year: around 2008
location: busan
with: (@fmdkangjunâ)
from arinâs house to kangjunâs, arin managed to count thirty trees. it was a ten minute walk away. every press of feet against the ground, however, arin wished the it turned to sand. or maybe jelly, just slowly wrap her from the ankles up to the crown of her head, then she would stay there engulfed forever, along with time. and maybe some of her friends.
kangjunâs grandmom greeted arin with a warm maternal comfort. did much better than her mother.
( why couldnât she be my mom? )
the knob to kangjunâs door was cold. perhaps, a pair of ghost hands held it, stopping her from opening and seeing her friend. or maybe preventing him from leaving. if it was the latter, arin would have to thank the supernatural being. arin didnât bother knocking. kangjun and arin had already saved themselves from these kinds of pleasantries.
âso youâre really leaving, huh?â the hand lingered on kangjunâs door for a while before stepping inside. the young girl sat on the floor, far enough to maintain eye contact with her friend. âyouâre finally seeing seoul.â arin should be ecstatic. she should be jumping with kangjun, should be screaming into his earâyouâre gong to be a star!âbut she didnât. arin sighed, stared at kangjunâs feet and later to stare at hers.