Icy like diamonds || Ryeji

Chapter 15

She looked back at the other girl, shrugging in response. "I suppose you can call me one, yes." She thought about it for a second and decided to question her about it. "Is that a problem?"

Chaeryeong shook her head. "As long as you don't hurt others, it doesn't bother me."

"Does others mean Yeji?"

At the mention of her name, Yeji went back to paying attention to the both of them, her eyes glancing back and forth between the girls. Clearly all too curious about the conversation they were having.

"Yes." She nodded.

Fair enough. Even though Ryujin is pretty sure she had the bigger chance of being the one getting hurt.

She looked at Yeji who had apparently been staring right at her, probably wondering what she was going to respond with. Honestly, she could play it cool but for some reason, Ryujin had a real problem with honesty. As in, she simply blurted out her thoughts a lot even though sometimes she shouldn't. This was one of those times.

"It's difficult to hurt those who don't feel a thing."

She immediately regretted the words that had came out of her mouth. It's not that she didn't think that, she did. But perhaps it was too harsh. Albeit accurate. And Ryujin regretted it even more when Yeji suddenly got up from the table and excused herself. Leaving being a Chaeryeong who was looking at the girl rushing away, before glaring right at her.

Ryujin didn't know what to say. She hadn't actually expected a reaction. At most an eye roll. But not that.

Chaeryeong was still staring at her, clearly upset by what she had said.

"I-" she took a deep breath, glancing towards where Yeji had disappeared to. "She's usually not like that."

Chaeryeong clicked her tongue, hesitating slightly before actually getting some words out. "I think I'm better qualified to say how she usually is." Her tone wasn't nearly as soft as it had been before, she noticed.

"I know." She whispered, feeling terrible about it. Despite the fact Yeji had been just as rude towards her at times.

"I don't think anyone likes hearing criticism over their feelings or lack of them."

She hummed, bitting her lower lip worryingly.

Chaeryeong took a few sips of her coffee, looking right at her, as if she was expecting something else that never came.

Ryujin hesitated but it was bothering her that the other hadn't gone after Yeji. Even more so because she was her best friend. Wasn't that part of the best friend functions?

"Aren't you going to-"

"No." Chaeryeong glances towards the bathroom where Yeji had been for the past few minutes. "You are."

"I am?"

She hummed, drinking her coffee again.

"Why would I do that? I'm sure I'm the last person she wants to see."

Chaeryeong pressed her lips together, opening her mouth once but quickly giving up on whatever she had been about to say. A moment later finding her words. "If you want to make things easier for the both of you, make an effort."

She rolled her eyes. Making an effort had been her approach for the entirety of their engagement and it had lead her nowhere. At all. Where was Yeji's effort?

"Sometimes you'll give 200 percent and get 10 percent. That's life." Chaeryeong offered again. "Or you can sit and wait to see what happens."

"I get that Yeji is used to having everything handed to her with no effort on her part, but she'll have to try for this. I've been letting her sit down and wait for me to make an effort for a while now."

Chaeryeong was silent for a long while. She wasn't sure if it was because she didn't have a comeback to her logic or because she too had started to hate Ryujin.

In that moment, Ryujin decided she didn't care. Yeji could be mad about her pointing out facts all she wanted. It's not her fault that Yeji wasn't capable of emotions besides anger and annoyance. Or that she wasn't capable of caring for others besides herself.

If Hwang Yeji wanted Ryujin to pity her for the shitty attitude she had, she could sit down and die waiting for it.

"I should go. I'm having dinner with my family. Tell Yeji for me? Whenever she comes back." Chaeryeong said, getting up from her seat and rushing out of the coffee shop. But Ryujin didn't believe her urgency. Clearly she simply didn't want to spend anymore time with her and was hoping her absence would make Ryujin interact with Yeji.

She had no interest in doing so.

Yeji took a total of 20 minutes to come out of the bathroom since the moment she had turned it into her sulking spot. She was so dramatic. It's not even as if what Ryujin had said was news. Anyone could see as much, she's sure of it. Besides, they were always calling each other out like that.

"Where's-"

"Family dinner." She tried to keep her words as limited as possible. Not caring much to continue interacting with the older girl.

Ryujin didn't care if Chaeryeong thought she should make more of an effort. Did she even know how hard Ryujin had been trying? Did she know that every time she was met with nothing in return? Was she aware that Yeji was meeting her energy and effort with none of her own? Because if she knew about it then she's just as ridiculous as Yeji can be.

Both expecting Ryujin to put aside her own feelings, pride and self worth to practically beg Yeji to be a decent human being by treating her like she's hot shit. Ryujin thought she deserved better than that. She deserved someone who would put on an effort for her. Who wanted to know the little things about her. Or anything, unlike Yeji. Who would try for her. She deserved being cared for, didn't she?

Ryujin scoffed at the thought, earning a curious gaze from the cat eyed girl because she spoke again. "I have things planned. I trust you're mature enough to find your way back."

All she did was roll her eyes in response, watching as the older girl walked away. Her teeth bitting furiously into her mocha bread. She hated that Yeji had somehow guessed that was her favorite. That, paired with her general attitude, lack of effort or interest and selfishness seemed to only drive her to a newfound place of insanity.