The Sky and You

Chapter 18: Strangers

It felt like this scene happened a long time ago. You were standing there on the other side of the road and that night, time stood still. But this time it was you who were walking towards me. Is it really you? Belle?

Keun Suk was looking at the woman who used to own part of his heart. Even with her short hair, she still look beautiful.

In the swarm of people crossing the street, she wasn't that tall but she still stood out in his eyes. Her face kissed by the sunlight and her eyes turns the lightest of brown when hit by the light and the long black hair that he used to caress now cut short. He could clearly remember everything now, everything... including the pain.

He took his mask off and walked towards her, for he wanted her to see him. Step by step he drew closer to her, his heart beating fast in anticipation. One year. He wanted to shake her for answers. And he will get his answers.

But the reaction he was anticipating didn't happen. He was there in the middle of the road standing looking at her, their eyes met but there was nothing. She continued on her way. Looking at every thing that got her attention like she used to but when she looked at him, it was as if she was just looking at a faceless man she saw on the road. For a moment he thought they are strangers.

How much could a year change a person? he thought. It was even breaking his heart more than if she just recognized him. Even if it was just a fake excitement or fear or shame or even guilt. He would have accepted anything except for nothing, nothing at all.

'Belle is different' that's what Kurt had said before he left.

Earlier, when he arrived, Kurt was a complete mess. He couldn't even shake him for answer of where Belle is, he was completely wasted. He had to wait for him until afternoon, when he was fully awake and sober. And now he finally saw her. He wanted to see for himself the meaning of his words.

Looking at her back, she looked so distant. Different but happy.

A bitter smile appeared on his lips. There goes the woman who promised to love him. There goes the woman who took his heart and broke it. There goes the woman he loved. She have become a stranger.

Yes, that's what we have become, complete strangers.

An unannounced tear fell from his eyes.

*

Belle can't help but remember the look of the man she saw at the pedestrian earlier. In the midst of the crowd, he stood out. He was so handsome. He look so dashing like a prince but the man had a very sad look in his eyes. For a fleeting moment their eyes met and it felt like her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to look at him but her feet won't stop walking as fast as her beating heart.

She wanted to look at him for he was really handsome and she'd bet anything she had seen him but a part of herself wanted to come closer and take the sadness away from his eyes. But the strange feeling was so difficult to explain, she found herself racking her brains when a lady suddenly offered her a leaflet. It was a leaflet for a newly opened shop and the model was a very handsome man with a very nice smile. And then she remembered.

She started walking as fast as she can as if she was racing against time. She walked passed everyone and everything, her mind was focused on her destination. She turned a corner and there the billboards of the handsome man she met at the pedestrian hang. She don't know why but a smile appeared on her lips as she drew near to the shop.

AP Shop. She stood there on the other side of the road looking at the billboards in front of her.

So he was a celebrity. He really is handsome... much more in person... but the picture had the same sad eyes, I wonder why, she told herself.