Cold sweat that trickles down the temple of Kyumin's head falls on his cold neck. Kyumin raises one arm and wipes the sweat away. He hates it when sweat got on his neck as he would feel uncomfortable and would soon scratch it hard that the skin would turn red and with small red spots. The headache is back, again and this time it particularly gets worse because of the cold weather and air. The doctor has warned him long before this trip to avoid going to cold places, and he must stay warm most of the time. But then again, he is dying. Why save all the trouble to save him when there's no other way out of this cancer? Kyumin coughs, then gasps a large breathe of air into his cold lungs and then he coughs some more. His cough gets worse this time around because a small amount of blood appears visible on the palm of his old hand. He wipes it to the navy blue bathrobe he's wearing and reassures himself that he is alright, at least for a few more weeks until he could hold on no more.

 

 

 

 ***

 

 

 Jiyeon finally arrives at the frozen lake, situated east-side of the wide spacious park. The lake is surrounded with red cones, indicating it's a restricted area and a warning to the tourists who come across the lake. Guess they don't allow some skiing activities to be done here. Jiyeon spots a nearest bench and walks over to it. Her steps come to a halt, when she realizes a man sitting at the edge of the bench is L. Joe. And he isn't just sitting, he is also sleeping. Jiyeon, baffled, continues with her walk until she stands 10 inches from L. Joe. 

 

L. Joe, dressed warmly in all-black outfit, keeps bobbing his head down as he is surely enjoying his way-early-morning nap. Jiyeon smiles, and sits down next to him. He must be freezing despite tucked in his thick jacket. L. Joe keeps his hands stuffed in his pocket, face all white from the coldness and he sits with his knees meeting each other. She wonders why he is out so early only to sleep at a much colder place. And wonders, what makes him do this? Jiyeon squeezes the hot pack in her right hand, thinking over whether she should wake him up or not. Maybe she should just let him sleep. Maybe he didn't get enough sleep last night. And maybe, she should accompany him. 

 

Then, something hit her shoulder. Jiyeon couldn't turn to see what was it that's resting on her shoulder, but she figures out what it was quickly when she catches the light-brown hair brushes against her cheek, or should she say, who it was. Jiyeon remains fixed in her position, rooted to the bench, because she doesn't want to disturb his sleep. Jiyeon is mentally fighting against her herself that maybe she should wake him up since he might still have cold, and sleeping in this low temperature isn't much of a help. 

 

Jiyeon stretches out her legs, as she starts to feel numb all around her upper body. She swings them slightly, hoping the numbness would reduce. But it's pointless because her shaking both legs has woken up the sleeping L. Joe. L. Joe sits both upright on the bench when he realises he has been leaning on someone's shoulder. He turns around, relieved to find it was Jiyeon. He quietly breathes out, then yawns wide as he looks away. Jiyeon who notices then also look away in the opposite direction because she start to yawn as well. Trying hard to suppress the embarrassed look on his face, L. Joe gazes coldy at Jiyeon. 

 

"What are you doing here?"

 

 "You've got something in you eye..." Jiyeon draws her middles fingers and brings her hand close to his face. 

 

L. Joe, face flushed, quickly looks away and begins to fix his look. He presses his finger hard against his closed eyes and brushes whatever that is in his eyes. Jiyeon chuckles, then bursts into a big laughter when she realises how funny his reaction is. She throws her head back, eyes tearful from her joke as she playfully pats on his shoulder a couple of times. "I was joking. I was totally joking, oh my God!"

 

 L. Joe's deep frown causes thin lines to appear on his forehead. He glares at her, embarrassed and angry at the same time on her practical joke.

 

 "You shoud've seen your face-" But Jiyeon knows which line not to cross. She suppresses her laughter and puts on a straight face instead. Raising both of her hands, she flatly says sorry to him. L. Joe crosses his legs and leans back as he begins to adjust himself in her presence. The view before their eyes is mainly frozen lake surrounded by a row of twiggy, leafless trees but they still complete each other. "I was up early, so I wanted to take a walk around here."

 

 Jiyeon gives him a short smile as she answers his first question. L. Joe slighlty nods his head once, and remains silent for the next 10 minutes until Jiyeon draws her hands out of her pocket. She is handing him hot packs. 

 

"Take'em," Jiyeon says warmly. "I heard that you got sick. So, I figured you need these more than I do." L. Joe's gaze falls on the hot packs, and the curling fingers that are gripping them tight. They were pink; her fingers.

 

 L. Joe then looks up to her. "No thanks," he says coldly as he throws his gaze on the falling snow from the tree. 

 

Jiyeon purses her lips in displease. "I'm not asking to you to forgive me. I simply want you to have these. You can stay mad at me if you want." Jiyeon pushes her hand in his direction. "Take it." And rather saying that with concern, it turns out sounding like a blackmail.

 

. "You need to stop pushing people."

 

 "I don't push people," Jiyeon snaps back. "I push people under circumstances. Like now." Jiyeon pulls out both L. Joe's cold hand with her own and uncurl his fingers, revealing a pale-white clean palm. It is actually the first they have ever touched hands since they become friends again.

 

 "Wow," Jiyeon almost gasps. "I've never realized your hands are this big." Holding hot packs in one hand, Jiyeon stretches her empty free hand out and presses it against L. Joe's own hand. L. Joe's fingers stick out about 1 inch longer than hers. "We used to have the same hand size," Jiyeon smiles cheerfully as she recalls the beautiful childhood moments she has with him, and how she wished she could relive those moments again. 

 

L. Joe is also staring at Jiyeon's slightly smaller hands that is resting on his own. He never thought about that really; about his childhood and how much they both have physically changed after that. All he cared about was finding out why she changed, and why their friendship stopped for awhile. His cold gaze swfitly drifted from their hands to his face. She's smiling, and her smile seems so beautiful suddenly, especially when surrounded by white view. Everything seems perfect, when he stares deeper, and he realises what he's been missing all this while.

 

 That smile. That very warm smile that wipe away all bad feelings you feel. Be it coldness, loneliness or lack of attention. L. Joe remembers running around in the cold summer rain, when he was around 4 or 5, as he was searching for his house. And the big gate opened behind him suddenly, he almost peed himself because the gate seemed like a man-eater. The fright did not last long, not when he saw a small girl, about his own size and age, running into his father's comfortable hug. Then her mother would come from behind and hug her small figure. Jiyeon, with her wet hair dangling about freely, had that big gummy smile on her face and it stretched wide, meeting her sparkly eyes. Funny thing was that the rain had suddenly stopped when he first saw her. Or was is fate? One thing he was certain about was that, he felt some sort of security when he witnessed the love he had long forgotten. It felt like smooth silk that kissed your skin, and it was momentary when his father came up from behind. That was the very day when L. Joe was introduced to Jiyeon. 

 

L. Joe looks away, feeling like a total fool when Jiyeon raises up her hand and waves it in his face. He must have been spacing off more than she is. Jiyeon grins, relieved to see L. Joe back to being himself again. She hands him the hot packs, and to her relief, L. Joe grabs one and stuffs it right away into his right pocket.

 

 "Anything to keep you shut up," L. Joe mutters awkwardly.

 

 "Good." She kneads the other hot pack in her hand as she lowers her head. "Do you remember when we first met?" L. Joe lifts his chin slightly and gives her a small nod. 

 

Of course. He just recalled of it seconds ago.

 

 "It was raining heavily on that day." A curl twists her lips into a genuine smile. "My dad promised me to take us family to the park, but, obviously we couldn't go there. I was sulking when he told me we can go there next time, because I wanted to go to the park so badly, and ride the swings and yknow, just have fun in the summer. I ran outside to the car because I was so persistent." Then a small laugh escapes . "I didn't care whether it was raining or snowing, I really, really wanted to go to that park. Then my mom came out to comfort me. She told me that we could have our own little park and run around in the rain. I thought it was ridiculous at first, because y'know, my mom always nagged at me for playing under the rain, but there she was, towering over me and told me it was okay to do so. I was confused. But I accepted whatever my mom offered. So we both ran around in the rain. Suddenly the main gate swung open, and my dad got out of the house. I was a little hopeful when I saw the car keys in his hand. I always knew his car keys, because he had, like this small carved wood that I bought him on preschool trip to the zoo, but mind that," she says to herself, mumbling. "Then he told me, c'mon Jiyeon-ah, let’s hit the park. I was really happy with the idea that I ran across the lawn, plodding through the muddy slops and hugged my dad. Then rain stoppped. It was like a magic trick, I swear. I didn't always hug my dad, except when we said good night or when it was Christmas. But we were close," she admits, nodding her head a couple of times. "And still are. Then, like magic, the rain finaly stopped. And then, my dad saw your dad and you, obviously, standing across the road. He quickly invited you in and boom, we had our first trip to the park together," she says as she gently bumps L. Joe's shoulder with her own. "I personally liked that day." 

 

"Me too," L. Joe says softly that it passes away, unnoticed by Jiyeon. But he doesn't mind anyways. 

 

"You know," Jiyeon leans back and turns to meet L. Joe's gaze. "I still think we would still be friends even if your were not to stand outside my gate."

 

 The corners of L. Joe's mouth raise slightly in total agreement. "Maybe." 

 

"L. Joe," Jiyeon suddenly calls and presses her warm hand against his forehead even before he could answer her. "I don't think we should stay here for another minute. Your fever might get worse in this state."

 

L. Joe's eyes are wide and surprised, but deep down, her concern melts his heart. She truly cares for him, and he feels good about it. L. Joe slits open his mouth but his voice isn't coming out. 

 

"C'mon," she says as she pulls him up. "Let's get some morning coffee." L. Joe shoves her helping hand and gets up on his own. He isn't a baby and doesn't need to be treated like one. Jiyeon snorts at his cold attitude and walks beside him when he finally stands up. But their steps stop halfway when they see Jinyoung looking in their direction. 

 

"Jinyoung," Jiyeon greets happily as she smiles at him. "Good morning," she adds before glancing the them two boys who are exchanging glances. "Perfect," Jiyeon suddenly says when she links her arm with L. Joe's and drags him over to where Jinyoung is standing.

 

 "Do you wanna go get some coffee with us?"

 

Jinyoug tilts his head to left, and finally smiles.  "I would love that." Jiyeon draws her hand out and links it around Jinyoung's. 

 

"Let's go," she shouts with glee, still dragging L. Joe along. What she doesn't notice is the intense glace Jinyoung's been giving L. Joe since the very moment he sees them two together. L. Joe knows Jinyoung too well by now and he knows exactly what is going on in Jinyoung's mind. L. Joe pulls back his hand forcefully that was linking with Jiyeon's, and walks away fast, leaving Jiyeon and Jinyoung alone. 

 

Jiyeon, puzzled by L. Joe's sudden outburst, runs over to stop him but is held back by Jinyoung. 

 

"Let him go," Jinyoung says, faking a warm smile. "He needs some rest. He's been up so early and he needs some rest now before we could go out on our trip to Mount Moiwa, remember?" 

 

Jiyeon stares blankly at Jinyoung as she's trying to process the whole logical information Jinyoung just fed her. "Oh. I see."

 

 "C'mon," Jinyoung pulls Jiyeon's hand in his grip and secures it with his fingers. "Let's get some coffee. We only have 40 minutes or less to ourselves, y'know."