[(WINTER)]

 

 

 

"You sure, Winter? I can come there with you if you want." said Ningning on the other line. I made my way to the bus, holding my phone glued to my left ear.

 

"I am. Enjoy your days with, G. I'll enjoy mine alone. Don't worry.. I'll be fine." I said, keeping a tight grip on my travel bag. I already saw the bus, passengers are already making their way to get in. 

 

"It's been a year since she died... You're supposed to be already away from that fact. She's never gonna wake up, Win... Don't lose yourself. Please be okay.."  

 

"We're all giving you again a vacation. Please make this be the last. Go back to your work after this."

 

 

1 year...

 

yeah, a freaking year ago.

 

It still hurts.

 

My heart was deeply shattered, Minju...

 

"I'll be. Gotta hung up now, Ning. I'll call you as soon as I get there." I said hanging up the call. I ran to the bus, hustling. Leaving a heavy sigh, phew.. relieved when I saw a free seat near the window, the only vacant seat by the window. I quickly made my way there and claimed the seat.

 

I looked outside.

 

Upon sitting, the view outside got me in an instant. A brick wall faced me. I remember the house we talked about before, it has the same exact exterior design with this wall. It suddenly reminded me of her, our dreams and our plans... the togetherness we brought up before are slowly coming back... again.

 

My eyes are becoming teary..

 

How she loved to do this... bus rides, road trips... those were all her things. She always loved to watch outside, look for the view and get amazed with whatever she sees... I miss her head resting on my shoulder and mine being rested against hers. If you only know how much you've caused me this, Minju... I still can't move on. You left me so much memories so the pain.

 

Gradually, the whole bus roared in amusement, muttering as if something good had happened, a celebrity as a bus passenger would be a good example when a lady entered. Possessing a different kind of beauty, she grabbed everyone's attention... making them have a check on her twice..

 

Not gonna deny, she's like a celebrity in disguise.

 

Her hair was messy but it still suits her, full black and tied up in a bun. Her fit was casual, a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt with a denim jacket on top of it, matching it with her converse. She's covered but enough to make a scene inside. She got all the attention once she stepped in. Beauty was clearly evident on her face. Her small and lightly swollen face made her look cute. She got a pointy nose, natural red lips and that captivating mole near her chin is just so gorgeous.

 

She's pretty.

 

People whom she passed by gave her a stunned look. She walked through the center, spotting a vacant seat. She stopped and looked at me, giving me a questioning look.

 

A lot prettier up close.

 

 

"Is this seat taken? Can I?" I was blown away when she spoke, how softly... she asked me, pointing at the vacant seat beside my seat. I smiled at her and moved a little to the side, giving her permission to take the said seat.

 

"Thanks." She smiled then sat beside me. She immediately took out a neck pillow and put it on her neck, closed her eyes and put her earphones on. 

 

She's maybe sleepless.

 

More minutes later, the bus began to move. I'm fascinated by the view outside. It's the feeling again that I always feel... I'm excited again to see another place to calm and relax myself, it has been on repeat. My healing process. I took out a heavy sigh and leaned my head back in my seat. My attention was suddenly caught by the girl beside me, her head's down already. 

 

Has she fallen asleep?

 

I just didn't mind her and closed my eyes, put both my arms in a cross. Breathing heavily... it's all her that I see. The memories we've made together... her smile... her laugh... It's all in my mind. Still. 

 

I miss her.

 

I want to hug her.

 

 

My heart skipped the moment I felt something heavy on my left shoulder. I opened my eyes and saw the girl's head resting on my shoulder, unknowingly. The strands of her hair are so fine... I can smell it. She smells just so fine. My eyes landed on her, her features becoming more detailed as the sunlight slid down her face, giving me a clearer view of her at so close. My eyes are awakened... I can tell that she's really beautiful. From my view, she's indeed really beautiful.

 

I can also hear the music that's playing on her earphone. I can't be wrong, she got the same taste in music with my girlfriend. She maybe likes Avril Lavigne as well.

 

She's listening to Wish You Were Here.

 

The lyrics of the song have a big bang on my chest now, it doesn't feel the same anymore. I'll forever pray to God that I wish she was here, with me. Alive. Breathing. That will stay in my prayers forever, she'll never gonna comeback. Reality will forever play with me. I'll forever sing to the song, engraving every lyric to my heart.

 

I once again looked at the girl. is slightly opened, hinting me that she's already sleeping soundly. I stretched my left arm to her side and reached for her bag. It's blocking. I slowly put it down on her legs to give her support, her head was down again. She moved when I moved, her head's down again but this time I put her bag near her. She hugged it.

 

I don't know but she made me smile. She's cute. Literally.

 

While I was busy checking what's on the outside, I noticed that the girl is becoming uncomfortable in her state. Her head's swaying side to side, the bus doesn't keep in fair balance. Thank God that she doesn't have motion sickness, it'll really make a mess if she got it.

 

"Miss," I called. She's not talking back, unresponsive.

 

"Your head.." Still no response so I decided to do the right thing. I gently held her head and slowly returned it to my shoulder. She looked better in that... and sounded better.

 

My eyes are getting heavy... I haven't gotten any sleep yet. I was so excited to see Busan, only had an hour or maybe 3 hours of sleep?, unfair.

 

I laid down my head against the head on my shoulder. She didn't flinch or move an inch. I smiled in relief.

 

"Let's sleep," I said with my eyes shut. She's still not responding so I guess it's gonna be a long ride with us being like this, sleeping comfortably in each-other's support.

 

 

******

 

 

"Hmmp!" I slowly opened my eyes, rubbed them afterwards. I immediately lifted my head when I felt something moving underneath---oh. someone.

 

"I'm s-sorry." I said in my apologetic tone, she looked at me and brushed , looking for any trace of left saliva or something? and oh yeah, she left some but still adorable. "On the left." I said jokingly. She laughed a bit and wiped it off with her bear hand. She looked at me and smiled. 

 

"I fell asleep, sorry." 

 

"No need to be sorry. I fell asleep too."

 

We smiled at each other, relieved.

 

We got some sleep, thankfully. 

 

The bus stopped at its destination, the people inside are rushing down. I searched for my things and got up. The girl beside me hurried out, I didn't even ask for her name. 

 

She's rushing. She has something important to do, I think?

 

I went down the bus and stood at a waiting shed, waiting for a friend. She'll take me to a tour around Busan since she used to live here, it's been a while since we last hanged out.

 

I fished my phone from my pocket, there's still no message from that silly. She probably has something to do at this very moment, doing some errands, I think? But a call won't mind.

 

I dialed her number.

 

"Dude?" I laughed when I heard her call me that again. It's only her who calls me that, idiot.

 

"Where are you this time?! It's hot here. It's languish to wait." 

 

"Yeji just fetched someone. Her friend, I think? No one will take a look in the bistro." Hmm...

 

"But maybe you want to fetch me here?" I heard her sighed on the other line, looks like she's about to say no. Well, I don't care. I can go there on my own, I don't want to bother her spending her busy time on me. 

 

"Send me the address. I'll go there."

 

"Sure dude, will send it right away. Take care!" I immediately ended the call.

 

That was Ryujin. My friend other than Ningning and her girlfriend, Giselle, those two were originally Minju and I's friends. Ryujin was my friend from college, we took the same degree. BSA. She and her girlfriend decided to build their own business the very moment they graduated, Yeji's one year older than her, she had to wait for Ryu... she saved money while waiting for her girlfriend to graduate and b