14. Double Date

“But—“ Her words suddenly stopped as her phone rang, displaying a notification on the screen. Starla fell silent and reached for her phone. The name that appeared made her heart skip a beat.

Ha-neul. The man who had suddenly disappeared a few days ago. Although it shouldn’t have been a big issue since they were just newly acquainted friends, Ha-neul’s absence left a void in her mind. With some hesitation, Starla opened the message. It turned out to be a long explanation that unraveled her anxieties.

Ha-neul: I’m sorry, Starla. I couldn’t meet you yesterday because a family member had to be rushed to the hospital. I was so busy and worried that I couldn’t inform you.

Starla: I understand. I hope your family is okay.

Ha-neul: Thank goodness, my family is also fine.

Ha-neul: Oh, by the way, I happen to be leaving for London tomorrow for work. Could we meet up?

Starla: Of course, let me know when you arrive here.

Somehow, after reading that, some of her jumbled feelings lifted and disappeared. There was a sense of anticipation waiting for Ha-neul’s arrival and a creeping happiness in her heart. Starla sat in a quiet corner of the cafe, a faint smile adorning her face. Her mind wandered, recalling their brief yet impactful meetings.

Had she ever felt like this before? Her heart raced at the thought of meeting Ha-neul. Unlike her previous love stories, this one felt different. Perhaps because Ha-neul was someone who truly understood and supported her in every situation.

As Starla composed her reply to Ha-neul, she felt a small flutter in her stomach. Ordinary words seemed inadequate to express how much she looked forward to their meeting. After sending the message, Starla felt a bit relieved yet nervous. Was this the beginning of something new and different in her life?

Realizing what she was thinking, Starla quickly shook off those thoughts. She shook her head, trying to dispel the strange feelings that had surfaced. Starla felt like she was being completely weird now.

“Hah, you were sad just now, and now you’re smiling to yourself,” Luna teased with a playful tone upon noticing the change in her friend’s expression.

“I’m not smiling?!” Starla retorted with a hint of tension, but her eyes sparkled.

“Good thing I didn’t record that, or else you wouldn’t have been able to deny what I just said,” Luna replied, laughing. “This must be because of that Korean guy, right? Admit it!”

Starla smirked, trying to cover up her nervousness. “You think you know everything! He’s just nobody!”

“From the way you’ve been since Seoul, Star, you’ve been smiling all the time. Clearly, you like him,” Luna teased with a meaningful smile.

“No, Luna. Stop making assumptions!” Starla protested again, laughing softly despite her racing heart. Starla fell silent for a moment, her eyes drifting towards the cafe window.

Luna laughed even louder, seeing Starla’s increasingly stiff reaction. “Star, just admit it. I like seeing you like this. It feels like you’re really alive, not just surviving.”

“Is there really nothing going on, Luna? We’re just friends, that’s it!” Starla replied, hoping Luna would drop the subject.

“Sure, sure. But mark my words, if I hear you’re dating him suddenly, I’ll laugh at you the hardest,” Luna teased mischievously, trying to poke fun at Starla about her feelings for Ha-neul.

Starla simply shook her head, shrugging lightly in response to her friend’s teasing. “That’s impossible! We’ve only just met!”

“Oh, so if you’ve known each other longer, then you’d consider dating?” Luna teased with a playful expression.

“Ugh, annoying! Forget it!” Starla tried to deflect her embarrassment by teasing Luna back, but inside, she felt warm and happy. Starla sighed softly, looking at Luna with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

“But you liked the guy in Seoul too, right? The one who made you stare blankly and almost made us miss our flight,” Starla countered with a mischievous smile, trying to shift the focus away from herself. Luna raised her eyebrows, but instead of denying it, she smiled broadly. “See, I knew it. You’ve got a crush!”

Upon hearing Starla’s words, Luna’s heart suddenly fluttered. The awkwardness and nervousness she had kept hidden suddenly eased. Especially upon learning that he would be coming to London tomorrow, her excitement peaked. Luna couldn’t wait to meet him.

“I think this project of mine is going to be really exciting, Star,” Luna said with a trembling voice, her face glowing at the thought of meeting Byeol, the handsome music producer. It felt like a dream come true.

Starla nodded knowingly, feeling the happiness radiating from Luna. “I’m glad to see you like this, Luna. Looks like you’re going to have a great time tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I think so too, Star. It’s like a story I’ve always wanted to come true.” She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down from the overwhelming excitement. Luna smiled widely, her eyes sparkling.

Starla looked at Luna with happiness. The two of them smiled at each other, celebrating the little moments that filled their lives with cheerful colors. Amidst the bustling cafe, they felt like they were the only ones in the world, sharing and encouraging each other.

“I hope everything goes smoothly, Luna,” Starla said sincerely.

“Thank you, Star. I’m sure everything will be fine.” Luna nodded confidently. “And you should hurry up and start dating that guy too, so we can double date!”

“You’re making things up!” Starla quickly retorted, and they both laughed.

A shadow crossed Luna’s mind, like ripples on the surface of calm water. She imagined a bright future where she and Starla would find men they loved, who loved them wholeheartedly. The thought brought a faint smile to her face.

Luna looked at Starla before her, whispering a small prayer in her heart. She wanted to believe that each step they took towards those dreams meant something. They had been through a lot together, supporting each other through every struggle and joy. Now, perhaps it was time to believe that true love and happiness could be found.

Spending time with someone special, sharing laughter and tears, and forging strong bonds felt like a beautiful dream. But behind that happiness, doubts lingered. Could those beautiful hopes truly become reality? Or would they continue to ponder and wonder about what could happen?