everything's uglier up close

“I didn’t know I had a vibe. I’m sorry.” She chuckled quietly, though it was pretty much devoid of humor. Her eyes followed Chan Ah’s movement with her phone, her eyebrows drawing together slightly. At the other girl’s words she froze, her throat closing up on her. Chan Ah had mumbled it, but Ara had heard all that she needed to. “Oh.” She said after a few seconds of silence, clearing her throat. “That’s, um, that’s... good. For you. You deserve something that makes you happy.” 

Ara was getting more confused by the moment, and she had to resist the urge to jump when she heard Chan Ah’s phone going off. “Is there a reason I wouldn’t be talking to you?” She asked, her eyebrows rising. She didn’t like where this seemed to be going. “You can get that if you need to.” She said, nodding at the other’s phone.

“Mad at you?” She asked, tilting her head to one side. But she didn’t try to get any closer to her again, sticking with her position several feet away. “Why would I be mad at you?” 

Ara took the box, standing awkwardly with it for a second before she turned to set it down on the coffee table. She paused for a moment after Chan Ah’s question, her back turned. Were they friends? This didn’t feel like friends. Nonetheless... “Yeah,” She said, setting the box down and looking back to Chan Ah in the doorway. “Of course we are.” 

Ara didn’t know why Chan Ah wasn’t looking at her, but she didn’t like the feeling it caused in her chest. “I can take it.” She reached out for the box to take it from the other woman, feeling extremely awkward. “Is that it?” She asked.

Ara was quiet for a moment, her reaction delayed a second by her shock. This seemed like a scene out of a movie, one that Ara was definitely not prepared to deal with in real life. Not with Chan Ah. “Uh, yeah.” She stuttered finally, leaning her weight against the open door. “Thanks, I guess. You didn’t have to, you know…” 

also me: *ENCOURAGES ANGST, ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS, GENERAL DRAMA, HEARTBREAKING PAST, DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS*

“Mhm, me too. Lunch seems like it was forever ago now.” She chuckled, leaning forward to grab her food from the coffee table. She pulled it towards her and set the lid back on the table. “I think this food is the best thing that’s happened all day.” She grinned, glancing at Chan Ah. Well, maybe second best. 

“I’d feel bad for the woman, having to deal with a wolf and some wolf children.” She laughed quietly. “Maybe I’ll give it a try later.” She looked up when the call box buzzed, almost whining when Chan Ah moved the blanket and the outside air hit her legs, but she stopped herself. She was hungry, after all. “Finally.” 

Ara took the blanket that Chan Ah offered and spread it over her own legs, shifting around again as she fixed it. “I haven’t.” She admitted when she was satisfied, looking again to Chan Ah. “I’ve never even heard of it, actually. What’s that one about?”