27. Love Comes at the Wrong Time

The dawn had risen, leaving traces of melancholy in the sky that gradually turned into a bright white. On that quiet beach, the sea breeze blew gently, carrying a refreshing salty aroma. Ha-neul, Starla, and Luna walked along the shoreline, enjoying the scenery and the peaceful atmosphere while scouting locations for their upcoming video shoot.

“So, this is roughly where we’ll start filming,” said Ha-neul enthusiastically, pointing in the direction. She turned to Starla and Luna walking beside her.

Starla shrugged, her eyes sparkling as she looked around. “This beach is too beautiful; it feels like every corner could be the perfect backdrop.”

Luna, still trying to compose her feelings, nodded in agreement. “Yes, I agree. But we need to choose a truly special spot that can capture the essence of the film we’re going to present.”

The three of them continued walking, occasionally stopping to observe their surroundings more closely. The waves rolled gently at their feet, leaving wet traces on the white, smooth sand.

“How about we start near that big rock?” Starla pointed to a large rock towering at the edge of the beach, surrounded by green shrubs and a few coconut trees. “The place looks dramatic and natural.”

Ha-neul nodded, smiling. “That big rock could be a great backdrop, especially at sunset. The golden light of the evening will make the scene more magical.”

They walked closer to the large rock, examining different angles. Ha-neul took out her phone and started taking some reference photos. Starla helped by giving suggestions on the best angles.

“Ha-neul, try taking from this angle,” said Starla, pointing to a lower direction. “The sunlight will make our silhouettes look very artistic.”

“Make sure we also have some shots showing the waves hitting this rock. That will give a dynamic and lively impression,” said Luna, her voice soft but confident.

Ha-neul nodded, smiling at Luna. “That’s a great idea, Luna. I love how you pay attention to details.”

Luna felt her heart warm at the compliment. She nodded, feeling a bit relieved for being able to contribute despite her mixed feelings. They continued their inspection, moving a bit further towards a small bay surrounded by rocks and wild plants.

“This place is also nice,” said Starla, her voice full of admiration. “There’s a kind of wild and natural beauty here.”

Luna, who was usually more cheerful, gave a faint smile. “We could use this place for more intimate scenes, maybe with softer background music.”

Ha-neul and Starla nodded in agreement, feeling that Luna also provided very valuable suggestions. The three of them kept walking, enjoying the increasingly calm beach atmosphere as the evening approached. The bright sun in the clear blue sky gave a magical touch to the scenery around them.

“I feel this place is really special,” said Ha-neul, her voice filled with gratitude. “I’m glad we could take the time to come here and find the perfect location.”

“This will definitely be the most perfect result I’ve ever seen,” said Starla, her eyes shining. “Especially if the ones taking part in the roles are my friends, people who are very skilled at this.”

Luna just smiled, hiding her chaotic expression since earlier, caught in the dilemma of intuition that had haunted her since she first knew the reality she was facing. She didn’t even know how to react, whether to feel happy or sad being here, with her friends, and also the man they both liked. If only she could, Luna just wanted to disappear right now, go anywhere, because being in this place made her heart ache.

“So, how did it go?” asked Ha-neul, looking at Starla beside her. From behind, Luna could clearly see how the girl smiled widely.

“I think it went really well. Your ideas were brilliant, as always,” answered Starla with a proud smile. They kept walking, continuing along the seemingly endless sandy beach, leaving Luna who had stopped her steps, watching their interaction from afar.

That day, Luna thought she would be able to spend a lot of time with that man, as Min-joon she knew, as the man she admired and liked. Not as Ha-neul she had just met, the man who had been the topic of her conversation with Starla. Luna thought today would be fun like yesterday, but it seemed that day would be the last day she and Ha-neul spent time together because after this, Luna would never be able to feel the same again.

Luna decided to catch up with them, strengthening her heart even though she didn’t know what form it would take if it were a tangible object. Walking behind Ha-neul and Starla while watching the sun almost disappear from the side of the earth. In her heart, Luna silently screamed, why does love have to come at the wrong time? Of all the hopes that can’t come true, why does it have to be her heart that is the target?

Ha-neul turned her face towards Luna, as if sensing her silence. “Luna, are you okay?” she asked with a concerned tone.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just enjoying this view, it’s very beautiful,” she replied, trying to hide her feelings. Luna smiled, though it was slightly forced.

Starla, standing beside her, sensed something unusual about her friend. “Luna, are you sure? You seem a bit down,” she asked worriedly.

Luna nodded, trying to reassure them. “Seriously, I’m fine. Maybe just a little tired.”

Ha-neul looked at her understandingly. “Then let’s just enjoy this moment together. This place is indeed very beautiful and calming.”

“Wait, there’s something I need to talk about.” Luna stopped Ha-neul and Starla, making them turn their attention to her, but she couldn’t speak.

“Just say it, Luna, no need to be shy,” replied Ha-neul, still with a smile on her face. “Even though this plan was initially to discuss work, right now, here, I’m just Ha-neul, a friend who wants to enjoy time with you.”

“Can I go home first? I seem to have a slight fever, and I happen to not feel well,” said Luna, of course, lying.

“It’s okay, anyway our work is done,” replied Ha-neul. “Do you want me to take you home?”

“No need, I can go home by myself. You guys have fun here, sorry I can’t join,” she declined. If the reality were different, Luna would happily accept Ha-neul’s offer. “Well, I’m heading home now. You guys take care, okay. Have fun, guys!”

“Okay, Luna. Take care, make sure to let me know when you get home.” Replied Starla, waving. There was something unsettling in Starla’s heart about Luna today. Usually, she was the most cheerful in situations like this, but this time Luna was quieter. Starla thought in silence, was Luna really not feeling well, or was she hiding something?