extraordinary disaster || baek kyung

24. serenity

 "You think we're in the prequel to Superstar ?"

"Well...yes." Lila twiddles her thumbs at his flabbergast face, nose scrunching with hesitance. "Like how Trumpet Creeper and this story are connected but instead this is the direct prequel to Superstar."

"But...aren't you supposed to finish the first story before you write the prequel?" Kyung frowns. "How can you write half a story and then leave it to write its prequel?"

"Do you honestly have faith in the writer to create anything logical or well-thought-out? You've heard some of the horse shit he makes us say." Lila almost shudders. "How my character confessed to yours was brutal. I almost died from the secondhand embarrassment."

"We've been through the wringer, huh?" Kyung muses with a slight smile. "I don't even want to think about the cringe that exited my mouth without my consent. Being a mouthpiece is torturous."

Lila chuckles at his statement, falling into silence as they make their way back to their street. Kyung glances at her available hand, swinging alone, all for the taking. He reaches out for it.

"Ah!" Lila throws her hands in the air in realisation. "I completely changed the topic. We were just talking about how Superstar was the prequel right?"

"Mhm." He almost pouts, hand retracting with swiftness.

"So at first, I just thought the puppet master was reusing storylines for this world but then some things weren't the same. For instance, Jinmi is the school chef rather than my manager. But it's perfectly plausible that he becomes my agent somewhere in the timeline. At first, I was doubtful about Namjoo because he was the heir of Seuline but now he's been found illegitimate, maybe he becomes my assistant after all?"

"Maybe." Kyung watches her talk with her hands, a habit he usually loves, but right now it's irritating him because when he wants something, he's determined to get it. "Do you think your character will stay friends with Eun Dan Oh after all of this fiancé drama?"

"I think so. She's supposed to be my best friend."

"But what about the rest of our main cast? Like Yeo Juda, Dohwa-ah..."

Me. What if I get left behind?

Lila's eyes cloud over with sadness, and her hands flop to her sides.

"You guys aren't in it. Yet. Maybe you come into the story later."

Kyung's throat feels tight. "Maybe."

He exhales, reaching forward to capture both of her hands in his, intertwining their fingers as smoothly as he can though he almost trembles with the anticipation. Her skin is as soft and warm as he remembers though it feels like years since he's had the honour of being in her proximity. Kyung traces his thumbs over the backs of her hands, lightly tugging her forward. Lila gasps softly, wide-eyed and gazing. He almost groans at the sight, pressing a chaste kiss against one of her hands.

Lila's head muddles. Her brain is egg splattering against the floor, as his lips brush against the curve of her cheek and then the other.

"I haven't washed my face yet." She mutters as he slightly pulls away, feeling herself flush.

Kyung's face stretches into a gummy smile, one that makes her heart ache with bittersweetness, wondering if she'll only see it in her memories once this story ends. Wishing it to etch in her mind with perpetuity.

"Hush." He almost whispers, pecking her forehead and then the tip of her nose. "Li." Kyung swallows thickly, can barely form a sentence as she overwhelms him with her beauty, warmth and earnestness. "Li? Can I?"