“What should I do?” Hana demanded from Go-eun over the phone was presently in Seoul but will come home to Daegu for Chuseok.“Wait! Are you telling me you’re dating Suho?”“YES!”“Is Doomsday coming?” Go-eun teased her.“What?!”“I mean… FINALLY! You two are like the weirdest couple I ever met. It’s evident how you like each other and just stamped me why you’re not together.”“C’mon help me out here, Go-eun. That’s already past and has been settled. What should I do now? Chuseok is a week away!”That’s why girlfriends and boyfriends prefer to go home to their hometown rather than attending their partner’s event. Well, you can’t back out now. Let me think.”“What?”“First of all, CALM DOWN. It’s not like you’r
The house was dark with no trace of anybody inside. In his hand, a mountain of postcards and bills from the mailbox. For the first time, after a long time, he felt a grasp of warmth and contentment despite the blackness. It helped that he knew the ins and outs of their house, but more substantially, it was a settling feeling that all was in its proper place, despite not seeing the road in front of him or where it’s headed. Turned on the master switch, wiped off the perspiration from his eyebrows, and Suho careened inside the strangely quiet room. He shoved the gym bag on the nearest chair and sat on an empty chair in the living room, sifting through the pile of letters and bills in their mailbox. A habit he took over from his mom after discovering a few interesting mails. From time to time, they’d still get fan mails for his dad. And he’d hold on to them, keeping all to himself, rather than showing them to his mom. It prompted him to reply to some of these letters, acknowledging them
After all the stopovers and unprecedented vehicular accidents on the highway, they eventually made it to Mrs. Lee’s hometown. The group arrived at the coastal town close to midnight. The streets were dark, without a soul in sight. “Hana, let’s go to the beach in the morning,” Suho glimpsed at her. “Yeah, unnie. Let’s go for a picnic.” “Isn’t the water cold?” Hana asked. “Yeah, but we don’t have to swim. We’ll just play in the sand, duh!” “Duh? Where on earth did you get that, Naeun? I think you’re watching too much TV these days,” Mrs. Lee chimed in, making everybody laugh at her plight. After a few minutes of navigating dark streets, the mood shifted. Seojoon creeped out the girls as he recounted some folklore legends and stories as Suho turned to dark corners and miles of dark fields and forests, void of any human presence. He made it look like a town in an eerie, horror movie, adding sound effects making Hana and Naeun shriek in fear. The boys bursting into laughter. And Mrs
“You’re so mean.” Hana shot an evil eye at Suho who couldn’t help but snortle the entire time. After breakfast, everybody broke off to their own assignments. Suho changed into his go-to ensemble, a basketball jersey over a white shirt and khaki pants. He became the assigned driver for her aunt who’s going to the market to buy the other ingredients for Chuseok. “Let’s meet here after two hours,” his aunt stated after dismounting from the car. While waiting, the two strolled by the sea watching the seagulls fly and boats ducked. Not far from where they stood was a lighthouse. “Let’s go there,” Suho pointed at the lighthouse, grabbed Hana’s wrist, and ran to where the lighthouse was. “Oppa, wait,” breaking into laughter, running alongside him, her dress flowing with the wind Suho halted halfway through leaving Hana perplexed. “Stay here, I’ll take pictures of you.” Bringing out the polaroid camera from his knapsack. “Okay,” Hana flickered her eyes, puzzled but followed his lea
“Is there a lifetime waiting for us?” Hana asked herself as she watched Suho go about helping in the preparation for Chuseok. She had been very sure of her emotions but the thought of the red mailbox gave her goosebumps she can’t explain. An impending departure that could test their relationship, was that it? “Unnie, come play with us,” Naeun urged, snatching her wrist and tugged her in the group of youth playing games. “But aren’t we supposed to help them?” Pointing at the elderly ladies making rice cakes. “No. Don’t worry about that. Let’s enjoy it while we can. Tomorrow is D-day but tonight is OUR night.” Hana sat next to Naeun and her cousins playing games at the height of the night. She glanced around and saw how carefree they were compared to kids in the city. They can be contrasted to her cousins who would meet separately from the older folks just to evade their endless banters and nagging. She was told that they have a full day the succeeding day. From preparing meal for
“There’s no turning back,” I admitted to myself after the horn honked right into my ears. I have been a lawyer for years, unaffected at even the most dangerous criminal, only to wither like a plant in front of Hana. The truth hurts that behind the shining half moon in the starless sky, she was at the dark unseen side. At that very moment, trying to reclaim her position only clouded with dark clouds.As the green light turned on, I pressed on the accelerator zooming past the hundreds of cars on the street. Driving further away from Gangnam, from the truth I can’t bring myself to admit. After an hour of mindless driving, it brought me to the same spot where broken hearts go. Found myself in Dongdaemun along the strips of tent bars where adults crashed after a hard day’s work. My sentiments may not even be far from them. In these cramp gray tent bars where alcohol and bar snacks were sold, we pour out our deepest regrets and l
Hana stood up, gathered her coat, her eyes fixated on the floor., and breathed heavily. “I’m sorry, Oppa.”“For what?” I asked, all the while clutching firmly at the armrest of my couch. Every vein popping out, restraining myself from doing something I might later regret.She turned around and, with heavy feet, sauntered towards the door without replying to my question.I Still have a lot of questions left unanswered. She can’t leave hanging again, can’t she? I cleared my throat, “Hana, why are you here?”She stopped on her track, “Nothing. Forget about it.” Her right hand on the doorknob, “Honestly, I don’t know where else to go but here. You’re the only one to who I can open up without any fear. Sorry for being delusional, thinking perhaps that could at least lend me an ear. But I guess that’s already in the past. I’m not in
“That’s not the Hana I know.” I watched her expression shift like the lioness to a stray cat in the wilderness. “I thought everything was going well for you. What happened?” I stopped asking the same question to myself. I don’t think I am the same Suho either, or am I? Why am I even questioning myself now?Hana tilted her head, blinked several times, her eyes focused on me. Then asked, “So, who is the Hana, you know?”I leaned back, rested my elbows on the armrest, interlaced my fingers, and looked at her. “The Hana I know is someone who knows exactly what she wanted and would do anything to get it. She’s an achiever who never stops until she’s satisfied and not when she’s tired.” I smirked, scanning her from head to foot. “You sound more like ME back in high school rather than the Hana I knew.”“Maybe we’ve switched souls,&rdq
The lioness came out of the den and caught me off guard. My heart palpitating, palms sweating, and throat dried from the thought. Our conversation still echoed in my ears.“Hello,” I answered in a low, intimidating tone. It was more than what I intended to do, not knowing who the other person on the other line was. Whoever it was has interrupted my peace and must pay for it. “Hello,” a woman’s voice reverberated through the other end of the line. Her voice brought chills to my bones. In an instant, a wind zapped me through a deep tunnel, the speed of lightning. One word was enough for my mind to be blown away.I leaned forward, unconsciously gripping the wooden arm of my chair, my knuckles turning crimson. I banished to a place where black clouds appeared on the horizon and fog blurs everything in sight. My mind whirling as I bit my lips. “Suho,” her sweet voice echoing through the dense mist. “Are you still there?” she asked. “Hana,” pausing in between, breathing after each
***Suho’s POV***November 4, 2005I started writing because I was happy. Today, I only write to feel amidst the depression.Exactly a year has passed. Ever since that day, November 4, 2004, my love vanished in thin air. But every detail was still vivid in my mind like it merely happened yesterday. The truth was it’s a memoir that should have perished like the seafoam. Yet, for some reason, the waves kept pushing back these foam to the shore.From the time we left Busan, everything went easily, better than what I imagined. Hana became busier than normal. Working two shifts for the pet store, running errands for Grandma Jung and eomma, and volunteering at the shrine.While I sat around waiting for the result of the bar exam, standing by for her to come home every day. Her busy schedule ended with bus dates. Every morning, we’d have breakfast, send her to work, and
“Was it all worth it?” Hana’s eyes shifted, watching the full moon from afar.The moonlight cast a warm glow over the sea turned bleak, hiding behind gigantic dark clouds swallowing it whole. It’s face hidden in the starless night. It was as if it’s sending a distress signal of impending danger.“Love is WORTH it. I’d rather be a heartbroken prince than a soulless creature on earth.” His voice steady but warm. He reached out for Hana’s hand and clasped it within his two hands.“Your hands are so warm,” she mumbled. Tears fell on Hana’s cheeks, leaning closer on his shoulders.Together, they watched the moon reveal its face once again. Dark clouds drifted away, creating a halo in the black sky.Suho pulled her up, walking hand in hand, next to the seashore towards their trailer van. Waves crashing in on their barefooted feet.“Ya! What are you