Smoke fell from Minji's lips as she exhaled after taking a long drag from her cigarette. Her back hit the cold building behind her as she leaned back. She closed her eyes, taking in the soft scent of alcohol from the people next to her. She frowned and dropped her cigarette to the ground after getting reminded of her job. She stomped it out before tucking it into her pocket to throw away later.
Her stomach growled as she entered the familiar store. She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the bright lights. She waved to the tired college attendee at the cash register. She felt bad for the young woman. Kids these days do so much for a good education.
Minji ran her fingers through her hair, staring at all of the different snacks. She searched and searched until she found the Pringles. The only problem was that they were all on the top shelf. She cursed under her breath for being so short and looked around the aisle. There was no way she'd be able to get those herself. Her eyes softened seeing a man staring at the beef jerky. She approached the unfamiliar man and tapped his shoulder.
"Young man, could you please grab those for me?" She asked, observing his outfit. He wore a black hat with a black face mask. One might think he was a psychopath or something. Maybe she just watches too many dramas. She thought to herself as she awaited his answer.
"Sure." He spoke up. She barely heard what he said. Maybe he was just shy? Eh, its none of my business. She thought. He swiftly picked the chips off of the shelf and handed it to her gently. She gave him a soft smile, trying to be polite even though she was dying to get home.
"Thank you." She pulled his hat down on his head, making him bow. She let out a small chuckle before heading to the cash register.
"Hello, eonni. Is that all?" The black haired girl asked. She nodded and glanced at the clock. 3:45 am.
"A pack of the usual." Minji took out her wallet. While the cashier, Areum, rang up her items, she took that moment to throw her cigarette away.
"Cigarettes aren't good for you." A voice spoke up from behind her. She furrowed her eyebrows and turned around to see the beef jerky man.
"Being nosy isnt good for you either," she retorted, wanting him to stay out of her business. He sighed. She rolled her eyes and grabbed her bag.
"Bye, Areum!" She waved to the college student, walking to the door to the convenience store.
"Bye, Minji eonni!" She yelled back. She smiled, walking down an empty street. She pulled out her chips, eating them happily. She couldn't bother to wait until she arrived home. She didn't give that man another thought as she walked down a familiar neighborhood.
Minji didn't bother saying anything as she entered her childhood home. She slid her shoes off and headed upstairs to her room. She dropped her bag off on her bed and headed to her bathroom. She peeled off her jacket and work clothes. She hummed as the hot water fell down her back. Nothing could beat a nice long hot shower.
She stepped out of the shower and dried her hair. Once she was as dry as she could get, she put on comfortable clothes. She brushed her long black hair that stopped mid breast and collapsed onto her bed. She cuddled up in her blankets and turned on her laptop. She watched Extraordinary Attorney Woo for almost the tenth time. Eventually Minji fell asleep to the soft conversation flowing out of her laptop.
———
"Gomo!" The older woman's older brother's teenagers woke her from her slumber. She groaned and sat up. This was like a ritual for her family. On the weekends, her brother would drop his kids off with her mother and her.
"Morning." Minji yawned, getting out of bed. Minsul, her nephew, sat on the edge of her bed next to his sister, Jieun. They were a year apart.
"Where's my mom?" She asked, stepping into her bathroom. She closed the door and changed into jeans and a random long sleeve shirt.
"She went to the neighbor's house." Minsul informed her. She sighed, brushing her hair. Minji finished getting ready for the day and put on some makeup.
"Auntie, dad won't let me wear makeup!" Jieun put her phone down as she left the bathroom. The adult chuckled.
"Well, your birthday is coming up so... to celebrate you becoming seventeen, I'll get you some." She picked up her phone and slid it into her pocket. The kids followed Minji downstairs.
"Have you guys had breakfast yet?" She asked. They shook their heads no.
"Can we go out for breakfast?" Jieun asked. Minsul nodded, finally putting his phone down.
"Do you kids think your gomo is made of money?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Please!" They gave Minji their best puppy eyes. She sighed. They were making it quite hard to say no.
"Fine." She grabbed her car keys and her purse.
"Yay!" They quickly put their shoes on. She chuckled and followed after them, texting her mom that she was taking the kids out. She answered Minji with a thumbs up.
"Kids in the back." She said, getting into the car. She did not want to hear an entire argument about sitting in the front at ten in the morning. She blue-toothed her phone to the car, playing "I love you" by 2NE1. Minji hummed along as Jieun snorted. She frowned.
"You're so old." She commented. Minji gasped at her niece's comment. How dare she insult her music.
"I am not!" She frowned. She did not like this Minji slander that was being thrown around.
"Last weekend you were listening to Lee Hyori and Wonder Girls nonstop." Minsul pointed out. The older woman rolled her eyes.
"You're just listing Iconic people." She huffed, taking a right.
"No, we're listing old people." Jieun retorted.
"Then what do you guys listen to?" Minji handed her niece the phone. She smirked and began typing before music began playing.
"Is this... Newjeans?" Minji asked, recognizing the song that her best friend played for her.
"It is!" She giggled. Minji laughed as she sang out to her choice of artist. Minji nodded her head along to the music. It wasn't bad at all, but it wasn't really her type of style.
"Minsul, what do you listen to?" She asked, looking at him through one of her mirrors. He made a face.
"I don't listen to girl groups." He spoke up.
"That's okay, I also listen to SHINee. I also know BTS and 2PM, and uh... EXO." Minji listed the K-pop groups off of the top of her head.
"Do you know GOT7?" He asked, running his hands through his hair. She thought for a second before nodding.
"That's the group with Jackson Wang and BamBam, right?" She asked. He nodded.
"Okay, they're similar to GOT7! They're called Straykids." Minsul said, typing something in his aunt's phone.
"Like... homeless kids? Do they need help?" Minji asked, concerned for the well-being of these "Straykids."
"Homeless kids!" Jieun laughed. Minsul scowled, hitting his sister's arm.
"No, it's just their name. Just listen!" He huffed, playing a song. She glanced at her phone. S-class?
"Okay, let's give them a try!" Minji said, trying to make both of the kids feel included.
They arrived at the breakfast place as the song ended. Minji disconnected her phone, and they all got out of the car. The kids headed inside while Minji went out for a smoke. After she was done, she headed inside.
"You should quit smoking." Minsul commented, scrolling on his phone. She rolled her eyes. He was the second person to say that today. She just can't catch a break. It hasn't even been a day. That's when her mind traveled back to the man from the store.
"Gomo." Jieun tapped her shoulder.
"Hm?" Minji snapped out of her trance. Her niece pointed at the waiter standing in front of their table. "Sorry."
"It's alright." She smiled at at the woman. Minji smiled back.
"An Iced Americano, please." She ordered. The waitress nodded and walked away. Minji yawned. She just wanted to go back to sleep.
You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net