Seulgi loved the color of the sky when the sun was just about to rise. The shades of deep blue mixed with hints of purple and a sprinkle of silver when the sky is clear and the stars are there to make it more mesmerizing.
It reminds her of the color of the sea before night time kicks in.
But this time, she's seeing different shades of gray colliding with that ocean dark blue sky. It was indeed a winter dawn that is slowly crippling at the landscape before her.
It was beautiful, a little too cold for her liking, but it was still exceptional. After all, she has her cup of smoking hot tea to keep her company on this freezing balcony.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the siren alarm set by the campers in her spare room. There were audible whines and complaints from that room so Seulgi took it as her cue to go inside, close the balcony and curtains to check on her friends.
"Don't let me drag you out of that ugly blanket, Ju Yeri." Kyung's warning was the first line that she heard as soon as she opened the door.
Seulgi muttered a 'good morning' that was acknowledged by Kyung with a nod.
"Get the fuck out of the bed and let me sleep." The girl buried under the pillow shouted, and it's apparent to them that Yeri is not a morning person.
"It's fine, Kyung, go and get some rest." Seulgi said with a small smile. "It's quite early and the sun hasn't come out yet."
And before Kyung could give a reply, a flying pillow landed on Kyung. "You dumb ass," Yeri shouted, "why the hell are you setting the alarm this early?!"
"Do you have a death wish?!"
That is how Kyung and Yeri started a not-so-friendly wrestling and pillow fight, to which Seulgi had no business joining at that time.
"So... you two seem okay, I'll let you know when it's time to leave." The latter said before closing the door. She wasn't sure if any of them heard but clearly, what she said wasn't their priority at this time.
Ever since she moved in alone last week with the help of her stepmother, this apartment wasn't this noisy. But on a special occasion like this day, Kyung and Yeri insist on a sleepover so they can all anticipate the results.
Seulgi fished out her phone from her pocket and checked at the time. Of course, it's just 5 minutes past 5 in the morning, no wonder Yeri was going ballistic towards Kyung.
Her focus slowly drifted to the 'Korea University' keychain dangling at her phone. Seulgi kept fiddling it like a charm.
She slumped her back on the couch and sighed.
'This would be a hard day to go through.' She thought as she zoned out, staring at the ceiling like it had all the answers to her questions.
***
The three of them were in line going down the stairs of the complex building and Yeri, as always, was the first one to break the silence.
"Who's driving?" She asked, earning a glare from Kyung.
"Okay, I'm going to use my age card here." Kyung answered first. "And hey, it's Seulgi's day, you drive."
Yeri scoffed and grabbed the keys from Kyung's hand hastily. "Ugh fine, I'm doing this for our star student here."
That comment made Seulgi's unreadable expression lighter and smiled at Yeri. "I'll take that as a compliment, I appreciate that."
"It's a long ride, but since all of us can drive, we can take turns," Kyung offered, "I'll drive us back to Gangnam tomorrow, for now, let's go and get the results, okay?"
As soon as they got an agreement, all of them walked their way towards Kyung's car with Yeri in the driver's seat, Kyung in the shotgun, while Seulgi was in the backseat behind Yeri's seat.
It was a quiet ride for a few minutes or maybe it was Seulgi's attention elsewhere as Kyung and Yeri were talking about something that Seulgi can't really sink in her mind.
"Seulgi, are you alright?" Kyung asked with her tone trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
The latter was once again dragged back to reality and glanced back at Kyung who's waiting for her response. She nodded with a weak smile.
Seulgi knew that won't convince Kyung but that was the least that she could do. Before anyone could do any follow-ups, Yeri turned off the engine and Seulgi took it as an opportunity to divert their attention.
"You both can stay here, I can get the result alone." Seulgi said as she took off her seatbelt.
"Oh, don't bother," Kyung gestured, making her pause for a second, "to avoid any spoilers, we already arranged this one for you, just wait."
Seulgi couldn't help but hum in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Yeri just let out a soft laugh. "Oh you know these schools, they can't keep their mouths shut. If you ace this exam, they'll spoil it for us and we'll be swarmed with those annoying reporters." The older girl answered.
Right. Knowing the controversy from last year, for sure, Seulgi being bombarded and getting attention from the media once again would be the last thing that she'd like to handle, especially today.
Just right on time, someone knocked at Kyung's window. It was their former homeroom teacher.
"It's good to see you again, Choi Kyung." The woman greeted her when Kyung rolled down her window.
"Glad to see you too, Miss Kim." Kyung greeted her back.
Their former teacher gave them a welcoming smile as she roamed her eyes around the car to greet the other. "Good day, Ju Yeri, you looked more beautiful compared to the last time I saw you."
Yeri bowed and flashed a smile for the compliment given to her. "Thank you, you look good as well, Miss."
The woman nodded in acknowledgement and once her eyes met Seulgi's, her jaw contracted for a moment before greeting her with a small smile.
"Woo Seulgi," the teacher called, "I'm rooting for you. I wish you all the best, especially today."
"Thank you." Seulgi replied short with a bow.
"Now here, as promised." Their teacher handed out a small envelope to which Kyung accepted. "And don't worry, you were never here. No one saw you."
Fortunately, after a few exchanges of thank yous, good lucks, and goodbyes, the teacher was right; no news reporters or staff were seen lurking at the back entrance at Chaehwa's campus so they made it out with ease.
"Here." Kyung gave her the envelope and a blanket that she stashed in her backpack.
"What's the blanket for?" Seulgi asked the moment she received both from Kyung.
"Dummy, of course, it's for you." The latter answered with a mixture of concern and sarcasm. "It's a long ride and I know you didn't sleep that much so rest up. Let us handle the rest of the trip."
Seulgi gently grasped at the envelope and blanket. "Thanks, just wake me up when we arrive." She softly replied and wrapped herself with the blanket.
With one last look at the envelope, she tucked it in the back pocket of her cardigan and leaned her head at the backrest. She really can't help but feel gloomy and tired today, knowing that today marks a year after Jaeyi's disappearance and everyone's eyes are still on them.
She unconsciously fiddled the 'Korea University' keychain hanging on her phone and took a deep breath. No doubt that the one who gave her this gift was alive but still, Seulgi just wished that person was here with them.
Seulgi can't remember when she fell asleep but she felt light shakes on her shoulder. Once she slightly opened her eyes, she saw Kyung on the other side of the passenger door.
"We're here." Kyung said softly. "We already brought all the bags to the hotel room, shall we go now?"
"Thanks," Seulgi answered with a small smile and did some light stretches, "are you sure you guys don't want to rest up first?"
"Of course we're okay, this is nothing. We want to be here too." Yeri cheerfully said that somehow, helped Seulgi's worries to fade away.
Seulgi was about to fold the blanket when Yeri, who's now on her side of the door, grabbed it and folded the blanket for her.
"It's your day." The older girl whispered as she gave Seulgi a playful wink.
She just chuckled and went out to the other side, then Seulgi heard Kyung sighed.
"I just wish we could bring Jeyoon too. Mom said he's not too fond of travelling yet." Kyung mentioned.
Seulgi glanced at the two women and saw both of their reactions the moment Jeyoon was mentioned. "Let's come back here soon." She said as she flashed a smile to them.
"Some other time, we'll be complete soon, I promise." Seulgi ended her words and tapped Kyung's shoulder before passing by in front of her.
The three of them started to walk as they strolled in the province where Seulgi grew up. They all planned to meet up today in support of Seulgi knowing her CSAT results. Kyung and Yeri knew how important this day was for them and how they vowed to meet up on this day for the next years to come.
Seulgi requested for the three of them to visit a famous tourist spot before she opens the envelope. Since that bridge is not too far from the place that they're staying at, the three of them are enjoying the peaceful surroundings as they huff and puff through this cold afternoon air blowing from the seaside. At least it's not a snowy day because otherwise, they would hear Yeri's non-stop nagging about the weather.
After they passed by some stores and the parking lot, from a few meters away, she saw this surreal view like it was out of a postcard. Seulgi has been here a few times when she was in middle school but right now, it feels like she's seeing it for the first time.
"Wow, this is like straight out of a pamphlet that we saw." Yeri said with fascination and her eyes sparkling with amazement.
Kyung took a glance at Yeri before letting out a scoff. "You look like a kid seeing a rollercoaster for the first time." She commented, earning a playful punch from Yeri on her shoulder.
Seulgi just watched them pull each other's scarves and chase one another and she couldn't help but smile and follow the two who started to pursue each other and run towards the other end of the bridge.
Kyung was about to grab Yeri as they got close to the end near the observatory when she tripped into something that made her squeal. She regained her balance in a quick second, but that didn't stop Yeri from laughing.
"You're laughing?!" She asked while clearly controlling her tone and yet, Yeri just kept going on. When Kyung turns her head back, she also sees Seulgi, who actually has her phone on video mode and is also laughing along.
"Delete that." Kyung ordered, keeping her voice low to intimidate Seulgi but of course, the latter didn't budge.
Now it was a chasing match with Yeri helping Seulgi escape and Kyung just running everywhere. "Stop, I was just taking a video of the scenery, I swear." Seulgi reasoned out between her breaths.
After a minute, Kyung already raised her hand in defeat and gestured to them, conceding. They leaned at the curbing of the bridge and let everyone catch their breath for a while. Kyung was standing across Yeri and Seulgi, resting at the other side of the bridge.
"Well, that was fun." Yeri commented when she's done with their short break. She took a glance at Seulgi who's still catching her breath, then at Kyung who currently has her gaze at the ground with her pursed lips.
"Kyungie-ah, are you okay?" She asked.
That seems to catch Kyung's attention, since both Seulgi and Yeri's eyes are now on her. "Me? I don't know. Maybe I'm just trying a little too hard this day since, you know, today is..." Kyung paused for a second and looked at Seulgi who averted her eyes somewhere else.
"I know all four of us weren't the closest before but I'm really glad that we spent a year getting to know each other well and made it together." Kyung continued.
"Me too." Seulgi whispered. Thankfully, it's only them and the crashing of the waves are there to make a sound.
Yeri wrapped her arms around Seulgi's shoulder and gave her a side hug. "Cheer up class monitor, you two will also make it in Korea University and you'll watch me on TV as it happens, right?"
Finally, they heard Seulgi's light chuckles while Kyung just scoffed at Yeri in disbelief.
Yeri has been rambling to Seulgi about how her seniors at the company are all welcoming and her acting classes were fun.
Kyung just watched them in silence when her phone vibrated, notifying her about a message coming from her mom. This made her interrupt the two from their conversation.
"Seulgi," she called, "a-actually... Mom called me earlier. She was with your stepmom earlier and they found another body and they were asking us if we wanted to go there once we got back to Seoul."
Now both of their attention are on Seulgi, with Yeri wrapping her arm around the girl's shoulder again.
"Do you want us to go there tomorrow after our trip here?" The older among the three asked and before Seulgi could answer, the girl let out a sigh that was visible to their sight.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. We all know how that would turn out, right?"
"Yeah," Kyung answered with a deep sigh too, "I just, I wished that somewhere out there, Jaeyi is safe and dry and not at the bottom of..."
With that silence, Seulgi took the opportunity to observe their reactions. Kyung looks genuinely sad and down while she notices that Yeri just let out a deep sigh too with her weary eyes.
Seulgi was contemplating on whether or not she'll tell them about the gift that she received a few weeks ago. While she was still pondering about it, her thoughts got cut off when she heard Kyung speak once more.
"I've been seeing Jaeyi's annoying face, beating me in everything for years, yet there's this weird feeling in me, especially now that I have a closure of this half decade-long contest that I have with Jaeyi , it sucks that she's not here."
After Kyung shared her sentiments, Yeri went to the other side of the bridge, beside Kyung, and playfully pushed her with her shoulder before finding the other girl's hand for her to hold.
Suddenly, Yeri spoke with a mellow tone. "You three could've been my three musketeers," she said without any changes to her facial expression, "just imagine the things that we can do."
As if it was rehearsed, the three of them bursted out laughing in unison, with a side comment from Kyung. "What the hell are you up to?"
"I want my own Yeri's angels but that's impossible now, since you two alone are dumb and dumber when you're not at school." Yeri retaliated while still in her playful nature.
Seulgi couldn't help but speak out her mind while watching the two bicker.
"You know what, if we are dumb and dumber, you two look like a divorced couple."
"Hey Woo Seulgi," Kyung's threatening tone was once again used, "do you want me to end you right now?"
Yeri just shrugged it off and teased Kyung who just gave Seulgi the finger but earned a flick on the forehead from Yeri.
"Are you denying me as your wife? I'm this pretty so you should feel lucky." Yeri complained and of course that started another bickering from the two.
Seulgi just shook her head while chuckling. While the two were busy, she turned her back at them and took a moment to glance at the surroundings.
She decided to hop and climb at the curbing of the bridge and it seems like that caught the attention of the two.
"What are you doing?" Kyung asked as she watched Seulgi dust her winter trousers.
Once Seulgi was done, she took the envelope from the back pocket of her cardigan and showed it to them. "I just want to have a good look at the sea from here before this."
Seulgi dropped her head low and glanced at the envelope at her hand as she brushed her thumb at the print stating her name.
"Need some more time there, Ace Seulgi?" It was Yeri's turn to check on her.
Seulgi took a glance at her and sent a reassuring smile. "Yes, I just need a minute."
She stood up from her spot and turned her back at them once again. She is again facing the sea while its waves crashed at the rocks, the cold winter wind is still blowing, but it was gentle to them this time, and how the afternoon sky compliments the shade of blue that the sea emits as they meet at the horizon.
Seulgi is once again reminded of the shade of blue that she loved so much.
'It's just like how she and Jaeyi like it.'
This thought alone just gave her the nostalgia, the same feeling of being in the same room with that one person she had been longing for a year. Somehow, the thought alone made her smile.
The moment was disrupted by a warning from Kyung. "You better not jump there." Hearing that made her chuckle in silence, but that didn't stop Kyung from her warning.
"Woo Seulgi, I swear-"
"I won't, I promise." Seulgi answered after laughing off her warnings, "I just need the air."
Seulgi glanced up one more time at the sky as she let out a sigh and that visible breath coming out of her can be seen by the two women.
With her slightly trembling hands, she started to rip the envelope open slowly. Every second, her fingers feel like freezing, but it was not due to the weather. Still, she managed to take out the paper and hid the envelope in her pocket.
The folded paper on her hands holds a confirmation of where this path will lead her to. She unfold the paper and scanned the results.
And as soon as she saw the score, her tears started well up and her vision became blurry due to it. When Yeri and Kyung noticed this, they took a few steps closer and checked on her.
"Seulgi?" Yeri called but all they could hear was her silent sobbing.
Kyung leaned in to whisper at Yeri after peeking at Seulgi. "I'm sure she passed, is this the best time to congratulate her?"
Yeri just shrugged as she began to look worried at their friend.
"Go hug her." Kyung motioned and nudged Yeri but the woman swatted away Kyung's elbow.
"Why me?" Yeri hastily whispered.
"Because you're taller, idiot."
Yeri can't help but glare at the girl beside her and scolded her a little too loud for a whisper. "Stupid, she can lean on you too, you know."
"Let's just both go." Kyung just pulled Yeri and went near Seulgi, who's now sitting at the edge of the curb, still facing the sea, with her quiet sobbing.
As soon as they were near her, Kyung called her softly to not startle the girl. "Seulgi, what happened? What was the result?"
Since there was no answer, Yeri took the initiative to hop up and climb the curb to sit beside Seulgi.
"You okay?" Yeri asked this time and instead of an answer, Seulgi handed out the paper to Yeri.
It only took Yeri a few seconds before she fully got what Seulgi's result was like. Yeri already expected this result but to see it in person was very surprising.
"Seulgi... you got a perfect score!" Yeri exclaimed and gave her a hug. "I'm so proud of you!"
With Seulgi still crying in her arms, she gestured to Kyung to sit with them and showed her the result, to which Kyung obliged without hesitation.
Kyung sat beside Seulgi on her left and read the results herself. Knowing Seulgi's hardship from last year up to this day, she let out this proud grin. "Wow, hello to you, my future schoolmate, as expected from Woo Seulgi." She ruffled Seulgi's hair playfully and hung her arms at Seulgi's shoulder.
Yeri, knowing how Kyung is stubborn to these types of things, pulled Kyung's arms to a group hug. After a few seconds, Kyung and Yeri pulled away, with Yeri drying up Seulgi's tears with her handkerchief.
Once everyone had settled down, Seulgi saw her Korea University keychain again and started to caress her phone's keychain and mumbled "I did it." She said with a sad tone.
"You did well, Seulgi." Kyung comforted her as she tapped Seulgi's shoulder.
"You are Woo Seulgi, of course you did really well." Yeri added.
Seulgi finally lifted her head and glanced at the two women beside her with a smile. "Thank you, really."
Then, Seulgi gazed at the sea with evident longing and sadness in it. "I wish Jaeyi knew."
"I know, me too." Kyung whispered to her before playfully ruffling Seulgi's hair again "We'll be here on behalf of Jaeyi and Jeyoon, okay?"
Before Seulgi can even agree, Yeri was all hyped up to lighten the mood "Right, but I represent Jaeyi and that is your Jeyoon."
Kyung slipped her hand near Seulgi's back and again, gave her the finger. "Bitch." She muttered.
Yeri leaned at the back of Seulgi's head to whisper back to Kyung. "Stop cursing, this is Seulgi's moment."
"Fine." Kyung replied in defeat before Yeri patted her head. "Stop patting me in the head!"
Seulgi let out a laugh. "Please tell me you guys are not gonna fight again." She commented, to which they reacted by bowing their heads like scolded children.
Once they were settled down peacefully, Seulgi nudged them both. "I really really appreciate you two for being with me today, I know I've been saying thanks all throughout the day but I'd really like to express my gratitude for being here with me."
Yeri smiled back at Seulgi and rubbed her back. "We'll be here with you, we'll support each other all the way." She said before he stood up.
"Now, let's go down here, it's freezing up here."
Now, they're back at the bridge, Kyung notices how Seulgi's eyes are still gazing back at the sea.
"Now, I have an idea, come here." Kyung then pulled Seulgi's arm and dragged her to the shed. "Go on, let it out. It's just you, us, and the sea."
"What..?" Seulgi asked with pure confusion.
"Shout it out, here, I'll give you an example." Kyung said as she breathed in, and with her hands on the handrails, she started to shout. "I'll be the greatest lawyer from Korea University!"
Kyung noticed that both of them were silent so she pulled Yeri beside her and gestured at her. "Your turn?"
First, she flipped her hair, making sure that they weren't blocking her face before shouting along with Kyung. "I'll be on everyone's screen soon and will be fucking rich!"
Thankfully for them, some bystanders just arrived by then and they're still at the other end of the bridge so Yeri held Seulgi's hand to have her near the handrails "Go on before they get near us."
Seulgi cleared her throat and awkwardly fiddled the hem of her sweater. "So I just shout?" She mumbled.
Kyung nodded strongly. "Yeah and you would feel great if you would add a curse too."
"I don't think that's a good idea, we're not alone now." The woman shyly reasoned out.
"All the more reasons for you to do it now before they get too close." Yeri said and encouraged her. "So go, just inhale, hold it in, and shout."
As per Yeri's instructions, Seulgi breathed in deeply, closed her eyes, then shouted loudly but not too loud. "I'll be a great doctor soon!"
The two girls cheered loudly. "More!"
"Right, you're number 1 this year and that's a big deal, so make it louder too, don't hold back." Yeri added.
Seulgi shyly held her nape and chuckled lightly. "I can't, I don't really feel like bragging."
Kyung just scoffed upon hearing Seulgi's innocent response. "To be fair, Seulgi is not arrogant like you." The woman responded right after.
"Hey, that's not being arrogant, it's being proud of your achievement."
That started another friendly fight and since this has been their nature, Seulgi has gotten used to it. She took this opportunity to lean her back at the handrail and watched other people walking by along the bridge. There were a few couples taking pictures of one another, some children running and playing tag and one of them was skateboarding too.
The sight was pleasing to see for Seulgi and somehow, seeing things related to Jaeyi only makes her smile slowly fade.
"Shut up now." Kyung scolded for the last time as she nudged Yeri, giving her a sign to look at Seulgi who's still spacing out to a direction where they see this kid with a skateboard
Yeri stood beside Seulgi and let out a sigh. "You miss her. We know."
"If you want to shout that out, you can do so too." Hearing what Kyung said just made Yeri crease her eyebrows.
Seulgi just formed a small smile. "I'll be fine you two, there's no need to-"
"Come on, we're here to destress, get it off your chest."
Kyung cut her off, and still earned a pinch on her waist from Yeri. "You and your stupid idea." The latter muttered but Kyung ignored her.
"Come with me." Kyung, again, pulled Seulgi away and they both went at the very end of the bridge and stopped just before the stairs.
The only view that they could see was the sky, with a little bit of the sun peeking from the clouds, and the deep sea, neither the shore nor the trees can be seen from this spot.
"Let everything out. If you're sad or angry, just shout it out." Kyung whispered, then distanced herself to give her some space.
Yeri was about to follow but Kyung stopped her from her tracks. "Let her be." She simply said.
The two went back to the shed once again, leaving Seulgi on that spot.
At first, Seulgi didn't even know what to do but there's just this feeling inside her that feels heavy. So she gave it another go.
Inhaling, holding, then she let out a very loud shout. No words, just letting her throat create a loud sound.
And she did it again.
After two shouts, she noticed trails of tears rolling at her cheeks continuously but she just let it be.
Letting go of the handrail, she placed her hands near the corner of her lips and shouted, this time, with words.
"Jaeyi, you were right." Seulgi started and paused to get more air.
"Thank you so much." She added, still shouting. "You believed in me when I failed to believe in myself."
Her throat started to give up but she still continued, even if she's the only one who can hear it. "We're alright and I hope that you are too." Seulgi spoke weakly.
She let her arms drop as she was caught up with this sadness again. She silently sobbed, putting her energy in holding at the handrails as her knees started to quiver.
With her head hanging low, she once again got a glimpse of the keychain dangling out from her pocket. Her hand let go of the handrail and brushed her fingers at that stainless material.
As if the blowing wind had some magic in it, Seulgi said her promise through a whisper. "I'll make sure that you'll be completely free and I'll run towards you, I promise."
Seulgi fished her phone from her pocket then placed the keychain at her palm before closing her hands to a fist.
Letting her hands near her chest, she closed her eyes and just let the wind blow. Maybe this time, she can let the wind carry this promise along her way.
"Yoo Jaeyi!" A little startled, Seulgi saw Kyung beside her who was now shouting. "Please tell Jeyoon to stop sleeping under the bed! He's giving me a heart attack and it will be the death of me, okay?"
"Jaeyi! Your Jena unnie misses you!" Now Yeri shouted a little too loud for Seulgi's left ear. "And obviously, my dear friend Seulgi too!"
The two chuckled and of course, Yeri wipes Seulgi's tears, making Seulgi's smile wider
"I miss your annoying face, Yoo Jaeyi. Let's go to a proper club, it was your birthday recently!" Kyung still continued the game, now Yeri went near the edge of the handrail and looked down.
"Hey, Yoo Jaeyi!" Silly as it sounds, Yeri hollered loudly. "You better swim back to us or else I'm stealing Seulgi."
Kyung playfully pushed Yeri forward. "Hey, what the hell are you saying?"
"It's called rage bait, stupid." Yeri argued while Seulgi just laughed while watching them. "I'm making her swim up."
"I said stop calling me stupid, I'm a future lawyer." After Kyung's small outburst, the two once again chased each other with Kyung outrunning Yeri.
As Seulgi watched them from a distance, she noticed how she's just smiling this time. Surprisingly, Kyung and Yeri were right that shouting did help and that heaviness somehow became a little lighter to carry.
She glanced back at the sea and the horizon before her for the last time before catching up to her bickering duo.
Seulgi noticed how the two chasing each other and shouting might look different from a bystander's perspective because the bridge was almost wiped out.
Now's the right time to meddle before they get reported or be possibly banned from this place.
"You two, stop that." Seulgi interrupted Yeri's attempt to hold both of Kyung's wrists at her back.
With Seulgi grabbing Yeri's wrist on her left and Kyung's wrist on her right, she just dragged them away and started walking back to the seaside. "Let's go to that cafe, you guys are driving away the locals."
***
Now that the group is back in Seoul, they have unanimously decided that they are not coming to the morgue and went straight up home.
"Did you get your things?" Kyung asked after Seulgi closed the trunk of the car.
Seulgi nodded the moment she's facing Kyung who's still seated at the driver's seat. "Yeah, all here."
"Good, take care, okay? I'll help you with the upcoming enrollment and I'll give you a tour afterwards." The woman answered as she fastened her seatbelt again.
"I'll look forward to that." Seulgi replied with a smile. "Thank you for the ride. Make sure to take care of Yeri."
Just then, Kyung noticed how Seulgi's smile turned into this teasing grin with the mention of the sleeping girl at the backseat. "I'll poke your eyes, stop that." She warned the now giggling Seulgi.
"Say thank you to Yeri later for me, I don't want to wake her up now." Seulgi continued with her wide grin.
"Stop smiling like that! Fine, fine, now go away." Kyung shooed her away and Seulgi gestured to keep quiet and pointed at Yeri who was still sleeping.
As a response, Kyung just gave her the finger before closing the window.
"Bye, drive safe!" Seulgi followed up before the window fully closed. The woman just smiled and waved her hand before driving off.
Once Kyung's car was out of sight, Seulgi started to walk up the stairs, stopped at the third floor and went inside her unit.
Just before she can take off her shoes, she sees this scarlet red envelope on the floor and something about it feels like a deja vu.
Seulgi picked up the envelope and it was never sealed shut so it already showed a black paper and glued to it was a colorful cutout of letters from a book, newspaper, and magazine, based on its texture.
She took the paper out to read out what it said.
'Do you want to play?'
Seeing this message made her shove the paper back in and kept it in her back pocket.
Seulgi already saw this coming. Indeed, it is not over until it's over.
*****
The pastels of yellow, orange, and blue are spread out the sky while the sunset meets with the horizon created by the sea; this landscape serves as a breath-taking view of this two-storey house from the back windows.
Beautiful. Breath-taking.
It was almost the afternoon view everyday under this roof and seeing this for almost a year was somehow healing.
Usually, the music from the turntable would be the only sound inside the house, but now, it's just the sizzle from the pan, clash of the wooden spatula with the ceramic, and nothing else.
It was that type of silence until the sound of raspy rattle of skateboard wheels rolling at the pavement and multiple footsteps can be heard from a distance. Nothing alarming since those light footsteps matched with high-pitched laughing was already familiar enough.
Two grade school girls burst into the front door, with the short, messy-haired one leading the supposed race that they're having.
"Unnie, we're here!" The short-haired girl greeted the moment she stepped on the dining area.
A few seconds later, the other girl with these neat pigtail braids came huffing while wearing this annoyed expression.
"Haesoo unnie, Ryujinnie cheated again!" The other girl complained but the latter just kept a smug face.
The woman cooking in the kitchen turned off the stove and checked on the bickering girls.
"Girls, calm down now." The woman gently said.
With a pouting face, the short-haired girl named Ryujin mumbled her response. "It's now my fault that you're a sore loser."
The woman could only smile "Ryujin-ah, stop teasing Jimin please." She reminded the girl with this soothing tone that actually worked in making both of them behave.
The woman first washed her hands and while drying it with her cloth towel, she went to the girls sitting at her dining chair and kneel down.
"Thank you for listening well," the woman tucked the Ryujin's hair behind her ear with a smile, "now, how was the afternoon stroll at the port?" She asked while glancing at the two.
Ryujin grinned wide. "It was fun, there are some weird people playing at your favorite spot."
The woman hummed in curiosity and took the small comb peeking at Ryujin's jumper pocket. "What makes you say that?"
The woman continuously combed the girl's hair as she listened to their stories.
"One of them was crying, then they were shouting at the sea, then laughing afterwards." The other girl, Jimin, started to set the plates and answered the question.
"That's right, and the two girls started to hit each other out of nowhere like this." With Ryujin's dramatic reenactment and Jimin laughing at her friend's exaggerated expression.
"Maybe that was just playful hits, but shouting? I admit that is weird." The woman commented.
She stood up and complemented Jimin's effort in helping her set up the table with her ears still focused on their story.
"Jiminie was startled because we thought they were calling us so we went near-"
The older woman paused while preparing the cooked food and interrupted her little narrator. "You went near the shouting strangers?"
Jimin knew that the woman's tone was full of concern so she answered with reassurance. "It's okay unnie, we were careful. And also, they looked like college tourists from Seoul."
"Alright, but still, never do that again, okay?"
The two nodded upon hearing that and even though with that reminder, of course that didn't stop their narrator from telling her story.
"Don't worry Haesoo unnie, they seem safe, especially the crying one, the other girl looks pretty like a Disney princess then the other one with the glasses looks mean but fun." Ryujin described the suspected tourist with gestures and somehow, they're back to watching her charades.
Jimin giggled upon seeing Ryujin's expressive act."Right, they kept shouting names of people."
The woman nodded, smiled, and watched the two attentively. She finally finished the preparations and placed the side dishes, fried rice, and the seaweed soup she made. "Names huh? What names?" She said as she's setting the utensils for each plate.
Ryujin thought for a second before replying. "I thought the names were Jiminnie or Ryujinnie but maybe they're shouting for someone named Jay."
The woman was on her last set of utensils but hearing this information made her freeze.
"Haesoo unnie, are you alright?" Jimin asked.
The woman recovered quickly and nodded with a smile. "Yes, now stay here, okay?"
Ryujin and Jimin watched the woman run up to her room and waited with anticipation. "Unnie, what are you doing?" The short-haired one asked.
The woman went down, wearing her jacket, scarf, with her skateboard being held by her left hand. "I'll just buy something, don't open the door, unless it's me, okay?"
"Okay!" The two said in unison.
Before the woman shut the door, she retracted her steps and grabbed her keys. "Jiminie, Ryujin-ah, you can start eating without me, I'll be out quickly."
After the doors were locked, the woman started to position her skateboard and with her right foot forward, she started kicking the pavement with her left and she was gliding.
With the hood of her jacket sliding down, the wind was starting to blow her scarf and her medium length hair flowing along.
Within a few minutes of kicking and swerving at the road, she finally saw the bridge from afar and started to slightly slow down.
Before she could take a left turn, she had to do a full stop when she saw three women coming out of a nearby store.
The trio were laughing and saw the short-haired one push the taller girl and watching them made the woman smile.
The girls were right about their descriptions but her eyes shifted towards the other woman.
After a few seconds of just watching this group from a distance, she slightly grinned more before she decided to redirect her skateboard and went back to her place.
Just before she was completely gone out of sight, one of the women from that trio glanced back to where the woman was standing earlier and saw a figure from a distance but unfortunately, now that the sun has set, just a minute ago, it was gone before she knew it.
"Seulgi, you okay?" Yeri asked.
The woman faced the latter, flashed a small smile, and nodded. "Yeah, let's just go."