Chapter 10. Carpe Diem 

“But in my case, the only thing that made sense of the world was you, 

and without you the world will seem as garbled and tragic as a malfunctioning typewrite9.”

~Lemony Snicket, The Beatrice Letters

“Remember what I said…”

He rolled his eyes when she used her authoritative tone on him again, “Avoid unnecessary remarks… I know.”

“Okay, good,” Joohyun pressed her hands together nervously and looked around, “I don’t want to freak my sister out.”

“I think I’m the one who would freak out,” Shinwoo said with a tightlipped smile.

Her eyes found his and she could tell that he was genuinely nervous so she reached out to grab his wrist then tugged it gently; “Yuri Unnie is not that kind of sister, don’t worry. Just be yourself.” She chortled when her boyfriend’s face lit up from those seconds of sulking so she raised a brow with a warning, “Minus the stupid pick-up lines, please.”

“Ya, how can you call them stupid when that was exactly how you fell in love with me?”

“Ya, who said anything about me falling in love with you? I’m not in love with you, okay? You’re just my boyfriend.”

“Ouch,” Shinwoo placed a hand on his chest and acted like he had been stabbed. “You’re cruel, Seo Joohyun.”

Joohyun laughed to herself. For the past three weeks of them dating, she knew deep down inside that Shinwoo was starting to mean to her more than she would like him to know. It was like he was slowly creeping in her heart claiming ownership of it. “What? Are we starting again?”

“Ani… ani…” Shinwoo grinned, “My patience with you is as massive as the Korean peninsula. I will wait for the day you would really be in love with me… I could wait even if I would be just another idiot living in the same house with you when we got married.”

She rolled her eyes, “There you go again.”

“Arasso… arasso…” Shinwoo laughed. Being in a relationship with the girl sitting across him was not an easy feat. It required countless efforts to make her laugh or even smile and, as much as possible, make her happy every time they are together. Joohyun was always her usual self; serious and determined to show Shinwoo what she really was like in her worst. But, like what he just said, he was very patient with her. 

Joohyun turned just in time to see Yuri by the entrance being ushered by the waiter to their table. She waved then shot a meaningful look at Shinwoo, “Here she comes,” then stood followed by Shinwoo.

He caught sight of the tanned girl approaching them. There was no mistaking that she was Joohyun’s older sister; they share almost the same facial features only that Joohyun’s lips were much fuller, her aegyosal were more emphasized and her skin was fairer than that of her sister’s. He was nervous, so to speak, but the woman had her friendly smile ready as she got closer. “Oh my… I think I got the wrong sister…” Shinwoo mumbled trying to sound natural and was glad that the older girl laughed out loud but was elbowed hard by his girlfriend.

“I like you already,” Yuri beamed reaching out to playfully touch her younger sister’s hand when the latter pursed her lips in annoyance.

“Unnie, you have to take my side,” Joohyun complained then smiled brightly when Shinwoo pouted and hurriedly continued when he was about to say something, “This is my sister Yuri… Yuri Unnie this is my… uhm… boyfriend Shinwoo.”

“Hi, I’m Shinwoo, Joohyun’s uhm boyfriend,” Shinwoo bowed slowly then offered his hand that Yuri took and shook.

“It’s nice to finally meet you Joohyun’s uhm boyfriend…”

“You two are ganging up on me already,” Joohyun rolled her eyes as they all took their seats.

Yuri laughed then nudged her sister, “Eyyyy… don’t say that.” They all got seated and after the waiter left with their orders, Yuri noticed how the young man looked like he was trying hard to hide his apprehension behind his smile. “You look familiar; I think I’ve seen you somewhere. Have you been to the hospital lately?”

Joohyun transferred her attention to her boyfriend but the latter looked clueless and shook his head.

 “Ah… probably because I play in some restaurants around town. My part-time job.”

“Oh yeah, Joohyun mentioned,” Yuri nodded, “Probably.”

The dinner turned out okay and nobody could be happier than Joohyun. It was her first experience introducing someone special to her to a family member—to her family, and Shinwoo was just as he promised although he would throw a few cringe-inducing lines once in a while.

~~~

The very next day was Shinwoo’s turn to finally introduce her to his family. He would have wanted for everybody to be there to meet Joohyun but he knew there would still be so much time for that.

His mother made a fuss over the idea that the polite girl who came to their house a few months ago was finally going to be introduced as his girlfriend. She made a big deal out of it because she had met and seen some girls his son were with before and this was the only one she seemed to approve 100%.

Hyoyeon laughed and never shut up about the fact that she was right all along—that the two were really a couple and that they were just too shy to admit it.

Sunny playfully crinkled her nose as she maintained her belief that her new Joohyun Unnie deserved someone waaaayyyyyy better than her stuck-up older brother.

And Kyuhyun, the little Kyuhyun who hid behind his mother’s skirt for a moment upon seeing a beautiful Nuna who gushed over how cute he was and gave him a tight hug and a tiny kiss on the cheek. Kyuhyun knew then that this pretty Nuna should be his girlfriend when he grow much taller than his hyungs.

Although bemused by the attention of his family, Joohyun was happy that there wasn’t a moment where she felt awkward or shy around these high spirited people. She knew then that it only took a few minutes before she had fallen in love, if not madly, with his family and was less worried about the other members she was yet to meet.

His mother was a really sweet and funny woman. She may not be like her own mother, but the older woman seemed to have that zest in everything she does, especially with the way she was raising her children ‘single handedly’ as she put it.

Hyoyeon Unnie was her old bubbly self—never failing to drop a funny line or two and never failing to make Shinwoo the most uncomfortable person in the room with all her vivacious attempt to explain why teenage pregnancy is a big problem of the society and that the government should do something about the rampant case of premarital .

Sunny was such a darling, someone Joohyun would really love to have as a dongsaeng. If aegyo had a face, then it would definitely have Sunny’s. Her name fits her well because she is just a burst of sunshine. Even though, she would point out repeatedly that Joohyun was making the biggest mistake of her life, she couldn’t help but to just laugh about it remembering all her pre-relationship days with Shinwoo.

And Kyuhyun, the little boy who stood completely still for a complete minute after she hugged and kissed him. She knew she would be doting on that little person too much and Shinwoo was just appalled when she told him her thoughts on his little brother.

~~~

A few months have passed. Everything was normal and ordinary for Joohyun; although there were just enough natural reasons that school was stressful but it wasn’t really something she couldn’t handle. And then there was Shinwoo beside her.

They have this kind of relationship that she just couldn’t complain about. He loved her to distraction alright, but he gave her space to be her own person. They were not demanding anything from each other and were taking comfort in every opportunity and chance they could be together even if it’s just sitting in class or an elaborate event Shinwoo would surprise her with.

Most of the time, if they were not at school, they would hang out at her house or at his place, making school stuff or just studying. She would insist of being his study partner just to make sure he was still prioritizing his education because lately Joohyun was a little bit worried. Shinwoo had been accepting gigs most of the time and she thought it was affecting his academics again. Although she didn’t want to nag him about it, something was telling her that he had something up his sleeves.

One afternoon, she was in his room doing a study guide for the upcoming midterms when he came in wearing only his undershorts. “What the hell are you wearing? Put on a shirt or something,” she complained while covering her eyes with her fingers, although leaving good gaps in between so she could still peek.

Shinwoo just smirked, “Ya, I’m parading my glorious six-pack abs in front of you. You should feel blessed yourself, yeoja chingu.”

She looked at him from head to toe, crossed her arms on her chest and said seriously, “I see nothing.”

“Aww, I forgot to tell you it’s invisible.”

She nodded listlessly again, grabbed a white shirt from his closet and threw at him, “Alright, superman, why don’t we hide that invisible six pack already?”

“Yeah,” Shinwoo laughed as he caught the shirt and put it on, “Anyway… have you heard that real men don’t have abs?”

“You’re telling me that after showing me your invisible six pack abs?”

He shrugged, “Anyway, I think I’m getting mine at MS… you know all those physical labor? I will surely train a lot and give you a whole new boyfriend that could put Ironman to shame.”

Joohyun laughed out loud with sarcasm. “Whatever… study first, will you? And I don’t want you to revamp yourself, alright? You’re good enough for me, namja chingu.”

It finally drew a big smile on his face and he couldn’t help but sat beside her and took her hand, “I love you, too, sunshine…”

Joohyun smiled and nodded then shifted back to what she was doing, ignoring Shinwoo who laid himself down on the bed.

“Joohyuna, I’m reporting to the draft board two weeks from now.”

It caught her by surprise that she looked over her shoulder ready throw an accusation only to find his eyes shut closed. “Ya, are you messing up with my mind again?” Instead of giving her an answer, Shinwoo just smiled quietly. She knew then that he wasn’t kidding. Joohyun sighed, “Why so early? You can do that by the end of the school year.”

“It was a plan long ago with my father… I want to try to enter the marines…”

“It was a plan before me…” she could feel the rush of blood in her veins, “Why are you just telling me this?”

“Heyyy, sunshine I am telling you now not later when I need to go soon,” he pointed out as he sat up, he could tell how upset she was. “Besides, I still have two weeks before the physical examination. I think it will take a month or so before I get drafted.”

“Two weeks…” Joohyun sneered mockingly, “Really…”

“Sunshine—”

“Don’t sunshine me right now, Jung Shinwoo.”

“Joohyuna…” he held on to her wrist when he felt that she was going to stand. “Please? We’re talking about it now… don’t go.”

“Are you sure you’re enlisting this early?”

“Yes…”

“Then what is there to talk about? You are not asking my permission anyway, I’m just your girlfriend.”

“Ya, don’t say that…” He rubbed her arm gently, “Joohyuna, do you want me to ask your permission?”

“Don’t turn this around.”

“I’m not turning it around…”

She looked squarely at him and for a few seconds, they held each other’s gaze. On second thought, she didn’t want to play an obsessive whiny girlfriend, she never wanted to be that. Joohyun knew he was determined so she nodded with heavy heart, “I’m sorry, you don’t need to ask me anything when it comes to this. This is only about you,” she sighed. “I’m sorry for reacting that way.”

Shinwoo held her hands. “No, you have a point, I made the decision before you… you have every right because you’re my girlfriend. You’re a part of me now. I can cancel—“

“No… no… do it, do as you planned,” she smiled, “I will be here to wait.”

“That’s a relief… you will wait for me, okay?”

“Yes, of course, silly…”

“So while we still can, let’s spend time with each other as often as we can.”

Joohyun nodded, “Okay.”

“Aigoo, Joohyuna, what are you going to do without me?”

“Yes, what am I going to do without you, sillyhead?”

“But you’ll be fine, I know that. You will be just fine…” Shinwoo swallowed the sudden lump in his throat as he brushed his palm on her cheek and watched her sad smile. He shook his head not only to save her from the sudden melancholy but to soothe himself. When Joohyun closed her eyes and held his hand that was touching her skin, he pulled away and lay on the bed. She sighed without taking her eyes off him so he playfully moved to the side and tapped the free space on the bed. “Come on, sunshine, I promise I won’t do anything weird…”

Joohyun pouted for a moment but carefully lay down beside him. She couldn’t understand herself. She would usually shun away his attempt to physical contact but this time, she felt like she just wanted to be held by him— to be that close to him. But, true to his words, Shinwoo stayed still facing the ceiling. There was this urge to get closer, to just be nearer to him, but she held back. Instead, she drew out a heavy breathe as they lay on their backs looking straight up, “Not seeing you every day… hmmm…”

“It’s going to be tough, wouldn’t it?” Shinwoo finally turned towards her, “But I will think of you every second of the day.”

Joohyun, too, looked at him shaking her head with a tiny giggle, “You know, whoever created that must be shot dead…”

“Why?”

“That’s one of the greatest lies. How can you think of someone every second? I mean, what if you’re hungry… is it like ‘I’m hungry and I’m thinking of you or I need to pee and I’m thinking of you, how gross is that?”

He laughed touching his belly animatedly while she just waved her hand in an attempt to shush him.

“Oh, don’t give me that, I’m not done yet. How about dreaming? You can’t control your dream, right?”

Shinwoo finally shifted on his side, moved closer to her and was about to her cup jaws to kiss her but she squirmed and pushed him away.

“Heyyy! What was that for?” she complained and sat up while Shinwoo continued to laugh and raised himself up to sit beside her.

“You know, the best way to shut a girl up, I see that often in those sappy movies you girls love to waste your time on.”

Joohyun rolled her eyes but smiled, “You crazy person… makes me wonder why I love you…”

“What?”

“What what?”

“Can you say what you just said?”

“Errr, what? What?” Joohyun acted oblivious but she was hiding a smile.

“Aish! No… before that,” He grumbled when she just bit her lips obviously suppressing a laugh, “Oh sunshine, don’t give me that!”

“Alright, I love you, silly.” She smiled. After all the sudden rush of emotions, Joohyun pulled the collar of his shirt and pecked a kiss on his lips. She knew—she just knew that she wanted to do that and it didn’t have to last long so she whispered as she pulled away, “I love you, you silly stupid person.”

Shinwoo laughed but cupped her cheeks and watched in delight her eyes that seemed to dance with sheer thrill, “Sunshine, if you’re going to do it, do it right…” Tilting his head down, he slowly moved forward; one hand on her elbow, another one guiding the side of her face to meet his. Gently, he closed the gap between their lips. Her movement was limited to his coaxing. Slowly, he laid his lips back to hers… gently until she melted on him, until he felt her weight on his body, until he knew he could knock her off her feet some more. So, he did, he coaxed to open for him. To kiss her, to show her what kiss is all about. To let her know that kissing— him, is the next best decision she did in her life.

And, she did, with all her reservations, she followed suit. She let herself be led, be taught, and be urged. It was something new, something she never felt before— the effect on her body and on her heart. That was the only thing that mattered to her because she lost the capability to think, to function… Joohyun was just moving… along with him.

~~~

It was a total of nine days that she didn’t see him. Starting from Thursday when he went for his scheduled physical examination for the draft board, then from Friday till Monday he was out of town for his band’s gigs. The rest of the days she spent working on a thesis and convinced everybody that she couldn’t be bothered. Shinwoo complained harshly about it but pointed out that from the start of their relationship, she had made herself clear that her education was still her utmost priority in life. 

It was, in fact, her little revenge when he failed to contact her the whole Saturday.

Now, she stood by a lamppost outside a dainty little pasta restaurant just a few blocks from the university. Joohyun had been waiting for almost fifteen minutes and rechecking if she could finally reach his phone number. She was starting to get more and more worried than agitated by his delay and the fact that she couldn’t contact him.

That afternoon, she got a call from her boyfriend telling her to meet him at the restaurant for dinner so they could make up for the days that they weren’t together. She sighed when she finally spotted him emerging from an unfamiliar white car that he parked on the other side of the road. Something was off about it; not only about that car but with the fact that he could have parked on the restaurant’s parking space. There was something in his eyes too that told her he was quite surprised to see her waiting for him outside, when he wasn’t supposed to because, of course, they were expecting each other.

Joohyun silently scolded herself for thinking too much; maybe she was just really upset. She fixed a smile when he finally walked closer. Shinwoo was dressed casually in a pair of dark blue jeans, a white T-shirt underneath a plain blue hooded jacket. They even looked like they matched each other’s clothing since she was wearing a white dress paired with a knitted sky blue sweater.

The moment he stopped a step away from her, all her worries and fear seemed to be washed away by his presence.

Joohyun missed him terribly.

“I’m really sorry… I really tried to come here soon but the traffic was very bad and—“ he was stopped abruptly when Joohyun hooked her hands by his nape clinging to him and rested her lips on his.

It was out of her excitement probably. She knew had been losing it for the past few days especially knowing he would be gone for a long time. Admittedly, Joohyun was already feeling the void despite knowing he was still around. Her resolution of not being too emotional in their relationship was a complete failure. 

Shamelessly, she kissed him and she didn’t even care--

Until a hand on her shoulder gently pushed her off that she finally stood straight to realize his surprised reaction of her boldness.

His eyes widened in astonishment compelled her to shake her head vigorously while dropping her gaze on the ground. Yes, it wasn’t really her— the Joohyun of the past. “I—I’m s-sorry… I was just… hap… happy to see you and I was worried something bad happened to you, you know?”

He finally touched her chin to make her raise her head up again to meet his calmed eyes. She smiled when Shinwoo’s hesitant palm settled on her cheek.

“I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“I know, call or send me message if you will be late next time, okay? I will understand…” she touched the back of his hand that was resting on her cheek.

He held back for a moment before dropping his hand, “You… you’re not mad anymore?”

“Yeah,” Joohyun shook her head, “Let’s go… I reserved a table already.”

“Okay…”

“By the way, whose car is that?”

“Oh… a friend’s.”

Joohyun linked her fingers with his and motioned for the restaurant. They made their way but she looked up to him when she felt that he was trying to untangle their fingers. She rolled her eyes when he just smiled and tugged her hand tightly.

How much weirder could he get?

They remained quiet when they reached their table. Joohyun just resigned to the thought that Shinwoo was tired so he was acting reserved and quiet. After the waiter took her order, she took her phone and composed a quick message for her sister about the time she would be home. She was about to press send when something caught her attention so she looked at him curiously. “What did you order?”

“Seafood linguine in cream sauce, why?”

“Seafood linguine?”

“Yes.”

“Seafood… shrimp? Allergies?” She raised a brow then she swallowed unconsciously when she felt this sudden thud in her chest.

Looking closely at him was like looking at someone else. Watching his expressions changed. Watching the surprise, watching the alarm.

Someone entirely different.

Something was totally wrong.

“Ohh yeah… I-I’m sorry, I was…”

Joohyun hid the sudden nervousness that rushed through her by taking a sip from her glass of cold water. She closed her eyes for a moment then turned towards the waiter, “I’m sorry can I just call you a little later when we have decided? Thanks.” When the server was gone, she turned to him and asked worriedly, “Is there something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, it just completely slipped out of my mind…”

“Okay…” She nodded but her eyes never left his as if trying to recognize the person in front of her. A cold wind seemed to crawl from her nape down her spine. Her jaws tightened pushing away those impossibilities. Only when he reached out and touched her hand that she managed to give him a small smile.

“Really… everything’s okay, Hyun, nothing’s wrong…”

Hyun.

He never called her that. Somehow, she was missing sunshine on his lips.

Maybe it was just really her. Maybe she was as tired as he was.

Maybe…

But he suddenly looked different in her eyes.

“Why don’t you order for me?”

The man across her said so she nodded and called for the waiter again and asked for the spicy pasta with sweet potatoes for him. While she was still talking to the waiter, his phone rang.

The phone she couldn’t reach awhile back.

“Hey… how long? Okay… wait…” He spoke then looked at her, “I’m sorry, I have to take this…”

Stunned and confused, Joohyun watched him disappear among the decorative columns.

She was feeling more nervous than ever.

~~~

“This must be the most stupid thing I ever did for him. But don’t worry; this will be the last of it. I promise… but I will miss you…” He chuckled to himself. “Silly, isn’t it? How can I miss you like this knowing you’re not even mine?”

He sighed and walked away. That should be his last memory of her. She, sitting there under the yellow light, waiting for her love… that couldn’t be him.

The kiss… he will replay over and over again…

.........................................................................................................

Finally an update, huh? 

too many questions??? ehehe we'll keep the surprise but your guesses might be right??

^_______________^

Thanks Ate Raine for the edit 

btw, to Pinoy readers check this Filipino version of Me and My Five Day Boyfriend... I find it really reaaaalllyyyy cute and funny in our language... thanks Rox and Melissa for translating!