The Star Who Waited Chapter 1

Years after graduation, my high school crush became an A-list superstar. When we reunited at a class party, his expression was ice cold. "Do I know you?" Everyone thought Parker had forgotten me. Until the news of my accidental death broke. While packing up my apartment, my best friend found an old love letter Parker had written to me years ago. June, loving you is too bitter. I don't want to like you anymore. But further down, in tiny handwriting: Never mind. I'm lying. That same night, the news of Parker’s suicide trended #1 on X (Twitter). When I opened my eyes again, I was back at that reunion dinner. Looking at Parker’s cold, indifferent face, I tentatively pulled out my phone and sent him a text. The very next second, his phone blasted a unique notification sound—the one reserved for "Special Contacts." Parker: "..."

* * *

I died in a blizzard. I went out looking for inspiration for my novel, got lost in the mountains, and froze to death. It was not a dignified way to go.

My best friend, Zoe, rushed over the moment she got the call. She was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe while identifying my body. "June! How could you be so cruel? How could you just leave me?" "Even if Parker doesn't remember you, you still have me!"

My soul was floating in mid-air, and hearing this made my spectral toes curl from second-hand embarrassment. If I wasn't already stone-cold dead, I would have rushed over to cover her mouth. Girl! The coroner clearly said it was an accident. Why are you making it sound like I died of a broken heart? Can’t a girl leave a clean reputation behind?

But clearly, Zoe didn't think so. For some reason, she was convinced my death was Parker’s fault. She whipped out her phone and dialed his number. It rang for a long time before he picked up.

"Hello?" A raspy male voice answered, sounding like he’d just been woken up. "Zoe? What is it? I just wrapped an overnight shoot..." "Parker," Zoe cut him off, her voice trembling with grief. "June is dead."

Silence stretched on the other end of the line. Even as a ghost, I couldn't help but feel a tiny spark of hope. How would Parker react? Would he be sad? Or would he think it was just the passing of someone insignificant?

After all, at the reunion a few days ago, he had been so cold. When our classmates tried to tease us, he just asked in a frosty voice, "Do I know you?" That one sentence froze the entire room. Meeting his indifferent gaze, the courage I had spent hours building up instantly evaporated. I just stammered, "N-nothing," and lowered my head, terrified to look up again.

Actually... I understood. He was a top-tier celebrity now, and it had been six years since graduation. It was a good thing he didn't remember me. Otherwise, I’d always feel like I owed him something.

"Parker, did you hear me?" Zoe screamed into the phone, crying. "I said June is dead! She's gone!"

Thud. There was the sound of something heavy hitting the floor on the other end. Parker seemed to be gritting his teeth, his voice shaking. "...I don't believe you."

The next second, he hung up. Zoe, furious and weeping, took a photo of my death certificate and texted it to him, only to find she’d been blocked. I wanted to comfort her, but my hand passed right through her shoulder. I ended up just hugging the air around her. Don’t cry, you dummy.