Paper Dolls

Chapter 25

"Mom told me you got into Firefly. Congrats Jina." Dalia's voice is muffled and it sounds like she is doing something else with the amount of noise in the background. 

"Thanks, Unni." My heart soared when my parents mentioned Dalia had called for me. I feel just as nervous talking to her as I did when I received the call from Firefly yesterday. 

Firefly is no where near PT when it comes to entertainment companies but still this is a big feat for me and Dalia calling through her busy schedule only solidifies this small success of mine. It makes the happiness I felt yesterday multiply ten fold. 

"Making Hadong proud, huh?" She teases. "Are they going to have a gathering before you leave for the city?"

When Dalia snuck out of our town and auditioned, it became a huge Hadong scandal. But then she got in and suddenly the scandal was forgotten. The town head even organised a celebratory dinner in the city hall for all to celebrate her debut as an idol.

"I'm not sure." I bite my fingernail unconsciously. My parents mentioned the town's head wanting to do something along those lines but I don't expect much. Dalia's achievements are so much greater, she deserved those celebrations.

"I'm sure they will. Another Hadong resident making them proud. Maybe I will drop by. I miss everyone, especially you shadow." 

I squirm at the nickname she hasn't used in years. I used to follow her around everywhere as a kid. After a while Dalia started calling me her shadow which as an eight year old I kind of liked. Now it just makes me sound creepy. 

"That would be nice. How is it going, Unni? You sound busy," I change the topic eager to know more about her exciting life. I hardly ever hear from her and I don't want to waste our precious seconds talking about a Hadong city hall dinner.

"I'm packing right now. Flying to Tokyo tomorrow."

"Wow," I sigh earning a laugh from the other end. 

"You will experience it too, Jina. Travelling is almost as much a part of being an idol as singing is." I hear a zip being pulled and then something being locked. 

"How are your group mates? Will you be travelling together?" I ask excitedly. I always love seeing  those vlogs of the Sweet Poison girls. There are all so funny and they argue about the most frivolous things, like sisters. 

There is a pause on the line and for a brief moment I wonder if she had ended the call. 

"No. It is a solo activity so I'll be travelling alone." 

It might just be my imagination but Dalia's voice sounds more distant and sombre now. 

"You know if you get too lonely you can always call me, Unni. I'll always be there," I suggest airily. I would love another call from her again. These random ones are too scarce. 

There's another long pause on the phone making me wonder if I said something wrong. 

"Everything okay?" I ask tentatively. 

A long sigh. I imagine Dalia running her hands through her thick dark hair like she usually does when frustrated. "I'm good. No, I'm better than good. I should be grateful, right? You've always been there for me. That's true. Sorry for being such an absent friend. I've been so busy with everything."

Another long pause and then the line crackles. "But yes I am lonely, I feel it more and more often these days. I can't tell what's real from what isn't. I think I need to come back for awhile."

I bite my bottom lip feeling worried for her. "Please do. Everyone here would be happy to see you." Especially me. 

"Yeah, I think I'll do that. See you soon, Jina!"