Episode 9 - New Beginning

Life in America was really hard to adapt, at least for Stephanie. She just lost her best friend and play mate, plus she was barely 7 years old for American age. Her father did not send her to any childcare centers now; instead, he had a different plan now.

“Steph, you will not be going to any childcare centers anymore.”

“Why daddy? I’m scare if I’m alone at home, all by myself!” Stephanie shouted back at her father.

“I want something new and changes. Since we are at a different place now, let’s try something new. You will like it.”

“What are the changes? No school?!” Stephanie added, sounding excited.

“You will still attend one as a 2^nd grader, just that no more childcare for you. You are growing up my little girl” he said with a pat on his daughter’s head.

“So what is it? Daddy has to work so”

“So someone will come by our house to take care of you.” Her father cut off her statement and continued.

“Who will it be?”

“She’s a nice lady. Plus, she also a Korean. “

“That’s cool daddy. But, I will have no one to play with.” Stephanie sounding a little dejected, she missed having Taeyeon by her side.

“Don’t you worry about that Steph, I will everything under my control and I bet you will like it.”

“But daddy,”

“No more buts Steph. Now it’s time you hit your bed. Come on.”

Stephanie groaned while being dragged up the stairs to her bedroom. Everything changed; her house got bigger (from a single to double story); her father became more gentle and caring and she got no one to play with.

“Sleep well alright Steph. Tomorrow morning will be great, trust me.” Her father brushed off strands of hairs off her face and kissed her forehead.

“Nights daddy.”

“Good night Steph.” He said while switching off the lights. Stephanie tucked into her blanket and closed her eyes. She wondered what will happen tomorrow and what her playmate is doing right now. Slowly and surely, she drifted off to her dreamland.

…

“Taetae?”

Stephanie was on a beach, the same beach that Taeyeon and she were before. The cloud was clear and dreamy. The beach was quiet; the wind was smooth and calming while the sea waves were soaring towards the coast. She saw an outline of a person, a petite and familiar one. She took tiny steps towards it; she was filled with curiosity and fear. She was curious of who that person was, but was feared why she is alone here at the same time. Both emotions build up slowly within her as she advanced faster towards the figure. It was as if the figure was asking her to follow it, and Stephanie did. Bit by bit, Stephanie found herself surrounded by palm trees, somewhere off the coast as the sounds from the soaring waves were minimal. She looked around her to find that figure again, she spin on the spot a few times before seeing her a few meters ahead. Carefully and cautiously, she walked towards it. The figure had her back facing Stephanie; she was wearing a jumper suit and had a tiny ponytail. Stephanie was narrowing her eyes to have a good look at the figure. The figure was about to turn her head towards Stephanie when the latter felt a tickle at the waist. She giggled and looked down. She regained her posture but the figure was gone. The tickling got fiercer and soon she was on the ground, giggling. She heard whispers, faint voices of “wake up”.

…

“Wake up!” another girl was attacking the sleeping body with continuous poking at her waist. The sleeping body was fidgeting on the bed, with her eyes closed. So the girl poked and shakes the sleeping body harder. Slowly, the sleeping body’s eye opened.

“AHHHHH!” Stephanie was awake now and she pushed the person who was a total stranger off her.

“WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!” Stephanie demanded an answer from the girl who was thrown off the bed.

“What was that for?” The push was not a hard one. It’s more like Stephanie brush the girl off the bed.

“This is my room and I don’t know you. That’s why!”

“I am going to tell mummy!” the girl stood up and brush off any invisible dirty on her before dashing her way out of the room. Firstly, she got a weird dream and secondly, there is this weird girl. She made her way towards the bathroom to clean up but a voice caught her.

“Stephanie, you are awake?” Stephanie took a step back as she fixed her gaze at the woman before her. She was tall and slim, figures that seem to only appear in the television, she thought. The woman was wearing a red apron, approaching Stephanie step by step.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m Simone. I am taking care of you from today. Maybe your father mentioned something about it to you?” Stephanie stood still in the “thinking” pose; left arm crossed supporting the weight of her right arm with her right index and thumb on her lips. Daddy said he got everything under control and someone will be here today. So that must be her.

“Daddy did mention someone will be here today. So you are the one?”

“Yes I am.” Simone approached Stephanie and kneeled down so that they are of the same eye level. “It’s nice meeting you Stephanie” she patted the younger girl ‘crown and smiled.

Stephanie felt warm and slowly, her lips shaped into a smile.

“Mummy, she pushed me!” the girl from before broke the warm atmosphere as she nudged Simone’s sleeve with her left hand and pointing her index finger towards Stephanie.

“It’s okay, darling. She is your friend.” Simone tugged the girl closer to her and glanced over to Stephanie.

“Stephanie, meet your new friend, Jessica, my daughter.”

Episode 8 - New Friends

Taeyeon was sitting alone at the table drawing and doodling on a piece of white paper. She’s drawing mushrooms and more mushrooms.

“Do love mushrooms that much?” Taeyeon dropped her crayons and turned back to the source of the voice. It was a petite girl with pony tails tied at the sides of her hair. She was wearing a dress and holding a Barbie doll in her hands.

“Well. I.. “

“I like mushrooms too. They are yummy.” The girl said and took a seat next to Taeyeon.

“They.. are.. “Taeyeon stumbled with her words as she was being asked about a typical regular mushroom, not the human mushroom she was thinking about.

“You must be new here. I haven’t seen you around since I left.”

“I’m not really new. I’m here for about half a year.

“Really? I’m away for half away because of my parents. They kind of took me off for a world tour.”

“That’s nice. How’s the rest of the world?”

“It’s really nice! There are so much food to eat and candies.”

“I love candies! Especially gummy bears!” Taeyeon exclaimed with excitement. The other girl laughed at the silliness of this girl.

“I’m Sunkyu but please call me Sunny.”

“Hi Sunny. I’m Taeyeon.”

“Want to go grab some candies?”

“How to? Ms Kim wouldn’t allow us, will she?”

“Don’t be silly, we can sneak around to get hold of them. One of my friends is really good at coming out with ideas like this.”

“Really? That’s so cool.”

“Wait till you meet her. Let’s go find her.” The two walked around the compound of Joan to look for Sunny’s friend; there was no sight of her at the first level.

“Let’s go up to the second level. She’s abnormally tall for her age. Try to look out for her.” Taeyeon followed the Sunny’s lead and started looking out for the tallest girl in Joan. Just then, she saw a shadow behind one of room’s curtains. The sunlight casted into the room brightly, revealing a tall and skinny silhouette.

“You don’t think she is there right?” Taeyeon whispered to Sunny’s ear, afraid of alarming their “prey” while pointing her index figure towards the huge windows.

“She must be hiding from someone or something. Com’on.”

Once again, Taeyeon tailed closely behind Sunny’s back, tall people are very scary for Taeyeon.

“YAH! CHOI SOO YOUNG!” the scream startled the hidden person behind the curtains. She lost her balance and fell forward. She crashed while pulling the curtain together with her. Even when she is on the ground, she was covered with curtains. Sunny lifted up the curtain to reveal a girl with a tiny face and shoulder-length hair.

“What’s that shout for LEE SUNKYU!? I’m not deaf just so you know.”

“What are you hiding from?” Sunny helped the taller girl out of the fallen curtain and attempted to hang back the curtain. She pulled over a nearby chair, stood on it and stretch her arms to their fullness, but it is not anywhere near the hooks.

“Are you being serious, Sunny? Given your height you think you can hang the curtains back?”

“Must you be so mean? I’m trying to help you here. “

“Or are you just feeling guilty? You made me fall after all.”

“I will never feel apologetic towards an evil.” Sooyoung scoffed at her comment and took the curtain from the latter’s grip.

“I will do it.” Sunny stepped down from the chair and Sooyoung got up and hang back the curtains. She doesn’t even have to extend her arms to the fullness to reach the hooks. She not only has long body length, but long arms too. Taeyeon stood still witnessing this whole scene.

“Oh, there another person here? You are too short for me to notice just now. I believe you should know my name with Sunny’s surprise scream just now?” she brushed her arms and knee caps while talking to Taeyeon.

“Yes. I have heard. I’m Taeyeon by the way.”

“Hi Taeyeon. Stop hanging around Sunny. Or you will just be like her, like her height. I haven’t seen you around. Were you new?”

“You asked the same question like me, giant. Were you away like me? Or I suppose you were in the kitchen busy wiping out the food supply the whole day to notice Taeyeon?”

“YAH! I did not.” Sooyoung voice trailed off at the last word. Taeyeon had to compress her laughter within herself at Sunny’s comment. She breathed hard and spoke up for Sooyoung.

“I was always outside at the backyard. Maybe that is why Sooyoung didn’t see me, Sunny.” Suddenly Taeyeon mind was flooded with images of sand sculptures that Stephanie and she used to build. She was zoning out for that moment when Sunny snapped her figures in front of her face.

“Hey, HEY! Did this giant scare you? Don’t be afraid of her. She is only tall and nothing else.”

“Oh no. it’s not.” Taeyeon replied with a faint smile on her face.

“By the way, why are you two here? I was playing hide-and-seek with the Yuri. But in the end it’s you two who found me. I guess she gave up finding for me then.” Sooyoung exchanged glances between Sunny and Taeyeon while waiting for an answer.

“We need you in the plan. It is call “Get-the-gummies” plan. You should understand just by the name?”

“Yes. It’s so obvious. Why do you need me in your plan? Can’t you get any for yourself?

“Com’on Sooyoung, you know Ms Kim, she’s is like a terror to us. Plus, she wouldn’t even give us anything, more even candies or gummy bears.”

“And you want me to get into her black book?”

“Sooyoung, don’t act like you’ve never done it before when you’ve done it umpteen times.”

“Must you expose me in front of Taeyeon? She has had a good image of me until now. You totally ruin it!” Taeyeon was once again witnessing this whole scene as a third person. But when she heard Sooyoung comment, she thought otherwise. She had this feeling that Sooyoung was like a bully and loud, but she dare not voice her thoughts out, just in case she will evoke the bully.

“Oh please Sooyoung. We can share the gummies! You know, and I know you love gummies.

“That’s true. Now that you said that, I have a craving for some.”

“That’s the spirit! Let’s head down towards the kitchen!”

Episode 7 – Goodbye

Shortly after the day at the beach, Stephanie’s day to fly has arrived.

“It’s my last day here, Taetae. You know how much I will miss you right?” Stephanie spoke with slight clarity in her already hoarse voice.

“Yes, Mushroom. It will be mutual. I will feel the same too.”

“Remember the promise we’ve made when we were on the beach?”

“Yes. I will always remember it. You must not break our promise, okay?”

“Yes I will not break it. Plus, I will fold a blue star every year for your birthday. So when we meet next time, the bottle will be filled with 15 blue stars.”

“I will totally love it, mushroom! Like I said, you are the best mushroom; just that you can’t be eaten.” Taeyeon joked to neutralize the current atmosphere. She is not being used to this kind of situation at all.

“You have the thoughts to eat me?!”

“I will consider if you are blue.” Taeyeon chuckled while teasing her playmate. She will miss the times when she will tease the latter.

“Stop teasing me you, mean Taetae.”

“I’m teasing you right now because I can’t tomorrow.”

“Taetae, you know we will be meeting again next 15 years right?”

“but, 15 years is so long. A lot of things will happen during that period.”

“I’m sure a lot will happen, but I’m also very sure that we will meet that faithful day.”

“Pinky promise mushroom?” Taeyeon held out her closed fist, slowly stretching out her last finger.

“Sure Taetae!” Stephanie excitedly and hooked her last finger with the other girl’s last finger.

“Let’s stamp our promise!” with their fingers still linking, Taeyeon released her thumb from the clutched fist and looked up to Stephanie eye-level.

“Definitely.” Stephanie once again obligated to the other girl’s request and stamped their promise.

“Let’s have a punishment if we fail, touch wood, to keep our promise.” Taeyeon exclaimed while patting on a piece of nearby wood furniture.

“Sure. How about no boyfriends at all?! Or no sweets anymore?”

“No boyfriends! This is good! Okay. So if the person who did not keep the promise will be punished with no boyfriends for 10years!”

“That’s long! But it’s okay, since I will keep the promise.”

“Okay Mushroom! Let’s go outside and play with the sand!”

“Sure Taetae!”

Soon, the sun is setting and batches of parents came to fetch their children home. Taeyeon and Stephanie were the last few remaining after the supposed pick up time.

“I wonder what is holding up my Daddy” Stephanie mumbled to herself while sitting on the bench, swinging her dangling legs forth and back. But her voice was loud enough to be heard by Taeyeon.

“Same here, my Mummy is late too.”

The clock is ticking with every minute passing, finally a figure appeared in front of the both girls from the darkness ahead of them.

“Steph? Are you there?” the figure said as he shortened the distance between him and the girls.

“I’m here, Daddy. Why were you so late?”

“I was helping this lady just now with the punctured tyre. I’m sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s get on the car now.”

“Wait a while, Daddy. I must say goodbye to Taetae.” Stephanie cried and turned to the shorter girl.

“Taetae, this is goodbye. I really hope to see you soon.”

“Same here Mushroom. You must remember me and our promise okay?” Taeyeon finished her statement and rushed forward to hug the other girl. Stephanie returned the hug and they both enjoyed each other embrace until Stephanie’s father walk up to her daughter.

“You must be Taetae. Stephanie talks about you a lot. I’m happy that she met you here.”

“Hi Uncle. I’m happy that I’ve met her too.”

“I’m sorry that you girls have to part.” He said while placing his arm over Stephanie’s shoulder.

“It’s okay, Uncle. I will meet her again.” Taeyeon and Stephanie’s dad were having a conversation while Stephanie remained silent on the spot. She is extremely devastated and heartbroken to have another love one leaving her.

“I’m sure of that too. Steph,” he looked down to his daughter and added “we have to go.”

“Bye mushroom.” Tears started to form at the corners of Taeyeon’s eyes and seconds later, drops of tears streamed down her cheeks.”

“Good bye Taetae.” Stephanie said in between her breaths while catching oxygen from her intense sobbing. She is more emotional compared to Taeyeon. She was already weeping while the other two were conversing.

“It’s nice meeting you Taeyeon. I believe that is your real name and thank you for taking care of Stephanie these days. She was really happy. Goodbye.” Stephanie’s father patted Taeyeon’s crown and tugged her daughter closer to his body, signaling her to stop her crying while making his way towards the car. Stephanie followed his father footsteps and moved along towards the car, leaving a crying Taeyeon at the bench waiting for her mother. The both of them reached their car and Stephanie’s father opened the passenger seat’s door for Stephanie to get on.

“Steph, let’s go.” Stephanie remained on her spot and turned her head slightly to face Taeyeon. She saw a small figure ahead of her. She very much did not want to get separated with Taeyeon but her father circumstances did not allow that. She looked towards Taeyeon direction and with her gaze fixed onto Taeyeon. The gaze did not break while she was being carried into the passenger seat of her father’s jeep by her father.

“We.. will.. meet.. again.. Taetae.” Stephanie whispered to herself as the engine roared.

Taeyeon watched as Stephanie was being carried by her father. Her tears were falling without any internal control from her. She couldn’t bear without having Stephanie to tease, to play, to share lunch and to cuddle as they were having their afternoon nap.

“I’m sure we will meet.” Taeyeon thought to herself while looking that the vehicle that took off towards the main road. Taeyeon was left alone in the dark waiting for her mother after Stephanie was gone. Only after 5minutes, her mother’s car enter Joan driveway.

“I’m so sorry baby, I was… “Her mother said in a rush while walking over to her daughter and noticed she was sniffing and had a red puffy eyes. “Were you crying baby? Who hurt you?” her mother scanned Taeyeon’s body to look for any visible injuries.

“It’s not that. Stephanie is gone.”

Relived that her daughter was not hurt physically, she sighed and hugged her tight.

“It’s okay baby. Hush hush. Everything will be okay. Let’s get home and take a nice hot bath.”

That night, both girls did not fall asleep at the normal timing when they would be sleeping soundly. They thought about one another, the happy moments that they have spent together, and slowly, they drifted off to their sleeping mode. Both girls dreamed while the morning draw close.

-At the airport-

Every single minute passes, Stephanie will exhale a sigh. Her father noticed her behavior while roaming around the duty-free shops in the airport. He entered a candy store and brought a big bag of candies for her daughter.

“Don’t be too sad Steph. I am sad to see you like this. Have some candies or chocolates? It will help you feel better.”

“Really? She took the bag and picked out one blue gummy bear and began to chew on it. She replaced one candy with another candy in her mouth when they are munched off.

“Not too much of it, Steph. You will have a toothache if you continue eating at the speed. Keep it in your bag and save it for later okay?” Stephanie complied with her father‘s request and kept away the half-gone-candy-bag.

Episode 6 – Promise

“Taetae, I..I..”

Stephanie was having a hard time finding the right word to phrase what she is going to put across.

“Yes mushroom?”

Both girls are sitting on a see-saw, lifting and descending the dual.

“My daddy said that we are moving to America because my daddy has to work there.”

Silence engulfed the couple.

“When… when will you be leaving then?”

“Daddy says a couple more months. He said he needs to settle his work here before moving over.”

Once again, silence took over the couple.

“I will be sad, mushroom.”

“I will be sad too, bad Taetae.”

No words were exchanged. The only sound that could be heard was the cracking sound from the rusting screw of the see-saw.

“When are you coming back?”

“I don’t know about that. Maybe if I am a good girl, I will be back in no time!”

Taeyeon let out a big sigh.

____

“Are you going to the beach trip that the teachers are organizing, Taetae? I think it will be fun!” the same bubbly and chirpy Stephanie asked her playmate.

“If you are going, then I am! I’ll need to ask my Mummy though, but I think she will allow me if I tell her you are leaving.” Taeyeon ended off her comment with a hint of sadness.

“Taetae, we will meet again I believe! Make sure you ask your Mummy about this okay! I want to spend a day at the beach with my mean Taetae.”

“Sure, I will ask since you requested me to do so. Anything for my mushroom.” The sadness was conquered by the smiled on Taeyeon’s face. Stephanie returned with her crescent-shaped like smile.

____

“Great news Mushroom! My mummy is letting me go for the beach trip. HOORAY!”

“HOORAY too! There is plenty of sand for us to play. Unlimited amount!”

“Yeah!”

___

It was a humid June afternoon. Although rays of sunlight hit the grounds on Earth, the temperate didn’t rise. Two girls aged eighth were strolling down the coast of Eastern Beach. They were holding hands, intertwined.

“I’m really sad to see you gone. I want you to play with me,” the girl slightly shorter with longer hair cried. She tightened her grip among their fingers. Continuous sniffing sounds escaped her mouth.

“Same here, “the slightly taller girl commented while returning the grip, increasing the tension among the hands.

“Remember to visit me when you are returning back to Korea okay? You are my playmate forever.” The taller girl smiled faintly, with her eyes shaped like a crescent.

They continued their walk along the coastline, chatting about the games and toys they dreamt to get hold on.

“Follow me!” the shorter girl ran while pulling her playmate along. They reached a quiet and deserted part of the beach, where a young palm tree was situated.

“Let’s make a promise! That we will meet under this tree after 15 years. By then, we will be twenty-three years old and the tree will be tall.” She dragged her last word while gazing up towards the sky, imaging the height of the tree after 15 years. They exchanged glances with no words spoken. She looked up to the taller girl, waiting anxiously for her reply. Instead, the taller girl let go of their touches and turned her back towards the other girl. For that moment, she thought that her playmate is going to leave her without any last words. She took a deep breath, attempting to yell at the taller girl before she lost sight of her. But, the taller girl picked up a small rock and faced her.

“Let’s mark this tree so we will spot it after 15 years! All these trees look the same here.” She pouted at the shorter girl, sounding excited at the beginning.

The shorter sighed and nodded her head simultaneously in agreement. The taller girl advanced towards the tree and placed her left hand to cover whatever she marked on the tree, as though the other girl is going to copy her answers for a test. The poor girl behind was hopping and jumping to have a glance at what the other girl was doing, but failed badly. When the taller girl was done, she stepped back so that the shorter girl is able to see it. The latter chuckled after she caught a glimpse of the mark. It was marked as “Taetae and Mushroom” on the top and “15june96” below it. She snatched the small rock from the taller girl and added her mark, which was a heart shape surrounding the text. Both girls smiled with content as they made their way back home. Their walk home was a quiet but memorable one. No words were exchanged because both girls are devastated that they could not play together anymore.

Episode 5 – Protection

“Catch the ball Taetae! I’m throwing it to you!”

*FACE SLAM*

“Ouch!” her scream pierced through the silent backyard like a gun shot. Stephanie quickly rushed to Taeyeon’s side and check on her. Soon, teachers and the other children appeared through the door that connects the indoor to the outdoor.

“Are you okay Taetae? Let me touch your nose and see if it’s flat!” Stephanie pinches her friend’s nose to see if it’s damaged or broken.

“ah ah! Stephanie. It’s very painful.” Streams of tears flowed down Taeyeon’s cheeks.

“What happened here? Stephanie what did you do to Taeyeon?” one of the teachers questioned Stephanie, suspecting that Stephanie was the one who injured the other girl. Stephanie was shocked to be questioned in this manner. She is too overwhelmed to answer the teacher’s question.

“It’s the ball Miss Kimmmm. We were playing the ballllll. I ran with my back facing mushroom andddd when I turned around, the ballll hit my face. It’s not her faulttttt. Don’t blame her.” Taeyeon answered on the behalf of Stephanie. She was trying her best to fight back her tears so that she could speak clearly to the teacher. She looked over to Stephanie; she is standing so still that someone might have hit an acupressure point that stops any human movement. For some reason, she felt that her mushroom was accused of something that she did not do and that she has the responsibility to protect and speak up for her.

“If that is the case, be very careful the next time. Come; let’s go wash your face.” Miss Kim said and held Taeyeon’s hand, pulling her in to the washroom. Taeyeon turned her head and look over her shoulder to find that her mushroom was still as steel.

Realizing that she was alone, again, Stephanie walked towards the swing and sat down. She was feeling down since she was being accused that she hurt her playmate when in actual fact, everything was just an accident. No one wanted this to happen. She didn’t cry because all the accidents with the other children made her strong and tearless. She swayed and swayed, thinking if her playmate’s nose was broken. After washing, Taeyeon quickly escaped the teacher’s clutch and went to the backyard to find her playmate. She was spacing out on the swing at the corner of the backyard. Taeyeon ran up to the other girl and stood still in front of her.

“Look at my nose! It’s still working!” Taeyeon commented while wrinkling and poking her nose. When it did not garner any attention from the other girl, she added with her volume upped.

“It is all good! You can feel it!” she grabbed her playmate’s index finger and started poking her own nose.

“See! It’s hard. AH CHOO!” Stephanie finally looked up to Taeyeon’s face.

“hahaha. It’s… ticklish” She can’t help but chuckled at the face in front of her.

“You are smiling! I’m happy. I’ve got sweets with me.” She fumbled through her pockets and opened her palm containing the sweets. To her surprise, there was only one.

“There is only one. “There was sadness in her tone. Although she wanted to eat it very badly, she opened the wrapper and popped the sweet into the other girl’s mouth.

“You can have it! I have plenty of them back home. Mommy says when someone is not talking; a sweet will make them talk. Mushroom, are you there?”

“I... am” Stephanie replied short, still spacing out with the sweet in her mouth.

“Welcome back! I will push you so you will get higher!” Taeyeon ran to Stephanie’s back and slightly pushed her back. She continued this routine until Stephanie was getting really high.

“Taetae! It’s too high here. I’m scared!” Stephanie yelled. Taeyeon stepped to the side and attempted to slow down the swing by pulling the chains the opposite way.

“I will stop it!”

“Why did you push me so hard for? you are so mean!”

“Mint?! (same pronunciation as mean) you tasted me before?! How do you know I’m mint like a peppermint?”

“YAH! I meant mean! M-E-A-N. not M-I-N-T.” Stephanie replied the other girl with a smack on the latter girl’s shoulder.

Soon, the other girl became the reason for the other girl to attend their childcare. They grew closer and bonded very well. Every day passed happily with laughter, without any tears; which are all past tense now. But sadly, things don’t always end beautifully.

“Taetae, I..I..”

“Yes mushroom?

Episode 4 – Birthday

“Mushroom! I’m not coming to Joah tomorrow.”

“Why? Are you sick?”

“Because it’s my birthday tomorrow! So I’m celebrating it with my parents at the amusement park!”

“Oh. I see.” Those are the only words that Stephanie can answer to Taeyeon’s statement. She is feeling bitter because her playmate is not coming to join her and she will be alone for one whole day.

“Are you not going to give me presents?”

“What would you like? I cannot afford anything expensive.”

“I love stars and blue!”

“Stars and blue?”

“Yes! Do you think there are blue stars in the sky?”

“I’m not so sure. How about pink stars? Although I only see the normal white one at night.”

“I hope there are both blue and pink ones! This way, the sky will be filled with colourful stars! I’m sure it’s going to be very beautiful.”

“I think so too. How do we colour stars?”

“I don’t know. We should ask someone right?”

“Yes Taetae. I think I should ask my daddy. That way, when you return I will be able to give you a blue star!”

“Really?! I really wanted one. Blue star.”

“I will try my best to get it for you , Taetae!”

___

-In Stephanie father’s car-

“Daddy! Are there blue stars in the sky?”

“No Steph, there aren’t any blue stars in the sky.”

“How about pink ones? I love pink!”

“There are only normal stars in the sky Steph, the white ones. Why are you asking this Steph?”

“Because Daddy, tomorrow is Taetae’s birthday and I want to give her something.”

“That’s easy Steph. How about folding one? Origami.”

“That’s cool! Why didn’t I think of it! Thanks daddy!” Stephanie leaned forward and kissed her daddy on his cheek.

“But how do you do one, Daddy?”

“I will teach you how to do it once we reach home okay?”

“okay Daddy!”

- Stephanie home-

“First, you will need specialized paper for folding stars. I got it somewhere here. Wait a while for me Steph while I go get it.” Stephanie’s father went into the store room and searched for the papers while Stephanie was sitting quietly at the living room waiting for this father’s return.

“There it is! I found it.” Stephanie fixed her vision upon her father who is walking towards her with a tiny stack of strips of paper.

“Why are the paper long and not rectangle?”

“It is because it is a special paper Steph. You can only make stars out of these papers. Okay now, I will teach you how to make one.”

Both father and daughter were so absorbed into folding the stars that it has already past dinner time.

“gosh! It has already past dinner time Steph! Not hungry? I better go grab something before you get a gastric. I will be right back okay Steph. Be good and stay here till I’m back.” Stephanie’s father kissed her daughter on her forehead before grabbing his car keys and wallet.

I must at least fold one!

It was not easy to fold a star for an eighth year old(Korean age). She tried her best while her father was out getting dinner, and finally after 15minutes of perseverance, she completed one blue star.

I bet she will love this blue star!

Not long after Stephanie completed folding her star, her father returned with the food for dinner.

“Daddy! I did it! It’s a blue star. Look!” Stephanie said to her father while jumping upwards with the folded stars in between her index and third finger.

“I’m so proud of you Steph! Come and have your dinner. You must be hungry.”

Throughout the dinner, Stephanie cannot help but to think how Taeyeon would react after Stephanie show the latter the blue star she folded.

___

-10^th march-

“Taetae! You are here! Happy belated birthday!”

“Thanks mushroom. Where is my present?” a smile creep on Taeyeon’s face while she stretched out both her hands, hoping to receive her presents.

“You wanted a blue star right?”

“Yes! But my mummy said stars are only white in the sky.”

“I have got a blue star with me. Do you want it?” slowly, Stephanie faced turned into a eye-smile.

“Are you serious? How do you get it!? I want it!” this time, Taeyeon is really excited about her present. It was one which she longed to have.

“Here you go.” Stephanie placed her folded star into the palms of Taeyeon’s outstretched arm.

“This is a blue star! It is blue! And it’s a star! Thank you mushroom! You are the best!” Taeyeon hugged Stephanie and hopped around like a bunny.

“Do you like it?” Stephanie asked the birthday girl.

“I love it! I wish I can have more.”

“I will make you one on your birthday, each and every year. I promise.” Stephanie was delighted to know that her playmate liked her present so much.

“Are you serious? You are the best mushroom on earth!”