“Yeah,” Mina replied to both the dumplings and the tightness of Lin’s ship, surprised to hear her boss’ name. She hadn’t pegged him as a regular and didn’t know what to make of his comment, but what did she know?
Then, almost as quickly as they met above ground, Max was saying his goodbyes. Mina’s eyes widened and she made a soft noise of protest before he stood and went to find a seat. Torn in that moment between relief their awkward conversation was at an end and a new-founded anxiety that somehow she fucked up.
“Bye, then.” She uttered, unsure what else to say, then added. “See you around.” Because surely she would.
Mina sat as well, keeping to her side of the train with her neck craned over her phone. Alone, like she wanted, and very aware of the space Max put between them, Mina replayed their stunted conversation as she scrolled. Frustrated huffs and uneasy sighs under her breath punctuated her thoughts. The last thing she needed was him poisoning Goki against her.
This was all turning to shit, and she was watching it happen. Mina cast the odd glance down the car, not looking directly at Max, but watching him eat his wrap all the same. More than once she convinced herself against walking over and trying to strike up a conversation. It was too awkward. The practiced lines in her head swirled about an apologetic drain with accusatory splashes.
This was all his fault, after all. She would have happily sat through a stilted and polite conversation over this gulf. Both of them riding in the same car, in the same direction, and pretending not to know each other. It was pathetic. She couldn’t see a future where Max didn’t tell Goki about this.
Unless the Underworld opened to take them both. With a nasally and dismissive laugh, Mina grinned despite herself.
Then, almost as quickly as they met above ground, Max was saying his goodbyes. Mina’s eyes widened and she made a soft noise of protest before he stood and went to find a seat. Torn in that moment between relief their awkward conversation was at an end and a new-founded anxiety that somehow she fucked up.
“Bye, then.” She uttered, unsure what else to say, then added. “See you around.” Because surely she would.
Mina sat as well, keeping to her side of the train with her neck craned over her phone. Alone, like she wanted, and very aware of the space Max put between them, Mina replayed their stunted conversation as she scrolled. Frustrated huffs and uneasy sighs under her breath punctuated her thoughts. The last thing she needed was him poisoning Goki against her.
This was all turning to shit, and she was watching it happen. Mina cast the odd glance down the car, not looking directly at Max, but watching him eat his wrap all the same. More than once she convinced herself against walking over and trying to strike up a conversation. It was too awkward. The practiced lines in her head swirled about an apologetic drain with accusatory splashes.
This was all his fault, after all. She would have happily sat through a stilted and polite conversation over this gulf. Both of them riding in the same car, in the same direction, and pretending not to know each other. It was pathetic. She couldn’t see a future where Max didn’t tell Goki about this.
Unless the Underworld opened to take them both. With a nasally and dismissive laugh, Mina grinned despite herself.