Hi Stranger? | Seulrene

Chapter IV

Irene's POV

Almost a week passed and now I'm back in Korea again.

"Where are we going?" I asked to Yeri, as I'm just following her.

"Jeju." Yeri said that made me pause.

"What?!" I stop on my tracks.

"Joy unnie's celebrating in Jeju." No.

"Why didn't you tell me this first?" She look at me, like studying my reaction.

"Sooyoung unnie just told me about it, the other night. I also didn't it think it was necessary." She said.

"It is Yeri!" I didn't notice I was raising my voice already. Yeri look at me in shock. I took in a deep breath. "I'm sorry..."

"It's okay but--"

"I wont be going with you. Just tell Sooyoungie, I'm sorry." I was about to walk away but she held my luggage.

"Unnie! You can't just not go when Sooyoung unnie's expecting you already. I waited for you too, so that we can go there together." No, you don't understand. I shake my head.

"Yeri I can't..." I stopped when a voice spoke behind me.

"Hey, it's boarding time already." I turn to look at that person. She give me a smile, so naturally. "Let's go?"

"Unnie! Come on! You can't just change your mind now, you flew all the way from Boston for this." Yeri said.

"Boston." I heard the other person in front of me faintly said.

"Seulgi unnie can you help me convince her?" She look at me. I swear! Kim Yerim!

"Yeri!" I warned her.

"Maybe it's time already." I look at Seulgi as she said that. She's already staring back at me.

"Huh?" Yeri. I then look over to her.

"I mean it's time we go already. They might close the gates on us. We can't afford to miss this flight, next flights today are fully booked." She said. Yeri then look at me.

"Unnie please. I can't just leave you here." Yeri said.

"Yeri I'm not a child anymore, I ca--"

"Do you not like Jeju Miss Bae?" Seulgi asked formally this time. Just what is she doing?

"It's not that..."

"Then why don't you want to go?" I just stare at her for a moment there.

I took in a deep breath before pulling my luggage from Yeri's hold.

"Unnie--"

"Let's go." Then I walk ahead of them.

God! If only I knew where I'd really end up going, I shouldn't have agreed to comeback here.

As soon as we arrived in Jeju we were fetch by Sooyoung and Wendy.

"Welcome!" Sooyoung greeted us with a big smile on her face. She came up and hug me. "Thank you for being here unnie." she said.

"Why don't you thank Seulgi unnie." Yeri said. "Joohyun unnie almost backed out in coming here." Sooyoung let go of me.

"Why?" She asked.

"I don't know. All of a sudden she changes her mind with just the mention of Jeju." Yeri. I swear! This kid! Maybe I could staple her mouth someday.

"Oh!" Sooyoung look over to me like she's questioning it, but then maybe she realized that she wouldn't recieve an answer even if she'll ask. She just sighed and didn't mind it anymore. "What's important is she's here now."

"I'm sorry Sooyoungah." I said.

"Hey! It's okay. You're here now." Sooyoung said.

"Here." Seulgi's voice suddenly heard on my side. She was reaching for my luggage. "I'm just going to put it in the van." She said.

"It's--"

"Just let her unnie." Sooyoung said before pulling me to the van.

The ride were full of their chitchats. I just look at the familliar view outside. Never thought I'd see this again, though there are changes already but somehow it still same.

My ears perked up at their new topic.

"Why do you know so much about Jeju, Seulgi unnie?" Ooh! They were talking about the place?

"Seulgi comes here often, Yeri." Wendy said. She's the one driving for us. I look at the person beside Wendy. "She even have a place here already."

"That's why." Yeri. "How 'bout you Joohyun unnie?" I look at her a little surprise at her sudden question. "I know you've been living outside of the country for a long time now. Have you ever been here before?"

"I have." I answered.

"Really?!" Yeri said surprised. "I guess you went to many places here already before leaving Korea."

"Not really." I diverted my attention at the view outside.

"Did you have a bad memory here unnie?" Yeri asked more. "You almost backed out earlier, I'm guessing..." Did not let her finish anymore.

"Only good times." The best times...

"Then why did---" she got cut off again.

"We're here." Wendy spoke. We all then went down.

We're in a beach house owned by Sooyoung's family. We've settled in the respective guest rooms given to us.

After I unpack I've decided to go out to the beach. It's almost sunset already, might as well make the most of my stay here.

"Unnie, going somewhere?" Wendy ask.

"To the beach. I want to see the sunset" I answer.

"Ooh, okay. I'll just tell the others in case they'll look for you." I nodded before going out.

I got out just in time. I hug myself as the beach welcomed me with a breeze. My eyes remained in front. I sighed at the view. Somehow this made me feel at ease.

In the next minutes I can sense someone going close. The sun has set already.

"Hi." I feel her stand beside me.

"Hi." I replied not even bothering looking at her. My eyes remains ahead.

"How are you?" She randomly asked. "I mean, you must be tired from travelling..." I wanted to laugh at her awkwardness, but it can't be blamed.

"I'm fine." I said. For a good few minutes we were just silent.

The silence between us is a little calming and drowning too, I can't let it stay like this.

"How about you?" really Bae Joohyun?

"Hmm?"

"How are you?" And I've decided to ask the same thing? Pabo!

"Who's asking?" This time I look at her. She's just looking straight at the sea. She let out a deep breath.

"Is it the Joohyun I just met...

Or the Joohyun I know?" She look at me.

I look away from her eyes. No...

"Hyu--"

"Unnie! There you are!" And now I thank this kid's loud voice. "Oh Good! You're here too, Seulgi unnie. Come now you two! Dinner will be serve already." she said before walking back.

As I was about to walk away from there, I was stopped by my wrist.

"Hyun..."

"Not now Seulgi. Not now." I said as I remove her hand from me and left her there.

I look back at where she is.

Mianhe.