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"So you're gonna hop on a plane half the world away because the guy you befriended as a kid years ago gave you a free ticket to this pop band?"
She groaned. Nana always had to make everything she did sound so stupid in hindsight, especially with that tone. Heck, she was crouched over the abysmally short sink cleaning up dinner as she popped the question.
"Well... basically yeah."
"Hm."
She suspiciously looked at her mother, all introspective silence. In those eyes, where she looked for guidance, for anger and for everything really, was a shine only the past could bring. Nana's words could barely reach her as the older woman was quick to leave the kitchen.
"I'd get the car ready."
Hey Naomi! You'd come?
His face took up the entire screen, bright smile not too far from the moon (So sappy my girl, so sappy). She only allowed herself a second for her heart to greedily take in everything.
"You're insane Haneul!", she gestured to the chaos that was her one suitcase, "Pick a better time to ask a gal out, like not a week!"
You won't regret this I promise!
He gestured to a fancy flashlight with a pretty symbol resembling a norigae, tiny letters below spelling HUNTR/X.
Fyi it's pronounced hunt and tricks smooshed together.
She looked at him with all the Seriously? energy in her life. It only took a moment before he cracked, laughing at the stupidity of the whole thing.
The whole thing was a flash of lights, because surprise surprise, a lot of Huntrix (the slash looks cool but silly c'mon) fans came. She barely managed to bow to Auntie Kim before Haneul dragged her to the crowd, a vibration of happiness and unity dancing from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. The band was actually good, she couldn't pick which girl she loved more, but her favorite was their new single they released hours after, Golden.
It was the second night. There was this new boy band that popped up, the Saja Boys. Their debut Soda Pop was a bop as well, but it felt... off.
What she actually worried about was Haneul quietly but openly crying in front of his phone when she came into his bedroom. His friends had turned to the Pride and kicked him out their group chat. She tapped his shoulder first before she hugged him.
"It hurts."
She only hugged him tighter. But when he left for a soothing drink at a nearby vending machine, she did nothing. If she truly loved him, she should've stayed with him, stupid, stupid stupid!
...
Naomi helped in making the ceremonial food (you. Now look at his mother, you whore). She called Nana about what happened (tell her what you did, what your sin is) and agreed to go back.
Home was gone, because it was the bright and funny boy who disappeared, right before the shine of his stars.