This is the most Wheein has ever interacted with Hyejin’s uncle. But it wasn’t awkward at all. Hyejin talks about him so much that it’s like Wheein has already met him before. So when she did finally meet him in person it was like meeting an old friend. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was the holiday season and the last bit of freedom they will have before the avalanche known as multiple tests and applying to multiple colleges will come down upon them. But what better way to enjoy your last bit of freedom than with family and friends? They still had their weekly study sessions, and Hyejin still worked at the gym, so it was only natural for a party to be hosted with all of them there. 

A party that killed two birds with one stone. A party to celebrate the new year, and a party to celebrate the holidays. 

Yes, there was another office party. But it wasn’t as entertaining as being surrounded completely by loved ones. Although, it was comparatively different than last year. 

Over the past year, Wheein became more confident with her looks and body figure. As such, she started to wear more complimentary clothing to fit her look. Even if her style was stylish baggy clothing. In a way it complimented Hyejin’s natural fierceness. Their looks were the complete opposite yet it was the perfect balance. So it wasn’t just Hyejin getting all the attention at the party from their peers. Wheein too started to get looks. 

But neither were jealous. In a way, they were both proud at how the other garnered attention. They were proud at how their girlfriend could get so much attention. So much attention yet still remain loyal. Wheein was certain in the fact that Hyejin was hers, and vice versa.  In fact, they even made a small competition to see how many people they could attract. It was only near the end that they made the grandiose gesture of how they are, and will still be, together. Much to Wheein’s parents' pain. But as much as they wanted to berate the young girls, they couldn’t. It would be hypocritical of them to do so. Afterall, they played the same game when they were younger. 

A couple of weeks later, it was finally time for their own party. 

Yong planned everything down to the dot. From the decorations to the food, there was nothing that Yong didn’t touch. Even if her family tried to help her, she would only let them help with minor details. Moonbyul could handle some of the catering that needed to be done, and Wheein could help with handing out the invitations. Which was basically just the form of a mass text message to her friends and Hyejin. 

Eventually the day came and it will forever be ingrained into their memories for as long as they lived.

The food was made with love. Yong planned for them to take care of the main dishes and the deserts but the Ahns insisted on at least handling the desert portion. Because it was the holidays, everyone even brought some minor presents for each other. But they were mostly gag gifts.

The food was made with love and the air was filled with laughter from both the young and the old. Not once, was there silence. The kids found themselves to be planted in the lower verandah while the adults took over the living room.  They all enjoyed each other's company. It truly was as if they were meeting with extended family. 

“Hey, cub, tell them the story about how you came about getting that car of yours!” Her uncle said while heading towards the youth, “Some people aren’t believing me when I tell them.”

“Ha? It’s not that hard to believe.” Hyejin responded while looking at him with a confused face. 

“It is! How can a nine year old even get a car?!” Moonbyul exclaimed back from the living room while Yong looked at Hyejin, expectantly. 

“See? They don’t believe me!” He raised his hands and shrugged.

Hyejin opened to start to explain but was cut off.

“Hyejin does tend to exaggerate her stories.” Came Wheein’s blunt response.

“Wheein-ah! You hurt me.” Hyejin placed an overly exaggerated hand over her heart and pouted.

“She’s not wrong. Honestly, you should be some sort of storyteller at this rate.” Tae-Hee said before stuffing his face with some desert.

“I--” Hyejin tried to defend herself but she was outnumbered.

“Yea, then you can recount the number of times you evade---” Ji Yeon started with a smirk before Hyejin cut her off.

“Do you want me to tell the story or not?” Hyejin said with a playful glare at Ji Yeon.

“Tell us~” Wheein whined as she grabbed Hyejin’s arm and gently tugged like a small child, “And then tell us what kind of car it is. You’ve never actually told me.”

“I never told you? Huh. Anyway, I got the car by planting a hundred flowers and making sure they would all bloom around the same time.” Hyejin shrugged as if the words out of were not some sort of weird requirement for a quest in a video game.

Everyone stared at her except the Ahns and Ji Yeon. They had a good laugh at everyone’s dumbfounded expression.

“It’s true. She spent that whole spring going over to the garden every morning and night to water them and to sing to them.” Mrs. Ahn broke the silence first with a light laughter as she recalled such fond memories.

“Ms. Manju later told me that she thought she gave Hyejin an impossible task. Even she hasn’t been able to get her flowers and plants to bloom at the same time.” Mr. Ahn’s deep voice filled the room.

“Ms. Manju? You got the car from Ms. Manju?” Wheein looked at Hyejin with surprise.

“Yup! I went up to her and asked if I can have her car since it was just sitting in her garage gathering dust.” Hyejin said proudly. Proud that her younger self had such initiative.

“I can’t believe you wanted to take an old woman’s car.” Ji Yeon said with a deadpan expression.

“Wha-No, no, no. She told me before that she was never going to use it again!” Hyejin defended herself.  

“Imagine our surprise when Hyejin came back home with a car title in hand.” Mrs. Ahn mused, “It would’ve been fine if it was just a standard car but no.”

“Wow. So, what kind of car is it?” Yong asked while thinking what she would’ve done if Wheein came back home one day with a car title for a fancy car.

“It’s a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am!” Hyejin said proudly and with a big smile on her face.

“Oh my god, we’re such es….” Moonbyul muttered while she cradled her head in her hands in shame.

“What?” Yong asked with concern as she placed a hand on Moonbyul’s back.

“The firebird!! It’s on the hood of her car! How can we be so blind!” Moonbyul said with a small whine.

“Yea, I wondered why you guys asked.” Hyejin responded with a shrug. 

“I’m just surprised Ms. Manju actually gave you the car.” Wheein said as she too was ashamed at missing such an obvious sign.

“Ms. Manju is true to her word. Even if it meant fulfilling the most absurd tasks.” Hyejin’s uncle nodded sagely. 

“I hope Hyejin doesn’t become like that. She’s already a menace as it is.” Teased Ji Yeon.

Laughter filled that air once again at the truth of Ji Yeon’s words. Hyejin just childishly glared at everyone before retreating to Wheein for comfort. Wheein laughed as well but easily held Hyejin against her bosom in a comforting embrace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once it started to get late, it was time to clean up. Yong and Mrs. Ahn went to go clean up in the kitchen and they left their respective spouses behind so they could continue their conversation. Moonbyul and Mr. Ahn talked about many things in depth. The topics ranged from current economic and political happenings to the mundane such as how to properly grow vegetables, like a radish. 

The kids would have just sat around and talk some more, but a look from Mrs. Ahn drove them to action. So they were in charge of cleaning up and putting up the decorations. Wheein would have joined them but Hyejin’s uncle started to talk to her.

“Ah, it’s finally nice to meet you in person. Hyejin talks about you so much that for a while there I thought that she made you up.” He said with a gentle smile.

“That’s what her sisters said too. And her parents. Is it really that unbelievable?” Wheein asked with a tilt of her head. 

His boisterous laugh was filled with warmth, “To be honest, we thought she would bring home Ji Yeon. Imagine our surprise when it was you.”

Wheein had to admit, he was right. Given how close Hyejin and Ji Yeon are it was only natural to assume that they would be a couple. But it did sting a little to admit that.

“But the more she started to talk about you, the more we knew it wasn’t Ji Yeon. In a way, we were glad. Even if you did sound made up.” He said while rubbing the back of his head.

Wheein couldn’t help but feel a little bit prideful at that statement, “Really? Why?”

“You know how troublesome Hyejin can be sometimes,” He looked towards where Hyejin was currently arguing over how to put a piece of decoration back and making it fit, “So troublesome, yet so well meaning. We just wanted someone that could bring that side of her out more. The side that she generally kept hidden away.”

As he mused, Wheein pondered. So this is the man that helped raise Hyejin to be who she is today. He’s exactly how she envisioned him to be. From what Hyejin told her, he doesn’t stick out. He’s fairly average but his eyes showed the kind soul he has. In a way it was as if she was looking at an older male version of Hyejin. Hell, he even has the mole in the same spot.

“I’m glad she found you, Wheein. I hope she makes you happy just as much as you make her happy.” He said in such an honest tone that Wheein couldn’t help but answer back just as honest.

“She does. She really does,” She looked at Hyejin who was currently trying to strangle a smug Ji Yeon, “I don’t know where I’ll be if I hadn’t met her all bloody and bruised.”

“The fact that that didn’t scare you off,” He chuckled for a bit, “I would like to think that it’s destiny.”

Wheein hummed. She doesn’t want to even contemplate where she would be if Hyejin hadn’t appeared in her life. She knows one thing though. She knows she will not nearly be as happy. After Hyejin came into her life, she finally  noticed the void that’s been in her heart. A void that she elected to ignore for the longest time. A void that just taunted her. Taunted her with the idea that she will never know love. That no one will actually love her. That she will always be that one oddball that everyone just tolerates.

But Hyejin proved that void wrong.

Hyejin filled that void. She filled it with a blinding passion. She took the words the void had whispered in Wheein’s heart and threw them out. Hyejin showed her, and made her feel, a vast array of different things. Things that Wheein never considered before.

“I hope so,” Wheein mused, “I hope I can be around her for the rest of my life.”

He looked at her with a knowing expression before saying anything else.

“I sure hope so. Especially because,” He gestured towards where Hyejin was currently sitting on Min-Ah’s shoulders, ready to face against the Tae-Hee and Do-Yeon combo, armed only with a ‘broom, with Ji Yeon being the referee, “She’s going to need all the help she can get.”

He roared with laughter as Wheein made a mad dash towards the rambunctious group. 

“Wait, Hyejin-ah, NOO--”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spring came and it showed how painful time can be. This was their last semester in highschool. Their last taste of freedom without worry.

It was all going smoothly. They all took those SATs and ACTs and all received their results with resounding success. They all passed them with high enough scores that any college or university would be a fool if they passed up on a chance to get them as students. 

Soon enough winter gave way to spring, and the hope of a new era. But time doesn’t care about hopes or dreams. All time cares about is moving forward no matter what. No matter what pain it brings. 

Pain, a blessing and a curse.

It lets you know that you are alive but it makes you wish you were dead. Sometimes you can grow from it. Other times you just decay with it. Or maybe you become numb to it. Or it’s all three. 

Hyejin received the text from her father right before lunch that her uncle was in an accident and was in critical condition. The moment she saw the text, she immediately ran. She ran to her car in a mad dash of desperation. Her tears flowed down her face like a river of sadness. She needs to get there. She needs to say goodbye. She doesn’t want him to leave without at least saying goodbye. 

But she was too late.

He was pronounced dead just a moment before she arrived.

Time for her stopped. Nothing felt real. A staple of her life, a rock, just crumbled before her like it was ash. From ash to ash. And she didn’t even get to say goodbye. As if it didn’t even matter.

All she could do was let her heart grieve. Her tears flowed endlessly as she cried and wailed in her family’s arms. Everything was raw. She wanted to rage and scream at the world for taking a pure life away. A life that still could have done more good. That could have left more of an impact instead of just being another light gone from this world. 

But, such is life. The world is so full of light that when one is extinguished nothing is affected. But that’s a cruel way of thinking. When one light is extinguished, the other lights around it mourn.

Hyejin’s own light dimmed.

That first day of grief, when she arrived at the hospital and heard the news, she shut off. She couldn’t hear anybody. She couldn’t hear anybody. She couldn’t feel anybody. She couldn’t feel anything but her own broken heart and soul.

Not even Wheein. 

The Ahn’s began to mournfully plan for the funeral and burial. It was time to let people know. And once they told Yong, Moonbyul, and Wheein, they all came over as soon as they could. At this point they were considered extended family. It was only right. 

By that time, the Ahn’s returned home. There was nothing else they could do besides give the body over to the coroner to prepare the body. By that point, Hyejin shut herself in her room. Her tears had long dried and all that was left was the empty river bed of grief. 

Yong and Moonbyul offered to help in any way they could and Wheein ran straight to Hyejin’s room. The door was partially closed but the feeling of pain and sorrow escaped through the crack.

Wheein gently opened the door to a scene she never wants to see again. She would do anything to never see it again.

Hyejin just sat against the wall. Her eyes red and puffy but vacant. As if the pain had taken her soul away. She looked so defeated. She looked small. She looked so empty. She looked so delicate that a gentle nudge would make her crumble.

Wheein’s own tears began to fall and she enveloped Hyejin into a hug. But as she cried, Hyejin didn’t even stir. Hyejin felt cold and unmoving but Wheein kept holding her. Even if Hyejin was unresponsive, she’ll still be there. She’ll always be there when Hyejin needs her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day of the funeral and Wheein never left Hyejin’s side. Even if Hyejin showed no reaction. Even if Hyejin still had that vacant look in her eye. Even if Hyejin still felt cold as was her touch. Wheein would not leave. 

It seemed like Hyejin was going to be emotionless all day. But once her uncle’s body was being lowered into the ground, she finally broke. Her tears flowed freely once again. But even if she tried to control it, desperate to not look like such a blubbering mess in front of others.  it only made her cry harder. She needed to say goodbye. 

Once the body was fully lowered into the ground, it was time to meet at the Ahn’s house for food and remembrance. 

Hyejin didn’ eat a single bit. Even with the coaxing from her parents, Yong, Moonbyul, and even Wheein. All she wanted to do was retreat back to her room. To go back and feel nothing in peace. But she stayed. And for a good while too as everyone ate and mingled and reminisced about the good times with her uncle. 

In a way, hearing all of those stories, it made it seem like he was alive again. That at any minute he will enter through the door and apologize for keeping everyone waiting and worried. That at any minute he will be back into her life and give her more advice as she grows.

If only.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Afterwards, Hyejin tried her best to be…….normal. She tried to go back to that person she was before her uncle’s death. But it was hard.

Everyone noticed how different she was. How defeated she was. How small she was. Yet she tried.

She tried to be a good student. But she couldn’t focus. She tried to be a good friend. But she lost interest. She tried to be a good girlfriend. But she became distant. 

But, no one gave up on her. They knew what she was going through. Losing such an important figure in your life, especially before a key milestone, would leave anyone feeling broken. So they did not give up on her.

Even if it hurt. 

Especially for Wheein. 

To be frank, she misses her lion. The lion that smiled with her full heart. The lion that would talk so loudly that others had to listen. The lion that would come up with whacky schemes to make her laugh. The lion that she fell for.

But her lion was still there. That she knew. She also knew Hyejin needed time to process her grief. With how much of an impact he had on her life, Wheein could only guess that it must have felt like losing a parent. So, she never pushed Hyejin. She just let Hyejin be. Even when it did get painful for her.

Hyejin’s touch changed. It felt limp and cold. The love that Wheein once felt was locked away behind grief. But it wasn’t only Hyejin’s touch that changed. Her demeanor changed as well. It was as if Hyejin was scared. Scared that Wheein would leave but it wasn’t just being scared. It was being scared but accepting it.

It broke Wheein’s heart seeing Hyejin like this. So defeated. And yet there was nothing she could do to help. Hyejin had to go through her own grieving process. The least WHeein can do is show Hyejin that she’s here. To show Hyejin that she’s willing to go through thick and thin for her.

But even then, there is a point where there needs to be a talk. 

After a couple of dead conversations, lack luster responses, cold touches, and dead looks, it was time for a talk. It felt as if Hyejin’s grief had consumed everything. Even her love. 

Love should never be forgotten even in times of grief.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was around Wheein’s birthday when there was a report of a possible meteor shower happening in a couple of days. Wheein eagerly asked Hyejin if they could go see it during lunch. There was only one response.

“Sure.” Hyejin said in the same dead tone.

Once the bell rang, Hyejin immediately left without saying a word. Her mind and eyes were still far away. Not once did she look at them. Not once was Wheein on her lap. 

As Hyejin walked away, the others gave Wheein a look of concern. They knew Hyejin needed time, and that the romantic life was being put on the backburner, but they still couldn’t help but feel a little bit of pity. Not even Ji Yeon could talk to Hyejin, so how could Wheein?

Wheein tried to remain strong. But it was all too familiar, like the time that Hyejin wouldn’t touch her after  that fight with Dimir. She tried to reassure Hyejin as much as she could through her own touch but Hyejin wasn’t reciprocating. It truly felt like Hyejin doesn’t even care about her now. Is she being selfish? Yes and no. Yes in the sense that she wants Hyejin to touch her again but Hyejin is going through grief. No in the sense that Wheein is her own person with her own feelings. It wasn’t wrong to have feelings.

Even worse yet, Hyejin knew what she was doing. She knew her touch wasn’t the same. She knew she wasn’t as responsive as she used to be. She knew all of this. And yet, she couldn’t help it. It was as if she was trapped inside her own body and forced to look through her own eyes as a strange entity piloted her body. She knew what was happening, but she didn’t have the strength, nor will, to stop it from happening. She was just tired. 

Eventually the day came and Hyejin picked her up. Even their car rides were silent. No longer were they a silence of comfort. But a silence where one side is unresponsive while the other side is begging to be heard. 

They parked at a little unknown park just outside of town. No sign of life nearby and with just the open clear night sky above them. They were completely alone with themselves and their thoughts. 

They got out of the car and laid on the hood to look up at the night sky. They saw the stars twinkle and waver. They even saw the light of the city just on the outer edge. 

“Hyejin-ah….” Wheein hardened her resolve and looked at Hyejin.. It was time for a talk.

“Hm?” Came the only response.

“Do you…..do you even like me anymore?”

Her heart ached when she asked. But she had to know. Maybe Hyejin’s grief was so much that maybe it was best for them to no longer be in a relationship. Hyejin needed time to heal. Hyejin didn’t need that extra burden of having to worry about anyone else. Besides, she could only go so far for Hyejin. Even that admittance pained her heart and made it cry in agony.

“Of course I do.” A robotic response.

Hyejin still didn’t look at her. She just kept staring into the night sky. Unmoving. Unbothered.

Seeing not even a twitch of a muscle, Wheein had enough. She needs a clear answer. Hell or high water. So, she rolled over on top of Hyejin and straddled her. Making the other girl look at her.

The look on Hyejin’s face absolutely broke her. There was nothing there. Her eyes stared right through her, not even a hint of recognition. It was as if Hyejin couldn’t even feel anything. 

Her own tears began to fall. She thought about how Hyejin must feel in order to look like that. How much pain she’s going through. How much pain and yet she’s talking to no one about it. She’s just keeping it all to herself and it’s consuming her.

The moment Wheein’s tears fell on her face, that was the first time in a while that Hyejin felt anything. It brought her back into the moment. It brought her back to where she is supposed to be. No longer in that weird limbo state where time was one. 

She finally looked at Wheein and saw a tragic work of art. Wheein’s face was scrunched up in pain as her tears fell. Hyejin raised both of her hands to caress Wheein’s face and wipe away the tears with her thumbs. 

“Ah, I made you cry again.” Hyejin said a sad smile. 

Wheein immediately went to clasp Hyejin’s hands. It’s been a while since she felt this touch. It was painful really. She missed this kind of touch so much that once she received it she didn’t want to let go. 

“Hyejin-ah…” Her voice was soft and weak. She wanted to tell Hyejin a million things. But she couldn’t.

“I’m sorry. I know….I know I haven’t been the best lately,” Hyejin tried to remove her hands but Wheein kept a firm grip on them, “I just…..I just don’t know what to do…..”

Hyejin’s own tears began to flow and easily mingled with the tears that fell from Wheein.

“I know I haven’t been myself but…” She started to choke on her own words, “I couldn’t do anything!”

“Hyejin-ah…..”

“I wanted to let you know that I still care about you. I wanted to let everyone else know that I’m fine bu--”

“You’re not fine.” Wheein interrupted. Her own tears haven’t stopped.

“But--”

“You need to grieve. Properly grieve. Let out what you have been bottling up. Let it out, Hyejin-ah.” Wheein held Hyejin’s hand in front of her heart, as if pleading.

“But I--” Hyejin tried to avoid it. She’s been trying to avoid it. Trying to avoid what she doesn’t want to think about.

“Please. I’m here for you. I may not be that much help,” Wheein looked away for a bit before looking into Hyejin’s eyes with resolve, “But I’ll be here for you. Whether that’s in the form of a shoulder to cry on, or a person to vent to, or just a person to open up to. I’m here for you Hyejin-ah.”

She cracked. Wheein’s words reached her hardened heart and she cracked. 

“I…..…..I never got to say goodbye.” Hyejin cried as she clung onto Wheein in desperation as the floodgates opened.

Wheein held Hyejin close and shifted their positions so that she was cradling her. She listened to Hyejin’s cries of sorrow and held her close. As much as she wants to get rid of Hyejin’s pain and grief, but, as her parents said, it’s a part of life. Everyone goes through it, just at different stages in life. It’s an individual journey that’s made easier if you have support.  

She’ll gladly be Hyejin’s support. 

Eventually, Hyejin’s sobs were reduced to nothing. Her tears dried and she was left in the after cry limbo. Wheein still held her close, not once did her grip loosen. In Wheein’s arms, she felt the safests she’s ever been. 

“Hey, Wheein-ah….” Hyejin’s voice was hoarse.

“Yea?” Wheein asked as she looked down towards Hyejin.

Hyejin’s lips met hers. It was soft. It was gentle. It was full of love but quick.

Wheein was taken aback for a bit but once she saw Hyejin’s eyes when she came back up, she knew. She knew the words that Hyejin was going to say.

“I love you, Wheein-ah.”

Hyejin went in for another kiss, but Wheein needed to say something too.

“I love you too, Hyejin-ah.” 

And as their lips met, the night sky became striped as meteors danced across it’s sparkling canvas.