𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 /GXG/

🔸️My foolish Love

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AKARI TOKIZAKI
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19 hours and 20 minutes. Chae won is late.

''Akari, does your throat hurt?'' Mom, beside me, at the table, opens the package of pasta while talking to me.

''I think I caught the flu. The whole body hurts. I dialed the number. She is taking too long.''

''It's the rain, baby.''

I'm calling Mio for the second time. I slide my chair back, straighten my leg, and rest my knee. The cell phone is in the ear.

''Hello,'' replies Mio.

''Are you in the dorm?''

''Yes. In my room, why.''

''Alone?''

''I'm editing videos. Why?''

''Chae won is not with you?''

''No, why?''

'Do you know if she's out there or has she already...?''

''I haven't seen Chae won today.''

''Huh? Has she not arrived from the street yet?''

As euphoric as my voice is, now my stomach turns.

''I didn't see her, unnie.''

''If you see her, tell her to take the call, please?''

''Is something going on?''

''I'm feeling bad.''

I end the call.

The thermometer beeps, and I pull it out of my armpit.

''And then?'' Mom looks at me worriedly.

''38.5°C.''

''Maybe she better not come,'' Mom suggests.

My body asks for bed. The eyes even burn, and the back hurts. Even so, I look at YouTube and pay attention to the video that teaches how to make spaghetti. She likes Italian food. I've never done it, but there's no secret to cooking.

Mom takes the spoon in my mouth. Chocolate syrup. ''You like bittersweet.''

''I like any kind of chocolate.'' I run my tongue over my lip, wiping away. ''Have you made the banana cake, Mom?''

《Phone ringing》

Mom runs out of the kitchen into the living room to answer the phone. ''Hello? ... Miss Park!''

It's her again. Ji-hye's mother is having a doctor's appointment with my father, and now every conversation with my mother seems to have turned into a free section as well.

It literally felt like a medical visit. A few days ago, when we went to visit her, it was a very uncomfortable situation for me. Every few words my parents exchanged with Mrs. Park, she would cry and address her daughter's memories and events.

Worse was when I decided to say something because I thought I was very quiet and useless in that room and without any function, and I spoke the last time I saw Ji-hye. Then Mrs. Park was silent with a shallow smile, an abducted look.

She told us about when Ji-hye came home and said that a new student had arrived and they were going to share a room. It was me.

What really struck me was that maybe I didn't like our friendship so much because Ji-hye missed spending time with me.