go big or go home.

I can feel the beads of sweat form as I sit outside of the emergency waiting room, Doctor Liu stressing as well. "Shoot, Jungwon, what happened back there?"

"I don't know, Chenhan, I-" I sigh heavily, feeling the guilt bare onto me. I try to backtrack, trying to remember it all. Finally, it hits me. When I removed her from the wheelchair, her IV came out as well. She must've fainted from high blood pressure or something far worse than that. "Shoot, god damn it!"

"What!?"

"I took out her IV," I stress, causing Chenhan to sigh heavily. "I had to take it out, I- she wanted to go on the Ferris wheel. I just wanted to take her there... and I kissed her. She must've known that after that... she was going to faint. "I didn't mean for her to be in this condition, really, Chenhan-"

"It's okay, Jungwon, it's not your fault. You didn't know about it, it's fine," She sighs, nodding. She smiles softly, pushing up her glasses. "Next time, though, please make sure to never take her IV out. It gives her the medicine that keeps her alive."

I nod, sighing heavily. I'm trying my best to keep it together, especially when I worry deeply for her safety. Before I can talk to Chenhan, I hear loud and swift footsteps down the hall. Chenhan instantly turns, her eyes widening as she stands straight.

"Where is she!?"

"Mom, calm down," Shoot. An entanglement with her mother? I didn't ask for this... and especially after what both the Liu sisters told me, she was bad news. I eye her up and down as she tries to charge into the emergency room: Long, chestnut hair, a dress in cheetah print that shows her multimillion worth, and her red heels that somehow match the outfit that it's repulsive. She turns to me briefly, but soon, she stares at me. I look at her neon red lipstick. It's scary. "Mom, I promise you, Rena is just fine and will be out soon-"

"YOU!" She yells at me, pointing as she charges over. Chenhan's eyes fire up in alarm as I stand still, unable to move. She stands in front of me, hand in the air and ready to beat me up. "Are you the one who brought my daughter outside of this hospital?!"

"Yes ma'am, but-" Silence. All I could hear was the sound of her hand against my cheek, the loud thwack! as she decided to slap me in front of one of her children. The sting lingers on my cheek shortly, and even as it fades away, her hand imprints a red stain against my face. Chenhan's hands cover her mouth, a loud gasp echoing as she watches in shock. "I hope you stay far away from my daughter. You don't deserve a beautiful blossom like her. People like you ruin people like her. If you try to take her outside of these walls again, I won't hesitate to sue you for all you've got."

She glares at me one last time as I hold my cheek, walking away as I exhaled heavily. Chenhan runs over, checking my face with wide eyes. "Shoot, she left quite the mark... Jungwon, are you okay? Sorry, mother is very protective over Rena. Don't take any of her words to heart."

"No, um... she's kind of right," I itch my head, looking down. Chenhan places her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it slightly. "Sorry, it was my fault. I didn't mean to anger you nor your mother."

"You didn't anger me, Jungwon, please-"

"Please make sure Rena doesn't find out about the conflict between your mother and me," I say, looking back up at her. She frowns, letting go of me. "Give me a call when she's awake. I just remembered that I have things to do before my parents get home." Lies.

"Oh, okay, be safe on the way home Jungwon," She nods, smiling sadly. "I'll make sure to give you that call."

I nod, unable to move my lips to talk to Chenhan any further. I turn away, walking away from the mysterious beeping and closed doors. Her mother is right. I could never understand Rena the way her mother could, the way people like her could. She deserves the right to feel equal, to feel happy, and I just don't think I can do that for her. She's a flower that deserves more water, not fire.

However, as much as her mother is right... I won't back down. I finally realize that Rena is more than just a pretty face, more than just the rebound of Sunwoo. She's someone who's far more important... and though things may be inevitable, I want to be the one to stand by her when it happens. Even when she's leaving me.

She is the water, and I am the star.

I am a star that watches from afar, that can only protect by being wished upon. I light up the darkest paths for people, ranging from small to large. I hope she'd be one of those people.

However, as much as I am helpful, she is independent. Water flows freely through every crevis, every crack. If one path is blocked off, she will take the other. If there is no path available, she will find her way around no matter what. She absorbs knowledge like water may absorb dirt, and brings it along with her until the day she must give it to someone else.

And though I specialize in helping people,

I also hope to be wished upon, to make paths... for water.

Chenhan called me this morning, telling me that Rena's been looking for me. She woke up around two in the morning and instantly wanted to talk to me. To be truthful, she's been on my mind as much as I've been on her's. I walk towards her hospital door, hearing leisure talking. As I listen in, the voice surprises me. Sunghoon.

"I hope you can tell him, Rena," He clears his throat. "I hope you can tell him that as much as he may love you, he still has to focus on himself. I've never seen him change so drastically."

"I'm... sorry, Sunghoon. I didn't know Jungwon had been dodging you and his life," Rena replies, causing me to widen my eyes. What was he telling her? "I promise you I'll make sure to remind him, and again, I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused."

"No, don't blame yourself, Rena. You're a nice and pretty girl, trust me. I just... want my old best friend back. Before you, before his collision with a girl that... that..."

"That...?"

"...Nothing, I'll let him explain that to you when he's ready," Sunghoon shoves his hands in his pockets as I peak from the window, my eyes narrowing. "Please stay safe, and I wish you a safe recovery, Rena. Thank you again."

"Oh... of course."

I see him walking to the door, so quickly, I hide behind the vending machine in the waiting room. I hear the door creak open, the door softly slamming closed as Sunghoon leaves to my right. I glare daggers at him from behind, shaking my head with a heavy sigh. How could he go... without telling me? Have I become that bad?

Minutes later, I finally muster the courage to enter Rena's hospital room. As I enter and close the door behind me, she's facing her IV. She sits in her wheelchair, using the other hand to drink orange juice. Turning to me, she sees it in my face. "You heard something, correct?"

I hesitate whether to tell her the truth. "...Just the end."

"Do you want to know everything, Jungwon?" She asks quietly, pushing her head down. "I... Never thought I'd have to meet your best friend over a circumstance like this, Jungwon..."

After sniffling, she rakes her hair back, smiling sadly. She starts to tell me everything.

"Oh, hello," Rena bows slowly, unable to move her legs. Sunghoon bows as well, taking a seat beside her bed. "What brings you here?"

"I'm Park Sunghoon, Yang Jungwon's friend," Rena's interest in him sparks, causing her to put down the book she was reading. "You know him, right?"

"Very, yes," She nods, turning towards him. "What's the problem? Did he send you instead of himself?"

"No, haha," He itches his head, sighing. "Please don't tell him I've come. He's against allowing me to meet you, so please keep my presence a secret."

Rena had no intention of keeping anything a secret, not when she knew how this would end. Nevertheless, the girl nods, listening in. "Listen, I know you both have been getting along very well, and trust me, you guys would make a great couple," His sentence is a red flag that almost causes Rena to become suspicious, but she keeps it to herself. "He's just been failing a lot of classes because he's been giving you too much of his time."

Rena feels a pang in her chest, one that's not fatal nor dangerous. Just heartbreaking. "I just hope you can ask him why he's like this because he won't answer my pleads. This has happened before once, and it didn't end well. That's why I came to you, so that maybe... you can convince him that there are more serious things."

"More serious things?" She recalls.

"Like school, you know? I want him to have a future..." He trails off, meeting Rena's softened eyes. "Don't you want that too for Jungwon? For his happiness, his wellbeing? If you really loved him, you'd make these sacrifices."

She could tell Sunghoon was purposely trying to get her to succumb to such unbelievable acts. The boy was a walking red flag, biting off more than he can chew. However, because of Jungwon, she nods for his sake. Sunghoon nods, hoping that he can trust her.

But, to both parties,

neither of them was trustable to each other.

They finally met. They met at the border I was trying to keep them away from. All because of my insolence.

"You've been failing school, Jungwon?" She sighs as she finishes the story, causing me to rub my temples. "You know how much I prioritize you, Jungwon, but you-"

"I know, I have to focus on school, but that can wait, Rena-"

"It can't wait if your future depends on the success you have with school," She slowly urges forward, grabbing both of my hands and entangling them with her's. "Please Jungwon. If you love me, you can still focus on me and school at the same time, right?!"

I don't answer, my eyes staring at her pleads. "A-And if you can't, then just prioritize school. I want you to have a future and be happy, Jungwon. I can come later-"

"I want you to be in my future, Rena," I whisper, interrupting her. Her eyes tremble, trying to look me right in the eyes. I couldn't face her much longer, not while she's agreeing with Sunghoon on this. "You are the future I want. If you aren't in my future, I don't want it at all, so please... don't convince me of such a common matter. I'll be fine."

"Jungwon-"

"And tell Sunghoon if he ever comes back that this is my only warning," I say, lowering my head. I remove her hands from mine, her eyes tearing up. "That I will not let this slide again."

I look at her one last time, swallowing my tears. "Have a nice day now, Rena."

I walk to the door, ready to run away from what I believed was comfort. "Yang Jungwon!"

My hand trembles against the doorknob, and I hesitate. However, it only took me seconds to realize how bad I wanted to leave, and I did.

I'm sorry Rena.

You are my utmost priority,

even if there is still someone higher.