𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 ‣ jjk

十五 ; just because you matter

day 1
6.49 am
lee haru

just because you matter

"so who are you, pinky?"
jeongguk is leaning back against the seat
arms folded behind his head
a leg over a thigh
yawning, eyes droopy

i give him a small smile
it doesn't reach my ears
"i'm just another nobody"

"nobody is nobody
we're all somebody" jeongguk says
"and i think you have an interesting story
behind that little wall you built around yourself"

"i'm just some typical teenage girl
unlike you
famous and loved by the country"
sincerely loved
i say in my mind

jeongguk studies me, comments
"you look like one of the good ones"

i furrow my eyebrows
"how would you know?"

"you're wearing branded designer clothes
but the simple kinds
i'm guessing you're somewhere
at the upper class
you only talk when you need to
yet you have confidence
you seem brave
although a little too naive to be
following a complete stranger into
an abandoned theatre--"

he let out a laugh as i
slap him lightly on the shoulder
how did he notice every single detail?
it makes me feel like i'm under
some kind of interrogation

"but as dumb as you look
that still doesn't explain why you kissed me"

oh, i think
and then, oh

i should take it as my cue
to run out of this place
and pretend we never met
it could just save me the embarrassment
he does remember
my cheeks redden

"i was challenging myself"
i trail off, dragging the words

he raises an eyebrow as he studies me
the same way that i did to him on the train
but instead of being mad, he smiles again
"also, from the way you kiss
you've never dated anyone before
have you?"

"i'm just some lame kid
don't you think?
that's why my story's not worth telling"

silence falls between us
we bask in the sounds of our breathing
the fluttering of bird wings on the roof
their loud singing

until he gets up on his feet
heads somewhere behind the stage
and comes back a couple minutes later
with something shiny in his hand

"here"
he says as he holds up
what looks like a few wires
shaped in the form of a triangle
hanging from a black piece of string
just like a pendant

"what's that?"
i ask

"this, pinky
is where you're at"
jeongguk points at the corner of the triangle
"it's the starting point
basically the beginning of your life
background etcetera, and this"

he runs a finger on the left side of the triangle
"the rising action, it's when you have to do
something important or make a big decision"

he points to the peak
"this is where you get the
consequences of your actions
whether it be good or bad"

then he points at the right side of the triangle
"the falling action
it's where you either try to fix
your rising action
or stay put with the consequences
choose either one"

"and what about that?"
i point at the right corner
and he shrugs

"it's your destination
it's whatever your decisions
lead you to in the end"

"this is the weirdest conversation
i've ever had"

jeongguk chuckles
i take the hand-made pendant from his hand
and examine it closely
"i like weird, and this is nice"

"it's something to help you get by
consider it a motivation of some sort"

i put it around my neck
and it dangles on my skin perfectly

"where do you think you're at?"
jeongguk asks

i breathe out
"the rising action, maybe"

"there's still a long way to go"
jeongguk says
"so where are you planning to go
after cheongju? busan?"

i nod, taking a moment to think
"my hometown
i'm going to see the lanterns"

"you mean the lantern festival?
we have nearly a month more till that"

"which is why i'll be
taking my sweet time
before i get there
maybe do some exploring while i can"

"i'm planning on seeing them too
the lanterns
i've always wanted to"

"really?"

jeongguk pouts
now that he's taken off his mask
he looks admittedly
handsome

well of course he would be
he is a celebrity after all
but it's not exactly the right time
to be drooling over a boy

"it's something i can't afford to miss"
he says with a smile of bitterness
i can't see through it
jeongguk seems to be the kind with
emotions that are hard to tell
he's good at hiding them
which makes me even eager
to learn of his secrets
"because i may not be able to get another chance"