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I hadn’t been that far off from the restaurant, when I heard someone calling out my name frantically.

“Chorong! Yah! Park Chorong! Wait!”

I knew who it was, and I couldn’t be bothered to stop for him. Why would I? He would just make me flare up again for no reason.

“Yah!” Somehow, he managed to grab hold of my wrist and pulled me to a stop. “Didn’t you hear me? Or do you have problem hearing too?”

I whirled around, and glared at him through fiery eyes.

“Are you done insulting me? Are you done creating troubles for me? Are you?” I demanded.

Woohyun appeared to be taken aback by my outburst.

“I-I was just joking,” he said slowly. “I didn’t mean to insult you or anything. I was just – “

“Save it!” I snapped and yanked my hand away. “The least you can do for me now is get out of my sight and make sure that we do not cross paths again!”

“Chorong – “

I threw up my hands in frustration as I stormed away from him. “Ugh!”

I told Na Eun that I would take a cab home, but I ended up walking all the way. I love taking long walks anyway – it somehow helps me to clear my mind.

But that night, my thoughts were only burdened even more.

Why, of all people, it had to be Nam Woohyun?

It’s been...what? 2? 3 years? I doubted that he has changed in the slightest bit. He was still the annoying jerk I knew years ago, who thought that copying someone else’s homework and always getting into trouble were ironically cool.

The night’s wicked, cold air swoosh past me, sending shivers all over my body; and I instantly regretted not bringing a jacket along.

As I trudged back towards the house, where the whole family is probably anxious for my return, I couldn’t help notice that there was another shadow lurking closely behind me.

I stopped walking, and my heart seemed to stop beating for a moment too.

I swear, if it was Woohyun following me, I would show no hesitance in taking him down. He’d better know, that I’ve mastered hapkido pretty well. I should let him have a taste of it.

 But when I turned around slowly, half-expecting it to be Woohyun (and the other half just simply afraid), I didn’t think of any other possibilities at all.

Certainly...very certainly not this possibility.

It’s been days, months...years since I last saw him. The memory I had of him was the cheerful, lively boy, who never seemed tired of looking after me. The boy, who stood up for me when no one else did.

The boy who taught me how to cycle, who taught me how to cook.

The boy who had begged me not to leave him...pleaded with me desperately not to push him out of my life.

Yes, it’s been years.

But I will never forget him.

No matter where I am, no matter how much time has passed, I will still recognise him.

I will know, that it’s my best friend standing in front of me.

“M-Minhyuk?”

The grown up, young man, gave me one of his famous crooked grins.

“Hello, Rong-Rong.”