Solarium

1969 Moon Landing

They said she was named after the brightest star in the sky.

"You have to be grateful to be named after the brightest star in the sky."

"And combined with its companion, the Moon! What a genius."

Or maybe her father was just that obsessed with the moon landing. The historical moment in 1969 that shook the whole world, even with the nation's flag remained still in the windless moonscape.

A perfect match to her father's dreams of fortune. He would gladly give everything away for that one stroke of luck, for that one chance at a turnabout.

And her mother, her sweet and demure mother, is doing everything she can to bring that dream to fruition, after years of questioning why he cannot just accept his wife and daughter as the fortune he always dreams of.

"Byul-ah, we have a mission."

She looked at her mother, quizzically.

"Mommy will try her best to let daddy see we are indeed his pride and joy. Now, don't you want the same? You should strive to be the pride and joy your father always wanted you to be."

Sitting on her mother's lap, it's not like she has a choice.

After all, she is her father's daughter. Isn't it the duty of all daughters in the world to make their father happy?

So she excelled in all lessons at school. Mathematics is no big deal. English is her favorite lesson. History is only the cherry on top. Does that make her a geek? Well, perhaps you can ask her 'admirers' to always clap and shriek every time she scores a goal for any team she joins. The sweat trickling from her hair and dripping from her chin is enough to drive the girl's raging hormones wild.

In every class, she excels. However, Art and Crafts is a different story.

Pay attention to the rim. Cut it evenly. Match it to the shapes. Do not miss any of the pieces; if so, point reduction. Don't forget to color it. Don't want to? Then you can kiss your score goodbye. She was this close to banging her rusty scissor on the table's edge when a voice cut through her thoughts.

"Your scissor is dull."

Startled, the elementary kid turned to face the classmate beside her. The first thing that she noticed was her mole.

"I'm almost finished anyway. Just get it back to me when you're done."

And she resumed her work, completely ignoring everyone around her.

"Thank… you."

"Don't mention it."

Okay, the silence unnerved her already. She put her hand towards the mole girl, who only stared back.

"My name is Moonbyul."

It takes a moment before she decides to shake her hand back.

"Hyejin."

There was a collective agreement that the new transfer student will push the popular girl from the throne, but nothing changed. Moonbyul is still the same popular girl, surrounded by girls and receiving glares from boys. While Hyejin, the new transfer student, will always sit at that one seat near the window, surrounded by one and eventually, none.

"I heard she caused problems in her previous school. That must be the reason why she transferred here two months before the end of the school year."

"She rejected every advance. One girl had a crush on this one boy, and that transfer student ruined everything."

"How?"

"She told the boy, and he rejected my friend the next morning. I bet she told him to do it."

The rumors were starting to grate on her ears, but what can she do? Moonbyul glanced at Hyejin, but the other girl just stared blankly out the window.

——

"Ahn Hyejin-sshi."

The field is almost empty. The crack of dawn is a sure sign that every student should have gone home, but Moonbyul is not in the mood to adhere to the rules. She stands in front of the slide, looking up at the mole girl at the top of it, only to find her staring back with a surprised look.

"You scared me for a second. There is no need to be so loud."

Is that a joke? Moonbyul takes one deep breath before turning to Hyejin with her most sincere and comforting smile. "The rumors are not true. We have to tell the teacher about this. If you want, I will come with you—"

"Stop it."

"What?"

Hyejin pinched her own cheeks and pulled it to both sides, showing a wide grin.

"Your smile looks like this. It looks so tiring; looking at it tires me so much."

Moonbyul is at a loss for words. She doesn't know what to say as Hyejin jumps off the slide, coming to her.

Then proceed to cup Moonbyul's cheek.

"Thank you for the offer though. It was sweet of you to do so."

Moonbyul froze to the ground as the girl left the park, humming a tune to an unknown song along the way.

It was safe to say that she filled her mind with the same girl since that day.

The mole around her mouth during Mathematics.

Her tanned skin during English.

That smirk that has to look so… what's the word?

Alluring?

She drops her head to the desk, producing a booming sound that shocks everyone in History Class. Finally realizing the noise that she made, Moonbyul raises her right hand, muttered weakly. "Can I go to the toilet, please?"

She swears she could hear a faint humming coming from the seat near the window.

——

It was the stickiest summer she had ever experienced.

Drenched from head to toe, with her uniform shirt sticking to her back like a wet newspaper, Moonbyul hastened home. In her mind is only the ice lolly she kept in the freezer the night before.

"Mom?"

She found her mom standing in front of the building. But her mom didn't budge. She looks blankly at their flat on the second floor. The window was pitch black. Moonbyul was about to step forward when a hand gripped hers. Moonbyul was about to question before she looked upon her mother's face.

Her hands are shaking madly. Her eyes were even more so. The sound of the door opening jolted her awake. She could see someone.

A woman who was holding her father's hand and kissing him all over.

Father looks so pleased.

"Mom!"

Moonbyul chased her mother. She ran with a speed she had never seen before. This must be a dream. Her mother was such an obedient wife, she was such an obedient daughter, they had been the most obedient family he would ever have...

Oh, right.

Her father's obsession with the fortune he'd never laid hands on. Why would he spare a glance at something that he already has?

"Mom, LOOK OUT!"

There was a truck speeding in front of her distracted mom.

And the dreams were shattered.

——

She took a last glance as the cloth unfolded, revealing her mother's face.

Her mom, so young, so obedient, so beautiful. She thought her love would be enough for the man she ever loved so dearly.

Even though I have been such a good daughter,

Even though I pray for your happiness,

Even though I smile so often,

you still left me.

(edited)