"Ok, this is it," I know what I need to do right now. I stood up from my bed and ready to walk away. But Yuri suddenly stopped me.
"Oh, and Chaewon, if you can't decide, just follow your heart. The heart knows what it wants."
The pounding noise of my sneaker resonating off the walls of the alley with a clanging echo that matched my heart throbbing inside my chest with the thick anxiousness and excitement I felt as I ran.
Tears blind me and I turn, running as quickly as my long legs can carry me, bolting down the alleyway like an Olympic champion at the start gun; quickening my pace to an all-out sprint.
The water droplets fall like they simply cannot think of anything better to do. Yet together they brought such a soothing sound, a natural melody every bit as beautiful as a mother's soulful hum.
I felt each splash that touched my skin, watched my shirt become a deeper, more rocky hue.
I tilt my fingers upwards and watch the remnants of the drops run downwards like tiny rivers. Something about this rain has me more relaxed, returning us to the dry heat that is so customary at this time of year.
I run and run as fast as I can, not minding the weather right there. I run and run until I reach her house. By the time I reach there, I'm already drenched by the rain. But I care nothing about it.
Standing in front of her house, I look over to one of the windows. Looking at her writing something on her book, I got excited. It is the day when I will finally be true to her. It's my decision and I think it is the right choice.
The house stood on a slight rise just on the edge of the neighbourhood. It was large, certainly, almost intimidatingly so.
On climbing out it took a more detailed form, natural grey stone with all the hues mother nature can provide. The paintwork on the trim was brilliant white, flawless and the path wound to a double oak front door in loose pea shingle.
"KIM MINJU!"
I shout my lungs out directly towards her window. I'm pretty sure she heard me. I can see from here how she flinch before looking shocked to see me under the rain. Her window isn't close so I'm sure she heard me.
It doesn't take long until the front door swung open with minju and her hand holding onto a white umbrella.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?! WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU CAME HERE WITHOUT AN UMBRELLA?! DO YOU WANT TO GET SICK?! FOR FUCK SAKE YOU CAN'T GET SICK, CHAE. DON'T YOU REMEMBER TOMORROW-"
Before she can finish her nagging, I look at her full of love before shouting back at her since it's raining hard and I'm scared she can't hear me.
"I FUCKING LOVE YOU, KIM MINJU!"
"WHAT?!"
The power of love brings hope, yet at times the steps toward love cause pain and those towards a life of loneliness are comfortable in their familiarity.
We are born to love and with all necessary courage to walk the path to it, no matter the roughness, no matter the hardship.
"3rd grade. It is when I first met you. I can't help but look at you even without thinking. It's like my eyes know that it wants to see you. My eyes follow wherever you are like a puppy seeing its owner.
Honestly, I never thought I would love you, I thought it's just a mere crush and it was all a stupid love. But my heart can stop pounding for you. There's no reason for it, but I just want to hold you every day.
I want to be your star just as much as you are to me. A shining star. Whenever I look at you, I have a feeling that I can't breathe. You're so dazzling even if it's just you and me in the world. Even if we are to be reborn again, I'd fall for you again. I'm sure of it."
