Run Away

4. When We Were Kids ✓

- JIHYO -

After all the introductions and formalities are done, we are currently touring Tzuyu around the house. This kid is so quiet making the air filled with so much awkwardness. I think Sana has sensed that so she tried to initiate a conversation.

"Since we are almost done with all the touring, why don't you join us on our lunch?"

"I already ate, sorry," Tzuyu shortly replied which almost sounded like a whisper. Good thing the others heard her.

"How about we help you settle things in your room?" I offered.

"I can manage unnie, you can continue your lunch," she declined again.

Gosh, she seems more introverted than Mina.

"Okay then, but please don't hesitate to call any of us if you need help or something," Nayeon unnie said. We all then gave her our contacts and vice versa so we could message each other.

"Thank you," she bowed again and left us here by the pool side to probably go to her room.

Silence enveloped us as we exchanged glances. We probably have a lot of things going through our mind.

"That Tzuyu, I think we know her," Dahyun exclaimed.

"Eh?! We do?" Momo asked.

"Not all of us. I had a hunch that she was kind of familiar earlier. I just remembered now that she was my classmate back in high school meanwhile Dahyun unnie was our senior," Chaeyoung explained while scooping some strawberry ice cream she got from the cooler.

"Yeah, but she never came back after that Chuseok break when she was in 11th grade and I was in my 12th," Dahyun continued.

"Tzuyu suddenly stopped attending our classes and went MIA. Even the teachers had no idea what happened to her and nobody knows any family of hers so we couldn't contact anyone. Many even assumed she was dead," Chaeyoung added.

Poor kid, she must have gone through something.

"How was she like back then? Was she this, I don't know, aloof?" Sana queried.

Interested, eh?

"Not really, she may be quiet most of the times but was very approachable. She was pretty popular back then because she was a consistent top student," Dahyun answered.

"So, no one knows anything about her, not even who her parents are, what if she's actually an alien?" Momo blurted out of the blue while looking blankly on her raised hand holding a jokbal.

"Out of all the possible explanations, you really thought of that?" Jeongyeon said, face-palming.

"What?" she asked.

"Now that you said that, she actually reminds me of Yoda," Sana seconded making the rest of us face-palm too.

Oh, bless their souls, just why are they like this?

Our lunch ended shortly after that. It's already half past one o'clock when I decided to open our group chat. Good thing that we haven't added Tzuyu in here yet.

-----

*Group Chat: PABODEUL*

Mother Hyomas: Welcome party later for Tzuyu?
     >>> Mokbal and 6 others: 👍

Mokbal: As long as there's a lot of foods, I'm in

Jeongnitor: No confetti later or my mop will be chasing you in your dreams, I swear 🙂🔪
     >>> Mokbal: 🥺

Mokbal: You're no fun Jeongyeon-ah 😕