23.

“Jongdae!”

The guy almost tripped into one of the staircase when that familiar voice calls out his name – out of sudden – yet is saved by his quick reflex. Slowly, he turns his head around just to find himself Ga Eul beaming brightly, no different with the Sun itself. For a moment, Jongdae is stunned by the sight he is having right now, at the same time appreciating these little things. Her hair that blows rhythmically following the breeze, those twinkle that he sees in her eyes every time they meet each other these days – he is going to miss her.

On the other hand, the lady is craning her neck to check out the box Jongdae is carrying at the moment. Her brows furrow, “That looks like a lot of stuff,” those eyes tear the gaze away from the box to the person whose eyes on her that leads to their eye contact, “What you’re going to do with that?”

“I’m…sending it away.”

“To…?”

“My parents’ home,” he answers briefly before continuing to mind his own business, walking towards the Audi that is parked downstairs with no other words being uttered. And Ga Eul quietly stares from afar when the guy steps away from her, secretly wondering why Jongdae looks off today – he doesn’t talk as much, doesn’t smile as bright.

From a glance, she could already recognize whose car it is however since the owner is nowhere on sight, she assumes that the guy borrows it from that dear friend of his.

“Do you need any help? I could get the other one here,” she shouts whilst having her eyes fall on another box that is resting right in front of Jongdae’s front door – definitely not expecting the other to yell a panicked ‘no’ and immediately sprinting upstairs to get the other box.

Ga Eul’s eyes widen upon his act, her lips hesitantly parts as she frowns, “You could’ve just refuse properly if you don’t need my help that much.”

“I don’t…” Jongdae’s words halt where it is for he meets the lady’s eyes; seeing the upset look of hers. “I’m sorry.” His heart quivers as guilt fills up just by what he sees, still, he tries to put on a thin smile to make it up, “It’s just…the box is heavy, you shouldn’t lift it.”

Seeing how the lady only reacts with a single nod, Jongdae sighs lightly – knowing too well that he must’ve gone a bit too far with the yelling before – which drives him to changes his posture so he could lift his stuff with only one hand – whilst the other being held out, offering it for the lady. “Do you want to come with me? We should go somewhere since the weather is nice.”

She glances at him for a second, shaking her head, “Carry that thing using both hands, I’ll just–” then tugs on Jongdae’s shirt, “–hold you here.” Ga Eul notices the guy is giving her a look of doubt and disbelief to her previous solution, making the lady to run her eyes away from the other, her lips is pouting as she speaks, “You said the box was heavy…!”

“Wouldn’t change the fact that I want to hold your hand.”

The guy says those fluttering words as if he is stating the weather once again making Ga Eul’s heart to skip a beat. She purses her lips whilst her cheeks blush as for in one fluid movement, Jongdae moves her fingers off his shirt to clasp their hands together.

Tightly, as if he would never let go.

“You should’ve tell me sooner that you don’t know how to do it…!”

“And you should’ve tell me sooner that we’re going to do this thing!” I yell slightly louder than him, my eyes glaring in annoyance and bashfulness – embarrassed with the fact that a secret which I kept safely for years has now revealed by none other than Jongdae.

Sometimes I wonder if he is really the one who finds out my flaws or maybe I am the one who let down my guard around him.

Despite my eyes still shooting a sharp gaze right at him, the guy steps forward and gently tugs me by the arm, pulling me towards the bicycle. “It’s okay.” He wiggles his brows, tipping his head to the white bike that is loyally waiting for me to ride it, “You should try, and don’t worry,” a beam rises across his lips, “I’ll make sure to hold it still.”

“No thanks.”

I was about to turn my back against him, trying to take off however every part of my body feels like it freezes at the moment when Jongdae grips my wrist – and as soon as I tear my gaze away from our connected hands right to his face, all I find is the sincere gaze that never fails to waver my fragile heart. “Let’s try it, just once.”

It turns quiet for a moment as if everything around me moves in a slow motion, I could feel the cold autumn breeze sweeps my skin and softly blowing the strands of my untied hair.

Slowly, I reach for the hand and pull it away from my wrist back to his side, my voice comes out low, “Alright then.” A smile quietly creeps on my face as I see Jongdae’s face light up upon my agreement, yet I conceal quickly it as I point to the seat and handle, warning the other, “You better hold this tight.”

“I will.”

“Promise?”

This time, I go as childish as holding out my little finger for a pinkie promise yet the guy beams before curls his finger with mine, sealing his pledge. “I promise, I would never let you go.”

At some point I find it strange that he sounds firm and earnest saying those words, as if he really means it though it is only due to a silly act by me – utterly having no idea there is a thunder hidden in the man’s heart.

“It was very fool of me for thinking that you would actually do as what you promised,” she breathes an