Lose

6

6

"별의 노래"

"Song of a Star"

It had been a week since he told her about the nightmare. The nightmares suddenly stopped ever since he told her about it. The two decided to go to the arboretum since both of them admire flowers. Beomgyu was looking at the photos he took while Gyeoul was drawing the poppy that she found as they sat in the picnic area.

"Wah, you repainted it? It used to be the night sky." Beomgyu said as he got her guitar off its case. "Yup. I changed it to the sunset." Gyeoul answered. "It looks so good." He complimented the girl which made her smile. "Thanks." She said as she looked at the boy, finding his doe eyes adorable as he admired the details of her newly painted guitar. He then played and sang their favorite songs as Gyeoul flipped the current page of her sketch pad, deciding to draw the boy. While she was busy drawing him, he started playing 'Wi ing Wi ing', swaying with his eyes closed as he played the song's intro, making the girl giggle.

When she was almost done drawing him, he played a familiar song that made both of them sing and remember the festival.

It was an hour before the festival starts. Beomgyu and Gyeoul were peeping from the backstage as they prepare, looking for their friends in the crowd. "I can't find Yeoreum and the others." The boy said as he stood on his tiptoes and looked further. The venue was packed with people, making Gyeoul feel uneasy. The girl kept overthinking about what could possibly happen on stage as they perform, scratching her forearms that were turning red. It was a habit of hers whenever she felt uneasy. She would scratch her arms until they turned red, sometimes to the point it bleeds.

"Look! I found Ruri!" The boy excitedly said as he tapped the girl's shoulder, only to notice her scratching her forearms with her head hung low. "Hey, your arm's gonna bleed if you keep on scratching." Beomgyu said as he held the girl's wrist to make her stop. "I'm sorry, I'm just...nervous." "It's my first time perfo-"

"Eonnie!" A girl with long, wavy hair, wearing a long sleeved pastel yellow dress said, cutting off the older girl. "Yeoreum-ie! Happy birthday!" Gyeoul said as the younger girl ran towards her, engulfing her in a hug. "I thought you didn't come 'cause we couldn't find you in the crowd." Gyeoul said as she slightly pulled away from the hug. "Happy birthday but, where's my hug?" Beomgyu said as Yeoreum stuck her tongue out at him, making the older girl giggle. "No hugs for you." "You ate my gummies."

"I didn't know it was yours, and I bought you lots of it after I knew it was yours." He said as he messed the younger girl's hair. "Aish, I just combed my hair!" She said as she heard the boy's giggles. Her attention went back to the older girl, noticing the red marks on her forearms. "Eonnie, have you been scratching your arms again?" Yeoreum asked as the older girl slowly nodded. "Sigh, good thing I brought these with me." The younger girl said, rummaging in her purse. "Here, to lessen the itch." She added as she handed Gyeoul an ointment and a lotion. "Thank you, Reum-ie."

"Singing for opening must be nerve-wracking." Yeoreum said as she watched the short-haired girl apply ointment to the red marks on her forearms. "It sure is."

"5 minutes before the festival starts!" One of the staff reminded.

"I better go, good luck for the both of you! Fighting!" Yeoreum said as she hurriedly stood up. "We'll see you later!" Gyeoul said as the younger girl waved and went. "I can't believe she still remembers about the gummies, that was months ago." He said as he sighed, making the girl giggle. "Yeoreum has a very strong memory." The girl said, a small smile plastered on her face. "Still nervous?" The boy asked and she shook her head in response. "Thankfully Yeoreum-ie's short visit made me less nervous." She said as she got her guitar out of its case, checking if its strings were tuned as he noticed some changes on her guitar. It was now black with hints of indigo and its body was now painted as the night sky. "Wah, did you paint it?" He asked, admiring its details and she hummed in response. "It looks so good." He said, noticing the small smile on her face. "Thanks."