First Love [Chapter 3]

The hundred and fifty times we met, it was at the hallway.

*For the past few months, whenever I met you, I’ll try my best to avoid you. I scared that my fragile heart will break again. But this time it’s different.*

I was walking behind her. I try to avoid her as usual but my friends insist to use this way. I have no choice but to follow their wish. I walk quietly behind her so she won’t get notice of me. Suddenly, she slipped. I catch her but her folder hit hard on the corner of my mouth. It was painful. She quickly got up. I hold my mouth with my hands.

“I’m sorry. So sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you. I just slipped and…”

I show her a stop sign.

“It’s ok. I’m fine. No need to worry about it.”

“Are… Are you sure? But you look so in pain right now. What’s with your mouth? Why are you covering your mouth? Can you take away your hand and let me see?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Come on. Show me.” She tries to take away my hand that covers my mouth.

“No. It’s ok with me. Ouch!!”

“Oh my God!! It’s bleeding. It’s not ok.” She search tissue in her bag and help me wipe off the blood.

“It’s ok now. I need to go now. We are in a hurry.”

“No, it’s not ok. Your bleeding won’t stop. I think we need to go to the medical room.”

“No. That is not necessary. I’m really fine.”

“Jae Joong. We think you need to go to the medical room too. You need to do something to stop the bleeding. Don’t be so stubborn,” my friends persuade me.

Finally, I give up. Jeannie accompanies me to the medical room while my friends continue to go to watch movie. At the medical room, the doctor helps me to stop the bleeding. He put something cold on my wound.

“It’s not a deep cut. So we do not need to stitch it. Later, it will become blue-black bruise. If you want to make it better, you can use boiled egg and roll on it. The bruise will be more unobvious.”

“Ok doctor.” I said.

As soon as we are out of the room, Jeannie pulls my right arm to stop me from walking.

“Do you know how to boil the eggs?”

“No. What for?”

“To make your bruise less obvious.”

“No need to bother that.”

“Yes, you need. Since I’m the one who hurt you, I need to do something to repay you.”

“Nah, it’s ok. It stops bleeding now. The bruise will be gone after a few days.”

“But, I feel so regretful. Just let me do something for you. Okay?”

She look at me with her eyes in which to me it always been the most lovely eyes I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, this time the lovely pair of eyes was a bit teary and sad. I couldn’t resist it if she cries. So, I agreed with her.

“Ah. Ok. Where you wanna get the boiled eggs?”

“I don’t know. Your house maybe?”

My house??? She wants to go my house??? Why my heart is beating so fast???

“Er… my house. My house is quite far from here.”

“It’s ok. Better than my house which is very far from here. Let’s go to your house.”

I can’t do anything but to take her to my house.

When we reached my house, she was very amazed with my house. She looks kinda cute and funny at the same time as well when she turns round and round looking at my big house. I can’t help it and smirk.

“Wow, your house is big and beautiful. Your parents must be very rich.”

“Er… Yeah. It was big but what’s the use of it when I always left alone.” I said it in a very low voice. Similar to whispering.

“Huh??? What did you say? I can’t hear you.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just say that my parents were not here always. They always busy with their own business and career. I live here with my butler and maids.”

“Don’t you have any siblings?”

I shook my head.

“Erm… Ok. Let’s make some boiled eggs. Shall we?”

We move to the kitchen. I sit at the chair watching Jeannie preparing some boiled eggs. She looks so captivating when she’s cooking. I can feel the warmth from her. I’ve never felt like that before.

When she touches the top of the pot cover, she quickly removes her fingers from there. I immediately run to her to see her condition.

“Are you ok?” I grab her hand and looks at her fingers. It’s red now and it’s the sign of burnt. I help her to blow her fingers. Then, our eyes meet each others. Both of us quickly pull our own hands away from each other and blush.

“Ah… The eggs are ready.” Jeannie carefully takes the hot boiled eggs out of the pot and put into a bowl.

I lead her to my room. She was amazed with my room. She even went to the glass cupboard where I keep all of the undelivered presents from me to her.

“Are all of these presents yours?”

“No. It’s for someone who I love. But she rejected me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok. I’ve already get over it.”

She smiles at me. But my heart feels so much in pain. Why she doesn’t know how I feel?

“Do you have any handkerchief or small towel?”

“Oh yeah.” I take out a handkerchief from my wardrobe and pass it to Jeannie. She takes an egg out of the bowl and rolls it awhile in between her palms. Then, she wraps the egg with the handkerchief and walk near to me.

“Can you sit down?”

I sit on my bed. She starts to roll the egg on the corner my mouth. It was pain at first. I try to avoid it but her other hand hold still of my face. Then, she blows on the bruise as the egg keep rolling. Truthfully, it does ease my pain. Our distance is just a few inches away. I look into her eyes. My lips are getting nearer and nearer to hers. She realized it and quickly pulls back.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

She put her fingers on my lips.

“Let me do the talking this time. Ok?”

‘You do the talking? What do you mean?’ I think in my mind. Although I feel a bit confusing, but I want to know what she wants to say to me. So, I nod my head.

“From the first time I met you, I’ve already fell in love with you.”

I was shock with what she is saying. She didn’t realize it and continue with her confession.

“The next day, I accidentally saw you went into the tuition centre. I think it’s another chance that God gave me to stay nearer to you. Without hesitation, I ask my friend to accompany me to register with that particular tuition centre. I… I want to see you more often. The first day at the tuition centre, I was so nervous. When I stepped into the class, I saw you were in there. I was happy but I don’t have the guts to greet you. The only thing I can do is to stay near to you. Sit a place near to you. That’s why I always sit in front of you and chat with my friend. I purposely do all these things to capture your attention. But… but, you never seem to care.” Jeannie’s eyes are full of tear now. It looks like it will drop any time.

“I…”

She presses her fingers against my lips to make me hold on whatever I want to say.

“Although you never seem to care, I still put hopes on you. Hoping one day you will talk with me. You know what, that year holiday was so hard for me to get through. I miss you so much. I miss you night and day. Every second, every minute, every hour, and every day. Your face always appeared in my dream. It makes me feel so heart broken because you never noticed me. When we graduated our secondary school, it was the most heart broken moment for me. I know that we won’t meet again after secondary, so I give up on you and try to forget you. But, *sniff* I can’t. I just can’t get you out of my head. *sniff*”

“Jeannie, I…” I can see her tears start to roll down from her eyes.

“Let me finish this. When I see you in the ice breaking activity, I was so happy. I never thought that I would be able to see you again. I purposely step out of the finding process and look at you. I was surprised that you are doing the same. When you ask me to be your partner, I was so happy that I think my heart can fly out because of happiness. I was so happy with the ice breaking activity because it was the first time we introduce each other, first time we talk closely to each other and first time we having so much fun together. I think that the God is giving me a second chance to know you… *sniff*

During the ball night, I was waiting for you. When you ask me for dance, I was so happy until I’m speechless. Although you are wearing a mask, I know it was you all along. When you confess to me, I was so surprised that all this time you had the same feeling as me. When you asked me to be your girlfriend, I think that my dream finally came true. Just as when I want to answer your question, you spun me around and left… *sniff*

Do you know how hurt am I when you did that? It’s like… It’s like you bring me up so high and suddenly you drop me down to the ground. I’ve cried overnight for that. The next day, we met at the hallway. I was trying to tell you how I feel about you but you run away again.

(A short pause…)

How could you do this to me? My heart was so fragile to break twice. *sniff* But all this can’t compare with just now. You said that the girl you love have rejected you. How could you say this when you doesn’t even know the answer yourself? *sniff*”

I hold onto both of her wrist. I want to explain all this.

“Jeannie it’s not like that. I …”

“No. No… I don’t want to hear anymore. Kim Jae Joong. You really hurt my heart so badly. *sniff* I want to go now. Take your hands off me.”

“No. Not until you listen to me.”

“I don’t want to listen anymore. I had enough. Let go of me. Let me go.” She fought to break loose but I tighten my grip on her.

“You have to listen to me no matter what. I’m not going to miss this chance again. I can’t endure another pain if I lost you again. I think I will gone crazy if I lost you this time. This has been circulating in our lives for 2 whole years. I never meant to say you rejected me. I thought you never like me. But, now I know how you feel on me.”

I pull her close to me and hug her. She tries to break away. But, I’m too scared to let her go. I scare I will never ever see her again if I let go of her this time. I hug her tighter.

“Will you give me another chance to make up for what I did to you? To let me show how much I love you. Can you forgive me?”

She cries in my hug. Finally, she nods her head. Although I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I can feel it. I’m so happy.

“Will you let me love you and protect you? Will you give me the chance to give you all the best things in the world to you? Will you be my girlfriend?”

I pull a gap between us. My hands hold her shoulders. I want to see it myself, her answer to my question.

She nods her head and slowly looks up at me. Her tears wet her eyes and cheeks. But her sweet smile outshines her face. I smile so happily. I wipe off her tears with my fingers. I pull her close to me and hug her tightly. I lift her up and spin around my room.

It was the happiest day ever in my life. After all these years, all those misunderstandings finally solve. I can be with the love of my life who I accidentally met and work as hard as me to get our relationship started from the moment we saw each other. She’s more precious than any diamonds or pearls in the world to me. I would never let her go and always treasure her as my finest princess.

FIrst Love [Chapter 2]

The hundred and forty third times I met you, it was on the ball night.

*The theme for the ball night was masquerade. All students who attend the ball need to wear a mask. This theme set suspense and mysterious feelings to the students.*

Tonight, although everyone were wearing mask, I still can find her. She is now, standing a few meters in front of me wearing a lilac chiffon gown. She looks so beautiful tonight.

The music starts. I see her walking away from the dance floor. Does it mean that she doesn’t have a partner for the night? I walk up to her and it surprised her.

“Miss. May I dance with you?” I ask her and held out my hand.

She doubts it but her friends keep encouraging her to dance with me. Finally, she put her hands on top of mine. I smile to her and she smile back to me. We walk to the center of the dance floor and slow dance to keep pace with the slow music which is playing that time.

I look into her eyes. Surprisingly, she looks back into mine also. Then, both of us smile. I start our conversation. I planned to say out all my feelings for her. I know I can do it tonight. She won’t know it would be me. She can’t guess it was me because I’m wearing a mask. I can do it. I can.

“You know what?”

“Hmm…”

“I’ve already know you for 2 years. Do you remember 2 years ago, we met on the street? I mean, bumped on each other on the street. From that day, I hope to see you again. Then, the second time we met, it was at the tuition centre. I wanted to greet you but I’m not brave enough to do that. Each time when I saw you, I will be very happy because I can see your cheerful smile.”

“I...”

“Sshhh… Let me finish first. Okay?”

She nods her head.

“Since then, I realized it was love at first sight.”

She seems to be surprised by my words.

“Everyday, my feelings for you grows stronger and stronger. When you talk with your friend, how I wish it was me who you are talking to. When you are happy, how I wish I’m the one to share your happiness and laugh with you. When you are sad, how I wish I can hug you and borrow my shoulders for you to cry on. When you have news to share, how I wish I’m the one to share it with you. When we were on holiday, I miss you so much. After we graduate from secondary school, it broke my heart whenever I think of couldn’t see you anymore. But, my chance came again. This time, I’m not going to let go of this chance.”

I breathe in a few times. I’m trying to gather all my courage to confess to her.

“I…I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?”

“I… I… ah…”

After a long pause, she still hasn’t answer my question. I feel my heart broke into thousands of pieces. It was at the end of the song. I spin her around and disappear myself to the exit.

The hundred and forty forth times I met you, it was at the hallway.

*It was the day right after the ball night. We walk into each other. I try to avoid you but you greet me.*

“Hi, Jae Joong. How are you?”

“I’m fine and how are you?” I force a smile on my face. It was a lie. My heart hasn’t recovered from the wound that you’ve cause. It was so deep and it will take me a long time to heal it.

“Oh, I’m fine too.”

Then, it was a moment of silence. She looks like she was thinking something. After I told her how I feel last night and she’s kinda rejected me, my heart really hurts. It hurt so badly till I shed my tears. I can’t bear with my feelings anymore. All I want to do now is to avoid her.

“Erm… I’m in a hurry. Chat next time when we have the time. Bye.”

I said bye to her and run away. I never look back at her. I didn’t even listen to her reply. It hurts me again when I said bye to her. It’s as if the good bye is for eternal.

First Love [Chapter 1]

The first time I met you, we bumped into each other.

*A secondary school girl bumped into a secondary school boy on a street. Both of them fell down. The girl’s books were thrown on the floor. The boy gets up and helps the girl picked up her books. The girl quickly grabs her book from the boy and run to catch her bus.*

“Thank you and sorry,” the girl said with her head turn back and looked at the boy with a smile.

The boy smile back. ‘She’s quite a cute girl. Hope we can meet again.’ He thinks in his mind.

The second time I met you, we were in the same classroom.

*The boy was sitting in his tuition classroom. Then two girls came into the class and sat in front of him. He got stunned because one of the girls was the one he bumped into the other day.*

‘Wasn’t she’s the one I bumped into the other day? She was in this tuition centre also? Erm… Should I greet her?’ He thinks in his mind.

“I like this watch so much. It’s so beautiful. You see the design. It’s simple yet stylish,” the girl said.

“Yeah. But it’s a little bit expensive. How are you going to buy it? You are a student. Remember?” her friend said.

“I’ll save money for it. Let’s see. *counting with her fingers* Erm… about 5 months I’ll be able to buy it.”

“Why don’t you just ask your parents to buy for you?”

“Eh, hello. It’s not that you know me for a day or two. You know I don’t like to ask stuffs from my parents. I prefer buying things using my money.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Independent girl. But what’s so independent if you’re receiving pocket money from your parents. What’s the different? Haha…”

“Argh!!! You… Feel this”

The girl tickles her friend until her friend surrender. She and her friend keep on chatting and sometimes tease each other. I higher up my head to see the watch on the magazine that she is talking about.

That weekend I went to a shopping complex with a few friends of mine. I stopped at a watch shop. I look at all the watches in the shop and finally found the watch that the girl likes. I bought the watch and have it nicely wrap up.

The next tuition class, I brought the watch with me. I planned to give her the present and ask her to be my friend. I’ve been practicing the lines overnight and I’m so nervous. The moment she stepped into the classroom, my heart beat increase it’s speed. The moment she sat in front of me, I can feel that my heart will jump out any moment. I hold my hands together tightly. I cannot brave myself up to give the present to her and say out those lines that I’ve practiced. Till the class finished, I still don’t have the guts to do so. I watched her leave the class. I went home in dismay. I pampered myself with “There will be next time”.
Since then, my feelings for her grow stronger and stronger day after day. Whenever I overheard her conversation with her friend, I hope it was me rather than her friend. I’ll buy the things she likes but I never presented the presents to her. I kept it nicely in my glass cupboard. Soon enough, it becomes a collection.

The hundred and thirty ninth times I met you, it was on the orientation day of our college.

I went into the college main hall for the freshmen briefing by college’s principal. When I ready to settle myself, I heard a voice which I recognized and misses the whole holiday. I try to track the voice and stop my eyes on the girl who sat in front of me. It was her.

‘I thought I will never see you again. I miss you so much.’ I think in my mind.

I was not paying attention on the briefing. My eyes were focused on the girl that sits in front of me. I’m so happy that I was able to see her again.

The hundred and fortieth times I met you, it was in the ice breaking activity.

I was surprised that you are in my group. I mean. We are in the different course and out of 18 000 people, we are in the same group.

“Okay, juniors. Settle down yourselves now. Our activity will start now. Firstly, I need you all to find a partner. It’s easy right?” said the senior.

“Yeah.”

“But in 1 condition. You all must find the opposite gender to partner with you. Let’s start now.”

The situation was chaotic. All people were trying to find their partners. I stepped back to get myself out of the messy situation. Then, I looked to my right. I saw the girl was standing there. And out of the sudden, she looked at my way. I turn around and look whether there is another person that she might look at. She laughed at my behaviour. I blushed. Then, I show a hand sign pointing me and to her asking whether she wants to be my partner. She nods her head and both of us walk nearer to each other.

“Hi, my name is Kim Jae Joong. You can call me Jae Joong.”

“Hi, my name is Park Hyun Ri. You can call me Hyun Ri. Nice to meet you.” she smiled and held out her hand.

“Oh. Nice to meet you too.” I shook her hand.

‘Her smile was so sweet. I miss that and her laughter too.’ I think in my mind.

That day was very fun. And I actually got to know her name after these 2 years. I’m so happy. My dream that night was full of her. Full of her laughter, smile and others.

The next morning I woke up, I smile to myself. I was so happy and yesterday was a good start. I will have more chances to see her and speaks to her now.

So Close

I was sitting all alone at a table near the big glass window of this small yet nicely decorated with the country side cottage theme tea house. There were many pots of flowers nicely arranged inside the shop along the pillar, hallway and along the border of the big glass window which I’m near with. I can smell the sweet purple lavender’s scent. Meanwhile, on my table there is a stalk of fully bloomed red rose standing inside a tall glass vase greet my eyes with its beautiful red petals. I smiled. Simple things like this always can carve a sweet smile on my face. It makes me feel so relaxing. A sip of the rose tea, it takes my problems away bit by bit. I closed my eyes slowly. A scenery slowly plays in my mind. It was a big green field with a big shady tree. The leaves of the tree were so green and so much that it feels cooling when I sat under it. The tree was surrounded with thousands and thousands of purple lavenders which make this scene more colorful and captivating. I open my eyes and pick up my pencil. I start to sketch out the scene that I had imagined just now.

When I was about to finish my sketch, I felt that someone pull my left sleeve. I looked down and saw two kids dress in scout uniform. One is holding a donation box and the other is holding a packet of cookie. They were so cute especially when they smiles and talks. I can’t help but keep looking at those two cute kid scouts.

“Annyeong haseyo, noona. We are from the Seoul Primary School. We are collecting donations to the old people that live at the rural area. They need this money to help them to buy foods and clothes. They really poor and sad. Noona, help us to buy this cookie and the money will be the donations,” says the one who is holding the packet of cookie.

Ah, he was so cute. Especially when he’s talking, his grammar was totally wrong. Both of them smile sweetly to me. I can’t resist their cuteness and bought 1 packet of the cookie. I give a soft pat on their heads. Then, the one who do all of the talking just now give me a hand signal asking me to bend down a bit. I do as what he signals me to. At that moment, he gives a peck on my cheek. Then, the other kid also does the same. I felt so happy and hug both of them.

“Must study hard and don’t play too much. Also, must filial to your parents. Araso?” I said to them and pat softly on their heads. They just nod and wave their small hands as they ran to a group of people who seems to be very busy. They did the same thing that they do to me to them. I just smile at their attitude and continue with my sketching.

I put down my pencil and stretch out my arms a bit when I’m done. I reach for my cup of rose tea and look out. There were many people walking on the streets. Some were talking on their cell phone. Some were walking hand in hand with their lovers. I turn around and look back into the shop. The group of people were still sitting at there and chatting. Then, I saw some cameras and spotlight equipments. Now only I realize that they are doing shootings in here. I wonder what kind of shooting they are doing. I saw some really handsome and cute guys among the people that were standing there. Suddenly, a guy noticed that I was looking at them and he look straight at me. I was so shocked and turn away that instance. I feel so embarrass. I don’t dare to look at them any more. I finish up my rose tea and ask for my bill. I pack my things and turns around when I heard a guy say “Here’s your bill miss”. I look at the amount and pull out some money from my wallet. I put it on the tray and look at the waiter. I was stunned. It was the guy who looks at me just now. He smiles to me. I got stunned again. He had a powerful killer smile. His teeth are so white and arrange neatly on his gum. He is so handsome.

I snapped out of it when his friends calling him. I ask myself in my mind, “What am I doing?”. I quickly grab my things and leave the shop. When I was at the door, I heard him calling me. I pretended that I didn’t hear him and walk out of the tea house. I still hear him calling for me when I was walking on the street. Suddenly, I feel a pat on my shoulder and I turn around. There he was again. I was so confuse. Why is he chasing after me? What does he want from me? I was going to ask him but I saw the packet of cookie that I bought from the kid scouts.

“Here. You left this at the tea house,” he said and hand over that packet to me. I take it and wanted to say thank you to him but I got stunned with his killer smile again. When I get back to my senses, I can feel that my face was burning. I quickly say thank you and walk away before he sees that I’m blushing. When I walk far enough, I look at the cookie and laugh. Laugh at the silly attitude I’m showing. Still, I really like that guy’s smile. His look isn’t bad either. I hope to meet him again.

The next day, I go back to that same tea house again. When I’m at the door, I feel so nervous. Nervous until I have 2 totally different feelings. Half of me really wish to see him here again and the other half of me wish that I don’t see him again due to yesterday silly attitude that I shown to him. Thinking back of it makes me feel so embarrass. I grab the door handle and breathe a few times before I push the door. When I’m in there, I didn’t see that guy but I notice there is a big white piano was placed at the center of the shop. I walk to the table that I use to sit. I feel very happy that he did not appear but later on, I feel sad because I can’t see him again. I throw my look out of the window and yesterday scene is playing in my mind.

Suddenly, I hear melodies from the piano. I turn around and look at the piano. I was so surprised. It was him. He was playing the song that I like the most, “So Close” by Jon McLaughlin. He didn’t just play the piano but he sang the song as well. It was so sweet. He looks very charming. I got carried away with his voice and the melodies that he plays. I look at him from the beginning of the song until it ends. I felt like my heart fly into his arms. I am totally mesmerized by him.

When he finish the song, all the people in the tea house includes me gave him a standing ovation. He stands up and takes a bow. Then, he looks at me. I notice that and slow down my applause. In my mind that time, “Is he looking at me? Oh my God, what to do?”. He walks towards me and smile. Aww, it’s his killer smile again. I felt that my heart is melting.

“Do you like the song that I played and sang just now?” he asks me.

“Yes. I love it. I love it so much.”

“Thank God that you do.”

Then he holds both of my hands. I look at him. You wouldn’t believe what he says to me next.

“I hope that you understand the lyrics and the meanings of it. I wish that I can be close to you and love you each and everyday. Will you be my girlfriend?”

I was so shocked of what he is asking me. I couldn’t find my voice to answer him. He gaze deeply into my eyes and through his gaze, I know that he is hoping for my answer. Finally, I find my courage and voice to ask him.

“But we both just met and I don’t even know your name. I…”

“My name is Jung Hoon. Although we just met, I believe that our fate brings us together. I really have a strong feeling for you. I’m serious of the things I told you just now. I love you.” he cuts in.

“I… I love you too.” I reply him.

Then, he threw his arms around me and hugs me. Both of us feel very happy and I do believe that fate brought us together.