metal straw | ast. cha eunwoo

seventeen

"Promise me you won't tell anyone?"

Sure, it was a dumb promise because Soyeon knew Eunwoo wouldn't tell a soul. Also because she knew no one else would have the benefit of knowing this news. Eunwoo nodded as an answer before going silent, letting her take her time.

"I stole them," she whispered, suddenly adding a gasp in the end.

He immediately burst out a smile, "Don't joke, I'm being serious."

Soyeon immediately covered her mouth, hoping it would resist her from laughing so much. Watching her suddenly caused a chuckle to escape Eunwoo's lips. It took a while for both of them to calm down.

"My mom," she said softly, "well, step-mom. She didn't like me as a child."

Eunwoo went silent, his mouth went right to a frown, gazing at her with his full attention.

"She... Mom passed away three years ago, and then dad got married again. She loved the lives underwater, would spend her time volunteering in programs or doing exploration in sea life. So my dad thought buying these for me would maybe help me closer to her."

"I guess she didn't like that," she said, reminiscing the day perfectly in her head as if it was only days ago that it happened.

"She wanted me to stop, somehow it irritated her that I was trying so hard. She didn't like me at all... For some reason, seeing her like that made me feel good, relief even that she didn't like me," she sighed but still managed to smile, "I was disappointed, I felt like I was replacing my mom."

Eunwoo didn't say anything after. The sound of footsteps walking unsynchronised or the blabbering voices of students and teachers behind them became muffled and were hardly heard in the background. Noticing the tension, Soyeon cleared her throat and continued.

"B-But I'm ok now!" she reassured him, "I mean, I don't feel guilty at all. Besides, they have each other to lean on."

"Who do you lean on?" he asked out of curiosity.

"My bedroom door," she sighed, "Sorry, am I being too dramatic?"

"Do whatever you want," Eunwoo said, suddenly breaking eye contact with her and moved to the busy streets. "I'll be here to listen."

His answer nearly sent Soyeon into a heart attack from butterflies that she accidentally let out a loud squeal. She covered her mouth as Eunwoo instantly sat up straight in alert, startled by her outburst. He looked at her straight in the eyes as if searching in them that might give him hints of what was wrong.

"You... A-Are you sure you're not an actor?" she nervously giggled, couldn't even look at the boy dead in the eye.

"Alright, shall we go?"

~~

im sorry this is also cringey 😖😖