapped, a proud chuckle escaping my lips.

"That's impressive," I nodded, laughing, "You can put your tongue away now."

Haerin playfully hit the side of my shoulder, spitting out the stem and throwing it away along with the seed. "Thank you," She grinned, a blush rising up her neck and to her ears.

"Yeah, yeah, go back to work now, the faster we finish the better," I chuckled, my gaze going back to the pile of peeled potatoes.

"Okay, okay," She giggled, putting the rest of the cherries back and taking her spot. "We were almost done anyway, let's hurry up."

"Alright," I nodded, picking up another peeled potato and chopping it up. The two of us continued into meaningless conversation, the sounds of our work and the hustle and bustle of the kitchen being the only other noises around us.

Eventually, we finished the bag of potatoes, and the chef told us to take out another tray of food to the front.

"I hope things slow down," Haerin muttered as we exited the kitchen with our trays of food in hand.

"Tell me about it, I'm starting to get a little hungry," I replied, looking out towards the people who were still lining up. "At least they're eating."

"Yeah," Haerin agreed, bouncing her head with it. Danielle was the first to notice the two of us walking through again, a wave from her and a thumbs-up from Hanni as the two of them continued their job.

"How are you guys doing," I asked as I set down the tray next to them. They both took a second to glance over and send us a smile, their hands and body still working.

"Good, good, not too much, not too little," Danielle responded, a bright smile on her face.

"Great," Haerin nodded, her eyes looking around the room.

"This is a bigger turnout than we're used to, isn't it," Hanni questioned, turning towards Danielle.

"It is. I guess more people heard about it this month," Danielle commented, looking at the line of people in front of her. She turned back to me, "Minjae, or Haerin, can one of you tie my hair for me please?"

"Yeah, sure," I replied, stepping closer. "Just a ponytail?"

Hanni jumped in my way, "Oh, don't worry, I got it. Go ahead, you two." Danielle grinned, "Ah, thank you Hanni, you're a lifesaver."

"I know," Hanni laughed, taking a hair tie off of her wrist and gathering Danielle's long hair. It might be a little itch I have in the back of my brain but something about Hanni seems different. It could also be that I've never seen the two girls interact with each other so closely and intimately. Especially with the way Hanni was staring at the back of Danielle's head with a concentrated and focused look.

I didn't think anything more of it and turned to Haerin, "We're headed back?"

She nodded, "Yup, let's go. See you guys again!"

"Bye, bye," Danielle and Hanni both replied. Haerin and I walked towards the kitchen, and I spoke up, "God, I'm hungry." I took notice of Haerin's small nod, her hands holding her stomach.

"Me too, the smell of the food isn't making this any easier," She agreed. "Maybe we could snack or nibble on something in the kitchen, if they'll let us."

"Probably," I shrugged, opening the door. "Let's go."

Immediately as we walked in, we were directed towards a table of raw beef. Our job was to chop up and season the meat before giving it to the chefs. Without getting a snack or something to nibble on, we marched towards our station.

"Am I using the knife again," I asked, glancing at Haerin.

"You know it," She answered, handing me a knife. "Go ahead, I'll just season and prepare."

"Thanks," I chuckled, taking the knife and washing my hands. Haerin was already seasoning a piece of beef when I took my place next to her.

"Damn, I could go for barbecue right now," Haerin murmured, sprinkling some salt onto the meat. I sliced a chunk of meat in half, "Yeah, I agree. This is making me really crave meat right now."

"I could go for any type of food right now," She droned, her hands moving from beef to beef.

"Even ramen? In this weather?" I asked, a skeptical expression on my face. Haerin's face lit up, "Mm, especially ramen."

I laughed, my hands pausing for a moment, "Ramen's good."

"Isn't it," She giggled, the sound making a grin spread across my face. "I could eat it any day, and at any time. I'm such a sucker for good ramen."

"Me too," I agreed, my hands moving fast to slice the beef that Haerin was quickly sliding over. "You know what I really like, though?"

"What?"

"Jajangmyeon," I replied, a dreamy sigh leaving my mouth. "That's good."

"Mmm," She hummed, an appreciative sound. "I like jajangmyeon too, it's definitely not my favorite, but it's good."

"It's so good," I emphasized, my hands working fast. Haerin nodded, a chuckle escaping her lips. "Let's change the subject before we starve ourselves by thinking about food."

"Yeah, sure," I chuckled, a laugh leaving her. "Do you think you have any more dumb facts about yourself?"

"I think I have a couple, hold on," Haerin responded, her eyes glittering with amusement. "Oh, I know. Did you know, if you say the English alphabet backwards, it sounds like Queen Elizabeth?"

"No way," I scoffed, laughing. "Is that even true?"

"Yeah, try saying it," Haerin urged, an amused smile on her face.

"Fine, fine, give me a minute," I sighed, letting out a deep breath.

"Go ahead," She encouraged, an excited look on her face.

"Um," I started, "Z, Y, X, W, V, U, T, S, R, Q."

"There, now you sound stupid saying the alphabet backwards," Haerin interrupted, a fit of giggles coming out. I laughed, her laughter making me laugh harder.

"Shut up," I groaned, a wide grin on my face. "Did you know they wrote the word gullible on the ceiling." Haerin raised her eyebrow at me, "That's the dumbest trick in the book, I'm not falling for that. Do better."

"Ugh, alright," I chuckled. "I don't know, this isn't easy. I don't spend my time learning random facts and stuff like that."

"I was about to ask what you do, but I assume it'd be volleyball or coding," Haerin shrugged, a teasing grin on her face.

"Yup," I grinned. "Pretty much."

"What a surprise," Haerin sarcastically joked, her eyes rolling.

"Oh, whatever."

"Here, have some more beef," Haerin suggested, placing another piece in front of me.

"Thanks, how many more?"

"Two, three more slabs," Haerin guessed, shrugging her shoulders.

"Great, almost done," I sighed.

"Oh, come on. You know you're having fun," Haerin nudged, a playful grin on her lips.

"Yes," I chuckled, nodding.

"Then, keep working," Haerin urged, nudging the slab of beef in my hands. "The faster we get out of here, the faster we get to eat."

"Okay, okay, I'm cutting," I agreed.

"Perfect."

"Hey, can I ask you a question," I spoke, my hands continuing to slice the beef. Some curious thoughts began to flow forward to the front of my mind.

"Sure," Haerin nodded, grabbing the beef once I finished slicing it.

"What's the deal with Hanni and Danielle?" I asked, glancing at Haerin. She looked confused and raised her eyebrow at me.

"Well, what do you mean?" She replied, her tone curious. I slowed my cutting and shrugged, "I don't know. It just seems like there's something different."

"Hmm," Haerin hummed. Her eyes squinted and her eyebrows furrowed. I can tell she wasn’t understanding what I was meaning.

"They seem a little closer than usual, that's all. It could just be me," I quickly added, hoping that she wouldn't take offense.

"No, no, I understand what you mean," Haerin said, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I've been seeing it too. But, it could also just be my imagination."

"Right, maybe. But, the two of them aren't dating or anything, are they?"

"Oh, no, not at all. At least, not that I know of," Haerin answered, a firm shake of her head. "Danielle's straight, she's told me before. And Hanni's," She trailed off, a confused look appearing. "Well, I never got a clear answer from her. But, she's had a boyfriend before." 

"Yeah," I nodded, piecing together her words. "Doesn't it seem like Hanni is, I don't know, flirting with Danielle?"

"You think so?" Haerin questioned, her eyebrows raising.

"Maybe, a little bit. It's subtle, but yeah. I could just be imagining it," I answered, unsure.

"Huh," Haerin hummed, an inquisitive look. "Yeah."

"What is it," I chuckled, a nervous laugh leaving me.

"I'm not sure," She admitted, a shrug following her words. "Maybe it's because I'm around them more, that I'm used to it, but Hanni does treat Danielle differently. Maybe, but then again, they're roommates, and they've known each other longer than I have."

"Oh," I replied, a thoughtful nod. "Maybe, but then again, maybe not. It's not our place to meddle into their affairs."

"No, you're right. And it's not a big deal," Haerin nodded, agreeing. It did make me feel better that I wasn't just imagining things. Hanni's interactions with Danielle did seem a little different than usual.

"Okay, so," Haerin spoke, clearing her throat.

"Hm?"

"Did you know that some cats can be allergic to humans," She asked, her head cocking to the side.

"No, where do you learn this shit," I groaned, a playful look on my face.

"Don't curse, there are others here," She giggled, covering her mouth. We had finally finished up chopping all of the meat. Haerin helped me bring the cut up meat over to the chefs, who blessed us with the greatest news ever.

"Thanks for the hard work," One of the chefs complimented, a wide smile on her face. "And we'll have the rest from here. The two of you can sit down and rest."

"Oh, really?"

"Of course," The chef nodded, smiling. "We can see that the two of you have been working hard, so, just take a break and we'll let you know when we will need you. Join the others, they'll be going on a little lunch break."

"Thank you so much," Haerin replied, her body turning and bowing towards the chef.

"Thank you," I added, copying Haerin's movements. The two of us walked away and Haerin immediately grabbed my arm and tugged, a delighted smile on her face.

"Finally, we get to go eat," She happily exclaimed, a giddy laugh.

"God, I'm hungry," I nodded, my own laughter joining hers.

"Same, let's find the others," Haerin replied, her head looking around. We entered the main dining hall and the line for food was significantly shorter than before. Tables and chairs were occupied by people, and a few others were walking around with their plates, eating and talking. Danielle and Hanni were still working the same spot, although it seemed as if they were finishing up.

"Oh, the girls are still there," Haerin said, nodding her head towards their direction. They waved back at us and Haerin went over to talk to them while I stood nearby.

Haerin was probably letting them know that we were on break and about to start eating. I watched Danielle look at Hanni, then back at Haerin, then say something with a laugh and wave. Haerin came back, her mouth in a pout.

"What happened," I asked, looking between her and the two girls.

"Danielle said that her and Hanni will get lunch later, they want to keep serving people," Haerin frowned.

"Aw, really?"

"Yeah, she also said that since all the tables are taken, there's this spot in the back that her and Hanni usually eat at. They'll meet us there whenever they are finished," Haerin explained, her eyes looking back.

"Oh, okay. That's cool," I nodded, a little disappointed. I had hoped that the four of us could have eaten together, but there wasn't much that could be done. "Well, let's go grab some food, I'm hungry, if you didn't know."

"Same, come on, let's hurry," Haerin urged. The two of us got in line and the wait was relatively quick. We got our food in no time, with Danielle and Hanni giving us just a little bit extra.

"They're spoiling us," I chuckled as Haerin and I walked off.

"Aren't they," She grinned, her steps quick. She led us into the hallway back towards the kitchen, except she passed it up, "They said that there's this other hallway where it's less busy. And there's a vending machine we can buy drinks with."

"Oh, alright," I followed. We reached the end of the hall, turning to the right. It was a long, wide hallway with big windows lining the wall.

"Woah, nice view," I commented, my head turning to the large window. The view was a huge backyard filled with greenery. It was beautiful and the sun shone on the green trees and plants. Benches and stone paths were also spread across the lawn, giving the backyard an elegant and fancy feel.

"Isn't it," Haerin agreed, her eyes bright. We found a door that led us outside, and we stepped out.

"Holy shit," I cursed, taking in the view.

"I know, wow," Haerin breathed, her mouth open. We found a stone bench and set our plates down, staring out at the beautiful scenery. "I didn't know there was a whole backyard garden here."

"Neither did I," I replied, looking at the different plants. "That's fucking pretty."

"It is," She smiled, sitting down. She placed her plate on her lap, and I sat next to her.

"It's peaceful," I added, glancing at her.

"Totally, this would be such a good spot to study or something," Haerin nodded.

"That's the first thing you thought of," I chuckled, laughing. "Studying?"

"Yes," She replied, a sheepish grin on her face. "Sorry, force of habit."

"You're a nerd, you know that," I joked, a teasing look on my face.

"Maybe I am," She agreed, giggling. "But, what's your point?"

"I have no point," I shook my head, a grin on my lips.

"Uh-huh," Haerin mumbled, an eyebrow raised. "Okay, let’s eat up," She smiled, nodding her head towards my plate. "You're the one who was complaining all day that he was hungry."

"Right, right, fine," I replied, picking up the spoon. We started to eat, and Haerin was right, this was a perfect place to eat and just chill. It was quiet, a light breeze making its way over, the smell of fresh nature floating in the air.

"How is it," Haerin asked, a curious look.

"Good, great, delicious," I responded, grinning. "I think it's the hunger talking, though." I spooned another mouthful, "How is it for you," I asked.

"Not bad," She replied, nodding her head.

"Is that all?"

"I don't know, it's good," Haerin shrugged, a hesitant look on her face. "Food is food, I don't let my stomach talk for me."

"Really? Food is food," I repeated, laughing. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah," Haerin smiled. "What's the problem?"

"Nothing, nothing," I shook my head.

"Tell me," She urged, a grin.

"Fine, how can you just call everything food is food? How can you not judge it?"

"Easy, food is food," Haerin answered, her expression serious. “Except if it’s ramen, then it’s heavenly.” I nodded to myself, what else would I expect from the strange girl. 

"Whatever, if it tastes good, it tastes good," I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

"Exactly, and this," Haerin paused, holding up her fork. "Tastes good."

"Yup," I agreed. We fell into silence, and I got to appreciate our surroundings again. It was quiet, only the sounds of the leaves and trees were audible. The sunlight casted shadows over the bushes and plants. I glanced over at Haerin, whose head was facing up towards the sky. A content smile was on her face.

I don't know what I was feeling, but looking at her, and seeing the look of happiness and peace on her face, made me feel content. It was almost weird, it was like a feeling of relief and calm. As if, something inside of me was finally satisfied and could stop running and racing. A sense of clarity.

Like I was glad I was friends with Haerin.

And just being her friend, and getting to experience the little moments with her, like now, made me feel complete.

It was an odd, and slightly strange, thought.

But, that's what I was thinking.

"Hey," Haerin called out, her voice soft.

"Yeah," I responded, looking away and down at my food.

"Look up," She whispered, her hand gesturing.

I moved my head and my eyes looked up and immediately widened, a small gasp escaping my lips.

It was a bright blue sky, a few white clouds here and there, with the sun shining brightly.

"Isn't it beautiful," Haerin whispered.

"Yeah," I mumbled, mesmerized. It was. The blue sky, the golden sun, and the light breeze made me feel tranquil. Like all the problems, and worries, and stress was just gone, and the only thing left was the serenity.

"I'm glad we decided to hang out today," Haerin admitted, her voice small.

"Yeah," I nodded, a smile spreading on my face. "Me too." I wasn't looking, nor did she say anything, but I knew she smiled from the sound of her breath.

We sat in comfortable silence, our eyes gazing up at the sky.

"Minjae," Haerin softly said, her voice hesitant.

"Yeah," I quietly replied.

"Do you ever wonder about, uh, like," Haerin spoke, her words slowly.

"Hm?"

"About your life," She continued, her voice low.

"Sometimes," I answered, an honest reply.

"Mm," She hummed. "Do you ever, um," Haerin trailed off, her head shaking. "Never mind, it's dumb."

"No, tell me," I quickly added, curiosity bubbling inside of me. She laughed into the air before collecting herself, "I was just going to ask if you ever wonder about yourself. Or, your life, in the future, like what are you doing. Where are you at."

"I mean," I paused, a thoughtful expression on my face.

"It's a little bit dumb, but," Haerin interrupted, a lighthearted smile on her face.

"No, it's not. It's a good question," I quickly defended. She looked at me and I looked at her, a soft smile formed on her lips. "Sure, who doesn't?"

"That's fair," Haerin chuckled. The two of us continued eating, but Haerin was more focused on the sky. Her eyes were sparkling, a dreamy look as she lost herself in the moment.

"You said you didn't exactly know why you wanted to become a computer science major. Only because software engineers make good money and you liked playing with computers," Haerin recalled. I gave her a confused look.

"You remembered that?" I asked.

"I did," She shrugged, a sheepish look on her face. "When we first talked about our majors." I had a vague memory from months ago when we had some of our first conversations, but she clearly remembered the details.

"Did I really say that?"

"Basically, yeah," Haerin nodded, laughing.

"Damn, okay," I mumbled, a chuckle. "What's your point?"

"Well, if you aren't passionate about computers, what are you passionate about?" She inquired, her head turning.

"Huh," I sighed, her question making me think.

"I mean, what's your dream?" Haerin questioned, her eyes searching. "If you could do anything, anything, in the world, what would it be?"

"Anything," I echoed, a curious expression.

"Anything," She confirmed, her head nodding. "What would you do? If you didn't have to worry about the money or any limitations."

"Hmm," I pondered, my eyes looking away. I stared out into the green lawn, and my mind went blank. My brain tried to think of what I would do, or what would be my dream job. What would I spend the rest of my life doing?

But, the question was so open, vague, and so free.

I didn't have a clear answer. I don't think I ever thought of it.

"I have no idea," I eventually replied, my voice uncertain. "Honestly, I've never really thought about it."

"Oh," Haerin hummed, her voice surprised.

"Is that surprising," I laughed, a grin.

"Sort of, but," She smiled, her lips tugging up. "How come?"

"How come," I repeated, an eyebrow raising.

"Yes, why haven't you thought about it? Your dream career?" Haerin asked, her voice full of curiosity.

"I," I started, but stopped, the question leaving me speechless. I know why I never thought about it, or even considered it, but how was I supposed to explain that?

"Is it selfish to say that I went into computer science because of the money? That my passion isn't in the career," I admitted, my eyes looking up to the sky for an answer.

"I think it's realistic," Haerin shrugged, in an easygoing tone.

"Really?"

"Mhm," She nodded. She shifted in her seat and continued, "I think you can have a dream that's a goal rather than a passion. If that makes sense. Your passion doesn't have to be in the actual work, but it's what you get out of the job."

"That does make sense," I replied, nodding along.

"Then," Haerin started, a smile on her lips. "What would be the goal that you'd get out of a computer science career? What are you passionate about in the end?"

"Well," I began, the wheels in my brain turning. "I just wanted to leave my parents. And get out, you know. Have my own stable life." There was some hesitation and uneasiness when admitting the fact, but I didn't mind. Having to deal with my household growing up wasn't the easiest, and I just needed an escape.

Haerin probably thinks I'm trying to be mature or responsible by taking care of myself, but that wasn't it. I wanted to get out as soon as possible, and that was what pushed me to get good grades and go to college. She's smiling at me like I'm doing something special, when in reality, all I'm doing is avoiding a hard situation.

"So, you want to leave," Haerin murmured, an understanding expression.

"Yeah," I shrugged.

"I think," Haerin started, her hands gripping her pants. "That's a good start. That's your motivation. To get away. And it's not a bad one."

"Thank you," I grinned, her words bringing some comfort.

"You're welcome," She nodded.

"Well, what about you? Do you have a dream," I asked, my gaze on her.

"Kind of, I guess," She answered, a shy laugh.

"Then," I prompted, urging her. "What is it?"

"Musician," Haerin sighed into the air, a longing look on her face. Music, huh. Weird to say, I'm not that surprised.

"Is that so," I said, my head tilting.

"I really love music," Haerin added, a bright smile. "It's a good escape. A great one. And I think, being able to make something, and hear the sound, and have others hear it, is so beautiful."

"Yeah," I breathed, her words filling my heart with a certain warmth.

"When I listen to a song, and I can't help but tap my feet, or sing along, or dance," She continued, her voice getting quieter and quieter. "Or, when someone sings, and the sound is so clear and strong and beautiful, that you just," She trailed off, her mouth hanging.

"Get lost in the beauty of it," I finished, her words making sense.

"Yeah, that. I really like the sounds, and the feelings that come along with them. I can't imagine not hearing it," Haerin confessed, her voice gentle. "I tried learning the guitar back in high school, but it didn't go anywhere."

"You could play the guitar," I asked, my voice surprised.

"Yeah, sort of," She shyly responded.

"I think that's fucking cool," I blurted out, the information making me excited. "Why'd you stop?"

"Oh, thanks," Haerin blushed, her fingers messing with her hair. "Um, I didn't have anyone else to play with. I had the basics down, and learned a few songs, but playing the guitar is no fun alone."

"Yeah, that makes sense," I sighed.

"But, that was my dream, back then. To be a musician, or a singer. Something along those lines," She smiled, her gaze drifting off.

"Singer, you sing?" I repeated, surprise lacing my tone.

"A little," Haerin laughed, her head shaking.

"Can you sing for me? Now," I eagerly asked, my eyebrows rising.

"Oh, no, no, no, no," Haerin rapidly denied, her head waving side-to-side. "It's embarrassing."

"Come on, please," I begged, my tone light and playful.

"I will, another time. One day, when I'm drunk and can't control myself," Haerin firmly promised, her hands gesturing in front of her.

"Understood, got it," I nodded, an amused expression. The two of us fell back into silence for a moment, before I brought up, "I can totally see you as an idol."

"An idol," Haerin softly gasped, her voice quiet.

"Yup," I firmly agreed, an encouraging look.

"No way," Haerin shook her head, a nervous giggle escaping her lips.

"Yes way," I insisted, "You have the personality for it. You'd be great. Everyone would love you."

"You really think so," She asked, her tone shy.

"Yeah," I affirmed, my head bobbing.

"Mm," Haerin hummed, her eyes glancing away. "That's nice of you to say."

"I mean it."

"I know, thank you," Haerin quietly spoke. "For the compliment."

We both returned to eating, and the only sound was the occasional wind that rustled the leaves in the plants and trees. It was a peaceful atmosphere, the feeling of comfort and serenity filling the air. When I finished the food, the last bites were delicious. I just sat there, taking in the scene.

"I like talking to you," Haerin murmured, her voice soft.

"I like talking to you too," I grinned, a chuckle escaping.

"Thanks," She replied, a shy smile. "But, it's weird. We've been friends for a couple of months, but we're still getting to know each other. You'd think by now, we'd know the basic stuff, like your favorite color."

"Green," I instantly replied.

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's pretty. How about you," I asked.

"Blue," She responded.

"Fitting."

"Mhm," Haerin nodded. "I don't know. It's easy to talk to you, Minjae." I chuckled, the comment amusing me. It's crazy how far we've come since I first met Haerin. It was so difficult to talk to her without feeling awkward or making barely any ground whatsoever. But now, the girl in front of me was opening up and showing a side that only a handful of people got to see.

And it was beautiful.

"Same here, the feeling's mutual," I stared.

"I'm glad we're friends," Haerin admitted, her words hanging in the air. Even though I thought it first, hearing it come from Haerin's mouth, made me feel something different. It wasn't just her, or me, but the both of us.

We were friends.

And we were glad we were.

"Yeah," I whispered.

"Sorry," Haerin laughed, her teeth biting her lips. "I'm being cheesy and emotional."

"It's alright, it's been a good day," I responded, a lighthearted tone.

"Right," Haerin giggled. Even though we finished eating, we just got lost in our surroundings. There wasn't much going on, but the peace was appreciated. All until Haerin's phone started vibrating, and she glanced down.

"It's Dani," She said, her face turning into a frown. "What does she want?"

"What did she say," I asked.

"Oh, we have to head back, they're starting to wash dishes," Haerin responded, her lips forming a pout.

"Guess we gotta go," I sighed, my shoulders dropping. A brief moment flew between us before we finally reacted, starting to gather our things and clean our mess. Taking one last look around the backyard and one last glance back at Haerin who was stepping towards me, I sighed.

Today was a great day.

A nice, calm, chill chapter all around Haerin! It may not be what you wished for but it doesn't hurt to see, right? As a side note, I spent a good part finally sketching out and brainstorming how I want the rest of this story to go. Sad to say, but I see how this story will end. All the chapters in between this to the final chapter has already been planned, which is a weird feeling knowing that at some point I'm finishing up Minjae's story. This would be a nice milestone for me as this would be the first fanfiction that I finally complete with such a massive world built behind it! Don't fret, there's a reason I had to reference the hit list as I WILL get to all the girls introduced. Just because I'm saying I planned how the story will end doesn't mean it's going to end by tomorrow. We still have about 20-30 chapters to go! So hooray! This is going to be fun until the end, so thank you for sticking this long! Love all of you, mwah - PI