A pink card, Sakura themed. A wedding invitation on the table.

Should she stood it up again?

Should she not?

 

But it’s going to hurt her anyway.

She didn’t even mind to open the card.

It hurts.

Eunbi get it now.

She lost her love.

She lost her chance.

 

 

‘But it was just yesterday I held you in my arms’

 

Eunbi gulped the liquor.

She have no alcohol intolerance.

But she really don’t want to be sober right now.

That state will just make her misses Sakura more.

 

 

”If only I knew then what I know now”

 

 

*********************************************

 

 

18,

The best year of her life.

Her youth spirit at her peak, her smiles at their broadest and her laughs at the heartiest.

If time could take her back into the past,

She would not let her go away.

 

 

Well,

That’s only if she is not a coward.

 

 

She want to love again,

Like how she used to love.

 

 

_____________________________________________

 

 

“Good morning Saachan!” the petite girl greeted her.

“Good morning Irene-san” she smiles as they clashed into each other.

Irene, the school’s student president.

The most beautiful girl she ever laid her eyes on.

Also the most friendly. Probably by duty or it’s just her personality.

Moving from another state to a new foreign state is not an easy thing.

But everything seems easier for Sakura once she got to know Her.

“Early as usual I see” Irene gave her sweetest smile.

That smile. The smile that could snatch anyone’s heart.

“Can’t help it, old habit dies hard” Sakura smirked, being proud.

 

But truth is, she’s just being early to catch the glimpse of Her running through the front gate.

 

Everyday.

Every single day.

Like a rabbit she hops into the school compound.

Damn, she is one troublemaker.

Causing trouble in Sakura’s heart.

If only she knew.

 

Sakura walked into her empty classroom.

Taking out few books and put it under her table.

She laid back on the chair, waiting for her friends arrival.

 

Most of them usually arrives into 10-20 minutes before the learning session starts.

Most of them, but one.

 

 

_____________________________________________

 

 

Sakura glanced outside the window, while her teacher was asking for yesterday’s homework.

She handed her books to the person in front of her.

 

Her eyes were all fixed on one specific fence.

 

‘Aha! I catch you again!’ Sakura laughes as she snapping a picture of the girl who is leaping through the gate.

Just like how she leap into Sakura’s heart.

Her jet-black lock, her fluffy cheeks and her sparkling eyes.

 

Everything,

Everything about her.

Speaks Perfection.

 

Taking out her phone, she took few pictures of the hopping bunny.

 

‘Look at our athlete, as usual’ -       🌸

 

Sakura sent the picture she took to her KakaoTalk chat room.

 

‘LMAO she really have no fear’ -     Yena

‘I’m on my way!’  -        🦋   

‘Class started already 🤦🏻‍♂️’ - Hyewon

‘So?’  -        🦋 

 

Seeing the 🦋 icon reminds Sakura of the time when  Yena was dissatisfied by how Sakura saved her name in the contact list.

“Why is it only Eunbi the one with emoji? Am I not special enough to have emoji too?” Yena whined.

“Because She’s the only one who treats me good. Unlike you” Sakura side eyeing Yena.

“What about Hyewon?”

“I’m giving her an emoji now” Sakura tapped the 👸emoji.

“Whoaaa a queen”

“Because she’s the Queen”

“Pfttt” Yena sticked out her tongue, annoyed.

 

 

“Choi Yena, is your backbone okay?” Miss Lee asked Yena who had her head on the table, trying to sleep. 

Such early in the morning. 🤦🏻‍♂️

“Aaa yes. It’s Good”

“Then sit properly”

Yena just grinned as she fixed her posture.

“This all your fault” Yena jerked a bit, whispering at Sakura.

“Eh why me??” 

“Because you made us play the game until 1 a.m.”

“Hey it’s not even my fault. It’s your own fault because you keep on losing but still saying that we can only stop when we win” Sakura had to run far away to rescue Yena who keeps on dying in Fortnite each time she was rescued.

“Heyyy...” Yena was cut off by Miss Lee “Yena, stop bothering Sakura”

“Eeeee you lucky you are the favourite student. Hmph! Tonight, one more game”

“Call!” Sakura made an 👌 sign.

 

 

 

A sound of someone’s running in the hallway could be heard.

Soon, someone entered the classroom.

“Ahhhh our Heroine is here already” Miss Lee crossed her arms, with the book on her left hand.

“Care to explain?” raising her right eyebrow, demanding for an explanation from the girl who run late again today.

“I encountered some bad Pokémon just now. Got to fight them to ensure world peace for everyone”

The Heroine explained. Earning few laughs with her Pokémon excuse. 

“Wow, I see you busy saving the world now? Too bad you don’t know how to save time for other people. Sit down Eunbi, stop being late again. You’re going to be a senior now, fix yourself for God sake”

Eunbi just nodded and bow, “Okay Madam, noted. Thank You”

 

The girl took a seat beside Sakura.

“Hello there kitty” she ruffles her hair, shoving her waves of fluff that keeps attacking Sakura’s shore.

Sakura chuckles, her shoulder raised and her eyes formed a cute eyesmile.

That cheeks slowly turned pink.

The eyesmile, One that Eunbi secretly love the most.

It painted the beautiful face so perfectly.

Just like how perfect the little cherry is.

 

 

“Woo wooo giddy kitty” Hyewon, who sat behind Sakura poked her cheeks.

Causing Sakura to blush.

“Miss Kang, what are you doing? Please stop teasing Miss Miyawaki” Miss Lee was about to throw the chalk to Hyewon as she saw Hyewon interrupting her favourite student.

“Nothing Miss Lee, our cherry just feels a bit hot”

“Sakura, if you’re feeling bad, please let me know  Okay?” Miss Lee said with a soft tone.

“Umm!” Sakura just nodded. Not knowing what to do.

Hyewon definitely knows that she is crushing on Eunbi. Hard.

Meanwhile Yena is still dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb~

 

 

 

The girls had their lunch break together.

Yena and Hyewon grabbed some foods from the cafe while Sakura, as usual packed her own meal.

In that pastel pink colour bento box.

Eunbi know for sure, Sakura made it herself.

She is that type of person.

A perfect girl in Eunbi’s eyes.

Eunbi just watched as Sakura put the kimbap on .

It is a beautiful sight. Just watching Sakura eating.

“Aren’t you going to eat Eunbi? Or are you just gonna stare at sakura until break end?”

Sakura who wasn’t aware of the gaze Eunbi laid upon her “Eh??”

“I’m eating it now!” Eunbi grabbed her chopstick and shove the food into .

Seeing Eunbi eating with fast pace, Sakura touched her hand, “Calm down Captain, you’re gonna choke yourself”.

Eunbi suddenly got calm with the touch.

‘Pheww Sakura, the power you hold’

 

 

Eunbi steals glances at Sakura.

Eunbi had memorised her routine.

How that girl have 5 different cloth to wrap her pink bento box for each 5 days.

Pink Sakura - Monday

Purple Lavender - Tuesday

Blue Orchid - Wednesday 

Yellow Carnation - Thursday 

and Mint Green - Friday

 

Eunbi also memorised how Sakura took out her chopsticks and sometimes spoon, put it on the cloth. Wipes it first before she eats and not forgetting to say a little prayer.

Oh how Eunbi wanted to be in one of her prayers.

Sakura will always sit straight, her body seems so perfect in Eunbi’s eyes.

How she take care of even her postures.

She wonders if her back ever hurt sitting like that.

Maybe if it hurts Eunbi can lend her hands to massage it.

 

_______________________________________________________

 

As Eunbi woke up the next morning, trying to sober up herself, she decided to go back to the place where there once exists cute Kkubi.

 

The park is still the same. Nothing much changed.

Even the pkayground nearby was still in same state.

She reminiscent every bit of memory that she head clenched upon.

 

And then she saw the tree.

It acches in her heart.

Somehow feels like the tree was calling for her.

 

‘Come back here. Come back now please’ she begged even though no one will hear. As she sit down under the tree, a Sakura petal fell on her arm.

 

The fallen petal reminded her of the time when the two of them used to hangout under the Sakura tree.

At a park not far from the playground.

 

 

There, under the Sakura tree, both of them used to lay around. Just enjoying the fresh air and each other’s company.

Looking up to the Sakura tree. Few of them fallen. One fell on her arm. Right on her birthmark.

“Hehehe.”

“Why are you laughing”

“It looks like the Sakura petal leaves it colour on your arm”

“Oh..”

‘It does makes sense’

It took a while before Eunbi’s laugh erupted.

The two of them laugh.

It does seems like the Sakura petals leaves their colour on her birthmark.

Gently, she caressed it.

She used to hate it. But after Sakura said that line, it felt as if she had absorbed the power of sakura in her.

As if.

 

Eunbi inhaled in the autumn scent.

Smiling to herself.

Reminiscing the memories of her lost childhood and teenage years.

 

Here, under the tree at their favourite park not far away from the playground, they had built their own base.

Their hangout place.

Not many people come to the park by the day.

They even carved their names on the tree.

By they, it’s Sakura and Eunbi.

 

 

Eunbi still remember every look upon Sakura’s face everytime the cherry blossom and everytime they fade away.

How coincidental that both the most beautiful creatures in the world share same name.

Sakura is a melancholic person.

She loves beauty but little did she know that beauty is her definition.

 

 

“I’m such a fool”

 

Her mind flashback to the last time both of them sat there. Looking over their yearbook. Laughing. And just sat beside each other saying nothing.

But her heart feel content.

 

 

They were 17, an age old enough to know what’s good and what’s not.

So Eunbi decided to not say a thing because what she’s about to say might ruin their friendship.

And she don’t want it.

If she can stay, to keep loving her in silence, then it’s all she going to do.

Better keep her as close friend rather than have everything end.

Sakura notices the suddenly quiet Eunbi.

Seems like she is lost in her own mind.

“What are you thinking Eun?” Sakura grip Eunbi’s hand.

‘Demm. This soft poisonous hands’ Eunbi cold sweating.

“I..urmm I...”

seeing Eunbi flinched, she guess Eunbi have something she wanted to say.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“I..umm... I..I..”

“Yes you..”

 

 

Eunbi cleared the lump in .

And that was when she decided to abort.

Let it be the hand on her, keep her warm.

Rather than being alone.

She can’t bear to lose her.

“For..Forgive me for I’m stoked in the moment that I forgot to say what I wanted to.”

“Are you okay?” Sakura fixes strands of Eunbi’s hair that fell in front her eyes. Covering half the forehead.

“Ye..yes..” Eunbi nodded.

Sakura gripped her hand tighter, “If you have anything to say. Any thing, don’t be shy to tell me okay, Eun?” she tilted her head, making it closer to Eunbi’s face.

Eunbi can literally feel Sakura warm breath.

And that doesn’t help. She just nodded again.

 

———————————————————————

 

“Kwon Eunbi, please focus on the lesson.”

Miss Bae alarmed her as she was busy staring at Sakura empty table.

It took her back to the time they both pass each other secret notes and also slept facing each other.

‘Haishh you’re love sick Eunbi’

Sakura had only been absent for 3 days.

She caught some fever after been drenched in the rain.

She don’t know how Sakura got soaked, but she’s hoping it’s not something bad.

 

The 3 days period feels like 3 decades to Eunbi.

Having to stare at the empty seat and no cute face cleaning her gaze.

‘Damn, is this an earth or a hell?’

 

_____________________________________________

 

The weekend, Eunbi got stucked in the library, finishing her homework when someone sneaked behind her back.

She had been there since early morning.

“Hello Eun!” The sunshine of her life greeted. She knows that voice too much.

Okay, that is really the most greatest surprise she ever had.

Despite being in ecstasy, As a cool chic athlete, she remained her stance.

“Ouh Kkura ya. You’re here” Eunbi continued finishing her homeworks. Ignoring Sakura. Hands bit shaky caused by her daily dose of vitamin K (vitamin Kkura)

Sakura who was bit affected by Eunbi’s ignorance does not take that monotonous greet.

Not after days of not seeing her.

 

 

“Am I distracting you?” She asked, wanting a honest answer.

“Yes you are” Eunbi still fix her eyes on her book.

“Oh I’m sorr “ Sakura was cut short by Eunbi as the latter said “You distracted me for days of missing you.”

“What...do you mean?”

Eunbi stood up. Opening her arms to embrace her angel.

“I miss you Kkura ya!!!”

“Ouh.. ahahaha” Sakura’s kokoro beats higher than Empire State building now.

Eunbi let go of her hug on Sakura’s neck to put her hands on the tiny waists,

“Are you feeling okay now?”

“Umm! I’m better now!” Sakura nodded her head vigorously.

Staring at Eunbi with her big cat eyes.

 

‘Demm I’m falling even more for you Kkura’

“Please dont be sick anymore! I miss you so much! School is not fun without you!”

Sakura got touched by Eunbi’s words “You miss me that much?”

“Umm!” Eunbi nodded her head.

Sakura melted by the cuteness. ‘You’re cute’

Eunbi was still gripping her waist when Hyewon and Yena came into the library.

 

“Whoa whoa! What a GOOD Day!” Yena mocked them.

“Oho what do we have here?” Hyewon teased them.

Both girls had their face red. Caught red faced.

“We’re just catching up!”

“Sure, sure. Catch everything up” Hyewon ignored them and took a seat next to them.

‘These two are such cowards’ Hyewon sighed.

 

—————————————————————

 

Long story shorten, the routines continues until their graduation.

 

Realising that this might be the last chance she could ever meet her, because knowing Sakura she could probably score an Ivy League college or such.

Then it’ll be harder for them to meet.

What more their houses ain’t near.

‘Haish.. just live here in my heart. Don’t go anywhere’

 

Their graduation is near, but Eunbi still don't know how to convey her feelings.

She walked around her room, thinking to herself.

‘What if she rejects you? Won’t it be awkward for your friendship? But then it’ll be hard to see each other so she is safe from awkwardness. And what if she loves you too? But it’ll be hard doing that long distance relationship though. Haishhh’ Eunbi threw herself onto her bed. Head full of thoughts.

There are so many things Eunbi wanted to tell her.

But every time she almost do, someone will come in their way.

Every fricking time.

It’s like Sakura is untouchable.

‘Erghh why can’t it be easier?’

 

Eunbi called upon Hyewon. Asking for advice. 

“Finally, I’ve been waiting for you to make a move”

“Eh? How.. how do you know?”

“You’re too obvious Eunbi. You only with her. Well, of course, she’s your favourite baby after all. Hope you know we are all same age”

“Ouh.. eh hehehehe”

Hyewon laid a plan. A simple plan, “Ask for her yearbook, tell her to meet you at your legendary Sakura tree. Confess to her there”

“Ah, that sounds so simple.”

“Well it is, if you aren’t nervous”

“This is Kwon  Eunbi you're talking too”

“Ah sure, the same Kwon Eunbi who can’t confess since middle school”

“Oh shut up. I’ll confess to herthae day after our graduation. Pftt”

“Imma wait for Kkubi. Good luck ma bro”

“Thank you bro”

And now, here she is. Under the Sakura tree. Where once laid her love. But she let her go.

 

_______________________________________________________

 

As Eunbi sat under the tree, she heard a footstep.

With that her heart thumped.

Suddenly the footsteps stopped.

”Kwon..Kwon Eunbi”

She looked up to see her love staring down at her.

 

Quickly she stand up.

“Sa..Sakura..”

Sakura smiles.