Mixtape: A Nam Taehyun Collection

DISTANT STAR: PART TWO

There are days that I and Nam Taehyun would cross path in the hallways. We just slightly sneaked a looked at each other because he didn’t want to cause any trouble on my side. Sometimes we would talk random stuff on the rooftop after classes or break time. As long as we wouldn’t be seen hanging out together, we were safe. Though we wouldn’t call ourselves friends but somehow I manage to get to know him better. He’s not that bad as what other people say.

There’s one time when I came up to the rooftop again, it’s our break at that time. I saw Nam Taehyun looking seriously on a piece of unopened envelope on his hands.

“Hey, what’s that?” I said, occupying the space beside him.

“This, I—ah.” He sighed and continued, “Remember the time when you said to me that everyone deserves a second chance?”

I nodded. I don’t know where this talked is going and how that thing is related to the piece of envelope he is holding.

“I auditioned for YG Entertainment.”

“Wow, how did it go?” I asked him. I didn’t know he seriously took what I said to him seriously.

“I guess I did well. I just a got a letter this morning from that company. It’s the result.” He said taking a deep sighed.

“So, what’s the result?”

Instead of answering my question, Nam Taehyun handed me the envelope.

“I am not ready to know the results. Can you do it for me?”

My heart beat goes in a leaped. Why did this guy have this effect on me?

I too, was nervous to know the result. It’s kind of a burden on my side since I’m the one who provoke him that he should grabbed the so-called second chance. I opened the envelope and read what it says quietly.

“So?” he asked looking at me.

“It says here that they are very amazed by your performance in the audition. They are asking if you could comeback for the last stage of the audition for assessment.”

He immediately grabbed the letter from my hand and read it for himself. A smile crept up on his face. That’s the first time I saw him really happy. I too, was smiling looking at him.

“I’ve passed.” he whispered, “Can you believe it? I passed the audition.”

“Yes, you are.” I said and smiled at him.

He grabbed me for a hug.

I was shocked. We never been so close, physically, like this before. My heart is going on a crazy ride, thumping so crazy.

“Thank you, thank you. I owe you this a lot.” He whispered to my ear.

After that, Nam Taehyun goes missing in action. I haven’t seen him in his usual spot in the school. I didn’t know if he successfully passed the last assessment of audition.

It was Tuesday, it’s our break time in school and I was chilling on a bench listening to music. Suddenly, most of the student is going on the same direction. I plugged out my earphones and looked where they going.

Last time, I said that I don’t meddle with other people’s business unless I am involved. But today I have an urge to go to where these people are heading. There’s something that pushes me to go there.

I walked my way towards where the commotion is happening. I heard people talking about ‘punching’ and ‘they’ll be dead later’ stuff. The principal came and they make their way towards the center of the commotion and there I saw Nam Taehyun’s face. His face that has full of bruises but the other one is worst compared to him.

“What happened here?” the principal said strictly.

Silence enveloped the place. No one answered the principal’s question.

“Who are involved in this fight?”

The students point six people including Nam Taehyun.

“All of you go back to your classes and you six to my office now!”

The students immediately abandon the place and I was still rooted n my place. I’m still looking at Nam Taehyun. I am very disappointed and I don’t know why.

He caught a glimpse of me looking at him. By the way he looked at him, it expresses that he was really sorry.

I entered my class the next day. My classmates are gossiping about what happened yesterday.

“Nam Taehyun is going to be expelled in school.”

“What about the other five that was involved?”

“They said that the principal gave the four of them a month of community service while the other one is in the hospital.”

“Why only Nam Taehyun is going to be expelled?”

“He’s the first one to attacked,”

I go out of our class and headed my way towards the principal’s office. But when I came, I saw Nam Taehyun go out with a middle-aged woman.

He looked at me.

“Ma, you go ahead. I’m going to talk to someone first.”

His mom looked at me and nodded.

He made his way towards me.

“I bet you heard.”

I nodded.

“I’m really sorry, sorry to disappoint you with my action.” He said.

I looked at him. Why is he saying sorry to me? He should say this to the person he punch and now has been hospitalized. Disappoint? Why?

“We were moving on the other place.”

“Oh.”

I thought he’ll be in the other school near here. So, this will be last time that I’m going to see him.

“Nam Taehyun,” I whispered.

He smiled at me. It was the most sincere smile I ever saw on his face. I don’t know but why I feel so broken after seeing that.

He stepped making the distance between us lessen. He held my hand like he doesn’t want to let go.

“After that day on the rooftop, I’ll keep thinking about what you said.”

When he didn’t hear any reaction from me, he continued.

“You’re the reason why I making another step in my life and I should say thank you for that. But that happened yesterday made everything so messed up again.”

He sighed and continued.

“When we meet again, I’ll try my best to be a better person. A better Nam Taehyun.”

He let go of my hand and place a soft kiss on my forehead. I don't know but there something that I should read between those lines he just said.