Genre: Drama, Fluff, Romance, Slice of Life

Summary: Kwon Eunbi had been spending her time distancing herself from people in the middle of the forest. Her encounter with a free-spirit photographer opened her eyes towards the beauty of this world which she had long forgotten.

Word Count: 6467

Hashtag: #KwonChaeng_RewriteTheStars

Rewrite The Stars

A woman heaves her deepest sigh as she leaned against the wooden wall of her house. There’s an ominous rustling noise echoing outside of her house, making the woman with night sky hair breathing nervously. “Please,” she whispered desperately. “Go away, I didn’t do it. I’m innocent. Just please, go away from me,” she keeps on uttering those words, hoping for those creatures outside of her house able to hear her pleas and leave the woman alone.

Her shoulders jolted in horror when a loud bang can be heard against the door of her house, making the woman muffle her cries while shivering in her place. Tears are trickling down from her pairs of beautiful black pools which are currently darker than any deepest chasm. She is engulfed by her fears towards the furious creatures outside of her house who apparently are trying to break into her house with sheer force.

“P-please. Go away. I am innocent.”

She tried reasoning with the creature but her voice was disregard and only made the knocking even more violent. She then shut her eyes tight while hoping for anyone to come and save her.

“Hello? Anyone home?”

A mellow, sweet voice suddenly can be heard from her front door, making the woman trembling by the wall of her house wipe away her tears. She gulped hard before grabbing her gun, bracing herself to face the one who knocked. Stepping closer towards the oak, rectangular wood with a fresh scent of varnish, she cleared and barked, “Who’s there?”

A still silence greeted the woman in reply, making her start regretting her decision in responding to the knocks. She is calculating whether she should just shoot the door to ensure any entity standing in front of it is killed or just wait for a response.

“Uhh… I kinda heard your screams which make me think you might need some help. You okay in there? Are you hurt?”

She never had anyone asking for her condition so far with those violent knocks and deduce that maybe there’s a kind soul is standing now in front of her, separated by the oaken door. Her pupils dilated for a bit as she mustered her courage and collected her breath to calm this palpitation she had.

“Uhh… I’m alright. Thank you for asking.”

“Well, that’s nice. Err, if you are kind enough, may I ask your permission to maybe stay overnight in your house?”

The short-haired woman gritted her teeth, clearly didn’t anticipating that this uninvited guest would ask such things towards her. She hastened her grip towards the cold metallic object in her small, sweaty palms as she tried coming up with excuses to decline this person’s request.

“I swear I won’t do anything. I’m actually a bit lost in here, y’know?”

“W-what are you doing in the middle of the forest at night? What if you are a serial killer?”

“Pfftt… Such imagination. If I am one, I won’t wasting time talking to you, miss. I’m a photographer. People call me Chaeyeon, Lee Chaeyeon is my birth name.”

The woman pursed her lips upon hearing snorts outside. This person didn’t seem to be a bad person, she thought. However, a flash of people cursing and screaming at her stunted the woman's movement from unlocking her door. She knocked her temples using the gun in her hand to chase away these bad memories.

“Uhh, what is that sound? Are you sure you are okay? I have a certificate in a First Aid kit, so maybe I can be of help if you permit me.”

She her lips while stabilizing her breath. It’s okay, she told herself. This person isn’t here to harm her, the short-haired keeps reassuring herself before gathering her focus and answers the girl, Chaeyeon’s question, “I’m really okay. My name is Eunbi and I can let you sleep over in my house with three conditions.”

“Name it. Even if you ask me ten things, I will do it because my life on the line here. It’s freaking cold isn’t it? Ah, to be in the arms of the Mother Nature.”

The house owner does feel a shred of sympathy towards the shivering photographer, judging from her trembling voice. She then nodded at herself to reassure that this person isn’t a bad one before muttering, “First, you will only be allowed to stay here tonight. You need to go to the town, east from here as soon as you wake up.”

“Fair enough. I just hope that I’ll still be alive by tomorrow to walk there though.”

Ignoring the girl’s snarky reply, the woman with black hair added, “Second, you may not trespass any area aside from the living room, kitchen and toilet.”

“That’s luxurious. I will comply, no worry.”

“The last one,” she paused before taking a deep breath, “You mustn’t fall in love with me. No matter what.”

Chaeyeon quivering chuckles can be heard from the door as the muffled voice replied, “Whoa, you must be a beauty to have such condition.”

“D-d- you agree to my last rule?”

A moment of silent envelope both of the women, making the house owner worried if her visitor might already pass away as she dawdles around, making absurd rules and regulations. She was about to leave the door but halted her steps as the voice replied, “Sure. I don’t believe in love because I can’t feel anything anymore.”

Her hands stopped trembling upon hearing those words. She wondered if this person might have been terribly hurt just like her. Clenching her fist, Eunbi pushed the door ajar, revealing a bundle-up woman taller than her who was flapping her arms in front of her. Due to the dark sky, she fails to see more details of the woman and just ushers Chaeyeon into the living room. Only after the photographer shuffles towards the heater that she had the chance of seeing Chaeyeon clearer.

Letting the stranger unbundle herself while carefully putting away her bags which Eunbi guess, filled with the photographer’s equipment, the home owner handed over a fluffy blanket as well as a set of fresh clothes towards Chaeyeon. “Thanks! I’m soaked from the hails outside. Extreme weather, huh?”

She isn’t used to such friendliness and thus, just nodded curtly. Eunbi shuffles towards the fireplace, still trying her best to distance herself from Chaeyeon but at the same time, intrigued by this woman’s nonchalant behavior while settling down in Eunbi’s living room. She expects the girl to be more cautious and guard up but Chaeyeon totally relaxed. As if she is having a sleepover in her friend’s house. Eunbi noticed that Chaeyeon is actually shivering with her teeth clattered violently. She retreated towards her kitchen and whipped up a cup of hot drink for the guest and returned to the living room just to find Chaeyeon hugging her knees in front of the fireplace with a somber expression.

“Here, take this. To make you warmer.”

“Oh, thanks a lot. You are so kind, aren’t you?”

“Just courtesy like everyone will do.”

The girl just sipped her drink silently but Eunbi can see a glint of a smile in those pairs of beautiful eyes. Under the dim light of her fireplace, Chaeyeon's eyes have this wonderful brightness, a perfect fit for those high cheek bones of her as well as her sharp, pointy nose. Eunbi guessed that this girl might be in her late teens or early 20s. Either way, Chaeyeon has a mesmerizing presence even though the girl is just sitting still and sipping her drink.

“Not everyone will allow a stranger in her house in the middle of the night.”

“Well, didn’t you say that your life is on the line just now?”

“Do I? Must be my glib tongue’s work of wonder. Always help me whenever I’m in a pinch.”

Small smile escapes Eunbi’s mouth which somehow is noticed by Chaeyeon who pointed it out gleefully, “You smile! How pretty.”

Blushes creep up on her cheeks as soon as the compliments registered in her brain. Eunbi covered using her palms, trying to hide her gummy smiles from Chaeyeon’s sight as she stuttered, “I-I’m not pretty! I’m just a mediocre, normal human.”

Chuckles can be heard from the girl with straight, long hair who tottered closer towards Eunbi with a contagious grin. “Then, this inferior me really blessed to see the oh-so-mediocre human’s smiles then? I’m grateful for the chance~”

“Gee, aren’t you a teaser one.”

“People did say that I’m good with giving compliments.”

“I can certainly see that.”

It’s weird, Eunbi thought. Just a few moments ago, she felt scared less with those violent tapping and noises around her house. Upon her meeting with Chaeyeon albeit for only less than an hour, she somehow felt safe and secure. As if she is at home.

“Oh, it’s fortunate that my bag is waterproof or my pocket will have a huge hole to buy a new camera.”

Chaeyeon’s grunted relief brings Eunbi back to her living room. She shakes her head a little while curiously creeping closer towards the girl with red hair who is currently absorbed looking after her camera and its equipment.

“Say, what kind of picture do you take?”

The girl whipped her head towards Eunbi and she felt a little bit self-conscious at the distance of their face which is only inches apart from each other. The guest’s hot breath smells pleasant as Chaeyeon has this fresh, woody scent on her. Eunbi guesses maybe it’s because the girl just came out from the forest, hence the smell of Chaeyeon.

“Do you want to see my portfolio?”

Unlike Eunbi who is deep in her own thinking, Chaeyeon flashed her grin like a Cheshire cat before pulling out her smartphone before tapping on its screen. Eunbi just sit still beside the girl, feeling intrigued with Chaeyeon’s action.

“I took pictures of life, of creatures, of every beautiful moment which I encountered on my journey.”

A gallery filled with mesmerizing, picturesque capture by Chaeyeon felt like a caress of calming breeze blew towards Eunbi’s soul. As she scrolled through the photographer’s online portfolio which catches fine details of people and their raw emotion, Eunbi couldn’t help but shed her tears.

“W-wh-why are you crying? Is it my picture? Are there any devastating pictures in there?”

Chaeyeon’s worried voice just intensifies Eunbi's cries. She sniffles while hugging her knees, burying her head into her curled-up arms, savoring this warmness of people’s attention towards her.

Why is she being so warm towards me? Why is she so kind even though I make her agree with my absurd condition just now?

In the midst of her cries, a pair of warm arms enveloped her with a tight hug. She can hear a soothing voice calming her down, coaxing Eunbi to feel better. Chaeyeon didn’t even ask reasons behind Eunbi’s sobbing anymore and instead, just encouraged her to let out her pent-up emotion.

“Cry. Let your tears wash away your sorrow. It’s okay to feel sad. I am here by your side.”

With those words, Chaeyeon Eunbi’s back with careful, understanding moves. She had long forgotten her other companion as Eunbi is used to living inside the forest all alone. She had been crying, raging and feeling empty all alone. Worst, she eventually gets used to it which makes her heart couldn’t help but cry upon meeting another soul in here.

It took Eunbi a few tens of minutes to calm down. As soon as her sadness is gone with the wind, Eunbi feels ashamed to cry in the arms of Chaeyeon whom she just met. She gulped hard while trying to push Chaeyeon away, clearly flustered when the girl actually is staring at Eunbi with an indescribable gaze.

“Uhh… Well, are you feeling better?”

“I-I think I am. Thanks, Chaeyeon.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I only lend you my shoulders and arms and words. Nothing much.”

Eunbi can feel her ears heated up at Chaeyeon’s words. Sure, she feels a little bit calmer and starts appreciating Chaeyeon’s soothing scent but she is afraid that the girl might find her annoying. She then excused herself to her bedroom, “T-then, I’ll excuse myself. Have a nice rest and good night. Remember about my conditions!”

“Sure, sure. Good night, Eunbi. If you feel like crying again, just come here and find me. I’ll sing you a lullaby to chase away any nightmares.”

“I-I’m not a child! Hmph!”

She ran towards the stares after sticking out her tongue towards Chaeyeon who let out a hearty laugh. Slamming her door out of her nervous-wreck, Eunbi let out a muffled squeal as she buried herself onto the fluffy bed.

“It’s such a nice feeling, having someone around huh?”

She mumbled to herself before drifting off. For the first time in forever, Eunbi got to sleep peacefully without any worries.

///

A soft groan can be heard from a woman with tousled hair as she is tossing on her bed. Rays of sunlight already peeking inside the room, urging the said woman to leave her bed and start her day. She took her sweet time pushing away her blanket and hugging a piglet plushie while squinting her eyes, looking around with empty stares inside her room.

“Is it a dream?”

She questioned herself while scratching her head, slipping away from the bed while putting on her slides. She almost toppled down a tall vase by the stairs as she tried walking down to check the living room.

Empty.

Eunbi just heave a sigh before chuckling to herself. She just shakes her head before getting back upstairs to have a nice, long bath. Her mind wanders about a certain event as well as a girl with red hair while lathering herself with soaps, “It’s such a realistic dream last night. Chaeyeon huh?”

Somehow, there’s something deflated inside her chest and Eunbi didn’t know how to describe her feelings right now. She just exhaled sharply before drying off her hair and readied herself to go and hunt for some food. Yes, hunt.

Ever since Eunbi secluded herself in the middle of the forest, she had tackled a few basic things to secure her food supplies. This forest is rich with natural resources after all and Eunbi finds it quite pleasant to make things for herself. Sometimes, whenever she had surplus and in need of things which she couldn’t make from scratch, Eunbi would make a visit towards the town about 12 miles from her house. The journey towards there is quite a hassle and thus, Eunbi rarely went there.

“Alright, what should I eat for breakfast.”

She is heading towards her kitchen while thinking about a suitable menu to fill her drumming belly and halted abruptly upon seeing a foreign sight on her table. There’s already a plate of warm food together with a card on it, making Eunbi’s heart race as she reached out for the neatly folded card.

Dear Eunbi,

As per our agreement yesterday, I went out before you woke up and only spent one night here. I thought to repay you somehow with your hospitality and decided that it’s nice to give you a decent breakfast. I hope that you don’t mind I used your kitchen though. I already cleaned up the utensils. Thank you very much for your kindness and I hope that this simple meal will be able to cheer you up. Remember, you are prettier when you smile.

Love,

Chaeyeon

“It’s not a dream.”

Eunbi clenched the simple letter containing such thoughtful words towards her chest. She isn't sure why she felt relieved and happy after reading the letter. It’s as if a part of her hoping that the last night event isn’t just a mere illusion and here, she is overjoyed at the fact it is real. Chaeyeon is real. The warmness she felt is real. Taking a seat at the simple wooden table, Eunbi carefully lifted the food cover and a pleasant, appetizing scent wafted in the air, making water upon smelling Chaeyeon’s cooke