NELL: The Cure

Chapter 12

Bom had never thought that she'd see him again. It has been almost 5 years since she saw him and it wasn't a nice memory to begin with, it was a nightmare. She had suffered every night waking up to the painful memories and fearing that it would happen again.

It was true, she had changed, far from who she was before, her clothes, her hair, her face, and how she viewed life. Love, She doesn't even know what that word meant anymore.

5 years ago...

How it all started began with an innocent night out at a bar.

"Cheers! Finally, medical exams are now over," Chaerin sighed as Bom smiled brightly, her eyes twinkling behind her thick-rimmed glasses. They both sipped their light-alcoholic drinks and chatted on about what the hardest part of the exam was. Earlier, they had dined with their other female friends before heading off to the bar to just enjoy the night.

"I almost called out all the gods in heaven when I saw all the questions," Bom giggled while Chaerin shook her head before taking another sip. Unexpectedly, Bom's eyes met contact with a guy near the bar. He smiled at her while she on the other hand quickly looked away. Chaerin saw the small connection between them nudged her.

"Yah, I think the guy wearing a grey jacket likes you," Bom looked at Chaerin in disbelief.

"No he doesn't. I mean why would he?" she said taking another sip of her drink. "As you can see I'm not the prettiest being inside this bar," her words made Chaerin shake her head.

"Bommie, are we going to have this talk again?" Chaerin adjusted her seat so she could look at her clearly while Bom groaned and reluctantly looked at her best friend. "Oh god, here we go again," she muttered while pretending to shake in fear.
Not giving in Chaerin continued. "Listen to me, you're pretty. Why can't you see that?" she said getting a bit frustrated when she heard Bom sigh. "Uh, do I really have to say this? Look, you're even prettier than me,"Chaerin said humbly. "I have a problem with my eyes," Chaerin continued and Bom almost choked on her drink.

"Hul! Chaerin-ah, can't you see us right now? We're the complete opposite of one another," Bom protested. She had a point. Looking at them, Chaerin wore more fashionable clothes and shoes. Her hair was styled prettily and she didn't have to wear glasses. Bom, in contrast, wore thick rimmed glasses and didn't even bother styling her clothes which are more conservative and dark brown hair which she ties up all the time.

"How could we not be opposites of each other? I keep telling you to lose the glasses, let your hair down more often, and the... clothes," Chaerin was left speechless as she looked at her. She had always wanted to style her and lend her more fashionable clothes but Bom kept rejecting the idea.

Before Chaerin could speak further Bom spoke. "Thinking about it, I guess we really are pathetic. You can't confess to the guy you like and I have self confidence issues. I'm really thankful for the encouraging words but can't we just-- ah!" Bom had just been bumped by some tipsy guy.
"Oops, my fault... I'm sorry miss..." the guy started in a deep voice. He's words came out in a drunken tone. "...you're so cute... what's your name? I'm T.O.-"the guy didn't finish his introduction when his friend came up and pulled him away.

"Hyung, let's go home," his friend said in a bored tone. Chaerin could see his friend's arm tattoos and frowned. To some it may be cool but to her it just shouts ex-convict, drugs and danger. He was wearing shades, which was weird since it is eleven in the evening. He glanced at her and she looked away immediately. Oddly, she never got intimidated by just one glance, this guy just was... different.

"C'mon, G...I don't want to go home yet... I want to go meet... cute girl back there... she's my ultimate type,"the tipsy guy yelled as his friend dragged him back to their table, shoving him down to the sofa.

Bom and Chaerin were left stunned as they looked at each other. "Eew, did you see that? That...that alien tried to touch my face," Bom complained as she placed her hand on her chest and took a quick drink. "Too bad he's handsome," Bom added to herself but then shook away those thoughts. She wondered why she even contemplated about his features.

"Well, at least he thinks that you're cute, see, I told you," Chaerin said, laughing lightly.

"That doesn't count, the guy is drunk, drunk enough to say that I'm his ultimate type," Bom said as she and Chaerin hurriedly finished their drinks and paid the bill. Bom fears that he'd come back and harass them both.

They have gotten up from their seat ready to leave when the "drunk alien" as Bom would like to call him stood up at their table, wobbling a bit before singing loudly

아껴온 한 마디 살결을 가까이
(That word that I've been holding back till now, our skin's almost touching)