Call My Name by the Stars

CHAPTER 7 pt.2- Our Stories' Goodbyes

Junghae poked on the lids of a Bingrae Banana Milk with a small straw, then took Jooah's tightened palms to cup them round the jar-shaped plastic drink.

The sky had fallen into shades of gray ashes and blue when two students wearing their school uniform for the last time sat on different benches next to each other, side by side. Jooah took a sip from the yellow milk, her face still as numb as any other day, the heart still in slow shivers.

    "You seem so chill about it. I don't really know what happened but, darn they were really too much. And you just fought back like that, you're really strong, Baekjoo."

Jooah started laughing, the kind of laugh where you laugh not because you're happy, nor because something is funny, but because you don't know what else to do but laugh in that situation, "I don't know if that means I'm mentally strong, or I just fight well. I may look quite out of it, but, right now, my gut is just... just...it churns... I might even cry," She took another sip like it was no big deal.

Junghae smiled. He's confused, but he smiled, "Then why are you laughing?"

"I don't know. What about you? Why are you smiling?"

"Because you're laughing."

She looked his way, somehow it feels like everything was better.

Jooah scoffed, "I can't believe I got mauled by those girls. It doesn't hurt, but gosh, you had to see something so embarrassing like that. I'm obviously their senior, yet they can't even show the slightest of respect. Someone even called me ma'am."

Her laughter stopped, "But they all stopped when you, a guy, came."

Apparently, Junghae who was never updated with the pop entertainment culture, received a call from Hyerim who was back in her hometown, who drew up any relation chart she could think of, to get his contacts. Junghae who was in the arcade with his friends then ran straight to Jooah's place to check on her. He didn't even know why he had to, but he did. Merely hearing the sweet gesture warmed her heart.

"But, why aren't you asking me anything? Aren't you curious? About what happened between me and those girls. Do you even check the internet?"

He shook his head innocently, still in his puppy smile, "I heard from your friend that it has something to do with an idol. She was rambling. Right now, I'm really really confused. All I know is...that you're probably going through a lot right now, Baekjoo. Even if I'm curious, that's not important. You can just tell me when you want to. Whatever happens, you know I'm on your side, right?"

Her heart beat slowly, slowly, holding back the stream of tears on her glossy blurred eyes that could fall anytime soon, "There'll be someone else on my side."

Junghae noticed them and looked the other way. Then without a word, got up, and stood in front facing Jooah, covering her, and looked above her, into the dark window from a closed shop as he stared at his own reflection, "You can cry, I'm not looking."

While Jooah still sat, her head facing downwards, she slowly leaned her head against Junghae's abdomen and gripped his shirt tightly as she cried, "It's so scary. Junghae, what will I do now? What will I do? It's not even one day. Not even for a day, I already got busted. What will I do now? They saw my face, they saw my name, they saw my school, they saw my camera. They recognized me. I'm scared. I'm tired of living this kind of life."

Junghae stood still as she kept going on, her words choking out of her throat, "Even after all that, I don't think I can ever let go of it. I can't just let go of my camera, no matter how much I'll continue to be embarrassed and told off by everyone. Lee Junghae, you get me, don't you? You get me?"