| ~…neulsaranghae…yowee…~ Prelude Looking up at the window, visions of her silhouette flashed into my mind…How long has it been since you’d been gone and I still miss you so… Why’d you have to leave me… Didn’t you know how much I’ve loved you and still do???… I’m sorry…. So sorry…. *Flaskback* “Hyesung! What’cha doing?” Came a little girls voice as she jumped onto her favorite oppa. “Ash~ HaeRi! How many times do I have to tell you not to do that!” He snapped at her shaking her off his shoulders. “sniff… I’m sorry oppa. Its just that I get so happy when I see you… sniff…” “Ack! Don’t cry HaeRi! I didn’t mean it! I’m sorry… please don’t cry… you’re always crying because of me…” Wiping away her little tears he grabbed her hand and started walking down the street as people oh~ and ah~ at the cute little three year olds… “Ah~. Aren’t they just he cutest thing MinWoo… Look at that… and their only three years old, too!” Exclaimed SuYen at MinWoo who was too busy checking out girls to notice… “Huh? Oh yeah. Yup!” Smacking him on the back of his head they continued on their way. “HaeRi, do you want some ice cream? Umma gave me some money this morning to buy a new shirt but I didn’t spend all of it.” Tugging onto her hand Hyesung glanced up at the little three-year-old girl. No one would of believed that love existed at such a young age. “Sure oppa.” Randomly pulling her, he dragged her into an old fashion ice cream shop that was owned by this extremely old woman. “Oh my! Isn’t it the darling three year olds. Now what can I do for you today?” she cooed, giving them both a kiss on the cheek. “Hello.” Hyesung stated bowing politely to her. “I want to buy HaeRi some ice cream. Is that okay?” “ Of course! What would you like honey? The usual strawberry vanilla.” She asked bending down to their height so that they could see one to one. “…yes… thank you….” Always being quite timid around such an old woman HaeRi bowed politely to her thanking her. “And what would you like Hyesung?” “Oh! I’m not having any. Umma told me not to eat it anymore because it keeps on giving me cavities. So I’m just buying some for HaeRi because I made her cry earlier.” Hyesung explained smiling at the old woman. “Aren’t you an obedient little boy. Okay then, lets get HaeRi’s ice cream for her… Here you go honey.” Smiling at the old woman HaeRi happily accepted the ice cream before bowing to her. “Thank you oppa!” HaeRi said in mid-lick once they were outside. “Anything to make my HaeRi happy.” Smiling at her, Hyesung quickly grabbed onto her hands and started running towards his Umma…. *10 years later* “HAERI!” screamed Ms. Kim from downstairs. “IF YOU DON’T HURRY UP. HYESUNG AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE LATE AGAIN!” “I’m coming umma.” Hoping down the stairs two at a time, she quickly glanced at herself in the hall mirror before giving her umma a kiss good-bye. “Thank you Umma. I love you.” “Have a good day honey. And be good!” Smiling at her only daughter, she watched HaeRi happily grab onto Hyesung’s hand as they walked off to school together. “I hope it stays like this forever…. You’re so happy honey…” Sighing to herself, she quietly closed the door and proceeded to her daily chores. “What took you so long this morning HaeRi? I could of sworn I fell asleep or something waiting for you.” Hyesung remarked as they walked into school a few minutes early. “Whatever oppa. You say that every morning to me.” Giving him a soft peck on the cheek, HaeRi quickly ran to class as the bell rang. Smiling to himself, Hyesung slung his bag over his other shoulder and ran toward his class in the other direction. “Two times two plus fourteen divided by twelve to the square equals….” Sighing to herself HaeRi tried to concentrate on her studies… “Ash~ this is so boring! Why do they always give me boring things to do?” Glancing over her shoulders she saw Hyesung sprawled out on the ground. Quietly sliding off her bed, HaeRi tiptoed towards him till she was only a few inches away from his face. “Oppa??? Are you still studying? I’m bored. This is so boring! Oppa???” HaeRi whispered lowering herself next to him. “Oppa~?” Putting her face right up to his so that their cheeks touched HaeRi watched as his eyes slowly opened. “AHHHH~!” Hyesung screamed jumping a mile as HaeRi burst into laughter. “hahaha… Oppa you’re so stupid. Babo!” Still laughing HaeRi climbed back onto her bed. “What’cha do that for HaeRi? I was trying to study you know.” Glancing up at her smiling face Hyesung couldn’t help it, but to smile. Every time she’d smile or laugh he’d do the same. It was like a reflex or something… She just looked so cute when she was happy. “No you weren’t oppa! You were sleeping AGAIN!” HaeRi accused from the bed. “No I wasn’t. I was just meditating with my eyes closed.” Hyesung insisted. “haha… Babo! Babo! Babo! Hyesung is a babo!” HaeRi chanted as Hyesung lunged towards her. Landing right on top of her the two wrestled with each other on top of the bed. “what… would… you … do … if.. I …kissed… you…. right… now..?…” Hyesung puffed out on top of HaeRi. “……..” Not hearing a response from her expect for a red face he slowly lowered his face to hers till their lips met for the very first time. Sealing her first kiss with all his love Hyesung quickly pulled away from her and packed his bags. “It’s late. I should be going home.” Hyesung stated with a bowed head. “…okay oppa…see you tomorrow and study… babo!…” Flashing him a smile HaeRi watched him walked out and softly closed her bedroom door. Rushing to the window she saw him exit her house and waved to her from the street like he’d done for the past ten years whenever he left her house… “…bye oppa…” *~* “What’s wrong doctor?” HaeRi’s mother asked worriedly in his office. “I don’t know whether there’s a correct or wrong way to state this so I’m just going to tell you straight forward. HaeRi has is diagnosed with cancer. She has less than four months left to live.” “…*weeping* …but…but… how is that?! No one in our family has ever had cancer! How could my…my…*sobs*….” “It doesn’t necessarily have to be in the family for her to be diagnose with it. What I will advise you to do though, is to make sure that whatever time that is left of her youthful life be filled with nothing but happiness.” The doctor told Ms. Kim without a flinch on his face. ‘how could he do that! Just like that! My only daughter, joy of life is going to die before my eyes….’ Ms. Kim thought as she numbly walked through the front door. “UMMA! You’re home. Where did you go? Hyesung oppa wouldn’t let me stay home by myself so he’s sleeping in my room right now. Can you believe it Umma? All he does IS sleep!” HaeRi complained hugging her mother around the waist. “What’s wrong Umma? How come you’re so sad? Did Appa call you again?” “No. No, honey Umma’s fine. Just a little tired. So how’s my little HaeRi? Did you have fun with Hyesung today?” Ms. Kim asked her only joy in life. “Yup! He took me to Lotto World! He’s sleeping right now though.” Letting go of her mother HaeRi ran back upstairs to watch Hyesung sleep. “…my sweet angel… how am I suppose to tell you that’s you have less then four months left of live… more importantly, how am I going to tell Hyesung….” Sighing to herself tears unconsciously fell from her eyes. Walking into the kitchen, Ms. Kim started dinner. Preparing to make all her daughter’s favorite dishes. *~* “What’s wrong HaeRi?” Hyesung asked worriedly. It’s being two months and it seems as if HaeRi’s been getting paler and paler… “Nothing oppa. I’m just tired.” HaeRi perkily answered back, flashing him a tired smile. ”You’re always tired. You should stop studying so much.” Hyesung scold her, pulling her into his arms… Like usual her little figure fitted perfectly into his arms. “But I need to oppa. And so do you Babo!” Chuckling at her new nickname for him, Hyesung snuggled into her shoulder as they waited for the bus. “Fine. As long as you study with me.” “But you never study when I’m with you. All you do is sleep!” Pouting HaeRi turned around to face him. “I know. I sleep so that I can dream about you and me and the future and little kids we’ll have. And how pretty you’d be. And how happy you’d make me. And how-” Interrupting his trends of thoughts, HaeRi broke out into another round of coughs. “I’m going to take you to the doctor.” Hyesung said determine. Her health was only getting worse. “no.. no… I’m fine. I’ll be-” Breaking out into another rounds of coughs, HaeRi pulled away from Hyesung as blood started dripping from the side of her mouth. “HAERI! YOU’RE- YOU’RE- YOU’RE COUGHING UP BLOOD!” Alarmed Hyesung tired to get her to stop. With not avail, he quickly hailed a taxi and rushed her to the hospital as her coughing only continued to intensify. “I’m sorry… but she has cancer…” was all that ran through Hyesung’s head as he sat outside in the freezing cold. “…cancer…how can that be?… my HaeRi has cancer?…” Feeling the helpless frustration, Hyesung got up and walked home. What else was there for him to do? HaeRi was doing to die and he couldn’t do a thing about it? “Umma, where’s Hyesungie?” HaeRi asked her mother from her bed. The room was all white except for the nightstands full of get-well gifts from her friends and families. “Sh~ HaeRi. Umma doesn’t know. Maybe he went back home since it’s getting kind of late. Just get some sleep okay honey. They want to take some tests tomorrow.” Sadly brushing back her daughter’s hair from her face, Ms. Kim sighed. ‘Where are you Hyesung?’ “Hyesung aren’t you going to come with us to visit HaeRi today?” Asked MinJing, who was surrounded by a group of girls. “No.” Was all that came from Hyesung as he slung his arm around the new girl HyeLin, putting her into a round of giggles. “HyeLin and me are going the movies.” “…but…but… What about HaeRi Hyesung? Just because she’s sick doesn’t mean you don’t love her anymore right?” MinJing asked perplexed at his sudden change in attitude. “….” Flashing her a cold stare, Hyesung turned around and started walking away with his arm still around HyeLin. ‘I care. More than you’d ever imagine… But what can I do about it. She’s going to die anyhow…so mine as well let her go now….’ Staring in unbelief at his cold demeanor, MinJing nearly burst into tears. ‘Hyesung, what’s wrong? Ever since that day… that day… you’d become so cold and cruel…’ “MinJing! Hi you guys~! I’m so happy all of you came. Its so boring here alone.” HaeRi happily exclaimed as she watched everyone stumbled into her room. “Hi HaeRi. How are you doing?” MinJing asked trying to hold up a happy exposure. “I’m fine. Where’s Hyesung oppa? He didn’t come with you guys?” HaeRi asked worried. It’s been two weeks and Hyesung hasn’t visited her once. The last time she saw him was the day he brought her there. “…you didn’t hear?…” one of the girls asked. “Hear what?” HaeRi asked lost. “Hyesung and HyeLin are an item now. Ever since you were in the hospital Hyesung has been hanging around her 24/7… I heard today that they were formally dating…” the girl answer cheerfully. “Aren’t you happy?! They’re so cute when they’re together!” Smacking her on the head MinJing kicked them all out of the room. “I’m sorry HaeRi….I didn’t want to tell you until I thought you were ready….I’m sorry….” MinJing whispered head bowed. Then turning around she quietly exited the room. From her bed HaeRi could hear her yelling at the other girls as they started to leave…. “Hyesung… HyeLin…. Dating???…. my Hyesungie….” Feeling the strength drift from her body HaeRi slumped into her pillows as tears started to flow… Her only reason to get better was Hyesung… so that she could live forever and ever in his arms… so that they could get married and have beautiful kids….. Her Hyesungie was the only reason why she’d didn’t give up… and… and… he left her……. Ms. Kim tearfully watched her deteriorating daughter. As if the gods were mad at her, they took away the only strength left in her body. Quietly weeping for the only thing she couldn’t keep, she brushed the hair out of HaeRi’s face as she’d done for the past month… “Where are you Hyesung?… Can’t you see that she doesn’t have that long left before she’d have to say good-bye for good?… my sweet angel…. I love you…” Kissing her on the forehead Ms. Kim got up and walked out of the room, not wanting to witness the inevitable… Softly the hospital door pushed open as someone dressed all in white awkwardly walked into the room carrying white lilies and a white bear. Setting the gifts on the table he watched her un-even breaths. As if sucking the last breaths from him, he walked a little closer to her… and a little closer… and a little closer… till he was only inched away from her sleeping figure…. With a shaky hand the let his cold fingers slowly caress her soft face causing her to stir…. “…Hyesungie…” HaeRi whispered looking up at the angelic figure that she’d missed so much… “shh~ just sleep…” “but…but…why???…” Flashing him hurtful eyes, tears began to pour out of her already dried up wells… “why oppa??? After so much. After all our promises to each other…. Why???” HaeRi demanded as breathing got a littler harder and harder…. “I’m sorry… I’m a babo… I’m so sorry… I miss you so much…” Kissing her soft pink lips, Hyesung carefully wiped the tears from her eyes, afraid that he’d hurt her even more. “but why??? Why oppa??? I loved you so much….” “… I know… I love you too HaeRi… HaeRi… Can you promise me something? … Don’t leave okay… Promise me you’ll fight it whatever it is… that you’ll stay with me forever and ever like we promised ten years ago…” Like pleading with fate, Hyesung was pleading with her… praying, hoping, that fate will see how true their love was… how strong it could be and already was… “…I promise oppa… I promise…” HaeRi barley whispered as she all of a sudden became very sleepy… “… neulsaranghae HaeRi yowee….” Hyesung whispered into her ears as he softly kissed her again never wanting to let go… “….I’m sorry… my precious HaeRi…I’m so sorry....” “I..for..give…you…oppa….oppa?….will…you….hold…me…till…I…fall…asleep…?…” HaeRi asked out of breath as eternal sleep kept pulling at her…. “…okay…sweet dreams my angel… and remember I love you forever and ever….” Gently taking her into his arm, Hyesung comfortably rested his head on top of hers’. Snuggling into his chest, HaeRi finally gave into it…. “…neulsaranghae Hyesungie babo yowee…yowee….” *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *~* Burying you was the hardest thing I ever did… Did you see my tears that day? … Can you see my heart from up there?… It still lives on for you HaeRi… my one and only HaeRi…. Neulsaranghae yowee…yowee…HaeRi…. *Endflaskback* Epilogue As if jealous of a love so pure… The gods took you away… Leaving an empty soul… To roam around this vacant earth… That can’t fulfill this painful heart of mines’… One day we’ll meet again… When the angels are done crying… And the heavens are bright again… Till then… Please wait for me… Neulsaranghae….yowee…yowee… j.j.O.l.I.e.k Nov. 15*01 9:01 p.m. ************************************************************************ |