Right after breakfast, both Yongbok and Haerin were spending their valuable time together as much as they possibly can. It's no surprise with the fact that Haerin actually managed to hide that she's also coming over to Australia still left Yongbok impressed and even though he doesn't always show it but deep down, he's the happiest that he's been at the moment.
"Hmmm... mangas, shoes... guitar..." Haerin said out each and every stuffs she's seeing as her eyes were roaming around Yongbok's room for the first time today. "You okay?" Yongbok asked her as soon as he got out from the washroom and Haerin's just nodded her head with a light smile.
"First time being in my boyfriend's bed room and I must say that I didn't expect that you would have quiet the amount of mangas in here." She gave him a light snicker as Yongbok's shrugging his shoulders lightly. "I like mangas, I just tend to read them when I'm alone."
"I want to read some too. Any suggestion?" Haerin asked rather shyly as she's standing by Yongbok's racks filled with manga books and her eyes were wandering around. "What genre do you want to read Haerin?" Yongbok asked calmly as Haerin just hummed.
"High school love story sounds good for starters don't you think?" She suggested and Yongbok definitely agreed before he went over and instantly took a manga he thought would be perfect for what Haerin's looking for. "I personally love this series. It's got a bit of comedy as well and even so with some serious ones as well so you can try reading this..."
"Horimiya..." Haerin read out the title as Yongbok handed her the book. Quietly she went over to his sofa as she sat down and immediately turned over to first page. Yongbok couldn't help but smiled softly at Haerin. Even though Haerin tends to be less vocal when they're together but Yongbok had zero problems with it as he understands Haerin's personalities as much as he understands Haerin as a whole person.
Humming himself random song, Yongbok got his guitar that's hanging by the wall before he went over and sat down next to Haerin who's eyes remained fixed on the pages, reading each and every line with full focus. Yongbok just went on and gently strumming his guitar as he's adjusting the tune.
"I really like this character Hori, I think she's not your ordinary high-school girl..." Haerin spoke for the first time since she read the manga a few while ago and Yongbok just nodded his head, agreeing with Haerin with him still playing random tunes with his guitar. "...even more so for this Miyamura guy, I couldn't help but being reminded of Yongjae when I look at this character judging by the amount of ear piercings this Miyamura has."
"You seems to be enjoying it." Yongbok gave her a teasing look as he could see the redness on Haerin's cheeks as she just chuckled softly. "I think I am enjoying this..." She said before placing the book beside her then scooting closer to Yongbok and immediately Haerin rested her head on his shoulder as her arms wrapped safely around his torso.
"Yongbok-ah..." Haerin called out to him as Yongbok gave her a soft hum. "...I'm happy that we're together again, even only for a short time. It feels like all those months of longing and missing you while still trying to stay strong and went on with my life day after day is paying off now." Haerin whispered while she hugged him closer as Yongbok's arm went over her shoulders and pulled her into his embrace.
"Thank you for being strong. I know we will be okay and we will always find our way back to each other, no matter the distance's separating us apart." Yongbok said as his hand gently caressing the side of her head as Haerin's all smile while letting herself being pampered by him filled with love. "I actually spent the last four months working with Minji at her ice cream shop..."
Yongbok was a bit surprised to hear that but less of that, he's proud of Haerin. "Look at you... I am so proud of you. Must've been a bit hard at the beginning right?" He asked as Haerin couldn't deny it as she nodded. "It was..." She heaved out. "...I tend to misheard people's orders and there were times where the ice creams started to melt because I was taking too long in preparing them...."
"...but that didn't hinder me from working hard because the only thing that's keeping me going back then was the thought of seeing you and being in your arms again..." Yongbok's smile grew wider as he hugged her closer before planting a kiss on the side of her head. "...I kept reminding myself that every single day and thankfully I managed to hold on thanks to the thoughts of you and Minji for helping me throughout the way."
"Being with you has certainly changed me for the good Yongbok." Haerin looked up to him with a softest of smile she had. "...you came into my life and make me want to do better, to be better as a person and to continue growing and progressing forward..." She then ran her fingers over his blonde hair, not even wanting to look away from his eyes.
"...you make me want to bring good into the world and make an positive impact in it. Being with you had definitely made me softer, more patient, more understanding, more kind and more loving..." In the end Haerin leaned her face closer and a soft kiss was shared between her and Yongbok. "...you've changed me, in so many beautiful ways."
"You're talkative today aren't you?" He had this teasing smile on his face again as Haerin gave him a soft yet cute little whine. "You already know when I'm comfortable around you I'll get a bit talkative..." She murmured as he guided Haerin's head, resting it onto his chest and the way his heart's beating ever so calmly, it calmed Haerin down also as she's smiling softly. "I love you Yongbok..."
Back in your room, Hanni was all dressed appropriately for the beach while you're still deciding what to wear as you're by the closet, getting over your clothes, looking for a perfect one to wear on this sunny day. "I'm calling my parents now okay? I forgot to update them that I've safely arrived here, they must be worried about me." She said as Hanni remembered before getting her phone.
"Yeah you definitely should give them a call. Tell them I say hi as well." You replied to her as you're going through your clothes hanging in the closet before you picked out a light green cardigan. "What about this? Does it match?" You held the cardigan next to you as you turned around facing her. "...I'm wearing a white shirt and a blue jeans with this by the way."
Hanni took a thorough scan of your whole outfit and she gave you a nod of approval. "With that cardigan and the white shirt plus the light blue jeans, you'll look so bright just the way I love it." Hanni and you shared a chuckle as she then gave her mother a video call knowing that she's always on her phone nowadays.
As you're rearranging your clothes back into the closet, Hanni who's waiting for her parents to answer her call who then finally answered, making her waved happily at her screen. "I've safely arrived yesterday~ Sorry I forgot to give a call. I was too tired and you know..."
"...at least spare a thought for your parents even though you're back with the person you love alright?" Hanni's father had this teasing tone in his voice and Hanni's pursing her lips into a pout. "Sorry..." She gave them a few blinks of apology with her eyes.
"Well now that you've safely arrived there, at least some of our worries are lifted already. So how is Yongjae? Is he there?" Her mother asked as you heard her then immediately you went over to Hanni. "Hello aunty~ I'm here."
"There he is..." As usual, Hanni's father who always sees you as his own son was the first to greet you. "...everything okay there, dear boy? It's been a while since I last saw you." Your smile was a genuine one every time Hanni's parents showing that they cared about you like their own child every time.
"Everything okay here. And in all honesty, I still couldn't believe that Hanni managed to pull off this surprise for me after all that talk about you guys going to Japan." You gave Hanni a teasing look as she couldn't hold her laughter after seeing your expression. "...and I found out how much effort she put into this for the past months."
"I just want you to rest assured that I will keep Hanni's safe while she's here with me. That's a promise I'm willing to make. She will have the best vacation that she deserves here." Hanni then was all smile as she immediately had her head resting on your shoulder.
"Then me and your father can go to Japan without having worries about you two there..." Her mother's response left her confused and surprised. "What do you mean Japan?" She quickly got her head off your shoulder as she got her phone closed up to her eyes.
"Even your parents need a vacation once in a while okay~ We're going to Japan the day after tomorrow and have our own little vacation." You could only chuckle silently as now you surely knew where Hanni got her sassiness from. "No fair~" Hanni whined at her parents. "...I thought when you gave me the idea to tell Yongjae we're going to Japan was just a made up plan~"
"It was for you but not for us young lady." Her father joined in as Hanni could just laugh it out while feeling happy for her parents. "Okay then, have a fun getaway to Japan and I'll give you another call few days after this okay?"
"Don't worry too much and just have a great time, all of you, okay?" Then Hanni and her parents ended their call as you're chuckling next to her with your arm around her waist before pulling her closer to you. "It wouldn't be called a surprise if they tell you beforehand now will it?" Hanni let out a chuckle before she gave your cheek a pinch. "Let's go. I bet they're waiting for us downstairs already."
"Not until I get a kiss first..." You whispered to her as instantly she held onto your nape, pulling your head closer to her and crashed her lips on yours. "For a best friend that I grew up with... you sure do love to kiss me do you?" She whispered to you after gently breaking the kiss.
"You have no idea how I much I do..." Your eyes locked with hers and Hanni couldn't resist diving her head back for another kiss. "...after all those years of unsure and uncertainties, now that you're mine and I will show you in any ways possible of how much love I have you for you."
"So right now kissing me is the number one way for you huh?" With her arms around your neck safely, Hanni really loves to tease you with those playful smirks of hers. "I'm open for suggestion Miss Pham." You whispered as your forehead's resting on hers and she let out a light snicker. "Let's just stick with kissing me full of love for now, I won't get tired of that any time soon..."
As per planned, the five of you now on your way to a popular beach spot somewhere around Yongbok's area and as expected when it's the weekend and the weather's nice and sunny, a lot of people were there spending their day at the beach.
After got the car parked, Hanni, Minji and Haerin were walking towards the fence while you and Yongbok followed them from behind. "I forgot to use sunscreen..." Haerin suddenly realized the moment she felt the heat from the sun on her skin.
"How did you even forget... Nevermind..." Minji then went over into her bag as she got her sunscreen out. "...our Kitty Kang Haerin is always like this." She then pinched out some onto her palm as Minji gently applying the cream onto Haerin's cheeks.
"I can do it myself okay..." A soft whine came from Haerin's lips as both Hanni and Minji just chuckled by the cuteness of their friend while Minji continued getting her face covered with sunscreen before getting to her neck area. "I never realize how pretty your face are until now that I looked at it longer. Want to try modelling or perhaps vlogging?"
Minji's question quickly made Haerin shaking her head as the idea of posing in front of camera in rooms filled with probably strangers that she probably doesn't recognize immediately made her terrified. "I don't think I could do modelling..."
But deep inside... Even Haerin knew, that she somehow developed a subtle interest in doing vlogs as Haerin's way of killing time back at her house was watching vlogs of different variations online, let it be about cooking, travelling, products reviewing and many others. At some point in her life, she wanted to try doing it as well but her being an introverted person made it seem like that interest of her a bit farfetched.
Yongbok was just enjoying the view of her before Haerin had her eyes landed on him then she just giggled silently as Minji finally done with the sunscreen. "Thankies~" Haerin thanked her friend before the five finally got over to the fence. "...people really like to go to the beach here." Haerin noticed the grand amount of people, crowding the sands of the beach.
With the beach breeze dancing over their whole bodies, the three girls were enjoying the coolness and breathing in the fresh air from the sea while the two boys were already accustomed to it and were definitely pleased that now they can share this moment together as a group again.
"Where are you two heading?" Minji asked you and Hanni who's planning on getting down to the sand but somewhere with not a lot of people. "Just at the east end of the beach where not many people are there. You're coming with us?" You asked Minji as she just shook her head.
"I'm accompanying Haerin for now, maybe later I'll go with you two." Minji clarified as you nodded before taking Hanni down the fence, holding hands and making your way to an area with less crowded people. "Enjoying the beach?" You asked as Hanni just hummed happily with a nod. "I really love the breeze here, so refreshing."
"I don't really feel like getting my feet in the water but I just want to enjoy the sea and clear blue sky..." She then closed the gap between you and her. "...and of course being with you." She made you smiled widely like an enchanted person as you finally got to an area you desired.
As you guided her through the small rocks scattered all over the sands, Hanni was enjoying the ocean breeze and the clouded blue sky above them before she's reminiscing about a memory of her and you back at the Jeongbang waterfall in Jeju last year.
"You want to know something..." She whispered to you as you turned around to face her with a hum. "...remember that time in Jeongbang waterfall back in Jeju? When you somehow caught me from slipping over the rocks?" She asked as you nodded. "Of course I remember." You gave her a smile.
"Then you do remember after that you're guiding me through the rocks while holding my hand right? Actually that's the starting point... I was like I couldn't get my eyes off your back view and my eyes were switching between your back then to our hands holding onto each other. That was the point I'm asking myself if I really do have feelings for you." She explained while the smile on your face remained.
"And I was like, does this how boyfriends are treating their girlfriends and I couldn't control the butterflies in my stomach in that time. It was amazing but we didn't know back then. I guess it's part of our love stories, maybe what had happened to us before acted as a bridge that finally connects our stories together as one." Her words were so sentimental that even your poetic heart was fluttered.
"My best friend's a romantic poetic... How lucky I am..." Hanni chuckled at your response before she's getting her phone and preparing to take a picture of you two with the ocean and sky as the background. "One... two..." She held her phone up in the air as you leaned your head down to her level as you gently pressed your cheek against hers. "...three~" She giggled with her eyes smile as she took the picture
"One more baby... One more~" She then held her phone up again and took another picture with you surprising her with a kiss on her cheek before she proceeded in taking pictures of you throughout the time you're enjoying the beach with her.
"Baby... I don't think getting my feet in the water is a good idea..." Hanni's chuckling as she's sitting on a large log of wood just at the shore of the sea while you're taking off her shoes and socks one by one. "Come on~ The water's nice and warm." You then proceeded in taking your shoes and socks off before you brought her over to the water.
"It's cold~" Hanni whined cutely as the water washed over her feet and you could only chuckle. "Wait, wait wait let me just take this picture of our shadows~" You went closer to her as your shadow was perfectly reflected onto the sands so Hanni couldn't resist taking another few photos.
With both of your feet and Hanni's feet remained in the water, her eyes couldn't leave the pristine blue sea in front of her and the calm breezy wind swooning over you and her was so soothing that it heals the souls inside out. Hanni calmly leaned back slowly, resting herself on your body while your arms safely wrapped around her from behind and you had your chin rested on her shoulder.
"I told you our love is as beautiful as the most beautiful things in life... Right now I don't want to be anywhere else but next to you... even if it's the last thing I'll do today..." With her eyes closed, she whispered ever so calmly. "...I rather take my last breath in your loving arms Yongjae."
"Hanni-ah... My Pham Hanni..." You whispered her name calmly as the smile on her face grew wider every second as she just hummed in response. "...as long as there's still breathing left in me, I will protect the love that we have. Our love is golden and I will hold onto it tightly. I want to stay, I want to be with you forever."
Hanni remained silent, yet she's trying not to shed tears while hearing those beautiful words from you while she's caressing the hands that's safely resting by her stomach. "...I want to watch our loves shine brighter and brighter as each day passes. I want to love you for the rest of my life. I watched you growing up, I watched us growing up and never once I've ever regretted that you're a part of my life. I'm thankful that in all of the sixteen billion pairs of eyes in this world, I've fallen for yours."
"Even in Australia, you're making me cry tears of joy..." She murmured almost like whining softly to you as you let out a light snicker while brushing off the tears running down her cheeks with your thumb gently. "I love you..." As she looked over to you, you had your forehead resting on hers. "...my bestie. My world, my universe, my cosmos, my everything...." Hanni had her eyes closed as the sincerities within your words made her calm yet her heart's beating faster every second. "...my love."
Time flies by and both of you went back to the rest of the group that's waiting back at the fence from before then proceeded with Minji's next plan of sightseeing by the city so Yongbok drove them to the city of his hometown to first get lunch.
After getting a well deserved lunch, the five decided to part ways before meeting up at the same spot later. Minji went with you and Hanni to give chance to Yongbok and Haerin spending time together as they're now happily walking next to each other, hands holding onto each other.
"Did you tell your parents that you've been studying about modelling these past few months? I think you forgot to mention it to them yesterday" Haerin asked and Yongbok then realized that she's right. "You're right I forgot... Thanks for reminding me... They probably wondering why I've been on my laptop almost every time they walked into my room."
"You're very welcome." She gave him a smile as they walked across a Louis Vuton store before Yongbok halted at the displayed luxury items behind the clear glass next to the entrance. Haerin was looking over his side profile and she could see how much he enjoys this dream of his.
"One day..." He whispered to her before exhaling with a smile. "...one day I hope that I can be successful in achieving my dream and you just have to say to me what you want and I can get it for you." He then looked over to her with a warm smile.
"And you will get there. I know you will. Even if no one believes in you, you don't have to bother about them because I will always have faith in you as I know that you do me." Haerin had many doubts in her life, even towards herself sometimes but when it comes to Yongbok, she knew she can put her full trust in him.
The night had arrived and for the second night in a row, Hanni and you took another night walk around the neighborhood. You and her walked along the tree-lined streets, walked past late night shops that still opened before they took a break at a metal fence.
You glanced over at the back of your phone as a polaroid picture of Hanni taken by you moments ago before going out made you smiled widely. "You look like a hip hop style girl here..." You showed her the photo as Hanni couldn't help but laughed a bit. "I'm too poetic to be a rapper girl to be honest... But that blue hoodie though... Looks great on me all the time..." She gave you a teasing side eye as she's obviously wearing the hoodie you bought her in the photo.
"I guess someone made the right choice that time..." You won't back off as you gave her a more teasing look before she wrapped her arms around your left arm and making cute whines while swinging your arm back and forth playfully. "And I really love that someone you know?" Her teasing tone only made you chuckled as you got your arms around her shoulders and pulled her closer.
"Now it's your turn. I need your polaroid pictures as well okay~" She said with sass as she's getting her camera ready after fetching it from her sling bag. "Here?" You asked as she nodded. "The background's great as well..."
"No back pose please~" Before you even get the chance to do it, Hanni already knew your intentions that you just laughed it off before posing for the camera with your eyes looking straight at the lens. As she snapped the photo, the polaroid soon came out from the camera before you posed for another then she snapped another one and now it's just the waiting game.
After a good few minutes, the photos finally came out in the polaroid and Hanni couldn't contain her squeals as how good the pictures turned out. "You look great baby." She showed you the picture and you're satisfied with it as much as hers. "...I never knew my bestie's a model in disguise..."
"Really? After all those photos of me you've taken inside your phone, only know you noticed my modelling potential?" You're trying to sound serious but ended up laughing in between your words. "I think you'll be better of as a poet honey~ you don't need to be a model for the world, just for me is enough~" She immediately placed your polaroid at the back of her phone case.
"You're going to keep taking polaroid pictures of me now don't you?" You wrapped an arm around her shoulders as you pulled her close to your warmth while she had her arm around your waist. "You bet I will. I'll take as many polaroid as I can then I'll hang it prettily on my wall back in my room.
"Maybe this is like how you put efforts in writing me the poem book, this is how I show you my effort for our relationship. I know it's not that grand but it's sincere and I hope you can see that." She looked up to you as you rested your forehead on hers gently.
"And that's more than enough. I love all the little things you've done for me and I choose that over anything grand. It's not about how much love we give to each other but how beautifully we give it and what you're doing right now is one of the most beautiful thing you've done for me." Hanni couldn't contain her joy as she just rested her head on your shoulder.
"...and I won't have it any other way." Another night, another cherished memory were made between you and Hanni. "Is it too late for me to get a coffee at this hour?" Hanni asked out of nowhere and you couldn't help but chuckling lightly while she's whining with a pout, swinging your arm back and forth.
"Come on. I know a great coffee shop around here..." You held out your hand at her as she gladly intertwined your fingers with her while holding onto your warm hand tightly. "...but boy we definitely won't be going to bed early tonight are we?" While you're walking side by side, Hanni just shrugged her shoulders gently. "I guess we'll spend the night with me reading out the poem book you wrote for me. You'd love that right?"
"More than anything else." Your smile was as sincere as the joy she's feeling in her soul in every minute of the day.
Write a story with three couples in it they say, it'll be easy they say... I hope you all don't mind that not only will I be progressing Hanni's love story in this book, Haerin's and Minji's stories will also be progressing as well because they're a part of this book and they deserve a great ending as well...
....also Danielle's story, Mingyu's little story... *sniff* Too much fluffs to be written down I'm drowning in a sugar rush.
And just a confirmation, Chapter 53 would be the final chapter for this story. Until then please enjoy the rest of the story and hopefully the ending would be something that is acceptable for every body. Thank you~