"추억" - Part XI

THE PAST IS THE PAST

Such a good morning to start the day, Minsoo jogged in the park near his house. He still had a happy expression since he was engaged now to Yoomi. He kept smiling while jogging, not knowing that someone approached him and jogged beside him.

“Minsoo-ya, congratulation on your engagement!!”

“Tha—Oh?! You’re back?!”

“Yes. I just arrived two days ago. Hehehe.. Sorry I didn’t get the chance to congratulate you last night”

“You were there?!”

“Well yeah. Haena invited me. I also got shock with your proposal. HAHAHA!! You’re so brave, Minsoo!!”

“So, you met Byunghun?!”

She didn’t answer Minsoo’s question as she recalled what happened last night. Indeed she met Byunghun but last night it looked like she met not the usual Byunghun. If Byunghun always greeted her with big smile on his face, last night was different. Byunghun had no expression. She knew exactly why he acted like that. It was all her fault. She sighed.

“I guess you have met him. Looking at your expression, you have met him”

“Yea~ and he was different”

“Well of course”

“Ehh?! Why?? Is there something I don’t know?!”

“Ask him don’t ask me. Well, goodbye, Ahreum~!! I have to go now!!”

Then, Minsoo left Ahreun alone in the park. He couldn’t tell Ahreum about Byunghun and Yoori since it’s their problem and they had to resolve it on their own. He then sped off to his house, getting ready to meet Yoomi – they would have a date.

Byunghun was lying on his bed, didn’t have any mood to wake up from his bed, since he still shocked for meeting Ahreum last night. Ahreum, his first love since kid, was back from America. She moved with her parents to America 3 years ago for her dad’s business. He kept replaying the moment when Ahreum had to go and left him in Seoul. He hated to remember those nightmares in his life.

  

Yoori also lied on her bed, didn’t have a mood to get up either. She was also keep replaying the scene where a girl hugged her boyfriend tightly like she already knew Byunghun for a long time. Her heart hurt so much for looking at them. She didn’t dare to get closer to them and decided to go home with Jonghyun. Why Jonghyun?! At that time, he was the only one who stood next to Yoori. Yoori asked him to take her home after sending a message to Byunghun that Jonghyun would take her home. Sadly, there was no reply until this morning from Byunghun. She was sad for knowing that her boyfriend didn’t worry about her. She then felt something fishy about Byunghun and that girl but she didn’t want to over-thinking about it.

Ahreum walked to her home alone while thinking why Byunghun had changed. She knew that Byunghun had a feeling for her and every time they met, Byunghun would hug her – not on last night. She looked at her big house – which was completely empty – and she missed those times when the boys always visited her. She opened her phone and called someone.

“Changhyunnie?! Yes, It’s me Ahreum noona!! Want to stop by at my house?! YES!!! I’m here in Seoul!! Noona is bored here alone. Okay?! Deal!! I’ll be waiting!! See you!!”  

Changhyun came faster than she expected. He was so happy to see Ahreum back from America after 3 years. He hugged Ahreum tightly. He remembered that Ahreum was his hero, saved him from the bully. That was the time he joined with the boys. They accepted Changhyun to be their friends, because of Ahreum. She was so nice and the boys gave her a nickname, UCheon/ Our Angel (UCheon from Uri Cheonsa). 

Changhyun and Ahreum had a fun talk there. Ahreum told him how hard she had to adapt on the culture in America and Changhyun would tell her about his life in the past 3 years. He mentioned Yoomi, Yoori and Sina also and he said that the three of them were like an angel for him. Thankfully Changhyun didn't tell Ahreum that Yoori is Byunghun's girlfriend or it would hurt Ahreum's heart. Changhyun knew it too well that Ahreum also had feeling for Byunghun so he didn't dare to hurt his noona's heart.

Suddenly, Changhyun's phone rang, revealing Sina's caller ID. He picked it up. It seemed like Sina asked him to come together with her and the rest since they would have dinner together to celebrate Minsoo and Yoomi's engagement. Changhyun looked at Ahreum, didn't know what to do. He didn't want to leave Ahreum and he also didn't want to bring Ahreum to the dinner. But his stomach spoke the other truth so he said YES to Sina and would join them.

Ahreum seemed understand Changhyun's situation. It made her missed all of the boys. 

"Uhmm... Can I go with you?? I miss the boys"

"Uhhh.......... Well..... Why not, noona?! hehehehe", he gave his awkward laugh. He felt that it would be bad if she came but he couldn't say no to Ahreum. Never.

***

They arrived at the restaurant Sina's mentioned in the call. They could see Jonghyun, Niel, Sina, Chanhee and the couple. Jonghyun, Chanhee and Niel's eyed rounded, shocked with what they saw. Yoomi and Sina looked clueless as the boys ran to her. 

"NOONA!!! I MISS YOU!!!", Niel held her hand.

"Ahreum!!! When did you arrive here??", Chanhee smiled at her.

"Noona it's good to see you again", Jonghyun hugged her.

Sina and Yoomi looked at Minsoo who didn't join the rest.

"I met her this morning", got a nod from Yoomi and Sina.

"But.. Who is she?!", Yoomi asked.

"Ah- Ahreum?!", Byunghun who just arrived with Yoori got shock. All eyes glued on them now. Especially the boys. 

"Byu- Oh, who is this??", she stopped when she was trying to hug Byunghun as she saw Yoori beside Byunghun. Yoori recognized this girl. Her mood became more bad than this morning. On the ride to the restaurant, both Yoori and Byunghun didn't say anything. 

The atmosphere became awkward as Ahreum walked closer to Yoori. She smiled to Yoori. It's hard to admit that her smile was perfect and beautiful but that's the truth. Byunghun eyed Ahreum who stood in front of Yoori. 

"Hello, I'm Kim Ahreum. These boys here are my friends", she offered her hand.

"Hello. I'm Jung Yoori and I also these boys friend", Yoori shook her hand.

There was an intense atmosphere between them. Somehow, Yoori's answer hurt Byunghun's heart. She didn't tell Ahreum that she is Byunghun's girlfriend. But for the rest there, it was good that Yoori didn't bring up her status with Byunghun. Ahreum then introduced herself to Sina and Yoomi as well. She sat beside Byunghun while Yoori sat in front of Byunghun, between Niel and Yoomi. She didn't say anything on their dinner.

They had finished their dinner then had a talk together. They were laughing hard except for Byunghun and Yoori. Both of them didn't have any expression even they didn't respond to what their friends said. Yoori kept looking at her phone and Byunghun kept looking at her. Yoori was totally avoiding Byunghun's gaze. She didn't have the mood to talk.

"Ya, Jung Yoori!", Byunghun called her - made all of them looked at Yoori. She still ignored him.

"JUNG YOORI!! Put your phone!! Look at me!!", Yoori didn't budge.

"I said PUT YOUR PHONE!! Your boyfriend is talking to you right now!!!", Byunghun hit the table.

Ahreum's eyes became round when she heard the word, BOYFRIEND. She looked at Byunghun with lost face. She couldn't believe what she heard. Yoori eyed Byunghun with hatred stare. 

"WHAT?! SO WHAT IF YOU CALLED ME?!", Yoori yelled.

"What happened with you today, huh?!"

"You asked me?! You should know, Byunghun!!"

"What did I do wrong?!"

"I SENT YOU A MESSAGE LAST NIGHT AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN REPLY ME!! You didn't care of me!! I knew it!! Do you even know with who I went home last night?? Of course you don't since you are busy with someone else!!", Yoori eyed Ahreum.

"Hey.. Yoori.. Ssshhh~ Calm down...", Yoomi held Yoori's hand while stroked Yoori's back. 

"OKAY!! So, let's end our dinner here!! Yoori will be with us. No worries. You two need to calm down first", Minsoo said.

With that, they went home one by one except for Minsoo, Yoomi and Yoori. Byunghun and Ahreum were the last to go. Ahreum held Byunghun's arm - made him turned around.

"Is that true that Yoori is your girlfriend?!", she asked while hung her head low.

"Yes"

"Don't you love me?!", she trembled.

"Ahreum...", he let his arm go from Ahreum's grip.

"YOU LOVE ME, DON'T YOU?!", Ahreum cried.

"It's a past love story already, Ahreum. I'm so sorry", Byunghun walked, left Ahreum.

"NO!! I was wrong!! I'm so sorry, Byunghun-ah!!! I was wrong!!", she caught Byunghun up.

"It wasn't, Ahreum. You did a great job by turning me down at that time. If you didn't say no, that time, I won't meet Yoori. You are my nightmare, Ahreum. Asked the rest if you want to know what I became when you left me that time. Yoori changed me. Once again. I'm so sorry. The past is the past. Now I have my own life. I love Yoori not you anymore. End of story. Now, go back to your house. Bye"

He left her who was crying hard. She couldn't accept the fact that Byunghun already had a girlfriend in his life. She thought that he would wait for her. But she was wrong. She hated herself for turning Byunghun down when he confessed to her, three years ago.

"I love you, Byunghun"

-TO BE CONTINUED-