Take It Slow

Beanie and Hesitations

Young men yelling is what you're hearing for almost the whole day. It's almost midnight now but they're still playing.

You shut your eyes tightly, forehead furrowing, and you roll over to the other side of your bed. Hearing another loud laughter, you dishevel your hair and groan as you sit up.

You sigh as you stand up to take your insulated jacket that's resting on the backrest of the chair, near your bed. You drape it around your forearm and proceed to go down the stairs.

“Oh, nice drift.”

“Other side. 120!”

“Man, you're out in the open. Prone stance.”

You take a glance at them before finally sliding your arms in your jacket. You put a beanie and gloves on. They don't even notice you standing by the door and even when you turn the knob.

You're quite surprised to see who's standing outside. His arm is outstretched as if he was about to reach out for the doorknob.

He's also wearing a beanie. A very familiar one. There's no doubt. It's that beanie.

“Here,” you handed him a black knitted yarn. “It's like a congratulatory gift. You're gonna be a university student soon.”

You're both standing by the seaside promenade. It's quite a hidden place--Sungjin's secret place. He brought you there when you were twelve when he saw you running with puffy eyes and red nose.

He was about to call your name then when you just ran passed him. He followed you, grabbed your wrist, making you face him, and asked what happened. You just continued to sob and he dragged you, leading you to that place.

You let out all your frustrations and pain there regarding the reason why you cried--your family, your parents.

Since then, it has become your secret place, too.

“It's a beanie. I made it for you.”

“You sure like to craft things on your own, huh?” he takes it from you.

You shrugged. “It's not that fancy, I know. But I can't really afford to buy you gifts. So I just make them instead. Like that one,” you point at his bracelet--the only wrist accessory he's wearing.

He just nodded and you pouted. You took the beanie from his hand and unfolded it. “Let me put this on you,” you motioned him to bend so that you could reach his head.

Instead of bending his body forward, though, like bowing a little, he bent his knees. Sure, you can reach his head, but you thought it was unusual so you couldn't help but giggle.

“What?” he glared.

You bit your lower lip to restrain yourself from letting out another laugh. You put the beanie on his head and planted a peck on his lips before he could straighten back up.

His face became gloomy that you could almost see a black aura coming out from him. You suddenly felt nervous and your throat went dry. He looked so mad yet you didn't want to say sorry. You did not regret it, so why would you?