Ruffled Hair    

That astonishing moment in everyone's life when a person looks at them with such adulation for the first time always comes along with the knowledge of one another or at least the base of where every relationship starts — an introduction. In Miyoung's case, that moment came roughly five seconds before such introduction came in hand. Truthfully, the shy, reserved yet intelligent girl never had the powerful image of one that usually starts a meaningful conversation. We can say, she was the timid one and a bookish person who doesn't trust her own opinions and only rely on based facts written or said by people who had the enough acuity to boast such consumptions. So, during her second year in high school, when a guy with splendid hair, handsome looks, and a heart-fluttering smile stood in front of their tiny classroom that holds 27 people, at most, excluding the guy with such attractive looks of course — she had her first crush. In the past, she had recognized the term as somewhat comical since it ridiculed such words like adoration or admiration and for the fact that it was usually used by kids of younger ages — definitely not someone like her. 

  She shifted her awkward position and pursed her plump lips, obviously trying to avoid mirroring the boy's adorable smile; and with an akin appeal, he introduced himself in a sweet yet short manner. His voice felt close – as if he's trying to address every person in the room.    "My name's Nam Woohyun. Let's get along well!" It was sweet and short, Miyoung thought.      The last class ended with a bright expression on Miyoung's face. Although Woohyun and her never got a conversation  to make them close enough, he still asked for her name, which he did with everyone in a joyful manner. The thought of having a crush still ridiculed her in which she silently laughed at as she packed her belongings.      --     Life is a process of elimination. If you are lucky, you get something you want before having to go through many things you would not do, not something like getting the second last available spot on the bus, of course. As Miyoung rides the bus home, which usually takes her about half an hour, she leaned on what seemed like a newly wiped window and hummed the current song that was playing on her iPod. When a sudden pressure applied on the seat next beside her, she slowly turned her head and  took a glance at the person, before turning fully. She would've thought of having something like a "wrong bus syndrome" would be in place but instead, she stared at the person, longer than she would if anyone, literally anyone except Woohyun, would sit beside a timid girl like her.    "Oh. Annyeong!" Woohyun beamed at her in a really really friendly way. As sudden as it is, she wondered if he recognizes her. She thought, it doesn't hurt to ask, right?   "Do you...perhaps, remember me?" She asked while gulping down the dryness forming in my lips and smiled at him awkwardly.    "Tell me, Miyoung-sshi. How can I forget such a pretty face?" The wind blew from the west causing a mess on the pretty face's hair and a rather contradicting situation when the awkwardness between the two ended with a playful formality, a compliment, a laugh of youth, and a ruffled hair — Miyoung and Woohyun started.      --     As days passed, not only Miyoung and Woohyun got closer together but the attractive guy managed to gain attention from the student-body as the 'New Cute Guy'. Of course, Woohyun had predicted this to happen and as a matter of fact, he insisted on having much called 'fangirls' which he uses to tease his classmates, only for a little while though, no one can beat the mighty, glorious Kim Sunggyu.   On the other hand, Miyoung had finally acknowledged the truth behind the ridiculousness of her childish crush towards Woohyun. Most of the time, she crunches her face in such an unattractive manner, not because of anything else, but her rather greasy thoughts whenever she's looking at Woohyun's direction or whenever she sees Woohyun's really boyish smile.    "Miyoung-ah! Let's go!" Woohyun kindly approached her as she pretended to pack her belongings and rose up from her seat. She knew that the bell had ended minutes ago but she stayed on her seat to shamelessly wait for Woohyun to finish talking with Dongwoo so they would go together, like any other day would.    The bus ride was the same everyday: Woohyun would annoyingly about how fluffy her cheeks were — especially when it turns reddish apple because of the cold weather, sometimes pinching her cheeks while Miyoung tries to ruin his well-made hair.    As they got off the bus, the usual atmosphere of both individuals vibrated through the scenery as they walk down the cold and busy streets of Seoul. With silence in placed, they admired the night lights that seemed to be the stars right before their eyes. To break the comfort of the silence, Woohyun's stomach grumbled, making a sound that caused the silence turn into a vibration of laughter.    "Instant ramen? Call?" Woohyun bit his lips as he stopped in his trance and stared up to the beautiful sky in front of him dip below the horizon like a candle being extinguished, hiding a smile.    "Yeah sure." And with that, Woohyun patted Miyoung's head and a smile appeared — a smile that makes one flutter and one that break hearts, viciously and without concern for tears and sorrow.    --    With no words to describe its greatness, Woohyun gulped down the last bits of noodles in his ramen cup as Miyoung watch him in all his glory. It never occured to Miyoung that the master of all charismatic appearance and outstanding manners will be able to gulp down a boiling hot ramen in just few minutes. It was unappealing but cute, Miyoung had thought. Woohyun smiled sheepishly at Miyoung.    "Aigoo. You haven't finished your food, Miyoung-ah." Woohyun teased as he ruffled her hair and took her chopsticks and placed the noodles in between and held it up for her to bite on.    "Yah! I can do it myself!" Miyoung blushed as she held onto Woohyun's grip on the chopsticks and bit on it hesitantly.    "Great Job, Miyoung-ah!" Woohyun pinched her squirrel looking cheeks; an action in which he had received a glare from Miyoung.    After a while of teasing and sulking, Miyoung looked at Woohyun with such a delicate smile. As much as she wants to believe such a person exists and sitting in front of her, she doesn't want get into the moment and assume wrong motives. At this point, she just wants to enjoy the short moment of them being to together, eating ramen cup noodles like pros.      --    Woohyun settled that his lack thereof manly gestures had been rather a bluff on hiding his unbearable feelings towards the girl beside her. Even not looking, he was fully aware of the girl's presence walking beside her, still humming that song she had been listening to everyday. When they arrived in the alley where the roads have been separated for the both of them, Woohyun sheepishly followed Miyoung, immediately telling her that he'll walk her home and without any suspicions coming along, Miyoung innocently agreed. When they reached the moderately sized house with large gates that indicates Miyoung's residence, both of them stopped in their trance with Woohyun first to bid his goodbye.    "Woohyun-ah, text me when you get home? Promise?" Without looking into the boy's eyes, Miyoung fiddled with her phone in hand. Woohyun chuckled and rakes his hand through her hair, ruffling it in a silly manner and without any hesitation, he answered, "Promise."     As immediate as Woohyun flopped down on his humble, single bed, his promise was taken care of when he pulled out the phone that was dreading to be touched the moment he stepped on the grounds of his front door.    WH: Yah, I'm home.  MY: Wah~ you actually remembered to text me. Great job, Woohyunnie! ^^  WH: You~ Don't call me that! I'm still older than you. You should be calling me, "oppa".  MY: Never!      For hours, they silently talked over the phone as they type words of aggravating nature; the two unknowingly and stupidly smile at their phone while they wait for other's response. At this point, they had wholeheartedly accepted the penalty of not sleeping early and barely managed to type words with more than ten characters.     I might fall asleep, Woohyun-ah.    As Miyoung drifted into the dead of night, Woohyun typed something that jolted him out of his drowsy state – words he typed while thinking of Miyoung on the other end of the line — probably the sleeping Miyoung.    Woohyun immediately turned off the dimmed lamp and shifted on the soft edge of his bed, leaving his phone on while the screen facing down.    Words he had typed — those words he never dared to erase until the next morning as it reads...   And I might fall in love with you.     --   Woohyun could peer all the way to the end of the hallway, to the barely illuminated double doors that led to the cafeteria. The the couple of dim lights left on overnight reflected off of the freshly waxed tiles. It was strange to see a place that usually contains so much energy in such a quiet time of day, or rather when everything suddenly feels tight and only he and Miyoung can be spotted on site. The reverb and echos from her footsteps made Woohyun feel uneasy. He felt exposed, with no room to duck into, no stairs to take as Miyoung tried to approach him the next day. Woohyun just had to focus on those yellow double doors at the end of the hallway and he immediately speed his walk before Miyoung can take three steps towards him.    Woohyun exhaled. He decided.    --   Miyoung was slowly turning on ice skates inside the streetlight’s red cone of light—lighted and silent. She tilted and spun. She wore a short, checkered skirt with thick insulated leggings underneath. She wore white mittens and a yellow knitted cap below which her short hair was dragged to the direction of her tun. Under her skates the street’s packed snow shone; it lit up her from below, the cold light striking her under her chin.    Everything around here was a distorted fairytale. She can hear, not only the sound of scratches, but also her mind as it speaks of Woohyun. She was confused and strucked — and wondered why for the past months, Woohyun had been avoiding her. She wondered and wondered until winter came and she had wondered enough that she wandered for an answer only Woohyun can give.    As she had barely managed her attempt on a graceful spin, she had thought of reasons why Woohyun would meet her after all he had driven to do. And with only an hour before their meeting, Miyoung is still clueless.    --    Months of torture was it for Woohyun. Everything was new to him — the jittery in his belly, his sweaty palms and a flutter of electricity running through his body whenever he catches Miyoung glancing at him. So, when he decided to meet Miyoung during winter break, he was more than ready.    "I'm sorry." Woohyun barely managed to blurt out the words without guiltiness being apparent on his voice.    "Woohyun-ah. Can I ask you something?"  "What is it?"  "Are you... maybe... annoyed of me?"    Woohyun's indistinguishable expression turned into a surprised on as he stared at the sad girl beside him. He almost shouted in protest but he handled to stay calmly and gathering all the strength and courage, he tightly held Miyoung's hand — feeling her warmth underneath the white mittens.    "Truthfully, I've been avoiding you for the past months because I was afraid. I was afraid of asking about what you think of me and your answer would be... "I don't" and then I realized, so what? At least I'm gonna try." Woohyun looked at Miyoung who was staring on their hands that were clasped together. He smiled while he used his other hand to place a finger underneath her chin and turned her head so they were now only a few inches away from each other.    "I never thought you'd be the type of girl I'd fall in love with. I'm going crazy, just thinking about it, and keeping all of this inside me. Miyoung-ah, I'm madly in love with you." And silence embraced the two of them. For a few minutes, no one talked but they were still facing each other with neutral expression on their faces. The sudden confession struck Miyoung's composure while Woohyun constantly the bottom of his lips. After a while, Miyoung diverted the talk of confession to a sentence o