Chapter 15

Once upon a time, Donghae
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Life those days was calm, each day was an adventure and there was always a surprise.

 

My mom's friend had a 60s themed restaurant "The breakfast flow" and I only worked on the weekends, the waiters all had to wear 'old' uniforms and take orders...ON ROLLER SKATES! How scary, dramatic and fun hehe. I took at least two weeks to get used to it and learn how to balance, it was without a doubt one of the best times of my life. There was always a lot of people because I mean, how many restaurants are as fun as The Breakfast Flow? Of course it would be successful, and the tips were great so I only had to work for a weekend to gain enough money for the outfit I wanted. I thought about quitting after, but Donghae told me to keep the job a while longer since 'a job helps build character'-Donghae's words.

 

Every once in a while the guys would go eat at the restaurant while I worked and Gina, my mom's friend, let me serve them some free stuff out of courtesy, she was a nice and excellent boss (I guess that's why it was easy keeping the job for a few years). Hani and Sunmi kept telling me to get tighter clothes so I could increase my tips while Chanyeol and Donghae tried not to choke on French fries. Those were good days.

 

 

"Really though, give me an hour with your work uniform and I'll double your tips," Sunmi said as she drank her tea. They were all sitting on the last table and they gained people's attention. They seemed to be in their own universe. They laughed loudly and shamelessly, not caring about anything else. They always caught people's attention.

 

"Darling with or without the uniform, you find ways to gain money," Chanyeol laughed, insinuating (more like reminding) that Sunmi gained money because of her body.

 

"I'm just saying, if you have something why not take advantage?" Sunmi defended.

 

"That's right! Everyone has their price honey," Hani told Chanyeol,"If someone put a stack of money in front even you would turn the tail." Everyone in the table laughed and I asked myself where I had found these types of friends.

 

"Stop corrupting my boyfriend's frágil mind with your ideas," Donghae interrupted in between laughs,"Hey love, do you have plans after your shift?" 

 

"None yet," I answered, looking out for Gina. I didn't want her to see me too distracted with the bunch. She was a great woman, but I didn't want to take advantage.

 

"We should go to the beach," Chanyeol suggested,"It's been long since we've gone there together," I had never gone to the beach with them.

 

"Yes let's go!" Hani agreed.

"About time you said something useful curly," Sunmi, like always, couldn't let an opportunity to make fun of him pass. 

 

"What do you think?" Donghae looked at me, waiting for me to agree. Ever since we got together he asked for my opinion first before making a decision, I was glad he took me into consideration.

 

"Yes let's go, I'll call my mom," I stood up and left the table to continue my work on skates. I forgot to mention, before I got used to them I fell a dozen times and humiliated myself. Fun right?

 

 

Gina let me leave an hour early, such amazing woman. I changed my old, 60s uniform for ripped jeans and a white tee. I got out the restaurant and met up with the guys who were waiting for me outside. I froze the moment for a second. Sunmi was smoking while leaning against the warehouse behind the restaurant, Hani stood in front of her looking at Chanyeol and Donghae who were making music with an empty trash bin and a big coffee can, that represented them so well. I took out my camera, one that Donghae gave me days before when I was looking for a hobby, out of my bag. He thought photography fit me well. I used it for the first time to capture that beautiful moment, to capture the memory of the day when nothing worried them, they were just teenagers in search of a path, a day when everything was reduced to nothing, and that's how they liked it.

 

My camera flash gave me away and everyone stopped what they were doing to looked at me.

 

"Finally," Chanyeol stretched his body. 

 

"So you've decided to practice photography huh?" Donghae wrapped his arms around my waist. 

 

"You have good taste in art Hyukkie, continue taking our picture and you'll get far," Hani posed as if she was a model in an exaggerated way. 

 

"That's it, make love to the camera," Sunmi played along. 

 

"Not with you guys here." 

 

"But we've seen you have in the middle of the street," Chanyeol interrupted Hani's play causing us all to laugh loudly.

 

"Come on, let's leave our ladies' ual freedom and get going or else it'll get late." Like always, it was Donghae who put an end to their argument. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and took out his car keys. 

 

"Let's go in my car Donghae. If we're going on a trip like that we should do it with style," Chanyeol walked faster and unlocked the doors to the black convertible that was parked right in front of us. 

 

"Yes, I'm with curly on this one," Sunmi told Donghae and followed Chanyeol,"I call shotgun!"

 

"Me too!" Hani ran up to them and got in the car. 

 

Donghae looked at me with raised eyebrows, he didn't know if he should feel offended or if he should laugh at the way they made fun of his car. I just smiled and leaned my head on his shoulder. He shrugged and we followed behind the rest. 

 

Chanyeol's convertible fit 5 people. It had white leather seats and it smelled like cherries. The paint was bright and the tires were new, he took care of that car as if it were his woman, sometimes he even spoke loving words to it.According to Donghae, that was normal in guys. 

 

With the music on full volume, playing songs by an American band I didn't know, the hood of the car pulled back and the sun kissing our skin, we began the drive. The sky was a clear blue color and there were no clouds, the wind caused by the speed of the car messed up our hair and the girls' voices singing along the song made this moment a memory that would forever be in my mind. I liked collecting memories. Donghae called me 'the moment photographer' every time I told him about that habit of mine and he supposedly liked that about me.

"You're learning how to live in the moment," he told me. I smiled.

 

We parked near a pier, we had never been there. Chanyeol had heard tourists talk about it and since it was close to the city we just couldn't pass it by. Sunmi and Hani couldn't stop looking at the shirtless guys and tried to discretely flirt with them while Chanyeol locked his car, it was fun watching them.

 

"Alright, we're ready," Chanyeol said with a smile.

 

"You take too long curly," Sunmi replied, linking her arms with Hani and mine so we could walk with her and leave Donghae and Chanyeol behind. 

 

"This woman is driving me crazy!" Chanyeol exclaimed through gritted teeth. 

 

"Calm down Chanyeol, she's clearly crazy for your curls." Donghae teased.

 

"Why can't she express it like a normal woman? With romantic card and by flirting..." he walked towards us. 

 

"Because brother, Sunmi isn't a normal woman," Donghae chuckled and patted Chanyeol's back.

 

The sky began painting itself with orange and lavender tones, the sun was slowly hiding behind the clouds, the ocean was calm, I watched the horse like figures on the wave's bubbles and played with the sand on my feet.

 

Donghae and Chanyeol were playing in the water while we sat far from the edge. I took out my camera to capture more moments.

 

"How do you manage to get great pictures?" Sunmi asked. She was looking towards the ocean while hugging her knees close to her chest.

 

"I don't know, I just wait for the moment to tell me it's a good time to take a picture." I answered without second thought.

"He's starting to sound exactly like Donghae," Hani teased and tapped the cigarette on her fingers.

"They are a couple after all," Sunmi said with a low voice and I laughed. 

"What's wrong?" Hani

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Comments

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kawaiiricky
#1
Chapter 22: Thank you so much for translating and all your hard work! This story spoke to my heart. I believe I've found this story for a reason. now I'm leaving with a slightly different perspective on life itself. So beautiful, well written, insightful and poetic in it's own way. This story is a masterpiece.
LeeLenaMx #2
Chapter 22: Thank you for this translation! What is the name of the original title? It is a wonderful story and it really made me cry like I haven’t in a while.
I just found it and I appreciate your translation and that you uploaded it again.
gnp0109
#3
Chapter 22: This is beautiful!!!
hyukkie_chin
1455 streak #4
Chapter 22: ohmygod. this story is just so pure :( idk why but i’m feeling emotional while reading this. thank you so much for sharing this story. :)
fluorescentsmiles #5
Chapter 22: oh dear, this was lovely and poetic and so poignant~ it's perfect♡

thank you so much for translating and re-uploading this.
lee_eunjae #6
Chapter 22: oh god i just discovered this and im crying...sobs
yvette0912
#7
Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The story is inspiring.
I think this is one of the best fics I've ever enjoyed. All of them have been through some many hurt and sorrow, those pasts changed their lives and made them a sober person than others under the drunken appearance. They all have their wises. This fact somehow gives hopes. There's no baddie, only story. (Just like how Donghae explained Siwon's act, everyone has their own life trajectory)
Good story, I appreciate much.
yvette0912
#8
Chapter 18: You scared me!!! :'(
I wronged the spoiler "does" as "doesn't", oh my little heart......
yvette0912
#9
Haven't read this yet, but as a bit of advice maybe you can post the dialogue (screen-shot it or any other ways) giving you the permission to translate the story. I saw other translators did so to prevent authorized problems.
barani #10
Chapter 22: Beautiful and meaningful story with good ending