The warmth from the food helped.
Mira sat quietly, listening to the two cousins exchange light conversation while stirring her noodles. Occasionally, Ares would glance at her, checking without asking. Jae Min, too, watched her in those in-between moments never pushing, just present.
The steam from the ramen fogged her glasses a little, and she smiled faintly as she took another sip of tea.
Then, she stood up."I'll be right back," she said softly. "Restroom."
She walked down the narrow hallway past the kitchen doors, her damp hair still clinging to her sweatshirt. The sleeves tugged slightly at her wrists.
While returning from the restroom, someone called out.
"Mira?"
She turned, blinking.
A tall girl in heels and a fitted dress was standing by the mirror, holding a luxury handbag and touching up her lipstick. For a second, Mira didn't recognize her.
Then she did.
Yoo Ri.
One of the girls from school.
The kind of girl who never walked alone. Who laughed the loudest when Mira was humiliated. Who always had boys orbiting her like perfume.
Yoo Ri blinked, then grinned.
"Oh my God. Mira Han? Is that really you?"
Mira didn't answer.
"You look.…" Yoo Ri tilted her head, looking Mira up and down with that too-sweet smile. "Just like back then. Wet hair, oversized sweatshirt. Still into that lost-puppy look, huh?"
Mira took a breath, tried to step past her.
But Yoo Ri blocked the way.
"You coming to the class meet-up?" she asked, voice playful but pointed. "Everyone's going to be there. All the boys, all the girls. Remember Hae Min?"
That name hit harder than Mira expected.
Yoo Ri laughed. "He's coming too. I wonder if he still has that video of you…. what was it again? Oh right crying in the locker room." She laughed louder. "Ahh, good times. You always made things so entertaining."
Mira's face stayed calm, but her fingers were clenched at her sides.
"Oh, and guess what," Yoo Ri added, lowering her voice, stepping closer. "Ben's coming back from abroad. You remember Ben, don't you? You liked him, right? Or was it that he liked messing with you?" She winked, cruel and casual. "Well. Let's see how this plays out, Mira."
Mira looked at her, eyes cold.
"If you're done," she said, voice steady, "I have business to get back to."
And she walked away, heart pounding, eyes stinging with unshed tears.
She returned to the table slowly, sliding into her seat without a word.
Ares glanced at her. So did Jae Min.
Neither asked immediately. They just.… watched. The way she blinked more than usual. The way her fingers trembled just slightly as she picked up her spoon again.
She tried to eat.
But then Jae Min leaned forward, voice soft.
"Mira?"
She didn't look up.
Ares spoke next, gentler. "Is everything okay?"
She hesitated just for a second too long.
Then, forcing a smile, she blinked fast and said, "Yeah. It's just…. the food. A little spicy."
They didn't call her out.
But the way Ares's jaw tensed and Jae Min's brows furrowed it was clear they knew. They heard everything.
They said nothing, but shifted closer just slightly.
Close enough to remind her: You're not alone this time.
Outside, the rain started slow,
But inside, Mira's storm still raged quietly behind her eyes.