The whole day passed, and not a single word about Sia crossed between them. Ara tried to dig, tried to find a crack in his silence, but failed. Iseul ignored the topic so completely, so grandly, that Ara eventually gave up and changed the subject herself.
For Iseul, the day wasn't exactly a win, but it wasn't a loss either. Ara, though she was a star. Her beauty and that bright personality made her an instant hit. She was already swapping numbers and trading follows on social media. And because a girl that popular was hanging around Iseul, he was pulled into the light with her. People were already gossiping about his "breakup" with Sia. After a strange, busy day, the two of them walked out of the school gates together.
"I'm not going home. I have to head to the academy now," he said, sounding apologetic.
"I figured. But tomorrow, we walk to school together, okay? Wait for me." As she spoke, Ara's eyes caught Noe Sia. Sia's face was half buried in long, messy hair that whipped around in the light breeze. Even looking like a wreck, her height and that wild hair made her stand out like a bruise in the middle of all those students.
Iseul got on the bus and let his eyes roam one last time, looking for her. She was gone. He shook it off.
Other side Ara started her walk home, scrolling through her phone, when her eyes drifted up. A few paces ahead, she saw a familiar back. Tall, slim, tangled hair. Noe Sia.
Ara felt a sudden, weird spark of cheer.
"Sia! Noe Sia! That's your name, right?" She caught up, seeing the shock bloom in Sia's eyes.
"I'm sure your friend wouldn't like you talking to me," Sia said. She sounded so sure, so serious, that Ara couldn't even argue.
"Look, I judge people my own way. And your vibes? They're actually good." Ara gave her shoulder a friendly tap.
"You're wrong if you think you can see people that deeply," Sia said after a beat, her voice cold. She started walking faster.
"My judgment is never wrong," Ara pushed.
"It is this time," Sia snapped.
Iseul's frustration, his sarcasm that was the language Sia knew. This laughing girl, with the scent of lilies and words like sunshine, felt wrong. It felt like a threat. Sia started to feel a crawl of panic.
"Why? What did you do? Murder someone?" Ara laughed, and for a second, a dark, heavy smile cut across Sia's face.
"What if I say 'yes'?"
"Then I'm sure you had a reason." Ara sounded so certain.
Sia almost laughed at the girl's confidence. Big words were easy. If she took this girl to the backyard right now and showed her the body of her father rotting under the dirt, all that "positivity" would vanish in a second.
"Please, just tell me. What's the deal with you and Iseul? A breakup is one thing, but how does a friendship just die like that?" Ara didn't want to believe that people could just stop caring. All her old friends were still hers, even from a distance. They shared everything. Sharing pictures, telling about their day. Choosing dress for each other on group chat.
"The world you live in..... Is different than mine and Iseul's." Sia sounded tired of the talk.
"Then come into mine!" Ara spread her arms, like she was opening a door.
"Can't you smell it? The stench?" Sia changed the subject. She wanted to know why this girl is even trying to talk with her?
"To be honest, yes I can. But it's obvious you don't love yourself.... so you don't care about looking good. I bet you weren't always like this. Didn't you once wear pink dresses and tie your hair in pigtails? Didn't you want to be pretty? Like your mom?" Ara tilted her head. Sia went quit. Her eyes shocked . She had totally forgot about that girl. The one who loved pink, the one who was full of life. The one who want to look pretty.....
"I had a friend once. She was the happiest person I knew. When her dad died, she let herself go. But we brought her back. Trauma can empty a person..." Ara kept talking, but Sia stopped listening.
Ara was a girl of the light. To her, one death was the ultimate tragedy. She would never understand Sia. Sia, whose life was built in the dark. For a second, Sia had actually hoped this girl might see her. But even Iseul, her childhood friend, couldn't see her. At the thought of him, Sia's jaw tightened, but her grey eyes started to swim with tears.
"Hey! Are you crying? I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" Ara saw the tear hit Sia's cheek and panicked.
"Leave me alone, Ara. I don't want your world or your friendship. And stop trusting your judgment so much. You're going to get hurt." Sia stopped and turned on her, her voice sharp and bitter.
Ara shrank back, looking ashamed.
Sia thought she was finally free, but Ara called out again. Sia turned back, looking ready for a fight.
"That..... that's my house. How much further is yours?" Ara pointed, looking embarrassed.
Sia looked at the house, then at Iseul's house right across from it.
"If that's your house, why did you walk so far past it?" Sia was stunned.
"Oh. I didn't notice." Ara smiled sheepishly. Sia was speechless.
Without another word, Sia practically ran away. Behind her, Ara kept shouting, asking where she lived, but Sia didn't look back..
*****
Days flew by.
Partly because of his own looks, and partly because of Ara, Iseul finally had this cool group of friends.
As school life got better, he start liking the school, his interest in studies also increased. His grades went up, and since he was away from Sia, his father finally chilled out. Maybe Mr. Kang was too busy with his girlfriend to breathe down Iseul's neck for once. Suddenly life felt so light. It was the life he had always wanted, the life he thought was gone.
If he'd known that cutting Sia's "cursed shadow" out would bring this much peace, maybe.... Maybe he would have left her a long time ago.
The bad memories felt like old nightmares now. They weren't real anymore and has nothing to do with his real life. Freedom made him confident.
Today he was sitting with his friends, carefree, laughing so hard his voice rang out. That little dimple on his cheek made him look twice as handsome. Everyone felt it.
"Seriously, Iseul! You're so good looking. Why didn't I notice before?" Da-hee sighed, and Iseul blushed.
"I noticed. But he was always so nervous, so... dull. It ruined his face. I hate people with no confidence," Min-ji said, wrinkling her nose. She has her own personality. Too straightforward.
"That Smelly Scrapper was always with him. Like always! Coming school, going back to home... Always, always together. I genuinely thought they were a couple," Do-hyun said. "He was fine, but that girl... she gives me the creeps. That's why I never talked to you too."
Iseul's smile faded. He hated the link with Sia.
"If you don't like someone, fine. But who give you right to bully them ?" Ara snapped. Do-hyun pouted and grabbed his ear in a fake apology, Ara just rolled her eyes.
"And she was your friend," Ara said, looking at Iseul. "Maybe not now, but once. You shouldn't sit there while others trash her. My grandma says you see the truth of a person in how they talk about their past lovers or ex friends. If you were ever close, something must have clicked." She gave him a real scolding.
Ara still didn't like Do-hyun, but he wouldn't leave her alone. And the real truth was, Iseul was starting to disappoint her, too. The more she knew him, the less she like him.
Iseul's face burned red with embracement.
"We were never friends! Maybe as kids... but later, she was just a curse. She wouldn't leave me alone!" He snapped it out, but then the air in the room changed.
He followed their eyes and slammed right into Sia's grey eyes. His heart skipped. The blood drained from his face.
Why was she here? He thought she had let him go. Thet Crowdy Iseul inside him woken up for a second, but he forced himself to look away.
"Anyone got air freshener? This smell is killing me," Do-hyun groaned. Everyone laughed except Ara, Min-ji, and Iseul.
Ara was about to scold him, but Sia's voice, cold as ice, caught everyone's attention.
"Iseul. I need to talk to you."
"I don't want to," He kept his head turned, refusing to look at her.
"Please listen once. It's the last thing I want to say." There was a sound of defeat in her voice. Iseul felt it. For whole two minutes, he stayed silent, calculating every risk, every threat, while feeling the pressure of everyone's gaze.
Then finally, he stood up. He looked her right in the eyes for the first time with confidence, and walked away. Sia crossed her arms over her chest and followed him.
Continue