We just have so many things in common; our friends are frustrated with it.

I remember how we started to find out on all of our quirks and similarities as if we can fit two and two in a blink of an eye.

Winwin once said, “I don’t really think mint choco chip would go well with mango. That’s just so ew.” When I, on my own reverie, told the boys of the new flavor I discovered. I was a little bummed out that day because I was ready to elucidate how that wonderful taste can spread endorphins to your system. It’s a taste that can make you giddy, upside down and inside and out. On our way home, I walk with my eyes on the changing colors of the leaves from green to yellow to orange to red until it turns to brown and thought maybe the leaves change colors like how people change perspectives through time. On our way home, the boys announced a change of heart and mind and decided to spend the rest of their free time in Han. “It’s okay, see you in school!” “Bye! Take care!” “Text me when you get home!” “Noona! Don’t forget that book I need to read!” I was already waving my hands to everyone and hugging everyone, keeping in mind every reminder they were giving. But you said louder than the goodbyes of the others, “I can’t go too. I need to finish this paper due tonight.” And so we go together, in silence, and I was still bummed out about earlier. I really wanted the others to check out the new flavor because it is really good. Maybe we can all go and get that next time we plan to eat ice cream. Or I can just bring home one container. Yeah, maybe I will.

You walked ahead of me, admiring the view. You really like this part of the park, how it is always filled of people and children. You really liked how the place is alive with the laughters and cheers. I really liked this place too because of the voices that springs from happiness and cheerfulness of the people. You halted all of a sudden in front of me, and I was about to ask if there’s something wrong. You turned around and looked at me with your chinky eyes and pearly white smile. “I tried that mango and mint choco chip ice cream flavor once too. And… I agree,” you gushed. “I think it’s a taste to discover.”

You took my hand in yours and we went back to that ice cream parlor again. You said we can write our papers there while enjoying our well deserved of love new favorite, mint choco chip and mango ice cream. We wrote the words with ink stained fingers and turned our minds tainted with a memory of ice cream and sweet candid smiles.

We generally, skipped the idea of how we like the same things and how it turns us into two people they usually label as a couple.

I was close to Taeil too, as he is a senior that I respect so much. There was this incident, when he asked me a really bizarre question. He asked if we were dating or a couple of some sort. I was at the pantry of the clubhouse that time and I was munching on this extra cheese ham and bacon pizza (we both hated pineapple on a pizza with a strong passion!!!) I choked on the slice I was trying to eat in two mouthfuls with Mark. Yep, the kid from one of our two classes together. I asked why. What made Taeil think of us a couple. Because sure we usually hang out together and sure, we (you) always text, also we know about what to do on hateful and sticky situations. We both know how to make each other laugh and smile. But we are just really close friends like everybody else in the universe. Taeil, that senior I really admire with his burgundy mushroom hair shared his confusion of how we can never be apart.

“Why do you always stick with each other?”

“But I’m not even with him right now?”

“Most of the time, you do. And why do you own similar things too? I think I’ve seen him use that shirt last time?”

I wanted to say I’m wondering the very same thing too. The shirt that Taeil was talking about happened to be really yours but when I told you that I fell in love with the size and the simplicity of the shirt itself (It is just a plain black oversized shirt that says “Life is now” across the chest.), you gave it to me without a blink. Which never happened before because you never let me use your things, scared that we might exchange them unknowingly, like what Taeil has been pointing out, we own the same things. Also, you said, I might transfer my too much of a literary person, you’re scared your stuff might sputter words all of a sudden (like it will ever happen).

Taeil, never wanting to miss a point, added how we frequently wear the same clothes like it’s completely planned ahead. Like the time when we went to that busking event just across the street of the university and we almost swear because of our matching shoes, clothes and even backpacks. We even wore that yellow Tom and Jerry beanie. Even Taeyong said if it weren’t for my mint hair (and my height) he’d mistaken us for each other. You sniggered how I said that at least I wouldn’t get lost with having the same clothes as yours, you can easily spot me from the huge crowd. Taeil, never letting me finish the pizza I’ve been craving for since last week, further implied our parallel preferences on songs, movies, books and bands. Mark, with his food still on his mouth, tries to add “You even have the same mole on your cheeks!” “And yeah! That journal!”He exclaimed and chewed on his food before continuing, “I remember hyung saying how he mistook your journal with his since it really has the same design. But don’t worry noona, he said he didn’t open it.” Ha.

“Don’t forget that same guitar pick too,” Taeil­­­ interjected.

“But we got that at the concert together.” I argued, trying to point out how these are all only coincidences. I’m rethinking every ideas and points they are giving because I believe they are only coincidences and we just happen to be really close friends.

We’re just really close and weird. We get along with each other so much we even know about our hopes and dreams, woes and fears.

The first time you went to my place, you were surprised by how it almost look like your room… except for that pink bean bag you said you hated (but I saw you another time you came to my place, practically attached to it.) You were amazed how we own the same wallpaper, a picturesque of the sky and cumulus clouds that makes you feel afloat and calm every time. Your eyes twinkled how I have a galaxy up on my ceiling, “It’s the same as mine,” you whispered to Sirius, the brightest constellation above. When we turned off the light that night to sleep under the stars, we talked about the constellations and their stories of how they formed. We grinned at each other when we shared that we liked living in the universe because of the stars above us. We liked living under the stars because they never leave us at night when it’s dark and we are alone. We liked the stars because they wrap us with a blanket of twinkling lights. You loved my room, not because it is just the same as yours but because of my bunk bed that gives the illusion of a bed up in the sky. It’s a bunk bed with the lower half removed; in its place are books that I treasure. You loved the idea how it looks like a hammock, supported by ropes to resist gravity (or the absence of it). You said, instead of a magic flying carpet, I have a magic flying bed.

I said I like my room because it makes me feel like I live up in the sky, together with the stars, and comets and meteors, away from black holes and collisions. I like it because it’s a place where I am safe beneath the clouds, a place that I love, a haven where I can share my thoughts to the sky and stars like I am a friend to the entire galaxy.

You said, with a small smile hidden under the appearance of your dimples, a complexity from the flat surfaces of your face, that it makes you feel the same too. You whispered to the Big Dipper that maybe you can be more than friends to the entire galaxy, and to each other too.

We’re on the verge of being broke even more because the expenditure for our research is no joke at all. In the end, we all decided to rent a house instead where we all can stay. It was a win-win situation, Yuta said. We can all save money and see each other all the time, which I think, Taeyong totally disagrees with. Knowing how the others…. Do not like cleaning at all. Or… well, doesn’t really get along with a broom and a dust pan, also cooking, it will be a really pain for us… for those who can survive a jungle even if you leave us alone with nothing. But like what I said, we all ended up in a house. But then, we had to classify our things by color. Changing designs is not a good idea either since we end up choosing the same stuff again. Our room now looks like a candy shop with all the varying colors. When we moved, Taeyong was curious if we mistakenly bought everything twice. He can’t believe we could be this in sync.

It was chaos.