"You're up early..." As soon as Minji's opening her eyes from slumber, she immediately saw Hanni by the makeup table, drying her hair. "We're having breakfast first. Then we'll get on with our plans." She replied as she's combing her hair down while drying.
"Oh right... I forgot." Minji slowly sat up with her eyes closed and back resting against the headboard. "...where are you heading again?" She asked her friend who's getting light makeup on her face.
"Breakfast. Go-kart, lunch, Jeongbang waterfall then Camellia garden." Hanni answered as she's now getting her hair styled, fixing her bangs.
Minji who's been looking at Hanni's reflection from the mirror, slowly get off the bed and went over behind her friend. "Let's try something new today." Minji reached out for the comb in Hanni's hand as she gently combed Hanni's bangs to her side.
Hanni went from having bangs covering her forehead, to a woman with an elegant hair, parted perfectly in the middle, covering part of her shoulders with the ends of her silky dark hair. "Wait, I'm not done yet..." Minji got the hair tie wrapped on her wrist and tied a gentle portion of the back part of Hanni's hair into a high ponytail.
"Done~" She patted Hanni's shoulder as the satisfaction in Hanni's face was noticeable. "I never knew I would look decent without bangs."
"Decent? Girl you are gorgeous. Any hair style would suit you perfectly." Minji gave her cheeks a gentle pinch as she whined jokingly. "Have fun okay."
"Thanks. I'll see you tonight." Hanni then wore a blue denim jacket over her top before getting her backpack, sling it over her back and hurriedly made her way out from the room.
While in your room, you're sitting on your bed, all dressed up and ready. With your back against the headboard, you're just waiting for Hanni quietly.
"Have your heart decided?" Yongbok asked calmly from the other bed next to you, sitting in the same position as you. With a deep sigh out, you closed your eyes. "I haven't" You answered rather lethargically.
"Talk to me buddy. It's okay." Yongbok whispered. "I'm terrified that everything will change. We might end up from being best friends that might turn into strangers. The laughs we shared might turn into quiet moments. The way we look at each other might change..."
Heaving yet another sigh, you glanced over at Yongbok who's eyes remained on you the whole time. "...I'm terrified that if I share how I feel, everything good between us will fade away just like that. And eventually we become distant from one another, feeling cold towards each other..."
"I know... I don't expect you to come with a decision overnight. I'm sure Minji had said this at some point to you last night but... don't overthink too much okay? Make a decision you feel will be the best for both you and Hanni." Yongbok made you formed a light smile. "You two shared the same brain cells at times."
"What do you expect? We're friends right?" Yongbok let out a snicker as you're feeling a bit better and your mind became a bit in ease.
At the same time, the bell rang. "That must be her, I'll get going now." You got off from the bed, getting the blue denim jacket from the table before wearing it over your simple white shirt, the blue short denim jeans you're wearing really compliments the bright radiant of the jacket you're wearing.
"Have fun Yongjae." Yongbok said as you're getting your mini sling bag while you gave your friend a wave.
All set, you immediately got to the door and swung it opened and Hanni's on the other side, eyes were as surprised as yours to see that the two of you were wearing denim tops, one's ocean blue and one's a brighter ocean blue.
Definitely unplanned.
"Denim jacket and short jeans..." Hanni mumbled softly. "Were you reading my mind...?" She squinted her eyes, being jokingly suspicious as you shrugged lightly. "I mean I can change to another outfit if you wan-"
"No~ I'm just joking, you look great in denim and when's the last time we got all matchy matchy like this?" Hanni giggled as you sighed in relief. "I'm pretty sure this is the first time..."
"Is it? Well come to think about it... your choice of outfits are usually oversized shirts" Hanni recalled your sense of fashion which secretly, she found that it really compliments your appearance.
"Wait... What about that outfit we wore during Halloween in middle school?" She asked as you're closing the door. "That doesn't count..." You scrunched your nose as you're recalling the memory of that one particular halloween night where you and Hanni 'accidentally' wore the same costume.
"I know. But those were the good memories." She let out a light laugh in reminiscing the memories as you couldn't help but immediately noticed something. Her hair was styled differently than usual and as much as you adore Hanni with bangs, this time, she's more stunning than ever. "Your hair suits you. Changing hairstyle?"
"Oh..." She didn't actually think that you would say something about her hair although she knew you'd notice it but she didn't expect you to actually say something about it.
She stole a glance at you who's seemingly examining her new hairdo before she looked away and Hanni couldn't see it but she knew how red her ears were and she were thankful her hair was covering them.
"Thanks... just trying something new." Hanni couldn't muster much words as the butterflies were flying in her stomach for unknown reasons.
This happened the night at the gym before as well where the sight of you simply drying your hair by the giant mirrors at the side of the room made her felt the same butterflies in her stomach.
She knew she shouldn't feel that way but she couldn't help but being flustered at every compliments you're saying to her nowadays as well as seeing you doing things that other people would deem as normal yet it doesn't for her.
You and Hanni got a good warm breakfast at the go-kart place before you went over for you first big activity for the day. Go-kart racing.
"Let's put it this way..." Hanni said as the two of you were wearing your helmets. "...we'll race, don't mind about other people. The person who wins will have one wish and the other one must deliver that wish."
"No limits on the wish? You asked as Hanni shook her head. "No limits and no time gates, we can use it whenever we want. But only once." She raised her index finger. "Alright, call." You agreed as you're getting onto your go-kart slowly.
As the two of you got onto your go-karts right next to each other while a few more people were lined up next to you and behind the two of you, you looked over to Hanni next to you as she just raised her eyebrows twice, making you snickered before facing your front.
With eyes fixed on the triple red lights at the top of the metal pole, you and Hanni immediately stepped on the accelerate pedals the moment the lights turned green.
You could hear Hanni's scream/squeal as she's steering the wheel from corner to corner. "Looks like I'm winning~" You yelled out to her as you're driving past her and you could hear her whines, making you couldn't hold your laugh in.
Throughout the circuit, you and Hanni were toe to toe, the gap between you and her were second to non-existent.
Even though all the other people already went past the two of you but it couldn't get more exciting than this now that it's just you and Hanni's left.
As you two got into the final deep corner, the finish line was just a straight road ahead. Determined as she was, Hanni's foot never left the pedal as she's pressing on it like it was the last thing she'll do that day.
You on the other side were taking peeks at Hanni next to you as the finish line was getting closer and closer by the minute. As you're seeing the finish line was just right in front of you, you slightly lift your foot off the pedal.
With the decrease in speed slightly, Hanni's kart managed to cross the line first and although it may sound unfair that you probably let her win, but the loud happy cheer with the raised arms that she made, was enough to make you feel like a true winner.
"I'm really good at this~" Hanni had this smug on her face as you just laughed it off while getting off the go-kart. "Fair play Pham Hanni, a wish well deserved."
"In all honesty, that was a tight race but I'll take the crown for now and who knows, we'll have another rematch next time and another wish will be on the line." She raised her eyebrows as she's taking her helmet off. "Then I'll beat you the next time and get my wish. Simple." You shrugged before sharing a laugh with her.
"The weather's nice so it's really a compliment that we're visiting this waterfall..." Hanni breath in the Jeju breeze as you're walking down the stairs that's leading to the Jeongbang Waterfall.
Walking past tourists, the giant waterfall was getting visible by every steps you two took down the stairs while the blue sea at the background was already so mesmerizing to see.
As you finally made it down to the shore filled with large rocks and your eyes immediately landed on the waterfall right in front of your eyes. Though the sun's shining down, the coolness in the area was just relaxing that you immediately took a deep breath in before exhaling.
As you're walking behind Hanni, she's recording the waterfall while moving forward while you're observing the rocks you're stepping on. Your instinct was right as Hanni slightly slipped on the slippery rock she's on and your quick hands immediately grabbed onto her arms.
"Careful... it's slippery." You whispered as she nodded. "Let's go, I'll hold you." Your head wasn't thinking things through as you gently hold onto Hanni's hand. Surprised by your action, Hanni's eyes reverted to your back view while her fingers instantly intertwined with yours.
Being silent, Hanni quietly followed you as you're guiding her closer to a perfect spot in front of the waterfall. Every steps you and her took carefully, Hanni's eyes were focusing on your back as the butterflies were back again.
So she reverted her gaze at her hand that you're holding and only then she had realize how perfectly your hand and hers holding against each other and she even felt the warmth from your hand that somehow made her feel safe in your guidance.
After a few more steps, you stopped at what you thought would be a great spot to take photos "I think here should be good..." You scanned the spot you've taken as you let go of her hand.
"Then give me a pose." Hanni walked behind a few steps with her phone readying to take photos of you. Hearing that, you got into your usual pose for photos, a back pose. And Hanni just chuckled as she already knew you're going to pose like that every single time as she's taking multiple shots of you.
"Yah, try another pose this time, my phone's full of your back shots..." Hanni said as she scrunched her nose as you could only laugh. "What pose should I do?" You turned around, eyes looking at her phone.
"Anything else other than your back please~" She said as you're thinking for a bit. Hesitant with what pose you want to do, you just did the typical guy pose, the thumbs up pose.
Chuckling slightly, Hanni took a few photos of you and looking through it before acknowledging the spot's a good one. "Here... take mine please~" Hanni handed you her phone as she stood at the spot you've stand on earlier.
You and Hanni spend the next hour, taking pictures of each other in various spots, making memories and sharing laughter in between.
That goes for their trip to the Camellia Garden as well which the two enjoyed.
After your visit, knowing you have a few hours to spare before meeting up with Minji and Yongbok, you took Hanni to watch the sunset at the same place you and Yongbok went to on the first night of the trip.
With no beer this time around, you and her only enjoyed the sea breeze brushing over you. "I really had a great time today. Thanks for planning this." You whispered next to her as she just nodded her head. "You're very welcome. Same goes with me, thank you for agreeing to do this with me."
"Back to our usual lives after this it seems..." You said as Hanni got this light bitter smile on her face. "Guess I'm not the only who doesn't want this trip to end." She took a deep breath in before exhaling the worries out. "...but it is what it is. That's life."
"Oh I forgot to tell you, I may be getting a part time job back home after this trip." Hanni added as you glanced over to her. "Really? Where?" You asked, trying to sound calm. "Probably at the café, I heard they're looking for part timers at the moment."
"To be honest, I'm kind of low on income at the moment..." Hanni let out an awkward chuckle. "...so I guess it's time to make money on my own."
"I'll make sure to visit every day." You confidently said as she just laughed it off. "You're going to be broke in two months."
"I have something to tell you too... kind of." After a short silence, you spoke and Hanni glanced over to you. "...there's this thing in my faculty, it's called the student exchange programme. I umm... the people in the faculty's been recommending me to join it."
"Exchange programme? Where are they sending students to? Busan?" Hanni asked, face masked with slight anxiousness and more curiosity. You could only smile bitterly. "Apparently it's Australia this time around."
"Australia...!?" Her eyes widened, her voice sounded shocked which you didn't expect that kind of reaction from her. "Yeah... Australia."
"D-did you... did you accept it?" She stuttered as she's looking away and her head just dropped low, eyes on the fence she's leaning on. "No I haven't reply them anything yet... At least not at the moment." You replied as she's fidgeting her fingers under her sleeves. "Do you want to go?"
"I don't know..." Was your answer after a long sigh. "...If I accept it, then I won't be here for a whole semest-"
"Don't go please..." Hanni thought her whisper was silent enough for herself but it came through you. "You don't want me to go?" You asked calmly as she couldn't hide the nervousness in her expression while gazing away from your eyes. "...Am I being too selfish? I'm sorry." Hanni replied.
"I don't think I'll go anyway." You said as Hanni finally looked at you. "I mean it's up to you if that's what you want to do, I just got carried away just now. I'm sorry and if you want to go, I'm not stopping you..."
"...but I will be very sad for a while." She said that while giving you a light smile and that moment just made your decision more concrete than ever. "I'm not going to Australia. I have what I want here." You decided as Hanni's eyes never leave your side profile. "What is it if I may ask?"
"My friends are here, my family's here. I'm learning what I love in University, I got the literature club, the poetry talks every week. I'm good here..." You breathed out a long one before you looked at Hanni in the eyes. "...and of course I have you here mini Pham."
Your statement made her smile probably the brightest she had been smiling all day despite the tiredness with a stint hint of redness, blushing on her cheeks. "I thought you'd forgotten about me there for a second. Thanks a lot Yongjae."
"Now that everything's settled, I'm just letting you know that I got myself a couple of poems book few days ago." Hanni said proudly as she's looking at the fast setting sun over the dusked sky.
"Really? Then how about you give me a poem." You asked while you're looking at the sun as well while Hanni just chuckled before the sight of the sun's shining on her eyes so beautiful that it almost made her tearing up. "Maybe one day I'll write you a poem but for now, I just want to say this..."
As the sun already set down, Hanni turned over to you as she's holding out her hands in front of you. "...hold my hands please." You gulped silently as you gently placed your palms on hers that fits almost perfectly.
"I hope you know that you're my absolute best friend in the whole world. You're the one, the only one person that I can truly trust with anything. Thank you for always being there for me when I need it the most and thank you for making my life so much fun when we're together."
Goodness me it's been a while since I've written fluffy chapter and by a while, I meant three years since. Yup. Three years.
If there's a lacking in the way I write these chapters, I would sincerely apologize and I will try and be better every day.
Thanks for all the support for this story. I appreciate every single one of you. Thank you 💙