Sun and Moon

CHAPTER 2 – RUN, MOON, RUN!

It had already been more than three weeks since that “fateful” day in France had happened. Yet, my stars still couldn’t get enough of the “Fifth Guy.”

I absentmindedly bit the reusable stainless metal straw I was holding. I groaned aloud, trying to grasp what I just did. Urgh. My teeth almost fell out. I heavily sighed as I stared blankly at the strawberry shake on the table. I clicked my tongue, still annoyed.

I pushed my drink away. I thought I just lost my appetite. I looked at the huge window glass beside me and stared at the people who were busy walking along the busy streets of Manhattan—the most densely populated borough of New York City, where I lived. I had always enjoyed watching people in my most favorite hang-out.

Pink Box is one of the most popular hang-outs in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, well, at least for teenagers like me. Right in front of Pink Box is a mini-park where anybody could stay, talk, walk, or even skate. It was kind of like our school’s annex because a lot of my classmates and schoolmates gather here together during weekends or even right after our classes.

A crazy thought suddenly popped into my mind. What if, the Fifth Guy from France suddenly appeared? I laughed at my own idea. Silly. How could she see him in Manhattan? France was like miles away from here.

My mind drifted back to the “Fifth Guy” again. If I’d only admit, I had never really forgotten about him…and our hasty kiss. I couldn’t help but blush at the thought of him…and his cold eyes. Crazy as it may sound, but I liked his eyes most.

There was something about his eyes that made me feel like…want to be close to him. I couldn’t explain it, but I find it hard to forget his eyes.

I pouted. Was I having a crush on the Fifth Guy? Ewww.  Oh well. He wasn’t exactly an “Ewwwww,” but I hated the fact that he called me stupid.

I wasn’t stupid, right?

My train of thought was suddenly interrupted when a cheeky girl with purple hair called out my name as if she was constipated.

“Moon! Moon! Moon!” cried out, Ms. Constipated.

I irately rolled my eyes. She was Crystal, my friend, and sister from another mother. I raised my right hand and waved at her like Catriona Gray. “Just come on over!” I yelled.

Crystal looked so excited while running towards the table I reserved for us. “I think I found him!” she exclaimed.

I gave her a what-the-heck-look. “Again?” I sarcastically remarked.

“Hey! This time, I know I really did!” she pouted. “Is this mine?” she asked as she grabbed the strawberry drink I pushed away not too long ago. She grabbed the glass and took a sip even before I could answer. “Thanks!” she said grinning.

“Nah, it’s okay,” I dismissed, smiling.

“So, as I was saying. I really think I found him.”

I felt a sudden pinch in my heart. I tried to act cool, though. “The Fifth Guy? Again? When will you stop this nonsense, Crys? He’s in France!”

“I found his f******k account! I don’t really mean I found him here, you i***t!” she snapped, and then laughed.

“Hey, look. My brow just arched and shouted, as if I care.”

Crystal took her phone out from her pouch and gave it to me. “This is him, right?”

I took the phone and stared at the picture she’d shown me. “I-it kinda looked like him,” I admitted. My heart started raging like a bull.

“This is him! My cousin from another school said, he looked like his friend’s cousin’s classmate!” she shrieked.

I wrinkled my nose. “Since when did your cousin have a friend in France?”

“He’s not from France! He’s from New York!”

Now. That. Caught. My. ATTENTION.

“N-New York? S-shut up! That’s not possible!” I exclaimed.

“I haven’t verified the information yet, since summer vacation isn’t over. Mike’s still in California. He’d come home after a few weeks or so,” she shrugged.

“D-did you stalk his account yet?” I hesitantly asked.

Crystal shook her head. “Private. I already sent him a friend request, but he never responded.”

Somehow, her answer made me feel relieved. “L-let us not talk about him, shall we? And please stop looking for him like my crazy stars do. You guys are just wasting your time. I already put the video in private mode `coz you can’t stop talking about him.”

Crystal looked at me with a wicked grin. “You’re just makin’ it an excuse. You’re embarrassed to see your awkward kiss over and over, right?” she teased.

I threw her a threatening look. “Shut up!” I barked.

That’s when Crystal’s face turned white. “M-Moon…” she gasped.

“What?” I asked, and rolled my eyes.

“I think I saw him.”

“You already told me so.”

“Now.”

My brows furrowed. “What? What now?”

“I saw him now?”

“Stop being such a creep. Puh-lease.” I held my tiny body bag, as I got ready to leave. “Aren’t we supposed to go shopping today?”

“He’s coming over,” she nervously whispered.

I stared at her pale face. “Y-you’re not joking, right?” I whispered back. Crystal shook her head. “H-hell no. What do I do?” I started shaking as soon as panic hit me. “Don’t look at him, please,” I pleaded.

I slowly took out my compact powder from my body bag. I opened it and pretended to fix my face while checking out if Crystal was telling the truth or not. I may look like a fool, but I couldn’t risk being caught right now.

And girl, she was right. Right by the door, Fifth Guy was standing crossly, as if in pain, waiting for someone he hated. A few seconds later, the Fourth Guy showed up. They were talking right in front of the door. How could I manage to escape now?

What is happening? Why were they in New York? Weren’t they supposed to be in France? They certainly looked like French! Or, did they, really?

“Crystal, what do I do? I’m starting to shake really bad.”

“I know, right. Seeing them upfront is way more different than trying to find them on f******k. Wow, his eyes looked scarier in person!”

“What are they doing? Oh my gosh. Don’t tell me…”

“Yes, they are looking at this café right now. Oh no, Moon!”

“Oh my! Are they looking for me?” I asked, more scared.

“They are coming over. They just entered the café!”

“L-look, I’ll do my very best to run as fast as I can. Don’t do anything stupid so that we won’t catch their attention, okay?” I told Crystal.

“Oh no, I’m feelin’ scared right now, Moon.”

We were both in shock and panic so that I couldn’t blame her. “Don’t worry. They wouldn’t know I am here. Besides, they must’ve forgotten about me.”

“You think, so?”

“I hope so,” I answered. “Okay, in a count of three, I will stand up. Walk out the door and run away. I’ll see you at the subway, okay?” Pink Box is almost too close to the subway station, too. That’s one of the reasons they loved hanging out there.

“Y-yeah, sure.”

“Hey, don’t be scared. They don’t know you,” I assured Crystal. That seemed to do the trick. I felt her relief when she sighed and tried to smile. “Now, just like what I told you, don’t do anything stupid like…”

My words were interrupted when Crystal unexpectedly knocked the glass of strawberry shake in front of her. The tall glass rolled over the table and fell on the floor. The sound of broken glass received a couple of gasps from people around us.

“O-oh no…” Crystal gasped.

“L-like making a scene, Crystal. Just like this,” I angrily snapped.

“Hey, are you okay?” came from a voice behind me.

His voice froze me. Fourth Guy. Oh no! I swallowed a lump on my throat. I didn’t even want to move. I gave Crystal the say-something-like-just-go-away-look.

“N-no, I’m fine, thank you,” Crystal replied as if she’d read my mind.

“She said she’s fine. Now, let’s go,” said the cold voice.

Fifth Guy. I clenched my fist. “Dear Lord, please don’t make them stay any longer,” I silently told myself.

“When will you stop being such an arse, Sun?” the Fourth Guy asked, obviously annoyed. “I’m sorry, my cousin’s such an…” he stopped talking when Fifth Guy, whom Fourth Guy just called Sun, cleared his throat. “Again, I’m sorry. And…”

His words were stopped again…but this time, it wasn’t because of his cousin. It was because of me—clearly. I saw how his eyes turned wide as if in disbelief when he saw me. And then, the “O” on his mouth curved into a devilish grin.

“Hey, look, who do we have here? The Kiss Thief,” Fourth Guy announced.

That was when the Fifth Guy turned to me. Just like his cousin, he looked shocked, too. But unlike the Fourth Guy, his “O” didn’t turn into a grin—it turned into a grim straight line. His whole face literally turned red—probably from so much anger and hatred for me. I could even imagine his hands choking me to death.

“I…uh…” was all I could say.

“You…stupid girl!” Fifth Guy roared.

“I d-don’t know you?” I tried to fake a smile, but I failed miserably.

“You will pay for what you did!” he said.

Well, I don’t really have anything with me to pay for him, so I did what I thought would save me. I pushed the Fourth Guy, who was in front of me, before the Fifth Guy could even come closer to me. Since everyone was shocked, I took it as an opportunity.

I got up, as fast as I could, and then ran towards the door, leaving Crystal who looked like she was about to burst out crying.

“I’m sorry, Crys!” I shouted without looking back.

I ran as fast as I could. I didn’t know how to face them—especially “him.” What the heck would I say? “Hello, sorry for kissing you?”

I shouldn’t have fulfilled the dare! Or maybe, I should’ve asked for something else. I was trying to m******e crazyforyou143 on my mind while running away like a mad dog. As soon as I got to the subway station, I stopped running.

I was busy catching my breath, hands on my knees, sweat on my forehead when a voice suddenly came up behind me.

“You didn’t really think you’d get away from me, did you?”

His mocking voice made me shudder. I slowly stood up and looked behind me. There he was, Fifth Guy, glowering at me. I gulped.

“I’m sorry, Moon,” came Crystal’s voice behind the Fifth Guy. Fourth Guy was with Crystal, obviously trying to stop her from running away, too.

“W-what do you want from me?” I nervously asked.

“What do you think?” the Fifth Guy asked, dangerously.