WRITTEN BY: shuawons
PARK SUNGHOON

Norae would like to think she was not in love with Park Sunghoon, that there was nothing likeable about him or his feather-like hair or his dark brown eyes that would always disappear when he laughed. She'd like to think that his laugh was annoying, like a violin playing out of tune, and that the mere sight of him was enough to make her blood boil. But that was not the case.

It was quite the opposite, in fact. His laugh was like an angel's choir, beautiful and angelic. His hair was soft - so soft, she wished she could reach her hand out to touch it. And, oh, how beautiful he was when he smiled. How beautiful he was simply standing beside her, holding her hand inside the pocket of his coat to keep her warm. Norae was stupidly in love with Sunghoon, despite claiming she despised him. However, there was one tiny problem.

His hands were cold.

(Norae wouldn't tell him that, though. If it meant holding Park Sunghoon's hand, she wouldn't say a word against it.)

Sunghoon looked down at his watch, shivering as a cold breeze blew past them. "It's late," he mumbled under his breath, glancing at the other people who waited on the platform. He then looked at her, "Does this mean we can go back home?" There was anticipation in his eyes, for her to say yes and miss her train (which, of course, was what she wanted). But Norae shook her head, a disappointed expression coming over Sunghoon's features.

"I have to go, Sunghoon. It won't be for long, I promise."

"Can't you just stay here?" he asked in a quiet voice. "With me?"

"No."

"Do you hate me that much?"

"Of course not," Norae spoke, upset that he would think that (though it was all she ever said to him). "Why would I hate you?"

"Because you're leaving me."

To be clear, Norae wasn't leaving Sunghoon - most of her belongings were still at their apartment anyway. She was, however, taking a train to Busan, where she would be studying botany for the next year and a half. (Now that she thinks about it, Norae realizes that a year and a half is a long time and it does sound like she's leaving him. But she swears she's not.

She could never bare to leave Park Sunghoon.)

Sunghoon sighed, checking his watch continuously, impatiently, until he'd finally gotten tired of standing around doing nothing. "We should eat something," he suggested. "Let's go eat."

"We already ate."

"Right." He paused, thinking of something to break the momentary silence. "What about clothes?" he asked. "Did you bring enough clothes? Your wallet? Do you have enough money? Do you remember your social security number?" Norae couldn't help but laugh at him. "What?" he frowned. "I'm being serious, Norae."

"Yes, I brought everything," she said with a smile. "Why are you being like this anyway? I don't think you've ever cared about me this much," she joked.

Sunghoon wanted to say it, that his actions meant something much more than friendship, that there was a meaning behind his words, that he was holding her hand not to keep her warm, but to because he was definitely, truly, stupidly in love with her too.

He didn't answer her question, but instead looked around until his eyes landed on a small flower shop. "Gimme a second," he said, hesitating to let go of her hand before he went. Once he was out of sight, Norae sighed and stuffed her hands in the pockets of her own jacket. He could've taken me with him, she thought, secretly upset that she had to let go of his hand. When seven minutes had passed, Sunghoon returned, holding a brown, paper bag in his his left hand. He took his place beside her and reached into her pocket, grabbing her hand with his right and placing it back in his jacket. Norae fought the urge to smile.

"Fifteen minutes," he said. "If the train isn't here in fifteen minutes, we're going home."

The train arrived in thirteen minutes. Sunghoon's grip on Norae's hand tightened.

"You'll text me, right?" he asked in a quiet voice, a voice only she could hear against the loud chatter of people boarding the train. "Everyday? Tell me how you're doing?"

"I will."

"And if a boy asks you out, you'll say no, right?"

"Where is this coming from?"

"Answer me. Please."

It didn't take much thinking for Norae to answer with a "yes." There were no boys that could peak her interest more than Park Sunghoon did. "I'll take pictures of the moon every night for you," she added, her voice as equally quiet as his.

Was that a confession? Sunghoon thought, but there was no time for him to ask.

"I have to go now." Norae looked at him, waiting for him to say something, but Sunghoon didn't say anything. Instead, he handed her the brown paper bag and let go of her hand (it was hesitant, but he somehow found it in him to let go). She took the bag, a hint of sadness in her voice as she said, "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay."

"Don't miss me too much."

Deep inside, Sunghoon wanted Norae to leave. He wanted her to stop stalling and get on her train that'd take her to Busan between the next three hours. He wanted her to leave so she wouldn't have to watch as his eyes begun to water as soon the she'd boarded the train, so she wouldn't have to witness him break down on the platform, surrounded by other people who thought he was crazy.

"I won't."

She's gone within seconds after saying her final goodbye, holding onto the paper bag he'd given her as if her life depended on it. And perhaps if Park Sunghoon had stayed to watch the train depart, he would've seen the girl break down into sobs on the train.

• • •

Park Sunghoon's brown, paper bag consisted of two items. A bouquet of flowers, and a letter. In rushed, messy handwriting, the letter read:

I couldn't remember your name the first time we met, but I remembered how much you love flowers. These are called "lily of the valley." I hope you like them as much as I like you.

Norae couldn't read the letter because of the boy's messy penmanship, but she loved the flowers, almost as much as she loved Park Sunghoon.

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