"God, I want to fight everyone who's ever hurt you, but it was me too, wasn't it?"
- Casey McQuinston (Red, White & Royal Blue)
~~~
I'm laying on my back, looking up at a night sky painted with only the brightest stars and constellations as old as time itself. I recognize the sharp, curved tail of Scorpio, I notice Orion's Belt, then Hōkūle'a next to her little sister, Hikianalia. I see Venus, Mars and Saturn, and all the other planets that only have randomized codes for names.
I see it all, so clearly; the universe.
I feel light petals land on my left leg first, then somewhere on my stomach, then one brushed my cheek as it landed right next to my head. My hand went to grab it, then I realized my hand was soaked. I'm laying in about 3-inch-deep water. I continue to grab the flower; Higanbana flowers.
I'm not sure where they're falling from, but I don't mind, it's peaceful here.
I turn my head to my left, and I see Min. He's laying down as well, in the water that is reflective of the dark banner up above. For him, the water reaches only to his black hoop earrings, yet it's still enough to make it seem as if he himself is in the sky.
He would fit in with the stars.
I sometimes told myself that.
And I sometimes swore that I could see Taurus is his eyes, or the sun in his smile.
But that could just be me.
One thing I knew for certain is that Min wasn't ever made to be on earth. The proof was staring back at me; the water surrounded his body with stars, yet he was still the brightest.
A few more of the red flowers drop.
He turns to look at me. He's silent. That's the first.
He smiles at me, but I don't think the smile was entirely for me.
Min seems happy to be here. Whatever this place is, it's better than wherever he was.
Another flower lands itself in the water, in between our noses.
He slides his hand under, then cups it, and his smile grows.
~~~
"Get the fuck up, ya little shit!" Were the first words I heard of my senior year of high school.
I let out a groan, or something of the sort, then continued to peeled myself out of bed.
Two more years of this fucking bullshit, then I'm gone.
My backpack swung it's way around one shoulder as I shut the front door behind me. Sero was already waiting for me in front of my driveway, in his red, 1995 Toyota. When I saw him, the look on my face was unmoving, as blank as my feelings for him in that moment. I was not surprised that he showed up to my house, despite us not speaking since Min came back.
Sero just looked mad pissed that I wasn't faltering, or running into his arms for dear life and praying for forgiveness. I've seen him act this way to others, never thought he'd pull this shit on me.
"So you're just gonna come back to me after you chased after him?" Said Sero, eyes on the road as he shifted his truck into high gear.
(Maybe it wasn't a good idea to let Sha attend drivers ed cuz now Sha knows how to go faster🫧)
I crossed my arms, my eyes rolled. "Don't even with me, Sero. He's just my... friend."
"A friend I've never heard about?"
