| unwanted presents pt.2

note: tw! psycho! stalker kmj!

"oh you guys know each other?" hanni asked, looking at the two girls, from minji who sat on the chair to y/n who stood next her. minji laughed and shook her head. "no, but i always see her here." she answered, in which hanni nodded. "oh yeah, 'cause she works here!" as if it wasn't obvious, hanni decided to remind minji once again, minji only smiled then eyed y/n for the nth time already. y/n knows that minji is staring at her, yet she could only focus her gaze on hanni, who seemed to be clueless. "yeah... i see her here at my shift." y/n can only add.

"she's the one who returned my art portfolio." minji said, hanni looked at y/n surprise, only to receive a sheepish smile from the latter. "really? oh my god! you don't know how much you saved minji's life- her whole academic career and dreams really relied on that portfolio." hanni said, her expression showed hint of surprise and happiness. y/n cringes and then realizes just how much that stupid portfolio must've mattered to her.

"can i excuse myself for a moment?" y/n says, leaning over the table- minji looks up at the girl and watches as y/n walks away. hanni looked at minji and sat down, taking the menu from the table. minji laughs at the judgemental stare hanni gave to her and y/n, whose back was facing them from a few feet away.

"you guys are weird aren't you?" hanni says, hiding her face behind the menu on her hands, minji could only grin slightly, her eyes round yet there are no signs of life in it, just dull and dark. "i think it's just that it's all a coincidence, after all... we're in the same school right?" minji said, prepping her elbow on the table and leaning her chin on the base of her palm.

hanni squints her eyes and playfully scoffed. "what if you guys were talking behind my back?" she receives a light-hearted laugh from the taller one, who just shook the thought a way with a simple: "that is most unlikely." minji chuckles and brings her hands to a bag laying on her lap.

"is soobin absent today?" y/n asked one of her co-workers, while looking over the counter to see a glimpse of the oh-so-familiar tall guy who hovered everyone with his height. the said co-worker nodded and said. "yeah, haven't you heard? he was in a minor accident yesterday." y/n looked at the innocent co-worker with creased brows, heart finding itself beating faster and her stomach churned because of the sick feeling that has arisen along the news. "oh, okay..." y/n can only mutter as she took a step back.

oh no...

y/n looked behind her to see the duo, chatting amongst each other before making her way to them with a face no one could read through. "are you okay?" asked hanni, who looked up at her friend. y/n nodded and sat on the third chair. "yes, just heard a news from a friend that's all- anyway, what do you guys want?" y/n smiled through the heavy feeling, her lips twitched and a bead of sweat formed in her temple.

it's not even that hot.

y/n continued to ignore the lingering gaze on the side of her head, eyes seemingly trying not to sway to minji's direction. a waiter came to their table to ask for their order. hanni looked at minji before to the menu and said. "i just want a strawberry shortcake and a tea please!" minji tapped her finger on the wooden table as soon as hanni dropped the menu and replied. "i'd like to get the same." minji simply said, her round eyes looking over the waiter behind her.

y/n gave a sweet smile at the waiter, with her hands on her lap, pressed on her skirt, she muttered her answer. "just tea, thanks." the waiter left after ripping a note apart and picking up the menu from the table.

after some time y/n had finally noticed a bag sitting on minji's lap, it's not that big nor small- it's almost like a bag for a camera. there's something about learning the fact that minji owned a professional camera made y/n's skin crawl.

"anyway, it's almost 2 weeks since i last saw you minji- what were you doing the whole time?" hanni asked, leaned on the table, her lips stretch into a thin line, cheeks puffed as she smiled. minji took a few seconds before she answered and just casually says. "a lot actually, i've been working on a new portfolio since 3 months ago." minji slides her hand off of the table, to her bag that sat on her lap. hanni lets out a small "oh" with a tilt on her head.

y/n hated how calm minji looked like, polite and innocent- there's something that scratched y/n in her brain when minji said 3 months ago, it's the exact length of time when they first met. but, at the same time it feels quite wrong to put the blame on someone who looked innocent.

"y/n-nie, do you know how good minji is with her photography?" hanni says, turning her head towards y/n, y/n can only raise her brows at the information. nervously, y/n tried to smile and talk, only for her to stutter. "r-really?" failing to feign interest, y/n cursed at herself, yet hanni seemed convinced, y/n doesn't know what minji thinks though.

hanni smiled, eyes turning crescent and almost closing, her smile was wide. "yes! she's really good at it, she takes interest in 'mundane' stuff but the shots she takes are pretty amazing." she explained, her hands doing gestures of some sort. "she could take a photo of you in a dark room and it will still look pretty." y/n watched, nodding but she really cannot think of anything except the blossoming anxiety deep inside after finding out what happened to her friend.

"if you want, i'll take a picture of you two." minji says, the sound of unzipping caught y/n's attention, she turned her head to see minji pulling her professional dslr camera up from the bag.

just by the look of it, even one- who doesn't posses any knowledge about cameras would agree that the camera is high end, expensive and is made of high quality.

one could just wonder what she uses it for.

"really? b-but..." y/n tried to find an excuse, but a hand that pulled her closer made her shriek- hanni was once again hugging her arm. minji looked at the two girls, slowly bringing the camera up and adjusting the lens, y/n tried, she tried to smile- genuinely and she hoped it'll look nice. one, two, three- four snaps, hanni kept changing her poses and y/n tried to keep up.

minji stared at the photos, then tried to show it to the two- the pictures were clear, the shots taken were almost perfect- and for some reason, there were no hints of uncomfortable expression on y/n's face, which she was thankful for.

the waiter gives their orders, with hanni bickering, minji listening and y/n thanking the server.

after a while, y/n finds herself sitting inside of a bus right after she bid goodbye to her friend hanni and minji who kind of just stood there while hanni said her goodbye, phone on her hand as she tried to contact her friend, after almost 10 miss calls, soobin finally answered. "hello? soobin..?" y/n asked, her voice was shaking.

there was silence for a few seconds then to soobin's voice. "y/n, hi you decided to call today-"

"you got caught on an accident yesterday and you didn't tell me?!" y/n half whispered and shouted, the almost empty bus not paying her any attention. soobin laughs. "i know you're going to blame yourself after i tell you plus, it's a minor accident. i'm fine." soobin tells words of assurance to the girl, hoping it will soothe her and her worries. y/n bites her bottom lip and slams her hand on her lap, sighing. "but soobin- that wouldn't happen if you just didn't accompany me home..."

soobin immediately replied. "you know that doesn't make sense right? besides... one of the people residing in the same apartment complex as you died yesterday that night." y/n doesn't remember anything earlier in the morning regarding a news about a neighbor dying. "yeah? i didn't receive any news, what does that have to do with your accident?" y/n responded, her eyes shifting to the window as she watched different vehicles pass by.

"when i took the route behind the apartment complex, i... i saw the body falling from a few floors- i don't know exactly but that person just fell hard on the road and that made me lose my balance. it was one hell of a ride, i had to call cops." the information made y/n sick just imagining it. why hasn't she heard anything about it? not even an idea.

y/n thinks that maybe, she was too paranoid about the packages that she had lost her thought and her mind off of the reality and didn't notice anything.

instead, y/n nodded and replied. "i'll try to see it for myself and ask the owner."

"you should at the same time no... it's just sickening but you should know at least." soobin said, after that y/n hangs up the call and brought her hand on her lap.

y/n hops of the bus and sees police cars, she makes her way to the back of the building and sees police tapes blocking the bloody path, the place where the body was found outlined with white tape. there are police officers around and people just swarming to see the crime scene. y/n then makes her way to the building and then to the owner who was being interviewed but then was left to wait.

"hello mr. jung, i heard someone died- what happened?" amidst the chaos, y/n found her way to the owner and asked him as soon as possible. the owner looked at the girl and the police officers who made their way to the back of the building once again.

"come with me." mr. jung leads y/n in front of her apartment door and they stood there in the empty hallway.

"someone from this floor was murdered yesterday and i heard that the guy was poisoned and then hang over the balcony with duck tape until it lost grip and the body fell from this floor to the road." y/n shivered, either from the cold air or the crippling fear arising.

"will they interview me about it? since i live on the same floor." y/n tugged at the hem of her skirt, looking behind her and to the other side, checking if someone's listening to her and mr. jung.

"ay, don't worry about- i made sure that they won't connect you here, plus you have an alibi the one who discovered the body said he took you here right?" mr. jung clarified, earning a nod from y/n. "yes, he's a co-worker and friend of mine. i'm sorry i didn't know earlier i was occupied the whole day and about my rent-"

y/n wasn't able to finish her sentence when mr. jung cuts it off.

"oh don't worry about your rent, your brother paid for it yesterday!" mr. jung said, a wide smile apparent on his old, wrinkled face. y/n tilts her head, confused. "huh?" she asked.

mr. jung raised his brows. "what's the matter girl?"

my brother paid for it? but... he usually doesn't. shit.

"ah- no, it's nothing i just... he didn't inform me yet." y/n looked away, trying to remember anything about her brother paying for the rent. "oh well, he must've forgotten but you're all good now and by the way..." mr. jung walks past y/n and then turned around. "clean up the boxes in your apartment, i noticed it's all piling up- doesn't look too good so i suggest clean them." he added.

y/n could only nod and with a sigh, she watches as mr. jung leaves.

entering inside, she is greeted with an unfamiliar smell, it's not too bad but it's weird.

"smells like fabric conditioner here..."

y/n thinks it must've been the owner who came to check the things inside and the boxes that piled up in a corner.

y/n decided it's time she cleans up the boxes and she sighed just thinking about it.

the next day, y/n came to work, she tidied up the tables and started serving customers. soobin is also present, helping in the cashier and would often cheer the younger girl up to make her feel better.

y/n wonders how he can still be positive after what he had just witnessed.

"about what happened... doesn't it bother you at all- i mean it must be traumatizing." y/n said as they sat inside the locker rooms, soobin folded one of his shirts as y/n sat and fiddled with the cap of her water bottle. "it is traumatizing, but at the same time, you would probably start worrying if i show any signs of fear right? i don't want you to feel that way, so i'm trying to be brave so you'll be brave too." soobin said, snickering as he places his shirt inside his bag.

y/n smiled.

the next day, hanni invited y/n to have a lunch with her friend, minji. they sat in a spot near the fountain, where a statue of what symbolized their school stood tall among the trees.

y/n couldn't say no.

"next time, if you want to see more of minji's artworks- we can go to her place!" hanni says, eating her bread. y/n's eyes move towards minji's direction, who sat beside hanni. she's just eating...

y/n took a deep breath and smiled. "yes, if i can make some time."

minji stops eating, then looks at the two girls. "you can later after classes."

hanni was happy, but someone certainly isn't.

"really?! wait- that's so cool, you don't have shift later right y/n-nie?" hanni looks expectantly at the girl, eyes shimmering sparks of hope, y/n cringes at herself.

"actually..." y/n tailed her word.

"you don't want to?" minji asked, eyes bore deeply towards y/n's head, sounding nonchalant but is also expecting for a yes as an answer.

"really y/n-nie?" hanni asked, looking up at y/n with a pout. y/n turns her head to the floor and replies. "well, maybe... i'll come."

"yay!" hanni claps her hands and hugged y/n, y/n laughs sheepishly, feelings her face burn and a bead of sweat form in her temple. y/n couldn't see minji's face or her expression through her limited vision.

y/n stood 2 feet away from the door of minji's place as hanni stood as close as minji is while they're opening the door. they were welcomed by a very clean living room as soon as minji opened the lights, a smell of fabric conditioner engulfed y/n's nostrils which was a scent that she thought was familiar.

everything is well organized, crazy- organized. there is a tripod and a camcorder standing beside the smart tv and a small table underneath the tv. y/n looked around, mesmerized by the cleanliness and how posh the house looked like. until...

"haerin!" a slim calico cat dashed to the sight of y/n, an unfamiliar person. the cat made its way to the small table and jumped towards the tripod which knocked it down along with the camcorder.

minji tried to catch the tripod but failed, causing the camcorder to hit the tiled floor and the tripod to collapse. "shit..." minji curses under her breath. y/n watches as hanni ran to crouch and pick the camcorder up, surprised- all y/n could do is watch.

"i'm sorry! i must've surprised the cat." y/n said. minji shook her head and hanni said. "no! don't worry about it, haerin just hates people."

hanni noticed that the battery of the camcorder wasn't present along with the tripod's part separated, she looks up at y/n. "how about this? can you go to minji's room and fetch a bag of tools and this camcorder's battery i'm pretty sure it's just laying down on her table or under the drawers." y/n blinked and nodded but before she can make her way, minji stood up.

"no, i'll get it myself instead. no need to work yourself up." but hanni whined and fought back. "come on minji! it's not like she minds it and plus you also need to fix the messy table."

y/n gulps and nodded. "it's alright, i'll be back." y/n walked off and swore she saw minji's face turn into an expression of pure anxiety, carefully watching over y/n. y/n entered a room which she suspected to be minji's, the room had a strong smell of fabric conditioner- fresh and just like the living room the place is cleaned to perfection.

y/n made her way to the table, sees 4 drawers. on the table laid what y/n thinks is the battery of the camcorder, she picked it up and tried to look for the tool bag but sees nothing i the table. y/n opens one drawer, only to see different types of paper, the other drawer are just filled with pens of different kinds, the third one are just notebooks and the last one, on top the bag of tools laid, y/n picked it up and saw a portfolio underneath.

it's a pink portfolio, different from the portfolio she remembered she gave minji.

y/n looked behind her and took the portfolio, the cover is blank but she turned the cover aside and the first page contained a piece of napkin, on the corner was the familiar logo of the cafe y/n worked at.

the other pages made y/n almost sick, her head swirled with every pictures, her in the school hallway, the field, classroom or even in the cafeteria. the picture of her apartment, the boxes piled up, the cafe from outside, y/n working, even the pictures of the boxes laying in front of her apartment door, and the copies of the same letters sent to her. the last picture is the picture they took in the cafe, hanni and y/n, except hanni is torn away from the picture.

y/n breathe hitched, shaking, tears brimmed to the corner of her eyes as she tightened her hold unto it but it felt like it's about to fall from her grip.

her heart tightens inside her ribcage, finding it hard to breathe properly when it feels like her heart is being squeezed.

"what are you doing?"