#np Lee Jin Ah's What is Love

2019

Bona can’t supress the silly grin on her face and as she looks at her reflection on the side mirror. She thought she has changed a lot for the past few days. Mornings has never been this wonderful, waking up with his scent, his warmth all over her, she wouldn’t ask for anything better.

“We’re here.”

“Already?” She asked as the car comes to a stop. The familiar breath of cool fresh air greets her as she get off from the Hyundai. It’s a good morning indeed. “It’s still early…” She mumbles, looking at her wristwatch.

“Go and have breakfast first, Bona.” Wonho said after his side of the door went shut and soon, he’s already standing right in front of her.

“What about you?”

“I’ll manage.”

“But –“

“I’ll try to pick you up on time. Take care of yourself. Be good, okay?” He asked, raising his brows but Bona only stares at him in a dissatisfied look. “Oh, you’re quite cute when you’re mad.”

“Oh no, that won’t work on me, Wonho-ssi. Make sure you eat your meals, okay? Take a picture of your breakfast and send it to me later.” She nagged even though all she wants is to smile at his cheeky compliment.

“Okay, okay…”

Both of them exchange awkward smiles to each other but then, Wonho stealthily glances around the empty road and before she knew it, she’s already engulfed in his tight embrace. Even though Bona’s quite taken aback by his bold actions, she can’t help but to return his hug as much as he does.

Yes, this is heaven.

***

Moon Taeil sips his café latte while eyeing the familiar view of the streets outside the convenient store. How long has it been? The leaves were turning yellow at that time and now, it’s already the start of spring. The vision of her figure having her forehead onto the cold table lingers in his mind. It feels like yesterday.

Time flies.

His vision gets blurrier each second but he tries to hold those tears from falling.

Sadness overwhelms him. He sniffs and continues to drink his coffee and look up, trying to keep his stance.

It’s not the end of the world, Taeil.

“Taeil-ssi?”

That voice, it still doesn’t fail in making him tremble. Even as how much as he hates it, Taeil just can’t keep himself from turning to her voice him and pull up a cheery smile.

Indeed, her beauty has never fallen a bit since then. She only appears more dazzling in his eyes.

“Good morning, Bona-ssi.”

“Good morning. Never thought of seeing you here this early.” She said while putting her warm cup of chocolate milk and a bag of kimbap on the table. After taking a seat beside him, Bona smiles by herself, still tipsy from Wonho’s sweet words and actions this morning and opens her breakfast.

Now, they’re sitting beside each other, facing the transparent windows inside the vacant convenient store.

No, it doesn’t feel right to him.

That particular silence is calm, soothing but only to Bona. Taeil crumples the empty plastic in his hand and put it into another plastic bag. He then lets out a deep sigh.

“Oh. Why’re you sighing this early in the morning, Taeil-ssi?” She asked while taking out her kimbap. “It’s unlike you…”

“I just… It’s nothing serious… I … I just want to say sorry for everything. I’m an idiot, right?” He chuckles while having his sight fixed onto the empty road before them.

Bona’s puzzled by his strange actions. She can’t seem to put the kimbap into and turns to look at him. The corner of his eyes are teary that Bona starts to worry.

“W-What’s wrong, Taeil-ssi?”

“I… I shouldn’t have confessed to you. You…” He paused to turn to look at her.

Yes, she still appears so gorgeous to his eyes and it hurts him like hell to know that this beautiful girl won’t ever be his. Why heavens gave him hope, expectations just to crush him to bits when he saw them together right before his eyes? Why he had to meet her so many times, know too much about her and then, made him think that fate wanted them to be together only to be crushed like this?

How cruel.

“You’re a married woman, Bona-ssi. What was I thinking?” He lets out a small chuckle again, laughing at himself for being such a fool and looks down to the floor beside him. “I-I’m so embarrassed at myself.”

“No, Taeil-ssi. Don’t say that.”

“It’s true, right?” He asked and turns back to the view outside. “I’m the stupid one for liking people who don’t like me back. I shouldn’t have pressured you like that…”

Bona presses her lips and carefully brings her hand to hold his shoulder. Taeil doesn’t flinch and continue to fix his gaze to the empty streets in front of him.

“I appreciate your feelings, Taeil-ssi… In fact, thank you for liking me. I’m not that great, sometimes I even wonder if there’s someone out there who would turn to like me.” She said and softly squeeze his shoulder.

“What are you saying? Your husband loves you. I… I saw you two just now.”

Undeniably, there was love written all over that man’s eyes when h