Waking up to nothing when you’re super far for home
And I watched you fall asleep at night and lay there on my own
Got me begging for affection
All you do is roll your eyes
Broken down, I’ve had enough
If this is love, I don’t want it
– Super Far, LANY
***
‘Enjoy your trip! Stay out of trouble :)’
She wipes the screen with her thumb. Endlessly. She read it again and again, each letters, hoping it would be changed miraculously. For hundreds time. Or maybe more. If there’s one thing that she’s grateful about, it is the fact that so far, Jungsoo and her are not awkward to each other. On the text basis at least. She hasn’t figured it out how it would feel when they met. After that night, they haven’t had chance to see each other again.
Two and half years. Almost thousand nights shared together, thousand sunsets and sunrises. A beautiful journey to pursue, until both are too tired to compromised, Jungsoo more likely. At the end of the day, he had different dream. Different expectation.
The last two months are very dreadful for Eunsook. She kept blaming herself until her best friend convinced her to rest her case. Free her soul for her own good because she deserved better.
So when Junghee offered to come over visit her and Minho to their new house, she didn’t think twice booking the ticket for a summer escapades. And now, here she is, anxiously waiting for her flight at the boarding room. Checking her phone continuously without even aware that she’s torturing herself for some ruined story.
Drown in her thought, she jolts a bit when the phone vibrates in her hand.
“Where are you now?”
She massaged her forehead hearing how her best friend shouted, “I just texted you ten minutes ago. Of course I’m still waiting for my fuckin’ plane!”
“I wonder if you left your mouth at home purposely when you’re studying at school. Your language sounds uneducated. Besides, it’s not annoying when your best friend checking on you to make sure you’re not suicidal.”
“Best friend won’t make up a scene where I’m doing such a reckless action.”
“Who knows you became an extremist!”
“As if! I won’t kill myself over a guy!”
“This one is not just a guy. This one is an ex-fiancée-to-be.”
Eunsook sighed again, and Junghee frowned on the other line.
“Are you okay, honey?”
“We are not even thinking about engagement, Junghee-ah.”
“And that’s why I always said that he’s stupid.”
“He’s not.”
“Then what?!” Junghee’s almost shrieking on her couch.
“He just realized I was holding him back.”
“Holding him back for what?! For a better life?! How can you still defend him? At this point I cannot tell who the brainless one is.”
“You are the brainless one! You got married too fast!”
Eunsook tried to divert her to the topic she loves the best.
“Don’t blame me! Minho is just too good!”
“And you’re too weak.”
“Who can’t resist a very beautiful rose diamond ring?”
The lady sitting next to her gives her the eye when Eunsook cracks loudly.
“My materialistic woman. This is why I love you, Kim Junghee!”
“Come here quickly! I miss you so much you have no idea!”
“I miss you too, baby! I’ll see you in couple hours!”
“Stay out of trouble! See you soon!”
Eunsook pressed the red circle on her phone. Same words, different feeling, she thought. She sighed for the umpteenth time that day when the announcement is telling her to get on the plane.
***
“Lee Eunsook!!”
Junghee already shouting when there’s still around 100 meter distance between them. Minho can only chuckle and try so hard covering his face while his wife embarrassing themselves. She beams right away when she saw Junghee jumps around flailing her arms, looks like a very excited five years old.
“Oh my good grace! Finally!”
Minho automatically takes Eunsook’s luggage from her hand when he saw Junghee hugged her excessively.
“You’re killing me, woman!”
But Junghee doesn’t care because she understand what Eunsook had been through.
“Let’s go! I’ve cooked your favorite dish!”
She doesn’t allow Eunsook to have time to think again for she’s afraid her best friend would feel lonelier after she released her from the embrace.
“Fried chicken?”
Her lips pouting immediately, “Your second favorite, then.”
“Seafood?”
“What the hell, Lee Eunsook! Italy changed you!”
“I always love fried chicken and seafood!”
“Whatever! You need to eat! A lot! I don’t like be friend with a walking skeleton!”
“Can you see my thighs are bigger than yours?”
Junghee just ran faster to the exit direction, preventing them to recognize the full brim on her eyes.
“What have she cooked, actually?” Eunsook can’t help but ask Minho while they walked side by side.
“The whole restaurant.”
“What?!”
Minho laughed when he saw Eunsook’s eyes doubled their size, “You know it’s her way to comfort people around her.”
“I know.”
“And she wanted only the best for her best friend. If you know what I mean.”
“And I know exactly what you mean.”
“You okay now?”
Minho’s voice sounds concerned and he didn’t even try to hide it, “Taemin called me. He said you’ve been weeping like a trooper’s widow. I’m quoting, here. Not my own words.”
“That ungrateful traitor. It was two months ago. I’m doing great ever since.”
He turned his face to seek for the truth on her eyes but Eunsook is too smart to hang the poker face perfectly.
“Come on, or your wife will kill both of us.”
Minho shrugged, remembers very well how Junghee stomped around the house cursing for hours when she knew the reason why Jungsoo told her how he felt, a week after Eunsook’s birthday.
***
“So you will back to Italy?”
“I think so. My boss doesn’t have the guts to keep me on the office with only my study visa. He already did his best to let me extend my internship for one more semester, though. Now I have no more reason to postpone my graduation. So, yeah, I will be back to Italy next month and graduate in October.”
“If only it’s easy to get a job in Netherlands, I would ask you to move here.”
Eunsook chuckles and takes another sip of the beer, “No need to worry, baby. I’ve applied for some job in London. Their response’s so far so good.”
“I really hope you got this one!”
She raised her eyebrow when she caught Junghee is half squealing, “Why? So I’d forget everything about him?”
Caught red handed, Junghee gulped down her wine quickly.
“Well, 80% yes.”
“And the rest?”
“So I get to visit you in London! That would be amazing! Junghee and Eunsook take London down the sequel!”
Eunsook doesn’t need to be told to crack on huge laughter. Back then, after their high school graduation, they decided to take a gap year and went to London to learn better English. Eunsook, while taking a part time as staff in museum on weekend, started the class right away since her father already arranged everything on the institute for her. Junghee on the other hand, ditch the English class for studying painting and working in a restaurant at night instead. But that’s how she met Minho who happened to be a part time student taking night shifts there.
“Why you always get the best part when it comes to London?”
“Life is a choice, honey. You can be a traveler but you’re too cool so you choose to be a designer.”
“It’s not fair.”
“Everything is fair in love and war.”
“And what’s from that has thing to do here?”
“I don’t know.. I think I’m already drunk.”
The two best friends start to laugh again, immersed with the each-other-life-catching-up-session, they aren’t aware Minho is already by the door, sweater on and keys in hand.
“Baby, I’m going.”
“Oh! What?! Where?”
“I’m picking Kibum up. It’s raining and he’s afraid it will ruin his equipment.”
Both checks the window and found out its pouring hard outside, “Oh I didn’t realize.”
“Who will realize if they’re too excited interrogating Eunsook?” She’s jutting her mouth and Minho kissed her goodbye, “We’ll grab some drink after and be back soon!!”
Junghee’s shooing her husband away and when she’s back to her best friend, the latter knits her brows together, clueless all over her face.
“Who is Kibum?”
“Ah! I forget to tell you! He’s the guy who’s currently living in the other room.”
“And who’s the guy that currently living in the other room?”
Junghee bursts out in an un-ladylike laughter and Eunsook’s getting more annoyed, “Sorry, baby. Well, Kibum and I went to middle school together. He’s happened to be Minho’s neighbor back in Seoul. He was searching for a temporary place to stay when we put the ads of the vacant room online. He’s a photographer and has some project here for his indie magazine. So, yeah.”
“So, yeah?”
She rolled her eyes, “I mean, I know it’s my bad, I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you this before. But you’re okay with this, right?”
Actually Eunsook is not that comfortable because she’s the only one who doesn’t know this Kibum guy. And since middle school, she realized she hates being an outcast since she’s quite awkward with new people.
“Well, this is your house, so…”
Knowing the nature of her best friend, Junghee jumped a bit on her seat, “Don’t worry, baby! He’s a really nice guy. You’ll like him in no time, I promise. He’s too busy anyway, so I guess it’s rarely you’ll meet him in the house.”
“Whatever.”
Eunsook muttered almost silently and thank God Junghee didn’t catch this one.
***
“Any idea what you gonna do today?”
Junghee dropped pile of pancakes on Eunsook’s plate, making the latter’s eyes filled with happiness. Warmth of jolly brought Junghee beaming so wide, after all, seeing her best friend still her best friend, a girl who appreciates simple things and turns it into happiness.
“Have no plan. I just bought the ticket, packed my stuff, and flew here. No itinerary, no schedule. I’m a complete blank paper now.”
“Good!” Junghee took a place in front of her and started her own breakfast, “We should go shopping today! It’s been so long since I bought new shoes.”
“Then what do you call those brown leathery goods you purchased last month, love?”
Minho rests his arm across her shoulder while take the seat.
“That’s because it was on sale! And it came in a set with yours! I got that because we couldn’t buy it separately if we want the sale price, Mister!”
“For God’s sake! It’s not even nine! Can you both let others have a quiet breakfast?”
Eunsook’s eyes darted to the stair at the corner, and she became restless out of nowhere. A tall guy with pale face paces down, dark hair bounced fluffily like a black cotton candy with each step. Those skinny jeans seemed too tight on his long limbs but he balanced it somehow with an oversized t-shirt. He walked pass them to grab some coffee as if Eunsook is not there.
“This is my house and I can do whatever I want, dude.”
Minho throws a grapefruit to his direction which the latter luckily caught it.
“I will kill you if you made me drop my cup. That lady next to you will voluntary skin me alive if I messed up her kitchen!”
“You deserved that?”
Three of them keep arguing and laughing while Eunsook has her lips sealed, trying to enjoy her pancakes peacefully, ignoring the scene happened there even though she knew it’s getting hard for her to swallow each bite since the bright room suddenly is too suffocating.
Until Kibum realized he’s a stranger to someone. He gave Junghee a hint with his chin and she makes a voiceless ‘O’.
“Eunsook-ah! This is the guy I told you about. Kibum, this is my best friend Eunsook. She will stay here for vacation. And I will not only skin you but sell your flesh to the market if you dare to make a move on her.”
Eunsook almost spilled out the coffee inside her mouth, she tosses the closest napkin to Junghee’s face which luckily dodged it very well.
“And you only blame me while it’s also your fault for having a friend who is too pretty?” he stretched out her hand to Eunsook, “Kim Kibum. Nice to meet you, and please ignore Junghee whenever she said bad things about me. She still holds grudge since middle school because I grew 12 centimeters taller than her.”
“Lee Eunsook. Don’t worry, she’s too loud I already cover my ears the second she’s about to open her mouth.”
A beautiful curve formed on her face, she smiled so bright Kibum got dizzy for a moment. There’s something so soft touched his heart and he’s pretty sure it’s related to those fluffy rosy cheeks.
“Can you stop hogging my friend’s hand like that?!”
Minho let out a poisonous laughter because he understands why Kibum acts like that. Eunsook herself is already crimson red when Kibum retreat his hand.
“See?! This is your fault, Kim Junghee.”
“You are the one who cannot control your thirst!”
“Forgive me, princess,” he cocked his head to Eunsook, “But your friend really has wild mouth. I can’t resist slapping her sometimes.”
“Oh, please be my guest! Since I have no heart to harm her even though she deserved it.”
Junghee balled her fist when Kibum and Eunsook join the force through a friendly high five, leaving Minho with no option than console her by kissing the side of her head.
“Don’t worry, I still love you, baby.”
“You better be!” she then kissed Minho which the latter complied.
Eunsook naturally can only pull out a bitter smile. The scene happened in front of her, it would be hers six months ago. She would be exactly like her best friend, in love and beloved.
Whilst Minho and Junghee are busy in their own bubble, Kibum didn’t fail to catch the changed expression on Eunsook. But he’d rather to shake it off than ask her further question or make sure she’s alright which might too rude for a new acquaintance.
“Go back to your room if you want to continue for the second round! This view is polluting my precious eyes.”
“I said this is my house, Kim Kibum.”
With that Minho continued peppering his wife with kisses all over her face which makes Kibum decided to imitate puking voice that surprisingly makes Eunsook chuckled.
Once again, something soft tickling Kibum’s heart.
***
Sometimes, we just don’t realize we will meet the one, do we? Love after all, is a beautiful thinking that we probably only dream about until the tiniest detail of each counterpart, but turned us to be so oblivious when it brought into reality. Isn’t it pretty amazing? :)
Gwiboon just finished washing her hand when she heard something unusual. She looked at the side clock on the drawer and it shown already an hour pass midnight. Since a very young age she never believed in ghost or whatsoever but the thought of someone breaking into the house terrified her.
“Baby, wake up.”
“Hmmm.”
“Wake up, now. I heard something outside,” she shook her husband shoulder’s harder than before. Just arrived this morning from a business trip to Lyon, Jinki just groaned and pulled the blanket tighter.
“Let Comme Des handle it,” he mumbled without even opened his eyes.
By the time she heard the noise again, she lose her patient and yanked the blanket Jinki had been hogging.
“Baby! Listen! Something’s moving outside!!”
Unwillingly, Jinki tried to collect his soul and supports himself with on the side while the other rubbing his eyes. After almost five minutes in silence, his ears perked up by the noises that Gwiboon been talked about.
He shot her a terrorized look which replied by her special I-told-you-so rolling eyes, “What now?”
“Let’s go check.”
Gwiboon clutched the end of his t-shirt while Jinki snatched the baseball bat behind the wardrobe.
“What if it ghost?”
Jinki stopped for a while, hand’s hanging on the air while he turned to see his wife behind who now looks like ready to eat someone alive.
“Are you stupid or what?! You should be worried about someone trespassing your house and not some bullshit from horror movie!”
After one good slap on his back, they continue tip-toeing toward the kitchen where the noise is getting more obvious.
“Jonghyun?”
When Jinki switched on the light, a seven years old boy looked surprise, quickly got up from the floor where he was sitting in front of the washing machine, a flashlight on his left hand.
“Dad!”
“What are you doing here, Sweety?” Gwiboon walked closer to check what exactly happening while Jinki chuckled on the door frame, the bat is long forgotten next to the wall.
“I am.. uh.., I––“
“Are you washing something?”
The little kid just nods weakly, feet fidgeting nervously.
“Are you wetting your bed?”
He shook his head rapidly, slightly feel offended by the words.
“I am seven, Mom!”
“Then what are you washing? Why so late?”
“Because.. Umm,” Jonghyun’s hesitating and looking at his Dad for mental support and when Jinki smile, the little kid turned into crimson red, “IamwashingmysweaterbecauseIwanttowearittomorrow!!!”
“What? Can you speak a little bit slow? I couldn’t catch that.”
“I am washing my sweater, Mom.”
“Your sweater? Which one?”
“The one that Dad got me for my birthday. The blue one.”
“You mean the one that you’ve been wearing the whole week?”
He nods again, then keeps his head low.
“I don’t know that you love it so much, Buddy. We can go this weekend to buy another one with different color, but now, why don’t we go back to sleep? Hmmm?” Jinki kneeled down to make their eyes on the same level.
“No, Dad! I need to washed it now, I spilled my chocolate milk on it, and.. and Mom said that we have to wash the clothes as soon as possible if it happened before the stain stayed forever!”
“Oh, baby.. No, don’t worry, I’m not gonna be angry to you just because you spilled the milk on your clothes. Now shall we go head to the bed?”
“But.. but I want to wear it in the morning, Mom!”
“You can wear the other sweater, Jong.. Why don’t you wear the red one with hoodie?”
Jonghyun’s eyes look weary, he bite his lips before he speaks again, “You don’t understand, Mom! I need to wear this sweater!”
Jinki sense something off, he sits in front of Jonghyun, hands rest on his tiny shoulder, trying to lure the boy to stop the ruckus and let everyone back to sleep peacefully.
“Hey, Buddy. Do you want to tell me why you need to wash your sweater at one in the morning?”
“I told you I spilled my milk on it, Dad!”
“And may I ask again why you need to wash it by yourself and not put it in the laundry bag like usual?”
“Because I want to wear it again. I need to wear it again!”
“Why you need to wear it again? Are you not allowed to wear another sweater?”
“It’s because.. Uh, because..”
“Hmmm?”
“If I tell you the reason, you promise not be angry?”
Gwiboon’s gaping in thought of her son is being bullied or caught in a trouble at the school.
“Why would I be angry if my son being honest with me?”
“There’s this girl in my class..”
Jinki turned his head to Gwiboon which the later cannot help holding her smile.
“She said I looked good with the blue sweater and I should wear it everyday because I kind of cool in it.”
Gwiboon turns into jelly, her heart melts right away by the story revealed from his tiny mouth, “Oh, Baby. Why don’t you tell me earlier? I can help you clean it after dinner.”
“I am afraid you will be mad at me. I am sorry, Dad, Mom.”
“I will be mad if you hiding something from me again in the future, Kiddo. Now would you go back to sleep?”
“But what about my sweater, Dad?”
“I’m sorry to tell you, but I’m quite sure it would be still damp in the morning even though we already dried it, Buddy.”
The disappointment look on his face makes the smile on Gwiboon’s falter.
“Don’t worry about that, I will help you to pick another sweater that would be as cool as the blue one. Do you know her favorite color?”
Jonghyun’s eyes got its sparks again and Jinki couldn’t help beaming into the scene.
“Minjung said she loves blue! And white! Do I have white sweater, Mom?!”
Gwiboon is not sure but it’s almost two and she’s done for little drama so she just nods, “I think I saw it somewhere when I folded your clothes but let me double check again in the morning, okay?”
“But I have a white sweater, right, Mom?”
“I never doubt my memory, Honey! Now go back to your bed, will you?”
“You are the best! I need to look cool because we will have crafting class today and Minjung and I will be in the same group!”
“I’ll take note of that! Off to your bed, Champ!”
Jonghyun’s smile almost splits his face into two. He gave a kiss on Jinki’s and Gwiboon’s check before dashed off to his room.
“What a nice episode for home-welcoming,” Jinki stretched his back while Gwiboon setting the timer on the washing machine.
“I never believed when people said you and Jonghyun is an exact copy for each other until today.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
She just smiled, closed the gap between them and reached Jinki’s lips while her mind wander to ten years ago when she met him for the first time with his green t-shirt which he wore it a week straight after Gwiboon said he looks cute in it.
“I love you too much I will let you slide this time,” Jinki murmured on her lips while his hand secured on her waist.
“Jonghyun already gave you his welcome present. Should I give you mine now?”
He kiss her once again before grabbed her ass and lifted her up, her legs locked around his hips and hands behind his neck, “I would be very glad to have that.”
