𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 /GXG/

🔸️Girlfriend issues

[September 12th, Friday]

Sunlight already has that golden glow of late afternoon and in the sky, sinking behind the buildings. On the horizon, the orange-red clouds indicate that today will be colder.

Now, with the approach of night comes that healthy anxiety, with a little more intensity.

''Aren't you going to sleep at my apartment?''

''No.''

''You promised me, Chae won.''

''I promised, but I remembered that I need to help Mio unnie tonight.''

Her hands gripped the small iron fence of the rooftop. The sleeves of her gray shirt rolled up to her elbows, exposing the red lip tattoo on her right wrist; the short skirt of thick teal denim it's short too much.

''But you promised!''

She turns to me, and her gaze...

''Akari, I'm so sorry. I can't.''

She seems she is so tired of herself, so disillusioned, anyone can tell. That beautiful look of hers doesn't seem to have glow since weeks ago.

''For what reason?'' I insist.

'' It's good that you spend time with your parents!''

''So why did you say yes? You just said hours ago that you were just going to gather some clothes andㅡ''

''I forgot it had anything to do with her!''

''Lame excuses... Lame excuses... You keep giving me lame excuses.''

''I'm just tired. I'm not making lame excuses.'' She looks into my eyes, an incredulous smile.

''And that's what I want to talk to you about. You've been so busy lately that you seem to wanna get away from me.''

''No, no...'' Her voice is indifferent.
''It's just that I think we're taking a risk, and it would be nice if you went home.'' She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

The strong wind hits us and her hair, now just below her shoulders, sways.

''It would be nice if you-''

''Didn't you say yourself that you don't want to be caught by your parents?''

When I am about to touch her face,
she turns around. I look like a fool. Heart hammering in my chest, I pat her on the shoulder. ''Do me a favor?''

''What?''

''Look into my eyes when I'm talking to you.''

Chae won turns around.

I look at the upper contour of her lips. My hands on her chin, my face close to hers. ''Are you hiding something from me?''

''No.'' Her gaze holds mine, her expression has a slight tension.

''I feel sad and helpless watching you do this. Don't turn your back on me again.''

''I know.''

''So let's go.'' My voice sounds dead. I squeeze her hand. It's as hot and sweaty as mine.

We leave the rooftop and stop in the hallway to listen to the sounds.

There are no conversations or anything.

We descended the stairs in very silent footsteps. She scrapes the sole of her sneaker, and that scraping sound echoes loudly.

We go inside and find ourselves in the hallway of the senior dormitory.