Chapter 34

160611

***

Star froze in an instant. She couldn't feel anything. She held her breath as she's processing what she just heard.

"You're joking, right?" She asked with a low voice.

Chahyun shook her head, "I really do like him."

So many questions started popping out on her head.

'Since when did she start liking him? She said he like him too. So it means she knew about us? Why did this happen? What will I do now? What will happen next?'

"Seriously..." she mumbled.

Chahyun lowered her head, "I'm sorry."

"Why?" Star started to ran out of breath and her heart is beating fastly. She didn't run but the revelations she's hearing made her feel weak and tired.

"Since when?" She added.

Chahyun bit her lips and exhaled before she spoke, "Since he came to our house to visit you."

Star's forehead knotted, "And then... what now? Why are you saying this? What do you want to happen?"

Possible answers came out from Star's head. She thought that Chahyun may want her to break up with him, or she could say that she wants him and the decision to what will happen will be Star's. She already thought of negative possibilities and it made her feel crazy again.

She loves Ten, and she don't want to lose him. But she don't know what to do now. In the end, she end up running away without getting her things. She ran enduring the pain from her ankle but it's nothing for her. Her mind messed up again and she can't think of anything but to run.

When she already came out of the building, she gasped for some air and started running again on the streets. She don't know where will her feet bring her. She only wants to go away and escape from what is happening.

"Argh, why did this happen?" She said while running. Tears started streaming down her face.

She can't absorb Chahyun's confession. She's her close friend, yet they like the same guy. She don't know what will happen next to their friendship.

When she finally got tired, she stopped and kneeled on a pavement. She looked around and she's not familiar of the place anymore. She's panting fastly and she feels so weak. She's starting to feel dizzy and she know she can faint anytime from now. But she tried her best to never let herself lose consciousness in the middle of somewhere she don't know.

She saw a waiting shed nearby. She slowly stood and walked towards it. She sat on the bench and leaned her head against a steel post behind her. She continuously gasped for air and relaxed herself.

She started crying again as she thought of what she just knew.

"Chahyun, why?" She faintly said.

She just can't believe it. If Chahyun already knew about them, then she should've just stopped her feelings and let them be together, right? But Chahyun's feelings grew, and as it grow, a barrier forms between her and Star. Since then, she became aloof from Star for she don't know how to associate with her anymore. She also feels guilty for liking Ten. First because she can't like him as it is a rule that should be followed as a trainee. Second is because she knew that Ten and Star were already dating.

Star is now thinking of how will she deal with Chahyun. She knows she have to face her soon. Will she act like she didn't know anything? Or will she talk with her once more with a composed self and sorted thoughts?

She wiped her tears and calmed herself. She really can't think of the right thing to do.

"Is this how our friendship ends?" She sarcastically asked herself and laughed crazily.

"I don't know what to do anymore." She looked up and prayed, "God, help me. Help us."

She grabbed her phone from her pocket and checked the time. It's already 11 pm. There's a missed call and a text from Seomin too. She didn't bother checking her message and just turned her phone off. She just put it back to her pocket and watch the cars pass in her front.

She wants to be alone and sort her thoughts. Several problems are piled up now. First was how to deal with her and Ten's situation because they're just secretly dating. Second was Yuta's case. And now, Chahyun's.

"You know Star, these will never happen if you didn't let yourself fall for him. This is all your fault."

'Babo. From the very start, you can never tell if Chahyun will fall for Ten or Yuta will fall for you. You have nothing to do with everything.' A voice told her in her mind.

"Ugh. Look how my thoughts work. Pffft." She joked to at least ease herself.

She sighed and started to plan what she will do the next time she'll meet Chahyun.

"I should fix this with her, right? Whatever will be the result is... ugh I can't give up Ten if ever she wants me to!" She started her monologue. "But first..." she looked around, "I should know where I am right now. Goodness! There's no one on the streets! Brrrr." She said while rubbing her hands to create heat. She almost forgot that it's still winter and she just have two layers of clothings: her shirt and a sweater.

"Jeongmal baboya." She sighed and just watched the visible air that comes out from her mouth like a smoke as she exhales.

She wanted to text someone for help but something is stopping her. She just fell asleep while watching the cars go by.

**

"Where is Star?" Seomin already asked it for several times but no one knows the answer. They already got home with Star's things but they still don't have any idea where she is.

"Calm down and sit." Harabeoji said as Seomin kept on pacing back and forth in front of the sofa where he is sitting.

"Harabeoji, she's not a Seoul native! She freaking came from a freaking province and a freaking while in Incheon!"

"Language." Harabeoji said pertaining to her use of words. She just frowned.

"Why isn't she answering?" She kept on dialling her phone but she doesn't answer. She looked at Chahyun who's just silently standing by the window, waiting for Star.

"Do you have any idea, Chahyun?"

"Nah." She timidly answered.

"Oh geez! What came up to her mind to stay out up to midnight?" She madly said while looking at their wall clock saying it's already 12 in the midnight.

Chahyun sighed as she grabbed her phone from the side table near her. She went to her contacts and tapped Ten's profile. She aimed to dial him but she then decided to do not. She sighed and put her phone in the pocket of her pajama.

She's actually worrying a lot about Star. She suddenly felt guilty. She violently closed her eyes and prayed for Star to be safe, wherever she is.

**

The next morning, Star is still not home. They went to school without her and went to the training without her.

"Seomin?" Sejoon called Seomin who's still contacting Star.

"Yes, sir?"

"Where's Star? Is she sick again?"

She shook her head, "We don't know either. I think she went somewhere. I don't know what happened to her, if she's lost, kidnapped, stowing away or what. We can't contact her as well. She's not answering her calls."

Sejoon became serious and worried, "Since when is that?"

"Since last night, Sir."

"What the heck..." he stated.

"And we're more worried that she's lost because she doesn't know Seoul's streets and roads at all."

Sejoon heaved a heavy sigh and stormed out of the room. She went inside a room where he saw Jaerim (the one who scouted Star) and other staffs together with some of the trainees including Yuta, Ten, Jaehyun, Mark and Jisung.

"Are you okay?" Jaerim asked.

"Star is nowhere to find and there's a speculation that she's lost."

Yuta and Ten immediately stood when they heard it.

"What? What happened to Byul?" Jaerim asked.

"We don't know." Sejoon shook his head, "She's nowhere to find since last night, I think after the training hours. Who could be the last person she's with?" Sejoon asked.

Ten thought of himself because they were together last night but he's not sure if he was the last person she was with.

"Do you think we should search for her?" Sejoon asked.

Jaerim nodded, "I think so. She's in our custody since her family is away from her and I promised her mother that we will take care of her. Perhaps, the company may be the last place she is in before she got lost. Thus, we're responsible of her."

"Okay." Sejoon nodded, "I'll check the CCTV's."

Sejoon quickly stormed out of the room. Meanwhile, Ten and Yuta became uneasy. Yuta looked at Ten and he looks very worried.

Yuta approached Jaerim who's contacting someone on his phone, "Jaerim-ssi, we want to help on searching for Star. We were her friends too and we're worried as well."

"But you still have trainings."

Yuta looked at Ten. Ten went near them too, "I am willing to help in searching for her." He said.

"Are you guys serious?" Jaehyun asked from behind.

"Definitely." Ten answered immediately without looking at him.

"Okay, since you look serious about this, I will let you. But let's wait for Sejoon first."

The two nodded but Ten immediately went out to follow Sejoon in the control room. He wants to check the cameras too. He can feel her heart beating fastly due to nervousness.

"Where the heck are you?" He whispered while thinking of her.

***