Summer season of August [Daerin]

Chapter 27

July 27, 2021

I let out a heavy breath while resting here at the bus stop. I decided to run a few blocks this morning since Hanni's stressing me out. She never talked to me since last night, just because I tried singing.

My eyes locked on the person who's supposed to turn her back. She looks down when she realized that I'm staring at her.

"I-I'm sorry," Danielle uttered. I grips on the water bottle I'm holding and let out a smile.

"Why? Go ahead, or sit with me if you
want..." I said.

"You okay? Haerin" she asked which lights up my mood.

I don't know why, but that simple question from her brightens me

"O-Of course, I'm just tired." I smiled as she sits next to me.

Why? I can't help but to smile.

"You sang good. I feel sorry because your girlfriend stopped you." Danielle said but instead of feeling devastated, I look down with a smile on my face as i holds on my nape.

"T-Thank you, it's my first time actually. Hanni doesn't want music so I've never tried singing in front of crowds." I explained with the overwhelming feelings right now.

"You sing so good, that it made me want to cry that night" she whispered that I was able to hear.

If she has an amnesia-could she be mistaking me for Haneul? Does she have that gut feeling?

"A beautiful lady like you shouldn't cry because of a shaky voice." I laugh but Danielle remained with her poker face. The tables have indeed turned. I stayed with my poker face back then and Danielle was the opposite. Now, I'm sitting on her chair.

"Can you hold my hand?" she asked which made my heart beat loud, "I-I my head hurts a bit" Danielle said that's why I got up and faced her before holding her hands.

"Y-You okay? Dani, are you okay?" I asked, panicking, I don't know what to do.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine..." a smile slowly forms on her lips but it didn't assure me that much. I gently cups her head using my right hand, so gentle that I could feel each strands of her hair on my palm.

"Where does it hurt? I-I can accompany you home. Do you know that I'm your neighbor?" I asked.
Before I could even hear her response, my phone rings. I pulled it out from my pocket only to see Hanni's name. It took me a second before putting it back in my pocket and giving my attention to Danielle.

"My sister will come here..." Danielle answered. It feels like my world stopped when I noticed that my left hand is still colliding with hers.

Just like before, when we didn't notice that we were holding each other's hand for too long.

"Why are you here anyway? I think you're still in a bad shape, you should stay at home and rest."

"I feel like...like I'm waiting for someone here..." Danielle softly Said.

I tightly holds her hand as my knees falls down the ground, "You need to recover first, okay?" smiled at her even if my heart is tearing apart.

It's Haneul.

But no... Haneul's not here anymore.

Could it be that she can feel those times? When she was always in the bus stop and Haneul would come to pick her up?

Danielle, I don't know about this feeling but I'm here...

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