Rewind.

He happened to meet her when he was barely sixteen at a playground. He was practicing his kicks alone, when the soccer ball that he kicked, flew across the field, and somehow it happened to hit her head. She screamed in annoyance; perhaps mixed with some pain too, as she rubbed her head and darted her eyes around to search for the wrongdoer. But she saw no one in particular who approached her that very day. So, she shrugged and kicked the ball instead. Maybe, today wasn't her day.

Rewind.

He happened to see her, almost every weekend afterwards. He would practice his kicks at the playground, and he would find her sitting at a bench, alone, only to be accompanied by her thick book, and eyes that merely focused on the words written on each pages. He loved that scenery; he loved it the most when the soft, inviting wind came and blew through her hair, that she would quickly tuck her strands of gorgeous hair behind her ears. But still, he hadn't found his guts to approach her. And still, he thinks— he owed her an apology.

Rewind.

Her name was Park Sunyoung, as he was told. He learnt that she could sing well, and that she had won several singing competitions at her school. He wished to hear her voice, he wished to sit beside her, and to learn the title of the book, one that she often read, each time she sat at that favorite bench of hers. He wanted to apologize, but still— he was too timid and shy to do so. Sometimes, he blamed puberty.

Rewind.

He was sick that particular weekend. He didn't manage to go to the playground, and no, he didn't get to see her. 

Rewind.

He hadn't seen her for two weekends, now. That next weekend, he stayed at the playground for hours, until the skies began to slowly darken, and until he bored himself with counting endless stars. Another weekend passed by, still, there was no sign of her. Then, his friends told him that she had moved from the neighbourhood, to pursue her education in an art school. He never had the chance to apologize. Regret, regret and all kinds of regrets; were all he could feel. 

Rewind.

Years and years passed, he'd still wish to see her. He still owed her an apology. So, he waited.

Fast forward.

He happened to meet her again when he was barely twenty one. That same playground, that same kind of bench; only with different colour and a little less big playground, since a new building was developed right next to the once vast green field. The fond, lingering memories that he had of her, were almost too vivid that he could clearly remember the trace of her oval face.

She didn't change that much, he thinks. Still— as adorable as she would look like from afar, only that he thinks that it was better to look at her this way, from this close proximity. And the fact that, she somehow still bring a book to the playground, made it even more endearing to him. 

So, he slowly approached her. One step, two and three. When he finally stood in front of her, he cleared his throat, "Hi—"

She looked up, glancing to right and left, then finally looking up to meet his brown orbs, "Hi too?"

He chuckled. It was his first time hearing her voice. Soothing.

"Remember when you were sixteen, a ball hit your head, and no one came to apologize to you?"

"Yes—?"

"I am that boy,"

She frowned slightly. Perplexed.

"My name is Lee Byunghyun," He extended his hand, curving his lips into a smile, "I am sorry for not apologizing to you years ago,"

"Ahh, it's okay—"

He took a seat beside her, finally darting his eyes towards the book in her hands. 

"Is that the same book you brought each time you came here before?"

She smiled a little, "No—"

(Silence)

"But I am still that same person from years ago,"

He smiled at her remark.

Maybe, he was late, but still he thinks— better late than never. And maybe, this was his second chance. 

L.Joe/Luna ♥

Dedicated to fxluna :)

I don't neccesarily ship them, but it was a good prompt & I feel like writing something too lol.

I hope this is readable for you :)