(Then)

I once met a boy who loves to eat the stars.

He’s not the most clever kid, but he’s surely are smart.
He’s young but he's tough.
His eyes spark with curiosity and there's always a glimpse of naivety when it comes to him.
But for his age, he's mature enough.
And no matter what circumstances, you will think that he is definitely one of the happiest and simplest young men you would ever meet.
Then let’s just say, he took my heart away without he even realized.

I met him for the first time a couple years ago in an ordinary situation. Not in some kind of rendezvouz.
And we’re also not instantly attached to each other; unlike another stories you might’ve heard or read.
He loves to dance as a hobby, while I prefer to do some writings.
At that time I was already in college while he was still in 9th grade.
That’s why, we live in a different world.
Age, of course, has always been the issue between us, but I think we try not to make it the main problem because as we grew closer, we do have a small part of each other’s world that we shared.

After befriended for a while, Taem once asked me, “Noona, I hope you don't mind with people staring at us.”
And by that question, I cried like a baby. I childishly thought that he was ashamed of me. Of us.
I remembered on how awkward and panic he was when he’s trying to convince me that I was only misunderstood.
How his hand tremble a bit when he caressed my hair and patted my head to calm me down as that was his first time to do that gesture.
Then he said, “Um… what I mean is, I know I shouldn't be like this, ..b-but I kinda like how I can forget many things as we walk hand in hand.. So I hope you wouldn't be mad, a-a-and don't worry I won'tgetyou intotrouble!”
Actually, after I heard his explanation, I don't mind being in a trouble if that's what it takes.

He is never too serious, but his child-like expression doesn't make him thinking like one.
Despite on being so young, apparently he knew what he wants to do in life. That's when I thought him the manliest.
And apparently too, it costs a lot to sacrifices.
Also he's already on his path when I met him for the first time.
So there's nothing I can do about it when he started to talk as if this is the end.
How ironic, it has to end eventhough what we have is never really started.

"Say something, Noona." He took my hand carefully as I remained still.
We both are acknowledged each other's feeling already at that time and we had been through things that make us more than friend, yet being too young, he couldn't be with me.
Heck, I couldn't be with him.

And also when he told me what he wants to achieve, and what it brings to our so-called relationship, I don't know what to say. He already prepared of everything anyway.
Who would have thought that he met me in the process?
Who would have thought that I fell for him on his way to the world he wants to conquer?
So how could I let him down? The boy who still love to eat the stars that I treasured so much.
Then at that time I told him, "I believed you can be anything you want."

Later, as I set my own plan in my life, he came back to me on one afternoon.
"Noona, are you running away?" He asked me as he abruptly went to my place.
I never saw him this angry.
"I thought you will be happy if I achieved something. I did this for you too! But why do you have to go so far, you promised to always look at me shine."
I looked at him.
He seems betrayed.
I have hurt him.
And I realized what he really meant.
So I gave him my reply, "You have nothing to prove, you know. I told you I believe in you, so now you have to do it for yourself. And I promised you, you will shine brightest of them all.."

I remembered once I told him, he will shine more if he continues to eat those star-shape candies he likes a lot.
Because the stars up there, they're always so bright, doesn't matter if people are staring at them or not.

"So are you running away because we can't be together anymore?" He still with the same question, only this time, it gets clearer.

I shook my head, "We're never really together, remember? But no, I'm not running away." I know I might hurted him more. And in fact, yes, I lied to him. I am running away.

When I took my bags, and reach out to the door, he said, "One day I will come to you, Noona. You'll see." Still with this upset tone in his voice.

I turned around and run to him for my last hug. Planted a fast kiss on his cheek, I said, "Take your time. We have all the time in the world."

But he never broke my heart this much until I heard him saying his last sentence, "Yeah? But what if in my journey I suddenly feel like need your hand to hold?"

And that's how my will became weak.
I promised that eventhough I go for a thousand miles from him, but I won't be too far.

--

(Later)

There's a show on the television, five young men is being interviewed.

"So now our Maknae, Taemin-goonie. What kind of advice someone gave that you always follow?"

His smile changed a bit though he already prepared of his turn to answer the question, "Well, it's not really an advice like those answer given by Hyungs, and but this one is kinda interesting. 'Continue to eat a lot of star-shape candies and you will shine'."

The other 4 older young men turned their heads to see him, and somehow smile understandably while the female MC laughs.

"How adorable! Look at you now, the advice does really work, doesn't it?"

Taemin's eyes dazed as he seems reminiscing when he replied ambiguosly, "Miraculously, it did helps me."

The MC seems doesn't hear it as he turns to the leader, "Oh, right, I heard that you planned to go to many countries this year, so has it been decided where to go?"

"Ah, yeah. But we hope the list of countries will get longer and longer as we all want to see many things there, too." The humble leader laughs.

"You all have been to many Asian countries, but I bet all of you couldn't wait to visit Europe too as I heard you will go there." The MC gave the statement to all.

And the one with fox-like eyes answered, "Well, you can ask Maknae here."

"Oh, really, Taemin-goon?" Once again the MC turned to him.

He's still smiling but now it seems a little bit more sincere than before, "It's been a while since I really want to go there and see the beauty with my own eyes."

The one who has a puppy eyes besides him grinned to the real meaning behind his answer.

While the tallest one ask, just to make it more interesting, because actually he already know what would be the answer, "Is there any particular country, or place?"

Taemin nodded firmly, "Yes, Spain."

And then the boy who once said that 'a person who dreams in a long time, becomes similar to his or her dreams', closed the interview by giving his heart-warming smile and waving his hand, before he says to the camera as if he's talking to the viewer, "Just wait. One day, I will surely come to you."

--

(Now)

I walked out from the flower shop as I lifted my head to see the sky. Ah, today's weather is just so great.

Suddenly my phone is ringing.

It's him.

He rarely calls me with international calls. Skype helps us a lot anyway. And eventhough he's pretty awkward when it comes to love or dating-related thing, -he still is, but he's actually expressed his love with his own way.

To send me the star certificate given by his fans, for example, and ask me to keep it for him. First, because it's so precious and knowing him, he could've just lost it randomly. Second, he can't be who he is right now if it's not because of my (rather silly) advice.

See? What a shy yet adorable confession.

I'm still staring at the phone LCD. He's smiling at me through the picture of him that I took the last time I went back to Seoul.

"Hola, Taemin-ah?"

"Hey."

"What's up? You usually call me only for a big news."

"You're right." He laughs as I can imagine him covering his adorable lips with the back of his hand. Then he continued, "Manager Hyung just told me, then it's final. I will come to you, Noona. I will come to Barcelona."

Smile slowly formed on my lips.
So when I came here, that wasn't I run away.
That were we sets his goal higher; to be as bright as he can be so one day with his success he would be known and reach anywhere as far as he wants.

"Oh I really can't wait to walk hand in hand with you again, this time under the Spanish sun." I cheerfully.

But he surely not as shy or cute as I remembered because then he replied, "Oh come on Noona, we've met last June in Seoul. Ah~ I know, you missed me that much, didn't you?"

Yes, of course I miss you a lot.
You, the boy who shines brightest of them all.
 

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OHOO, im back!! :)

Thankyou for all the comments and support to this short stories! i hope you like this chapter as i LOVVEEEEEE those picture of OnTaeKey on 'Sons of the Sun' somehow gives me the inspiration to write this one.

I hope you enjoyed the reading..

Lovelovelove,

Z