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6. Exciting

The moonlight slowly crept through the gaps of the large apartment window, creating a beautiful silhouette on Starla’s contemplative face. The light reflected a golden hue in her eyes filled with doubt. Luna sat beside her, sensing Starla’s mind wandering far into the past. Luna’s gentle touch on Starla’s shoulder went unnoticed initially, prompting Luna to try again, this time with a bit of firmness. Finally, Starla snapped out of her deep reverie.

“Huh? How long have you been here?” Starla asked, her eyes widening in surprise as she realized Luna had been standing in front of her.

“I’ve been here since you got lost in your own thoughts, about 15 minutes ago,” Luna replied with a smile, eliciting a small laugh between them. “Sorry about that, Star. I guess I got you reminiscing about your past again.”

Starla shook her head gently. “Oh, it’s alright, Luna. I’m okay, really!”

Luna gazed deeply into Starla’s eyes, her expression serious yet warm. “But you need to hear what I said earlier. You have to keep moving forward, Star, no matter what. I’ll always support you, every step of the way.”

“You know, Star, forgetting isn’t about erasing entirely. It’s more about allowing yourself to start letting go,” Luna’s gaze was filled with wisdom beyond her years. She knew Starla had been trapped in heavy memories, like debris from the past pulling her back.

Luna’s words sounded profound, filled with conviction about their bond. For Luna, Starla was an irreplaceable part of her life and would always be so. They embraced each other, feeling fortunate to have a friend like this. As their embrace finally ended, Starla fell silent, her gaze shifting into the distance.

“When will I ever be able to forget it all?” she murmured, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

They sat together by the edge of the bed, letting time pass amid their warm conversation. Starla paused for a moment before speaking again, “I hope one day, I can see everything from a different perspective. Without feeling burdened anymore.”

...

A bright morning atmosphere welcomed the universe. The morning sunlight seeped through the window, illuminating every corner with its warm glow. The sound of running water from the bathroom shower accompanied the fragrant aroma of coffee wafting from the small kitchen. In a corner of the room, Starla sat at the chair with slightly disheveled hair, brewing a cup of coffee while enjoying the morning quiet. Soon, Luna emerged from her room, her face bright with the cheerful morning. She wore casual clothes with her beautiful hair cascading down.

“Good morning, Luna!” Starla greeted cheerfully.

“Morning, Star! You look so fresh,” Luna smiled, turning towards Starla. Then suddenly, Luna squinted as she realized something. “Wait a minute... are you really going on a date?!”

Starla sighed, “Oh please, Luna, this is just a casual outing, not a date!”

Ignoring what Starla said, Luna jumped around, fully awake and enthusiastic. “This is amazing! Today is a big day, Star! You have to get ready and look fabulous.”

Starla chuckled at Luna’s enthusiasm. “Calm down, Luna. I’ll be fine. And why are you so excited?”

Luna took a breath, then looked at Starla with excitement. “Because this is a rare occasion. I have to help you pick out your best outfit! And we need to talk about your plans for today.”

“You have to look stunning today, Star,” Luna said as she rummaged through Starla’s pile of clothes. “This is a chance to impress!”

With enthusiasm, Luna helped Starla to get up from the couch. They both headed to Starla’s wardrobe filled with clothes. After selecting the right outfit, Luna assisted in styling Starla’s hair. They sat together in front of the mirror, with Luna sharing ideas about places they might visit or things they could do.

“Oh, I bought a lovely hair accessory yesterday! You have to wear it,” Luna rummaged through her shopping bag.

“Oh come on, Luna. That’s yours, why should I wear it?” Starla protested.

“Don’t be difficult! Just put it on, I’m telling you,” Luna insisted, not accepting Starla’s refusal.

In matters of fashion, Starla always trusted Luna’s excellent taste. To her, Luna was the best judge of style and appearance. Although initially hesitant, Starla eventually decided to fully trust Luna and follow her friend’s advice on what to wear today.

As Luna enthusiastically helped Starla pick out clothes, Starla could only surrender and let Luna take the lead. Amidst the pile of clothes, Luna presented several options that she believed would suit Starla.

“Look at this, Star. I’m sure this color will make you shine,” Luna said as she pulled out a pastel-colored blouse from the pile of clothes.

Starla glanced at the blouse, feeling a bit unsure. However, seeing Luna’s enthusiasm, she decided to give it a try. Luna also picked a pair of elegant trousers and matching shoes to complete Starla’s look.

“With this style, you’ll definitely look amazing,” Luna said confidently.

Starla smiled and nodded. “Alright, I trust you, Luna.”

After Starla put on the chosen outfit, Luna helped tidy up her hair and applied a little makeup to complete Starla’s look. Although Starla initially felt awkward with the change, her trust in Luna made her feel more confident.

“Let’s see the result,” Luna said, showing Starla the mirror.

Starla was surprised to see herself in the mirror. Her appearance was truly different, but in a positive way. Luna’s chosen style added a fresh touch and highlighted Starla’s natural beauty.

“I can’t believe it, Luna. You’re really good at this,” Starla said with a smile.

Luna smiled satisfactorily. “You’re always beautiful, Star. I’m just giving a little help.”

They then walked out of the apartment confidently, ready to face a fun day. Starla was grateful for Luna’s support and the confidence she instilled. For her, that day was proof that sometimes it’s important to trust others, especially when it comes to matters of style and appearance.

Not long after Starla finished getting ready, a notification sounded on her phone. Starla opened the incoming message.

Kim Ha-neul: Good morning, Starla. Are you ready?

Starla: Yes, almost. I’ll be down to meet you shortly.

After sending the reply, Starla smiled satisfactorily at her bright appearance in the mirror. Luna, her friend, stood beside her with a smile.

“Have a nice ‘outing,’ Starla,” Luna teased, emphasizing ‘outing’ with a light laugh. Starla shook her head with a smile, slightly rolling her eyes.

With cautious steps, Starla approached the apartment lobby where Ha-neul was already waiting with a warm smile. An unexpected joy crept within her, evoking a longing for something more than just an ordinary day. Starla took a deep breath, ready to embark on that day’s adventure. Even though it was just a regular outing plan, why did it feel so thrilling?

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