The next day, Minji and both you and Hanni were spending the day in the mall while Yongbok and Haerin's spending their own time together somewhere else.
"How do I look?" Hanni turned over to both of you and Minji as she's holding out a nice blue blouse in front of her torso. "Are there any other colours that piques your interest miss Pham? I'm sure there's a red blouse in there somewhere..." Minji's teasing comments made Hanni pursed her lips into a pout.
"You look great." Your comment then made her smiled widely before Minji just gave you a nonchalant look while you just shrugged your shoulders lightly. "At least try to make your girlfriend wear something other than blue okay? Any colour would really suits her in my opinion." Minji trying to convince both you and Hanni.
"Maybe that brown one there would look good on you..." You went over to Hanni as you continued to help her finding a perfect blouse for your girlfriend while Minji couldn't help but smiling softly at the sight of her two friends for life now settling into their new life together. But deep inside the heart of Kim Minji, she couldn't help but having a stint feeling of jealousness towards the two of you.
But not that kind that leads to her doing something bad but if looking back into Minji's life story, hers are somewhat similar to both yours and Hanni's story. But the difference was the ending of both the stories where you and Hanni managed to get together while on the other hand Minji didn't. And it made her somewhat thinking about what her life would be like if her life somehow turns out the way it was for you and Hanni from time to time.
Maybe that's probably the reason why Minji and Jeongin somehow started talking with each other via text messages for a bit while now. And knowing that Jeongin's now living stably in Japan right now somehow made her felt happy for him in secret. Maybe this is how Minji's trying to mend her somehow lonely heart nowadays, maybe she's been taken back into the land of memories of both her and Jeongin back in the days and despite feeling guilty about it, somehow that's one of the ways for her to feel happy nowadays.
"Okay, I'll get these yellow and blue blouses then..." Hanni and you're satisfied with her choice before you went back to Minji who seemed to be daydreaming. "You okay Minji?" Hanni asked as it snapped Minji back to reality. "Yeah, so what colour did you take?" She asked as Hanni showed her the blouses and Minji could only roll her eyes teasingly as the blue blouse's still with Hanni.
In the end, Minji also got her turn in buying something for herself and then both of them got the items purchased and the three of you went on as you treated the two ladies with ice creams on the way out of the shopping mall. "Can you take a picture of me with the polaroid camera? The city as the background would look amazing." Hanni whispered to you rather cutely as you nodded with a chuckle before she handed you her camera.
"Try back posing and stretch your arm up with a peace sign or anything. It'll look good with those building in the background..." Minji suggested as Hanni immediately followed her instruction. Smiling to yourself, you took a picture of her and a polaroid came out and it took a few minutes before the picture's fully brought out.
Hanni let out a light squeal as she's loving the outcome of the photo. "Minji, your turn now~" Hanni then took turns and taking pictures of Minji then you then the three of you, creating memories that will always be cherished by the three of you. Satisfied with your day, the three of you now on the way to meet back with Haerin and Yongbok.
So the the five of you immediately went back to Yongbok's house after meeting up and having a well deserved rest after a long day. And as usual, Minji's spending her alone time in their room while Hanni and Haerin both spending their time with their respective significant others. While she's on the bed, scrolling through her social medias, suddenly her phone rang as someone's calling her.
Instantly, Minji's eyes were surprised to see that the one's calling her was Yang Jeongin as she quickly sat up and her heart's beating fast out of nervousness. It took her another few more seconds before she breathed out and answered the call. "Hey Minji~" His unique voice instantly echoed inside Minji's ears and somehow her lips couldn't help but forming a slight smile. "Hey Jeongin~ What made you call me?" She asked rather calmly.
"How's Australia?" Jeongin asked her the way he always did years ago and somehow Minji's heartbeat slowly getting calmer. "Australia's great. I've been enjoying my stay here after a few days and honestly here's very different compared to back home in Korea but nothing's bad so far. How about you? How's Japan been treating you?"
"Japan's been great but I'm still struggling a bit with the Japanese language here but overall, it's been a good stay for me here..." Jeongin replied as Minji just nodded her head. "Well you can do it. I believe you can." Minji gave her words of encouragement as his chuckle echoed in Minji's ears like a soft lullaby that she's been longing to hear.
"Thanks. But umm Minji, there's actually something I've been wanting to tell you these past few days..." Hearing that, Minji just hummed back at him softly, waiting for him to tell her. "...I'll actually be going back to Korea by the end of the year, during the holiday season..." And instantly there's this hint of happiness painting the dullness inside Minji's heart.
"Really? You're coming back for good or just for a limited time...?" She asked without thinking much. "For a couple of weeks unfortunately but hey if it means I can be back home, then I'll take that opportunity in a heartbeat." Jeongin's excited voice made Minji chuckling to herself silently. "So Minji-ya..." He called out to her rather softly. "Yes?" Minji calmly responded.
"Do you... want to go out and grab lunch with me when I get back? Maybe dinner...?" Jeongin's voice embraced by shyness and Minji thought she heard him wrong. "Oh..." Was her only respond. "...just me and you?" She asked and Jeongin just hummed back at her. "I mean if you cannot that it's fine. I'm just asking you beforehand that's all..." His nervous plus awkward chuckle made Minji's nervousness went up.
"I... I don't actually mind Jeongin..." Minji's mind now flooded with the memories of her and Jeongin back in those years, from their childhood all the way to their teenage years, it's all coming back into her mind and at the end of it, Minji unknowingly picturing you and Hanni, being all happy and sweet towards each other. At that point, Minji somehow unknowingly made her decision but still remained hesitant because of a lot things. "...how about I'll give you my answer in a few days? I just need a bit of time to think things through. Okay?"
"That's good enough for me. Thanks Minji, I actually want to keep this to myself but..." Minji could hear his breathing out of relief. "...it's really nice to hear your voice again after such a long time..." And at that point, Minji's smile was as joyous as the hint of happiness in her heart. "I could say the same thing to you..."
The two continue their conversation, talking about each other's experience in life so far, then changing subjects to their childhood memories and their memories back in Minji's hometown in Anyang before the two eventually ended their call. Minji then laid herself back onto the bed as she let out a long sigh but then smiling softly at what just happened.
And out of nowhere, she suddenly remembered something that Yongbok said to her before on the ferry back when they're heading for Jeju. "Write the end story you truly deserve to have..." Yongbok's words flooded back inside her head and made her rethink everything. Minji thought the moment she saw Jeongin back at her ice cream shop that night last year and after saying goodbye to him and convinced herself that she had found closure and that was it, that's the end of her story...
...but what happened before and the months before when she and Jeongin started texting each other again, somehow Minji began doubting that she, herself had really reached the conclusion of her story just yet... maybe there's till a few more writings for her to do in this story of her life and now all that she wanted to do was to ask for advice and she thought no one would give better advice than you. Also the fact that Minji's afraid that her brother, Mingyu, would somehow be disappointed in her, knowing that she and Jeongin were talking with each other again, made it hard for her to reach a decision...
Ten Days later
The sky's dusking beautifully as you looked out the window while sitting by your desk. It's been over ten days since Hanni arrived to you and not a single day since then had felt like a bad day. Every day since then felt like a blessing you somehow felt like it was just part of a long dream. But all the touches, all the embraces and kisses you shared with her always reminded you that Hanni's yours.
Today was no less than another blessed filled day as you've officially finished your student exchange programme and got the results for the two semester you spent in Australia. Staring at your laptop screen with a light smile, you got your old phone before proceeding in calling someone.
As you placed your phone to your ear, it didn't take long for your call to be answered. "Hello~" A soothing voice echoed inside your ear, releasing the pent up longing feelings inside you. "Hey mom." You greeted your mom. "...how've you and dad been?"
"Oh we've been alright as always, nothing much's going on at the moment. How about you? You okay there?" Hearing your mother certainly made your heart felt more at ease. "I'm doing okay here but it's just..." You heaved out a light sigh.
"What is it my dear boy? You can tell me, it's okay." You then could only chuckle slightly. "I miss your cooking mom..." You told her and you could hear the usual reaction from her if whenever you've said something that's not even worth the suspense for.
"I know, I know. I'll cook you lots of your favorite dishes when you're back alright? And I want Hanni to be here with us also, you hear me?" You could only smile. "She'll be there, no worries. Anyway mom, I got my results a few moments ago..."
"...it's not the top rank but third ranked in overall wasn't so bad I guess." You told your mother about your results. "That's more than enough. Just bring those results back home and be done with it okay? We miss you, your father and I. Even though it's only four days left but the house's been feeling empty for a while now."
And just by hearing that, your eyes began getting teary as out of no where there's this hint of guiltiness lurking inside your mind. "I'm sorry..." You heaved out with a sniff. "Remember what I said to you? Never apologize for doing something that isn't wrong. Your father and I are proud of you. Remember that."
"Now you just enjoy the remaining days you have with Yongbok and his family. And you don't have to worry about us here, few more days won't hurt one bit." As you're letting the tears down while you're about to answer your mother, someone knocked on your door a few times.
"I got to go now mom. I'll call you again when I have time. Bye." You then ended your phone call before going over to the door and swung it opened. "Baby we're making dinne-" Hanni's on the other side of the door as she wanted you to come downstairs before she immediately noticed.
"You're crying...?" She whispered, worries shadowed her tone as she quickly walked into your room before closing the door gently. "Why are you crying?" She had her palms cupping your cheeks as she's wiping the tears on your cheeks softly which you didn't even realized before. "...what's the matter?"
"I just had a call with my mother just now. I'm just letting her know that I miss her and her cooking." You whispered with a light chuckle in embarrassment. "Aww..." Hanni then had you in her warm embrace as she's caressing your back gently. "...we'll be home soon okay. Just a few more days, it's okay. It'll come soon enough..."
"My mother's inviting you to dinner when we get back home by the way." You whispered to her as you're resting your head on her shoulder while Hanni gave you a snicker. "I'll be there." She patted your back as you've felt better.
"Come on, we're making dinner and I still have to cook the kimchi stew downstairs." Hanni held onto your hand as you and her exited your room and made your way downstairs to the kitchen/dining room where Yongbok's sitting by the table and both Minji and Haerin were helping Yongbok's mother cooking.
Hanni quickly went over to the kitchen area and continued her cooking while Minji and Haerin helping Yongbok's mother with the main dish. "Now you just have to carefully dice this nicely..." Haerin's hands were guided by Yongbok's mother as she's practicing her cooking skills.
Determined as she was, Haerin was focusing really deeply into it while Minji and Hanni found it rather cute and Yongbok's all smile and chuckle while watching her helping his mother. "Aihoo this is what it feels like having three daughters." His mother gave the typical motherly laugh as she's enjoying her time spent with the three ladies.
"You will have a daughter once Yongbok and Haerin settles down in the future." Minji whispered as Haerin couldn't control the sudden blush on her cheeks while she's dicing the green onions timidly. Haerin then found herself in Yongbok's mother's embrace from her side.
"I can wait. You just study well and graduate with flying colors. Okay?" Haerin gave her a smile as she just nodded her head.
As you're sitting next to Yongbok, chatting, Hanni got over to you and gave your shoulder a tap. "Can you help me a little bit?" She asked as you nodded before you got over to the kitchen with her. "Have a taste" She grabbed a spoon as she scooped some of the hot kimchi soup before you carefully tasted it after giving it a few blows.
"Too spicy?" Hanni asked in worries as you couldn't handle really spicy foods before you just shook your head while giving her a thumb's up. "It's perfect. We can add the green onions and the meat now." You got over to the cutting board before calmly dicing the green onions efficiently while Hanni's getting the meat into the stew, letting it braised themselves to perfection.
"Woo~ Two love birds spotted..." Minji's voice echoed from the side as you just laughed lightly while Hanni's whining cutely at her friend's teasing. "There we go." You then got the rest of the ingredients into the stew and now you're just going to let it boil down.
"Now that you're here, can you help me with the onions as well?" Minji asked with a light smirk on her face as you rolled your eyes jokingly at her. "Fine~" You then proceeded in helping them and eventually realized that you've helped them until dinner's completely prepared.
After a fulfilling dinner and a few hours well spent, chatting between the five friends and Yongbok's parents, all of them were now preparing for bed with Minji's probably fast asleep already and Haerin's spending a bit more time with Yongbok meanwhile Hanni's spending her night with you in your room.
"I hope you know
you are
like a sunrise
to my darkest day
each step you take
each breath you breathe
adds color
to a gray world
In your laughter
the stars find their twinkle
in your smile
the flowers bloom a little brighter
You are a gentle reminder
that even in chaos
there is beauty
and in simply being you
the world
finds a reason
to celebrate
Because you are here
everything is
a little more wonderful"
You're sitting by the desk as you're calmly listening to Hanni who's reading out poems that you wrote in the Hanni's Poem Book and this has been a nightly routine for you and Hanni during night time since the first day she arrived in Australia. "I'm probably already halfway there..." Hanni went over to you, placing the book on the table before giving you a hug around the neck from behind.
"I think I'll save the other half of the book when we get back home soon." Hanni brushed her nose on your cheek, earning a chuckle from you. "You know I can always write another poem book for you right, love? Just give me a paper and a pen and I'll write you a poem." You leaned your head to the side slowly as your cheek and hers brushed against each other.
"But I haven't seen you write in your usual notebook ever since I got here..." She whispered as she's resting her chin on your shoulder as you could only smile a bit bitterly. "I... probably need to write on a new notebook... That one's done for..." You whispered as your eyes landed on the notebook by the table.
"Oh did you finished writing the whole notebook already?" She asked as you just shook your head. "No? Then what's holding you back baby? You can tell me." Hanni calmly caressing your chest to comfort you. "I don't think I can write anything while knowing what I've written in the last few pages on that notebook... You know what, it's fine, when we get back, I'll get a new notebook to write on, it's all good."
After hearing that, Hanni then glanced over at the mentioned notebook by the corner of the table as it's been there ever since she arrived here before there's this hint of guiltiness lurking by the corners of her heart and mind. "Can you trust me to read it?" She asked you rather calmly as you're hesitating. "Hanni I don't think it's a good ide-"
"Please?" You and her locked eyes. "We're in this together aren't we... I can't live another day knowing that there's still things that's hurting you silently behind my back..." And Hanni just let out a deep sigh. "...moreover the reason for your pain was because of me all along... I can't live with that regret Yongjae... I can't..."
"I am matured enough to believe that our love will not always be sunshine and rainbows...." Gently, she had her hand cupping your cheek as she's caressing it slowly. "...I love you and it would mean nothing if I don't embrace all of you, even your pains... Can you let me..."
Foreheads resting against each other, you closed your eyes slowly before nodding your head slightly before you could feel her lips crashing against your softly, kissing you full of affection as you felt it all the time. "Thank you..." She whispered as you went over and got the notebook from the corner and handed it to her.
As she took the notebook, Hanni then held onto your hand as she brought you over to the bed and sat yourself down next to her. With your hands still tightly holding each other, Hanni went over to the very last few pages that you've written long time ago. Her heart's beating faster at the flip of every page till she finally reached them...
Before she even gets to read what's written on the page, Hanni immediately noticed the dried out tear stains, covering most of the page and somehow it pains her heart to see what you've been through at that time and she herself knew it's because of her and Jun. Hanni then braved herself as she finally read what you've written silently to herself.
"I love you
in a quiet way
a secret buried
deep inside my heart
But your eyes
they wander
to another
a mirror
that doesn't reflect me
Seeing you with him
is like watching
my dreams
walk hand in hand
with my nightmares
Inside me
there's a storm
silent
yet raging
with the sound
of your laughter
shared with him
It's a silent scream
knowing
you'll never look at me
the way you look at him
Yet
in this pain
I find
a bitter truth
that sometimes
love
is just a one-way street
leading nowhere
but to a heartbreak."
Obviously she hasn't felt this familiar pain in her chest since that last poetry talk of yours on the stage regarding the letter from the heart and as she turned to the next page, she realized that there's quite a lot of torn pages.
At that point did she finally understand why you don't want to open this notebook again as Hanni herself could see how much pain you've suffered alone just by the tear-stained page, the torn pages and the smeared inks caused by tears. In the end, she got to the last page you've written before the rest was just blank pages.
"I loved you
fiercely, wholly. Truly
but love,
sometimes,
is a sword
that cuts both ways.
In holding you close,
I saw
I was the cage
not the key.
So I'm setting you free
not because I don't love you.
but because I do.
You're a bird
meant to fly,
not to be clipped
by my well-meaning hands.
So I'll whisper goodbye
with tears in my eyes,
watching you find
a sky
that's big enough
for your dreams,
knowing
the bravest thing I ever did
was love you
enough
to let you go."
Her hand was shaky as she's closing the book before she's trying to calm her shaky breathings but in the end it got the worse out of her as she had her head down and silently crying her eyes out before in no time, she was pulled gently into your embrace as she had her head resting against your chest. "I'm sorry..." Hanni cried out while she's sobbing with you caressing the side of her head, trying to keep your tears in. "...God what have I done to you in the past...I'm sorry."
"This is why I don't want you to see it... I can't stand seeing you like this Hanni I'm sorry... I should've just thrown away that book long time ago..." Your voice shrouded with guilt as Hanni's gathering her strenght just enough for her to calm herself down while wiping off her tears before she's burying her face on your chest and don't want to let you off her embrace.
"Let's lay down..." You whispered to her as you're slowly laying yourself down onto the bed with Hanni got herself next to you, resting her head on your chest. "I'm sorry that I caused you so much pain before... I made a mistake and there's nothing that I can say to you to make up for it other than I am truly sorry for everything."
"Hanni..." You called out to her calmly as her arms tightened around you. "...I love you remember? We're going to have our good days just as much as our not so good days. If we're strong enough to get through our good days, I'm sure we're strong enough to get through our bad days together, as long as you're next to me..." And just by hearing that, Hanni sucked up her tears, wiping them away before looking at you with a soft smile as she nodded her head. "I won't dwell in the past. You're here with me now and I'm yours. That's all that matters." You caressed her cheeks before wiping the tears off gently.
"This is my promise to you..." Hanni moved her body up slowly as your head was the same level as hers. You laid to your side as Hanni's eyes fully locked on yours. "...I don't want to be with you for the short term. I'm not here with you just to waste our time..."
"I'm here with you to build a life, a future and a story with you, a beautiful story of us... I want to spend the rest of my life waking up next to you..." Hanni pulled your head closer by your neck slowly as you dived in for a deep kiss with her, showing how much she meant every word she said with the kiss. "I'm in this with you for the long haul..." She whispered after breaking the kiss. "And I'm not going anywhere without you, my best friend, my soul mate by my side..."
"I can't wait to start our life together. I can't wait to wake up to you next to me every day, to come home to you every night..." Laying side by side, you're stroking her hair down softly with a soft smile plastered on your face. "...I can't wait to cook with you, to clean with you. I can't wait to experience the ups and downs of our life, let it be from the mundane nights and the boring days and the uncomfortable and stressful hours as well..."
Hanni and you gave each other a comforting smile as you had your your arms wrapped around her safely as her head resting gently onto your beating chest and the calm heartbeat of yours was making her feel the safest she ever felt her entire life before a kiss on her forehead was enough to wipe away all the sadness that's clouding up her mind and heart a few moments ago, knowing that you're here for her and will always be as long as there's still life in you. Being with you had definitely shown her that everything happened for a reason and the reason was what led you and Hanni got where you were now...
After getting both of you covered up with the blanket, there's nothing but peaceful silence engulfing both of you as Hanni's peacefully drifted off to sleep, safe and sound in your embrace. "Through every bad days, and every good days, I promise that I will stay with you Hanni..." You whispered as your eyes were starting to feel heavy from sleepiness as you're blinking slowly. "...I promise to grow strong with you, and love you through all of the phases in life that we'll go through. I promise to stay through it all..."
Your eyes drifted to her face and seeing her sleeping face, eyes closing safely and her lips were somehow curved into a light smile while she's sleeping ever so peaceful in your arms made you endlessly being thankful for everything that happened. "...you're more than worth it Hanni." You whispered as your eyes finally gave in and you're slowly drifting away to sleep peacefully with her next to you.
Leave a vote and comments(?) maybe, I would love to read your comments. It'll motivate me to write more, it really does.
Loves lot ❤