It was a long day.

Or maybe not.
But it was definitely an exciting one.

And Kim can’t help but smile. She still can’t believe what happened to her. Or, a better way to put it, she still can’t believe she had met him again.

Lee Jonghyun.

Her first boyfriend.
Her first kiss.
Her first love.

While everyone else she knows gets excited sharing their first love and their experience, Kim Chiu gets thrilled and excited too. But she stops and lags at some point because she felt she had the need to translate everything and English subtitles were necessary.

Because her ‘first everything’ happened to be Korean. That Busan Taekwondo boy didn’t speak English at all when they met. His language speaking capability was limited only to his native dialect and Kim discovered later on, it was even different from that of the Seoul accent.

But Jonghyun was cool. Personality-wise, he could be serious when he needs to be, passionate at what he wants to achieve but relaxed. At a young age, he could be independent and dependable. Jonghyun’s very athletic and was musically inclined too. He plays the guitar and the piano and his voice’s really amazing. She remembers him to be all that.

And boy, he is handsome.
Very handsome.
Many people would often ask him if he’s not pure Korean because of his western features.

But despite these good characteristics and traits and physical gorgeousness, Kim knew she was really attracted to him the first time she saw him.

She didn’t know his personality when he sleepily handed her the rice cakes that day.
She didn’t know he could sing and play the guitar so well.
She didn’t know he could break someone’s neck with his martial arts expertise.
 

She didn’t know that when he smiles, it would make her smile too.

Her young heart just had beat a little faster when she met him the first time. He yawned twice before he could even say those rice cakes are from his Mom. When Jonghyun realized, it was a pretty young lady receiving those, and not his usual neighbors, he immediately said it was from him.

Kim blushed.
She did when she saw Jonghyun awkwardly smiled at her.

Ah, first love.

He was just standing there, doing nothing but just smiling, yet she saw perfection.
She saw love.
 

Then everything is pink and yellow. She’s all smiles. She’s all happy.

Love.
First love.

She wrote on her journal that day.

‘I met someone today… he had beautiful dimples, he had a captivating smile. And he’s super cute.’

Ah, first love.

Kim smiled again as she waited for her manager, Portia in the car. She was still inside the concert venue, probably taking pictures with CNBlue.

She had reminisced again. Kim had a feeling she is the only who remembers because Jonghyun probably forgot all about her now. But at least, Jonghyun remembers her name.

Kimberly.
He called her that again.

Kim bit her lip while she smiled for the nth time that day. She still can’t believe it to the point that she’s thinking that maybe she’s actually getting giddy over the fact that they met again.

Who would’ve thought their paths would ever cross once more?

But no, she had no feelings for him anymore. It’s been five years ago already. They’re both twenty-three years old now and for sure, Jonghyun had dated other girls while she had been into serious relationships too.

Kim had her own share of heartaches, and not all is courtesy of Lee Jonghyun. Her second boyfriend, also an actor, left her and went steady with her best friend. She was devastated and she severed ties with her best friend. That was her biggest heartbreak so far. And it wasn’t the KPOP heartthrob who crushed the heart of the Philippine primetime drama princess. And it was long before she can finally make herself see someone again. And that someone, is now her boyfriend, which is another actor (a very hot one), Xian Lim.

Portia climbed into the car, and was looking at Kim intently for minutes before she spoke. “Oi, aren’t we going?”

“Yes, yes.” Kim nodded. “Sorry.”

“Um, you have to start the car.” Portia was holding back her laughter.

Great.
Kim’s driving and she’s not doing anything. Talk about spacing out.

Kim looked at her and laughed, Portia caught her of course. She can’t deny that anymore.

“Let’s go home and you reminisce more at home.” Portia finally laughed at her. “You should’ve gone with me to the backstage. I hugged all of them.”

Portia’s smile was up to her ears while she told Kim her backstage experience with CNBlue, “They were so nice. Imagine, they look tired already but they still accommodated all those people who were there. And not to mention, they were sweating but they still smell good.”

Kim was amazed on how her manager who wasn’t really even into Korean dramas turned into a Noona fan overnight. She was still excited telling her story.

“When I was about to go out, Pogi took off his shirt.” Portia had put both her hands to her face, “I saw abs, Kim. Abs. And the biceps… tell me if I need to go on, or you need air to breathe.”

Pogi (handsome) – Jonghyun.

Abs + Biceps
Oh dear.

Kim had let out of mighty laugh, “And you even wanted me to come...”

“Exactly.” Portia glared, “I hugged them, and I saw Pogi’s abs… But glad you didn’t. You might not have let go.”

“Tita!” Kim smirked.

“Aishh.” Portia teased, “I’m telling Xian. Someone’s reminiscing.”

Awwww.
Someone’s reminiscing.

Rice cakes, Kimberly.
You remembered the rice cakes.

Kim smiled… and she blushed.

“But he’s so pogi, Kim.” Portia sighed. Her manager couldn’t get over that fact. “I don’t want to discriminate or anything but I have a Korean neighbor who studies English here. I knew you dated a Korean before; all along my impression of your ex-boyfriend was that he looks like my neighbor. Lanky, with glasses. Why did he have to be that handsome and hot? Lee Jonghyun-hot?”

Lee Jonghyun-hot.
Oh damn.
No better words to describe it, Tita Portia, no better words.

“And when he played the guitar, I wish I was Kimberly Chiu.” Portia tickled her, “Who just admitted Lee Jonghyun was good kisser.”

Awww.

“Tita, I’m driving!” Kim protested.

“What?” Portia was really pushing her to the limits.

Kim didn’t talk to her until they reach Portia’s house. She’s dropping her manager first before she goes home. It’s past eleven but she’s fully awake.

“Thanks for the ride.” Portia opened the car door. “I’m still going to search for CNBlue on the Internet; I’m so in love with them. Night, Kim. Text me when you’re home.”

“He’s pogi, Tita. He had become more pogi now.” Kim admitted while she smiled.

“Ayayayay.” Her manager teased, “Love, love, love.”

“Yeoboseyo?”

Kim heard that word when she answered her phone when an unregistered number called. She didn’t know why she picked up, she usually don’t. Maybe because it was an overseas number.

Yeoboseyo meant hello.
She understood right away. Her heart started really beating fast the moment she heard that word; the moment she heard his voice.

His voice.

Few hours ago, she heard his voice, singing.

“Jonghyun?”

“Mmmm.” He replied on the other line. “Can I see you tonight?”

Can.I.See.You.Tonight.

She swallowed hard.
As if he asked her to marry him.

‘When I saw you I can hardly speak, you’re just as beautiful as ever babe… I guess it’s still the same mystique, first love never dies…’

Her mind was singing again.
Oh damn.

“Jonghyun?” Kim repeated.

She had to.
She didn’t know how he got her number.

“Yes, it’s me, Lee Jonghyun.” Then he had to say his name. His full name.

“It’s past midnight Jonghyun.” She told him. “How did you get my number? Aren’t you tired? When are you leaving? How are we supposed to meet? Are you serious?”

Five questions.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

How did you get my number?
Aren’t you tired?
When are you leaving?
How are we supposed to meet?
Are you serious?

Five.
She asked him five questions; she even had to catch her breath after. 

“Which do I answer first?” He let out a small laugh.

“Jonghyun.” She sighed. “It’s late.”

“Please.” His voice sounded tired. “I have your address, actually. If I can’t get someone to drive for me then I’ll just give your address to the cab driver. They can read English here right?”

Shoot.
He might be taking a cab.

“I’ll go there. Wait for me.” Kim was in the process of the changing her clothes the moment she was telling Jonghyun those words. “Let’s have coffee.”

He sounded serious.
Lee Jonghyun is serious.
He is seeing her at that time of the night, er, morning.

But Kim was fast too.

“Okay.” Jonghyun smiled on the other line. “I’ll wait for you in the basement parking. I can’t go at the lobby.”

“Araso.” Kim hung up.

Kim was at the Diamond Hotel’s basement parking in less than forty-five minutes later.
Jonghyun was driving her Nissan 370Z, a 2-passenger sports car, a minute after she arrived.

They didn’t have to argue. There were fans that were staying at the hotel stalking CNBlue and managed to tail Jonghyun. So when he said he’ll drive, Kim had no choice but to take the passenger seat. At least, they were talking quite comfortably at the very beginning because she was giving him directions.

“Turn right.” Kim told him. “Then just go straight.”

“Oh, traffic’s not that bad anymore.” He told Kim, “We had to leave early to go to the concert venue because we’re told traffic is worst here in the city.”

“Right.” Kim agreed, she was about to tell him something but her phone rang.

It was Xian. She motioned to Jonghyun that he should just keep going and she excused herself to answer her phone.

“Hi.” Kim’s voice turned sweet. Jonghyun knew she was talking to her boyfriend. She spoke in Filipino “Ah, I will just have coffee with my friend.”

She spoke in her native language and she seemed a little nervous.
Must be the boyfriend; the current one.
Jonghyun couldn’t help but smile.

“Jonghyun-ah.” Kim told her boyfriend. Xian could’ve asked which friend she’s having coffee with at that unholy hour. He almost couldn’t hear her say ‘Jong’, so Xian could’ve just heard ‘Hyun-ah’.

Oh, Kimberly.
Who’s with you?

Jonghyun, ‘the friend’, smiled more.

“JONG-hyun.” His wide grin didn’t leave his handsome face, and Jonghyun emphasized on the JONG more when Kim had ended her call with Xian. “My name is JONG-Hyun. Lee JONG-Hyun.”

“Sorry.” She was blushing when she apologized, “I didn’t want him to think. It’s past one a.m. and I’m out with a guy. It’s not nice, JONG-Hyun. That’s my boyfriend by the way, Xian.”

“Turn right.” Kim told Jonghyun before he can answer, “We could park right there.”

Coffee, right?
Where else?

Starbucks.

Starbucks
Harbor Square, Pasay City
1.30 a.m.

There was no traffic. It was a stone-throw away from Diamond Hotel, well, almost. Kim didn’t know where to bring him; she had no plans of course. She didn’t even know she’d met him again.

Starbucks Coffee in Harbor Square was near enough Diamond Hotel for Jonghyun to drive without a Philippine driver’s license (although she thinks his Seoul license will do) and far enough from the radar of his stalker fan girls. That branch of the famous coffee shop is overlooking the Manila bay, although it smells a little bit, it has a good view and it’s not crowded. It’s cool, spacious, well-lit and romantic.

Oooops.
It can’t be romantic.
It can be everything except that.
Kim wanted to turn back.

She really wanted too, especially that the wind started to blow a little more than breezy and colder. It’s near Manila bay, so it’s cooler. The lights were beautiful and yachts parked nearby were eye catching. The restaurants they’ve passed by as Kim and Jonghyun walked towards Starbucks were still open. On the second floor were few bars with bands playing light rock romantic music.

Damn.
Romantic again.

It’s past midnight.
The wind is light and breezy
The surroundings were perfect.
They’re playing love songs.
And they’re about to have coffee.

And Kimberly Chiu’s walking with her first love.

Romantic is the word.

‘Maybe first love never ever dies…’ Her head started singing again.

“What’s wrong?” Jonghyun had to ask her because she stopped walking.

The wind had blew and made his hair a little bit messy. He had to run his fingers thru it. Kim remembered how she went gaga over this gesture.

Ah, first love.

“Hey.” His dimples showed when he smiled. Those deep, beautiful dimples. “What’s wrong?”

And those dimples made her run to the bathroom or the bedroom of her teacher’s house to shriek and scream alone because she can’t contain her giddiness.

Ah, first love.

“Nothing.” She chuckled. “I just remembered something.”

All those things she wrote in her diary.
All about Lee Jonghyun, her first love.

Kim ordered coffee, Jonghyun paid for it. The people who recognized Kim asked for an autograph and for a picture with her. She had to ask them though not to take pictures of that handsome guy with her. She had to reason he was a friend visiting from Seoul and he’s very private. And some people might make something out of it that she’s having coffee with someone at that time of the night slash morning.

It was a wrong move of course; because later on, she heard a few saying that, rumors between her and Xian are not true after all. That handsome guy with her (Jonghyun) is the real thing. In short, people thought she was on a romantic date with Lee Jonghyun.

Maybe.

“Aren’t you tired?” She asked him again. They were sitting on a corner inside the coffee shop where people don’t pass by. “The concert was great by the way. You were great.”

“Thanks, I am tired.” He sipped his Chamomile tea.

“Then what are we doing here?” Kim’s eyes widened.

“You’re drinking coffee, I’m having tea.” He smiled.

Lee Jonghyun cracked a joked. Kim didn’t know if he was actually flirting with her or not. But point is, he smiled again.
 

He smiled again.
Yay.

“Drop it.” Kim pouted, “Finish that fast and let’s go back. I’ll take you home.”

“You’ll take me home?” Jonghyun flirted, “Xi’s not gonna like that.”

So, he is flirting.
Oh damn.

The smile’s fine, Jonghyun.

He even used Kim’s nickname for Xian, Xi.

“Jonghyun…”

“I just wanted to see you again.” Jonghyun said seriously, “I owe you a lot, I know. You probably hate me to the bones. It’s a surprise you didn’t slap me the first time we met again. Honestly, I’m expecting that. And more honestly, I’m still waiting for it.”

You wanted to be surprised, Lee Jonghyun?
How about she never hated you all this time?

She laughed a bit, “No, why would I do that? Because you forgot all about me?”

He nodded.

There.
See?

She really meant nothing to him. Sadly, Kim knew that. She knew everything. That’s why she had no expectations whatsoever.

“I know.” She never knew Café Americano tasted this bitter, “What do you remember about me then?”

“Mmmm.” He shyly asked, “No hard feelings?”

“Yes.”

“Are we matured enough?” He asked shyly again but he sort of smiled.

Kim hesitated but she nodded just the same.

“I remembered your name for one.” Jonghyun admitted, “That your accent is funny. And that you always blush.”

She was waiting for him to say some more but he seemed to have said what he wanted to say.

Oh darn.
And that Busan boy, as always was blunt and straight to the point and very honest.

“Oh.” Kim just smiled. Just as what she has guessed. He doesn’t remember anything.

“While you don’t remember anything,” She began, “I remember everything, Lee Jonghyun. You were my first love. And I remember every single detail.”

Jonghyun stopped drinking his tea.
He remembered that bay on his left is called ‘Manila Bay’. He suddenly missed the Han River; if he can’t jump in the Han River out of embarrassment, then Manila Bay is the better and nearer option.

Then Kim smiled, “But forget it. That’s all in the past anyway. We can just laugh about it now.”

Jonghyun was still holding his breath. He didn’t know he was her first love. He was too cruel for not remembering anything. At that very moment, he tried to recall. And Kim saw that effort on his face. Then she did him a favor by telling him how and why they broke up. It was long before he could remember and he didn’t want to believe it a first. Of course, after Kim had let him hear their ‘own’ love story, then he was able to recall everything. Truth is, he was able to recall all of this, hours ago at the Diamond Hotel when they met again for the first time in five years. Since Kim thought he forgot everything, which was true initially, Jonghyun let it stay that way.

“Sorry.” Jonghyun embarrassingly apologized, “I’m really sorry.”

“I already said its okay.” Kim assured him, “Lee Jonghyun, if you say sorry again, I’m throwing you there.” She laughed while she pointed at Manila Bay.

He was expecting a slap.
He didn’t know it was worse; anyway, he thought of jumping by himself at the famous Philippine Bay earlier.

“By the way, were you able to go around the metro?” Kim asked him.

“No.” He shook his head. “We had a sort of fan meet at a mall. Then we just ate a local restaurant. That’s it.”

“Let me guess what you had.” The ex-girlfriend chuckled but she didn’t tell him what it is.

They both knew what it is of course.

Pork soup.

“Do you know what it is called in Filipino?” Kim had to test him though.

“Sinigang.” He proudly answered. “I like it a lot. And there’s one more. Lechon (Roast Pig)? I like it too.”

“We have the best Lechon from where I came from.” Kim told him. “In Cebu.”

“You’re from Cebu?” Jonghyun’s eyes glistened. “We wanted to go there. And Boracay.”

“Really?”

Jonghyun nodded. “Really. Maybe I should go back. I wanted to go by myself actually. I wanted to go on a trip alone. But I don’t speak English that much so, how can I go? But I definitely would like to go to Cebu. When are you going back?”

“Next week.” Kim answered as she finished her coffee, “I have don’t have any work scheduled for a few days next week, so I’m going home.”

Me too, Jonghyun spoke in his mind, me too.
He suddenly regretted why he never paid particular attention to visas and similar matters. He didn’t know if his visa to the Philippines is multiple entry and he didn’t know when it will expire.

But wait, why does he want to go to Cebu suddenly? He can go anytime.

“Who knows I might see you in Cebu.” He said. His tone, a cross between teasing and flirting. In other words, he wants go to Cebu with her.

“Lee Jonghyun.” She can only return his flirting with a defeated smile. “Let’s go. It’s late.”

“I’m not done with my tea.” He complained, showing her his half-finished drink.

Jonghyun did that on purpose of course. It was almost three a.m.. Time passed by as they reminisced and updated each other with their lives after they went on separate ways. It was a nice conversation. Jonghyun and Kim were never bitter to begin with. Kim never hated him, while Jonghyun almost never remembers their time together. It’s as if they were just two friends chatting, talking about how they hang out before. Jonghyun even teased Kim on how her Korean still sounded funny and weird. They talked about her former teacher, who happened to be Jonghyun’s neighbor. That same teacher married Jonghyun’s Taekwondo instructor later on.

Funny that five years later, when they have matured that they’ve come to realized that they were better off as friends. Their conversation was even comfortable, and both of them enjoyed each other’s company. They couldn’t just talk about their skin ship of course; the way they held hands, the hugs and kisses.

That would be freaking awkward if they do that.

And the Manila bay is waiting on which one of them is willing to jump first; Lee Jonghyun or Kim Chiu.

Too awkward, too awkward.
Aigoo.
 

Kim was finally able to persuade him to leave Starbucks at thirty minutes later. While they were walking back towards the car, everything became ‘more’.

It’s (more) past midnight.
The wind is (more) light and breezy
The surroundings were (more) perfect.
They’re playing (more) love songs.

And Kimberly Chiu’s STILL walking with her first love.

MORE romantic is the word.

‘Maybe first love never ever dies…’ And no, it’s not her head singing. It’s one of the bands.

She closed her eyes. Kim wanted to curse.

“That’s a nice song.” Jonghyun told her, “What’s the title of that song?”

“I don’t know.” She lied, “Let’s hurry up.”

Awww.

Jonghyun, it’s called ‘First love never dies never dies’.

Then he managed to hear the chorus and he understood a bit. Jonghyun smiled and walked a bit faster to catch up on Kim who went ahead of him. He put his arms on her shoulders, and kissed her head. It shocked her, making her eyes widen, and she stopped walking.

And obviously, Kim blushed and was out for words.

Jonghyun stepped in front of her and pulled her in for a hug, “I’m sorry.” He whispered. “I’m a bad guy. I’m not your first love. First loves don’t break hearts like that. First loves don’t forget like that. I’m sorry, Kimberly.”

“Yah.” She playfully pushed him away, “It’s for me to say who my first love is. And didn’t I say I’m going to throw you there?”

Manila bay is waiting, Jonghyun.

They both laughed.

“It’s nice seei