"You LEFT?!" Ningning exclaimed, nearly knocking over her drink on Minjeong's coffee table.
“Careful! I just waxed the glass this morning,” Minjeong scolded her.
"I didn't want to overstay my welcome," Aeri retorted defensively, sinking deeper into Minjeong's plush couch.
"Unnie. My sister in arms." Ningning set her glass down with deliberate precision on a coaster Minjeong had definitely placed there for exactly this reason. "This man rearranged your insides last night and had you for breakfast this morning. AND YOU CHOSE TO LEAVE?!"
Aeri's face flushed crimson, her glance flicking nervously toward Minjeong's apartment door as if expecting the neighbours to hear through the walls. She hissed softly, "Will you keep your voice down? I don’t need the entire complex knowing my business. And it was just sex. He didn't rearrange anything."
"His dick sure did," Karina replied flatly, lounging back against the throw pillows.
"Do not start, unnie", Aeri shot a glare at her.
"Start what? Stating facts?" Ningning pointed an accusing finger. "You literally walked out on the man who went down on you like a starving man. You left the buffet, Aeri. That is a tactical error."
"Oh, my God! It's not that deep," Aeri rolled her eyes.
Ningning sputtered as if Aeri offended her entire bloodline.
“Yes, the fuck it is that deep. Girl, you woke up with his tongue between your legs, and you walked out? That is a romantic tragedy! A medical anomaly! You practically spat in the face of good pussy eating etiquette!"
Karina nodded sagely. "Scientific fact."
"You guys are the worst," Minjeong replied.
"Girl, shut up. You wish Mincheol could go down on you with how dry your sex life is," Ningning retorted.
Minjeong pressed her lips into a thin line. "Uncalled for but okay."
"Focus up, Minjeong-unnie," Ningning pointed a dramatic finger at Aeri, ignoring Minjeong's grumbling. "Our Aeri had her soul snatched through her pussy, and she decided to leave. She walked away from the buffet, and that is a crime against orgasms."
Karina shook her head solemnly. "It's disrespectful to the clit."
"Anarchy on the vaginal canal."
"Wow," Minjeong stared at them in disbelief, glancing around her own living room like she was questioning every life choice that led to this moment. "We're having a summit on vaginal politics. Never thought this would be on the agenda for my Saturday."
"This is important," Ningning insisted, grabbing the napkin to fan herself dramatically. "We're fighting for the rights of clits everywhere to be properly attended to. Aeri, your clit is CRYING right now, abandoned and confused on his couch pillow."
Karina nodded solemnly. "Justice for the clit."
"VIVA LA CLITORIS!" Ningning raised her first.
"FREEDOM FOR THE VAGINAL CANALS!" Karina joined in dramatically, raising her glass mockingly.
Minjeong stared at them like they had lost their minds. "I am surrounded by insane women. In my own apartment."
"CLIT RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!" Ningning proclaimed loudly.
"ALL CLITS MATTER," Karina added
Aeri groaned, covering her face with both hands. "Can you two stop? Literally everyone can hear you screaming about clits."
"We're not screaming," Ningning protested, raising her voice higher. "We're advocating!"
"Advocating in a studio apartment with thin walls?"
"We are PUBLICIZING THE STRUGGLE!" Ningning slammed her hand down dramatically. "This is a humanitarian CRISIS."
Karina nodded, absolutely serious. "We are fighting for the neglected pussy."
Aeri buried her face in the decorative cushion. "I hate you all. I'm never leaving this couch."
Aeri's phone buzzed against the coffee table.
The three girls went instantly silent, their eyes dropping to the screen with matching expressions of extreme judgment.
MARK
"Absolutely fucking not," Ningning declared immediately. "You literally just walked out on a Michelin-star meal. You are NOT entertaining the fast food."
"I have to answer," Aeri sighed, though she looked pained.
“No, the fuck you don’t! Matter of fact, why haven’t you blocked him? The work party incident was a clear and transparent reason to drop him.”
"It might be important."
"The only thing important about Mark Lee is that he's a cautionary tale I'll be telling my future children about when they ask what a walking red flag looks like," Ningning said, crossing her arms. "You don't trade the five-star tasting menu for a stale gas station hot dog."
"It's just a phone call," Aeri hissed, reaching for the phone.
Ningning rolled her eyes and snatched it first.
"Hey! Give it back!" Aeri lunged for it, nearly toppling off the couch.
Ningning held it just out of reach, swiped to answer, and put it on speaker. Karina and Minjeong leaned in eagerly, Karina nearly knocking over her drink again.
"Aeri Uchinaga's phone. This is her assistant speaking," Ningning chirped sweetly. "She’s busy getting her insides rearranged by a superior man. Maybe try back never."
Karina snorted so hard she choked on her drink, spluttering into her glass.
Minjeong facepalmed so hard it echoed.
Aeri's face was a brilliant shade of scarlet. "Ningning—"
There was a stunned pause on the other end. "Uh... what?"
"My client is currently unavailable to take your call. Please state your business, and I'll pass the message after she's done getting folded by her neighbour."