Ursa Major | Park Jin-Seong

10 • Secrets

"The simple reason why people do anything is for personal gain. Even if it's to help others, it's still for personal gain, because helping others feels validating for yourself. Keeping secrets is no different. Some things are just better off not being said, especially when they're things that happen between two people when they're alone."
-초성민 (Cho Seong-Min)

"Usually, keeping feelings locked up inside for so long is not a good thing, but if those feelings have already happened, then it's okay to keep them to yourself forever."
-박진성 (Park Jin-Seong)

"멈추지 마 저 끝까지 훌쩍 날아가, 우린 이제 이곳을 벗어날 거야. 그때 마주친 그 표정을 잊을 수 없었지. 우린 서로 스며들어 친구보단 또 다른 나인 거 같아. 일렁이는 맘을 타고 날아."
("Don't stop, fly away to the end, we're getting away from this place. I can't forget your face back then. We melt into each other, you feel like another me rather than a friend. I'm flying on my shaking heart.")
-WEEEKLY, "After School"

Tuesday, August 16th, 2022. "Oh god. Oh GOD. I think I'm having a noodle hangover, eonnie." Seong-Min looked over curiously from the other side of the breakfast table. Areum looked awful. "Here, let me get you some water." Just as she stood up to grab a cup, Areum ran into the bathroom and locked the door. Never a brighter idea than having a massive bowl of beef rice noodles in the night, especially when you have work the next morning.

"Are those noodles alcoholic or something? Hurry up, we have to go soon." She could hear Areum in the bathroom, having a bad time. "Who knows? Maybe I shouldn't have ordered the extra extra big size..."

On the subway on the way to work, Seong-Min constantly looked over at Areum, who looked like she was actually having a hangover. "You know, the only issue with the subway is that it doesn't have a bathroom. That would really help right now." She spoke slower than usual and sounded drunk and sleep deprived at the same time.

"Well my car doesn't have one either, and to be honest, I'd rather you not use it as one. Besides, I can rarely get any parking unless I get there extra early."

Areum stayed silent, looking sicker than ever. "Do you think that guy will mind if I puke on him?" She gestured to the man beside her, who was casually scrolling on his phone.

"Ohhhh he will most definitely mind. Um, think about something else. What else did you do yesterday?"

"Well, I came home, and I saw you and Jin-Seong sleeping on the couch all cuddled up. And this morning, I saw him get up and leave without waking you. Truly, it's very sweet."

"Ahaha, Areum, you were noodle-drunk. It was probably just a dream or a hallucination. Besides, how come you were awake?"

"Because he snores loud as hell. How am I supposed to sleep?"

"Y'know, I have sleeping pills in the medicine cabinet. You could have just taken one of those."

"You're a bit too late to tell me that one, eonnie. Just a bit." Areum sighed. "So, what did you do yesterday? Anything interesting happen?"

"Not really. Nari was stalking us at the park, and all of his LoL teammates were there too. So we just went home and watched shows until sleep."

"So it wasn't a hallucination then. You actually fell asleep cuddling with him."

"You- okay, fine." Seong-Min rolled her eyes. "But that's all that happened."

"You sure?" Areum smirked, much to Seong-Amin's annoyance.

"Why aren't you drunk anymore? Is my relationship just so interesting that your noodle hangover and your sleep deprivation is gone?" To be honest, drunk, sleep-deprived Areum is much better than dirty-minded Areum.