Moon Star (Moonbyul x Xiumin)

Chapter 50

I opened my eyes, instantly the ceiling came into view. The room was dark, and the very dim light shining through the window was from the full moon. Hm, no clouds are covering it tonight. For once the moon seemed brighter than usual, outshining the pitch black sky.

I unconsciously smiled.

I hope it stays that way from now on.

I darted my eyes to another view on my bedroom floor. Three women were scattered all over; Solar laying flat on the floor, Whee In leaning her back against my bed, Hwasa's head on Whee In's shoulder as they all sleep soundly. The things they tried on me were still everywhere on the floor, and it seemed like we all slept while searching for more.

Ah... sometimes looking at these three make me realize just how wonderful having friends can be. Yeah, not all friends can support you, and not all friends would see what you see- but at least they understand.

If only we were reborn, I'm hoping we can be into the same thing, you know. Solar doesn't work outside except for special sale events because she has an empire of online business, while Hwasa and Whee In are just starting to step up their game in a corporate company. Meanwhile, I'm dealing with a job that can either pay me or kill me. Not something new to tell, huh?

Hey, this probably sounds delusional, but we could probably be a girl group in another world. Yeah, right. Pfftt.

Since I was given time off of work, I must use all the time I have to rest and rebuild myself. Though this time it will be totally different- because my biggest fear is now gone for good. Not dead, but dead enough for me. This time, I'm not rebuilding myself for revenge or payback or fear, I'm just going to rebuild myself to start accepting who I really am.

It struck a chord in my heart, the word 'accepting'.

Deep down I knew I still haven't fully accepted myself. So how can someone else accept me?

"If only I knew you back then, I would've protected you and your grandma with all my life."

Xiu Min's words replayed in my head, as if he was just nearby to remind me of that night. I could still feel the sincerity he gave out when he embraced me, the warmth I never felt with someone else. His big eyes that teared up just by listening to my story, when in reality, he didn't have to. He could just look at me with sympathy and say everything was going to be fine, but instead he showed how much he cared about me.

I hugged my legs to my chest, wondering.

Will he really care if I show him who I really am?

Because after all these years, the bitchy and bitter personality is somehow engraved within me. True, I was not such a cold-hearted person, but now, it's a part of me.

I looked down on the pile of skirts and gowns and girly outfits on the floor. The palettes and high heels they bought into the room, scattered at a corner.

What made them think I would go back to that life?

Can't I just wear my usual clothes for the date?

Can't I just appear as the guardian instead of the feminine and weak Moon Byul Yi?

I looked up back towards the round moon that seemed like it was comforting my restless heart.

Maybe I should just go along with all of this dressing up and being pretty stuff for now. Who knows? I'll probably like it and find my old self again. Maybe I'll finally forget the scars Haneul gave me and heal myself with a prettier image.

Yes, maybe this way, I'll learn to love myself again.

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I can't breathe.

No, well, yeah technically I can breathe, but it's kind of suffocating to be walking in such a body fit type of clothing. The dress Whee In picked for me was agreed the best choice for my first date, and even though I was reluctant, I could not possibly decline their hopeful wishes to see me rocking that dress.

Could 'rocking' even be the right word for me now?

Cause it feels more like staggering.

I wore plain black high heels (which I have no idea how tall), my short hair now disguised with a set of longer hair extensions that dangled down almost near my stomach, my bangs were swept to a side to reveal my heavy make up that Hwasa claimed as 'simple yet seducing', and I had to bring a black clutch bag along too.

Now about the dress, it was coloured it a fabulous red, striking with confidence. The area around my shoulders were almost fully revealed, ending up as a V shaped collar with very simple ruffles below it. The dress becomes narrower around my thighs like it was a pencil skirt, which was the hardest part. Oh, and the area of my chest was quite... new for me. I've always hid that area with so many layers of clothes but now everyone can clearly see that I am a woman.

"Ugh..." I stepped into the cafe where Xiu Min asked to meet up, the time was around 8:45AM. Great, I still have some time to prepare myself inside the restroom.

Thank goodness there weren't much people in the cafe; a few students doing their assignments, a couple looking at a menu, a man that was sipping a second cup of coffee in front of his laptop.

Okay, great. At least no one will notice me in this hard-to-say outfit.

I walked foot by foot carefully towards the restroom that was hidden by the customers with my head facing down. The feeling of having long hair covering my cheeks were such a hassle and despite knowing I used to live with  it, it was foreign as heck for me now.

"Ughhh." I groaned, still looking down. "AH!"

I closed my eyes, immediately touching my forehead that just bumped into a solid thing in front of me. Damn, that was painful!

"Yah-" I swung my hand downwards but eventually lost my balance on the high heels and before I could even say WTF, my body was already falling forwards.

But then I realized the thing I just bumped into was a human being, who quickly caught me as I fell onto his chest.

Soon, I found myself being embraced by two muscular arms and was looking at someone's T-shirt.

"Erm, are you okay?" I didn't see the face but the voice sounded like a boy. I quickly pushed myself off of him gently to stand on my own two feet, only to be stumbling one more time. I almost panicked when I felt his hand holding my forearms to help me stand up properly.

"I'm... er. I'm fine." I stuttered and pulled back my hands from him, slowly of course. I didn't want to appear rude when I was the one who bumped into him. "Sorry for bumping into you."

I lifted up my face, just to see a familiar face.

The boy also stared at me for a few seconds, his pupls dilating as his lips parted. The features on his face looked very familiar it made me wonder too.

Wait... do I know this guy?

But the look in his eyes told me that he had already figured out who I was.

He looked down and back up to my face, gasping in astonishment.

"Moon... Moon Byul Yi?"

My jaws clenched as I frowned at him. He just mentioned my exact full name!

"Yes... but who are you? Do I know you?"

The widening smile of his lips made me even confused, because he seemed awfully familiar.

"Byullie, it's me, your senior from high school. The one people keep saying was your twin brother." He smiled, and the mention of 'twin brother' threw me off guard because it didn't take me long to guess who he is.

I found myself gasping in pure shock.

"Lee Min Hyuk oppa?"

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