"She was my first love at the age of ten. Misun, that was her name. And true to her name, she was a beautiful goddess. Misun was not someone of this realm." He smiled, still looking at the sky, like it was displaying a picture of this Misun. 

 

"She knew that I loved her for a very long time, but didn't accept any of my confessions until we got into high school. Could you imagine how happy I was? Oh, over the moon, for sure! For our first date, I took her to a small restaurant. Though, it was one that she had to get all dolled up for. Oh my, she was a vision. Nothing compared to her. Nearly passed out from not breathing when I saw her. We dated all through high school. I thought it was perfect. I had this plan to got to college and keep working so I could take care of her and we would get married and build our life together. It was a great plan, the best. 

 

"But, she broke it off. Something about how she just wanted to be free when she went to college. Be free to date other guys! I was a man, a young one, but still a man. And as a man I was constantly told to not cry, that lesson was blown to hell when she left me. I cried like a damn newborn baby. I couldn't help but think if she felt constricted by me and that's why she broke it off. Or if she never liked me. Just keeping me around for her entertainment, you know? I was such a broken mess.

 

"I went to college, got a degree in business management and got a job. Most boring four years of my life. I hated it. I had managed to date a few girls, but it never went anywhere. I was still stuck up on her. It wasn't until I was out on a date with one of the women at my office when I saw Misun again. God, was she a vision. She didn't notice me staring at her for quite some time, the girl I was with noticed and shouted at me then left. I couldn't have cared less, I was looking at my goddess. But when I was being yelled at, Misun finally noticed me. To put it one way, she was surprised as hell. She looked at me and quickly looked back to the the shmuck she was with. I couldn't look away. Not for a second. I stayed until they left. I didn't want to upset her and follow her like some stalker, so I waited until he sent her home in a cab. I was 22. And she was a goddess.

 

"A year later I saw her again. I was relieved when I didn't see a ring on her finger. She was browsing in the grocery market. She still looked like a goddess. Beautiful, just beautiful. I walked up to her nervously. Oh boy was I nervous, she was just too beautiful. I tapped her shoulder and she turned around, shocked. When I smiled to her, she knew who I was and smiled back. I was so glad she smiled back. Her smile was like yours, you know. Two beautiful crescent moons upon her face. She paid for her things and I asked her to accompany me to dinner. She agreed and I was over the moon. Dinner was great, for me anyway. We caught up with each other. She told me about all of her experiences that she had, but warily. I didn't think much of it then, but now I know it's because she felt guilty. She didn't need to be, I loved her no matter what. We talked until they closed the restaurant closed and I took her home. I thought I wouldn't see her for some time, but she asked if we could meet again. I was ecstatic. We met up again and again and again. Soon after a year we got married.

 

"We tried to have kids, right away. And we did manage to, she was pregnant and I thought she was still a goddess. She got all nervous about having me see her pregnant, I thought a pregnant Misun was in some ways even more beautiful. We only managed to have one child. One beautiful child; a girl. She looks just like her mother. I was thankful for that, had she looked like me, I think she would have had a hard time finding a husband! Haha!" HwangSuk paused, choking up, "But... Uh... My Misun died giving our baby girl life. I found out later that she knew of the risk, but kept it to herself because she knew I wanted a baby and she wanted it too. Honestly, I wanted to kill myself to be with her, but I didn't because I knew I couldn't be selfish. She gave her life for our daughter and for me to do that.... To our daughter... My Misun wouldn't have liked that.

 

"Misun had named her before I was allowed to see them, Mikyong. I laughed at how old-fashioned of a name it is, it was like Misun to do something like that. I raised our daughter the best I coulld. I raised her telling her stories about her mother all of the time. Mikyong used to constantly tell me, 'Appa, you've already told me this about omma!' I just wanted to make sure she knew who her mother was. Mikyong grew up too fast. I'm sure father has said the same thing about you. Before I knew it, she'd gotten married and has given me two wonderful grandchildren. A boy and a girl. As foolish as her mother, Mikyong named those kids after Misun and I! I told her that they would only have trouble in school with old names like that. Haha! Damn girl is just like her mother. Now I'm sure you're wondering how that has to do with me being here, in this park, offering my sketches."

 

Tiffany nodded. 

 

"Tiffany-ssi, the restaurant I took Misun to on our first date used to be here. Place is obviously gone now, but in the exact place where I have my sketches setup, is where the restaurant was. After Mikyong moved out, I had no one. I went and fell back onto my sketches. I like to sketch here because of the closeness to Misun I feel. I'm not begging for money here, I have enough. I just like being here with my goddess. How's my story?" HwangSuk smiled playfully at Tiffany. 

 

Tiffany was crying waterfalls throughout HwangSuk's story. She thought it would be sad, but not heartbreakingly sad like this. The eye-smiling young woman could not get the flood gates to work because she's been bawling for five minutes with HwangSuk comforting her. 

 

"HwangSuk halabeoji.... I... How do you manage to live without Misun halmeoni?"

 

He gave her his handkerchief, "Wipe those tears. You're a beautiful young lady, but you look dreadfully ugly when you cry!"

 

Tiffany chuckled, "Halabeoji! I know, I've been told."

 

"I'm just kidding around. To answer your question, because to me she hasn't really left. It took sometime to know that, but now I know that she hasn't. She's in everything I do and am. She's the reason I tie my tie the way I do;  why I get this specific haircut; she said I look ugly with it and she wanted to make sure that nobody looked at what was hers. That beautiful, selfish woman. I sketch because she's always encouraged me to."

 

"You have an amazing story HwangSuk halabeoji." Tiffany finished wiping her tears and hugged the old man. 

 

HwangSuk laughed and hugged her back, "Oh Tiffany-ssi, you're a hugger like Misun. Besides my daughter, you're the only person I've ever met that had reminded me of my goddess."

 

"I'm sorry." Tiffany lowered her head as she let go. 

 

"Oh no! Don't be! Don't be! Misun and Mikyong always scolded me for saying things that can be misinterpreted. I meant it in a good way. A great way!"

 

"Oh, thank you halabeoji!" Tiffany immediately perked up and eye-smiled. 

 

"Well, now that you know my story, I want to ask you a question. May I?"

 

"Of course!"

 

"Who is this important person you mentioned earlier? I may be old and can forget sometimes, but that I remember." 

 

"Oh... Um..." Tiffany blushed. "It's a female." she whispered. Coming out to an almost stranger was certainly not what she would like to have done, but it was only fair. 

 

"A woman?" HwangSuk questioned with an eyebrow raised. 

 

"Yes, a woman. A beautiful woman whom had loved me with all her heart. I hurt her and she still gave me a chance. She's a great woman and I don't care what bad things you think about me because I love her." Tiffany spewed without a breath. 

 

"Calm down, Tiffany-ssi. I was just making sure I heard you correctly. I don't care if you love a man or a woman. This is your life and I don't have any say in it. In my life, I've learnt that love is something too precious to have limits. I just want to advise you: don't take each other for granted and love one another unconditionally." He smiled getting up and a walking back to his little setup. 

 

Tiffany followed, "I'm sorry for saying things like that. It's just... I've been told some hurtful things about that."

 

"Like I said, it's your life. Who am I to judge or interfere? Love knows no bounds." HwangSuk handed her the bin of sketches and smiles. "I want to thank you for listening to me Tiffany-ssi. And thank you for buying all of these. Take care and visit me with your little lady some time, eh?" 

 

"Thank you for allowing me to listen to your story, HwangSuk halabeoji. I love these sketches and will take care of them. You take care as well. I will definitely visit you again with her!" They hugged and said goodbye. 

 

 

Tiffany walked back to her car that was parked by Soshi Cafe. She drove straight to Jessica's.

 

 

Jessica was still sleeping peacefully in her bed until thunderous knocks hit the outside of her apartment door. She groaned in frustration and went to unlock the door to release upon the sleep intruder her deadly glare. However, when she opened the door and saw who was there, Jessica's eyes widen like a Squirrel Fish's and her jaw dropped two floors below. She forgot about her date with Tiffany and she was sure that her redheaded love was their to give her a piece of her mind. 

 

Tiffany lunged at at Jessica and the older of the two flinched, expecting a slap. Instead, Jessica did feel pain, but in her back. Tiffany had tackle-hugged her to the floor of her apartment. Jessica was stunned, but circled her arms around the redhead's waist. She would not let any opportunity to hold Tiffany pass. Tiffany snuggled her self into Jessica, not caring about the open door and the fact that they were on the floor. 

 

 

After a long time, Jessica finally spoke, "Umm Tiff? You're not mad that I forgot about our date? I am really sorry to you though. I love you. I guess all the energy I spent yesterday at the amusement park caught up to me. I am really sorry."

 

Tiffany lifted her head from the crook of Jessica's neck and gave her the most precious of her eye-smiles. "I'm not mad anymore, Jessi. I actually had a wonderful time without you. But I'll tell you more after you brush you teeth." she giggled and helped the brunette off of the door and closed the apartment door. 

 

"Okay! Just give me like 10 minutes to change and stuff. Make yourself at home." Jessica rushed to get herself fixed. 

 

 

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A/N: I was supposed to finish this last night, but I had a serious headache and couldn't. Sorry about that. Thank you for reading.   :)