"Yeah yeah, shout more, should I bring a mic and sound box for you? Let everyone know in the whole department and the neighbor building too! sell my cheap name just like that!"
By the time Newmoon had reached his place, his body was more stiff and straight kind of like a robotics one.
Looking around he rests assured,
"Thank god, There aren't many students here!"
Unconsciously, due to the silent nature, all of sudden Newmoon's head turned towards April itself.
She was concentrating on some stuff of her own.
"…"
Her long majestic hair was tied by the loose white ribbon, with a few long strands of hair flattered around her forehead. A messy look but at the same didn't look like it too!
Somehow, she looked much more pretty when she don't speak..?
"What the-
Without realizing Newmoon had been saying some stuff in his head.
He quickly returned his head to his original place.
At the same time, once again a sweet Caroline fragrance woke the dead spirits of Newmoon. He closed his eyes.
"…hmm. Haa!"
This time he finds his head being turned at haemin.
At a moment he opened his eyes, he saw haemin was staring at him with puzzled eyes.
"…"
That was the moment when he knew he royally fucked up.
What lame excuses could he use there?
Says he smells nice?
But the Newmoon's impression didn't match the words anymore. It would be better If he kept his eyes open. At least he would appear normal. But no!
No matter what, he ended up looking up a creep from whichever angle!
Wait, no he already seems one!
Newmoon didn't know whether to cry or laugh.
He just cursed himself the whole time and wanted to be buried in the underground.
In the end, he just smiled and pretended to act normal while yawning, stretching, and closing his eyes again!
He wanted to show he was stretching as he closes his eyes.
"Lame lame lame..I want to die…I want to die..Fu*k..Fu*k..Fu*k!!"
There he crossed every boundary of being shameless.
Haemin,"…"
While haemin too turned around with a silent expression, Newmoon covered his arms around his head and mumbled under his breath,
"They said, the First impression is the last. And look at me, I f**ked up it up."
Technically, he fucked up a few times.
"On the left, He must think I am some weird, creepy one, While on right, there is No way she is normal."
"HUHU. I just wanted a normal peaceful college life but no-! I am crushed between these two!"
~~~
Lectures finished. Everybody starts to get out except those who still wanted to steal the glance of their crush one pretended to slow down knowingly.
Just when Newmoon was about to get up too, his way got blocked out by none other than April.
"Sumbae, let's go together."
Newmoon,"???"
Taking jokes aside, Newmoon's patience was losing up. She was getting on his nerves now. Newmoon was indeed a cool, temperament guy but everything has its limits and boundaries.
He glared and asked in a cold tone,
"Did I offend you in any way by chance?"
April shook her head.
Wrinkling brows Newmoon exclaimed,
"Then stay away from me!"
"Woah look at them! Only one day has passed and we were already seeing a love quarrel huh? Not bad! Not bad!"
Some of the girls sitting over the haemin side commented on them!
"Watch your mouth!"
Newmoon slammed in a chilling tone looking back at them.
Haemin who was about to get up got halted too, "..."
"…"
Along with him all the surrounded girls too got pin-drop silent.
Turning around, Newmoon moved forward cautioning April,
"Stay AWAY from me!"
April,"…"
~~~
*BEEP*BEEP*
"Here is your change please!"
The Lady receptionist answered!
Newmoon bought several soju bottles as well as large calories of junk food too!
"Are you a new part-timer here?"
"Yes!"
"Then, that tall noona who used to work here before-
"- Oh she left it. Now I am a worker here."
"Ohh!"
Slightly nodding off as showing a way to appreciate her explanation, he went out.
"umm...That's why I didn't see her often. I wonder where she went off too!
Instead, he never came out frequently so he didn't know! It's all about the satisfaction of his heart.
He walked along the lane following the footpath.
When a sudden memory of somebody made him stop on the spot.
It was haemin's expressionless expression.
He clenched his fists and punch the wall behind him.
"Sh*t! Why is it him? As if I haven't embarrassed myself enough to a point that, i-
He punched another one unknowingly. Now that he had cool down he began to recall the conscious memory.
"And what about cringe word, ' Watch your mouth'?"
The tone he was mimicking through his gritted teeth. Clearly shows how regretful he was.
"I always make myself a fool wherever I go!"
He stepped forward as his thoughts began to whirlwind around like crazy.
And what about April.
He still remembered the last expression of April where she was lost in her words. pitiful eyes slightly filled with fear and terror too.
Now he starts to feel remorse.
Amid a tornado going on over his head, He reached home.
As soon as he entered, he followed his daily routine. That plopping over the bed.
Yes! You heard it right.
Saying that Newmoon had an enormous amount of talent too.
One of them is,
"UGhh~ I am so tired!"
Feeling tired without doing anything is one of his ultimate natural talents.
He faces towards the ceiling,
"I always speak something that I will regret later on!- that's why I prefer to stay silent."
The pitiful little eyes of April and the blank face of haemin were constantly dancing in his head.
"Gosh!"
In the peak of agitation, Newmoon took out her phone and began to scroll down her contacts.
"I feel lonely out of a sudden.! why does nobody calls me when I m free, dying from boredom?"
Newmoon always suffers from loneliness. It's just that he wasn't aware of it at all.
He reached the call log. He dialed Mr. foodie without wasting time thinking.
"Yea..hello Newmoon! what's up?"
"Nothing much. what about you? Earlier at the bus st-
Before he could complete his words a long creech, and annoying background noises hit his ear.
"He..llo, Newmoon, Right now I am at the supermarket with my noona! Tonight, we are going to make a variety of seafood! Because of our mother and father's 30th anniversary! That results in...we are gonna be super busy tonight, bro!"
Newmoon,"…"
The only word that escaped through Newmoon's mouth was,
"Oh ok!"
"Anyway, is there something you wanna talk about? I mean something important?"
Although Newmoon's face clearly shows every cloud of disappointment still he pretended to remain calm,
"Nah. Nothing much! Never mind"
"Oii You better tell me the truth!"
MR.foodie asked again!
Knowing his stubborn behavior of not letting go until the end, he rubbed his temples.
He stated firmly and talked different instead, "Just wanna know how things are going or improving with your gf. you didn't tell me about that earlier morning you know so, I wanted to check it out by myself."
"AWW!! Are you trying to make me cry hmm? Btw I am touched-"
As if something urgent came up Mr.foodie hung up,
"Oii anyway my noona is shouting at me. I will give you a call later late night okay?"
"Oh sure!"
*Beep*
Once again his gaze fell upon the ceiling.
Its extraordinary design, engraved with every single detail, magnificently carved. For a moment it almost seemed like it was the design that made Newmoon lost in the abyss. Like whoever, would get into contact with it will lose their mind.
It was that breathtaking. No wonder it was a household of such affiliated families. Like one could clearly distinguish the people's taste and their background just by judging by their house.
"Now who should I call?"
For some reason, Newmoon was feeling insecure, and trapped in anxiety. And why wouldn't he too? After all, he was overwhelmed by everything he encountered that day.
Whenever he couldn't control his emotions or thoughts, or get control of them instead, then he finds outer things to remain sane.
"let's see if Jina noona is online or not?"
He turned around on the right side.
And jumped in the direction of the Acebook app.
"oh.. she isn't! Maybe it's still daytime in the UK?"
And strangely it was too.
He threw his phone once again with a pout,
"I better not disturb her."
He blinked twice into the deep abyss.
"Somehow I felt much lonelier than back days. Isn't that supposed to be the opposite in my case?"
"I mean I went to college, made a contact with another human being- mean friends, so why do I feel way more void in my heart than I was before??"
However he didn't give up, He reached out one last time. And called her mom.
With a 'RING RING,' the phone was picked up!
"Hello, mom?"
"yes!"
"what are you doing? Have you returned yet?"
Somehow as if Newmoon had found what he was searching for.., a soft warmth poured into his heart. His chest swelled up like a balloon.
From the outer expression, he only smiled a bit. Truth be told, her mother hasn't said that much emotionality in her sentences still somehow it was able to impact Newmoon.
There was a really strange thing about them. Likewise other families, their family never express their emotions openly.
It was already enough that his mom said much otherwise she wouldn't even ask that long.
So by that, One thing was for sure, Mom was worried.
"Yes, mom! I wanted to let you know that I just have returned. and right now I am on my bed."
Mom argued, "Oh don't jump into a bed like a pig!"
"Mom, I am tired you know. Leave it, tell me what are you doing instead?"
"What's there to do in the first place? Nothing! later on at around dusk, I am going to the market, to bring out vegetables on sale. They will sell at a very cheap price then."
Hearing the second sentence, Newmoon couldn't help but to wondered, "Why everyone is craving to go to market now? Is there a bumper sale on it or what? -that means, john must be going with you right?"
"Of course. I didn't give him birth just for a playing game and roaming around like an aimless stray dog!"
Somehow Newmoon felt a chilling vibe from that conclusion as if it was indirectly telling him instead.
He shrunk down, "I knew, I knew they will be thinking in that pattern. In the end, I am useless.!"
He coughed a bit and rubbed his back hair,
"To talk about, how his dad? How are things going with him? Nothing much either?"
Mom responded in a free spirit,
"Someday we fought, someday we don't. However, he is always pretty wrapped up. But not in a positive, advantageous way. Bluffing around."
Her tone got a little deep and serene,
"I bet he has a thing with some other women too!"
"…"
With a pause, Newmoon suggested to her,
"Mom, Don't worry too much. and don't overthink as well. He must be preserved with his current plan too if he says so then. He isn't like other men or dad. Have faith mom!"
Ever since childhood Newmoon and other siblings have grown up hearing their discussion over the affair and doubt, suspicious and judgmental eyes. Yes, Dad must be stubborn but mom was way too stubborn too. She always overthinks the situation into a worst-case scenario.
So Newmoon knew perfectly the entire plot of their family.
"He loves us more than anything. He must be working very hard for us, mom. Please trust the process!"
Mom replied in a high tone, "Truth be told, I couldn't care less even if he bring the women into our household. In every fight, I asked him to tell me directly if he had one. And in return, I'll simply leave them by attending their marriage too."
Hearing this, Newmoon paused for a bit and answered right away in a surprised tone,
"Mom listen first. Let me clear you something first."
"Who tells their wife they have been having an affair or seeing the other women behind their back?"
"Let's take an example, even if they have one, there is no way they would confront or confess that easily to their wife just because their wife permitted them. Not in a whole world would they say! I know you have a clear and clean heart but others aren't! You have to know that! They aren't that fool you know?!"
And similarly, for the rest of the inquiry, He spoke to himself,
"And I doubt about your permission too..mom?!"
He widened his eyes lens, "As far as we knew your temper, there is no way you would let go of the matter that easily and politely if dad had one! There will be a flood of blood swirling and sweeping the entire household! Dad would be foolish enough to bring any women even if he had one in his mind."
"I know. Moreover, it's a woman's nature by the way."
His entire body shivered in goosebumps,
"Oh, my oh my girls, women are a really dangerous species."
A long time later mom's voice sounded again,
"I meant it once I say. I don't mind. I can understand. At some point in life, this sort of thing happens-
"Love, feelings, and affections can fade one day. "
"All I want is, don't betray family by one simple lie. Tell directly, face to face cause he isn't a coward anymore if he has one in the back till now you know. It takes a lot of courage to do so. It's always better to know or hear it from one's mouth than the strangers!!"
"…"
Newmoon was speechless about his mom's explanation and in dilemma to thinking what got her all of sudden today?
"Woah, mom. Don't you think you're going too deep?"
He said to himself as he helplessly sighed, "Mom I have no idea, What should I say to you, A stupid?, A dumb?, Crazy?, Absent-minded? Or
His eyes dropped a bit as a voice whispered,
Or. Naïve, kind, and innocent? The first point, as I already mentioned, is there is no way any husband will accept their mistake that easily? Just because their wife says so?
Secondly, "And there is no way Any women will stay calm, crossing their arms and listening to the bluff their husbands buttered out. husband would be blessed enough if they were alive after then."
Of course, he couldn't say directly to her. Even if he did either he was gonna feel the fire or got himself poured over by a bucket of water.
That's why Newmoon swallowed his words and only continued to proceed with the things he chose to select,
"Mom rest well. Don't overthink. It's not good for your mental as well as physical health. Calm down. Everything will be fine. Dad's business would work out to one day-
"-With that being said it's been already around 26 years since he has been flowing and showing false hope. And me too elaborating false hope to other relatives and friends network circles that just 2 more years and we too will be in the peak of success."
"but no. Our hairs got grayed, whiten, and teeth are about to fall too, but still no results. That 2 years of dad's words never came up."
Newmoon, "…"
Indeed it was the truth. That slogan of his dad he had grown up listening to it. And now Newmoon himself had turned into a beautiful, handsome- average-looking man, Jina noona got married too, and young john became an adult too.
As if it hit his sore part, he was lost for words.
"Hello-!?"
After not receiving a response for a while, mom gave a call to Newmoon.
Newmoon startled, "oh yes mom.!"
"where do you go hm?"
'Not mom it's a network problem I guess?"
"Oh oh, anyway now, it's already dark, I will hang up now cause I m about to go to market with john."
"oh, sure mom!"
"oh right!"
She gasped,
"One thing, Give a call to your in a noona once in a while."
"even if you're busy! All she has is us."
"Though I suggest and advised to make friends there through outgoing, making a connection but as you know how she is-
"Um mom, don't worry about such trivial things. I'll take care of it."
Newmoon rest assured her.
"It's not easy to keep up with such a prestigious family. She must have felt hopelessness through time although she isn't a type of- still it's always good to be surrounded by close ones. Knowingly or unknowingly their soul, and courage get enhanced!"
Newmoon faintly smiled.
"I get it!"
~~~
Next morning:
With a continuous 'tapa, tapa', An unknown girl rushed through the narrow hallway of the building. Although the width of the passage was wider because of the overflow of the crowded students made it its appearance look narrow.
That girl had a bunch of papers, wrapped around her arms hurriedly sprinting over the way to a point where she didn't even have the chance to look over the person from the opposite side.
And guess what?
A large 'THUD' echoed all over the ceiling.
"Ugh! My leg!!"
A collision was bound to happen with such dangerous speed. The girl slowly tried to carry herself, stood half, and came to her knee touching her painful legs.
"Sorry sorry! I..really didn't see you coming.., I was rushing over the..how should I make you believe it!?"
She apologized bowing her head frequently still having a disturbed mumbling escaping through her mouth in a panic way.
Just when she lifted her chin to look up at that person's face for further words, her jaw dropped right at that moment.
That person was non-other than the haemin lee.
"…"
He was just there standing like a statue, with an expressionless face which he was famous for.. according to newmoon.
So as it turned out that only she had fallen on the ground and not the other persons at all.
To speak short, that girl was average on a visual. Neither so wow look nor ugly look somewhere between so-so!
But one part was exceptionally in the spotlight. It was somewhat impossible for others people's heads to not turned and for their eyes to not glanced once at her.
It was-
"Woah see that.., Bomb Figure!!"
"Got some big fat, Juicy ass there!"