The night was dark and the icy breeze from the sea piercing through the skin. It was a stellar, crisp night with only the melody of breaking waves and cicada chiming into the night. The night was still young but the coastal village had retired to sleep, crippled from the day that was. All that was left from the revelry were drunkards crawling in the street. Hana meandered into the dark cold night with her backpack in tow. “There’s no turning back, she said.” A thousand things going through her head. BREATHE IN… The wind hissed in her ear. But with every puff, an aching thug slit to her heart. Hana clenched her chest hoping to soothe the pain only making it worse. “That’s why I always hold back when I’m happy because a catastrophe is just lurking around the corner. Waiting to pop up at the least expected time. A roller coaster ride that lifts you way up in the sky one second and in an instant, you’re crashing down on the ground. BREATHE OUT… Each exhale felt like waves smashing her
“Hana, Hana,” he panted. “Hana, Hana,” rushing with all the energy left in his body until he reached her. Suho snagged her shoulders and swiveled her around. “Hana, Hana… Is that you?” The lady turned around, pulled out her headset, and stared into Suho’s eyes. “Suho oppa?” she blinked multiple times. The place dark and askew, he couldn’t make out if it was indeed Hana that he was staring at. As she turned, all the exhaustion eating him up, his sight went blank. “Ha....” Suho trailed off and crashed into her arms. “Oppa…! Oppa…!” Hana caught him in the nick of time but was too feeble to hold him straight. She skimmed the premise, shouting at the top of her voice, “HELP! HELP! Please help us!” Moving her weight to carry him in her arms, “Oppa…!” Tears fell down from her eyes. “Please please save us!” Hana bawled in the middle of the night. Her hands quivering, she can’t even push keys on her phone. Trying to dial 119, screaming to the top of the world, while searching for a car
“Please pack my bags, eomma. I’m sorry, but it’s best if we don’t go back.” Suho’s tone was tight, his jaw tensed while listening to the brittle voice of his mom on the other line. But there’s no turning back for him the moment he stepped out of his grandmother’s house. They lived on land, while he and Hana drifted in the sea. Suho knew, if there was anything, they should weather the storm together.The warm atmosphere of the jjijimbang (Korean Spa) did nothing to appease his bewildering emotions. Everyone wore the same set of orange clothes. Some were sleeping while others chatting away, scanning for Hana was challenging. But he listened to his heart. And found her in one of the heating chambers, looking like a gigantic oven from the outside.Suho stepped in and saw her seated at a corner, her eyes fixated on the floor. “There you are!”“Hey,” Hana’s voice was flat, but her eyes flickered under the light. “Did you get to speak with your mom and Naeun?”“Yes.” Suho watched her from his
“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
***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
“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