Christmas and New year of 1998 became an unforgettable experience for Hana and Suho. Giving Hana a taste of homemade, her eyes twinkled in the starless night and her smile shining brilliantly like the summer sun. For the first time after a long time, winter has never been sunny.Just like that, the clock ticked and the last year of the century came surging in. As the wintry climate subsided, white and yellow hues swept the entire peninsula, Spring came rushing in. The sweet scent of flowers and trees whiffed in the air, warming up the heartless. A new leaf turned, signaling new beginnings. It’s a new chapter for every senior high school across the country as they move to college. Finally, it’s graduation day. Everyone bustling about, comparing notes of upcoming vacation and college life. Seniors with their parents and friends frolicking about. Everyone was there, except for one.“Where’s Suho?” Go-eun inquired, searching around. Without another word, Hana left.Kwanghee’s parents we
“Hana, are you ready?” Suho inquired.“No.”“But, we’re just half in our itinerary!” Suho tilted his head, gazing into her eyes while Hana shunned him away. “I have a surprise for you.”“TA-DA!” Go-eun and Kwanghee popped out of nowhere. Hana jumped from her chair. And all four laughed as if it was just yesterday when they last met each other. Kwanghee winked at Suho; Go-eun gave him an o-kay sign. She became silent after all the glee, then zoned out.“What’s with her?” Kwanghee inquired, nudging at Suho.“I’m not feeling well,” Hana answered the question herself.“Eh… maybe you’re just tired. I can promise you this trip will melt all your stress away,” Suho retorted, his face beaming, eyeballs barely visible. Before Hana could protest, they hauled her outside of the house to where Kwanghee’s brother was awaiting. They traveled to Gyeonggi-do and took turns describing the place to Hana. A view with sweeping azalea blossoms, looking over a lake surrounded by cherry blossoms. All thr
Darkness loomed over the city as the sunset on the horizon. In mid-Spring, a Slight drizzle made Suho and Kwanghee retreat in the car, watching for Dr. Song to come back.Kwanghee put on some music from the radio. And the voice of Steven Tyler racking the airwaves, singing in a high-pitch tone to the pop song, “I don’t wanna miss a thing.” He couldn’t help but sing to his heart’s content, trying to distract Suho, who was twitching in his seat.Suho rolled down the windows in his haze. “Chill, man. Ani (no)... I mean, why didn’t she tell us earlier that she’s not feeling well? We could have saved everyone’s time and energy climbing up the mountain.”“But she did. You weren’t paying attention. Didn’t you see she’s been quiet the whole time?” Go-eun interrupted, crouching her head into the car next to Suho’s seat.“NO! We’ve been too excited to even notice. How can she just damp water on a fiery pit that’s roasting some good meat? She’s such a killjoy,” Kwanghee whined, making a face at
“I’ll hunt you down if I have to.” Kang Jun added, rolling up his window, and zoomed away before Suho could counter.The red Porsche zoomed away like the speed of a jet plane, spinning dust and withered leaves from the pavement. Suho’s hair whished from his face. He paused by the gate, blinking several times, waiting until the car was out of sight.A sharp breeze cut through his skin, tingling his entire body down to the core.“Ooh! It’s cold.” Suho shivered. He folded his arms around his body, vigorously rubbing both arms, scampered to his room, taking two steps at a time. Upstairs, he peeked at Hana’s room and saw her shadow moving across the room, then the lights turned off. Took off his knapsack, collapsing on his bed face down. Punching the cushion because he knew Kang Jun was right. Everything that has done so far has put Hana in a rough spot. And although he meant well this time, it was a total failure. How could he not know that she hated hiking or even knew that she was sick?
“Hello.” Hana waited for an answer from the other end of the line but only heard heavy breathing making her cringe, tiny hairs stood behind her neck. “Hello? Is anyone there?” She paused, waiting for the caller to answer back. “I’m going to hang up now.”“Wait,” a hoarse voice resonated through the receiver. “Hana, Hana,” his voice slurry.Hana gulped, cleared her voice, “Suho Oppa, is that you?” “Who else could it be…” coughing in the middle. “But you’re ever-reliable, the most handsome friend. Who am I kidding?” He snorted. “I’m just a lowly servant, a failure. I’m not even a pinky finger comparable to your knight in shining armor speeding away in his flashy horse. I only have Patrasche but he has Porsche,” his tone sarcastic.“Are you drunk or something?” Hana clutched at the handset.“Me? Drunk? Hahahaha! Of course, not! I know what I’m talking about.”“Oppa, let’s talk some other time.”“Now, you don’t want to talk to me anymore? Woah! You have changed, Hana. Why don’t you want
The school from the outside looked peaceful. But from the inside, the real chaos lied. Students, in their teens, in conflicting emotions. With too much at stake, their attention divided, eyes wandering outside the four corners of the classroom.Hundreds of trees were planted around the soccer fields. In one of the Korean Red Pine, that’s where Suho hid himself. Clad in a white shirt and brown scarf, tucking in both hands in his gray coat. The tree was the closest to the gate, giving him visibility of the senior’s classrooms. And he knew exactly where Hana sat. His small eyes fixated on that exact spot.Two months have passed since the examination scores came out. But the conversation between Hana and Suho during his drunken state has left him scarred for life. And he couldn’t imagine its impact on Hana’s as they have not intentionally talked to each other ever since. Their encounters were more casual rather than friendly.&