Krystal's Playlist pt. ii

- 'Pyramid Song', Radiohead

'Rain', BTS

- 'Doll Parts', Hole

- 'Lion', (G)-IDLE

- 'Do I Wanna Know', Arctic Monkeys

- 'me & ur ghost', blackbear

- 'Remember', WINNER

Krystal stood nervously outside of Amber's apartment, her hand clenched into a fist by her side as she waited for the door to open. Krystal had no idea what this reunion with Amber would be like now that she knew everything that had happened since she'd left.

Amber was yet another person that Krystal seriously regretted never being able to say goodbye to. The two of them had instantly become best friends when Amber moved here at 11 years old; Krystal and her sister Jessica had moved over here a few years before, and it just so easy for the two American girls to spend all their time together. 

No one would've guessed the amount those two little Asian-American girls would end up going through when they got a little older. 

The door opened, pulling Krystal out of her thoughts and bringing her face to face with Amber, eyes dark and sullen, a small bump underneath the baggy sweater she wore. Krystal gulped.

"You're totally staring at it," Amber scoffed, speaking English as the two girls always did together, Amber's accent not having faded one bit.

"I can't help it," Krystal shrugged, "You're a freaking planet."

"Like Juno?"

"Just like in Juno." Krystal replied, a smile quickly creeping onto her face at Amber's reference to one of their favourite films, and Elliot Page still remained one of Krystal's favourite actors to this date.

Amber immediately held out her arms, the look on her face softening into a smile. Krystal had to be careful not to be too forceful as she moved to hug her best friend. She'd missed Amber terribly; the way it was so easy to be herself with Amber, the shared humour, the shared experiences, all of it. Of all the friendships Krystal seemed to have a talent for destroying, this one with Amber would always remain pure and true.

"I missed you," Amber mumbled into Krystal's hair.

"I know." 

Amber pulled back, her eyes watering ever so slightly, "Where were you?" her voice broke ever so slightly, in a way that almost made Krystal want to cry.

"I-" Krystal started - but she just didn't know where to start.

The lies she'd been running from all this time were still eating her up, still looming over her every day, tormenting her. She wanted so badly to unload all of it - but how could she? She'd already destroyed everything she held dear just by leaving this place, what would happen if she told everyone the truth? 

Thankfully, Amber spoke, "You wanna' come in?"

The two sat in Amber's living room in a somewhat awkward silence as Amber fumbled around making herbal teas for the two of them. Once they were ready, Krystal held onto her cup, sniffing the gentle aroma of spearmint that brought warmth and comfort to her.

"There were so many rumours about you after you left," Amber scoffed, "Some said you got arrested and sent to juvie."

"They guessed the wrong person clearly," Krystal smirked as she blew her tea to cool it down.

"Others said that you did a Seohyun and got offered a modelling contract abroad." Amber continued, "Some said that you got sent to military school. One nasty rumour even said that you killed Xiumin and ran away." 

A cold shiver ricocheted down Krystal's spine at that. 

"Another rumour said you defected to the North,"

Krystal couldn't help but laugh at that, "Honestly I'm flattered people thought of me at all."

"How couldn't we?" Amber asked, "You- you did just leave...Everything was so bad. And you just left..."

Krystal sighed. She knew this kind of explanation was due, had even attempted to rehearse her answer in her mirror back home. Yet sitting here now, face-to-face with her best friend, Krystal felt completely and utterly clueless about where to go with this. So it was just easier for her not to bother explaining at all.

"You know one of those rumours were true," she smirked, "I did get sent to a horrible school. It was run by nuns, and it was so strict there that I wasn't allowed a phone. I had to pray for my sins and was allowed to write a letter home once a week."

"You're kidding, right?" Amber asked in disbelief. Krystal's distraction had clearly worked.

"It was the worst place I've ever been. So naturally I made the most of it." she scoffed.

"How?"

Krystal pondered this, thinking about all the chaos she'd managed to cause in her stint at the isolated Catholic school she'd been sent to, "Multiple counts of disrupting mass, stealing the wine that was used for services, seducing a young, trainee priest, oh and I managed to roll a joint using the pages of a Bible."

"No freaking way!" Amber laughed, clapping her hands in approval as Krystal laughed along with her. The Bible thing was always something they'd joked about as Juniors, and clearly Amber was overjoyed at her theory being proven.

This felt good. The one thing that felt unchanged in Krystal's return; she and Amber, sitting around laughing and joking like the chaotic, stupid teenagers they were supposed to be. Yet reality always had a way of kicking back in during moments of reprieve. Of course, she still couldn't find it in herself to tell Amber exactly why she'd been forced to go to that school...

"What- what did you parents think? About everything? About this?"

Krystal sighed, "They don't know I'm here. The nuns actually had enough of me, and agreed to let me leave since I was already 18."

"How on earth did they agree to that?" Amber asked in disbelief.

"I threatened to tell the media and authorities about my encounter with that trainee priest. Not a good look for the church these days."

"You're going to hell, Krystal."

 Krystal shrugged, "Maybe. But I think I'm too cold for hell."

"You'd freeze it over the second you step foot inside that place," 

Krystal didn't exactly disagree with that.

"So how did you end up coming back here?"

"Jessica helped sign over my transfer. Technically I still needed a parent or guardian to sign the papers, and she's listed as a guardian. She also conveniently helped buy me an apartment across the street from here." 

"Pros of having a sister who married a millionare," Amber grinned.

"I also told her that if she didn't help me, I'd leak her planned novel online." Krystal said, "Obviously I wouldn't - she's my sister. But it worked. Here I am."

Amber nodded in understanding at Krystal's story, her hand absent-mindedly rubbing at her bump as she sipped on tea. It was strange beyond words and description seeing Amber like this. Being the rowdy tomboy that she was, Amber was the last person Krystal expected to get knocked up.

"Does Tiffany know?"

Amber nodded, her face uneasy, "Of course she totally freaked out about it. Then she took me to a bunch of different doctors to get advice on it, even took me to a Mommy-Yoga class last weekend. She stays over when she's not filming in Seoul."

"I see," Krystal said, "Does Kris know?" she knew the answer to this already, but wanted to hear Amber's explanation.

Amber's face immediately dropped, sadness overcoming it again as he eyes looked distant and watery, "I can't- I can't bring myself to it. He's- so much is going wrong for him. You know his parents are home-schooling him now? He's not even allowed to work with the boys at the warehouse on weekends. I haven't seen him in-in..."

Amber couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence. Amber who was always so outspoken, driven and opinionated, was reduced to a state of tears. This wasn't right. 

Putting her cup down on the table, Krystal moved to kneel on the floor next to her best friend.

"Amber," she said firmly, loudly, to try and break through her friends saddened state, "Listen to me." she said loudly.

Still sniffling, Amber looked up at Krystal sheepishly.

"You have to tell Kris." 

Amber shook her head and she continued to quietly sob.

"Amber - if you don't tell him now, he might not want to deal with it later. If you tell him now, you both have time to figure this out. You have to tell him. The longer you run away from this, the more difficult it'll get."

Krystal looked her best friend squarely in the eye, being sure to speak slowly and surely. This wasn't Krystal messing people around as usual - this mattered. Kris was an idiot but he wasn't immoral; he would do the right thing and stick by Amber. She just needed to reach out to him and come clean.

"How- how can I tell him? I can't even contact him, his phone number changed?" Amber sniffled. 

Krystal felt some relief at that. Amber was considering her next move at the very least. Yet Kris's situation presented an interesting predicament. 

Sighing, Krystal rose from where she was sat on the floor, strengthening her resolve and reminding herself of what she had set out to do from the very start. 

"I'll handle contacting Kris, don't you worry," 

"How?"

"I have my ways,"

*

Krystal sat in the little restaurant, the place dimly lit by red lanterns that were dotted about overhead, the smell of tantalising food wafting through the air as faint, traditional Oriental music played in the background. She watched as Kris milled about the place, looking equally stressed and bored as he went to pick up empty dishes from one table to bring into the kitchen. He definitely looked taller, his hair which was probably once blonde was growing out severely at the roots, and the usually fashion-conscious guy looked pitifully hilarious in his shop apron. Krystal had to stifle a laugh as Kris got scolded in Mandarin by the one of the cooks for not taking her order.

"Hi, are you ready to order?" Kris asked as he fumbled about for the order booklet and pen in his pocket. He hadn't yet noticed Krystal.

"I'll have a tea please. Traditional, black tea."

"Just a tea? No food?" he asked as he jotted her order down quickly.

"Just the tea, Kris," 

Kris's brow furrowed, first in curiosity, then confusion, before he moved his eyes and actually looked at Krystal.

"You-" he gasped, dropping his pencil from his hands, where it clattered loudly on the floor.

One of the chefs shouted something that sounded vaguely angry from the kitchen, to which Kris shouted back what could only be an excuse.

Picking up the pencil, Kris looked at Krystal with dark and furious eyes, "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked in English. The two had always spoken in English before she left, yet Krystal figured now it was to the benefit of the angry chefs not being able to understand what they were saying.

"I want some tea," Krystal shrugged, crossing her arms in vague amusement at the situation.

"And I want a rocket-ship," Kris mocked bitterly, "What the hell are you doing back? I thought we'd seen the last of you when my best friend died. Something that was actually kind of your fault."

The words were a painful stab in the heart, chest, stomach all over her body. Yet Krystal didn't let this show. She was here for a reason.

"Look," she sighed, unfolding her arms and sitting up straight, "Will you please just get me my tea? I'm awfully thirsty."

"Why should I get you anything?" Kris spat with pure disgust in his voice, "Why should I even be wasting my breath in conversation with you right now?"

Krystal rolled her eyes. 

The guy's an idiot. Sometimes they just need things spelled out for them.

"I'm here because we need to talk about Amber - get it?"

Krystal had never seen anyone scuttle away to make a pot of tea so fast in her life. Kris rushed back, hot tea pot in his bare hands, placing it down on the table so fast Krystal was surprised the orante set didn't smash to pieces.

"Have you seen her?" Kris sat down opposite her, leaning forward on his chair and listening intently, whilst Krystal got to work pouring her tea, "I haven't been able to contact anyone in months. My parents went psycho and made me home-school; they wanted to send me back to Beijing but my sister Victoria convinced them to let me stay here with her. They took my phone when they found out I went to Baekhyun's hearing - but I how couldn't I? I-"

"Kris?"

"What?"

"Stop talking." Krystal commanded calmly, setting down the hot tea pot, and cupping the ornate cup in her hands, warmth spreading across her icy fingers and hands. 

Yet before she could begin, the chef began shouting at Kris, hurling a string of angry-sounding words that could only be curses. Rolling her eyes, Krystal called out back to him in one of the few phrases she knew in Mandarin, and was pretty sure meant "don't worry. I'll buy another cup to make up for his time."

Kris looked at Krystal bizzarely, "Your Mandarin is awful. You realise you just said that you'd buy another quilt? Not cup?"

"Oh." Krystal pulled a face, "Good thing I dropped Mandarin class."

"Understandable. Homophones are always difficult." Kris shrugged.

"Anyways," Krystal sighed, "Amber's not feeling very well. She hasn't been able to go to school."

Kris's face immediately became pained and worried at this, "What? Is she alright? Has she got a norovirus?"

Smirking, Krystal said, "Something like that. The point being, you should call her. Then go see her."

"What?" Kris pulled a face, "Isn't that like, a really bad idea if she's got a norovirus?"

Krystal groaned, rolling her eyes, "Just call her. You idiot." she reached over to Kris's apron, pulling out his pen and paper where she jotted down on it, "Here's her number. Go to a payphone and call her. Arrange to go see her." 

Kris took the piece of paper, gingerly looking at it as if it were an alien language, yet he didn't offer any more insufferable questions, "I really screwed things up with her. I- I just wanted to be with her, but I pushed her away instead."

In a way, Krystal couldn't help but feel bad for Kris. As much as they hadn't seen eye to eye in the past, she wanted to help him, make things better for him with this whole messs, yet she didn't know how to without overstepping her boundaries. 

"It's not your fault. Sometimes life is just . Don't feel bad. Just see her."

Kris looked up at Krystal, his brow furrowed and eyes confused, "Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?"

"Believe me, it's not you I'm trying to help."

"Figures," Kris sighed, folding up the paper into his pocket as he stood up from the chair, "Anything else you want to add? Or have you got someone else to torment for the day?"

Krystal couldn't help but smirk at that. She reached into her bag, pulling out the brochure she'd asked Suho to procure for her. She slid it across the table, the fancy brochure for Engineering Apprenticeships at a world-famous car brand glistening under the red-glow of the lights above them.

"I heard you like your toys. Maybe you could get paid to play with them in the future."

Kris looked down at the brochure, curious at first, before he gingerly picked it up and flicked through the pages. He looked up to ask Krystal another question, but it was too late; she'd already left, her tea-pot empty, and the cash for two rounds left on the table.

*

For the second time this week, Krystal was stood outside of someone's door, apprenhensively awaiting whoever would be on the other side to answer it. Only this time, she was in a part of town she'd never expected to be in, at the invite of a girl she'd never even met. 

Krystal had been eerily surprised to receive a random text message during homeroom this morning, inviting her to a movie evening after school. Only when Krystal drove to address that was given, she began to think that coming along wouldn't be a good idea after all. 

She'd heard about the Rehabilitation Centre on the edge of Town a few times; it was run by her wealthy Uncle, Mr Jung, whose two sons, her cousins Jaehyun and Sungchan, she and Jessica used to babysit for when they were younger (those two were awfully misbehaved back then). She'd never had the pleasure (or in this context, misfortune) of having to come here, yet when Sulli sent her that text message this morning, Krystal simply had to go. Not out of some sense of moral obligation, but a true feeling that she needed to be here this evening.

Walking up to the centre however, gave Krystal the chills. Haunting memories of her own attempt at rehabilitation swept over her, agonising images and flashbacks of countless, pain-staking attempts to "pray the bad away" as the nuns had called it. Krystal wished her recovery had been as picturesque as this place seemed as she walked through the hallways and saw all marvels that the centre had to offer.

Yet you deserved to go through Hell after what you did.

Krystal was only saved from the purgatory of her memories by the sight of Kyungsoo and Kai in the hallways, stood outside a Hollywood-style set of double doors lit by a sign that read Movie Theatre.

Kai caught sight of Krystal first, "Oh hey, Krystal," he nudged his boyfriend. 

Kyungsoo smiled brightly at Krystal, one of those rare, brilliant Kyungsoo smiles that reached his eyes, "You came! I didn't think you would when Sulli said she'd invited you."

"How couldn't I come?" Krystal shrugged as she joined the boys by the doors, "Our host was kind enough to invite me when she didn't even know me. I'm assuming you gave her my number?"

Kyungsoo shook his head, clueless, "You...haven't given any of us your new number?"

"Then how-"

The double doors burst open, revealing a tall, beaming girl, grinning like a child. Her hair was half up in space buns, the rest of her dark locks cascading all the way down to her waist. She was painfully thin, but not to the point of severity, the powder-puff, pastel, pink dress she wore hanging loosely off of her frame as she stood with her hands on her hips. 

"Finally! You're all here!" she grinned, "Otherwise I'd have to eat all of these macarons by myself!" 

Sulli wasn't exaggerating when she said she had a lot of macarons. The girl had probably bought out the entire patisserie in Town with the amount of bags of them that were dotted across the home theatre. Sulli ushered the group in, sitting them down on the group of beanbags that were placed in front of the huge screen, and old-school film projector that Sulli quickly flipped on, before dimming the lights and scuttling back to the front.

No time for introductions then...

The credits for the film rolled on, some French filmed called Amelie. Krystal recognsied the name, the film being one of those popular, whimsical films that girls who prided themselves on not being 'like other girls' would brag about watching on their Tumblr blogs back in 2012. 

Yet as the film progressed, Krystal couldn't help but become strangely at ease throughout, the reds and greens of the colour pallette making Krystal feel warm herself, the 35mm, authentic film adding a certain depth to the film that you wouldn't get in IMAX theatres. Krystal wasn't the artistic type, she'd always left that up to her friends and ex-boyfriend. But film was always something that moved Krystal, tapped into her passions and moods the way nothing else could; she found herself appreciating the close-shots of the characters and the wide-angles of the scenes, the way each shot would accentuate each character's individual features, the sheer level of artistry behind the writing and direction.

She also developed a strange attchment towards the film's namesake, the way she had such pertinent likes and dislikes of everything around her, and how her character developed upon meeting every other strange and delightful character in the story. It really made Krystal consider the beauty of simpler things in life, made her want to sit back and just be at peace with everything around her. 

If only your conscience didn't already have so much to bear...

Looking over at Sulli, Krystal understood why she'd brought them all here to watch it. She seemed completely absorbed by the film, her eyes glazed over and unmoving in a way that made Krystal wonder whether or not she'd memorised the meanings of the original, French script and didn't need subtitles. It was understandable why someone who'd been through what Sulli had survived would want to watch a film like this; it was a simple, light-hearted film that brought the viewer into a world of its own, and entranced you with the beauty of it all, a form of escapism that someone like Sulli probably needed.

Krystal almost found herself tearing up a little by the end of the film - almost.

"That was-" Kyungsoo started, but seemed at a loss with what to say.

"Awesome," Kai nodded in approval, "A really cute film, I must say."

"Amelie is a masterpiece!" Sulli beamed as she ran to stop the projector from rolling, operating it with the ease of someone who'd used one a dozen times, "Not only is it visually stunning, but it takes the viewer into a world away from our own. What did you think, Krystal?"

"What?" Krystal asked, slightly taken aback at Sulli's question, "I thought it was...lovely..." 

Sulli's eyes lit up at that word, making her look like a child on Christmas morning. Kai sent her a slight smirk. Sulli bounded down the theatre steps before she threw herself on the beanbag next to Krystal with all the energy of a kid having a sugar rush - understandble since she'd just devoured half the macaron population of the room.

"Isn't it just?" she sighed in exasperation, "The way the film is shot, the colour and the tones, it- it-"

"It makes you feel like you're really in Paris," Krystal mused, this time with a smile on her face as she spoke. Something about Sulli's energy was extremely endearing an infectious - Krystal had never met anyone like her.

"Exactly!" Sulli slumped back on the beanbag, "Do you like other foreign films?"

Krystal pondered this for a momen