𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 - 𝘒𝘪𝘮 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘺𝘶

2

Five years ago, 2019

I was in my seat, listening to Taeri talk. It made me so happy so see her so happy and excited. Taeri was adopted by her family, being an orphan, she was judged a lot. I became her friend and we've been friends since. When she was at the orphanage, she had a friend, Mingyu. Today was the day they would see each other after 7 years. 

"I can't wait to see him!" Taeri clapped her hands in excitement, looking at the photo she has of him, before he left for the US.

"I'm sure he would be so excited to see you." I smiled.

She kept talking about how much she loved him, how he was so nice to her, how he wanted to take her to the U.S with him. I looked out the window, a sharp curve was coming up. Suddenly, the bus tilted, sizzling sound being heard.

"A wheel popped!" I heard someone say. 

We all stood up, and tried to evacuate. Taeri looked back, her photo had fallen out of her pocket.

"Taeri! We need to leave!" I pleaded.

"I can't leave behind the photo! You go, I'm coming!" She said, pushing me out of the bus. 

I looked at her through the window. She went back to the back, picking up the Polaroid. I saw it in her hands, and exhaled in relief. I motioned her to get out quickly. But, it was too late. The bus fell off from the, falling down. I looked down in horror, seeing the bus roll down the hill. I quickly ran down, looking for Taeri.

"Taeri!" I sobbed, finding her under some rubble. 

I pushed the rocks away, seeing her. Her head was covered in blood, dripping down to her eyes. 

"Nari, give this notebook to Mingyu. A-And, pretend to be me until he gets his surgery. Thank you for being with me." Taeri smiled, handing me the notebook. 

Her last words were wasted on me. She was taken to the hospital, but it was too late. A shard of glass found itself inside her skull. She died in my arms. 

- - - - -

I was walking in the park she was supposed to meet Mingyu in. Holding her notebook, and the Polaroid, I looked at the big tree. I saw a tall guy walking around the tree. That was Mingyu. Dreading to go up to him, I did. It was Taeri's dying wish, for me to act in her place. 

I reached him, he was blowing bubbles. I fixed my face to look calm and sweet, like Taeri.

"Taeri?" Mingyu looked at me, smiling. 

"Y-yeah." I pursed my lips, nervous.

He walked up to me, smiled, before pulling me into a hug. 

I handed him the notebook, and tried to act as if I was Taeri. I looked at Mingyu, as he talked about what he did after he was adopted. He had ruffled black hair, covering his brown eyes, the sun kissing his tanned skin. 

"Oh uhm. My named was changed when I was adopted. Call me Nari now. Choi Nari." My smiled, despite the pain lying to him.

Taeri told me about his condition. He had a life threatening heart condition. It was the reason I can't tell him about Taeri. I had to keep this facade until he gets his surgery. 

"Nari, it suits you." He smiled, grabbing my hand and intertwining it with his.

I had to tell him sometime.