✓ laundry boy | yang jungwon

06: claimed stars

even though he knew he was falling, he held his arm out like he was waiting for me to grab it, luckily i was just right in front of him.

"no-" i yelled, getting a good grip of his arm before he could fall. his eyes were open and staring at mine.

would he be okay dying with me as his last sight?

he held onto me tightly so he wouldn't fall. tears rolled down my cheeks.

bastard. i didn't think he was serious.

his other hand made it's way to both of mine so i could pull him back down from the ledge.

"oh my god." i sobbed. "are you out of your mind?"

he sat on the floor, legs spread out and tired while he stared at me blankly before chuckling.

this guy really is crazy. it's not even funny.

"why'd you save me?" he asked.

"are you kidding me? why would i let you fall?" i replied angrily as i furrowed my brows. i kept wiping the tears away that kept kept falling.

he groaned, "stop crying, you look ugly when you're sad." he said while looking to the side. his cheeks and nose were rosy.

for some reason, it felt like he was a different person from when i first met him. he wasn't this talkative, and he wasn't this mean either.

but after all, i don't know a thing about him.

my arms buried my face so he didn't have to see me being ugly.

i really hate laundry boy.

his footsteps came closer and i felt his hand on my back, rubbing it gently in circles

"sorry hisano." he muttered, "i was angry at you, for playing so dangerously on the edge, and..." he didn't finish his sentence

i slowly lifted my head and stared at him, he was crouching next to me with his hand on my back. him being this close was way better than staring at him from across the room.

he was so pretty to me.

"i really hope this is the last time i see you." i told him bluntly, glaring at him. that was a lie, i think he knew that.

the boy looked down, "me too."

i was expecting him to ask why, but what did i expect?

am i the only one who cares this much?

if someone were to ask me if i knew laundry boy, how would i answer?

because when i think about it, i don't really know him at all.

was there such thing as fate? meeting him again couldn't have just been a coincidence.

believing something unrealistic isn't harmful, right?

we sat there for a while, his hand stayed in place for a while. It wouldn't feel good if he took it away right now.

"hisano, look up." said laundry boy.

i listened and looked up, the stars were bright. how late was it? i've got school tomorrow.

actually, i'd rather not worry. i want to enjoy this sight.

"i'll give you a star, tell me which one you want." he said while looking at me.

"you can't just give me a star, what are you thinking?" i let out a small laugh.

he nodded, "i know, but you can claim it. so that it's yours, and yours only."

i looked up, he pointed at them telling me all their names, what shapes they made when they connected, and what type of meanings they had etc.

"you can claim any star, except that one." he pointed at a star that looked smaller compared to the bright one next to it.

"why not?"

"because i've already claimed it."

i rolled my eyes, "fine, i claim the one beside it. the one that shines brighter than yours."

the boy held in his laugh, "i knew you'd pick that one."

and then i felt myself staring at him in awe, i take everything so seriously. he didn't even say anything nice, yet i feel my stomach being filled with butterflies.

"how'd you know?" I asked.

he turned his head to me, "just guessed." he smiled cutely, a dimple on his cheek kept showing.

smiles didn't mean much to me until now, this particular smile right in front of me was important.

something that won't leave my mind after a while.

something i've been wanting to see. It felt like i was waiting my whole life to see that smile.

and, maybe i have been.

rope is hisano and jungwon is jungwon:

this chapter was inspired by
the book: the glass castle

♡