The breezy wind courses itself among the yellow tinted, peach leaves. Sun rays meant nothing, as leaves descended like snow on a winter season.

Speaking of snow, a seventeen-year-old with skin pale as snow sits under the peach tree for an hour or so. With his uniform untarnished, he relaxes as he enjoys the resonance of music coming from his white earphones. Scattered around, the falling leaves gains attention from his transparent gaze. His lean legs sits crossly cosy, while both his arms softly incline the bench, leaving him with a dominant posture.

It would have been normal to have mistaken this teenager as an angel. His perfect facial features peacefully glisten during autumn, his favourite season.

“Hey!” a voice said, as she taps his shoulder. Surprised, he turns his head, leaving an index finger successfully pressed on his dazzling cheek. Shin Ji Min, a girl that he loved so dearly, he couldn’t help but smile brightly upon seeing her face.

“You’re here again?” Ji Min asked, as she takes her place besides him. Besides Oh Sehun.

“Yeap.” Sehun answered sweetly. He takes his earphone off and lets it dangle around his bright uniform.

Unfortunately, he gains no respond as the beautiful girl with her ponytail high, busies herself with the lunch box on her lap.

“What?” asked Sehun.

“Eat?” says Ji Min. Two pieces of sandwich already resting on her hand, looking delicious as ever.

A free offer of food, of course Sehun accepted it. He certainly wanted to show off his white teeth to Ji Min. He opened his mouth, as he gestures her to feed him. Ji Min fed Sehun half-heartedly with a smile.

A pair of eyes not far from them had been settled on them for quite a while now. Even before Sehun sat under the peach tree, he was already there. Who knows? He is similar to Sehun because he also appears at this place, especially on autumn. In fact, when Sehun comes he is the only subject that his eyes focus on. Every Sehun’s movement, he knows. Ever since Sehun sat on the bench, when he puts his earphones on, when Sehun decides to change the music and when that girl came. He knows it. If there was ever a contest named, “Recall Sehun’s movement.” I would definitely have won.

4:45:25 p.m. to be exact, when Sehun and Ji Min left their place. A man wearing jeans that matches his v-neck t-shirt assured him that Sehun left on that hour. “An awhile ago smile” soon disappears on his face. Nothing could make his lips form the same smile when Sehun left. It’s also time for him to go.

“Today is enough,” he said to himself and walk slower. Only one thing that always he left behind. One dried blue lily. Always.

“Where have you been?” Xiumin asked when found Baekhyun come from front door. Even without looking Baekhyun, he know who had stand behind him is his brother.

No answer. Xiumin choose to get up from his seat after folded his newspaper beside his sweet tea, and face Baekhyun.

After made Xiumin hold up his chin higher, Baekhyun respond. But not the right answer Xiumin wants to hear. “I want go to school, hyung.”

“Mwo (What)?” Xiumin show his confusion.

“I want go to school again. May i?” the same sentence that Baekhyun had spoke of. But need another minute for Xiumin to understand what Baekhyun mean.

“Oh Sehun right?” He guess.

“Hyung, school, please?”

“Why you always watch that boy?” ok, the boredom start crawl over Xiumin with the dialogue that not connected each other.

“I want go to school, hyung!” push Baekhyun colder. Now Xiumin realize with the changed of Baekhyun’s mood. But its look he likes to elongate this much longer.

“Mwo, mwoya? Mwo? Are you not realize how old are you?” Yeah! In wink of eye, his authority has disappeared. Even Baekhyun regret showed his intention to the most oldest person in this house.

“What are the special from that snow boy, hah?”

“Hyung!” Baekhyun can’t hold this any longer. Xiumin play his nerve on.

“If your intention just for following that snow ball, just forget it okay.” He continued.

“Stop called him snow, hyung!” Baekhyun protest.

“Wae(Why), wae, wae, wae?! What’s wrong with you? You like him? Eoh? Are you gay now?”

“Hyung!”

“Enough hyung,” someone said gentle. All of sudden they turn their head to the voice and stop all of the fight.

Baekhyun even smile when he saw a man, his second oldest brother. After Sehun, he is the only one that could make him smile. His face is so cute doesn’t suit with authority and wise demeanor in Baekhyun eyes. For Baekhyun, Xiumin should not be the oldest brother, but Luhan. Moreover, Xiumin’s face totally suitable be the youngest.

“Just let him be,” Luhan continued. Don’t know how he standing beside Baekhyun now. “Even though,  his face still jibe for school, right?” suddenly Luhan embrace Baekhyun shoulder. Baekhyun lift his head and see smile on Luhan small lips. No more other thing than that smile is please him in this house now.

“Thanks, hyung.”

Deg! Luhan and Xiumin stocked still. Both of them stared Baekhyun compact. The problem is, this is the first time of them to hearing such ‘thank’ come out from Baekhyun lips. In their fresh memory, never once Baekhyun said this word. Its look like, a child named Sehun already change Baekhyun, a lot. He before, are the laziest man to speak up with the other, and just then he debate with Xiumin. Commonly, he immediately gives up when his will being oppose.

“Oh, yeah..” don’t know why, suddenly Luhan felt so wrong on behaving and release his embrace then let Baekhyun went to his room.

“How much Sehun change Baekhyun?” Xiumin said in murmur. His face like idiot person who watch Baekhyun door being close.

“One day, we need to check out about Sehun boy, hyung.”Luhan said softly.

“You’re right.”

***Diluted Snow***

 

Sehun glued up to his seat. Lean on his head on table with eye vision straight forward.  Witnessed few leaves fall down out there.

“Eomma (Mom)”

Shadows of the past haunted him. A drop of tear already leaks out drench his cheeks. Only a softly sigh can make him bear a pain that stabbed his heart. His lips tremble to restrain more tears out. No more than this for today.

In no time, bell ringing. Until all of his friends enter the classroom, he not even once lifts his head. He never cared about anything around him. He even doesn’t know one person in that class. He never spoke with anyone. He doesn’t like to know them who always annoying and makes his life difficult, in his opinion. All of those,  of course an exception for Shin Ji Min.

After all of the student fills up the room. A young teacher step his leg entering the room with another pair of foot. He wears the same uniform.

“You have you friend today,” said teacher after stand in the front of class. All of the eyes hold still to the you guys. Of course not for Sehun, he doesn’t have a will to lift up his head up.

"Jja! Introduce yourself!” continued the young teacher.

Then, that eye looking around the room. Don’t know why, his gaze can trap all of the eyes who stare it. In their eyes, this teenager was very perfect. Ivory skin, shiny eyes, sharp nose with small lips. The most black and shiny hair that could even beat famous shampoo ambassador.

“Anyeong hasseo!” he greet. “Nan Byun Baekhyun ieyo. Bangaptayo?!”

“Please behave, and nice to him.” Firm teacher Kim also their homeroom teacher.

“Yes.”

“Oh, Baekhyun, you can sit now,” the teacher shift to Baekhyun who was stare a certain person on his seat. “I want to seat beside Oh Sehun, Seonsaengnim,” he said, without reward the teacher glance.

Feel shocked, Sehun who actually pain no response to the introduce thing lift his head after clear the trace of tear. And make sure the person in front class slip his tongue for mention his name.

“Mwo?” he murmured, unbelievable. He even doesn’t know who Baekhyun is. But how he knows about Sehun?

“Oh, whatever. Furthermore, the only empty seat is beside him, right?” teacher Kim answer.

“NO! May be this the only seat left. But I always sit alone.” Reject Sehun, refined as possible. But teacher Kim bulge his eyes out.

“So, you’re making Baekhyun sit on the floor, eoh?”

“Ah…of course…no,” finally Baekhyun bend his head down. , he can’t againt this teacher. Unfortunetly, he has to let someone disturb his solitude.

“Baekhyun, sit over there,” Baekhyun just let small smile while he give a litte bow and fly away to sit beside Sehun.

“Shireoya? (You don’t like ; informal)” he asked while Sehun doesn’t even care take a glance.

“This is the first time we meet, he already using informal language to me? Seriously,” Sehun murmured, upset.

“Shireoya?” Baekhyun repeat again. Listen it, Sehun fizzle infuriated. He turns with very sour smile.

“Heh, ani YO! (NO ; formal)” Sehun answer, emphasize the word ‘yo’ in his sentence. Try to satire Baekhyun with his informal language.

“Good. Bangaptaya?” there’s a word ‘ya’ on Baekhyun sentence, again. Despite he was very upset, Sehun gave up. He don’t want find disturbance, besides teacher Kim still teach in front them. Let him be, as long as he not disturbs me, Sehun told his innerself.

But let this kid do everything as he like, it make Sehun more upset. “I just go to school so I don’t have anything. Could you lend me this?” Baekhyun hold Sehun’s pencil.

Of course Sehun sneer his lips. He really doesn’t like everything that he own was touch by anyone. Furthermore, what the hell is this person? First time meet but Baekhyun act like he known Sehun for centuries. Not Sehun type at all.

“Aniyo! This is mine! Everyyyyythiiiiiing! Mineeeeee!” Sehun took all of his belonging from Baekhyun. Confusion and dumbfound was clearly seen on Baekhyun face. Calmly Baekhyun answer. “Arasseo. Then I’ll write nothing.” Of course this entire scene make Sehun more upset.

“What the hell? You don’t have anything, the why you get to school? Are you really have intend attending school?” Sehun really want to shout all of the though out. But, no. This time he can bear it. Finally, Sehun force a smile and give Baekhyun his pencil.

“Thanks.” And this word he got.

Ok, Sehun just going to let him be. But suddenly, “Lend me book!”

“YAK!”

***Diluted Snow***

“Mwo? Baekhyun hyung attending school?” Chen’s jaw drop when he heard explanation from Xiumin. Moreover after Xiumin answer the question with a nod. He straightaway attack position beside Xiumin. “Rea, really hyung?”

“Yeah! What for I lie to you?” Xiumin snap him, felt little angry.

“What the hell that was for? Is he looking for death sentence? How if his cover is blown out?”

“How? His face is still suitable for him to attending school. In fact, his face in more younger than Kai even his age more older than that younger!” Lay added. He doesn’t realize that after he said those word, the owner name of ‘KAI’ has send him a death glare.

“Mwoya?” Kai said with killing intend, Lay only can gulp see him.

“Then how about me hyung?” Eotte, eotte, eotte, eotte, eotte, eotte?” Chen doesn’t even care about his brother in crisis moment with Kai.

“Ani! Do you think ‘who you are?’ Mwo, mwoya? Do you want my head to explode? Just, Baekhyun is enough ok?  No one attend any school!” Xiumin punch Chen’s head hard enough. Chen just can pout his mouth.

“Luhan hyung!” suddenly Chen shouting like crazy. Reflex, Xiumin and Lay turn their head. Kai? Oh, he already read his comic, after let Lay free from the hell he made.

Luhan just get out from his room with all the white clothes, his doctor uniform. It is look that he already leave for his work.

“Hyung… can i…”

“Ani. Listen to Xiumin hyung.” Luhan snarl fast. Chen back to his pout mode. There’s no hope for him. Both of the oldest brother already say no, its mean no. Even though, deeper in his heart always repeat the same word. ‘In fact, I’m younger than Baekhyun hyung’.

“You leave now?” Xiumin asked. Luhan only nod. “How about Oh Sehun? When we check him out?” he asked again. And this time success makes everyone included Kai stare both of them.

“Ehm, Oh Sehun? The snow boy that Baekhyun like?” Lay guess. And there’s no need for answer, all of them knew that the guess has hit the bull eyes.

“I’m busy hyung. There’s a lot operation that I had to handle. Maybe, next time. Moreover, Baekhyun done nothing… yet.” Luhan answer calmly, Xiumin just nod.

“I leave.” Luhan bid, stop Xiumin that almost answer Chen question. After nodding to Luhan, Xiumin choose to back to his own room, left 3 people behind with confusion.

***Diluted Snow***

Sehun’s left ear twitch uneasy. He remember about his parent word – that he doesn’t believe – if your left ear twitch without reason it’s mean somewhere there someone talk about you.

But, not about twitch ear that disturb Sehun now and make Sehun sigh all the time. But rather about someone that following him around since the bell rang. And of course, this upset Sehun evenmore. Sehun has held his anger but now he can’t hold it any longer.

“YAK!” Sehun screams like crazy while turn on his heels, Byun Baekhyun just stare him stoically. Don’t you know that Sehun in angry and upset level now?

“Ya! Ttarawajima! (Don’t follow me) how many time I have to say, eoh? TTARAWAJIMA! What do you real intention, eoh?” Sehun shout again. His finger pointed at Baekhyun. But Baekhyun expression didn’t waver at all. Flat…nothing else.

Angry, Sehun return to his walk. Walk slowly, Baekhyun still following. Faster, Baekhyun STILL following. Even run, Baekhyun still same. Until Sehun gave up. He turns over and closes the distance between him and Baekhyun.

“Jebal! Deulbokjima (Please, don’t disturb me). What do you want? Why you still keep following me?” Sehun asked softly. He try to emphasize all of his nerves.

“I just want to know your home,” a very brief answer with very flat intonation. Almost, almost Sehun hit him, but he not do it.

“Just say that you want to come my home,” Sehun murmured resentful. “Ttarawa! (Follow me)” Sehun commanded and walk ahead.

Baekhyun smile. “He said ‘ttarawajima’. Now ‘ttarawa’?” He giggle softly.

Arrive at Sehun house, a can of beverage present in front of Baekhyun.

“Drink!” Sehun said. But Baekhyun just give smile meanwhile stare upset face of Sehun. Now they face each other at guest room.

Baekhyun’s eyes shift to the house. Ah.. maybe only this room. Wide enough, even wider than his own. There’s a lot of expensive household furnishing.

“Your house quite big,” Baekhyun said. Actually Sehun didn’t want to service this kid, but finally Baekhyun quite interest with his house. Oh, is he found materialistic friend now?

“Eoh,” that an answer.

“I don’t even expect that you are richer than I think,” Baekhyun said again. This time Sehun didn’t want to heed him at all.

“So I won’t bustle if you come to our house. You must not too amaze by our house later.” Who want come to your house? Sehun curse softly.

“Your parents…where they work?” Baekyun asked. Sehun didn’t answer it until Baekhyun realize it. From Sehun colour face, I seems that Sehun don’t like it when he talk about his parant.

“No where.” Sehun answer coldly.

“Mwo?”

“They died.” Shocked? Yeah, Baekhyun must felt very shocked now. But his emotion didn’t show it.

“So with whom you were staying?”Baekhyun asked. Now Sehun turn his eyes on him. “Oh, are you angry with my question?” one another question from Baekhyun lips. Now from Sehun glance on him, he knew that he real angry.

“With my shadow,” ah… Sehun choose to answer the first question.

“Alone?”

“I said with my shadow,” Sehun firm much slower.

Baekhyun smiles, back. Huh, maybe his family will shock thousand times if they saw smile on Baekhyun face, who nearly never smile at home. He sighs softly. He had to stop the conversation that make Sehun upset.

“Do you want to drink it, don’t you?” ok, Sehun liked him. He now doesn’t show his wrath on his eye. “Shireoya?” Sehun asked precisely like Baekhyun intonation back at school.

“Kalkeoya? (I leave)” Hey?! Suddenly he just takes his leave?

“Mwo?”

“I’m so happy to know my beloved friend’s house,” Baekhyun added. He put his smile and left the house.

Sehun stand still in his position. ‘my beloved friend’ what the hell it’s mean? Million questions come cross to Sehun mind.

“Mwo? What he….aih…omo…don’t tell he’s..” Sehun mind went bizarred. “What beloved, eoh? Aish! Michinande! (I’m going crazy)” he shouts in frustration.

***Diluted Snow***

The body jump up and down. Sweat all over the body. A Plum lip has tremble uncontrollably. But he only can lie down without can get up from his position. Even to get up, to open his eyes, he couldn’t.

He always felt like been hunted by something. But unfortunately, he is the only one over ther. Lie soullessly without ability to avoid it. His tremble lips could only said one word, “Eomma!” all the time.

 “EOMMA!!!” he shout it powerful. Finally he could free. He freed from his fear. But his breath could be heard clearly. His eye shows so much worried, nerve and anxiety. His lips tremble even greater when he realize that was dream.

 “Eomma..” he said softly. Slowly, something that never he could hold falls from his eyes. Now, the only thing he could feel is pain on his heart

***Diluted Snow***

The fingers play gracefully around keyboard. String up a lot of word in monitor. But, only few lines filled, suddenly he stop. His hand chooses to cover his face.

 “Aigoo!” he curse aloud. “Aish! Eotteohke?!” he shout in more frustration. Watch his own few lines, make him more upset. He really want to throw up his computer out of the room.

 “I can’t finish it!” he said to himself, fully give up. A loud voice can be heard when his head slam on the table. Let all the dizziness disappear, or get another? Who knows?

“Hyung!”

“MWOYA?!” He shout that too loud. Luhan stand there with shock expression and almost make his tea kiss the floor.

“Wae geurae?” Luhan asked when he saw his brother let out the sigh and slam his head on the table. “Your script isn’t ready yet?”  Tired holding the glass, he put it on the table.

 “Eoh…” Xiumin answer, short.

 “Calm down, hyung. You had one month to finish it right?” waste question actually, no respond from Xiumin. Yah… one month isn’t long time to finish his thousand sheet of his novel. Moreover the story line found its dead end in Xiumin head. Maybe thousand years is impossible for him to finish it.

 “Why I always find the dead-end? How I can keep up my work like this?”

 “Don’t know,” Luhan reply short. His faces more look dumbfound seeing frustration radiate from Xiumin.

 “Hyung, Master Lee Hyuk Jae already waiting for you in guest room,” Luhan continued his talk after sipping his tea.

“Ah… Lee Hyuk Jae,” Xiumin nod. But minutes later, his body froze. Wait! Now he realizes who the owner of the name is. “MWORAGO? LEE HYUK JAE GA YEOGI ISSEO?!”[1]

 

Written by Ulfa Mia Lestari.

I don’t own this story.

I’m just tried to translate it, because I felt this story worth to