Inside | HENDERY WAYV/NCT

55

"Hala, it's okay. She was always... . I mean she is always like that. Kinda dumb and insensitive but it's fine," Luna said as she sat down on the chair.

"Excuse me?!" Younha half shouted when she heard Luna talking.
"What? I didn't say any names. But if the shoe fits, it fits. Right, Younha?" Luna repeated what she said. Younha went quiet.

"Why quiet? Cat got your tongue? Younha, we're not 16 anymore. Grow up," Luna turned around and proceeded to talk with Hendery about their nails.

Younha felt insulted. "You fat fucking cow. A loser. You'll never find love," she cursed before walking away.

Luna laughed, "But I did. He's here. In front of me. Unlike yours who left you for that quiet girl you used to bully back then. Who was it? Oh, Irene. Yes. They're getting married soon. I hope things are okay between you guys," as if reopening the wound wasn't enough. Luna rubbed salt into the wound. Causing Younha to walk away quietly. Not even saying a word.

Who is this Luna? Is this the same Luna in high school? The one with no friends and no voice? The one who would allow anyone to step on her as they please. The one who would allow them to call her anything they want. It's not the same girl. This Luna is different.

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It could've been a peaceful lunch if it wasn't for Younha. She who came out of nowhere and then just chose to be the same bitchy high school girl she was 5 years ago.

"A pig.. . If I'm her, I'd eat the salad."
"That's enough, Younha. That's enough," her friend tried to shush her but she was unstoppable.

"Enough? Look at her! Her body is so disgusting. God! Whoever says they love her is either lying or blind. Like look at those short legs and unflattering torso. Omg."

*******************

Hendery looked at Luna. His eyes were begging her to allow him to pick a fight with Younha, but Luna shook her head.

"Come on. Let me. Please," he begged her.
"Just eat. Come on let's eat," Luna ushered everyone to eat. Yet her bites became slower and slower.

"Okay. You know what? On second thought, allow me," Luna stopped eating, got up and sat on the empty seat beside Younha.

"You should've think before you spat, Younha."
"Uuuuu I'm so scared. The fat ass pig is going to sit on me! Uuuu so scared," Younha mocked Luna. She was drunk on wine. Her friend was so embarrassed as Younha's voice was so loud.

"Come on! We're trying to have lunch!"
"Be drunk somewhere else!"
"Shut that filthy mouth!!!!"

Soon people from other tables are fed up and started to just shout at Younha.

Lunch ended on a bitter note.

*******************

"We are never! I repeat never to eat at any Italian EVER again. I don't care if spaghetti is my comfort food or it reminds me of my mother. I am never going to another Italian ever again," Luna babbled on and on as she walked through the mall. Yue and Hala looked at each other before looking at Hendery. He ran after Luna and slipped his hands into hers. He said nothing as she was fuming.

He squeezed her hand softly. "Hey, we're strictly eating sushi after this. No more Italian," he whispered softly to her. Luna gave him the stink eye.

"What happened to my bitch girlfriend?"
"She's asleep. This is now your boyfriend speaking," he smiled at her. Luna laughed and pinched his arm. She never replies whenever Hendery said he's her boyfriend or that he loves her. But he knows she does because she blushed each time.

"We can eat Mexican next time. Or burgers. Or..." Luna cut his sentence.

"Are you doing this because my mom is from the West or because you like them? I grew up here. Eating rice. My favourite dish is eggs with tomatoes and dumplings. I love my rice," she chuckled when Hendery buried his face on her shoulder and mumbled random words because he was embarrassed.

Just like that, our heartbeat matched and I don't want it to ever stop. But I know I'm asking too much with too little time.

*************************

Probably not the best date ever. But she would never exchange it for anything else. Luna watched as Hendery babied Yue around the arcade, playing random games, winning the claw machine, even dancing.

"You know, he is the kindest out of everyone I've met. Even Lucas can be a total jerk. But him, he is too soft for the world," Hala took a bite off her ice cream. Luna smiled. "I hope he's kind to you as he is to others, Luna."

Luna chuckled. She turned to Hala and nodded. "The nicest one."

**********************

Hendery won another plushie from the claw machine. Two to be exact. He was lucky that day. He held the cat plushies and made his way to Luna.

"I got these," his eyes shone like a 7 year old who just won the claw machine for the first time. He placed the pink and purple plushies in Luna's arms.

"For me?"
"You can have the pink one. I'll have the purple one," Hendery said as he sat down beside her. "I thought you like pink?"

"Yes. That's why you should have the pink one. So you'd always remember me when you see it."

Hala rolled her eyes. "God. I should've never come along," she mumbled and turned away. Both Luna and Hendery laughed.

"Psttt, someone is jealous," Hendery whispered to Luna.
"I know.. should we make her even more jealous?" Luna played along and whispered back.

"You know I can hear you," Hala glared at them. "We do. Just making sure you can still hear," without missing the chance to diss her, Hendery blurted. Hala laughed but her laughter sounded so unamused.

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The broken waves could never be mended. But how can water breaks? The water turned blood red as she swam deeper and deeper into the depths of the ocean. They can never be together, she shall perish along with the foams.

But once again, the waves threw her back on the shore. Telling her that the sea wasn't her home anymore. That she shall walk along the painful grounds with the two swords as her legs.

The blood red water twinkled under the moonlight as she dipped her legs into the water.

"I can't belong. Then let me perish...."
"The curse needs to be broken for you to belong, my love. But to break it another soul shall be born. And another soul can never be born unless another perishes. A thousand years more we shall wait for the bond to be broken. A thousand years more in pain of missing.... ."

She can only watch as her pink haired lover swam away in the bloody red water. For they shall never belong for as long as the time. Maybe even after time has ended.

The cursed gem and her lover, under the blue sky and above the bloody red sea.