“I tear my heart open,
I see myself shut.
My weakness is that,
I care too much.”
JENNIE
I went to the gym because someone relayed a message to me saying that Lisa is waiting for me there. I planned on giving her a chance to explain today. I know it was immature for me to just walk out and not fix what’s bent. But I was really hurt that time and I wasn’t able to help it.
I felt heavy footsteps from behind and it made me nervous. But to my surprise it wasn’t her, it was Mino who smelled like a reek of alcohol. I was caught off-guard when he leaned closer for a kiss. Luckily I was able to turn my head and his lips landed on my cheek.
We both looked ahead when we heard a soft thud.
It was Lisa.
She saw us.
She saw everything.
But before I could call her name, she already ran away. I tried to run after her but Mino held my arm.
“How dare you!” I slapped him hard and because he was drunk, he fell on the ground.
“You better search for a new school to enroll next semester because this school will not accept you anymore,” I warned him in my cold tone.
I picked up Lisa’s phone and searched for her but she was gone already.
LISA
Thailand
A vacation is what I need that’s why I decided to visit my home country. I wasn’t able to sleep for weeks but now I can slowly get back to myself even though there are times that I just stare from afar and space out.
It still hurts.
Everytime that scenario visits my mind, it still hurts me. I decided to cut my communications as I spend my vacation here. I never opened the internet nor my social media accounts. I really tried my best not to do so because I know that if I see something, it will just make me lose my mind again.
“Lisa-yah eat this,” Sunmi called as she put the barbeque on a plate. We are currently stargazing at our rooftop.
Sunmi is my childhood friend. She’s like a sister to me. She’s a well-known singer in Korea but she grew up here in Thailand.
“Thanks Mi,” I replied as I take a bite of the food that she offered.
“How was school?”
“Nothing new. I’ll be graduating next year. You better prepare my gift.”
“Here’s your gift!”
“Where?” I looked closer if she really has something but I found nothing.
“Right here,” she pointed herself.
“Me.”
“Your fans might kill me you know. I still want to live,” I said jokingly and it made her laugh.
“So, why are you in Thailand? As far as I know your parents are in Macau for a business trip.”
“I heard you have a concert here that’s why I came.”
“Come on, you came before me.”
“I’m kidding. I came here because it’s my vacation. And I miss the place where I breathed my first.”
“When are you going back?” she said as she handed me a can of soda.
“January. Before my senior year starts. By the way, you only have a year to study in college right? Then you’ll be earning a degree. Why don’t you take a break and study even just for a year?”
“I wish I could but my schedule is hectic. Are you going to celebrate Christmas here?”
“Nope. I’ll be flying to Macau the day after tomorrow. I’ll celebrate it with my parents.”
“Great. I thought you’d be a total loner.”
“Oh come on. This face? This body? A total loner? I’m the hottest okay? I can just grab someone to celebrate the Christmastide with me!”
“Yeah right. Some things never change. You’re still as boastful as before!” She teased as she pinched my cheeks. I pinched her cheeks back.
“Let go of my cheeks Mi!”
“You first!”
“No, you first!”
“You first!”
“In a count of three then.”
“Okay!”
“3, 2, 1, now!” Sunmi let go of my cheeks but I didn’t do the same.
“Yahh! You’re so unfair!”
Back to School-Senior Year!
“Guys! Let g-go! I c-can’t breath!” I struggled to speak because of Chaeng and Jisoo’s tight embrace.
“Shut up! You didn’t bother to send even a single text to update us that you’re still alive!” Jisoo scolded me.
“I l-lost my phone!”
“I missed you Manobannnn! I almost didn’t recognize you! When did you dye your hair? You look like an old woman now because of this grey strands,” Chaeng said, still not letting go of me.
“Oh please let me go now,” I pleaded. Few minutes after, they decided to finally let me go.
“So, tell us. Where have you been? I went to your home but they told me that you weren’t there,” Rosé worriedly opened up.
“Thailand, then Macau. I spent my new year there with my parents.”
We were startled when the students started screaming and made way for the person who was about to walk in the hallway.
My heart raced when I saw her again. She’s prettier than ever. The bangless Jennie is so hot! Her brunette hair suits her pretty well. She was the reason why these students are screaming like fan girls and fan boys in a concert. They even made way for her.
“Let’s go,” I said plainly as I walked away from the noisy crowd. I looked toward her direction one last time and our eyes met. For a moment, I almost got lost in her eyes but fortunately I was able to avert my gaze away.
2 Days After
I am really trying my best not to bump into Jennie. I don’t want to see her. I know that she noticed how I immediately leave everytime we are in the same space. I just don’t want to be involved with her as long as I can.
“She’s so pretty!”
“Who is she?”
“Is she the famous singer that I know?”
“She’s a student here?”
“Am I really seeing her?”
The loud talks of the students caught my attention but I didn’t bother looking at the person who entered the court with much recognition from the crowd. We are currently at the covered court for the general assembly. All seniors from the different departments are here, including Jennie who is sitting two meters away from us. I’m with Jisoo and Rosé as usual while she’s with Joohyun and Mina.
“Yah, isn’t she an artist?” Rosé asked as she brushed her shoulder against mine.
“I know her! She’s Sunmi!” Jisoo exclaimed.
Wait. What? Sunmi? The Sunmi I know?
No freaking way!
I tried to look at the person whom they’re talking about but I couldn’t see clearly. Some people are blocking my sight that’s why I decided to focus on my phone instead. After all, there’s no way that the Sunmi I know will go and study here. She’s busy. Too busy to take a break from the spotlight.
“Omygoshhhhh. She’s coming at usss!”
“No way. Where is she going?”
“Sunmi-yah! Sit with us please!”
“You’re so pretty Sunmi!”
“She’s going near the officers!”
I stopped playing when I heard Chaeng gasped. I felt someone was standing in front of me waiting for me to notice her. I looked up and saw the same Sunmi that I know. I heard the students whispered a lot of things like how lucky I am to be noticed by Sunmi and the like, but I was too startled to understand the other things that they’re babbling about.
“Guess what? I’ve taken your advice. Hey there school mate!” Sunmi said with a wide smile which made the students giggled. Then she hugged me on my seat.
My eyes darted towards Jennie’s direction. She was also looking at me-at us.
Those eyes.
Is she somehow affected?
Or am I just imagining things?
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