#a.uva

a starter where my character spots a spider while in the shower.

>>                            Sunhwa Apartments #101, 10:18 a.m.                               <<

Mihyun stomped back into the living room, glaring at Mark. 

She had awoken to Mark sitting across from her, staring at her intensely. She didn’t ask how long he’d been staring, just asked him why he was being suck a creep for and his reply was simply: “a spider.” That was when she noticed he was soaking wet, hair damp, a towel that had definitely seen better days wrapped around his waist, feet bare, legs surprisingly nearly hairless.

Mihyun was a woman who did not care if there were spiders in her shower as long as they didn’t like jump at her or move quickly towards her in any way. Matter of fact, she had had many spider friends who would hang out in the corner of her bathroom for a few weeks then disappear from her apartment entirely. Meaning, she was irritated to say the least. Sleep was her only reprieve from the aches she suffered daily and she considered it sacred, the only thing that would have made it worse, was if he had actually shaken her awake. He was smart not to or there would be one less person on this planet. 

Mihyun had gotten up, grabbed a coupon for a chicken place and strode into the shower, coaxed the spider hanging out in the basin of the tub onto the coupon and walked to Mark’s front door, exited the building, kneeled next to the flowers and watched as the spider frantically scampered off into the shrubs before returning. 

                                                                ★

Cooking. It sounds very mundane, but working in the soup restaurant her mother owns has made her a good cook. She’s not chef levels, but she’s definitely above average. Of course, no one knows she’s talented cooking since she’d rather stuff herself with pre-made/packaged meals....

                                                              ✿ 

She must have looked shocked because her realtor, a middle-aged gentleman with a sheaf of dark hair and bright eyes surrounded by wrinkles caused by years of smiling, gave her a one-armed squeeze and a pat on the back, laughing all the while. The metal key in her palm felt warm against her clammy skin. She carried it like it was the most precious thing in the world. It wasn’t until she was standing inside her new apartment, realtor’s laughter fading as he closed the door behind him, that it was real.

                                                               ❧ 

Mihyun doesn’t cook meals as much as she should. Most of her meals come from coffee shops, boxes, or pre-made convenience store food. It is not that Mihyun can’t cook, it’s that she feels like it’s too much effort after a full day of school and work. It’s a shame really, because she cooks well thanks to the fact that her Mother owns a restaurant and that Mihyun worked there as a teenager. 

                                                              ✜ 

There’s this part clap-board, part plastic low setting table in Mihyun’s apartment, shoved into the small space between her pop-up armoire  and her bookshelf. On top of it is her spare blankets and bedding. Above it is a single picture of Mihyun at age 5 sat between her mother and father from the time she was still Kim Yoona. It was the first thing she bought for the apartment. Not pots, pans, chopsticks, plates, or bowls, a table. 

There’s a smear of orange nail polish on the left corner from when she painted her toe-nails for her first job interview, a slight crack from unceremoniously dropping her giant textbooks after buying them and crying from the stress and the headaches she endured that day. There’s also the faint lines of script from pen ink that bled through a paper she was writing onto the table. It went from an all-purpose table, to a coffee table, to a foot rest, to a bed side table, to a haphazard shelf. It’s not it’s final form, but someday when Mihyun is in a better situation maybe years down the line, she’ll look at this old table and remember all that she’s endured. 

for a starter where all the electricity goes out in the middle of the night.

>>                               Studio 57 Apt# 408, 9:19 p.m.                                         <<

Mihyun and Hanbyul were curled up in the middle of Mihyun’s living room that was tiny in comparison to Hanbyul’s living room. Her bed was a twin, too small for both girls to fit comfortably, so Mihyun took down the futons she used to sleep on while she saved money to buy a bed frame and mattress when she first came to Seoul. 

In front of them was Mihyun’s 35 inch flat screen and between them were various snacks that ranged from sweet, sour, spicy, and salty on a tray like a buffet. The packages were ripped open, their contents spilled out. Some of them mixed to create an interesting blend depending on what handful you got. The two women had made signals to each other across the bleachers as another one of their department disputes raged on thanks to their college soccer team. They were all on the same side, but of course, one department had to be the loudest, show the most school spirit. When halftime hit, Mihyun found Hanbyul in the crowd which led them to Mihyun’s apartment. 

At this particular moment, the main character froze realizing something was behind her and slowly turned around. The music soared and the instant the terrifying figure was shown, causing Mihyun to squeal, the power shut off leaving a deafening quiet. Mihyun immediately grabbed onto Hanbyul, heart still pounding in her chest. 

for a starter where all the electricity goes out in the middle of the night.

>>                                 Studio 57, Lobby, 10:15 p.m.                                         <<

Mihyun was checking her mail when the lights went out. It was such an instantaneous thing, that Mihyun thought for a second that she was dreaming. One moment there was light, the next the light was gone plunging everything around her into darkness. In the back of her mind, she thought maybe the Lobby door had opened, but the Lobby stayed dark, though something nagged Mihyun in the back of her mind. 

Mihyun spun around, pressing her back against the cold metal of the mailboxes. Fear threaded through her as her eyes squeezed shut, trying to listen for any other sounds. Elsewhere in the building she heard residents either dealing with the darkness, or complaining and Mihyun calmed down. That was what she heard, them, not a possible ghost or serial killer or the men that nearly killed her as a teenager. There were no proverbial boogeymen, only people. Mihyun let out a hissing breath, then beside her, a light shined. 

Mihyun screamed, and if she weren’t already against the wall, she would have been now. Her head banged comically against the mailboxes, while the light tilted illuminating the face of Sooyoung. 

for a starter where my character trying to scare yours.

<<                          Outside Chapter One, 8:40 p.m.                                    >>

Mihyun spotted Illhoon a mile away. It was odd that once she knew him, she could notice him in a crowd of people, where as a couple of months ago he would’ve just been another face in a sea of faces. A face that might have even translated into her dreams. She watched as his slender form walked the path from Seoltang--possibly to see Hanbyul--to Chapter One, which gave her pause. 

“Illhoon can read?” Mihyun remarked under her breath as she casually leaned back, the cold stone of the pillar biting into her with it’s rough surface, seeping into the back of her pressed shirt, making her even colder. A wicked smile grew on her face. Illhoon didn’t know she was there, which meant she could probably follow him and possibly leave clues to freak him out, like he’s some kind of protagonist in a drama. She wondered if Illhoon even watched dramas. Guess she would find out. 

It took 20 minutes for Illhoon to step out of Chapter One, shopping bag thumping onto his back as he slung it over his shoulder and began walking. Mihyun followed, staying behind at least five people, keeping her eyes on him and his fashionable, colorful shirt. It wasn’t long before Mihyun realized he was heading home, which gave her another idea. She didn’t have to leave cryptic notes, she could just scare the ever living shit out of him through classic means. 

“Heh.” Mihyun puffed, turning right instead of continuing straight, her quick steps turning into a light jog as she aimed to beat him to Sunhwa Apartments. Glee swept through her as she reached her destination: an alleyway right between two shops, a few buildings down from Sunhwa. If she was quick enough, Illhoon would soon be passing this alleyway and when he did...well he was going to freak. 

Mihyun pressed her back against the building and peered cautiously over the side, there he was, right on time. Mihyun took a deep breath, ignoring the blood roaring in her ears and counted down.