First Encounter

"Someone killed him but the world don't know who was the murderer?"

"What!? So does it mean that his murderer is still living freely in this world?"

"Unfortunately yes, but as I said, the world doesn't know who the murderer is but I am not included in that world"

"Ji Hoon stop playing around the bush, come straight to the point" I can't wait to hear him.

"That murderer made it look a suicide but it wasn't, I know you'll ask, how do I know this?"

I nodded

"It's because, I was there at the murder scene." he whispered in his softest voice.

I grabbed his hands, because I don't know what else to do. I am not even good with words.

"If time machine really existed, I would've gone back to that day, not to stop the killer from killing my dad but to stop the reason why my dad left the house in the first place. So that I wouldn't feel this guilty, as I am feeling right now"

I raised my brows.

"I am the reason he got killed, if I wouldn't have thrown tantrums that day, if I wouldn't have forced him to go out with me..." he abruptly stopped, probably because he is fighting back his tears, or attempting to.

"I was really, really lonely that day, that's why I asked him to.." his voice still not clear.

"No one is blaming you Ji Hoon, you've done nothing wrong." I tried to assure him

"It was my birthday.. and I.. and I didn't want to feel lonely at least on that day, which used to be special for me. And when dad gave up, in front of my tantrums, he decided to buy me some clothes and toys. We were about to leave from the parking lot, after shopping, and my dad said"

"Ji Hoon wait for me in the car I'll be right back"

"I nodded without astraying my eyes from the my video game, the next moment when I looked outside I saw a huge man throttling my dad to death, and as soon as I got outside the car. Dad croaked away, and that man ran away"

"I cried, shouted, yelled but nobody listened to me and I still wonder why they didn't listen to a seven year old. I still wonder why mom hugged me for the first time on that day, I still wonder how they made this whole situation look like a suicide and I still wonder why they never believed me.." his blue eyes are not clearly visible just like his voice. As he is overwhelmed with emotions.

I am not willing to let go off his hands just how he is not willing to let go off the blame that he is the reason for his dad's death.

"My seventh birthday was a nightmare, and I often get horrendous dreams about that day because it was not just about my dad but also about my mom. That was the last time I saw her"

"She..aban..abandoned you?" I was afraid to say this because I know it's the truth even though I don't want it to be the truth.

"It wasn't a big loss for her, as she always wanted to leave us and she finally got the opportunity to do so what bothered me was the fact that she took over my dad's business and shifted to Japan all alone and cut all ties with us. As if we were nothing for her"

"That birthday was indeed special, no matter how worse things got and how excruciating it was, I felt relieved at some point because, something blissful happened"

"Something blissful?" I repeated.

"Uhm.. I met my first love that day" a cheerful grin appeared on his face.

And I smiled back too, at the fact that, at least he had someone during that painful time who made him smile.

"I don't want to talk much about her because there is really nothing to talk about her. That kid" it's so satisfying to look at him smiling like this, when he said "That kid"

"She must be so pretty" I remarked

"She was" he closed his eyes and said in a calm but firm voice.

"I see.." I know I shouldn't be, but I am envious of her. How can I be happy to know that I am not the first woman in his life while he is the first one in my life.

"Did you two date?" nothing can kill human's curiosity.

He chuckled and said "We were just seven and I met her for a brief moment only"

"Oh! I see.." without even realising, I kept saying this.

"Why for a brief moment though?"

He again chuckled and I got more furious to know that he is still blushing on the thought of her "Because I left Korea, to live in states with In Na and noona, I came back this year only. Have you forgotten, I was a new student here in this school?"

I blinked my eyes twice, slowly.

"I always wanted to come back to Korea because America is not for me. And, I wanted to see that kid"

"So did you meet her?"

"I don't even know where that kid is"

Aah! that kid! that kid! What the fuck!

But I supressed my rage and asked in a polite manner "Don't you know her name?"

"Ofcourse I do, Ha Na"

I again raised my brows.

"Ha Na was her name"

"What!" This rings a bell.

"Wait, when was this?" I asked hastily

"On my birthday, when my dad died"

"No-no, I mean the date and all?" I said in a rushed voice.

"It was my seventh birthday, April 3rd 2012"

"What!"

If I remember, that day, I also met someone like Ji Hoon.

Wait a minute.. does it mean? does it mean?

"Ji Hoon.." I whispered softly as I think I'm just overthinking, how can that child be Ji Hoon. That child was so fragile while look at this huge Ji Hoon with shredded abs and muscular body.

"What happened?" he asked politely.

"Can you describe, that kid.. no .. I mean your first love.. no .. I mean that Ha Na's face?" I am baffled.