{1^st summer}

I remember the first time I met you, it was so clear that it seemed like it was just yesterday.

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“Kyuhyun don’t go in the water without us”

“Mom I can swim”

“I know but your sister can’t and she will follow you in the water”

“Mom” I whined.

“Listen to your mother Kyuhyun” My dad said.

“Fine”

This . Yeah I have to wait until my parents have unloaded all our things. This was the very first summer that we will spend in a beach. My grandparents own a house in this small town. The least to say is this was my parent’s hometown before they moved into the city because of dad’s work.

My father told me that this was the place they often visit with mom. It’s where they have their dates, watching the sunset and all. This particular beach is full of happy memories for my parents and they wanted to have happy memories which we are included in. So that’s why we are here.

Finally after an eternity I was now allowed to go near the waters and swim.

I was walking in the sand towards the sea.

“Hey kid!” someone said and I turned around to see who was talking, It was a kid too maybe about my age, He was kneeling on the sand with a small shovel on his hand.

“Me?” I asked pointing towards myself.

“Yeah you” He chuckled.

“Why?”

“Can you hand me that seashell just right in front of you” He said and pointed towards my foot, on the sand. I crouch down to pick it up. I walk towards the kid that was making a sand castle.

When I was close enough to him I saw how amazing his sand castle was. It’s pretty impressive for a 13 year old, if we had the same age.

“Here” I offered it to him, He stood up from the sand and reached for the shell that was on my hand.

He smiled and said thanks.

“Nice sand castle” I complimented him.

“Thanks. Hey I’m Donghae by the way” He said and extended his hand to me.

“Kyuhyun” I just simply said and took his hand that was grainy because of the sand.

“Nice to meet you. You’re new here huh?”

“Yeah, how’d you know?”

“Well I live here and in a small town like this, everybody knows everyone. It’s the first time I saw you here so I guess you’re a tourist or a vacationer”

“Oh”

“So?” He asked still waiting for something.

“So? What?” I asked also not sure what he wants me to say.

“Are you a tourist or a vacationer?” Oh that question.

“What’s the difference?” I asked, I know they are somewhat the same.

“Well a tourist is a traveller, sightseer or a day-tripper while a vacationer just wants an escape, a break or here for the summer” he explained not looking at me, he slumped back to the sand and put the shell in the sand castle.

“Oh. I guess I’m a vacationer here for the summer. My grandparents and parents used to live in this town”

“I see, you’re Mr. And Mrs. Cho’s son” He said more a statement than a question. He’s sure about it.

“How’d you know?” I asked.

“Remember this is a small town” He just said with an upward glance to me and he was smirking.

“Oh” was my smart reply.

“Yeah, let me guess your favorite letter” He suddenly asked.

I knotted my eyebrows with the change of subject not really knowing where this question is headed.

“O” He said with a lopsided smile.

“Oh” I just said in realization that he was referring to my smart replies of ‘oh’

“See” He said and He laughed, but not at me, he laughed with me.

We laughed. I think I will enjoy this summer. Donghae invited me to play with the sand and make sand castles and well my sister plays in the sand also. We ended up swimming in the beach with him and my little sister like him.

So I gained a new friend.

I just spend my whole vacation on the beach with Donghae. Doing things like collecting seashells, swimming and he thought me how to surf so basically I got the sun and went tanned.

Goodbyes were always the hardest but I promised to spend the next summer here so I could be with my new friend.