Counting Stars ✓

eleven

Rune laid on his bed, staring up at the bare ceiling. He let his phone go off as numerous people tried contacting him. He knew it was best to answer them and ease their worries, but he was simply too tired to deal with them.

He had already logged into his social media earlier, and was flooded by hate comments from people supporting Cherry - people who didn't even know the whole situation and viewed her as a victim.

Because of how much notifications he was getting, even after setting his account into private, he had to go through his list and delete a bunch of followers and add restrictions to his account - such as not allowing his stories to be shared and only receiving messages from people he followed.

It was then that he proceeded to ignore all contact while he went through his memories of both Ryu and Cherry.

Cherry was unlike the Cherry he knew currently. Perhaps she had always been that way, and he was merely shown her good sides. It was the same with Ryu who he befriended through Cherry.

Now it seems like everything was a set-up and filled with lies and false images. He was definitely no different as he hid his identity as a rich kid from them, minus Fah and Fang who he's known for six years. But still, it wasn't as though he hid his true self. The Rune who loves to go out, to take photography, and enjoys music. That was all real. Only his social status was fake. But the rest was very real.

Groaning, he picked up his phone and went through his contact list. He needed a distraction. He paused at King's name, wondering how the boy was holding up.

Hesitantly, he made the call.

"Hello?"

"Hey," he smiled gently. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," King replied,"what about you?"

He went silent, wondering what he could say without coming off as being too personal and angsty.

"I'm...well." He cursed quietly at how hesitant he sounded. And as though King could read his mind, he asked, "Would you like to talk about it? Rant?"

"You don't mind?"

King chuckled, "Not at all, P'Rune."

"Well," Rune took a deep breath, shifting his position so his arm was tucked behind his head. "I met Cherry, my ex, half a year after I entered university. She was very sweet and kind, and introduced me to Ryu who she's known since high school. They became part of my close circle of friends.

"And eventually I began to develop a crush on Cherry. I asked her out and made it official with her. Two months ago was actually our one year anniversary and despite the constant arguments about her accusing me of cheating, it made me happy that I was with her for so long.

"But I would be lying if I said the accusations didn't hurt. She always made promises to stop but it became worse, especially since last month. And last night, Fang and Fah witnessed her kissing Ryu after our break up. And I just don't know how to take in the situation."

"Do you love her still?" King asked.

"What?"

"Do you still love her? In a romantic sense?"

"I..." he sighed, "somewhere along the way, I lost that part of my feelings for her with every increasing argument. So no. I don't love her in a romantic sense anymore but..."

"But you still cherish your memories with her?"

"Yeah."

King leaned back into his chair and tried not to let his own memories resurface and distract him.