“Do you ever miss your grandma?”

“Of course I miss her. But sometimes it’s fine. I kind of accepted the fact that she’s gone to a better place now.”

“Will you forget her?”

“No, actually. I will never. She was a significant person to me and my childhood. I’m so thankful for her because without her guidance and support, I think I’ll never be the kid you’ll love today.”

“Stop joking around. Me too, I’ll never forget her. She’s the 3^rd nicest lady I have ever met.”

“3^rd? Who’s the 1^st? And 2^nd?”

“1^st is my mom, of course. 2^nd is your mom.”

“When did you get those?” I asked

“On my way here.” She shortly replied, stood up and was about to board the bus when I stopped her

“Let’s take my car.” I said and offered to carry the flowers she was holding

“It’s fine. I can handle it.” She said and smiled, but I took it from her.

The walk from the parking lot was awfully quiet but kind of relieving.

Relieving knowing that she was there beside me.

I opened the passenger’s seat for her and she followed suit.

I put the flowers gently on the back seat and proceed to my seat and drove us to our destination.

“Have you been well?” I asked

“Yes. And you?” she replied

“I think I have.” I said

“You’re not sure?”

I smiled a little and nodded

“I have been experiencing stomach aches lately though.” I said and shrugged

“You’re not skipping meals, aren’t you?” she asks and looked at me

“I may have been…” I quietly confessed and she gave a sigh

“Yah. You know you can’t skip meals. Aish. You’re so careless, why do you eve-“ she stopped her sentence midway when she saw me holding my laughter

“Sorry.” I said, not looking at her.

She stayed quiet.

“I’m just happy of your actions. It shows that you still care.” I said and kept smiling ear to ear

She then looked at her window and verted her attention elsewhere.

I smiled at her cuteness and continued focusing myself on the road.

We arrived a little later than planned but it was okay since its Saturday tomorrow.

The walk there was quiet and solemn, she was leading the way and when we reached there…

“Good evening, sir.” We both greeted

“Oh. It’s Jongin and Minjoo. How have you been?” he asks

“We’ve been well, sir. I see you are about to clean the tomb? Let us do this, since we’re here.” Minjoo offered and the old man smiled happily

“Okay then, I shall leave you both for a moment.” He said and bowed to us then left.

We both crouched down and I put the flowers above the 4 tombstones

I then removed my jacket and made Minjoo sat on it to avoid the dirt from sticking onto her clothes

“Thank you.” She said and I just smiled

“Do you miss her?” she suddenly ask

“Always.” I answered shortly and looked at her, she was staring at the tombs, her eyes full of longing

“Do you?” I ask stupidly

“Always.” She answered and I verted my eyes to the sky

“How do you cope?” she asked suddenly and I was surprised

“How do you wake up every day and still want to live?”

“I think of you.” I answered sincerely

She was quiet for a moment

“Stop joking.” She then retorted

“I’m not. When mom died with your parents, I also didn’t want to continue living, I wanted to die and kill myself to end the pain and sufferings I felt. But did you know what stopped me? You.” I looked at her and she was just looking down

“I think of you and how you would feel, how you would react and how you would live without me. I then pictured you suffering even more. If I killed myself, I would become selfish and left you hanging there with grief and loss. You were the one that stopped me, Minjoo. You.” I said and I saw tears from her eyes. I didn’t say a word after, both of us did.

It was a few minutes of silence. Then,

“You’ll never forget right?” she asks, assuring me.

“How can I forget your parents who are the nicest beings on earth and the one who gave birth to you? How can I forget my mom who brought me my life?” I said assuring her and I saw a smile on her face.

“I’ll never too.” She said lowly

“Can you not forget me too?” I ask suddenly

And she became silent again

“Can you not forget me too?” I repeated

“I am obliged to.” She answered lowly

I then sighed and looked at our parents’ grave

“If they were here, looking at our situation right now, they would be so devastated.” I said

“But they’re not here.” She answered

“Maybe not physically but they are always in our hearts.” I said and again, silence.

Then, just like in dramas, heavy rain started pouring.

“Oh .” I hissed and helped Minjoo got up and pulled her to a near shelter

We both sighed and waited for the rain to stop. How romantic, isn’t it?

I looked at her and saw her wiping off her clothes with her hankie

“Do you ever miss me?” I suddenly blurted out, she stopped and looked at me

It was silence for a few minutes and I didn’t expect a reply.

I smiled and looked away. Until I heard her voice…

“Always.”

She answered.