Call My Name by the Stars

CHAPTER 10- A Record of Our Past

"What a relief! Of course, you guys have only talked once, and even that was pretty bad. But hey. You've been doing well up till now. What can possibly bring down the great Baekjoo?" Hyerim was on the phone with Jooah who was just sharing her negative nerve-wracking experience with a celebrity, and not just any celebrity, her ex-idol.

    She was now in Gongsan, her hometown, for her midyear break.

    "We still don't know. Anything could happen. The shoot will go on for 3 or 4 months...But you know, I'm quite the loser.... But, just forget it. I'll call you back, Hyerim," Jooah ended the call.

    Hyerim chuckled as she stared at her phone, "Wow, Baek Jooah. Her life is really adventurous. I suppose those days of mine are over."

The sun was slowly moving on from its prime time in the middle of the day. The rolling waves crashed onto the rocky walls by her side. Hyerim walked to the edge of the path, and looked down. The teal of the sea went in different random directions, clashing with the strong wind rustling on the crisp waters. They have changed, from what they looked 10 years ago. It was the same place, same season, and in that time of that day...

<2011>

"Hyunsang!" Hyerim called out to him who shut his eyes, facing the overlapping sea waters. There were cuts and bruises on his arms and face, and the wind was swaying through them, then dancing to twirl his dark hair. He was in his school uniform, and so was she.

She threw his bag brutally at his chest and he caught it just in time. "Why are you so dramatic? What are you? 9? Are you not satisfied if you don't pick a fight with someone? It's not like you're even winning."

Hyunsang grouched and held his bag in one hand, looking away in shame as he tightened his lips curled downwards in a pout.

Hyerim guessed it right, "You're embarrassed now right? You can't go home to your parents looking like that so you think you'll be safe just hanging around here until you receive some kind of weird calling, right?"

Hyunsang scratched his head.

"Geez! Talk. Tell me who it is this time."

"...Your classmate's boyfriend," he said in a low tone, glancing to Hyerim's side, showing her the glazed light in his mysterious eyes that had faded.

The seagulls gawked. Silence between the voices of nature was always a comfort.

Hyerim sighed, "... Darn, Hyunsang. Why do you need to get involved? See, this is why you're always getting picked on. If you had just ignored it-  It's not like everyone is perfect, people talk bad about others occasionally so what?"

"What kind of person will just let it be? You know it yourself, they don't think it's just a joke."

Hyerim wanted to say something, but nothing came.

"I don't get why you don't even try to defend yourself. You're not Buddha."

Hyerim turned the other way to leave, "Enough. I'm snitching on you. You can't seem to listen to me, so I'll tell your parents you're fighting in school."

"And I'll tell your parents you're getting bullied in school."

Hyerim turned back immediately, "Hey. That's different. It's just me doing a few errands that's it. It's not like I'm getting abused?"

"At this point it just sounds like you're waiting till you get assaulted too. It's the same thing."

"Hey. If you put it that way my mom will make a fuss.