Chapter III - Past Meets Present

“My name is Sungmin. Lee Sungmin.” The kid said with a wide grin.

I didn’t even get to respond as he removed his hand from my shoulder and shyly said: “Okay (your name)-ah, see you around.”
And just when I thought he couldn’t get any more appetizing adorable, he winked!

kyaaaaaaa! I felt like I was about to faint. Good thing I was able to hold on to my senses until he turned his back and ran to follow his younger brother who was already halfway up the hill. He put his hand over his dongsaeng’s shoulder and skipped merrily. I followed them with my gaze until they were out of sight. I must’ve been smiling too much that I didn’t notice my dongsaeng was watching me.

He said: “Aigoo! Noona has a crush! nyenyenyenyenye!

ME: “What!? Ah! Ryeowook-ah! What are you talking about!?”

R: “Don’t deny it noona! I saw how you looked at Sungmin hyung!”

“What!? How am I supposed to look then!?” I retorted while raising my eyebrows.

R: “Ah really! I know you noona! That smile! Abot tenga ‘yang ngiti mo ah!” 

ME: “Aisssh this kid! Stop it!” while I grabbed for his collar. But he was too fast. I barely touched the tips of his hair as he had already sprinted towards our home.

R: “nyenyenyenyenye! You cannot catch me! Ashley/your name and Minnie sitting on a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!!” he shouted so joyfully at the furious me.

ME: “Aisssh really! When I get to you, you’ll regret it!”

And I ran after him but I really couldn’t catch up. My brother is small and had fast reflexes. By the time I caught up with him, he was already safely sitting on Nari umma’s lap. I though to myself: “Ah so frustrating! I’ll get you next time.” as I glared at Ryeowook.

Wookie just did merong to me though. Aisssh really so annoying!

Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but smile as I went into my room (which I shared with my sister). I could still vividly remember how he was so concerned with my hand. Ooooh those puppy eyes of his and those thin lips. Seriously!? How could anyone be that good-looking!? What’s more is that he actually made the effort to get to know me. Ah, how much sweeter could he be!?

I buried my face onto my pillow to muffle the sound as I screamed at the top of my lungs. I even wiggled my feet a-la Miss-A all the while. I didn’t notice someone come inside until I felt a tap on my butt. It was my sister.

ME: “Oh! Katie! It’s you!”

K: “Ya! What’re you doing just now!?”

ME: “Nothing…” I replied innocently. I hoped she wouldn’t guess but…

K: Don’t tell me…”

I gulped. It couldn’t be possible that she noticed too.

ME: “hmmmmm?”

K: “You’re practicing your dancing!? Seriously! You of all people should know there’s no chance for you to learn! Too stiff!” she said irritably.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

ME: “Ah yes! I was just…yes! Learning how to dance…uhm…because you’re so good and ‘m jealous.” I reasoned.

K: “Just stick to singing!”

ME: “It’s free to dream. hahaha”

K: “Aisssh seriously! Come here.”

And we spent the rest of the evening dancing. Well, my sister did the dancing and I did the…uh…well, following. I wasn’t very successful though. ^^

That’s Katie, my sister. God I miss her. It’s been too long since…


Just then, I was jolted out of my reverie as BoA’s watch beeped. It was already 4 o’clock. Woah, too much for day-dreaming! I shook her awake.

ME: “Ya! BoA-ah! Wake up! It’s four already!

B: “Hmmmm??? Ah… It’s too early.”

ME: “What!? Are you out of your mind!? We’re not at home. We’re on duty.”

B: “Oh really!? ㅋㅋㅋ Sorry!”

She stretched out and yawned.

B: “Okay! Let’s do this! Vital signs time!” she chirped as she jumped up.

I just smiled as I looked at her. My best friend is really one of a kind. She shifts from sleepy to lively in a split of a second.

B: “Come on team! Don’t laze around! Patients are waiting for us. Aja!” and she pulled me up.

We did the usual routine - vital signs taking, administration of medications and etcetera. We were so busy that we didn’t feel
the time pass by. I was shocked as I looked at my watch. Quarter to seven in the morning. Ah really! So fast. When I’m with Boa, time…well…just flies.


Fifteen minutes later, we were already making our way out of the hospital’s lobby when a familiar voice called out to me.
“(your name)-ah!!!”


I looked around. It was Heechul oppa! He was dressed in his usual get-up. White printed shirt, skinny jeans, pretty shoes, his favorite shoulder bag and his signature shades. He was smiling at me and his dimples showed. I ran up to him and hugged him for a while…then I hit his shoulder.

ME: “Ah oppa! When did you arrive!? You didn’t even text me.” I said pouting.

H: “Ya! Is that the way to treat your oppa!? I just arrived an hour ago so I figured I’d surprise you. Aisssh really this kid.” he said while messing up my hair.

ME: “Ah really!? Sorry! ㅋㅋㅋ Ah oppa! I missed you so much! Who would’ve thought I’d be missing a person as annoying as you!?” I said while pushing his hand away from my hair.

H: “Admit it. You miss my teasing right!? ㅋㅋㅋ Ya! How’s that Sung…”


My heart skipped a beat as I heard that name. My expression might’ve been a dead giveaway since oppa immediately changed the topic.

H: “Ya! How could you be so rude and not introduce your friend!?”

It was just then that I noticed that BoA was just lurking at the corner, silently watching our sibling reunion.

ME: “Oh oppa! This is BoA my co-worker and best friend since my college days.”

Oppa held out his hand for a handshake and greeted BoA.

H: ”Oh hello! I’m your best friend’s oppa. It doesn’t look like it right!? ㅋㅋㅋ “

I hit Heechul oppa on his shoulder.

ME: “Ya!”

H: “What!? I’m prettier than you and you know it. ㅋㅋㅋ “

BoA couldn’t help but laugh at us.

H: ”Let’s go have breakfast. My treat.”

ME: “Wow! Now that’s a first.”

B: “You two go ahead. I’ll just meet you at the apartment.”

ME: “Oh no you don’t. You’re coming with us.” I said as I clasped my hands around BoA’s arms, beckoning her to come with us.

B: “Ah no really. I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

This time, it was Heechul oppa who answered.

H: “Please do come with us. Really. I’ll die if I get stuck with my sister alone. ㅋㅋㅋ “

ME: “Aisssh really! But yeah. Let’s go. It’s oppa’s treat anyway. Believe me, this only happens once in a blue moon so you might as well grab the chance.”

B: “Oh. I guess it’s okay then.”

We then flagged a taxi and made our way to the nearest McDonald’s outlet.

Chapter II - Hide and Seek

It was that new kid. The elder one.

He shouted:

“Gotcha!”

Seems like I was the only one left hiding as the others have already been discovered.

“Ah really! Who would think someone would be hiding in a tree like that!? You really gave me a hard time!” he added.

I just stood there awestruck at his reaction. To be honest, I thought he was really cute - blabbing so fast, complaining about how long he’s been looking for me. I’ve gotta admit, my heart raced as I looked into those tender eyes of his. That was my first time seeing him at such a close distance and I’ve gotta say, those rumors about how good-looking he was didn’t do him justice. He was really too handsome for words. It was like a dream and I thought to myself: “So, is this how an angel looks like?” But then I felt a numbing pain on my right arm. His hand was still there. He hasn’t let go of me yet as he continued to narrate how he even searched the rice fields looking for me. I didn’t want to interrupt him as he was really into his“monologue” but I just couldn’t take it any longer so I silently told him:

“Uh, excuse me?”

“Yes?” he responded.

“Uhm, my hand. It hurts.” I said.

He was really flustered as he quickly let go of my hand and blushed. He apologized:

“Oh I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize I was gripping too tightly. Really sorry! Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. No worries.” I replied while massaging my wrist.

He took my hand in his and said:

“Aigoo! So sorry! My fingers really left a mark. Your hand has turned blue. Ah so sorry!”

 He massaged my fingers and even blew on them as if it were wounded. I thought:

“God! Why is he so handsome!?”

Just then, a familiar voice came from nearby:

“Ya! What’re you two up to?”

We both flinched and he let go of my hand quickly as we turned to look who it was. It was my sister Katie. She showed an irritated expression and said:

“Hey! What took you so long!? We’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Let’s go. It’s getting dark soon. I don’t wanna be scolded again.”

“Oh I’m sorry. I had a hard time finding your sister. It’s all my fault.” the boy said with a bright smile.

We finally made our way back on the slope carefully. At the intersection near our house, we bid goodbye to all the other kids and turned towards our home. Then, I felt a someone tap my shoulder. Woah. It’s that kid again.

“Hey!” he chirped.

“Yes?” I replied.

“I didn’t even get to know your name.” he said.

“Oh! It’s (your name). And you are?”

Chapter I - Where It All Began

It is in times like these wherein my thoughts start drifting to the past. I was listening to Super Junior’s Hate U, Love U (my version ~ LOL) -  ”You don’t know how much I wish, I wish to just hate you but, the love I have for you is so strong, So strong I’d rather hurt myself”  - attempting to doze off. But the frappe I’ve gotten from Starbucks on my way to Starbucks has done its job. My eyes were as wide as an owl’s and I was palpitating. Aissshhh! I shouldn’t have finished the whole cup! My best friend/co-worker’s wristwatch beeped as the clock struck 3 o’clock in the morning. 

BoA and I have been friends since college together with Henry who was off-duty at the time. Despite coming from a rich family, she didn’t hesitate to talk to theprobinsyana from the mountains that was me. I was a wallflower then. You see, I grew up in a secluded town south of Cebu. The skies were clear and you could see green everywhere. I really like the place I grew up in a lot. Slash that, I love it.^^ As opposed to the busy life in the city, my hometown is very laid back. My house was located on a valley surrounded by hills. there was a river nearby which drains towards a waterfall at the edge of the cliff which in turn goes through a channel to the sea which is also at a walking distance.

My hometown.

When we were young, my siblings and I, together with our cousins and other kids in the neighborhood would play by the river. It was our very own swimming pool. When we got bored of playing in the water, we would go play hide-and-seek in the forest. My favorite hiding place is a hollow Narra tree by the edge of the cliff. I would then squeeze myself into the crack which was hidden from view by a bunch of bushes surrounding the tree. This spot has been my hiding place for far too long and I thought it was impenetrable. It provided me with total concealment until that one fateful day when that boy moved to town.

I’ve heard hearsays about  a new family moving into town from the city. My cousin told me that the couple had two sons and added that they were really good-looking. “Ah really handsome! They’re really different from the boys here. You could really distinguish them as city boys!” she squealed. 

As for me, I never really got around to meeting them since I was still too young at the time so I didn’t get to see them at school. When I asked my older brother one time about them, Heechul oppa blurted out:

“Ya! You too!? Aisssh really. What’s so special with those boys? I’m prettier! I mean, I am more handsome than them!” 

 

That’s Heechul oppa, really childish. I was six at the time and he was already ten and was in fourth grade but I myself thought that I’m more mature than him. He can really get in your nerves sometimes especially when he decides that my dolls looked better if it had no limbs and just mutilated it. Aisssh seriously! I would just cry then and he would bribe comfort me with a lollipop so I wouldn’t tell my mom about his mischief to save him from being scolded. Well, when I come to think of it, Heechul oppa is really a good brother. Sure he goes haywire sometimes… or maybe all the time, but he really takes good care of us his dongsaengs. Yes, dongsaengs - I have a twin sister and a younger brother by the way. It’s just that oppa is not so good with words and expressing his feelings. He thinks the more he teases us, the more he shows us his love. It was long after that ‘til I finally understood why he was like that.

Meanwhile, my twin sister Katie was like my best friend and sister in one. Although we had completely different personalities, we complimented each other. While she was good at dancing, I had two left feet. And when I had no problem in reaching high notes, she couldn’t really carry a note even if it saved her life. I was the shy type while she was the outgoing one. She is the type who is everyone’s friend while I preferred reading books under the shades of the trees by myself.

'

My younger brother Ryeowook was two at the time and was the baby of the neighborhood. He had high cheekbones which everybody loved to pinch. He was really a sweet kid who cared for everyone and was loved by many.

We lived a simple life and we were happy. Although we were not wealthy, we ate three meals a day and we were contented with that. My father, Shindong appa was a simple man who did farming for a living. Even though the land he tilled wasn’t ours, he said we should still be thankful that our landlord, Don Kang-In was a kind man. He was very considerate of his tenants who couldn’t pay on time and is also very generous. He always does out of his way in helping others. No wonder the Lord has blessed him with so much. On the other hand, my mother Nari umma, worked as a seamstress at Doña Teukie’s dress shop. Doña Teukie is Don Kang-In’s wife and just like her husband, she was very kind-hearted too. She really likes kids and she gave us presents on our birthdays and Christmas every year without fail. Altogether, our community was a harmonious one. Everybody knew each other and treated each other as family.

One afternoon, I, together with all the other kids I usually play with, gathered around for our daily hide-and-seek session. Suddenly, two unfamiliar boys slowly made their way to us. Katie, being the friendly fellow that she is, was the first to reach out her hand to greet the both of them. All I was able to hear was theirHellos as the rest of the conversation was drowned by the excited squeals and giggles of the other kids who were curious with them as well. Questions erupted here and there at the rate of 120 decibels that I though my eardrums were about to burst. After almost an hour of “interrogation”, we finally started the game. Being the new ones in the group, one of the brothers - the older one I suppose - became the seeker. 

I ran to my usual hiding place while the others also took off. I squeezed myself onto the familiar crack on the wood and kept silent while listening for steps of someone who might be approaching. Nevertheless, I was confident that my hiding place is definitely undiscoverable. No one will be able to find me there - or so I thought. Time passed by and I started dozing off as I was shaken out of my day-dreaming state as a hand came out of nowhere and pulled me out of the trunk.  It was ~