001

"Its like you fell out of the sky and landed in front of me when I needed you the most."

The season that Sooyoung hates the most is spring.  She hates that no matter where she looks, there are cherry blossoms everywhere.  Sooyoung hates how overwhelming they are.  Cherry blossoms remind her of the times when she was a lot happier, when her family was whole, they would celebrate spring with a picnic in the park and money was never a headache for her.  The cherry blossoms seem to be mocking her now, whispering in her ear as the wind blows through them to tell her that her good times are over now.

Sooyoung has some talent for drawings, so she often goes the park close to her house to sell her art to try and earn a bit of cash (is what she tells herself).  But really, no one is interested in buying her drawings and she really goes there to relax because between 3 other part-time jobs, the only time she has for herself is once a week on a Sunday evening when she comes out painting.  It is a lot better than staying at home in a house that is too suffocating with her bossy stepmother who always complains about how useless she is for not being able to get into college, while her useless and constantly drunk father agrees indifferently with her stepmother. 

Before she meets him, she has already noticed him five times.  Because who doesn’t notice the pale eyed beauty who struts through the park like its nobody’s business?  At first, Sooyoung thinks he is a model, but when she observes him further and notices the dreary and worn down clothes, she knows he couldn’t be.  Sooyoung recognizes poverty well.   It is the life that has swallowed her whole and the thought of new clothes doesn’t even spring into her mind anymore.  It’s more of how she can fix the holes in her current clothes so they don’t look as tattered. 

It is the sixth time; he finally passes her little makeshift store (actually it is when she moves from her usual spot to be near the path he usually takes).  She is a bit embarrassed though, because her store is just an old dark blue-checkered blanket with a spread of all her unsold drawings scattered messily over it with rocks to hold down the paper.

At that time, he merely glanced over the paintings before making his way along the path of the park to continue his routine evening stroll.  And he is gone before Sooyoung gathers enough courage to call out to him.  But she promises to herself, next time, she will call out to him next time.

And next time turns out to be 2 weeks later in the evening, Sooyoung finally blurts out as he passes her spot yet again, “Can you be my model?”

The guy looks at her strangely but then shrugs and looks around to make sure she is actually talking to him. 

“Sure.  I have nothing better to do.  Where do you want me to sit?”

It looks like he is looking to kill time and agrees quite easily.  Score! Sooyoung thinks to herself.

And if his looks weren’t enough, those first few words Sooyoung hears from him, slurred and deep, her heart skips two beats.  She quickly moves her paintings to one side and pats on the top of the worn down blanket, indicating for him to sit.

As she draws, she takes the opportunity to get to know him (that was whole point of this).  She doesn’t think this will become anything, but it’s never a shame to enjoy the eye candy, right?

“I’m Sooyoung.”

“Yoongi.”  He says in a gruffy voice.

“What do you do?” She asks, first taking in his features for her sketch (yes, its for the sketch, she reminds herself). 

He has messy black hair, like he just woke up from bed and left the house.  It looks soft and fluffy; a funny contrast to his cool demeanor.  But no matter where she looks, Sooyoung’s cannot focus anywhere except on his cat-like eyes which keep drawing her in, full of mystery and charisma. 

“Dodgy stuff.  You don’t want to know, trust me.” 

“What like drugs?  That doesn’t faze me, my old geezer used to do it all the time.  You don’t look it though.” 

He gives her the look to say he knew that she was implying that he was not drugged up and high. 

“Oh, I only deal I don’t touch any of the stuff.  It’s the only way I can survive.” 

“That’s co