Park:

After the sun rose in the sky, Park woke up in his room remembering the previous day with a smile in his face. It had only been a small party, but it had been nice. Each and every of his classmates had grown on him on some level, and he had never though that there could be so much to life. He had finally found people he felt he could speak and relate to. People with actual interests and hobbies. Not like his life before college where he had only learned to spend time on things he didn't care that much out of inertia. He was starting to find himself more pensive more often than before, and taking life a little slower. He knew, however, this was because he felt a tremendous gif had been offered to him. A gift of renewal. He could actually grow up to be whoever he wanted to be. Like the heroes in those comic books he used to like. He knew things were changing, but very gradually. He could feel the anticipation of change like the beginning of a song in the back of his head that had not even yet started to build for its climax – but would eventually. He found himself smiling. That's when he remembered to think about Eleanor, and noticed again that thinking about her came out of a sense of obligation and commitment: "Remembered to think." He felt responsible for her, and the degree of which he was or was not confused him. His smile faded.

Eleanor had been there the night before, but she had been absent. A silent wave from across the room was all the interaction he had with her. That should have been wrong. She didn't look happy, but she didn't look sad either. She just looked absent. As if there was something bigger haunting her mind for better or worse – maybe for better. She looked composed, careful and confused. Maybe the same way that he felt. Park waved the thought away from his mind. He had lately found himself losing the ability to reaching her when she entered her own head. Was that his fault? Was it because he was paying less attention to her? Had he indeed been paying less attention in the first place? Not really. They did spend less time together, but only because the school kept them that busy. He grabbed his phone to text her good morning; make an effort and reliable. That's who he was, and who he would always continue to be: Reliable Park. Good Park. Loyal Park. Through the good, the bad, and the stale.

"Good morning princess" – he wrote. He had started calling her that long ago. It was both a tease and a compliment. Used to make her laugh.

"Hey. What up" – was the short answer he got.

"Me... just woke up"

"lol. Hmm… 11:23. Not so far from your record." This did make Park smirk. Park had only once slept until 1:15 pm, and hated it. He felt his entire morning had gone by. The rest of the days he averaged to wake up around 7:10.

"ugh I know. What are you up to?"

"laundry and reading"

"cool." He thought what to say next. "Fancy hanging out later today?"

Park's phone showed him how Eleanor started typing a response, then deleted it, and started typing again. The outcome was a short "sure."

"okay. You let me know what works best"

"will be done with laundry in like an hour. Still need to fold things, so maybe 3:00 pm? What do you have in mind? Remember I'm broke af" – so many questions. She wasn't being dry and or distant.

"maybe we can just walk and talk?"

"alright. See you then."