Chapter Text
"Don't be so upset, Miae."
The young girl just sniffled at her mother's words, wiping her tears as she sat in the backseat. Tears fell as she blinked a few times, peering up to look at her parents seated in the front of the car.
"Will we be able to come back?"
Her father nodded as he drove, peering back at her through the rearview mirror.
"I'm sure we will, they invited us to come over in the future! So dry those pretty eyes, my beautiful daughter, there's no need to be sad!"
"Okay…"
But it wasn't okay, not for her. She did try to hold in her tears, having already calmed down a little. So, turning to the window, she watched the trees go by with teary eyes. She had drifted to sleep not long after, waking up when they finally arrived back home. Still bummed out, she quietly made her way up to the apartment, waiting for her parents to open the front door.
"Are you still sad? Come on, you'll feel better if you eat."
Miae sniffled as she sat at the table, staring at the takeout in front of her. Her mother let out a small sigh, turning to her daughter and patting her head.
"What is it, Miae?"
"I didn't get to say goodbye…"
Her mother turned to her husband, giving him a small nod. Clearing his throat, he nodded back as he got up from his seat. A few moments passed before he called out from the living room, causing his daughter to look over to him.
"Miae, come here."
Sniffling, she gave her mother a confused look before slipping out of her chair. Her mother gave her an encouraging nod, urging her to go to her father. Wiping her tears as she followed her father's voice. He smiled as he held the landline out to her, motioning for her to take it.
"It's for you."
He placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head as she accepted the phone, walking back to the table as she raised the phone to her ear. Sniffling, she spoke up with small voice.
"Hello?"
"Miae?"
She gasped at the voice, tears reforming in her eyes as she clutched the phone in her hands like it was a lifeline.
"Cheol! I'm sorry!"
"Miae-"
"I tried to wait for you, but my parents made me leave! Wah!"
She couldn't help but cry once more, wiping her tears as she held the phone to her ear. She hiccupped a few times before Cheol finally spoke up again.
"Don't cry, Miae, I don't like it."
"S-Sorry, I just-hic-I just didn't even get to say goodbye to you!"
He was quiet for a moment before speaking up, his voice a bit quieter and tight.
"Neither did I."
Miae cleared her throat before putting on a brave face and nodding, as if Cheol could actually see and be comforted by her movements.
"I talked to my parents, they said that we'd be able to go back and visit you and your family!"
"Really?"
She smiled when she heard his usually-stern tone lighten up. She nodded as the two conversed a bit more. They had only stopped when both sets of parents called them to eat. Letting out disappointed sighs, the two wrapped up their conversation.
"I need to go…"
"Me too, I need to eat. Ah, Cheol!"
"Yes?"
"Goodbye!"
She listened as his breath stuttered for a bit on the other side of the line. A second passed before he finally responded, his voice tight once more.
"Goodbye, Miae."
The two waited a few more seconds before hanging up both phones. Miae stared at it for a moment before going back to the table. She climbed into her chair, much happier than she was before. Her parents exchanged smiles before pushing their daughter's meal towards her.
"Eat up before bed."
"Okay!"
Eating away, her smile never faded even as she prepared for bed. She soon found herself alone in her room. Climbing into her bed, she let out a sigh as she peered out her window. She watched the sky a bit before frowning, closing her eyes as she murmured to herself.
"There was so many stars in the countryside…"
Snuggling into her blanket, she let out a sigh as she drifted to sleep. Her dreams were filled with the countryside, along with the kind boy who lived there.