A big beautiful butterfly that has the most colorful wings of all flies past Jiyeon’s finger. It doesn’t catch her finger.  She bets the color is able to comfort any broken hearts or any sorrow souls. All the magic lies on that pair or colorful hopes.

            Those big pair of brown eyes is intently watching the small wings flapping around freely. Oh God. Now Jiyeon is envious of the freedom that little butterfly had. She wishes she can be in its shoes. 

            Now people may get the wrong idea. Is Jiyeon locked up? Does she live in a big golden cage? Is she behind the glass door, only seeing the outside world without having any clue how the cool breeze feels when it kisses upon her cheek or how will her dark brown hair sways when the wind is blowing?

            Oh no, of course not. Why would anyone put her through all the trouble? She is not a bad kid, nor will she ever be. She always listens to her parents, she is nice to her friends, she never makes any enemies, not that she knows how to and all people around her love her. People would always come up to her and cuddle her, kiss her chubby face and would sometimes hold her little hand tightly and pull her closer and warm in their arms.

            Her small feet took turns to run after the butterfly. With her arm lifts up high, she runs along chasing that terrified butterfly. The wings flap even faster. Jiyeon finds chasing butterflies is fun. That makes her laugh and her heart feels light.

            “Jiyeon-ah, wait up! Where are you running to?” A loud little boy’s voice startles her. Her feet come to a halt. She quickly registers the familiar voice. Not bothering to even turn around, she walks faster.

            What Jiyeon did just now shock him. She never acted that way. She never had that kind of attitude. That little boy finally understands. His practical joke just now must’ve really offended her. Jiyeon is upset and he doesn’t know how to make it up. If this turns out really bad, this could be their very first fight. No way! He can’t go through a day without having her talk to him. He has got to do something.

            L. Joe runs up to her and grabbed her hand by the time he was right behind her. Jiyeon swings to the left to meet his eyes. “Jiyeon-ah, I’m sorry I put a dead cockroach on your head. I swear I’ll never do that to you again. Ever.”

            With pursing, Jiyeon tries to let her hand free. “Ever?” She asks in her low choking voice.

            “Yes. I promise.”

            “Promise me you’ll never do that to me ever again, and also to anybody else.”

            L. Joe exhales heavily. Oh Gosh. This is something of a big favor to ask out of such naughty kid like him. But for Jiyeon, he’ll try. “Yes, I promise that too.” Yes, he will stop putting cockroaches on people’s head. Guess he won’t stop putting dead lizards into people’s shoes. Old habits die hard, don’t they?

            Jiyeon beams when she hears that. But precaution step is must be taken. She knows L. Joe just that well. “Pinky-promise me. You have to pinky-promise me.” Jiyeon lifts up her pinky finger and fold it in half.

            L. Joe does as she asks him to. “Fine. I pinky-promise you.” His pinky finger hooks around hers and they both smile to each other.

            Once they are done with their deal, L. Joe coolly lets his finger off hers. “Now, do you want to come over my house and play?”

            “Okay. Let’s go to your house. I wanna play pirates.” Jiyeon agrees with a big smile and hold out her hand. “Can we hold hands?”

            L. Joe’s brows collide on each other while looking at her hand. “Nah. I don’t want my neighbors to make fun of me. That’d be embarrassing. I’ve got a reputation you know.”

          “If you say so.” She shrugs. Jiyeon takes the first step, leaving L. Joe behind.

            While she is walking ahead, L. Joe walks close to her and grabs her hand quietly. She is surprised, but the edges of are lifted up when L. Joe turns round. He always does things coolly.

            “You’d better not tell anybody about this,” he warns her as his eyes meet hers.

            “Alrightie,” Jiyeon adds with a continuous nod.

            “Now stop nodding. It’s weird.”

            “Alrightie.” With that, she stops nodding and just walks the pavement with joy in her heart and her best friend next to her. Maybe she doesn't need a colorful beautiful. All she ever needs is L. Joe.