Act One, Scene One! The Great Fall of Jericho

It was the beginning of Autumn, that's where it all began. In the colors of the sunset, that's when I met her, The radiant flower

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Jerichos P.O.V

SEPTEMBER 1

"Let's go somewhere to eat I'm starving!" I said.

"I heard Toms is good, their burgers mostly" Kyong-tae responded, she always hears good things about food.

"always hearing good things about food, never tasting them." I smiled and gave her a little nudge when made her almost bump into a person who was walking past us, she glared at me.

"you're paying for my good food then, got it, Jericho?" I grinned and nodded and started walking towards the gate to leave campus

"hold on I gotta go to drama club and tell them I won't be able to stay today," she said heading towards the auditorium

"Do you want me to go with you?" I asked walking toward her. She shrugged, she's always been laid back about things, even that one time when we saw a mouse in the kitchen and all she could do is shrug and say we should get a cat but said nothing after I told her that two college students had no time to take care of an animal when we could barely take care of ourselves she pouted after that. When my complaining and rejecting her cat idea finally caught up with her, she bought a mousetrap talking about how when she went to visit her grandparents in South Korea they didn't have mice in their apartment because they had a two cats after that I think she's been secretly looking into getting a cat. It isn't that I don't like cats, I just don't I could take care of a cat with studying and baseball.

"if you want"

"You don't have to stay? Don't you guys have a play coming up? What was it? Through modest Milly?" I asked thinking about how baseball takes a lot of my time and I was lucky to have a day off today but Kyong-tae didn't and yet she was still going with me to eat. Kyong-tae snickered and patted my back as if she was consoling me

"Thoroughly Modern Millie the Musical. Grinny would it kill you to pay attention to my ranting?" she corrected. I thought about it, she had been ranting a lot about it, mostly talking about how the crew manager is the only productive person and how the crew is seriously lacking dedication, she also spoke about how they haven't found a person to play the main character and the director was frustrated looking for Chinese speaking people to come out in the play... although I didn't quite understand that at all.

"Ooooh Right! Sorry, I was listening to your ranting but you know I am terrible at names!" I apologized, scratching the back of my neck

"Not when it comes to girls you think are cute and baseball players," she said exposing me I gasped, looking at her dirty.

"How dare you of all expose me?! It's like you're daring me to expose you right here right now" She smiled and rolled her eyes

"Anyways! As I was SAYING... currently the drama club is in its early stage rehearsals and early building stages so they don't need that much help, currently, it's planning or maybe even painting if the crew manager is really on them"

"Oooh, so you can afford to take a day off?" She nodded

"But don't expose me cause I'm gonna come up with an excuse okay?"

I grinned "this would be the perfect time to get revenge!"

She glanced at me and gave me the 'I dare you face' as we approached the audience. It's a pretty big place and it looks beautiful both inside and outside and incredibly old. The buildings has been here even before the school started, it used to be an old opera theater but when the school bought the land they fixed it up and created the Inspiration theater.

Kyong-tae opened the doors and once you're inside you feel magic, I'm not a musical or opera-type of person but I do appreciate the rustic feel of a huge theater. It was dark in the audience but the stage was brightly lit up like a real performance. As we were heading down the audience I heard a voice barking commands coming from behind the stage.

" We're going to take the usable wood from our last play to start painting the smaller backdrops so get off your lazy butts and get to work! I'll go retrieve the paint materials from the closet upfront when I come I expect you people to be moving"

Kyong-tae smiled "that's crew manager for you, always barking orders"

We were almost to the stage when someone came out of the left side. it was an angel! she was breathtaking in every way. her beautiful short black hair was tied up halfway, her outfit planned perfectly to steal glances of admiration from everyone, Her perfectly structured face that is no doubt made by the hands of God himself, a creature created by the greatest artists to claim the hearts of everyone and anyone who looks at her. My jaw dropped. Unfortunately, Kyong-tae saw my star-struck face and cursed under her breath

"You better not do anything stupid Jericho!" She whispered as she approached the stage where the angel beaming with radiance was crossing, Kyong-tae's presence was noticed and the angel turned her gaze and looked down from the stage at us, at me. At that moment all but one of the lights directed at the stage were turned off and there was a spotlight pointing at the angel. This is true love I know it! Where is the choir of angels that are supposed to sing when we find our soul mate!!??

"Ah, Jin! I was worried you weren't going to come and you brought a friend!" She looked at me and smiled I could only quickly smile back but when she turned to Kyong-tae I melted and blushed hard I couldn't help. thank Deuses for the lights being off "these bozos were all sitting down when I got here, and sorry about the spotlight" she looked up at the light "I sent some kids up there to test the lights"

Kyong-tae lowered her head a little and scratched her neck uncomfortably "ah about that Amelia... I kinda have to skip today... cause I have a bio final to study for"

The angel Amelia pondered for a second then smiled "no worries Jin! I do have a favor to ask of you and your friend though" her smile is to die for, I'll lay my life on the line for you my Lady Amelia!

"What is it?"

"You think you could help me take the paint material back there? I think there's more than two cans and I only have two hands" she smiled

"Yeah of course let us get up there" Kyong-tae responded. Amelia nodded and headed toward a door next to the right side of the stage. We headed toward the side of the stage where there were stairs and we made out way up and towards Amelia who was standing near some cans of paint and a bag. I shyly headed toward the angelical being and she handed me a paint bucket for each hand. WE TOUCHED HANDSSS I made a note to freak the heck out later but for now, I have to keep my cool as to not seem stupidly gay for her. Kyong-tae nudged me and name a face 'stop being so gay' i could hear her say. I frowned and followed her backstage in this huge room that had all sorts of sets and a back room full of props Woooah it's amazing.

"Like it?" Amelia asked me when she noticed the expression on my face, I nodded shyly and looked around

"For most, the stage and productions are the pride and joy but for me it's backstage where the magic is, seeming all these simple and small things that together they create a masterpiece, it's simply incredible." She said admiring the room, a beam of joy radiated from her and warmed me to my core. W.O.W We followed her to a corner where she laid her buckets

"Here's fine." She said as we put down the buckets. she gave us a smile and I tried my best not to blush but darn my pale skin I probably look like a tomato.

"Thanks, guys, it's unfortunate that you can't stay but I do wish you the best of luck with your exam Jin, I believe in you," she said throwing up a thumbs up and a glowing grin. At that exact moment marked my death of cuteness overload.

"Thanks, Amelia, good luck with the kids, hope you get them to behave," Kyong-tae said pointing back at the crew who were walking around looking for wood to paint. Amelia smiled,

"What Can I do except tear them apart if they don't listen?" Amelia said facing us. Feisty

"We've better get going, if we want to get at least an hour of sleep before the bio final" Kyong-tae said to begin excusing us. Amelia nodded

"Oh, are you both bio majors?" She asked. I shook my head. My heart beating out of its chest I was going to actually speak to her I'm going to speak to her and she'll say what a nice voice I have and then she's gonna ask me out and we're going to go on dates and become girlfriends and get married and have lots of animal babies because she thought my voice was nice! Future here I come!

"Nah Jericho is a pre-med student, but she took the class for some credit" Kyong-tae stepped in. I felt a vital betrayal and I slowly looked at her with such a pain in my eyes and she only half looked at me so I turned to Amelia looking for her reaction. She looked surprised

"No way! I'm a pre-med student too! I heard they had a great medical school here so I applied but I haven't had luck finding anyone here for medicine but it's great to finally meet a pre-med like me" she said smiling and placing a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure we'll be great friends, Jericho" I nodded and smiled not even caring if I was half tomato and half watermelon this was totally worth it.

"I'm glad to finally meet another pre-med too!" I said with a smile and we stayed there looking at each other smiling... I was sure she was going to complement my voice any second now and ask me out. But the silence remained until Kyong-tae decided to break the beautiful silence by speaking.

"Sooo anyways I'll catch up with you tomorrow after class Amelia! But we gotta go" she said grabbing my arm. Amelia nodded

"Definitely. Make sure to bring Jericho too!" Amelia said. Kyong-tae looked at me and grinned

"Unfortunately Jericho does play baseball so she's at practice most of the time after class" Kyong-tae stated. Amelia frowned and placed a hand on her face as if thinking. Could it be she likes me or she thinks I'm cute?!?!?!?

"Bummer, we could've used the extra help, and the guys would've liked the pretty face." I blushed and awkwardly laughed.

"I mean I feel like I'm getting swamped with all my classwork and then sports so I was planning on taking a break... maybe I can help around," I said, Amelia, brightened and gave me a smile to die for.

"Really that's great?! I'm glad you're considering entering drama! They're like my family... even though most of them are lazy bums who don't do anything without being told." Amelia said looking around smiling.

"Alright then we better get going," Kyong-tae said

"Safe travels" Amelia responded smiling and waving farewell

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We were out of the theater when I let out a big scream. Kyong-tae looked at me and shook her head.

"I SERIOUSLY can't take you ANYWHERE! you just become stupid cause' of some girl" She said angrily. I looked at her seriously and said

"Kyong-tae I don't know about how I was in the past but I'm 1000000% sure she's my soulmate" Kyong-tae just looked at me and walked off

"Whatever I'm not gonna be surprised if you're over her next week" I shook my head

"It's for real this time Jin Kyong-tae I swear to you, that girl doesn't know what hit her"

"More like you don't know what hit you" she responded

"So burgers?" I asked

" whatever"

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"These burgers are so good!" Kyong-tae said. I nodded hungrily for more. Toms was like a diner near campus that was famous for its burgers.... that and it's hot waiters. Amelia should totally be a waiter here.

"You think Amelia would like these burgers?" Kyong-tae nearly spit out her food and looked at me

"Are you serious right now?"

"she looked like she was fit... Gosh I hope she's not a vegetarian I love meat damn it" Kyong-tae snickered and wiped her mouth.

"If I give you all of what I know on Amelia will you promise you won't get all obsessed and major psycho?"

When have I ever gotten 'all obsessed' and become a major psycho Kyong-tae? When?" I faced her and ate a fry

"First of all, she's french." My jaw dropped

"SHE IS?!" Kyong-tae nodded biting her burger. She better not stop now I NEED TO KNOW MOREEEE

"Well don't stop now I need to know more!"

"And I need to finish my burger Jer." I slapped her shoulder

"How dare you say she's French and not say anything Noy I thought we were friends!" She shrugged and bit her burger.

"Fine, I'll just talk about her till you tell me more" I looked at her. No response. She kept eating and looking out the window

" I mean seriously how perfect can a person get, she looks like she was made with the hands of Brawnwen! Her hair cut just below her ears creating the perfect hair cut. And her hightop converses no doubt a beautiful shade of blue. The blue bomber jacket that looks too big for her but fits her frame perfectly covering a clean white shirt and black jeans. What a perfect outfit. Her eyes were blue and breathtaking. It reminded me of the beaches back where my grandma lives in Ireland. And her skin so clear and light that it looks like she was blessed by the pale gods with the perfect shade of light skin. Her face so perfectly shaped and a chin to die for. How her mov-"

(^Brawnwen is an Irish God of love and beauty)

"JEEZ JERICHO this isn't a porno or a romantic movie chill the hell out. You're describing her like a terrible writer describing their characters" Kyong-tae said scratching her head like the way she does when she's frustrated. " I haven't heard you talk this much about something since you tried Korean BBQ for the first time"

"Tell me more about her please" I pleaded she rolled her eyes and looked at her tray it was empty and she had nothing else to shove in her mouth which made her sigh heavy and faced me

"Look Grinny All I know is that she's not a vegetarian, I've seen her eat meat before; French, smart, oblivious when it comes to people's emotions, and very very hard to get to know." I looked at her judging whether she's given me enough to let her stop but then she continues "I mean like a thousand guys have liked her and she doesn't even notice until they ask her out and she always says no, and sure she's your friend but it kinda feels like she's your friend but you're not hers you know?" I nodded. Me and Kyong-tae led pretty normal lives; they weren't complicated at all. My parents are still together, and even if hers aren't, they're still friends with each other. We met in high school and she helped me through the struggle of my sexuality, how hard it was and she helped me out so we've never really had to hid anything. At least not from each other.

"Yeah that definitely sucks," I said biting a fry

"Plus jer..." she looked at me in a worried way "I don't want you to get your hopes up cause I'm not even sure if she swings the way you do, I don't want you to get hurt." She said putting a hand on my arm. I nodded, I have had times where I thought girls were cute and thought things were going places when she ended up being straight and just friendly. I know how painful and kinda annoying those situations turn out.

"You're right, I know you are. She just seems so awesome that I feel like I need to get to know her, even if it's a major let down and she's straight, I think just having her in my life would be pretty great. BUT..... if she is gay, I've already planned our entire lives together so it's okay!" Kyong-tae was nodding but stopped when I mentioned my planned future with Amelia. She laughed

"Of course! Knowing you, you planned your entire lives together!" She said laughing. I tried to move the conversation again.

"BUT even as a friend she seems great and I just want to expand my little world"

"Not little but okay, you will literally talk to anyone or anything that breaths near you, " Kyong-tae said.

"I feel like this is the beginning of something great Kyong-tae just wait," I said looking out into the sky

"Dude stop pretending you're in a movie this is real life. chill out"

-Aegean✨