smokespriteflx

[smokespriteflx]

2 - tell me more i could die

You couldn't help but blush at the kdrama you were watching. Your mind was going places on its own, yet you thought that as long as you didn't directly acknowledge it, it would be fine.

Another notification startled you. This time your smile dropped. It was a WhatsApp notification, which meant it was from someone back in your country. More specifically, your boyfriend. For now. He was sorry, but he would never say it. He just sent you "Hey" and a cat sticker. The distance was rough between you both. You had been dating each for a couple years, were almost about to move in together when your dream job changed your life completely.

It had begun as a home office job like any other, a company from South Korea hiring lawyers from your contry to work in their legal department, helping them enter the Argentinian market. But soon enough your hard work (and dual nationality) paid off and the more you got promoted, the more vital you became to the company. Two years later you had found yourself boarding a plane straight to your new home across the globe.

Of course this didn't come without its doubts and problems. You had talked with your boyfriend about the possibility of splitting up, but both of you were still not ready to let go, settling for a long distance relationship to see if you could make it work. It wasn't working so far. You were too doubtful and he was too trustful. There were times when you thought he was just taking you for granted, or worse.

With a sigh you opened the app and typed a reply. The conversation kept going for a while without neither of you acknowledging the fight you had a few days ago. Though you preferred it this way, your heart told you it was not okay to store it all up like it was nothing. When it got too late, you excused yourself and went to sleep. That night you greeted your pillow with tears once again.

6 am on a Saturday the phone rang with a loud ringtone. You could swear it rang even higher than normally. Without opening your eyes, you answered the call.

"MARU Oh my god I'm so sorry, I know I woke you up but this is important" You could only sigh at the nickname and the high pitched voice practically drilling your brain through the line. Your sister was right though, she was well aware of the time zone difference and would've never dared to text you, let alone call you, at untimely hours. "You don't need to worry! It's not family related or anything bad" she continued. You nodded out of habit, then made a noise for her to know that you were there listening.

"Guess... who... is going... for a few days... to visit you!!!!" Each word said higher than the last, deep down it made you happy, but it was too early for you to be able to give a proper reaction. "It's okay, I know you're excited, you don't have to answer right now. I just wanted to let you know first and foremost, I'll be there next week for a couple of days!!"

"Great. I'm glad. Let me know the details later" you said. On the other side you heard a long "okaaaay" then the call dropped. You were now fully awake.

Instagram seemed the best choice yet again for a distraction and a way to ease yourself to start your day. You were more than pleased to see that early birds get the worm as kseokjin had just uploaded a new story a few minutes ago. This time it was a picture of a mess on the floor, next to a very guilty looking dog. You felt a rush through your body, and it almost felt that your fingers typed on their own a reply.

You immediately locked the phone, throwing it far away in your bed. A giggle escaped your mouth and you couldn't help but to cover your face with your sheets. Seconds later, you took a deep breath and pretended to no one that that didn't just happen.

It was just a text, just a friendly text. It was okay, you didn't have any friends in Korea, so it was fine for you to talk to people. It was encouraged, even. It didn't have to be something awkward, besides he was probably dating that semi influencer girl who had posted him on her story. It was fine.

*Ding*

Oh shit. Time to face the consequences of your actions. You checked the preview on your notifications tab.

"🤨"

Shit. A long pause. Another ding.

"I'd say this is not..."

The message was cut by the end of your phone. You questioned if you should reply fast. Quickly shaking your head, you repeated what you said earlier: it doesn't have to be awkward, he can be just a friend. You opened up the DM.

This could become a conversation. It was your turn to say something. You decided to try to sound neutral, like a casual conversation with a stranger, which essentially, it was.

"Yeah, kids these days can get away with anything"

"ㅋㅋㅋ tell me about it, I have to clean up this mess now"

"Right. Good luck with that!!"

He liked the reply and that was it. You felt a little dissapointed that he didn't keep it going, but on the third time you read everything again you could tell that you were the one who finished the conversation. It was okay. It should not be that important anyways.

[smokespriteflx]

1

Sudor en las manos. Era una simple respuesta a una historia. Aún así, tu respiración ya se había agitado.

Era un jueves por la noche cuando estabas deslizándote a través de las historias de instagram, tu mente apenas procesando la imagen cuando saltabas a otra automaticamente. Fue en ese momento que una en particular llamó tu atención. El usuario era una semi influencer de Buenos Aires que también se había mudado a Seúl hacía algunos años. Documentaba su vida y cómo se iba adaptando a los cambios, la habías empezado a seguir desde el día 1 de tu mudanza. La historia era una foto de una merienda abundante en una cafetería que ya conocías, el ambiente muy bien decorado y la comida digna de ser fotografiada. Lo que llamo tu atención fue lo que se encontraba detrás de la tetera y los platos con pequeñas tortas. Con la cabeza baja, casi como si no hubiera notado que le estaban sacando una foto, se encontraba un chico con el pelo negro y bien estilizado. Tenía una camisa blanca, sus hombros estaban levemente inclinados hacia adelante. Su tamaño hacia que todo se viera más pequeño, casi como si fuera para niños. Arriba, justo encima de su cabeza había una etiqueta: @kseokjin. Tu curiosidad te llevó a presionar el botón para ver el perfil de Instagram. Luego de unos minutos viendo las imágenes, decidiste seguirlo.

Te sobresalto nuevamente el sonido de una notificación. Lentamente sacaste tu teléfono del bolsillo, casi saboreando el suspenso de ver quién era. Kseokjin le había dado like a tu respuesta. Esperaste algunos segundos para ver si llegaba otra notificación, algún comentario adicional. No pasó. Guardaste tu teléfono con un pequeño suspiro, casi imperceptible, y miraste alrededor de tu oficina vacía sintiendo la mirada de mil ojos imaginarios. Respiraste profundamente y seguiste con tu trabajo.

Inevitablemente en los días siguientes tu actividad en instagram creció. 2 a 3 historias día por medio para no parecer muy desesperada pero activa. En todas ellas podías ver entre los 3 primeros usuarios aquel que te hacía abrir los dedos de los pies. Kseokjin. Esperabas atentamente alguna respuesta, una reacción, un like. Nada. De su parte hacia algunos días que no subía nada, por lo que tampoco tenías la posibilidad de reaccionar con algún emoji. Dentro tuyo pensabas que era mejor así, de esa manera casi podías ignorar la culpa.

Esa noche te sentaste en tu sillón con Netflix de fondo, lista para tu momento de relajación del día. Entraste a instagram y ahí estaba, la imagen del chico cuya mirada se escondía detrás de una gorra tenía un círculo de colores alrededor de su foto. Tu dedo se movió más rápido que tu mente. Una foto de un atardecer al lado del río Han. Pero el foco de la imagen estaba puesto en un perro que justo había saltado para agarrar un frisbee, su cuerpo todo retorcido y sus ojos bien abiertos. La siguiente historia era un zoom a la cara del perro, que te hizo soltar una pequeña risa. Te debatiste algunos momentos tu próximo movimiento. Decidiste enviar una simple reacción de risa, algo neutro, pero que supiera que estas ahí. A los segundos recibiste la notificación de que le había dado like a tu reacción. Sentiste un leve escalofrío en el cuerpo, tratando de no pensar demasiado en el poco tiempo de respuesta.