PS: There's no foreword to this story so this will be counted as the first chapter =D

Chapter 1

“And guess who is in charge for our office in UK?” Mr. Park smiled widely with a heavy sense of hint that he was going to break such big news to the rest of his guests. Still maintaining his professional manner he laughed and tapped on the shoulder of the young man sitting in an up straight position next to him.

Chang min was yet to decipher Mr. Park’s code that he had just officially announced a promotion for him. The rest of the board of directors who were attending the meeting over lunch at The Summit were looking at Chang min in anticipation.

“Congratulations Mr. Shim” A few directors offered their hands for him to shake. Only from this point did Chang min realize that he had just been announced as the head of Park & co office in UK.

Chang min was so excited that for the rest of the lunch he couldn’t concentrate on anything else and that he wasn’t fully attending the rest of the event since his thoughts were everywhere. After the directors were finished with their steaks and started rubbing their protruding tummies they soon claimed to have to be somewhere else for other meetings.

As soon as the other guests were gone Mr. Park approached him and said, “Son, you ready for the big move?”

Chang min looked at Mr. Park with a confused expression followed by laughter from Mr. Park who seemed to think that Chang min had just been purposely pasting that confused look to joke around with him. In fact, he wasn’t.

“You realized that by accepting the position as the head of Park & co in the UK means you have to live there right? Which also means you may want to start packing your belongings in a suitcase and book a flight ticket. You… don’t intend to commute between London and Seoul do you?” Mr. Park asked and then laughed at his own joke.

Chang min only laughed along with him to be polite. He then bowed a little as Mr. Park walked off towards his shiny Mercedes parked outside with a chauffeur in uniform waiting outside of the door.

Moving to London means that he’s finally moving on with his life. That means another chapter of his life is to be closed. He’d no longer live in Korea but move to the mother country of Manchester United. Even though he wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of not being able to see his family as much as possible since he would be thousands of miles apart from them, as well as disliking plane trips, probably moving to London is a good idea afterall.

He was ready to leave when he saw her walking into the café. He was immediately frozen on his spot.

It has been so long.

She didn’t seem to be aware of his presence and headed straight to the counter where cakes were temptingly displayed behind the glass shelves. He didn’t move from the spot where he had been standing at and just watched her.

She didn’t change at all.

Well maybe just a little bit. After all it had been years since he last saw her. Her shoulder length hair had now grown into loosely curled locks that fell smoothly on her back. But she was still as sweet as he remembered her to be. Just that now she dressed in a classier and a more sophisticated fashion.

He had missed her so much. Not for once had he ever forgotten about her.

Not once.

Chang min wasn’t sure of what to do so he just stayed where he was. A part of him wanted to approach her and say hi to her. Heck. Maybe he’d even confess to her of how much he had missed her all these years. But the other part of him wanted him to just enjoy the moment where he could just watch and admire her from a distance without entering her life again for the second time. Perhaps it was the wound from the past that had traumatized him.

Within a second everything flashed back to when he first met her.

[FLASHBACK]

“Ya! You there! Chang min is it? First place in mathematics competition is it?” He grinned.

It was Hwan Jae the school’s notorious bully who thinks that he was the strongest and well, likes to give problems to other school mates. His frame was built and indeed he was at least the strongest in school. He had quite a few followers behind his back who likes to pretend that they were some sort of gangster. Chang min thought that they were pathetic nevertheless always intended to stay under the radar and never cross path with this group. He’d like to spend his high school years in peace thank you very much. If possible, even graduate from this school without ever having a black eye at any stage. Alas due to his recent victory in some sort of mathematics competition he had to be absurdly targeted by this gang.

Hwan Jae came closer. Each time he took a step towards him, Chang min felt as if Hwan Jae was getting bigger and bigger whereas on the other hand he found himself shrunk to even smaller size than before. He had always had small frame since he was young. His mother always comforted him that it was because he was a late bloomer. Whatever the reason was, with the body that he was in right now, it was rather impossible to avoid getting a black eye.

Finally Hwan Jae was only an inch away from him. He was trapped at the corner of the wall and no longer had a chance to escape. Chang min gulped his saliva as he fixed the position of his thick black rimmed spectacles.

“Has anyone ever told you that you… look like a bug?” Hwan Jae pointed rudely at him. His followers started to laugh lifting up his spirit and shrinking Chang min even more.

“Say… I’ve always wondered whether you still can see without your bug eyes” Hwan Jae in a quick move ripped Chang min’s glasses off his face and threw it away.

“My glasses!” Chang min said in shock. His vision had become very blur now since his sight had always been bad.

He felt so helpless. He had always dreaded school and the pathetic bullies. He didn’t understand why these types of kids still go to school since they don’t really appreciate the lessons being taught and always distract their other school mates anyway. Yet he could do nothing about it. Chang min had always shrugged this off as a part of life’s suffering that had been fated for him to endure since he wasn’t destined to be one of the popular kids.

“Come on… get your glasses before someone step on it…” Hwan Jae laughed and his followers cheered him on.

Reluctantly Chang min got to his knees and started feeling the grounds to aid his bad eyesight in finding his glasses. He finally found his glasses were lying next to one of Hwan Jae’s followers. When he stretched his hand to grab it the guy standing next to it lifted up his foot and stepped right on his hand.

“AAHh!” Chang min screamed in pain as the guy’s foot stepped on his hand. Immediately he withdrew his hand and now, the guy lifted up his foot again and stepped hardly on the ground crushing his glasses. Hwan Jae’s followers laughed harder which pissed Chang min off. He cursed himself for being so weak and could do nothing in situations like this.

“Ya! What do you think you’re doing?” Suddenly a strong female voice roared which attracted every one of Hwan Jae’s followers including Hwan Jae himself. Chang min could not see who it was because of his blurred vision so he just waited in anticipation for this girl to reveal her intention.

“Hey…. Pretty girl… you want to go on a date with me?” Being a jerk that he is, Hwan Jae started flirting with that girl.

“You’re pathetic!” she said still in a very strong tone. Even though Chang min could not see her but he could clearly hear in her voice that she was not afraid of Hwan Jae and his followers even for a bit.

Hwan Jae came closer to her but before he could do anything that girl stepped backwards. Was she backing off now realizing that she was dealing with someone rather dangerous for a girl?

“You and your stupid monkeys aren’t backing off now? You really have the nerve…” she said in a threatening voice.

It happened so fast but as far as Chang min was concerned the next thing he knew the girl looked like she flew off the ground and kicked Hwan Jae with such great force that it forced Hwan Jae to step backwards until he finally tripped on himself. She approached the now lying on the ground Hwan Jae and stepped her foot mercilessly on his hand.

“Who else is next?” she asked in such heroic manner as if she could finish every one of them within a blink of an eye just like their leader.

The rest of Hwan Jae’s followers helped him up and actually went off in a rush.

The girl dusted her hands off as she watched them scurried out of her sight.

She picked up the broken glasses and then walked towards Chang min who had been watching the heroic scene, jaw dropped. She offered her hand to help him get up.

As soon as he got up her face was in a distance close enough for him to finally see the face of his savior clearly.

“Hey you okay? Your glasses… it’s broken” She asked him looking rather worried.

She looked up to him and finally broke into smile as she introduced herself, “My name’s Han Chae Young”.

It was the first smile he had ever seen directed to him ever since he entered high school. True enough he was a loner. He had always enjoyed studying more than socializing with anyone at school. He felt somehow special. This girl has a very warm smile. It was the sweetest smile he had ever seen. Indeed, Han chae young is the sweetest girl with a heart warming smile.

Soon enough he learned that Han chae young was quite a popular girl in school. Ever since his encounter with Chae young that day they started spending a lot of time together and the friendship blossomed from there.

She was the reason that he started not to dread school anymore and actually enjoyed attending classes.

One day when Chang min was walking Chae young home as usual she found a lost puppy wandering off the street. It was a brown furred poodle. She its head gently and immediately fell in love with it. She took it home and intended to take care of it until its owner come and fetch the puppy himself.

A week later Chae young came to school red eyed but refused speaking to him when asked what happened. He was worried that he tried to do anything to make her laugh while at the same time finding out what had happened. She finally broke down and told him the story of how when she was not looking the puppy had gone off. The next thing she knew was some stranger knocked on her door to tell her he was the driver that ran over the puppy.

Chang min couldn’t help himself and immediately grabbed her into his arms, letting her wet his shirt with her tears, wishing for her pain to go away along with those tears.

From then on he realized that he had fallen for her for it pained him so much to see her cry. It must not be a mistake since everytime he saw her smile, it would brighten his day too and upon her sorrow, he would feel the same. He always wanted to protect her and would do anything to see that smile upon her face. But at this point he decided to keep this feeling to himself as final exams for third year students are approaching. He didn’t want Chae young’s concentration to be distracted by anything. He wanted her to achieve her dream of getting into the university she wanted; doing what she had always been so passionate to do.

He had decided that it was only on graduation day of high school that he would confess his feelings for her, in hope that she would return it and would accept him as her boyfriend.

Time flies and graduation day came. She looked like she was in a really good mood after all the photo taking session with all her girl friends.

She walked towards him and said, “Min-ah! Let’s take a picture together!”

Yes, at this point Chae young was that close to him that she felt so comfortable calling him ‘Min-ah’ affectionately which flattered him. This boosted his confidence that there was actually a possibility that she might like him too.

Without waiting for his approval she stood next to him and her camera flashed. Chang min had to blink a few times before his sight recovered from the blinding flash of her camera.

After graduation ceremony they went to a cake shop for a cup of coffee celebrating their graduation in a more private atmosphere.

‘This is it’ he thought to himself. This was the perfect timing for him to confess his feelings for her.

She blew on her coffee to cool it a little bit.

“Min-ah” she called him suddenly. He looked up to her.

“I hope that we can always hang out like this… no matter where we are in life” she said and sipped on her coffee.

“Of course we will… you’re my special girl” he said to her and smiled.

“Chae young-ah… I… I’m not sure if you’ve ever realized this but you are a very special girl for me” he said and paused. He fidgeted, looking frustrated as he tried to think of the appropriate words to break it to her.

“To be honest I’m not very good at this but…” he said in hesitant. She looked calm and confused at the same time, most probably not aware of what was coming next.

“Han chae young… Saranghae…” he finally said it.

His heart raced as he waited for reaction from Chae young.

“Chae young-ah… would you be my girl?” he asked her, afraid that she might not get his love confession if he didn’t officially ask her this way.

He wasn’t sure of her reaction which frightened him. She just stayed still and looked confused.

He held his breath and was preparing himself for rejection when she suddenly broke into her sweet smile and nodded in approval.

Chang min was so happy. There was nothing else right now that he desired more than to protect her and be with her. Since now she had agreed to be his girlfriend he can certainly do so. He now has all the right to love her, to protect her, and to keep her away from any other losers out there who are missing out on being her boyfriend. He promised to himself that he would never stop loving her. Not like it was possible for him to do anyway.

That afternoon Chang min walked his girlfriend home with bliss that was clearly expressed by his ear to ear grin. He realized he might look stupid but he couldn’t care less. Which normal guy wouldn’t be happy to have such a pretty girl like Chae young to be his girlfriend? He felt lucky and blessed.

For a while as they were walking Chang min couldn’t take his eyes off her hands. He wanted so much to hold them. Hesitantly Chang min tried to reach her hands but suddenly Chae young turned around and face him flashing her innocent grin. His heart skipped a beat there but then he started to pretend that he wasn’t about to do anything. He realized though that his hand was hanging in a rather awkward position in the air. Quickly he withdrew his hand and started scratching his head as if that was what he wanted to do in the first place. Chae young just giggled not knowing why suddenly Chang min was acting strangely.

It was only a couple of blocks away before they arrived at Chae young’s house. Chang min had decided that it was time for him to push away all his fears and nervousness. Afterall Chae young now IS his girlfriend. In a quick motion Chang min snatched her hand gently and secured it in his own fist. By this time his heart was beating uncontrollably that he started to wonder whether Chae young could hear its rhythm.

He didn’t have the courage to turn around and face her. He looked utterly flushed being overwhelmed with so much happiness. He decided that it was good enough to take a peek of her with the tail of his eyes. He caught Chae young was smiling to herself before he sensed that she was slipping her fingers through his and tightened their handhold. It was the beginning of all his sweet dreams.

From that day it was as if his sweetest dreams had been coming true.

They spent almost every day of the summer break together before university period started.

Without him realizing his affection for her grew deeper and deeper each passing day.

Chang min took her on a date every now and then, showering her with presents that didn’t worth much materialistically but enough to make her happy. When they had a picnic on a park and she fell asleep after their lunch, he drew a sketch of her. He framed it and a few days later presented the drawing to her. He thought that as long as she realized how much he loved her it should be enough.

Just a few days before summer break ended and they have to go to their respective university, which means that he wouldn’t be able to see her as much as he wanted to; he took her on another date. This time he presented her with a silver necklace. It had a little eclipse shaped pendant with writing on it.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Consider it as a lucky charm” he said smiling.

“Soulmate?” she read the writing engraved on the shiny pendant.

Chang min just smiled and explained to her that for him, she was his soulmate. He told her to consider it as a lucky charm to protect her throughout her journey at university.

“I want you to keep it next to your heart” He said as he helped her to put the necklace on.

That was the last day that Chang min would ever want to keep the memory of Chae young in his head. He didn’t know then, but it was the last day that everything could be so perfect for him.