http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovv5_j7cxLw

Lee Wan- A Place Without Separation

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Tires screeched.

“Honey, watch out!”

“Dad! Mom!” “Haewon-ah!”

The van rolled down the snow-covered mountains.

Glasses shattered. Bodies tumbled.

The vehicle flipped and finally came to a stop.

Silence. Cold. White. “Mom…”

Red. Warm. “Dad…”

Pain. Black. Shadows began to cloud her vision, and her world of colors suddenly turned black-and-white.

And then darkness. Nothing but darkness.

“No…I don’t want to be blind…No…No…”

“NO!” Haewon jolted up in bed with wide eyes. Panting, she looked around her vicinity. In the darkness, she could make out the mahogany desk, wooden dressers, and refined vanity table. Haewon passed her fingers over her face. She could see them float by and breathed a sigh of relief. Her shoulders sagged in relief. *It was just a dream. I have my vision back, and it’s here to stay.*

Haewon touched her tank top and realized it was soaked with her sweat. Shaking her head, she got up and walked over to the closet. Haewon stripped her top off and slipped on a warm hoodie instead. She couldn’t go back to bed now. The nightmare had rudely shook her out of her senses. Any sense of drowsiness was gone.

Wide awake, Haewon crept out of her room and walked to the kitchen.

The house was eerily silent with her aunt asleep in her room.

Haewon went to the kitchen, poured milk into a mug, and heated it up in the microwave. While her milk heated up, her thoughts strayed away from her. *I’ve been having this same nightmare for the past few days now. I wonder why. Is it because I’m stressed about the HOT runway project? No, I’ve had worse projects before.* She rubbed her temple and shook her head.

Ding! The microwave signaled that her milk was finished.

Haewon pulled out the tepid mug and brought it back to her room. She shut the door behind her and sat next to the window. Haewon took a sip of her warm milk and looked up at the starless sky.

It had been six years since the miraculous operation, graciously bestowed upon her by Kris. She could see well now. She witnessed all the vibrant colors and all the good and bad scenes in the world.  Right after she regained her sight, she began to rebuild her lie that had been on hiatus. She grew confident and achieved the best that she could be. That’s how she had gotten to where she was today: one of the project directors of prominent, upscale Wu Fashion Inc.

Haewon dropped her gaze down and saw the Braille Rubik’s Cube. Her heart fluttered when she saw that meaningful object. *It’s been seven whole years since I haven’t seen Luhan oppa.* She still thought of him often. Even though she wasn’t thinking consciously about him 24/7, he was always in her mind somewhere. Haewon stood up and placed the mug of milk on her desk. Instead, she picked up the cube and examined it. *I haven’t tried to solve this in a while.* Haewon molded her hands over the Rubik’s Cube and closed her eyes. She still remembered Braille, even though she had no use of it anymore. She tried to crack the mystery puzzle, but like always, she got stuck.

“Meeting…becoming…a choice…love…my control…”

Haewon furrowed her eyebrows. It just made no sense.

*I should take a Rubik’s Cube class or something. I can’t seem to be able to solve it.* She was snapped out of her concentration by a random, loud beep from her phone. Her eyes popped open, and she glanced back. Her phone screen lit up with a new message on her Kakao chat box. Haewon opened the box up.

‘Are you sleeping, Alana?’

Her lips hitched upwards. What was Kris Wu doing up at two in the morning?

Haewon pressed number two and placed the phone against the ear. He picked up in two rings. “Hello?” His deep voice resonated against her ear. “Why are you up?” Haewon asked.

“The same question goes for you.” Kris replied.

Haewon curled against the window ledge. “I had a nightmare.”

“What kind of nightmare?” He asked.

“The same one I get every time I’m stressed. The accident…and becoming blind again. It’s my greatest phobia.” She admitted.

“It’s a useless phobia. Your eyesight is back, and there is no way you’re becoming blind again. I won’t let that happen, even if you have to get another surgery.” Kris promised. Haewon smiled softly. Kris had a way with words. He was always sweet and courteous that she wondered if such a perfect man could exist on earth.

*Luhan.* Her mind immediately whispered.

“I could tell you’re thinking. What’s on your mind?” Kris murmured.

“Mmm…” Haewon balanced the Rubik’s Cube in her palm. *Luhan.* Her mind whispered again.

“I knew it. You’re thinking about me again. I’m flattered.” Kris kidded.

“Haha.” Haewon curled her fingers around the cube, trapping it in her strong grip. She stood up and traipsed back to the desk. “Seriously though, oppa, why are you up? We have a big conference tomorrow. You should be resting.”

“Well, even if you weren’t thinking about me, I was thinking about you…” His voice lowered into a longing whisper. “I miss you, Alana.” Haewon gently placed the cube back on its spot by the corner of her desk. “We saw each other today. Well, technically yesterday. I’ll see you in a few hours, too.”

“Still…you’re on my mind every single second. I want to see you.” Kris confessed.

“You have a picture of me, don’t you? You can look at that.” Haewon stated.

“That’s not the same thing, and you know it. You’re just teasing me.” Kris sighed. Haewon chuckled a little.

“Don’t you miss me, too, Alana?” Kris asked. “Even a little?” His voice rose with hope.

Her smile evaporated slowly. Lately, Kris had been pressuring her. He was always the perfect gentleman, and he would never force his feelings on her, but he had become a little pushy recently. She wasn’t ignorant. She knew that he had some kind of feelings for her.

Love, was what her aunt had called it.

Haewon just pretended not to notice and continued to play along in their one-sided platonic friendship.

Alana heard a creak and realized her aunt had gotten up to drink water. She lowered her voice into a whisper, “My aunt woke up. I should sleep before she gives me a lecture. Good night, Kris oppa. I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Good night.” Kris replied.

They hung up, and Haewon sighed in relief. *Saved by auntie.* She climbed back into bed and rolled on her side. Haewon ran her thumb across the Braille beads and them until sleep fell over her.

Kris stared at his phone and watched her name blinked three times on his phone. Then the screen went blank, and he sighed. *Alana Cho. Would it kill you to say “I miss you”? You stubborn, stubborn girl.* Kris placed his phone by his bedside table and lay on the mattress. “Sweet dreams, Alana…”

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*I’m late. I’m late. I’m late. Why didn’t I put on the alarm? Better question is, why didn’t auntie wake me up?* Haewon swiftly buttoned up her blouse, grabbed her purse, and dashed out of her bedroom.

Inhee glanced back, “I made eggs and toast-“

“I’m late! I have to go!” Haewon said.

“Then at least drink some milk.” Inhee held out the glass.

Haewon sighed but obliged.

“Big presentation day?” Inhee smiled. Haewon nodded and wiped her milk mustache off with the napkin. “Aren’t you going to work today?”

Inhee grinned, “My day off.” “Lucky.” Haewon muttered.

“Go, and do your best! I know you can shine.” Inhee kissed her forehead.

“I’m off.” Haewon hea