Suzy’s eyes locked on the view outside the window. The bright warm lights glowed with iridescent reds, blues, and greens, as the van drove down the highway.

Surprisely, this was her favorite part of the day.

Driving home after a long 16 hours of interviews, photo shoots, and other miscellaneous things that kept her busy, the drive back to her apartment was definitely soothing.

“ZZZzz…ZZzzz.ZZZzz.”

She silently choked up laughing at her manager’s snoring. “Aigo, I should be the one tired,” she joked.

Leaning over and reaching the music controller in the back seat, she the radio, and set it to a medium volume, just enough to drown out the snores.

‘ The feelings I’ve hid remain as a painful secret memory, photos that can’t define our relationship is a heartbreaking story. I’m sorry, summer, now goodbye. ‘

This is f(x)’s song right, it’s pretty.

The more she listened to it, the more her face saddened. The lyrics, somehow reminded her of the one person she hated thinking about.

‘ If only our long-time hidden secrets were revealed, I would hold you in my arms. ‘

She dug in her bag, pulling out the chunky key chain that contained the keys to her mini copper, apartment, and anything else she could possibly open.  She started blankly at the white bow made from a shoelace, tied to the ring.

It was dirty around the edges, and the aglets were frayed on both ends, but she could never build up the nerve to throw it away.

[ flashback, March 2009. ]

It was the perfect weather. With winter going and summer coming, everything was breezy and beautiful.

Myungsoo sat on the wooden bench in the park, literally going crazy from anticipation.

“Bae Suzy next time you tell say five minutes, I’m taking it as ten.”

He tapped his foot impatiently on the sidewalk, switching the way he sat every minute since he couldn’t stay still.

I wonder what my surprise is. My present?

Suji carried the red wrapped box in one hand, slowly tiptoeing behind the bench.

God Myungsoo, you jittery freak.

She put her left hand over her eyes and leaned down, getting close to his ear. “Seanggil Chukka Myungie-ah.”

He turned around immediately and she quickly put the box behind her back.

“Yah do you not own a watch?” He scolded her, tapping his wrist.

“No, now scoot over.”

He moved to the right a bit, and Suji sat down, presenting the gift in front of him with both hands.

“Happy 17^th, idiot.”

His eyes lit up and a big smile stretched across his face making Suji smiled uncontrollably also.

He ripped the wrapping paper viciously, knowing how Suji hates people who unwrap their presents tediously.

His popped the cardboard lid up and saw a brand new pair of black sneakers, the same ones that he had been eyeing for months.

He looked up at her with his eyebrows almost all the way up his forehead, shocked.

“No way, these are expensive, you didn’t.” He took one shoe out, admiring it up close.

“Do you know how many brats I had to babysit to get you those? Including Sangmoon, and Moonsoo while you were at Karate Camp.” She shrugged at the thought of their disgusting little brothers.

“Bae Suji, you’re so good to me.” He said, patting her head and cuddling his new shoes all at the same time.

“Yeah yeah yeah I know. Pali, try them on.”

He undid the laces and took off the shoes, handing them to Suji to hold.

“This shoes have been to the dark side and back.” She said, looking at the only pair of dance shoes he’s ever used. They were, key word: were, white Nike air forces, but now they were just sad. Dirtied up after years off dancing.

“They fit perfect.” He lifted his foot up, modeling it in different angles for her. “Do they look good on me?” He said, making his fingers into an L and pressing it against his chin, with a one sided smile.

“Of course, anything black looks good on you.” He sat back down, as Suzy handed him back the old sneakers.

“I guess these had to go someday.” He stuck his lower lip out, frowning.

“Kim Myungsoo, don’t even think about keeping these. Throw them away, they stink.“

“But, I feel like they’re a sign of my hard work over the past years.”

She scoffed, poking his forehead with her index finger. “More like a buildup of your foot fungus and disease.”

“I thought you would understand, Miss ‘Lucky Hairtie’.” He retorted back, pointing at the black hair tie on her wrist.

“Yah don’t bring my hair tie into this, my hair tie smells like strawberries, not sweat.” She took the shoes from him, and starting removing each shoe lace from the sneakers.

“Arasso, arasso, keep these. And for sakes, ditch the shoes.” She handed him the laces and made an okay sign with her hand.  “There, there’s your hard work. Take those as a memory.”

She gave a slight smile, and snatched the shoes from him, walking towards the trashcan.

“You’re not going to cry are you?” She said, as she positioned the shoes just over the trash.

He waved the laces in the air and gave her the ok, and then the shoes plopped into the can.

When she sat down again, he took her wrist, tying one of the laces onto it.

“You’re one of the reasons I continued to work hard, it’s only right that you keep one of them right?”

Suji didn’t know why, but she felt like butterflies were going crazy in her stomach, as he leaned over to tie it.

Why am I nervous, I don’t get nervous around him, ever.

 “Don’t lose it arasso?” He commanded her, giving her a stern look.

“Wouldn’t ever think of it.” She replied softly, admiring the new ‘bracelet’.

[ end of flashback ]

She didn’t realize it until she saw the reflection in the window, but tears were streaming down her cheek.

She gently wiped her eyes with her sleeves, sniffling as quietly as she could.

As the years passed, the shoelace went from her wrist, to her ankle, somehow became a belt, and after a while, ended up as a keychain ornament.

Suzy was so disappointed in herself sometimes, because no matter how much she tried to erase him from her memory, the littlest thing would bring them all back.

Filming or recording the same day as him brought chills to her body, agonizing her mind.

Onscreen, we’re mere strangers that have the same job. Off-screen, we’re just mere strangers.

And tomorrow, tomorrow was going to be another angonizing day for her. It was an end of the year special, which one probably take forever to film, plus artists are required to say there and watch the full show.

Yesterday she was lucky she showed up late to the pre-recording, or else things would have just been ten times more awkward back stage.

“Suzy-ah, we’re here.” Her manager called, snapping her out of her trance.

“Oh arasso oppa. Thanks for the ride.” She got out of the car, strapping her black purse over her shoulder and sliding the van door closed.

“You’re driving yourself tomorrow correct?” He asked, sticking his head out of the window.

“Ne. Have a nice night oppa, don’t snore too much and keep your girlfriend up.” She waved bye and bowed to the driver, then walked into her apartment complex.

When she got to her apartment, she was surprised to see Min sitting on her couch.

“Unnie, what are you doing here?” She questioned, hanging her red trench coat on the hook.

“My parents are on vacation, and I swear, I swear I heard noises from the kitchen. You know unnie’s scared off ghosts right?”

“What aren’t you scared off? Arasso, you can take my bed, I’ll sleep on the couch today.” She replied, offering Min her bed.

“Ani, it’s your house. I’m just scared of ghosts. I’ll sleep on the couch.” Min replied, fighting with Suzy.

“You need to pop, lock, and drop tomorrow, which you won’t be able to do sleeping on a couch. So unnie, sleep in my bed. Go go go.”

She pushed Min into her room unwillingly and smiled at Min’s caring arguments.

“Sleep tight Minyoung-unnie!”

Suzy grabbed some pajamas from her several pre-packed suitcases for trips and such, and went into the bathroom, and washed up for the night.

Will we make awkward eye contact like all the other times?

___________________________________________________________________

double update? wahh weird. hope y'all enjoyed though. please comment your feedback~