Catch up: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

After the graduation ceremony, the boys join their classmates for celebratory drinks. Though DJ appears not to drink alcohol, SY gets plastered—DJ’s parting is taking a bigger toll on him than he lets on.

DJ sends a drunk SY back home and takes up his parents’ offer to spend the night at their house considering the late hour. SZ leads DJ to SY’s room to settle for the night.

Much later, as SZ makes her way downstairs to fill her water cup, she notices DJ sitting on the steps outside the house in thought.

She slowly approaches him, asking DJ why he’s still awake concerned that he’s not comfortable sleeping on the couch in SY’s room. He assures her he’s fine, he’ll go up in a bit.

But SZ can tell he’s upset and sad no matter how many times he denies it.

“If you’re upset, you can tell me, it might make you feel better. I won’t tell anyone about it,” SZ gently promises. It’s also fine if he doesn’t want to talk, she can accompany him in silence.

Unlike his usual confident self, this DJ needs someone to be there for him.

“Let me tell you a secret”, DJ starts, “I’ve plenty of debtors out there”.

“How much do you owe? Is it a large amount?” With some urgency and wanting to make him feel better, SZ tells him not to panic. Once she grows up and starts making money, she’ll help him pay it off.

DJ stares at her. “I’m not kidding, I’m serious,” SZ says in earnest.

He smiles and affectionately pats her head. “SZ these aren’t my debts. You don’t need to repay them. So SZ, after you earn some money, buy some beautiful dresses for yourself”.

A silence descends upon the two of them, one in deep thought while the other in concern for the one next to her.

Super early that morning, SZ senses DJ’s departure before anyone in the house wakes up. As she goes on her balcony, she sees DJ who turns to look up at her. He raises his phone, indicating she keeps in touch, and waves goodbye with a smile. SZ can’t muster one of her own, she’s so very sad seeing the boy she admires, her only crush, walk away in the morning darkness.

A text from him comes through telling her he’s taking an early morning flight back to his hometown if she can explain his abrupt departure to her parents. He ends by asking her to keep in touch and let him know how her studies proceed.

Her reply is for him to not forget his promise. Though will he know what she means?

Did you forget your promise to tell me first?

SZ resolves to focus all her efforts on her studies. She’s on a mission to succeed so she can meet DJ again.

One evening, as she makes her way down the stairs to the kitchen where she plans on pranking SY who’s cooking, she overhears him on the phone.

“What did you say? DJ got himself a girlfriend? Really? Isn’t that great, he’s finally done it. Do you have a picture of her?”

SZ is in devastated shock. “SY does DJ have a girlfriend now?” she hesitantly asks him. Perhaps the entire thing was in her head.

SY replies he’s not sure, QF just told him that’s the case. Next thing he knows, SZ runs up again all thoughts of dinner forgotten.

Unwilling to accept it, SZ tries to tell herself that what she heard must be fake. After all, he promised her that he’ll tell her first if that ever happened. But no matter what she tells herself, it’s not convincing enough to dispel the fears.

・❥・

She might be crazy but she can’t help it. She needs to figure out the truth, does DJ really have a girlfriend?

The only way she can ascertain his status is by seeing him in person. So bright and early the next morning, SZ leaves home, heads to the airport, and makes her way to DJ’s hometown.

As soon as she lands, SY calls to ask why she’s not at her cram school. She tells him where she’s at, that her online boyfriend told her to come over (he’s from DJ’s hometown). SY tells her to stay at the airport, he’ll have DJ go pick her up. If she so much as goes to meet her online boyfriend, he threatens, she’ll be in big trouble once she gets home.

There’s nothing to do except play this farce of a game, she’s come too far.

Waiting, SZ picks up a phone call from her parents. Her mom instructs her not to run around the airport, to go to the police should anything happen, and to consider her safety first. She should wait for DJ to arrive. Her dad on the other hand is about to lose his cool.

After hanging up, another call comes through.

“Where are you?” It’s DJ.

Next thing she knows, the real DJ calls her name across the room dressed in a suit. A moment later, a woman walks next to him calling his name. SZ can only stare at the two of them.

Her heart is breaking, the little hope holding it together long gone.

Too stunned and too sad, SZ is oblivious to DJ’s lecture. Clearly concerned, he needs to understand what’s going on but SZ is unable to respond. She can barely move let alone talk.

DJ takes off his coat to drape it over her (it’s winter and cold). He crouches to her level and asks, “Did he tell you to come? Have you met him?”

“He doesn’t like me. He said that I’m too young,” is her answer.

DJ says the man did the right thing, she’s too young. SZ, however, tells him she’ll eventually grow up.

“Then wait until you grow up,” he tells her.

“But when I grow up he’ll fall for someone else,” she responds with a cracked voice.

He assures her that it doesn’t matter, when she grows up she’ll meet someone better. Tears unwillingly fall from her eyes. She apologizes for troubling him though she can’t for the life of her stop crying. It hurts to see the one you care for so deeply slowly drift so far. Losing the possibility of him is extremely painful.

Before departing, SZ hands DJ the graduation gift she never got a chance to give him. With her return ticket purchased, the two once again bid farewell. It’s different this time, more permanent, less hopeful. DJ feels this difference though he can’t put his finger on what it is.

SZ takes out a bear plushie he got for her a while back, one she values because it reminds her of him, handing it over. The last thing she sees is DJ waving, plushie in hand, with an adorable smile.

Is this the end of them?

I’ll put you away in a little box and move on with my life

“SY how’s your sister,” his dad asks in a low voice as SZ makes her way upstairs. His mom suggests they talk to her over dinner, however, SY doesn’t think there’s a need.

“She knows her mistake, she cried the whole way. I already scolded her,” he tells them. “DJ said the guy didn’t make any promises, it was her wishful thinking”.

The concerned family members agree it must be a teenage phase, part of growing pains. They should keep that in mind and not criticize too much. But some measures must be taken.

“We must hold onto her ID card and pay attention to what she does online,” the mom says. The dad agrees along with them confiscating her phone.

Being understanding while also protecting without overstepping bounds is a wild challenge.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom upstairs, SZ looks around at all the signs of the dreams she had been working toward. She’d tried so hard in school to raise her grades so she could apply to the university in DJ’s hometown. It was a good school plus it was in a place she could see him.

Gathering the bottle of folded thoughts and feelings along with the plushies that were from him or reminded her of him, she placed everything in a white box. This was another wave of goodbyes only this time it was a goodbye to a version of herself.

・❥・

Two years later, SZ is now a student at YU (her dream school though no longer because of that person). She’s started a new life, made new friends, and met wonderful roommates. YZ, the tomboy but direct one; WW the shy, nerdy one; NW the vlogger and beauty guru. All are so different but complement each other perfectly.

Today is NW’s birthday and she’s invited quite a few of their classmates and their friends to celebrate at a karaoke room. As the large group makes its way to a private room, SZ is captured in the mass and misses the tall figure of a man who walks past them. The man is DJ.

DJ is there with some colleagues one of whom is trying to introduce DJ to a young woman. Handsome and appealing, DJ only makes the meeting awkward by offering to shake her hand. He doesn’t seem interested though he’s careful not to come as rude.

How do you evade potential setups without offending the parties involved?

In the birthday party room, the group is dancing and singing. SZ is having fun. One of the guys they recently met, JM, an attractive-looking athlete, approaches her striking conversation.

“What do you usually like to do?” he asks.

“Read comics,” SZ replies but doesn’t expand.

He goes on to ask if she likes outdoor activities to which she gives a resounding “no”. A few more questions come her way though she’s not engaged with the conversation, replying only in kind.

“Hey, it’s my birthday, what are you two doing flirting down here?” NW comes up to them. She urges them onto the floor to sing and dance. But SZ tells her she’ll go outside for some air, she’ll be right back.

As she makes her way outside, something falls from her jacket pocket. Bending to pick it up, she hears a familiar voice she hasn’t heard in two years call her name.

Slowly looking up, SZ’s eyes meet with DJ’s.

I’m not a little girl anymore, I’m a grown-up

He picks up the item she’d been reaching for, a packet of cigarettes, and says “You’ve started smoking?”

DJ holds up the packet of cigarettes accusingly. SZ tries to work past the haze of seeing him after so long to respond that it’s not hers. But he’s persistent, he clearly saw it fall from her pocket. He accuses her of picking up bad habits and proceeds to confiscate the packet.

SZ tries to explain he’s got it all wrong, it’s her friend’s packet. DJ though is on the roll, next comes “You’ve been drinking?” SZ admits she has been drinking a little.

What sort of first meeting is this?

Suddenly he finds another fault as it’s been a long time since they last saw or spoke to each other yet she didn’t greet him. What gives?

DJ leans a little closer to her, bending his tall body so he can have a better look at her eyes. This habit of his always makes it harder for SZ to sort her thoughts. Looking into her eyes seems to be a permanent feature of his personality.

“Are you out here to have fun?” she tries changing the topic. She goes on to say it’s her roommate’s birthday.

But DJ isn’t too keen on polite catch-up conversation. He confronts her for not visiting him ever since getting into YU and moving to his hometown, especially during the most recent holiday when she must’ve been free.

She had classes and a part-time job, there just wasn’t time. All lies but what’s she supposed to say, you broke my heart and don’t even know it?

DJ recalls he too worked part-time jobs and somehow found time to meet with her teacher, help with her homework, and take her to school.

“Ungrateful thing,” he throws an accusing look at her, “this kiddo has no conscience at all”.

SZ tells him he was a senior in college then, she’s a freshman and simply more busy.

“Are you calling me old now? SZ, take a minute to reflect, what exactly did I do wrong?”

But she never said he did anything wrong. Regardless, DJ’s trying to figure out what made her lose touch with him, that’s evidently clear.

“I’m a grown-up now. Don’t you think it’s a little awkward if you keep calling me kiddo?” There, she said it.

“How old can you be? You’re still a kid,” DJ smiles. SZ tells him he’s grown old and weathered during these two years.

“Check your phone and see how many messages I’ve sent you. You didn’t reply once, why?”

She was busy, she had classes, and she had to isolate herself to make it into YU.

His expression says he doesn’t fully buy it, there’s something she’s not telling him. But it’s late (in his words, “past nine”), he can take her back to campus. She tells him she’ll go with her friends.

As she’s about to head inside he stops her. “SZ, it’s been so long, you’ve learned how to put on makeup. You’re indeed different from before”. She nods in agreement to his tentative acquiescence that she’s not the same “kiddo”.

Once inside, SZ realizes her friends will be staying longer, especially since it’s her roommate who’s hosting the party. She needs to get back to the dorm though in time for her daily video call with her mom (who has her daughter on an unofficial curfew at 10:00 PM every day because yes, she’s in college, but she also flew into another city to meet a complete male stranger two years ago).

“We won’t stay too late. Anyways you should head back first because your mom will be calling,” NW tells her.

“Remember to text us when you’re back,” her roommates remind SZ as the girls wave bye at each other.

Making her way outside, SZ delves into a mental analysis of her encounter with DJ. Truth be told, she hasn’t processed it yet. She can’t believe he still calls her a kid! That old thing!

“Are you talking about me?” his voice comes through from his seat in the lobby. Oops, did she say it out loud?

He smirks, “I suppose so, I’m the only old thing you’ve met tonight”.

“I wasn’t talking about you”. Time to remedy the situation.

“Then who were you referring to?” he asks while looking straight into her face.

Damn, focus on his neck, it’s the closest thing at eye level anyway. “I was just mumbling,” she mumbles back.

“Then tell me, who crossed you and made you say that? I’d like to know,” he persists. What’s up with this guy?

“DJ, the thing is, you don’t have to be nosy,” SZ finally tells him. She walks past him but he stops to ask why she’s not going with her friends like she said earlier. SZ doesn’t need to say anything, he’s guessed the situation. In fact, he might’ve been waiting just to confirm his guess didn’t play out.

“Let’s go,” he says, “this old thing will take you back to campus”. So much for the efforts of avoiding interaction with him.

There’s a loaded silence as they ride in his car. DJ lives in the opposite direction of campus, (from what he told her) she’d be fine taking the metro instead to avoid taking him out of the way.

“Young lady, I just wanted to settle a score with you while driving you back,” DJ says. Once he hears she’s had one bottle of beer that night, he reminds her to be more careful when going out and it’d be better if she doesn’t drink alcohol when going out with strangers.

His tone is not accusatory but he’s digging himself into a deeper hole. SZ can’t be too angry though since his words are clearly out of care.

Silence again descends in the car to the point DJ asks if they can talk a bit.

“Why do I get the feeling kiddo that you’ve something against me?”

“I don’t like it when you call me that,” SZ admits.

The two start conversing. DJ is now a game developer; SZ went to YU not because of the “old online friend” but because of its good digital media program. Her brother had been angry with her decision because she hadn’t told him she’d applied far from home. But she was an adult now, she was old enough to make her own decisions.

But you still see me as a kid she thought.

“I was just kidding earlier, I know you have your activities,” DJ says while walking her to the dorm. She did, however, call him an “old thing”, isn’t that kind of rude?

Thinking she might have touched a chord with that statement, SZ apologizes promising it won’t happen again.

“When you’ve free time, you can come over to have a meal with me,” DJ adds in a hopeful tone. She gives a brief nod simply because it’s difficult to ignore his earnest wish to talk to her despite her resolution to avoid him at all costs.

He suddenly hands her the bag he was holding that has honey water and smiles. He’d purchased that earlier anticipating her potential hangover.

SZ tries to remain untouched by his actions. This is typical DJ, it’s the kind of person he is, thoughtful and kind. She mentally tries to remind herself it’s not because she’s special but because he’s a good, beautiful guy.

“By the way, I’m alone over here,” he tells her, “so when I heard from your brother that you’re coming to YU, I was really happy”.

Is he trying to make her feel guilty for avoiding him? If so, he’s succeeding.

SZ goes up to her room, preps the honey water DJ handed her, and replays that last part. Why would he be alone here? Isn’t this his home? Besides, what about his girlfriend?

A text from DJ reminds her to get someone to accompany her if other times she needs to return late. She okays it then starts scrolling through his messages in the chat over the years. He told her he’d sent many texts, never getting a reply from her, and he was right.

Listen, girls, I have a friend with a secret

The next morning, NW tells SZ that JM, the cute athlete, kept asking if she’d be safe once she left last night.

“He’s quite a nice person,” NW hints. “Has he contacted you?”

SZ checks her texts and sure enough JM’s latest is volunteering to accompany her if she’s ever out late. Ironically she clicks on DJ’s message from last night asking her to find someone to accompany her if she’s ever out late.

Suddenly, SZ sits down and the girls surround her ready to listen. “It’s my friend,” SZ starts. Her roommates glance at each other knowingly.

“My friend liked her brother’s friend when she was young. He later started dating and she gave up on him. But recently they ran into each other and her friend doesn’t know what to do.”

“How old is her brother’s friend?” NW asks.

“He graduated from university two years ago, he’s 24 and a game developer,” SZ answers the girls’ question–on behalf of her “friend”.

The tomboy, YZ, gets excited at the last bit. She knows stuff when it comes to gaming and reveals the game DJ has been working on is one of the most popular games that year!

Trying not to be distracted by the impressive turn SZ’s guy suddenly took, NW asks “Does he have a girlfriend right now?”

SZ doesn’t think so and she also doesn’t think her “friend” still has a crush on him. The girls look at her dubiously.

“Then it’s simple,” YZ concludes, “since there are no feelings, just treat him as a typical friend. Have causal chats now and then, what’s the fuss?”

Shy WW asks what her “friend” is worried about. “She’s worried that this guy only sees her as a little girl,” SZ reveals. NW asks her to describe the guy so they can picture him.

“He’s handsome. He had good grades. He’s interesting to talk to. He’s…”, the girls prompt her what he is.

“He’s charismatic,” SZ finishes. What a great word to describe DJ.

NW drops the “friend” act, “Then how did you two meet?”

“He’s my brother’s friend,” SZ tells them, the act long over. “He used to come over a lot.”

“Based on your description, he must have a girlfriend,” YZ unfortunately adds in. The rest of the girls seem to agree but SZ isn’t too happy to end on this note, so she gets up. That’s enough talking.