"Doko ni iku (Where are you going)?" Kawakami-sama asked Hana.

"Otou-sama, watashi wa sakura no ki wo mi ni ikimasu (I will go see the cherry trees, Father)," Hana Fleur said.

Hana Fleur invited Shin Hye, Soo Hyun, and Jom Bi to go sight-seeing with her. The three obliged and went with her. 

"Itte mairimasu (We will be going)," they said to Kawakami-sama.

"Itte rasshai (Please be back safely)," Kawakami-sama told them. "Ki o tsukete (take care)." 

****

They arrived at the park where lots of children, lovers, and friends were frolicking or eating or resting underneath the beautiful sakura. The pink petals drifted along with the wind, for the day had a good breeze. Jom Bi was humming a good tune and told Hana that he would wander off because he had some business to attend to. What the rest did not know was, Jom Bi was there for a mission that Gam Dong had sent him. So no matter where the fun is, Jom Bi would never be without chores. The thin henchman left secretly to meet with other Yakuza members, leaving Shin Hye, Soo Hyun, and Hana Fleur to be by themselves.

Shin Hye bought three large cups of strawberry yogurt and tagged along behind the students. Finally, Hana realized that she should not let a teacher alone.

"Paku-sensei, I hope I did not make you feel so out of place," Hana said in remorse.

"Ah, daijoubu (it's all right)," Shin Hye said in Japanese.

"Hontou ni (Really)?" Soo Hyun mocked Shin Hye in informal Japanese.

"Oi, oi, why are you talking to your teacher like that?" Shin Hye chided her student while pointing her spoon at her.

"I know, you would rather be dreaming of some cold-hearted poker faced guy named Jung Yong Hwa," he pointed out.

Shin Hye was flustered, so Hana had to come to her defense.

"Suyon-kun, please do not be like that to Paku-sensei," Hana frowned. 

Soo Hyun turned to Hana and smiled with his chinky eyes.

"Gomen, Hana," he apologized.

He turned to Shin Hye and apologized in banmal and in Korean, making the teacher frown at his impudence. Finally, the three of them settled under a magestic tree filled with the cute blossoms. The blossoms were so thick the tree looked like a large cauliflower.

"Kawaii ne," Hana Fleur said to Soo Hyun.

"Ee, kawaii da yo," he said. 

"Boku wa namida o nagaai (I want to cry)," Hana said.

"Naze (Why)?" Soo Hyun asked.

"Hana wa...hana wa taihen utsukushii yo ne... (The flowers are so beautiful)," Hana said.

"Waa...Nemuritai (I want to sleep)," Shin Hye said happily while nursing her belly.

She had finished a single cup, and she still had two to go, but she was so satisfied that the beautiful view in front of her made her want to sleep. The students with her looked at each other.

"Kimi no sensei ga daijoubu desu ka (Is your teacher all right)?" Hana asked Soo Hyun.

"She is always like that," Soo Hyun whispered back. "She is weird, all the time."

Hana Fleur giggled while looking at the teacher, who was spreading her arms in the air. Soo Hyun looked at Hana's smooth skin. She might have inherited her flawless skin from her French mother. He stared at her when she noticed him staring at her.

"Douan (What' wrong)?" she asked.

"Ah, iya...iya... betsuni (It's nothing)," he lied.

By now, Shin Hye was happily slumbering as she leaned on the tree. She was in so happy a mood that she did not realize that the students were not paying attention to her.

"There is a really cool pachinko arcade over there," Hana pointed out.

Soo Hyun had heard about pachinko, but ever since his visits in Japan, he had never played arcade games.

"Omoshirosou (Sounds interesting)," Soo Hyun smirked.

He stood up and took out a hand for her.

"Iku (Shall we go)?" he asked informally.

Hana took his hand and stood up and nodded.

"But how about Sensei?" she asked.

"Ah, Sensei wa mainichi daijoubu (Sensei is OK everyday)," he told her. "Goshimpai naku (Do not worry)."

Hana shrugged her shoulder.

"Wakatta (I understand)," she said.

The two of them walked ahead and left the teacher. Even if Shin Hye was a gaijin (stranger), she would not be harmed, not when she's Yakuza no tomodachi (A friend of the Yakuza).

****

"Ssaem! Ssaem!" a deep voice woke Shin Hye up.

Shin Hye stirred and opened her eyes, seeing the zombie man looking at her in confusion.

"Ahhhh...yokatta (So glad)!" the zombie man answered in Japanese.

"Wae?"

"Why are you alone?" Jom Bi asked.

Shin Hye leaned forward from her slumber and looked around. It was almost sunset, and there was no sight of Hana nor Soo Hyun.

"Ahhhh!!!! They left me!" Shin Hye cringed.

"Your yogurt might have also gone bad, hmmmmmm...." the zombie man said.

"Jom Bi-ya, gaja," Shin Hye said. "I don't want my yogurt to spoil, nor be scolded by Harabeoji for being reckless."

"Ssaem's harabeoji will not mind if you have fun in Japan," Jom Bi came to her defense. "After all, Ssaem had always been working, hmmmmmm."

"Ah, maja, maja (you're right)," she sighed.

Shin Hye took out one cup of yogurt from her pack and opened one. It still smelled so good she even doubted if the bacteria in her yogurt had turned malignant.

"No harm in trying," she said.

"When in doubt, throw it away, hmmmmmm," Jom Bi said.

"Kinishinaide (never mind)," she said in Japanese.

Jom Bi stood up and skipped ahead, leaving Shin Hye to be cherishing her cup which had not gone spoiled. She looked at the things around her and realized that she had not had a vacation in a long time. Since Psy-seonsaengnim will be taking over for a week, she would also be resting for a week. For four years as a teacher, this is her real vacation.

The sakura petals were flowing with the wind, with some landing on her yogurt. She did not know if the petals were edible or not, but she ate some nonetheless. As she turned to the left to look at the sight of some grandparents feeding each other on the benches, her heart melted. If her halmeoni had been alive, she would see her grandparents feeding each other as well.

She walked fast to catch up with the zombie, who was skipping happily. Suddenly, the rays of the sunset hit some of the trees, filtering the lights to give off some soft glow.

The sunset and the sakura were so beautiful it made her heart warm.

Even her yogurt still tasted good.

Most people, especially lovers, would stroll around while enjoying the sight of the flowers, though she had heard that in some occasions, people would rather place their attention on dumplings rather than enjoy the sight of the flowers.

"I'd rather enjoy my dumplings and enjoy looking at flowers," she told herself.

The thought of enjoying a good time with someone over some romantic afternoons in a cherry park made her thoughts fly back to Korea. Her thoughts especially flew back to a certain Jung Yong Hwa.

Her heart raced faster, making her clench her chest.

"I...I must really be in love..." she thought.

Even if she and Yong Hwa had shared kisses and sweet moments, she was not sure if she loved him or not, or if she was just flirting with a student.

"Yong...saranginga (This must be love)," she thought.

****

Yong Hwa and his cousins walked back to the manor when they saw their uncle drinking wine with G.na near the rose garden. When G.na saw Jong Hyun, she winked at him, making the uncle jealous. Oh, she was a flirt, for crying out loud!

Jong Hyun just bowed politely and went inside the house briskly, followed by his cousins. 

****

Nana was already in the study room of the boys because Jung Shin requested her to tutor them. Although she was good in Science, Nana was not particularly brilliant in other subjects. Min Hyuk said it was all right, because he and his cousins had been studying in a weird manner, the same strategy that Shin Hye had taught them.

"I'd do anything for you, Oppa," Nana said to Jung Shin. "I will do my best to teach you today."

"I know you know about this, but if you do well today, I will go with you to the Animax convention this Sunday," Jung Shin told her.

"But...but you are annoyed by me always going to Miss Alodia's conventions," Nana said.

"No more," Jung Shin said in his cold manner.

"Oppa, I wish you can smile," Nana said in love. "But, thank you sooooooo much!"

G.na's flirty laugh wafted through the air, and Jong Hyun's heart clenched at the hurt. Even if  he had broken up with Victoria, he still missed her a lot. Victoria was all the world to him.

"Bring Jong Hyun with you so he'll not get lonely," Min Hyuk said.

"Shirheo," Jong Hyun said. "I am no aegyo who fancy cosplay stuff."

"Ah, but it will be fun, Jong Hyun-ah," Nana said. "Besides, you might meet girls your age there."

"She's right," Yong Hwa finally said.

Then, pointing at Min Hyuk, Yong Hwa told him. "Don't go early tonight."

"Eh?" was Nana's query. "Why not?"

All his cousins know that Min Hyuk often embarked on a romantic tryst with his noona girlfriend, and Yeon Seo would rather teach him hot stuff than teach him math. Min Hyuk was getting good at it, and with his smooth moves, he was garnering more attention in school than did Yong Hwa and Jung Shin combined.

"Wae? Wae?" Nana persisted. "Tell me!"

"I think it is not right for young maidens to know it," Jung Shin whispered to his girlfriend, who was so chaste she did not know what lust is about.

"Huh? Oppa!" Nana frowned. "You think I am so innocent?"

Jung Shin's eyes widened.

"If I don't want to attract attention from the opposite , I would not be beautifying myself," Nana said. "I could attract Yong Hwa if I like, but I chose you because you are a gentleman."

"Mwo?" Yong Hwa ed. "So I am not a gentleman?"

"Sometimes," Nana said.

Jung Shin blushed because he had never seen this side of his girlfriend. Nana smiled as she pinched her namchin's cheeks and called Jong Hyun's attention, for he was lifeless as he rested his chin on his hand.

"Oy, Jong Hyun-ah," Nana said. "We'll get started. And, Min Hyuk-ah, we will not finish Science unless I say so."

"Arasseo, arasseo, ~merong," Min Hyuk said.

The five started to study, with Yong Hwa turning on the A/C unit so Jong Hyun could not hear G.na's flirtatious laughter downstairs. Hitomi came in and offered snacks to them, and Nana was grateful to see someone smile. All the guys in the room never even smiled back at her.

"Jong Hyun-ah, straighten up," Hitomi told him with a smile.

Jong Hyun looked at her with his sad eyes and nodded. By the time the boarder left, Min Hyuk spoke up.

"Jong Hyun-ah, get over that broken heart of yours and just be with Hitomi-neechan," Min Hyuk said.

"Wae andwae (Why not)?" Nana perked up. "I could see Hitomi-eonni is caring, and when we talk, she talks about you more often."

"Talks...about me?" was Jong Hyun's heavy reply.

The others saw a hint of blush on his cheeks, and they .

"Hitomi-noona is way, way better than Victoria-noona, you know," Yong Hwa told him. "She is simple."

"And caring," Jung Shin pointed out. "You would miss a lot if you don't get to know her."

"I will not know a lot of things about her if I don't stay in her room too often," Jong Hyun said.

His cousins know that, save for Nana.

"Jinjja???" she asked. "What do you do there?"

"I just sing...or lie on her portable bed...or look at the lizards on her ceiling," Jong Hyun said. "Noona cannot read my feelings, so I just sing."

Nana looked around and saw three lizards chasing each other near the bookshelf. Uncle Geun Suk must be that tolerant about them.

"Aww... I can feel the same way she does," Nana said. "My namchin does not even smile."

Then, she pinched Jung Shin's cheeks again.

"But I can tell his emotions when he squeezes my hands, right, Oppa?"

Jung Shin only blushed and nodded. Yong Hwa suddenly got envious of his cousins because all of them were openly related to the girls around them.

"How about you, Yong Hwa-ya?" Nana asked.

His cousins knew he was totally in love with Shin Hye, but that knowledge was off limits.

"Molla... I have a feeling I will be going on a May-December love affair," Yong Hwa said dryly.

"Ooooooh!!!!!" Nana said, making her namchin look at her in fright. "But, Oppa, is it not scandalous? I mean, the teacher might get expelled, you might get expelled too."

"I don't care," Yong Hwa said. "Besides, if I embark on such affair, I will keep it a secret."

"Oppa, it is all right if the girl is as old as Yeon Seo-eonni or Hitomi-eonni," Nana said. "But it is way, way too overboard if she is someone as old as Park-ssaem."

Yong Hwa's heart stopped. Did Nana just voiced out her distaste to such kind of ?

Min Hyuk, sensing Yong Hwa's distress, told Nana to stop talking and continue teaching them. Nana obliged and went on.

****

Jung Shin took Nana to her house, the gentleman that he ever was. Min Hyuk stealthily got inside Yeon Seo's window and made out with her again. Jong Hyun was hanging out inside Hitomi's room, crying into her shoulders again. Geun Suk was in his library, reading French books while arguing with his French girlfriend over the telephone which looked like it came from 1896.

Yong Hwa jumped out of the gate and strolled to the cherry park that night. There were less people strolling, for it was almost time for sleep. He stopped by a convenient store along the way and bought a banana yogurt. All the strawberry yogurt had been gone, thanks to Shin Hye's selfishness.

He went back to the park and sat under the tree. For it was a windy night, the petals floated like a weary ghost over the air. Some fell onto his yogurt, and he absentmindedly ate some.

"I wonder how my secret girlfriend is doing in Japan," he thought.

He wanted to call her, but his uncle was the one paying for the bills. Surely Uncle Geun Suk would fly into a fit of rage if he sees an overseas call on his bill. So, he decided to send a text message instead.

****

Shin Hye was lying her bed, looking at the stars outside the window. It is going to be a good day the next day, for the night sky was clear. 

Her phone vibrated, and she picked it up. She saw it was a text message from Yong Hwa, so she decided to read it.

I felt some cherry petals on my yogurt, and I remembered you.

The sweet, soft, smooth, silky cherry petals, your beauty.

The sour taste of yogurt, your cute childishness.

The taste of fruit, your inate characteristic of being strong shining from within.

She scoffed, scorning his text at her.

Childish? Who's childish?

She went on reading the note.

Being under the cherry tree, savoring my yogurt and the taste of petals, makes me miss our secretly sweet times together, my Secret Lover. Geudaereul saranghae.

She smiled at the sweet thought, so she sent him a reply.

****

Yong Hwa was wiping his eyes when he received her reply.

Earlier this afternoon, Soo Hyun and the daughter of my harabeoji's friend left me alone, so Jom Bi and I had to go home after watching the beautiful cherry trees. The Tyndall effect, the sunset rays being filtered by the beautiful trees, reminds me of that singular beauty that is you. You never smiled, but you are so charming. Bulmae Jung...that is what you are... The taste of the cherry petals on my yogurt reminds me of that sweet innocent you which I long to know, for all you have been showing me are your strong and confident personalities, which came out as strong as the sweet-sour flavor of strawberry yogurt. And I have to be honest with my feelings from now on. I am your teacher, you are my student, but I can't help it if I fall in love with you... Saranghae...

Yong Hwa smiled and replied back.

Tyndall effect? You are so corny. Why will you include Science? But yeah, I love the Tyndall effect too. And I don't care if Uncle Geun Suk will pay much for the telephone bills.

She replied him back.

I can't help bringing in the Tyndall effect. But despite the advancements in Science, no one still knows why I fell in love with you...

He texted back.

There is no need to explain why Love is such a wonderful feeling. Let us just feel it... and I will show it much to you by the time you get back. I will wait for you, Shin Hye.

She smiled at his sweetness.

I will be back. I will come back to you, Bulmae Jung.

Both of them said their goodnights. Shin Hye allowed sweet Sleep to cover her eyes, while Yong Hwa got back to the house after finishing his cup. Like her, he also allowed sweet Sleep to cover him in her kisses. He would be waiting for Shin Hye to return...

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

~~~~