LAST WORDS OF A SHOOTING STAR - THE UNCANNY COUNTER

Evening Light

Yuna pinched the bridge of her nose as the TV droned on, black jacket slung over the back of her chair.

"Shin Myeonghwi got away once again." Hana glared at the screen, the muscles in Motak's face ticking with resentment.

"We'll be sure to catch him next time. For Mun's sake."

Yuna nodded along but stayed quiet, mind whirring too much to formulate a decipherable thought until the back door opened, Ms Chu stepping inside as the rest watched her fix her hair in the mirror she had set down on the table.

"What's up?" Yuna spoke up as she noticed the concentrated frown on Hana's face, her eyes tightly shut.

"Level one, near the mall."

"Let's go." Ms Chu moved to get up only for Motak to lay his hand on her shoulder.

"You stay here. It's just a level one spirit." Motak looked over to see that Yuna was already slipping on her jacket, "You too, kiddo."

She looked over at the man, a deep frown on her features, "I'm an asset."

"You're a child." He walked towards the door, stopping briefly to pat Yuna on the head, "A glorified child with floaty powers."

She let out an overdramatic scoff as the two Counters brushed past her. "You know what? Ms Chu was always my favourite."

The bell chimed as the door closed, Hana and Motak not sparing her a second glance as they disappeared around the corner. Letting out a huff, Yuna turned to Ms Chu, the older woman looking mildly dazed until she spoke up.

"Wanna help me make my broth?"

Yuna grinned with a nod, skipping into the kitchen, retrieving the recipe from where it was pinned on the cork board.

Ms Chu followed after her, noticing the slip of paper in the younger's hands. "You know I don't need that."

Yuna let out an impressed noise as the older woman grinned confidently, beginning to prepare the broth.

A peaceful ten minutes passed them by, the comfortable silence between them filled with the gentle strums of a classical string instrument through the radio, the bubbling within the pans.

"When you first showed up, you reminded me of my daughter in law." 

Yuna's pursed lips loosened into an expression of subtle surprise, any daydreams she had in mind slipping away beneath her growing curiosity. "Really?"

"But then you started being a smartass."

She grinned with a shrug, "At least I'm consistent."

She handed Ms Chu the chopped vegetables she had prepared, watching as she slid them off of the board into the pan.

The TV remained on in the dining room, the endless mentions of Shin Myeonghwi sparking a thought in the mind of the older woman.

"You and Hyukwoo were childhood friends, right?"

Yuna glanced over at Ms Chu for a moment before picking up the wooden ladle from the counter, absentmindedly stirring the broth.

"Back then he was the only person who truly cared about me. And now I have you guys. Jangmul."

She looked at the side of Ms Chu's face for a moment for any reaction, for any doubt in microexpression. There was none. She had always been openminded when it came to her loved ones.

"I'm never gonna excuse the things he did, they're wrong. If he had been as cruel when he was younger, I never would've befriended him. But he wasn't. He was cold and guarded himself, sure, but he cared so deeply."

Ms Chu hummed, "If I'd grown up with a father like the mayor I think I would've gone a little crazy too. We're all products of our environment. Treading water, just waiting for someone to pull us out."

It's comfortably quiet for a moment before Yuna grinned, wrapping the woman in a side hug. Ms Chu muttered words of disapproval but she couldn't fight the smile that was growing on her face.

"It's no surprise Suho turned out to be one of the good spirits, with a mother like you." Ms Chu rubbed her hand over Yuna's back, the girl continuing as they separated, "But when you and Jangmul get married, you'll be like my legal mother."

Her mouth dropping open, the older woman didn't hesitate to whack the girl on the arm with the nearest oven glove. "What are you talking about? When Jangmul and I get married." Ms Chu scoffed while Yuna continued to laugh quietly.

She refrained from telling Ms Chu about the bet Suho and herself have going on, in fear that the oven glove would evolve into something more solid and painful. No cash was involved of course, what money are a highschooler and a spirit going to have, anyway? It was purely winner's satisfaction.

Yuna had been studying in the basement for an hour after that. She didn't particularly want to, considering it was winter break. However she definitely didn't want to interrupt Ms Chu and her old daughter-in-law having dinner upstairs by wandering around to find something less mind numbing.

She was thankful for the clock Motak had replaced down there, after the old one was smashed when he was swinging some dumbbells slightly too enthusiastically and launched one across the room, narrowly missing an unsuspecting Yuna.

Upon hearing the news of the Mayor waking up, she had wanted to visit Hyukwoo. She was surprised at how easily he had complied, his message short, but a confirmation she could come over. Yuna had promised to bring Chinese Takeaway, which had always been his favourite.

He wondered if she had remembered or it was purely coincidence. He concluded it was the latter.

It was nearing half-past-six when she heard the bell chime signaling Suho's wife's departure. Yuna took her leave, packing away her books and grabbing her pullover before making her way up the stairs.

On her way out she passed Ms Chu and Jangmul, his jacket draped over her shoulders, which brought a smile to Yuna's face. She skipped past them, turning only briefly to say, "Don't be too late, you two."

"We should be telling you that! Where are you off to?" Jangmul called after her.

"Hyukwoo's! See you later!"

Hyukwoo wasn't sure he'd ever felt so stupid when he realised he was plumping up the cushions of his living room sofa, in preparation of Yuna's arrival.
The boy laughed mockingly to himself before slumping down onto the sofa, kicking his feet onto the coffee table as he stared up at the ceiling above.

If someone were to see him now, he was sure they would think he owned the place. A king in his palace. A rich boy within the safety of his white picket fences. But, contrary to how he presented himself, he had never felt entitled. He felt like an imposter in what was meant to be his own home.

Feeling idle, his mind drifted back to her, just as it always seemed to.

He thanked past Hyukwoo for becoming close with Yuna in the first place, before he became so jaded. Although, she did almost all of the hardwork to bring him out of his shell.

To be her friend.

It meant he could look at her, admire her freely, without fear of questions, and without fear of the change those questions could bring. That is exactly why he swore he'd never confess.

After she left, he had spiraled into a mindset of only looking out for number one. Living a life of self preservation at any cost, but still hoping that one day he'd see her again and things could go back to the way they were.

The concept of love, love for him, had grown to be nothing but a pipedream. But, Yuna, she reminded him of how good it felt to be loved. To be cared for. And now that he's felt it once more, he wasn't sure he could live without it. He felt so alive, and he resented her for it, she made it so much more difficult to be a coward.

For the first time in a long time he was actually looking forward to something, a newfound lust for life, feeling hope optimism spark within him, a foreign feeling.

But that light died as soon as he heard the front door close and his father's voice ring out.