:::

Donghae enters Jongwoon's cafe and is welcomed with a handful of greetings from the most dear
friends he had missed for the ten years in between. A tinge of envy drowns him soon, seeing that
what was thought of as puppy loves or highscool flings of his friends (turned husbands and wives)
actually ended up into something permanent and something lasting.

What Donghae and Jessica had in highschool was only temporary. She flies to Korea with a bag
full of clothes and a wallet filled with savings account money and sooner or later, Donghae knew
she would fly back to California without even a word of warning. He was ready of all the consequences
when he decides to fall in love with her that first time she introduced herself in his class, albeit the
constant reminders of Kyuhyun and Hyukjae that she is trouble and a heartbreaker. He might have
listened to them, if Hyukjae is tough enough to confess to Hyoyeon of his elementary crush or
Kyuhyun is honest enough to tell Seohyun the ice creams and movies aren't just to protect her from
Yonghwa.

He follows her the whole day after that instead.

The first few weeks of his relationship with Jessica were mostly made up of stealing glances and him
sending her home, although he would be miles away from her, only keeping an eye from a distance.
Not long after, and Donghae is completely thankful, Hyoyeon is back from a dance competition she
was sent to for a week, another one after the dance with Hyukjae. Being the friendly Hyoyeon that
she is, a possibility to talk to Jessica isn't as impossible as it was before.

"Hi, so you must be the American girl," she says trying to speak in the language foreign to her tongue.
Jessica was polite enough to manage a smile and receive her handshake, although Donghae senses
she would rather stay alone. "I'm Kim Hyoyeon and we should be friends!"

They were introduced that lunch time and Donghae is certain this is the most unforgettable first meetings
he ever had.

It was the last day of their second year that Donghae discovers Jessica never had dreams.

Explains why it wasn't a big deal to her that she jumped into the earliest plane to Seoul on her own
accord at seventeen, although it was big to her family back in California, especially to Krystal, her
younger sister.

Donghae thinks that was crazy because he was a man of dreams. His head is a pool of dreams and
hopeful possibilities, something he began to think of as a stupid mind trick when Jessica goes back
to California and he keeps on hoping she wouldn't, or she would come back--all the possibilities
there were.

"Why did you come here then?" he asks her. "Wasn't it because you dream of coming here?"

She tells him she doesn't know, only that the lack of a dream is what sent her across oceans. "My
father told me to find my dream. My mother said I can find it if I look farther. Now I'm here."

It was then that it occurred to Donghae that what they have is something temporary. And it breaks
him, but it breaks him even more to see her live in an un-dreamed life.

"If you find your dream, would you be coming back soon?"

"Maybe," she exhales.

"We'll find you one then!" he promises. Jessica only looks questioningly while he thinks of ways to
make three years with Jessica worthwhile.



Donghae asks Joohyun to teach Jessica how to draw because Joohyun was talented in the arts. The
day ends earlier than all of them thought though, as Jessica is clearly not in good terms with charcoal
pencils and paint brushes.

Next, Donghae talks Hyoyeon into helping Jessica find liking towards dance. After a few weeks of 
joint-popping and body waves, Jessica runs out of the practice room. If it's any consolation though,
she tells him the the root of Hyukjae's frustration and Hyoyeon's reasons why she restrains from
dancing with the former.

Although he was skeptical, Donghae also tried asking Kyuhyun's help. The guy is to the path of civil
justice and rights, and it's clear why just thirty minutes of reading social sciences, a bored Jessica
leaves the library in a flash.

"Tell me," she eats the cake he brought her at a sweets shop nearby. "What is your dream?"

(I want you to stay)

"I want to be a photographer," he states without second thoughts. "Like my father."

(I want you to stay)

"Teach me, would you?"

(Stay. Just like now.)



First month into their fourth year, Donghae notes the growing closeness of Jessica and Taeyeon,
the shy girl from the other class. There isn't really much to say about her other than Taeyeon is a
member of the glee club. Although in all honesty, he has never heard her sing before in school
occassions. Until a little more months later when they were in their Senior's Prom did everyone
knew the angel-like voice of Kim Taeyeon.

"Jessica!" Hyukjae calls her out, Donghae beside him in the buffet table. "Donghae here says you
look undeniably lovely tonight."

Hyukjae keeps his gummy grin even with a strong nudge from his step brother.

"And he is ecstatic since last month that you agreed to be his girlfriend! AND! Prom date of course."

It didn't take a word from Donghae for Hyukjae to realize he is in trouble and so he leaves before
any damage is caused, stretching out his neck with much effort to search for Hyoyeon in a sea of
floating heads.

Like all cheesy Hollywood chic flicks Donghae has grown accustomed to watch, thanks to his girlfriend,
he takes her into the center of the dance floor for the slow dance.

Like the cheesy movies too, Jessica closes the gap in between, putting her arms around his neck with
eyes closed and a fast heart beating. "I found my dream, Donghae."

Donghae smiles all throughout the night, convinced that it is not a joke to mask pain with happiness.



Graduation night, she writes a message into the cafe message board: 'I'm going to miss everyone.'
Donghae doesn't write anything on the board, but he writes her a three-paged love letter until midnight.

And then of course she leaves for California two days after graduation. He sends her away that day and
he never sees her after.



"Wow. So I think everyone is present now?" Hyukjae raises his coffee cup midair. Kyuhyun looks at
Joohyun awaiting confirmation. Hyoyeon simply scanned the room and waved a little at Yuri and the baby
boy she is carrying. Donghae's phone rings suddenly.

"Yes, the coffee shop is after that block. Okay. Drive safe!"

He comes back to the table looked upon by suspicious eyes. "That your new girlfriend?" Kyuhyun sips his
coffee.

"She's not new!"

"Oh, so we know her? Seen her somewhere? Come on, Donghae. We're step-in-laws, complicated as it
may seem. I've been in your family reunions, you never showed us any girl." Hyoyeon retorts.

Just then, the door chimes as it swings open. "Sorry I'm late!"

"I told you we should have just come together!" Donghae stands from his seat and holds Jessica's hand.
"We never broke up. She's not new, she's the only one."



He is driven home by his mother after he checks Jessica's flight left already and that there is no passenger
from her schedule that backed out and came back.

"You received a mail earlier, honey," his mother breaks the ice. "I'm sorry for opening it, dear but it is a 
confirmation letter that you are admitted in their college."

"Really? Which one?"

"I can't recall the name. How many schools did you apply in California? Three of them confirmed."


When Jessica told him she has found her dream, Donghae found one too. That someday their temporary
state will become something that can reach forever. Well, maybe not forever, but one can dream, right?

"I can't believe you opened three of my letters, mom." And they laugh.
 

part three: haesica. There is still hope for them, isn't there? One of my 2012 Wishes. :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Would it be okay to end the series here or should I still add the last two couples? Guess which. kekeke