Written In The Stars | Park Sunghoon ✔

endearmeⓝt

»»—— Shin Lumi ——««

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You were blinding as the sun my love, as we walked through the wet pavements, as the rain poured down our bodies, I knew

I knew that I loved you.

I knew that I had to say it before I explode into nothingness, I need you to know how I feel.

So I did.

I said the words,

"I love you, Pearl."

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I closed the book as I read one of the passages. It was written as if it was the author's diary. And so far, from what I have read, he was definitely in love with Pearl.

Pearl

I massaged my temples as I remembered the nickname he gave me. He used to call me his pearl.

"You are my greatest treasure, my pearl."

What a joke. A treasure you picked up and threw after it lost its value, how endearing.

I walked out of my office as the clock reached 12:30 pm. With my bag in hand, I passed my assistant on my way out of the building.

"Enjoy your lunch, ma'am," Sunoo called out with a smile which I returned.

I decided to have lunch in a café near the building. I was never really fond of eating lunch. It was always something I disliked. The only reason I started eating lunch before was that I wanted to be with him.

Stupid.

I ordered my regular drink and a cheesecake to accompany it. I brought my pen and notebook with me just in case I was struck by inspiration. But I still had nothing.

"Lumi?"

A faint voice called to me and when I looked at the entrance of the café I saw an old friend, Jake.

I stood up to greet him. "It's been so long, Jake!"

He chuckled and sat down scratching his nape, "I'm sorry, studies have been so hectic."

"Of course," I smiled at him, "I guess I can call you a doctor now?"

He fished his wallet from his pocket and showed me his license, "Yes ma'am, Dr. Sim at your service!"

I looked at him and observed how he looked even more handsome than the last time I saw him. He left after our high school graduation to pursue his degree in Australia.

"Australia has been good to you, huh?" I teased which earned a hearty laugh from him.

He looked at me with his famous smile and said, "Look who's talking! You look more like a model than an author! I miss the nerdy Lumi!" I rolled my eyes as he said that. "Sunghoon must still be so obsessed with you, maybe even more than before."

I went silent after he mentioned his name. However, Jake didn't realize how uncomfortable I am with the conversation so he continued, "How is he by the way?"

"Um," I hesitated to answer. "I'm not really sure, Jake. Its been a while since I last saw him."

Realization hit him as he saw my expression, "Oh, Lumi. I am so sorry. I didn't know."

I chuckled to ease the tension, "Hey! no worries, Jake. I know you haven't been in contact with all of us for a while."

After that, our conversation during lunch went on and on. It felt relieving, talking to Jake again for so many years no contact. It felt even more relaxing because it's Jake.

He has always been the one to ease our worries when we were teens.

We exchanged numbers before we went our separate ways and I couldn't wait to tell Jay about Jake's arrival.

I went straight to Jay's office and entered without knocking which annoyed my boss.

"You know, if I didn't love you, I would've just fired you from the first day you stepped in this company."

I laughed at his statement and replied, "I love you too," I sat down and smiled at him. "You are not going to believe who I just met during lunch!"

"BTS?" He guessed teasingly.

I rolled my eyes at his silliness, "I wish!" I laughed, "But no, I met Jake!"

"What?!"

"Well, it's Dr. Sim now actually." I grinned proudly.

His face lit up and a smile emerged from his face, "He's back?"

"He is!" I squealed excitedly.

After chatting about our memories with our friend back in high school, Jay asked me about the task he gave.

"How's the book?"

"Well, it's written really detailed. It's as if it was the author's diary that is dedicated to his lost love." I explained while Jay looked as if he was listening intently. I continued, "But its focused on his story with a girl named Pearl. It's like he wants this book to reach her, he's retelling their story to her."

"Sounds tragic," Jay commented.

I nodded, "It definitely is, but so far, all I've read was his confession to Pearl."

"Wait, doesn't Sunghoon call you his pea—"

"If you want me to continue this review, you would not go there," I warned him and he immediately closed the imaginary zipper in his mouth, locked it out, and threw the key like how a kid would do if asked to keep a secret.

As I continued to read the book, I kept reading instances that reminded me of my life with him. The fact that the story's character was named Pearl didn't help at all.

It reminded me of my happiest days. Scary how those memories you count as 'happy' could bring so much pain into your life.

The book was definitely, eye-opening. I could feel the feelings and emotions that the author poured onto his craft, I applaud him for that. This book made him vulnerable to his readers, maybe that was why it was such a huge hit.

I remembered the first books that I published. The readers said that they felt every emotion that I had throughout the journey that they took as they read it.

That was because, I felt every emotion that the book had during the time I was writing it.

But I am exhausted.

I'm tired of feeling pain, agony, and joy all at the same time. Feelings are exhausting, which is why I pushed them aside. I didn't know that as an author, I needed all those feelings back.

I'm scared to feel them all again. But as I read the mystery writer's book, I couldn't help but think that maybe getting hurt again would be the only way to finish my book trilogy. Maybe after I finished the final book of the series, I would finally be able to write another book or even a series.

One that didn't have him in between the lines and pages.

One that isn't written by his weak, innocent pearl.