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I remember when I was five, mom told me that dad was going to come and visit me.

Mom told me that he promised to come.

But I guess, promises are sometimes, only meant to be promises.

Promises are solely cheap words uttered that would somehow be forgotten in time.

But I’ve made a promise.

I won’t be like my dad.

<<>>

My friendship with Changsub was definitely one of a kind. It was unique, it withstood time and distance, and you can sort of say that we were soul mates in a brotherhood.

We did almost everything that we could to stay close as friends. We would often sent emails, attached some files of new pictures – like how he would sent me his parents’ pictures, whilst I would send him back my mom’s picture, we would call each other during our birthdays – and sing the birthday song on phone.

Well, just like what Changsub and I have promised – we would be brothers for life.

Changsub and I were even still friends, until we both became 23 years old.

<<>>

It was a Saturday when Changsub gave me a call, and I was at the nearest market to buy some groceries for my mother. The dry market was as always a little crowded, especially when it was opened during weekends.

“Hoya-ah, when are you coming over to Seoul?” He asked me on the phone. I held my phone in between my ear and my shoulder, while my right hand was busy picking some green bananas and my left hand was occupied with the grocery stuffs I bought a few while ago.

“Probably on Monday. What’s up?” I answered nonchalantly. You know, juggling three things to do at one time was always a hard thing to do, especially for me.

“When is your interview for that architecture firm?

“Tuesday, I think. Why are you asking me so many questions?”

“Nahh. Nothing. It’s just that-”

“It’s just that what?” I cut him off, feeling a little exasperated. I was still looking for some groceries and my phone was still somehow placed in between my ear and shoulder.

“I sort of want you to meet someone.”

“Who?”

“My girlfriend.”

Upon hearing that, my first reaction was to laugh and I did laugh. Almost a little too loud that passers-by would stare at me with some weird expressions.

So, Lee Changsub – that one kid who used to have a strange sense of fashion, one who had a bowl-cut hair, and a boy who wore an oversized bag to school had actually got himself a girlfriend.

I found it amusing, but at least – that dorky kid was faster than me.

<<>>

It was still the same Saturday, after I had finished with the groceries stuff and I was going to head home. For some reasons, the sky was getting a little cloudy. Funny, because just half an hour ago, the sun was scorching hot that I cussed its warm temperature.

I stood at the sidewalk near the small mall, raised my right hand and waved a signal to get myself a taxi. I guess I was lucky – a taxi driver caught my hand signal, so he drove to the corner and stopped a few metres away from me.

I carried the groceries bags and hurried my way towards the taxi. Once I got there, I opened the door and just when I was about to place my foot inside the taxi, my right hand was grabbed and a loud voice entered my ear. I was sort of annoyed.

“Mister! I’m so sorry but I really, really need to get this taxi? Do you mind if I take this one, instead?”

I narrowed my eyes. I don’t usually stare at a girl from head to toe, but somehow, today I did. The girl had a long wavy brownish hair, somehow a little ruined by the wind (I guess), she had somehow an anxious expression, and she was wearing a short skirt with a red top. She was carrying a luggage too. An angry bird luggage. 

“I woke up late and I need, need to catch the flight at eleven!” She explained herself clumsily, with her hand clasping together, sort of pleading me to give the taxi up for her.

For some reasons, I didn’t feel like giving up the taxi for her and it was going to rain soon too. Why would I trouble myself for a girl I didn’t know?

“I’m sorry but-”

“Pleaseeee?” She kept on trying to reassure me.

“Alright, fine – but let’s share this taxi, instead.”

I don’t really like sharing, but if sharing gave both of us a win-win situation, then why not?

<<>>

I guess sharing wasn’t really so much of a great idea.

The girl talked way too much for a stranger, and even when I stuffed my earphones to my ears to avoid from having to talk to her, she just won’t stop talking to me, or perhaps she was talking to herself.

“Are you from Busan?”

“Yeap.”

“Oh-mee-geee, so you have been to the Haeundae beach? I was so caught up with the meetings with the clients that I didn’t get to go!”

“ to be you.” I murmured only loud enough to be heard by me.

“I didn’t even get to do some shopping! He’s going to be pissed that I bought him nothing.”

Oh wow, did I ask you that? No, so why don’t you just keep it to yourself. Those were the thoughts running in my mind.

“Have you been to Seoul?” She asked again.

“Nope, not yet.” I answered simply, shaking my head. I think I looked out the taxi’s window, most of the time, while she continued with her pointless ramblings. I just didn’t feel like talking.

She only stopped talking when she received a phone call – from what it seemed to be her boyfriend, I guess. Like how funny was the sight to me, she suddenly turned to a baby, with her tiny little voice, calling oppa this, and oppa that. I sneaked a smile and just pretended that I didn’t hear anything.

<<>>

When we finally reached the airport, for some reasons, I helped to take out her luggage from the taxi’s trunk and somehow walked her to the airport’s entrance door. She was after all, a girl – and I thought that it would be nice of me to help her.

“Thank you so much!” She said to me in somewhat a shriek.

I chuckled awkwardly and scratched my head instead. “No problem.”

“The next time you come to Seoul, I’ll be sure to pay you back!”

She giggled and scrunched up her nose. That was the first time, I sort of think that she was kind of cute?

Before she bade me goodbye, she gave me her business card.

Yoon Bomi

Lavender Florist, Seoul.

Tel: 1-500-500-005

a double posting for today lol ~ like I've promised, the girl, yoonbbom had finally appeared! :DD