metal straw | ast. cha eunwoo

one

Eunwoo stared at the long metal straw that was suddenly placed in his drink. He had just returned from the bathroom only to find something unusual. Most people would find their wallets or lunch get stolen but for Eunwoo, it was his straw. He could've sworn he had a plain plastic straw when he left the class and not a bright pink metallic straw.

"Don't worry, I washed it."

A voice suddenly boomed throughout the whole class. Eunwoo turned to see a girl peaking, smiling innocently to him. He saw her head poking out sideways as her long black hair fell gracefully and her fingers holding onto the doorframe for support. Seeing how her head was slightly at a sideway angle, he could tell she was standing in with one leg off the ground.

"You're welcome."

Still puzzled by her actions, he stared back at the metal straw planted in his beverage before turning back to her.

"Save the turtles!" she belted out, before disappearing away from the boy.

Realising it was too late to take another straw without coming late to class, he decided to just drink with a stranger's metal straw.

It wasn't long until class finally decided to start. After what it felt hours of listening to a thousand words coming out of the teacher's mouth, the bell suddenly rang to announce the last class of the day has ended. As everyone stood up to leave, Eunwoo made a quick trip to a trash bin outside of his class. Just when he stepped his foot outside, a hand suddenly grabbed him by the wrist.

"You crazy?"

But she didn't give him a chance to speak, instead, she snatched the metal straw off of Eunwoo's cup that he may have forgotten all about.

"You almost threw away something that could save a planet!" she scolded, ignoring the eyes staring around them. "Also, these things are expensive!"

It didn't take him long to realise it was the same girl who came by his class during recess, the owner of the bright pink metal straw. Her enthusiasm was loud enough for Eunwoo to remember.

"Do you know me?" he asked.

"Nope! I saw you using a plastic straw, which was a bad move, so I lent you my metal straw," she explained, ending it with a smile.

"What does it do?"

It might not be the best question to ask but Eunwoo needed an explanation to what was happening. To why a random girl decided to give him her metal straw, out of all people and did it suddenly out of nowhere. However, the girl's face only showed hints of disappointment. She bit her inner cheek and stared to the side as if it would show him what she was feeling. Disappointment, annoyance, questionable, or perhaps all of them.

She sighed, "It saves the fucking turtles, that's what it does!"

But Eunwoo stared back at her to see whether or not she was joking. It wasn't long until their attention was caught towards the students walking out the exit of the school.

"Remember, metal straws only. Okay, bye!" She waved him goodbye, before following the other students to the exit.

He suddenly heard chiming sounds following behind her. He assumed it was just her metal straw.