Spring, Fourteen
Myung Soo drops his Chinese lessons in favor of taking photography classes. His parents are unhappy until he wins first place in a local competition. Myung Soo's photograph of his mother is hung in a gallery in Insadong, and his parents save and frame the newspaper article. It takes up pride of place next to his parents' degrees in their office.
For Myung Soo, looking through the viewfinder is his way of finding order in a chaotic world. He can frame and compose the perfect shot using just his eye and the natural elements. And if he messed up, well, he could always just stand back and shoot again.
He likes taking pictures of people the best.
His first subjects are his family, then he begins taking his camera to school and shooting candids of his classmates and friends.
It becomes a regular sight in the school hallways: Myung Soo and his camera going from class to class. It becomes second nature for the students to pose whenever they see Myung Soo, so much so that he complains about it to Young Do.
"My pictures aren't candid anymore, everyone just expects me to take their picture now!"
Young Do looks up from folding his paper airplane. "So stop taking pictures."
Myung Soo splutters indignantly. "I can't do that, I have to capture the perfect moment!"
Young Do scoffs. "How would you even know what the perfect moment is?"
"I don't know, so I have to keep on trying," Myung Soo admits, then his face brightens. He picks up his camera.
Young Do raises his eyebrows as the flash goes off.
Young Do has been spending more time with him recently, and while he's happy about the development in their friendship, he wonders where Kim Tan is. When Tan's at school, Young Do rarely leaves his side. It was common to see them strolling around school grounds with a group of hanger-ons trailing behind – boys from less prominent families, all jockeying to be the third in line.
Myung Soo's never overestimated his place in the scheme of things – his family's role was to stay above the fray, on the right side of the law, and make adjustments when necessary.
With Jeguk Group constantly buying up land and making development deals and Zeus Group's rapid expansion into the rest of Asia, it will be only a matter of time before their power rivals that of Samsung and Lotte. His parents talk about it sometimes at dinner, how inevitable that South Korea would be divided among the four major companies.
He wonders if Tan and Young Do ever think about their part in the world their parents are building.
For now, he just watches the world pass by until he clicks the shutter.
Monday afternoon. Lunch time. He's poking half-heartedly at the remains of his sandwich – his mother had gotten the idea that she needed to cook one meal every day, and today's experiment was potato salad on garlic bread. The sweetness of the garlic bread jarred horribly with the chunky potatoes and he felt nauseous.
"Eomma, please forgive me," he says solemnly and bows toward the sandwich. He picks it up and walks to the trash can to throw it away. On his way back to his bench, he glances casually around the court yard.
Everyone is in their usual spot save for one lone figure – Lee Bo Na.
She's sitting with her hands folded in her lap, eyes closed, head softly bobbing to a melody only she can hear – possibly because she's wearing headphones.
The sunshine streams gently over her still form and dust motes dance in her hair. She looks perfectly serene and Myung Soo lifts his camera up.
Click.
When he gets the picture developed later, it is a small masterpiece of light and composition – Bo Na stands out from her surroundings, the sunlight scattered over her like flakes of gold. She looks like a modern day forest spirit clothed in brown and green. Her dark green hair ribbon complements her glossy hair – which shines like a magpie's wing.
Only her headphones keep the photograph from looking like something out of a fairy tale.
It's the best picture he's taken so far, and he leaves a copy of it in Bo Na's locker.
She comes to him after class, her eyes shining and her hands outstretched. "Jo Myung Soo, did you take this picture?" She holds it up and preens. "I always knew I was pretty, but this is so pretty. Yah, you're really talented."
Her childish enthusiasm makes him laugh. "Well I had a good model."
Bo Na rests her hand against her cheek. "This is really good. Could you shoot more pictures like this? I want to show my father – we could always use new photographers. Who knows, you could work at Mega some day!"
Myung Soo feels his heart race. "Really?"
Bo Na nods at him. "With me as a model, you can't fail."
"Then when should we meet?"
Bo Na slips the photo into her purse and pulls out her phone. She flips it open and looks at it attentively – "Hmmm, I can reschedule my dance class to later. How about after school, tomorrow? I'll bring everything and we can use one of the practice rooms at Mega."
"I'll see you there then."
"Good. See you later, Myung Soo."
He tells Young Do about it over ddeokbokki and ramyun at a snack bar near school. He feels mildly disloyal about not eating at Eun Sang's, but it's too far away and Eun Sang hasn't been answering her text messages lately. That girl, he really needs to talk to her about her phone manners.
"I think I might have found the perfect moment, Young Do," Myung Soo says and then slurps a mouthful of noodles.
Young Do purses his mouth and shoves a stack of napkins at him. "So noisy."
"But that's how you know it's good," Myung Soo protests. He sips quietly at his broth. "I mean, it was like the planets all lined up and God shone a flash light on me. Or the sun shone on me. It was perfect."
"Are you telling me its fate?"
"What else could it be? Bo Na really looks so much prettier these days, don't you think? I don't know why I never noticed it before."
"Probably because she never shuts up about how pretty she is," Young Do says dryly. "If she wasn't actually pretty, it'd be annoying."
He pauses to think about it. "No, it's still annoying."
"Yah, our Bo Na is an angel," Myung Soo says heatedly.
Young Do rolls his eyes. "Since when was she yours? And Myung Soo, fate is the lazy person's excuse for doing something they wanted to do the whole time."
"You have no romance in your soul," Myung Soo says dramatically.
Young Do spears a cubed radish with his fork and waves it at him menacingly. "Shut up and just eat."
Tan had sounded distracted and strange when he called to ask about coming over, and he was sure he heard the sound of a woman crying. It reminded him too much of his home. He touched his cheek gingerly and winced. This time he had managed to get his mother safely ensconced in her bedroom before his father struck.
His mother had heard everything and begged to come out, but he held the door knob firmly.
He managed to get away with only a minor beating this time – and he ran out of the house, taking care to avoid the servants.
He remembered the address Myung Soo used last time and flagged down the first taxi he saw.
When he got out, he was temporarily disoriented. He shut his eyes and visualized the streets he saw before, and opened his eyes. His feet did the rest.
Cha Eun Sang was by herself again, this time sans lamb hat. She was reading a book and sipping a carton of banana milk.
He cleared his throat. Eun Sang's eyes did not leave her book and she said automatically, "I'll be right with you. Do you know what you want to eat?"
"Yah, Cha Eun Sang. What if I was a real customer?"
Eun Sang dropped her book and looked at him. Her eyebrows shot up. "Choi Young Do, I'm not a hospital. Are you a gang member? Why does your face look like that again?"
Though even as she scolded him, she got out of her chair and walked closer. She studied his face. "Less serious than last time – come on," and she grabbed his hand.
Eun Sang had a surprisingly strong grip as she towed him behind her. Eun Sang walked into one of the side shops and called out to the ahjumma behind the counter. "Ahjumma, can you please watch my stall? I need to go on an errand."
The ahjumma nodded, clearly used to Eun Sang's request. Her eyes flickered to Young Do, and she asked, "Who's this, Eun Sang? Is he a school friend?"
Eun Sang bowed her head politely. "No, we don't go to the same school."
Young Do couldn't resist. Maybe it was the way Eun Sang was holding onto his hand, so easily as if he was just anybody. He slung his arm around her. "Actually, ahjumeoni, Eun Sang is my girlfriend."
Eun Sang looked at him in horror.
He steered the frozen Eun Sang back to the main street, where she revived and smacked him hard on his shoulder.
"Yah! Cha Eun Sang!"
She glared at him. "How could you say that? People talk around here, she's going to tell my mother!"
"It was just a joke. Do you want me to go back and tell her?"
Eun Sang sighed. "It's too late, I'll just have to deal with it later. Let's fix your face."
She led him into a convenience store and scanned through the aisles, picking up various items and checking the prices. Young Do held the basket as Eun Sang tossed in band-aids, a packet of wet tissue, a bottle of water, and most curious of all – two wrapped rice balls. She added a can of iced coffee at the register and reached for her wallet, when Young Do slid his bank card across the counter. "Use that," he instructed the cashier.
They left the store, Young Do carrying the sack. Eun Sang walked over to the seating area and patted the table. "Over here."
"Do you do this often? It seems like you're used to this." Young Do indicated the sack. "I'm disappointed I'm not the only one."
Eun Sang tossed one of the rice balls at him. "Eat this," and she handed him the can, "hold this against your bruise."
"Yes, Doctor," he replied in a sing song tone. "Seriously, though Cha Eun Sang – "
"My best friend used to be beaten by bullies at school, so I would do this for him. Then I beat them up and they left him alone."
Young Do's lips curled in a sneer. "He lets a girl fight for him?"
"We were nine. Anyway, Chan Young can take care of himself now."
"Are you suggesting I can't?" Young Do settled the can on the table and peeled open the wrapper. "I have a bit of a height and weight disadvantage."
"That's not what I meant. It's your father again?"
Young Do's smile was bitter. "He's the only who can get away with beating me."
"What about your mother – can't she do anything?"
"Why do you think I let him beat me?"
Eun Sang fell silent at that.
After Young Do finished eating, he opened the box of band-aids. "Aish, Cha Eun Sang, these are Pororo band-aids. I'm not wearing this on my face."
"You would rather scar?"
Young Do waved his hand dismissively. "I can get plastic surgery."
"You'd let someone cut into your face to fix a scar." Eun Sang stared at him. "Wear the band-aid."
"Only if you wear one too."
"I'm not hurt anywhere -"
Young Do reached out and pinched her wrist. Eun Sang yelped. Young Do smiled. "Wear the band-aid."
Eun Sang narrowed her eyes, then kicked him underneath the table. Young Do hissed.
She picked up a band-aid. "Fine, I'll wear it."
They walked back to the stall, each lost in their own thoughts. Young Do limped ostentatiously, but when he noticed Eun Sang wasn't looking at him, walked normally.
When they were within earshot of the ahjumma, Young Do said loudly, "Cha Eun Sang, let's break up. You're a terrible date. What kind of girlfriend talks about another boy in front of her boyfriend?"
He leaned in and whispered in Eun Sang's ear. "There, we're even now."
Young Do keeps the band-aids tucked in the corner of his top drawer. When he gets dressed for school every morning, he sees them and smiles.
Cha Eun Sang is a weird girl, but at least she is interesting.
It must be love. Myung Soo is sure of it. The way Bo Na's face lights up when she sees him, how she laughs at everything he says – she is delight and youth and eternal spring in the form of a girl. He likes the way her hair curves smoothly around her face, and the glimpse of gold and silver balls decorating her ear lobes. He likes the cherry pink of her lip gloss, the obvious care she takes in her accessories and clothes. He likes her smile, the even straight whiteness of her teeth, the adorable way she nibbles on her lip when she's deep in thought.
Bo Na is a perfect model, following his directions easily and smoothly – and when the session is over, bounds over to him like an excited puppy. "Can I see the pictures now?"
"I need to upload them to my notebook first, but you can check the previews now," Myung Soo says, flustered by her presence. Bo Na playfully shoves his shoulder. "Bring your notebook next time, so I can see everything properly."
"Yes, Sir," Myung Soo mock salutes and Bo Na wrinkles her nose. "Yah, its Miss, not Sir," she corrects him in impeccable English.
"Ah, right." Myung Soo fidgets with his camera some more until he finds the preview menu. "Here we go."
Bo Na peers over his shoulder, and she's so close he can smell the scent of soap and perfume and he feels dizzy.
She nudges him to press the controls and he does, scrolling through the photos until she tells him to stop.
"There, that one, zoom in –" she directs and Myung Soo looks at the picture she's selected. Bo Na is lying down, gazing directly into the camera. She's wearing a light pink dress with miniature multicolored flowers printed all over it. He remembers it took exactly three tries to get that one shot – and her expression remains his favorite part of the whole picture. There's the barest hint of a smile and her eyes are wide and dark.
"You like this one?"
"Can you print it so I can have an extra copy?" Bo Na twirls a lock of hair around her finger and looks pensive. "Actually, two. One so I can show my father your work, and another one –" she dimpled, and Myung Soo catches his breath – "I can give to Kim Tan."
"What?" Myung Soo wonders if he heard right.
Bo Na looks at him with stars in her eyes. "You're Kim Tan's good friend, right? Do you know what he likes?"
Young Do has the decency to not laugh for at least five minutes when Myung Soo admits the whole sorry state of things. Then his nose crinkles and he grins widely. "So she was using you this entire time to get close to Tan-ah?"
"My first love, gone like that in an instant," Myung Soo says mournfully. He frowns at Young Do. "Yah, what does Kim Tan have that I don't?"
Young Do picks up a dumpling with his chopsticks and bites into it. He chews and swallows. "He's taller than you," he says.
Myung Soo huffs. "That's genetics, I mean, what else does he have?"
He props up his face with his hands and looks pensive. "Bo Na said he was pretty, and tall, and dreamy," Myung Soo chokes out. "What does that even mean?"
"Sounds like she wants to play house," Young Do says. "Forget it, Myung Soo. Girls are not worth the trouble."
Myung Soo shakes his head, stubbornly. "No, I have to remember this pain. I need a witness to my heart break." He picks up a sign pen and scribbles on the wallpaper. "Farewell, Lee Bo Na."
Young Do shakes his head. "You can't even curse her?"
Myung Soo sighs. "She's my first love, you wouldn't understand."
"You were in love for a week," Young Do points out. "Forgive me if I don't think that's newsworthy."
"It was more than a week," Myung Soo says defensively. "It was a beautiful moment," and he counts off in his head, "and it was nine days, so there."
"Oh, of course."
"You just wait until you fall in love," Myung Soo says darkly. "Then I'll laugh at you."
"That's not going to happen," Young Do says.
"Me laughing at you or you falling in love?"
"Both," Young Do says. He leans back in his chair and smiles beatifically. "It's a chemical reaction."
Eun Sang holds her mother's hand and listens carefully to the doctor. The doctor looks at her kindly and then says, "Is there no one else who can be here today?"
"My older sister is at school, and my friend's father is at work," Eun Sang says. "It would take too long for my mother to write what she wants to ask."
"I see." The doctor picks up his clipboard and then puts it down again. He swivels his computer monitor so that Eun Sang and her mother can see the charts.
"The treatment is no longer working on your husband, Park-sshi. The cancer has reached stage four and has spread to his other lung."
Eun Sang's mother makes a little gasp, and squeezes her hand. Eun Sang looks at the monitor and tries to make sense of the x-rays. "So what does that mean, Doctor?"
"It means that your father – his body is no longer responding to the medicine. At this point, all we can do is make sure he's not in too much pain."
"There's nothing you can do for him? Nothing at all?" Eun Sang's voice grows shrill, and her mother squeezes her hand in warning. "What is going to happen to my father?"
Doctor Park sighs, and Eun Sang knows the words he's about to say and wills it so he doesn't. She looks down at the smooth wood finish of his table.
"I'm sorry, Eun Sang. It's just a matter of time."
Eun Sang doesn't remember how she and her mother leave the hospital, if her mother holds her hand or if she's the one holding on, or how they get home. It's just one long blank from Doctor Park saying, "It's just a matter of time."
Appa is dying. Eun Sang repeats it to herself. Not years from now, but now – the doctor says it could be months or weeks, depending on how much he fights the cancer.
Appa is tired. She sees it when she visits him, when he struggles to sit up to say hello. He's lost so much weight and his skin feels like paper. He's already fought so hard – she squeezes her eyes shut and tries to conjure up an image of him before the cancer hollowed him out.
Her eyes are like his, and so is her nose. "Ah, but it looks much cuter on you," he'd say, and tweak the tip of it. "I'm glad I only had daughters."
Appa is sorry. Eun Sang doesn't speak, just lays her head against the stiff hospital sheets and listens to the steady sound of her father's breathing. He strokes her hair. "Look after your mother and sister, Eun Sangie. Listen to your mother and help your sister when she needs it."
She nods her head against the sheets and her father sighs. "I wish…" and he trails off. Eun Sang looks up at her father. "What, Appa?"
Her father's eyes are glassy with tears.
"I wish I had more time."
"Me too."
Her mother tells her to call Chan Young's father when she's finished.
"Why?"
Because he was regretful that he couldn't be there earlier. Please, Eun Sang.
"It's not like he can save Appa," Eun Sang says, but relents when she sees her mother's disappointed face. "I'm sorry, Eomma."
Chan Young is making a list of all the subjects he needs to brush up on for the entrance exam to Jeguk. His father had presented the idea a few days ago, and he's thought it through. He knows what the opportunity means for his future, to his family's future. The only thing he regrets is not being able to go to high school with Eun Sang.
There's a knock on the door, and Chan Young lifts his head from his studies. "Come in, Appa."
His father pokes his head around the door, his expression grave. "Chan Young, would it be okay if Eun Sang came and stayed overnight?"
Eun Sang hasn't slept over since they were ten years old, and that was when Eun Suk noona had an emergency appendectomy. Chan Young gets up in alarm. "What's wrong?"
"Her father's cancer has spread. The doctor estimates he might have five months left, maybe less."
"Oh no," Chan Young says and grips the back of his chair. "How's Eun Sang?"
"She sounded very calm on the phone –"
"That just means she's lying about how sad she is," Chan Young interrupts. "You know Eun Sang never cries if she can help it."
"Stubborn girl," his father says affectionately. "So I'll go get her, and you prepare her room. I'll pick up pizza for dinner. Do you want anything special?"
"Sweet potato in the crust," Chan Young says immediately. "And Milkis for Eun Sang, she likes to drink it with pizza."
"Done and done," his father says. "We'll be back soon."
Eun Sang and his father come back thirty minutes later. Eun Sang is holding a liter of Milkis and her backpack, while his father is loaded down with pizza, salad and chicken wings. Chan Young helps his father set up in the kitchen while Eun Sang goes to the guest room.
When she comes out, dinner is ready and waiting for her. Chan Young serves her a slice of pizza while his father doles out chicken wings onto everyone's plates.
It's a solemn affair, with no one really saying anything, until Chan Young puts down his fork. "Eun Sang, are you really okay?"
Eun Sang tries to smile. "I'm more worried about Eomma."
"You know your family only has to ask, and we'll help you," Chan Young's father says warmly. "Any time."
Eun Sang nods. "I know."
She volunteers to do the dishes, but Chan Young's father waves her away. "Go play," he says. "Chan Young's been looking a bit pale lately, he's been studying too hard."
Eun Sang looks uncertain, then reaches out and places her hand on his forearm. "Yoon-sshi, thank you so much for everything. I don't know how we'll pay you back, but I'll make sure of it."
He ruffles her hair. "Ah, Eun Sangie, don't think of it. Your parents were very kind and helped me when Chan Young's mother died. And you have been helping my boy ever since – consider this as a thank you for your family's kindness."
His words settle over her like a warm blanket and Eun Sang gives him a grateful smile.
Chan Young is waiting for her in the guest bedroom when she comes in, his body splayed out on the bed. He tosses his blue bear – a twin of hers – at her head, and she catches him.
"Chan Young, why are you tossing our Haneul around? Should I just take him and keep him with his brother?"
"Perhaps? I'm too old to have a teddy bear." Chan Young laughs at Eun Sang's expression. "I'm kidding, you can't take him."
"Such a neglectful hyung," Eun Sang sighs and sits on the bed. "I should save him from you."
Chan Young pulls her down so she's lying on the bed too. "Cha Eun Sang, worry about yourself for once," he says quietly. "Are you really okay?"
Eun Sang turns to look at him and he sees she's on the verge of tears. "Chan Young, when your mother – how could you bear it?"
"It was hard," Chan Young admits. "It's still hard. You don't stop missing the person even when time passes."
"I feel so-" Eun Sang gulps and wipes at her eyes angrily. "So small and useless."
Chan Young reaches out and threads her fingers with his. "Don't forget to ask me for help when you need it, Eun Sang. I mean it. Don't feel like you have to carry this all by yourself."
"But I don't want to have to rely on you all the time," Eun Sang says. "You and your father have already done so much for my family."
"That's what families are supposed to do, silly," Chan Young says and shakes her hand. "I seem to remember a girl who chased all the bigger kids and threw dirt in their faces so I could have a normal day in school."
"What a trouble maker," Eun Sang murmurs. "I wonder how she grew up."
Chan Young flicks her lightly on the forehead. "Very well indeed."
"Chan Young?" Eun Sang closes her eyes. "I'm so lucky that I met you."
"As long as you know it," Chan Young teases. His voice becomes serious. "Eun Sang?"
"Hmm?"
"Every day you have left with your father is precious now," Chan Young whispers. "Be sure to make memories."
He heard the sound of his mother crying. It was two hours past his bedtime and he knew his parents thought he was asleep, but the walls were thin in the apartment and he could hear the soft muffled sobs. Then he heard his father's voice – it was soothing and deep, the voice he used when he read to Chan Young at night.
He was repeating his wife's name over and over.
Then Chan Young heard his mother say, "I don't want to leave you. I don't want to leave my baby."
He swallowed then backed away. He curled up on his bed, hugging his knees.
The next morning at breakfast, Chan Young stared at his rice. His father came by and ruffled his hair. "It's not going to eat itself, Chan Young."
"I don't want to go to school." Chan Young said in a small voice.
"What? Why?"
"I want to stay with Eomma." Chan Young pushed his rice away and stared at his father in defiance. "I don't want to go."
His father's eyes widened, then he knelt down and faced his son. "Did you hear us last night?"
Chan Young nodded his head.
"Chan Young, you're not supposed to listen to walls," his father scolded gently.
"Don't care. I don't want to leave Eomma."
His father's gaze softened and he pulled Chan Young into a hug. "I know. She doesn't want to leave us either. But you know, what would make your mother happy? If you went to school."
"But -"
"She'll be here when you come back, I promise." His father held out his pinky finger. "Will you go to school?"
Chan Young wrapped his finger around his father's hesitantly. "Eomma will be here?"
"Yes."
That had been the beginning of the bullying for him – he became quiet and withdrawn at school and an easy target.
One particularly bad day, he had looked at the head bully in a less than placating way, and the boy had grabbed his hair and given him a bloody nose when he heard a shrill, "YAH, what do you think you're doing to our Chan Young?"
It had been Eun Sang. When the bully sneered at her, asking what she would do about it, Eun Sang narrowed her eyes, grabbed his collar and head butted him.
The bully's mother later complained to the school. Eun Sang got sent home, but was back the next day. After Chan Young's father requested to look at the CCTV footage, the bully quietly transferred to a different school.
He took Chan Young and Eun Sang out for ice cream.
School got better after that.
He would rush home from classes and run to greet his mother. Every day was the same routine – drop his backpack in the hallway, take off his shoes, then run into his mother's room. It was the one with the most sunlight, and she would be sitting up in bed, waiting for him, arms outstretched.
"What happened today at school?"
Sometimes Eun Sang would come home with him, and stand shyly by the door while he hugged his mother – gently now because he could feel her bones – and then he remembered and waved Eun Sang over. Then his mother would hug them both, and run her hand over Eun Sang's thick shining hair and say how pretty it was.
The best times were the weekends when his father had free time and they spent the day together. His mother taught him how to make friendship bracelets, while his father cooked and told him stories about when he was young.
Near the end, when Eomma had to stay at the hospital instead of home, he would visit after school. The bullying had stopped completely now, due to a combination of Eun Sang's persuasive tactics and his own growth spurt.
His mother died a few months later, and all he remembered from the funeral service was Eun Sang's hand holding his.
Chan Young lifts Eun Sang's hand and squeezes it. "Eun Sang, do you want to do something?"
"What?"
"Let's go to my room. I need to get something."
Hand in hand, they walk the short distance to Chan Young's room. They separate and Eun Sang leans against the door frame and looks on as Chan Young searches through his shelves. He picks up a box and peeks inside. "Found it!"
"I surprised it took you even that long," Eun Sang says. "You're so organized."
"Sometimes I don't fold my laundry for a whole hour, just to be careless," Chan Young deadpans. "Anyway, do you remember those friendship bracelets my mother used to make?"
"Oh I loved those – I always thought they were so pretty."
"I'm going to teach you how to make them. My mother left me all of her supplies."
They spend the next hour picking through the brightly colored skeins of thread and Chan Young patiently explains the different types of braids and their levels of difficulty. Eun Sang decides to go with the easiest style first – the classic braid. She picks a bundle of colors – blue, red, green, black, white and yellow. Chan Young looks at her pile. "Are you using all of those colors in one bracelet?"
"No, I'm planning on making more than one." Eun Sang separates the blue, green and white threads first. "So this will just be like braiding hair, right?"
"You've got the idea." Chan Young selects his own colors and starts to braid.
The repetitive action of braiding the thread one strand over the other is surprisingly soothing, and Eun Sang feels her fingers deftly following the pattern.
"That's it," Chan Young says approvingly. "You're a natural at this, Eun Sang."
They braid until Eun Sang's eyelids begin to flutter and her head tips forward. She forces herself to stay awake, then hears Chan Young yawn.
He holds up his bracelet. "Are you almost finished?"
"Just a little bit more," she says and then ties the final knot in her bracelet. "Done!"
She beckons at Chan Young. "Give me your wrist."
"We seem to have the same idea," Chan Young grins and holds out his right arm. She ties her bracelet around his wrist. When she's done, Chan Young ties his bracelet around her left wrist.
They admire each other's handiwork – then Chan Young rocks back on his heels and yawns again. "I'm going to go to bed now. Don't stay up too late, Eun Sang."
"I won't," she promises.
Chan Young drops her off at her apartment early the next morning, and her mother fusses over him.
Our Chan Young is so tall now, and so handsome. He looks just like his father.
Chang Young follows along and at the mention of his father, ducks his head and smiles. Eun Sang wrinkles her nose and signs, "You're going to give him a big head, Eomma."
"Yah, Cha Eun Sang, let your mother praise me if she wants."
"Just trying to keep you humble – Yoon Chan Young, isn't it bad enough that you're going to leave me for Jeguk? Who will eat with me at lunchtime now?"
Eun Sang keeps her tone light, but Chan Young looks stricken anyway. "My father told you?"
"I saw the books – you didn't hide them very well last night. Really, Chan Young – I'm excited for you."
"I might not get in – my father's connections only go so far, the Chairman says I need to achieve a certain score."
Eun Sang scoffs. "There hasn't been an exam invented that you haven't done well on."
"Let's hope the administration agrees with you," Chan Young says, then taps her shoulder. "Anyway, that won't be for another two weeks. Let's pretend everything is normal and forget about it –" and too late, he remembers Eun Sang's father.
He bites his lip. "I mean—"
Eun Sang waves it away. "Yah," she says quietly. "Don't forget me when you get in to Jeguk and start befriending rich kids, okay?"
Chan Young holds up his wrist. "How can I?"
Myung Soo frowns at the screen and deletes his text. He tries again. "Greetings, Cha Eun Sang. Have you forgotten me? Or has your phone been stolen? It's Myung Soo."
He's concentrating so hard he doesn't see Young Do reading over his shoulder.
"Why don't you just add hearts while you're at it?" Myung Soo yelps and nearly steps on Young Do's feet. "Choi Young Do, you need to warn people when you're that close!"
"Are you writing something naughty to Cha Eun Sang? Are you two that familiar?" Young Do jokes, but there's something off about his expression.
"I'm just worried – she hasn't answered any of my calls and she only replies to texts with one word responses."
"Maybe she's just busy," Young Do offers, and opens his locker. "She's probably working all the time."
"Then she would tell me that – she usually does," Myung Soo says. "I don't get it."
His brow furrows. "Is it another boy – yah, I bet its Chan Young monopolizing all of her time. Aish, that guy."
"Who?"
"Yoon Chan Young – have you met him? His father works for Jeguk group."
Young Do raises an eyebrow. "Well that narrows down the field. What department?"
Myung Soo tilts his head to the side, his face a study in concentration. He brightens. "He's his lead secretary. He handles all the day to day things."
"Hmm, a secretary's son," Young Do muses. "No, I can't say I remember Yoon Chan Young."
"He's Cha Eun Sang's oldest friend," Myung Soo says.
"This girl, does she even know any other females? All her friends are boys." Young Do says wryly.
"You know, I never asked. Why, is that a problem?" Myung Soo's face grows worried. "She'd tell me if she had a boyfriend, right? I can't handle any more betrayal."
The sight of Bo Na boldly sitting next to Kim Tan at lunch was still a tender spot – and Rachel's expression could have cut glass. Tan is oblivious to the sudden tension at the table, and Young Do smirked all through it.
"It's not a problem. I just want to know the probability," Young Do says airily. "I'll see you later, Myung Soo. Same spot as last time."
"The convenience store again?" Myung Soo sighs. "I don't understand why you like it there so much. Once in a while, I get it – but – yah, Choi Young Do, probability of what?"
He yells at Young Do's departing back. The only indication that the other boy hears him is the one arm he lifts in response.
Myung Soo returns his attention to his phone. "Call me please. What's wrong?"
He presses send.
He doesn't get a reply until later that evening, after he's finished eating dinner.
My father is dying.
Eun Sang's phone vibrates as she's doing her homework. She flips open her phone and reads the text.
"I'm sorry. What can I do? Do you need anything?"
Do you have a time machine?
"No, but my parents have friends who work at KAIST. I could always ask. Anything else?"
You don't need to do anything. I was joking about the time machine.
"I know. Can we meet soon? I miss you."