07:12 AM

Wed, March 26

Dearest Jongdae,

Know what day it is today? Look at the date above. Ring a bell? Can’t remember? Well, it’s my birthday! Happy birthday, Minnie!

Know how many years old I am? No? I’m sixteen. I’ve grown old, haven’t I? And wow, it’s been twelve years since we met. Did I calculate it right? You know how it’s hard for me; calculation, I mean – well, everything math is hard for me, yeah, even after all these years.

I got some presents ten minutes ago: Mom and Dad gave me a phone! I don’t need to use the home telephone to speak to Lu now; we can text past midnight and play games on it! Woohoo!

Shark got me a new journal; it will be named Jongdae No. 10. It’s the same quality as the ones – like you – Dad’s always bought me; one diary is enough for an entire year. She spent her allowance money on it, and that’s something when it comes to Minseo.

So much good luck from the early morning. I have a feeling something good’s gonna happen today.

I hear Mom shouting at Shark. Minseo’s whining like a puppy, while Mom yells, “Your skirt is too short! Your tie is crooked. Straighten it! Why can’t you be like your brother and dress neatly?!” Smack. Whoops, Mom probably smacked Shark’s bottom with her rolling pin. I’ve been hit with it, too, and I’m not kidding when I say it hurts.

Guess I’ll see you later tonight then, Dae. I still need to tuck my shirt into my trousers, or I’ll be Mom’s next target for shouting and rolling-pin-smacking. Or worse, she’ll ban me from computer and internet. She won’t excuse the birthday boy.

In addition, we have to go to school on foot. So, we’ve gotta get out early. Our parents announced last night that we were too much into our computers – me gaming and Shark chatting in Facebook – and that we needed exercise. They called her and me ‘couch potatoes.’

What happened to taekwondo and soccer? Well, I left them so I can study for extra hours. You know, now we’re in high school and the going’s gonna get tough. If I want to get into a university, I have to study hard from now.

I wish I could…

I wish I could see you, Dae. I miss you. And it makes me feel bad that I can’t dredge up anything from our childhood. All I have is words written in my diaries and they’re not enough to describe how you looked like. I can’t remember your face; hell, I can’t even remember mine if not for the photos from my past.

I wish to see you once again, Dae. Just once would be fine. I just need to know you’re fine. That’s all I want. That’s all I truly want for my birthday from you.

You must’ve grown up so much. Did you grow taller than me? Did you manage to get chubby? You used to be skinny back then, weren’t you? You had a dazzling, eyes-crinkling smile; you had cat-like lips – that’s what my journal tells me.

I miss you. I wish my wish came true. Lol, that’s funny: wish and wish in one sentence.

Oh crap, Mom’s yelling at me now. Don’t wanna be a rolling pin victim. See you later, Dae.

Have you read Harry Potter, by the way?

Okay, bye for now.