http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgBP4ZGAR4E

The One- A Winter Story

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Three months had passed. As expected, the wedding had been called off. Inhee was upset, to say the least. Mrs. Wu was not pleased either. It seemed like the person who should be mad at her, namely Kris, wasn’t, but everyone else was.

Haewon received a lot of scolding and lecturing from her aunt. Inhee pleaded with her that it wasn’t too late and that she could still marry Kris. But everything was over. She didn’t want to repeat the same mistake again.

Eventually, Haewon decided to take a break. She requested a temporary leave from work. She wanted to leave Canada to see what else was out there in the world. She just realized that she hadn’t traveled anymore, besides Korea and Canada. She wanted to venture out there and experience so much more than her square box here.

Also, she had to admit, she wanted to temporarily forget about Luhan. He was always pinning her mind like a thousand sharp quills. She wanted to forget the unhappiness and try to at least smile genuinely.

Haewon packed and left for the airport. Inhee gave up on trying talking her out of the trip.

“So…the famous Paris, huh?” Kris asked. Even when she had dissuaded him from taking her to the airport, he had stubbornly insisted taking her.

“Yeah. Paris. I always wanted to go there ever since I was little.” Haewon nodded.

“Do you know when you’ll come back?” Kris asked as he handed her the suitcase. She shook her head with a small smile as she grasped the handle. “You know me. I go with the flow.” “Yeah, I remember.” He slipped his hands into his pockets. His eyes twinkled softly. He still had some remaining feelings for her but tried his best not to reveal them in case he would make her uneasy. “Be safe, Alana. If you run into trouble, feel free to call me.”

“Has anyone told you that you’re too nice for your good?” She asked.

Kris shrugged. “I told you. Everyone thinks I’m patient, kind, and handsome. The third trait especially.”

Haewon laughed, sounding more free than usual.

“Well I should go now.” “Have a good trip. I hope you find what you’re looking for.” Kris said.

Haewon breathed in and then exhaled. “I hope so, too.” She waved and headed into the airplane.

Haewon found her first-class seat and sat down. Shortly, the plane took off, and she was in the air. It was going to be a long flight, and she didn’t know what to do until then. Haewon listened to some music, watched a movie, and brushed up on her French skills. When she was bored, she rummaged through her bag for something else to occupy her mind with. Haewon felt something hard and pulled it out. Her expression fell.

It was the Braille Rubik’s Cube.

*Luhan oppa, you never leave me for too long, huh? The moment I try to forget you, you come haunting me again.* She balanced the cube on her palm. Did she dare take the challenge again? *I have enough time. Why not?*

Haewon closed her eyes. For an hour and a half, she tried to match the words.

“You was fate…friend…a choice…love…beyond my control.”

Exhausted and brain-fried, she slumped back in her seat and frowned unhappily at the toy. *Why is this so hard to solve? I’ve been trying for the past seven years, and I’ve had no such luck.* Haewon shook her head and prepared to dump the cube back in her bag but stopped. Something deep in her heart pulled on her, encouraging her to try again. Haewon sighed and placed the cube between her fingers. She took a deep breath, cleared her mind, and tried again.

“Meeting you…becoming your friend…falling in love…” Her eyebrows slightly furrowed as lines creased on her forehead. The enigma was becoming clearer.

Haewon turned the top half of the cube, flipped it, and turned another part of it. There was a faint click, and she knew she had got it. With quivering fingers, she read over the quote.

“Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you was beyond my control.”

Her eyes opened widely. *That was it. That was what he wanted to tell me.*

She read the quote over and over again. Touched tears swarmed in her eyes. *Such beautiful words.*

Haewon smiled tearfully. *Yes, Luhan oppa. Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was my choice, but falling in love with you was something I had no power over. You took my heart without warning, and from some point on, I didn’t want it back. I miss you, Luhan oppa. I wish we’ll be able to meet each other again.* She cradled the precious cube against her chest.

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“Bienvenue à Paris!” The friendly hotel worker gave Haewon the room key with a welcoming smile.

“Merci.” Haewon smiled in response. She took her suitcase to the floor where her suite was located. Haewon opened the door and stepped inside the lavish purple and brown room. Everything was covered in silk, and a bottle of champagne welcomed her.

Haewon walked up to the window and yanked on the purple curtains. The setting sun spilled into the room and lit it up. Haewon opened the window and stuck her head out to see the wonderful city displayed below her. Cool breeze flowed into the room and lifted the brown tendrils of her hair. Haewon closed her hair and smiled. She felt a strange of peace wash over her. Strangely, she felt as if she was home in this foreign place. It was her first time here, but she was in love with the city already.

*Maybe I shouldn’t go back to Canada. I can live here in Paris, the heart of real fashion.* Haewon could picture herself working at one of the bustling fashion companies here and coming home in her little condo that she would decorate herself. It would be a dream come true.

Haewon looked beyond and saw the Eiffel Tower. Her heart lit up just like the amazing structure. *I want to go there.* With an excited heart, she began to get ready for a night out in Paris.

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After dinner at an amazing restaurant, Haewon walked around the beautiful streets of Champ de Mars. Everywhere she looked, there were couples.

Couples holding hands.

Couples kissing.

Couples cuddling.

Couples in love.

Haewon looked down at her hand. The ring was gone, but the bracelet remained there. She clasped her hand around her slender wrist with a soft, thoughtful expression. What would it be like to walk the streets of Paris together with Luhan?

A growing pit of her stomach longed to be with him. With a deep sigh, she pushed him out of her mind and walked faster towards the Eiffel Tower.

Before long, Haewon was standing in front of the