Page 149 of A World Apart
“Isn’t he?” She wiped at her cheeks. “Because Ben wasn’t that man, until he was. We had plans, you know. We were going to live together for a few years before we’d get engaged, get married, buy an apartment. It was the plan.” Her chin trembled as she spoke.
“But all our plans turned to shit. Babes, you don’t even have plans. You don’t even have an official relationship.” I flinched. I knew she hadn’t said that to hurt me, but hell if it hadn’t.
“What will you do when he leaves you? You can’t even talk about it to anybody. Because I’m telling you,” her shoulders heaved as she tried to force her words out, “don’t come crying to me when he does.”
A tear slipped down my cheek, but it wasn’t for me. I reached for her, finally, scooting forward until I could wrap my arms around her, half-expecting her to push me away, but she didn’t, and she never would.
“I will always come to you, and you will always be there for me,” I murmured, rocking her slightly, “and I will always be there for you. That’s the deal, that’s always been the deal.”
Becka wound her arms around my waist, holding me tight enough to bruise, but I didn’t complain.
We sat there for who-knows how long, just being with each other, feeling the tension seep out until, still holding each other, we slumped against the back of the sofa.
“I’m going to miss you so much.” She pulled back to look at me, her face now dry but the sadness written on it remained.
“I’m going to miss you too.” What else could I say?
“You better go pack. Good thing you didn’t bring much.”
I laughed, but it quickly turned into a sob, the mix of emotions swirling through me like a carousel. Which one was driving it − who could tell?
“Now?”
“Yes babes, you can’t wait any longer.”
“Will you help me?”
“Of course, babes.”
Becka stood up, holding her hand out to me to pull me up. I slid my fingers against hers and together, we went into my little LA bedroom and began to pack up my temporary life.
Me
Jihoon. I’m coming to Korea.
End of Book One.
Irode to the airport alone. Becka hadn’t been able to face the trip.
“I can’t say goodbye to you twice.” Her voice wavered on the words. “Just once; a clean break.”
I chuckled, but it was a hollow sound that fell to the floor. “Becka, we’re not breaking up. I’m just relocating.”
Becka nodded, her chin wobbling. “I know that up here.” She tapped her forehead with one delicately manicured nail. “But here,” she said as she pressed her other hand to her chest, “it feels like you’re leaving me forever. I guess I got used to the idea of you always being here.” Her eyes fell to the floor, but though they were lowered, I saw the way they glistened.
“Hey.” I grabbed her hand, forcing her to look at me. “I have been and shall always be your friend.”
Becka stared at me for one beat, two, three.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
I burst out laughing, so forcefully I had to bend over as tears rolled down my face; at least half of them bittersweet.
It took me a hot minute to calm down enough to stand back up, meeting her stern, but also somehow softexpression.
“I thought for a second you hadn’t recognised it.”
Becka rolled her eyes at me. “You lived here less than a year and yet we somehow got through every Star Trek film ever released. Obviously, something stuck.”
