Stars Fading

YEAH, RIGHT

Dara was checking her phone when an unknown number popped out. It had 3 missed calls and a single text message.

“Dara, can we start over?” it asked.

“Start over what?” she answered. She searched deep in her brains trying to think of a project she didn’t get to finish or reports she passed but were of no good. “and who are you by the way?”

“It's me Jiyong and I’m really sorry about your forehead. And your locker. And being late for your class.”

She couldn’t explain it but her smile was up to her ears. “that would be great. If only you promise to help me fit everything in my locker and not hit me with it again.”

“no problem boss!” he replied. Jiyong ended up explaining why he suddenly texted. “It's weird how everyone got easily close during Daesung and Minzy’s dinner last week and we ended up being so awkward with each other.”

“You felt that too? I thought I was the only one.”

“I thought you were enjoying the attention Tabi was giving you and forgot I was there.” he teased.

“maybe.” she remarked. “don’t tell him just yet. And yes, were you there during the dinner? I can’t remember you.” she joked. She waited for a reply but it took him longer than usual.Maybe he fell asleep, it’s already 3 am. She assured herself. Maybe I should get myself some sleep too.

She's funny. he thought but something made him stare at his phone for awhile, thinking about what to reply. She likes Top or is she just playing me? He then remembered that she can be unpredictable and anything could come out of her mouth. He kept thinking of witty remarks to reply like…

Tabi wouldn’t mind. He’d just sneak up on you. Naaaaah too weird. he thought.

Is this for real?? SCANDAL ALERT!  TOO tabloid material.

Come on seriously TOP?  This would make me sound jealous. I’m not jealous. Am I? wait what? NO!

Then he thought of the best reply. LOL : - ) SENT. Right after the message was sent a message was already in his inbox. “hey J…” it started. That was the first time he called her that. “maybe you’re asleep by now. so, let me just say, I was wrong about you. this is a nice way of starting over. Goodnight. See you tomorrow. Smiley face. Yes, I spelled it out, I don’t know how to turn the smiley face thingy on my phone.”  He couldn’t help but roll over on his bed with laughter. He never thought of her as someone is that could make him do that. Texting her wasn’t a waste of time after all.

-----

“What are you smiling about?” Bom asked as Dara continued reread her messages from last night.

“Oh! It’s just nothing.”

CL while taking a bite from an apple, “if that’s nothing, then it’s some kind of nothing if you ask me.”

Minzy came with Daesung, “so what’s nothing?” she exclaimed.

“You look like you’re glowing D.” Daesung remarked. “But my Minzy is surely more beautiful than you.”

“So it’s a battle of beauty then?” CL smirked.

Daesung gave an apologetic while the gang started to arrive. Jiyong arrived with a huge smile on his face, he sat beside Dara casually. He got Dara’s phone, without any complaints from her and tinkered with it.  

“Something is so not right here!” YB noticed. “Since when are you guy’s even friends?”

Jiyong didn’t mind the staring eyes from his friends, he continued what he was doing, and “there you go, smiley face.”

“Come on! You already have a pet name for each other?” Seungri sighed and shook his head.

Dara looked at them with a blank face, “NO! It’s not a pet name. I just don’t know how to use my phone. J is just teaching me how to use it.”

“J?” asked a husky voice. “You guys did start over?”

Dara stood up, smiled and gave Top an interrogating look, “so it was you who gave him my number? NO wonder you were a no show on my phone last night.”

Another confused look appeared on everyone. Top is in contact with Dara? Jiyong is starting over? What did we all miss?

“Since when did all of you guys become so close without us knowing?” CL and YB asked while Bom was intently eating her corn, Seungri salivating over the corn, and Daesung and Minzy were too busy to even notice.

Top smiled, “well, since I became Dara’s chemistry partner and them two, I have no idea.” He teased.

The story between their connecting got buried in the laughter when Seungri couldn’t help but attack Boms corn. “Seung-riih! Look what you’ve done.” Screamed Bom as the corn fell on the ground.  

“Come on Bom, I’ll buy you a new one and this time your sharing.” Seungri pulled Bom and went into the cafeteria.

“why cant you just buy yourself a corn?”

“because you’ll end up eating it as well.”

Top was looking at Dara and Jiyong intently. He felt his heart tighten with every smile that came out of Dara’s face. She’s happy he said to himself. He walked away slowly thinking nobody noticed.

“Tabi!” a voice called, “going to class?” Top nodded in agreement, “can I come with?” Dara asked. “guys, I think I’ll go – my lab partner might replace me with that smart kid Sulli and I can’t afford that. I invested too much study time on this guy.” She joked.

Top smoothly got Dara’s things from her hands and carried it, “hey guys, see you after class.” He said as they walked side by side.   

YB being a silent observer watched Jiyong as Dara walked away, “You are so into her!”

“YEAH!” he unconsciously answered; “YEAH, RIGHT!” he repeated seeing the faces of his friends. “We are just starting over, making it work as friends. Nothing more. Nothing else.”

CL sighed. “What’s up with all this nothing-ness?”  She irritated remarked. “If only we can get a straight answer from these people.”