19. Making Amends
Somin, Mia and Teho
As she drank her morning coffee, Somin leaned against the kitchen counter, observing Mia, who was just finishing her stretching in the living room. She prepared her beverage automatically using her dripper, caring about the art of making a delicious drink the same as any other canvas big or small. Somin unexpectedly missed the heavy smell of roasted beans that had permeated the whole shop she used to work in.
The tired paintress reflected on yesterday's unfortunate alteration with Teho, feeling guilty and righteous at the same time.
"So what about that Teho guy?" Somin asked Mia nonchalantly.
"What about him?" Mia asked back, reaching her hand upwards and turning her gaze to it while supporting her body with the other hand, doing a side plank.
"He's a prime asshole," Somin stated.
"Is he?" Mia asked back, "Why do you think so? We just met him," her leg straightened like Somin's never could when she turned her torso and made a downward-facing dog pose.
"He's..." Somin couldn't find her words, just clenched her fist like grasping for air would help.
A "knock" on the flat door distracted her scattered thoughts.
"Speak of the devil," Mia stated.
"What?" Somin almost choked on her delicious drink, loosening her bun quickly. She assessed her not-so-godly looks.
"Maybe we all started on the wrong foot, I thought it'll help us get used to each other better," Mia explained, "He texted me last night and apologized for the tense atmosphere he created yesterday. Everybody should get a second chance, don't you think so?"
Somin sighed dramatically.
The girls hadn't spoken yesterday as the beautiful dancer had been socializing till late that night and Somin's exhaustion had made her cry to sleep.
Mia continued, "I think he wasn't the only one going a little too much out of their way. Was the slap called for?" she asked directly, bringing to the surface the video(about which Somin hadn't a clue).
"Wait what?" Somin was more confused, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"I don't know what he said to you, but you should have gathered yourself," Mia concluded and went to open the door with a towel behind her neck.
"But Mia..." Somin tried to protest.
We could just ignore him. Somin hoped, embarrassed by the slap she had given him.
The door revealed a cheerful boy in a stylish brown jacket and shiny floral shirt. Dark hair effortlessly framed his gorgeous face.
"I'll be ready in a minute," Mia promised and disappeared into the bathroom.
Teho took off his shoes and happily strode to the counter in a far-away corner.
"Morning," he said to Somin as she moved to an armchair on the opposite side of the room.
"Don't talk to me," she stated when passing by him, triggered by his presence. She felt distressed as she thought about his hurtful words that had sent her into an emotional stupor the night before.
"Is there a chance to get a coffee?" he tried with a mild smile, making small talk.
"No," Somin answered blandly and the sounds of the shower filled the space between them.
"Hey, let's talk," Teho sat across from her in the second armchair, a little bit distressed himself. Thinking how to get out of this stalemate situation, he focused on the stubborn girl.
"What is there to talk about?" she asked, sipping the hot coffee and nervously smoothing her sapphire bird-print dress, "I just need to get laid," she mocked him, owning the awful words.
I have to be calm. She reminded herself but felt the small trembles in her body.
The gorgeous intruder brushed his hair, "Well, I'll start by saying I'm sorry, alright? I can acknowledge I haven't been on my best behavior."
"You haven't," Somin agreed.
"Can you please accept my apology? Pretty please?" Teho tried his best to be cute.
"And why would I do that?" she enquired.
"Firstly, just to make it easier for Mia maybe? It is clear to me, she doesn't wish for any drama around," he gestured to the bathroom just as Mia emerged.
Running to her room, shouting, "Give me a sec!" the dancer left them alone again
"Secondly, I'm genuinely sorry, no bullshit here," he observed Somin's expression, "I don't even know why I said what I said," he brushed his hair thinking about the moment.
"Your tone just..." he breathed the tension out.
She just pressed the hell outta me. We both match our shitty moods. Teho realized.
"But there's no excuse for it anyway," he paused.
"I'm not usually like this," he let her in on his thoughts, and Somin visibly relaxed as his soothing voice flowed through the room.
"Thirdly, don't be such a moron," Somin added and Teho nodded.
"That I can't entirely promise," he went for a joke, but as he saw Somin's faint smile fading he added.
"I'll try for you. Since you've already seen my bad side," Teho wanted to gently let her know, that they have something unprecedented here. For his standards anyway.
"Keep it in check then," Somin whispered.
"We can only go up, right?" he wanted to start well this time.
"That I can't entirely promise," she quoted with his own words which made him snicker.
"We can go guys!" Mia proclaimed happily, hoping for some sort of new understanding.
"I'll just change cups," Somin said out loud, having too much coffee in her homely one.
"I'm doing this for Mia," she mouthed to him on her way to get a thermo cup.
You're not making it easy.
Yet Teho considered it a win as the honesty stayed.
No need to put a mask on with this one.
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😳 Author's corner 😊
Do you forgive people easily?
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🎨Illustrations of each chapter are available on my Wattpad acc, AO3 acc -klubickoArt🎨
