31. Who's That Guy

Under the calm night sky, Starla and Ha-neul crossed the road that stretched between tall trees, having left behind the beautiful beach. The full moon’s gentle light shone, creating intriguing shadows along the path. Starla, with her hair gently tousled by the night breeze, smiled faintly as she gazed at the star-filled sky.

“Ha-neul, it was amazing,” Starla said softly. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

Focused on driving, Ha-neul nodded in agreement, a slight smile on his face. “You’re welcome, Starla. I’m glad we could spend time there together. Hopefully, there’ll be another opportunity to come back.”

They drove slowly on the smooth asphalt, Ha-neul’s car gliding quietly through the quiet night. The air inside the car felt cool and fresh, windows slightly open to let in the night breeze. In the distance, city lights formed a shimmering network of rays amidst the darkness.

Starla looked out the window silently, her eyes fixed on the mesmerizing night sky full of twinkling stars. Ha-neul, sitting beside her, felt compelled to join her. Slowly, he turned to Starla with tenderness. “The night sky is so beautiful, isn’t it?”

Starla smiled, still entranced by the stunning sky. “Yes, it’s truly beautiful. I’m always captivated by the beauty of the stars.”

Ha-neul nodded, following Starla’s gaze to the same sky for a few moments. “It’s unimaginable how vast the universe is and how small we are in it.”

“Mm,” Starla nodded in agreement. “Sometimes I ponder the same thing. There are so many mysteries out there.”

They both fell silent for a moment, only the sound of the car’s engine and the night breeze filling the comfortable silence inside the vehicle. But between them, there was a warmth flowing, like gentle waves following their thoughts.

“Have you ever thought that these stars are windows to distant galaxies?” Starla asked in admiration, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the starry night sky.

Ha-neul, seated beside her, smiled, following Starla’s gaze upwards. “I often think so. Each star could be a home to beings or life that we can’t even imagine.”

Starla nodded, her long hair gently tousled by the soft night breeze. “Sometimes I feel like we’re only seeing a small part of what’s actually out there. So many mysteries yet to be uncovered.”

Ha-neul continued softly, “But whatever is out there, one thing is certain: the beauty and grandeur of this universe are truly extraordinary.”

Their car continued to move in comfortable silence, accompanied only by the rustling of the wind. A moment later, Ha-neul glanced briefly at the woman next to him. “Starla, what did you enjoy most about today?”

Starla smiled warmly, looking at Ha-neul. “I loved when we sat by the beach, just talking about our dreams and the little things that make us happy. It felt so simple and beautiful.”

Ha-neul nodded, his eyes wandering to the horizon turning reddish. “Me too. Sometimes we’re so caught up in daily life that we forget how important moments like these are.”

The long, tiring journey eventually lulled Starla to sleep in the car seat. They had covered half the distance, and night was falling with a dark sky overhead. Ha-neul glanced momentarily from the road to see Starla peacefully asleep in the seat beside him. Her long hair, usually beautifully flowing, now scattered gently over her shoulders, moved slowly by the night breeze entering through the half-open window.

“You look so peaceful when you’re asleep,” Ha-neul murmured softly, as if not wanting to disturb Starla’s tranquility. “I hope you have beautiful dreams, Starla.”

Their car continued to glide quietly on the deserted highway, accompanied only by the smooth sound of the engine and the gentle flow of the night breeze. Ha-neul continued to gaze at Starla lovingly, reflecting on all the beautiful moments they had shared on their journey. They had spent time together in various places, experienced many adventures, and shared countless stories.

Their car headed towards the final destination of their journey that night, but in Ha-neul’s heart, there was an inexplicable happiness. They might still have many journeys ahead in life, but that night, under the star-filled sky, Ha-neul felt incredibly fortunate to have known Starla by his side.

...

Nick’s gaze was fixed on Starla’s apartment window from a distance, amidst the glittering city lights that were starting to dim as the night grew late. He stood on the street corner, in the quiet darkness disturbed only by the soft steps of people returning from work or simply taking a stroll.

Nick wore his thick black jacket, warding off the chill of the night that was beginning to pierce through. His heart raced, filled with a mix of anxiety and longing that was hard to explain. After so long without seeing her, he wanted to see Starla again, even if just from afar.

In Starla’s apartment floor, the dim light from the room lamp provided a faint illumination in the peaceful living room. Nick could guess that Starla wasn’t there right now, as she always turned off her apartment lights when she wasn’t home.

“Starla, it’s late now. Where are you?” Nick murmured softly, his voice swept away by the gentle night breeze around him. He pondered for a moment, reminiscing about the beautiful moments they had shared, even if now they only lived in memories.

The night passed on, and Nick still stood his ground, not intending to leave just yet. Time passed slowly, but for him, it seemed to pass too quickly, too fast to feel the warmth of being close to Starla again. He continued to gaze at her apartment window, imagining what might happen if he decided to contact Starla or simply appear at her door.

But not long after, a car glided into the apartment lobby, catching Nick’s focused attention. His eyes squinted, trying to identify who had just arrived. A man stepped out of the car gallantly, opening the door for a woman who left Nick stunned: Starla. His heart raced, a mix of confusion and jealousy.

Nick looked at Starla with a puzzled expression. Who was the man accompanying her?