Work Text:
【2026】
Stella leaves part of her heart behind when she boards the Greyhound in Albany. It’s only been a few hours. She woke up disoriented this morning to the sound of footsteps and watched quietly as Jiwoo did her makeup, pretending to still be asleep because she knew Jiwoo would feel guilty for waking her. Then it struck Stella overwhelmingly, a revelation pouring through her like light through stained glass: I love my best friend. On the bus, she opens her journal to a blank page and begins writing.
✦✧
29/03/2026
We were in a bubble. The midnight hours passed by quickly, too quickly, and I ran out of time. Jiwoo’s head rested on the patchwork couch beside my thigh. Her face was turned away from me, and all I could see was black hair framing her smudged glasses. Remnants of Saint Patty’s Day festivities were strewn about the common room. Greasy pizza boxes, a shamrock garland, gold foil emptied of chocolate coins. (cont.)
✦✧
【2027】
Immature. Stupid. Irrational. But Stella can’t help the grotesque jealousy flaring in her chest. Jiwoo is beautiful, looking radiantly happy on Instagram. It used to be Stella who took her photos; it was them and their bedazzled Sony Cybershots and high school delirium. Stella was behind the camera for all of Jiwoo’s formative moments, directing her and memorizing every angle. She closes Instagram. And then immediately reopens it to her DMs with Jiwoo, sending a quick “unnie i miss you” before she can overthink.
✦✧
Vermont wind is different from the wind in California. It’s scary. Sent actual chills down my back. Gales were ripping through the forest outside and walloping tree boughs, natural madness on a rampage trying to banish me from Bennington’s historic lands. I bent slightly and caught the scent of lavender around Jiwoo’s neck. Everything was sadder than it should have been. My tongue was numb from the curry we had split earlier, coconut flavor lingering between my clenched teeth. (cont.)
✦✧
【2028】
The morning after Stella graduates summa cum laude from USC, she kisses Jiwoo in the stifling backseat of her parents’ car. She’s hungover and anxious, and she genuinely contemplates moving to a new country when Jiwoo doesn’t kiss back. But Stella peers into Jiwoo’s huge brown eyes and realizes she’s just as terrified, walking the tightrope between nostalgia-fortified past and uncertain future. Jiwoo rests her forehead against Stella’s, both of their hearts laid raw on their sleeves.
✦✧
Hamin hovered beyond the doorway and we ignored him the same way we used to five years ago. It’s all similar. Different but similar. Laughter trickled down from upstairs. Muffled thumps followed in close succession. I tried to imagine other girls having more fun than us and then I tried to imagine us having more fun than we were having and then I just got sad about how late it was… (fin.)