24. Someone Admired

“Hey, where have you been?” Luna’s cheerful voice echoed suddenly in the apartment corridor as Starla opened the door. Starla was surprised to see Luna standing there, a wide smile adorning her face.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Starla asked, quickly walking over to Luna.

Luna raised her eyebrows with a mock angry expression. “Didn’t you get my messages? Check your phone, Miss Starla,” she teased mischievously.

Starla quickly rummaged through her bag and pulled out her phone. When the phone screen lit up, her face immediately turned red. It turned out that there were many messages and missed calls from Luna since earlier. Her heart felt warm and slightly guilty for not paying attention to her phone for a while.

“Hehehehe, sorry about that. I didn’t check my phone,” Starla said sheepishly. She felt guilty but also happy to see her friend.

Luna chuckled softly, but her eyes remained warm. “I’ve been waiting for ages, you know. But since you’re my friend, I forgive you,” she said, pulling Starla into a tight hug.

Starla returned the hug affectionately. “Thank you, Lun. You’re the best friend ever.”

“So, where were you?” Luna asked as they entered Starla’s apartment. “Out with a guy?”

Instead of answering, Starla just smiled—a smile that surprised and intrigued Luna. “Seriously? Were you out with a guy, Star? Which one?”

“The one from Seoul,” Starla replied, scratching her non-itchy neck. She knew Luna would have more questions after this.

“No way! Did he come all the way here to see you?” Luna asked incredulously, her eyes widening in surprise.

Starla shook her head with a small laugh. “No, he said he had some work to do here, so it was convenient.”

Rolling her eyes, Luna’s smile showed how happy she was for her friend. “Ah, so romantic! So what did you guys do?”

“We toured the city, stopped by a café, and he gave me this,” Starla said, showing Luna the gift box Ha-neul had given her. It was wrapped in soft blue paper with an elegant gold ribbon, adding to the special atmosphere of the evening.

Luna’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Wow! What’s inside? Can I see?”

“It’s a novel he told me about when we were in Seoul,” Starla explained with an uncontrollable smile. She carefully opened the box to reveal a book with an elegant cover. The title was written in beautiful Korean script, leaving Luna amazed. “He said it’s one of his favorite books.”

Luna took the book and flipped through its pages with keen interest. “It’s so beautiful, Star. And very meaningful. I can see why you’re so happy.”

Starla nodded softly, feeling warmth flood her heart. “Yes, I really love this novel.”

Luna looked at Starla lovingly for a moment before teasingly asking, “And what about the guy? Do you like him too?”

“Come on, stop teasing me!” Starla retorted, her face slightly reddening with embarrassment, though secretly she smiled happily.

“You sure you don’t like him? He seems really romantic,” Luna teased again, her mischievous smile widening.

“Oh, you’re impossible!” Starla exclaimed, mumbling as Luna laughed heartily.

Luna patted Starla’s shoulder warmly. “I’m just kidding, Star. But seriously, I’m so happy to see you like this.”

Starla smiled wider, relieved that she could share this story with Luna. “Oh my, Lun. What are we talking about now?”

They laughed together, enjoying the rare moment of togetherness. That night, Starla’s apartment was filled with laughter and the warmth of their friendship. Luna and Starla sat on the couch, discussing everything from past memories to hopes for the future.

“And what about you? You said yesterday you were going to meet that ‘handsome guy’,” Starla asked, looking at Luna curiously.

“He... he’s nice, Star. Really nice,” Luna whispered softly, her smile growing wider. Luna smiled gently, recalling the moments she had with Min-joon earlier. “We had a great time today. Min-joon took me to a beautiful park on the outskirts of the city while checking out filming locations. He also talked a lot about his work and hobbies.”

Starla nodded enthusiastically. “Wow, that sounds great! So, how do you feel about him?”

Luna thought for a moment, her eyes gazing into the distance. “I feel... comfortable, Star. He makes me laugh and feel valued. And I like how he genuinely listens.”

Starla smiled warmly, seeing her friend’s happiness. “He sounds like a good match for you, Lun. I’m glad to hear you like him.”

Luna nodded, her face glowing. “I’m happy too, Star. It feels like I’ve found someone I can trust completely.”

“That’s why you should open your heart to him, I’m sure he’s a good guy too!” Luna suggested earnestly, radiating warmth from her eyes. She hoped her friend would find a man who loved her sincerely.

They sat together in the living room, the quiet night enveloping them. Starla felt happy seeing her friend find someone special. They talked about Min-joon and shared stories about their respective relationships, laughing and joking as usual.

“He’s inviting me out again tomorrow, said he wants to meet his colleagues,” Starla said with a smile, making Luna smile happily as she listened to the story.

“Wow, that sounds like fun!” Luna exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I wish I could secretly follow you, but I have work tomorrow.”

Starla lightly tapped Luna’s shoulder. “Hey! Acting like you have no work. You know I’m going to tell you everything later!”

The night grew late, but their conversation continued, filled with stories and laughter. Luna felt fortunate to have a friend like Starla, who was always there for her in every important moment of her life. And with tomorrow’s plans with Min-joon, Luna knew the happiness she felt tonight would continue.

“This looks like it’s going to be a double date for us, doesn’t it?” Luna said with a bright smile, which was met with another playful tap from Starla. They both exchanged joyful glances that couldn’t be contained.