itotoro

That's right—it's SpiderChuu.

Heejin scrambles from her bed, rushing to open her window for her nighttime visitor. SpiderChuu, up-and-coming neighborhood superhero who's also Jiwoo's “best friend” and designated midnight messenger. She pulls her curtains apart to the familiar view of SpiderChuu, swaying upside down from who knows where.

SpiderChuu swings like a pendulum, cross-legged and pressing her palms together in a plead. “Jiwoo is so sorry!”

Just like that, Heejin remembers the events of the day: a scheduled date with Jiwoo that her girlfriend flaked on again, with no notice and only Heejin waiting for hours at a table for two. The thought of it makes her want to slam the curtains shut. But the person here isn't Jiwoo, it's Jiwoo's best friend who she has never been introduced to—

Heejin slams the curtains shut. It'll just be another scooter explosion or another lame excuse for Jiwoo again, something Heejin should stop settling for at this point. She jumps into bed, hides under the covers, squeezing her eyes shut until SpiderChuu gives up and leaves.

But SpiderChuu keeps knocking, now a pattern sounding like an apology. Sorry, sorry, sorry. It's insistent, even when Heejin buries her head under her pillows, and it's so consistent that it starts playing in her head. I'm so sorry Heejin, so so sorry—

Heejin gives up. “Fine!” she groans, tossing off the covers. She stomps as loudly as she can, swinging open the curtains to the view of SpiderChuu with her masked face pressed to the window pane.

It's like SpiderChuu is oozing every bit of remorse Heejin wants to see from Jiwoo. She even sniffles. “Please let me in.”

Who can refuse the friendly neighborhood superhero groveling at their window? Heejin relents, swinging the window open so that SpiderChuu can tumble in.

But before SpiderChuu can launch into her usual spiel about how Jiwoo wanted to make it but something important came up and she's soooooo sad about it, Heejin holds up a hand. “Wait.”

SpiderChuu clamps a hand over her masked mouth. “Okay.”

“Okay,” Heejin echoes, before stringing together the many thoughts floating around in her head. “I don't want to hear any of Jiwoo's excuses tonight.”

SpiderChuu looks like she wants to launch into a thousand soliloquies, but she nods her head and clamps her hand harder over her mouth. A touching act that makes her feel a lot more familiar to Heejin. Must be a best friends thing?

Maybe Heejin can be a little nicer to this mystic messenger. “Can you tell her some things for me instead? I'm not breaking up with her or anything.”

It earns a vigorous nod from silent SpiderChuu. She even stands up a little higher.

“Okay,” Heejin repeats, eyes falling to her clasped hands. Even if it isn't Jiwoo she's talking to right now, what she wants to say makes her feel oddly shy. “I was hurt that she stood me up today. Your best friend didn't even text me—”

“Her phone died—” SpiderChuu clamps her other hand over her mouth. “Sorry!”

Heejin groans. “I'm trying to let my heart out here, okay?” Her hands ball into fists, voice rising with her frustration. “Jiwoo doesn't show up, doesn't text or call to let me know if she's okay, then sends her best friend to my window all the time to make excuses for her. I just wanted to see her, SpiderChuu!”

She rubs her wet eyes. Damn, she really shouted at the neighborhood superhero. SpiderChuu isn't even at fault here, just trying to explain for her best friend—

SpiderChuu pulls her into an embrace. Tight, so familiar that Heejin finds herself melting into the arms of a stranger.

“Jiwoo's such a sucky girlfriend, isn't she,” the heroine mumbles, squeezing Heejin tighter. “She's so lucky to have you.”

The comment makes Heejin heat up. “Um—”

Then SpiderChuu clamps her shoulders and puts her at arm's length. “Dontworryyourenotcheatingonheroranything!” she yammers, shaking Heejin. “She actually wanted that, too, like if she were here she'd be on her knees or kissing you—”

It makes Heejin blush harder. Maybe it's the hug, or the thought of kissing Jiwoo after being so angry, but Heejin gets an idea. “Actually, can you do me a favor?”

When SpiderChuu nods, Heejin takes her gloved hand. “I'll slide this off,” she tells her, the heroine's breath hitching as Heejin hooks a finger under the glove. She peels it up to the knuckles, then brings the palm up to her lips.

Heejin thinks of Jiwoo as she kisses the palm of this stranger. Her girlfriend, who she misses dearly. Then her face heats up and she fixes the glove of the heroine before pushing her towards the window.

“Wait—what—huh?” SpiderChuu presses back against the window ledge before Heejin can throw her out. “Heejinie—what?”

“My message for my girlfriend.” Heejin can't even look the heroine in the eye for the last moments of the conversation. “Can you send it to her?”

SpiderChuu pauses, mask betraying nothing. But Heejin can feel her serious gaze, uncertain and wanting to speak.

“She'll love it.” SpiderChuu tucks Heejin's hair behind her ear. “I'm sure she will.”

Then SpiderChuu tumbles backwards out the window, in the blink of an eye swinging away and shouting in the night sky. “Jiwoolovesyousomuch!”

And maybe, just maybe, Heejin sees her steal a kiss from her palm.