Little Starlights | Mark Lee

♪ | twelve

Give me another day, maybe the tides are gonna turn my way

Lake Malawi - Always June ♪

I could barely sleep that night.

"Glad you remember that song." What does that mean? Did he mean that the song is so good and he's glad I remember hearing it at some point? Or did he mean back then when we first saw each other? Does he remember that? No way! He would've said something... but then again, I haven't said anything and I remember it... Damn it, I knew I should've said something sooner. Naeun was right, it's gonna be totally awkward!

After overthinking pointlessly for a whole night I was woken up from the few hours of rest I was able to get.

"Seyeon, let's go walk around!" Hyerin shook me.

A muffled "mmm" was the only sound she was able to get out of me until she left me alone. A couple minutes later, realizing I wouldn't go back to sleep, I got out of the tent.

Ah~ the fresh air was so nice and relaxing! I could definitely move to a place like this!

Hyerin and I started to walk around, enjoying the peace and quiet, while others played games and talked, back by the tents.

I tried to stay relaxed and put Mark's words out of my head, but the more I tried, the more they would repeat itself.

I'm sure I'm overthinking all of this.

Not long into our walk we saw a big lake. "Let's go take some photos over there!" Hyerin suggested while taking her phone out. We got closer to the water and I started taking pictures. She kept doing model poses, it was quite funny, but she was pulling it off pretty well.

Suddenly I heard steps behind me. When I turned to check I saw Mark and Yuta approaching us.

"Good morning," they said.

"Morning," we replied.

"Isn't this place beautiful?" Hyerin asked to which they nodded.

We all kept walking together, going around the lake, trying to spot fish or any interesting animal, but the water remained clear and still.

"I'm getting hungry, why don't we go back?" Hyerin asked again. She seemed to be the only one actually talking.

The guys agreed, but before he could walk away I called Mark, "wait. Can we talk for a moment?" He looked surprised but nodded anyway.

The moment Hyerin and Yuta left we sat on some rocks near the shore.

This is it... I have to tell him before it gets weirder.

"I-"

"Uhm-" we spoke at the same time.

"Sorry, go ahead," he said.

The sun shone brightly above us. It's rays reflected on the water, not as still as when we first got there, a slight wind creating small waves. It felt like some of the tension was released, and I was able to calm my increasing nerves.

"Well... this might sound a little weird but... we've met before," we were looking into each other's eyes but he said nothing, "uhm... years ago. And, I don't know why it feels like I should tell you this," I looked away, my nerves coming back at his lack of response, "I mean, it was a pretty insignificant thing, and I'm sure you don't even remember it..."

I paused taking a big breath, "anyway," I continued, "I feel like we're friends now, so I thought I should tell you."

He remained silent for a second before finally speaking, "when?"

"Huh?" I didn't expect that to be the only thing he'd say, "around four years ago, on a subway," I started to smile as I recalled the memory, "you said I was playing my music too loud, then gave me an earphone and we were actually listening to the same song—"

"In Your Atmosphere," he said. I looked back at him, my smile dropped. I didn't expect that either.

But he smiled at me sweetly, "so it was you."

I was the one at a lack of words now. "I wasn't sure at the beginning. Yesterday when you suggested that song I was so sure it was you. The girl from the train," he laughed, "but then you looked so confused, and so I got confused again..."

My heart warmed at the thought of him remembering me. We laughed, thinking how how stupid we must have been for not saying anything sooner.

"You know," he started again, "I got on that same subway a bunch of times, but I never saw you."

My eyes widened, "w-what?"

"Is that weird?" He scratched his neck awkwardly, "I shouldn't have said that..."

"No— I did too... get on the subway," we looked at each other again before breaking into laughter, "I must've gotten home late for weeks!"

"How did we never see each other?" He asked and I shrugged, "beats me."

The quiet was back. But it wasn't awkward anymore. We barely noticed how much time had passed. I was sure it was mid afternoon already. But the breeze kept moving the branches and the water and the calmness of the forest and lake surrounded us.

"I'm glad I found you," he said, looking into the distance.

I was surprised at his words. It sounded sincere. A warm feeling overtook my body and I couldn't stop a shy smile from forming on my lips.