In those crowds of people, I see you. Standing tall, with a really nice white tee and black jeans, your feet is wearing a pair of Vans that looks similar to mine. We bought that together, if you forget. You aren’t supposed to be here but in any other way, I see you. I keep seeing you in a place where you shouldn’t be.

“Can you walk faster?”, Kyla pushes her from behind. Yebin turns her head over her shoulder and snickers.

Yebin walks slowly again. Eunwoo wraps her hand around Yebin’s shoulder. “Are you sure it’s her?”

Sometimes I hesitated, but most of the time I’m sure it’s you. You never said ‘Hi’ when our eyes meet. You just stand there, staring at me, smiling as if you’re happy to see me. But again, why didn’t you say anything?

“Are you joining the dinner later? I heard everyone will be there.”, Eunwoo asks.

Yebin furrows her brows. “Even Siyeon and Kyungwon? I thought they’re going for a trip for their 1000 days together?”

“They had come back just now.”, Kyulkyung joins in the conversation. “I hope she will come too. I really miss her!”, Kyulkyung squeaks as she drags both of her best friend to the car.

 

---

“So, what did you guys brings back for us?”, Nayoung questions both Siyeon and Kyungwon, only earning a smack on the back.

“We didn’t buy anything though. We wanted to buy things at the airport, but it was so expensive. So, nothing.”, Siyeon announces.

“Wahhh, that is so mean the both of you. You’re paying for this!”, Sungyeon suggests, follows by a loud cheers from the circles.

Everyone starts to toast their drinks with one another to celebrate for Kyla’s admission to an overseas university and Yewon is already a degree holder after 4 years of struggles in studying. Sungyeon too had finally won an awards for the best producer of the year, whew that girl.

“Who will get married first?”, Nayoung starts the interrogation game. “Nayoung unnie!”, everyone answers in unison.

“With who?”, Nayoung glares at the loudest voice that was answering earlier, Kyulkyung.

“You can marry Yebin! She’s still single.”, Eunwoo declares and everyone cheers again.

Yebin and Nayoung exchanges looks, followed by a disgusted look. “In no world I would be with that woman.”, Nayoung claims. Yebin chuckles. “She always hate me. I don’t get why we should even live together.”

“I guess Kyla can marry first.”, Sungyeon claims, patting the back of the girl that is grilling the meat.

Kyla glances sideway. “Uh, no. I want to finish my study first.”

The crowd burst into a loud laugh, like it’s the last time everyone could enjoy their happy moments together. Yebin looks around, not finding the one she wished most.

I thought you would come. Everyone is here. You should join too. What the hell is wrong with you? Tch. So stubborn. Even when I-

“Hi.”, a voice suddenly greets. Yebin looks up, finding a tall slender girl is looking down on her, hand crossing over her chest.

“You finally came. Even it’s a bit too late.”, Yebin refers to the restaurant that is not much occupied. All of them had left earlier and Yebin decides to stay back to have another shot of drink.

Yebin studies Minkyung from the top to the heels she is wearing. She looks magnificent with that red dress and a pair of black high heels, but to be standing in such a non-exclusive place, it’s just out of place. Yebin shakes her head.

“You didn’t belong here. Let’s go to a place that is ‘more equal’ to your dress code.”

Yebin pulls over. She hands over a can of beer to Minkyung.

“A place more equal to my dress is beach?”

“And a beer? This dress need a wine. Like 100 years old wine.”

Yebin looks at Minkyung, unamused. Minkyung laughs and pats Yebin’s back, consoling. “Okay, okay. I’m just not grateful, is it?”

Yebin sit by the beach. Minkyung has some difficulties in trying to sit down, with her dress on her way. Yebin stands up, extending her arms, asking for it to be hooked with Minkyung’s.

“Why didn’t you go see Kyungwon?”, Yebin begins her interrogation.

“You know, I can’t.”, Yebin nods, knowing the current relationship of Kyungwon and Siyeon.

“Kyungwon aside, what about everyone else?”

“I’d feel guilty if I suddenly appears. So, I decided to only see you.”

Yebin nods again, not wanting to question further on the reason why. “What are you doing at the park earlier?”

“I was strolling then I saw you guys were jogging there. I’d want to join but my outfit isn’t proper.”

Yebin shakes her head. Still giving excuses even until now.

“Not cold?”, Yebin shot the final question. Minkyung nods fast. Yebin opens the jacket that she’s wearing over her body and covers Minkyung’s shoulder with it.

“Let’s go to your house.”, Minkyung tells Yebin.

“Fine then. Let’s go.”

 

---

You left without even telling me. How mean. I couldn’t even get the chance to get your number? If that even possible. And you left early in the morning. Then, not even appearing anymore. It has been three days, where are you? I really want to see you.

“Still can’t reach Minkyung unnie?”, Eunwoo questions her best friend as she set her food down on the table. Being a co-worker is one thing, but being Yebin’s best friend had been a long time thing and she could deduced everything from the looks of the shorter girl.

“Yeap. I guess she went into hiding again.”, Yebin responds, chewing on her food.

Yebin see Nayoung with a girl at the entrance of the café. The girl is tall, almost giving out the same aura of Minkyung only that this girl looks brighter than their Minkyung. Minkyung is always looking snob, making all the others are afraid of her. Not Yebin obviously.

“She’s the new vice president? Nayoung unnie even got someone who is as tall as Minkyung unnie.”

“Her name is Sowon. She must really want Minkyung to forever be the vice president so bad.”

Nayoung slamps the table with a file. “Lunch hour is over. Get back to work.”

“I just started eating??”, Eunwoo questions in confusion. “You’re eating too slow. Now go.”

Eunwoo and Yebin bites their lower lips. They may have been friends but president is still president. Afterall, she is the one paying their salary. They get up from their seat, making their way back to the office. Nayoung holds Eunwoo’s hand.

“Is Yebin okay?”, Nayoung ask, a bit concern. “She will be fine. Don’t worry.”

It is already past midnight. Yebin walks out of a convenience store, only to find Minkyung is glaring at her with her brows raised.

“Don’t smoke. Not when you’re with me.”, Minkyung demands, snatching the box of cigarettes in Yebin’s grip.

“Wh- Hey, you’re not even my girlfriend. Give that back!”, Yebin snatches the cigarettes again and walks away. Minkyung follows behind her, and clings onto her back like a backpack, making the shorter girl suddenly bend her body.

“Wow, I’m not even that heavy.”

Yebin sighs. She straighten her figure, trying to balance both her stamina and Minkyung’s body weight. Yebin starts to walk with a bit of difficulties but she pushes the hardship aside.

“You’re stronger now.”

Yebin laughs. “I’ve been going to the gym with Sungyeon and Kyla anyway. My body is really hot now.”

“You sure like Sungyeon don’t you? Even since before, you always go anywhere with her.”

Yebin glances sideway, finding the taller girl is pouting on her shoulder. Sensing the jealousy aura, Yebin can’t help but to laugh. “You know I only like you but you’re so in love with Kyungwon.”

“That’s why I’m here instead of being with Kyungwon. I want to feel Yebin’s love for me more.”, Minkyung tighten the back hug and ruffles her hair with Yebin’s head.

“You’re creepy.”, Yebin tells, gaining a hard nudge in the head.

 

---

“Yebin-ah….”, Minkyung murmurs in her sleep. She opens her eyes, finding Yebin is dozing off, with snore next to her.

“Such a major turn off.”, Minkyung shakes her head. She creeps nearer to Yebin, hugging the latter’s body as if she’s hugging a bolster with the legs were locked on it.

Yebin grunts, making the tall girl chuckles. She places a soft peck on the cheek. Yebin’s cheek is warm, and so does her body. In a chilly room, this embrace is such a comfort to be in. Minkyung looks down, fixing her eyes on Yebin’s stomach as she recalls that the girl claimed to have a good body. Slowly, Minkyung tugs onto the end of the shirt, pulling it upwards.

“Who’s that?”, Yebin suddenly shouts, startling the girl.

What the heck? You even rave in your dream?

Yebin grunts again, turning her body and wraps her arms around Minkyung’s head. Minkyung looks up, Yebin’s nostrils greets her view. She pokes her finger into one of Yebin’s nose, making the girl flinch in her sleep.

“What the hell?”, Yebin questions, slightly mad. Minkyung chuckles and hugs the latter tightly. “Sorry, I wake you up.”

Yebin shuts her eyes strictly, trying to discard the sleep of out her eyes. “What time is it?”

“Time to love Minkyung.”, Minkyung answers jokingly. Yebin rolls her eyes, turning her body to look at the time on her phone. It is 4.30AM and she’s widely awake. Never in her life she’s awake at this early hour.

“Why are you hugging me so tight?”, Yebin asks, in a hoarse waking up voice which Minkyung found very seducing.

“That’s hot.”, Minkyung slips her tongue and she quickly covers . Yebin nods, eyes still squinting. “Yeah, it’s hot. Let go of me.”

Minkyung clicks her tongue and releases the hug. She distant herself from Yebin, lying flat on her back. Yebin has her body turns to Minkyung’s side.

“Hey, look at me.”, Yebin calls Minkyung. The girl turns her body against Yebin.

“Kim Minkyung unnie.”, Yebin calls again. No reaction. Yebin chuckles to herself and moves her body closer to Minkyung, wrapping her hand around Minkyung’s waist.

“Lift up your head.”, the shorter girl instructs and the tall one follows. Yebin puts her hand under Minkyung’s head and the girl lies down on it.

“Now, turn around.”, Yebin commands again. Minkyung turns around, giggling.

“Why won’t you be this sweet from the beginning?”

“It’s burdensome.”, Yebin says, pulling the girl closer into her embrace.

“Are you surprised? The first time you saw me?”

“Hell yeah I did. I thought I was imagining things but again, I’m not.”

Minkyung hums. Yebin looks down, finding the girl in her arms looking upset.

“Know that I love you.”, Yebin whispers in her ears, the girl forms a wide grin.

“Hey, tell me. Why do you like me? And when?”

“Why?”

“I want to hear. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee.”, Minkyung begs like a child. Yebin nods.

“I guess it was during the university sports day. You look really dashing when you sprint and I couldn’t help but to cheer on you eventhough I’m on the opposite team. I wanted to congratulate you after that but you’re making out with Kyungwon and I was really disappointed and I-“

Yebin pauses as she hearing a sleeping sound. She glances down, Minkyung had fall asleep in her arms and she couldn’t help but to simper sheepishly, knowing how cute the girl look when she’s asleep. She places a peck on the forehead, a really long one, as if she’s transferring all her love she has for the girl. The sleeping girl smiles in her sleep.

 

---

Yebin and Kyulkyung halts infront of a jewelry shop. They walks into the shop.

“I’m finding for a proposal ring.”, Kyulkyung tells the salesgirl. She watches the ring that was presented in the glass box.

“You know what? Eunwoo is so ridiculous asking me to find her a ring from Blanc & Eclare. As if that even exist.”

“Well, I guess she’s just throwing shades.”, Yebin chuckles, earning a sharp glare from her best friend.

Yebin stares at a ring that is inside the glass box. She caresses the glass box and calls the salesgirl to take out that piece of ring.

“This is too beautiful, Kang Yebin?? Even I’d want that.”, Kyulkyung shrieks as she takes a closer look at the ring that Yebin chooses.

“Here, have it. Please marry me, Zhou Jieqiong.”, Yebin presents the ring in Kyulkyung’s face.

A smack on the head suddenly arrived on Yebin’s head. “Don’t joke around like that.”

Yebin whirls around, finding Nayoung is looking at her with a raised brows. “Are you jealous, boss?”

“Wow, even Eunwoo didn’t use my real name. I suddenly wants to marry Kang Yebin.”, Kyulkyung giggles.

“Is that for Minkyung?”, Nayoung asks. Yebin nods. Nayoung let out a heavy sigh and simpers. “I hope she like it.”

“Okay, please stick to the original plan. We’re here to find ring for my Eunwoo.”, Kyulkyung declares.

Yebin unlocks the front door, only to find Minkyung is sticking her head inside the freezer of the refrigerator.

“What are you doing?”, Yebin asks in surprised, as she set the plastic bag on the counter.

“It’s hot! I couldn’t take the heat!”, the taller girl complaints. “You could switch on the air-cond.”

“I can’t find the remote!”, the girl brawls again. Yebin shakes her head. If they were to live together, Yebin could imagine how she will be getting on her nerves every single day.

Yebin walks to the couch, sneaking her hands in between the pillows, finding the remote and a few coins and old piece of potato chips.

“Ew?”, Minkyung frowns. Yebin chortles and switch on the air conditioner, and Minkyung lies down on the couch instantly.

“Can I clean your house? You make dinner.”, Minkyung asks from the couch. “Sure.”

Minkyung springs up quickly, finding a vacuum and a mop. “Uh, you don’t have to mop.”

“I want to mop!”, Minkyung rests her hand on her waist. “I want to vacuum and clean the windows too!”

Yebin rolls her eyes. “Whatever baby, as long as you’re happy.” She calls me Baby.

“Baby!”, Minkyung calls loudly, shocking the shorter girl that is cutting the onion.

“What!”, Yebin answers back in a much lounder voice.

“The plant at the balcony is dying. What should I do?”

Yebin whirls around, Minkyung is squatting outside the sliding door, caressing the flower pot. “I don’t know. Revive it again.”

“How to do that?”, Minkyung asks again. Yebin closes her eyes tightly. She’s not mad, just slightly frustrated eventhough she’s cute when she acts that way.

“I don’t know baby, I really don’t.”

“Don’t you want to say goodbye?”, Minkyung questions again.

Oh Gosh, why are we having this kind of conversation?

Yebin stirs the liquid in the saucepan, sticking her pinky fingers in it and on it, testing on the taste of the sauce.

“Kang Yebin!”, Minkyung summons. Yebin shakes her head. “What...”, she answers faintly.

“Yebin-ahhhhhhhh.”, she calls again. Wow, she’s annoying. Gotta admit this now.

Yebin turns around, noticing Minkyung has already stand behind her. Their face is just an inch away and their eyes meet at the same level. Minkyung smiles and leaves a soft kiss on Yebin’s lips.

“Good job today.”, Minkyung whispers before she gallops back to the living room.

Yebin touches her lips, grinning to herself. Good job in being annoying too.

 

---

“Valentines is tomorrow.”, Minkyung says as she’s leaning on Yebin’s lap on the couch.

“I know.” The air suddenly feels tense and dry. “It’s about time you go, is that it?”

“Yeehoww.”, Minkyung answers funnily, only to hide the sadness deep down.

“I’d expect that already. So, don’t feel sorry.”, Yebin pats Minkyung’s head and kiss it.

“I won’t come back anymore, ya know?”

Yebin rolls her eyes. “I’ve been fine all this time, not even expecting to see you again.”

Minkyung looks up, frowning. “Are you sure you really love me? How did you even living fine?”

“Duh, I need to continue living even when you’re not around.”

“Awww, good girl.”

Yebin pushes Minkyung up, making her to sit on the couch. “I got something for you but I’ll give it tomorrow.”

“So, what about my Valentines gift?”, Yebin extends both of her palm.

Minkyung glances sideway. “Uh, I didn’t prepare anything.”

“Of course, Minkyung unnie is really mean, stingy, snob, ugly and reallyyyyyy annoying.”

“Looks whose talking.”, Minkyung smacks the top of Yebin’s head.

She cups Yebin’s face with her palm, squeezing it in both her hand. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I know. You don’t have to tell me.”

“I love you.”, Minkyung tells. “I know that too. Don’t have to remind me that.”

Minkyung closen the gap that exist between them. The kiss is soft and long, like it would last forever. It promises eternal love and only vows to the both of them. The kiss, it’s just like a magic, where impossible things happen.

 

---

“Wah, what are you wearing?”, Sungyeon raises her brows as she take a look at Yebin’s outfit.

“Shut up. I overslept just now. Didn’t have the time to iron new one.”

Nayoung smacks the head of the shorter girl with her clutch. “I shall fire you from my company if you ever walk into it like that.”

Yebin looks at her outfit, a pair of black blazer and pants, with a wrinkled white shirt beneath it, accompanies by a pair of black Vans shoes. I guess I look awesome.

“Sup, we’re here.”, Yebin greets as she stands infront of Minkyung’s grave niches.

“Don’t do that!”, Nayoung hit Yebin’s head again, for the nth time, Yebin lost count.

“Minkyung-ah, we’ve come again.”, Nayoung says. The others nod in unison.

It has been 3 years since Minkyung left all of them. It just feels like yesterday that they walks into the columbarium, heading to the same spot but a year had passed by since then. A car accident takes away Minkyung from their life and everyone was left in dazed, not expecting it to happen. Kyungwon went into depression for almost 3 months and Siyeon has been the one helping her all those while. Everyone was so sad at that time, feeling bitter and regret.

Yebin closes her eyes, reminiscing the last word that they exchanges.

The reason why you’re the only one who can see me now, touch me, hold me is because at the very last minute of my life, I was thinking about my parents and you. I’ve gone to see my parents and they said they could see me, from time to time. We talked too and I’m happy even if it’s just for a while. Then, I approaches you girls but only you could see me, right?

So, I concluded that I was given a chance to meet the people who I was yearning for at my last breath. And I’m glad it’s you, Kang Yebin. I’m really happy for that.

“Don’t sleep standing.”, Sungyeon hits Yebin’s back. “Wh-I’m not!”

Again, I thought I was imagining things but I know I wasn’t. They thought I hadn’t moved on even after years when I told them I saw you. No one believes me but suddenly the have faith in my words, or they’re just pretending, I’m not sure. I’m happy to be able to bid goodbye to you. Thank you, Kim Minkyung.

Yebin opens the glass piece that was shielding the grave niches and slowly place a ring box next to her picture. She closes it, simpering to herself.

That’s my gift from me to you. I hope you like it.

I’ll see you again.

Goodbye, Kim Minkyung.