s i x

“Chorong-ah, let’s go out!”

“No.”

“Let’s watch a movie.”

“No.”

“Have some ice-cream?”

“N – “

“What’s wrong with you?” Na Eun throws a pillow at me. Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she pouts and asks, “Are you okay? These few days you seem...ehh.”

I sigh.

That’s all I’ve been doing. Sighing and looking out the window.

Ever since I lost the locket after the crash, nothing I did seemed right. I’m always feeling restless and uneasy, like a part of me is missing.

I draw my two knees close to my chest and turn my head to face the window. It’s raining. It’s cold. It’s chilly.

It’s empty.

Just like my heart.

Na Eun jumps off the bed and nears me. She hoists herself up the empty space next to me and shoves her face right into my view.

“I think I know what you need!”

I scrunch up my nose and look away. Whenever she has that look on her face, it always doesn’t end up good.

And I’m in no mood to succumb to her various schemes.

Of course she is not going to take a ‘no’ as an answer. Holding my face in both of her hands, she forces me to lock eyes with her.

“You, are going on a date!” she says happily, like it’s the most brilliant idea in the world.

Like it’s going to make any difference in my life.

I open my mouth to decline her, but she pushes her finger against my lips before I could do so.

“You’re not getting away this time. Trust me, Chorong. You need this distraction.”

When I didn’t answer, she continues, “You need to move on Chorong. It’s all in the past. And if he’s really coming back, I’m sure you guys will meet again someday.”

Na Eun is being really careful in not mentioning Suho’s name in front of me. Thoughtful of her, I must say.

But it doesn’t mean it hurts any less.

I sigh again. “But why must I go on a date?”

She pretends to think about it for a moment.

“Hmm...maybe because...you actually need a man in your life right now?”

I shoot her a glare.

“I do not,” I say indignantly.

Like I expected, she just laughs it off. So typical of Son Na Eun.

I narrow my eyes at her. “You’re not setting me up with your brother, are you?”

The image of Na Eun’s tall, handsome, devilish-looking older brother crosses my mind immediately. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with him; in fact, Son Dong Woon is the definition of perfection.

But being with someone so ridiculously attractive seems like such a burden to me.

To my relief, Na Eun shakes her head.

“No, who do you think I am? Setting up my best friend with my own brother? No. Listen, do you remember Hoya? The boy who used to attend the same high school as us.”

My eyebrows furrows together as I try to piece back the memories together. I rack my brain, trying to picture which one was Hoya exactly.

“He had a crush on you, remember? Yet, you turned him down so many times.” Na Eun rolls her eyes. “If I’m not wrong, his real name is Lee Ho Won.”

It finally clicks.

“Ah...” I nod my head, remembering him now. “Yeah...what’s with him?”

Na Eun’s eyes are shining with excitement as she grips on to my two hands tightly.

“I received an email from him a few days ago. Apparently, he had just returned to Seoul a few weeks ago.”

“So?”

“So...” she says pointedly. “...knowing how close we both are, he asked me about you. How you’re doing, and if you’re seeing anyone now...”

I snort. “I didn’t know you guys actually keep in touch with each other.”

“That’s not the point! Can’t you see it? He’s still interested in you!”

“If you’re so keen on it, why not you go out with him instead?”

At this, Na Eun’s gaze drops to the floor as she shifts around uncomfortably. “I can’t...”

I frown. “You can’t?”

“Chorong, stop it!” she cries out. “I’m not talking about me here, it’s you. And Hoya’s interested in you. So will you please, at least give it a chance?”

I look at her from the corner of my eye. “You’re not dropping this, are you?”

“Nope!”

Letting out an exasperated sigh, I say,

“Fine. Just one date.”