catfish lover • jungri

14"

"rie!"

"yerim!"

the two hugged, ignoring the staring faces around them at the airport. they chuckled and finally parted from the hug. rie was yerim's best friend and since her family still lived in japan, she traveled between the two countries from time to time.

"i am so sorry! i lost my phone at the airport and couldn't get in touch with you!" the elder apologized, pouting. but yerim only smiled widely, shaking her head. "no need to be sorry! actually... i got so much to tell you..." the younger bit her lip, looking at her friend who was obviously curious at what she was going to tell her.

the two settled down in a cafe, ordering one tall latte and one strawberry-melon milkshake. after rie told her about the news from japan and how her family missed her too, yerim promised to visit japan with her one day.

"so!" rie started, sipping from her latte, "what did you want to tell me? is it about your sister?" she carefully asked.

yerim smiled and shook her head. "i learned not to blame myself for that anymore. it's my sister's problem which she has to overcome herself. i will only focus on myself and myself only." rie looked at the younger in awe. "yerim! i haven't seen you for a month and you changed so much! what happened!" she was obviously happy that her friend finally stopped being so anxious about her life.

yerim had a hard life. when she was only 14, her parents divorced, both settling far away from their kids, leaving yerim alone with her older sister, joohyun who was just newly married to lee donghae. she stayed with her in seoul, but soon she realized that she was not welcomed there. of course, a newly married couple wanted their privacy and not a little teenager who bothered them all the time.

with only 16, yerim had started to work at different part-time jobs, enough to save money so she could move to a dorm when she finally turned 18. there she met a cute japanese girl called rie, who immediately became her best friend. it was as if they were destined to meet.

with her 21 years of age now, yerim worked as an editor of a magazine that was published monthly. luckily rie also worked at the same workplace, in charge of the pictures for the magazine. she was the one who suggested yerim for the new intern job, leaving the editors in awe with her lyrical and genius soul, offering her a full-time job at the end.

even though yerim was a strong girl, there were times when her self-esteem hit the ground, anxiety engulfing her into the world of overthinking and self-doubting. 

so to see her friend happy and bubbly again, rie couldn't be happier herself.

"the day you left for japan, my sister and her husband had a fight. i messaged you because i felt like shit again... but someone else replied," yerim blushed, lowering her head. rie immediately understood what she was trying to tell and began squeaking, "who! tell me!"

yerim giggled, telling her everything about jungkook, aka golden closet films, and how they talked non-stop for the last month. how much he helped her to gain back her confidence when she was once again blaming herself for things she couldn't change. yerim was surprised to find someone she could casually talk to and even find out that they were so similar.

they liked the same singers, had the same taste in music and both carried a boiled egg in their bags for emergency cases. yerim always thought she was weird, but after finding jungkook she was sure they just clicked, and that they met for a reason.

"wow, yerim!" rie leaned back in her seat, giggling like a high school kid. "it seems like you have a huge crush on this boy!"

yerim bit her lip, nodding slowly. "yes, actually i do. i kind of like him, it's so weird! i never met him but i just feel so good when i talk to him!"

"you don't need to meet a person to like him! you naturally click along and i bet once you meet you will even like each other more!! you should meet him! let's arrange a meeting!"

the younger hesitated first, especially after what happened when she couldn't meet him at ariana's concert. she felt like she betrayed him but this time she wanted to make it right. so she agreed. she wanted to meet him. it was about time.

so when yerim and rie were back in their dorm, rie went to take a bath and yerim closed the door of her room. sitting down on her bed with a smile, she opened the chat and noticed that jungkook had already sent her a text.

gcf.jjk
hey..
so we have been talking for quite a while..
and i realized that i like you really much.
but then i just wondered..
who even are you?
i know nothing about you..
i really want to know you yerimiese.
the real you.
no hiding.
because i might like you more than just a random stranger on the internet..