Childhood Sweethearts

"I don't remember" he sighed and continued "It was around ten years ago, how can I remember it? And I met her for a brief moment only, it was raining too."

"This is weird!" he mentioned.

So I asked "What?"

"When I first met you, I thought I've seen you somewhere before and when I got to know that your name is also Ha Na, I became extremely happy for a second but then I thought I am just overthinking, how can it be you. But.."

"But?" I asked

"But now when I look at you, I can't refuse to believe that, that Ha Na was you only."

"And why do you think so?"

"I don't know.. It's just.. it's just an instinct" he heaved his shoulders.

"Well.. I think, I was that Ha Na"

His eyes widened and I instantly completed my previous sentence "When I first saw you, I also thought you were that kid, who was crying in the rain that day. And do you remember? I even asked you whether we've met before or not."

"Aah.. yes.. You referred to me as a long lost friend"

*I chuckled*

"And that yellow umbrella.." Ji Hoon said delightfully.

"Which had banana imprints on it!"

"Which had banana imprints on it"

we both said at the same time

"Oh! Bingo" I exclaimed and then we both laughed.

"Wow! I can't believe, we've met before" I drawled.

"And I can't believe that I couldn't recognise my first love" Ji Hoon said while looking at me with a broad smile on his face.

"First love.." I whispered while looking down, with a supressed smile.

"Uhm.. you.. my first love" Ji Hoon pointed at me.

Just now, I was filled with jealousy because of his first love and now when I know it was none other than me only, I can not stop myself from blushing.

"Why did you love me?" I asked

"Why are you using did? I still love you, and much more than I used to"

His sudden confession always makes my heart skip a beat.

"But why me? Out of all people? Why only me?" It would have been easy for me to believe him, if he were less attractive, I can never digest the fact that someone like him is choosing me, over millions of beautiful people. How can I believe him, if he looks this godly? Maybe it's his godly look is what stopping me from confessing my feeling to him, because deep down I know.. I know that...

I love him.

No matter, how much I try not to think about my looks, in the end everything comes back to my face only. There is a huge gap between ugly and pretty, and it's not because beauty is great; it's because people are that worthless and because they are so worthless, they can rely on things seen. The more worthless a person is, the more he tries to be seen.

And right now, I don't even know my worth.

"Well ... Is there a reason why I can't love you?"

"I am not even pretty Ji Hoon" I didn't realise, I had few tears in my eyes.

"why do people like pretty things?.. and who gets to say what's pretty?" he asked blandly.

"It is an age where pretty trumps the justice and pretty has the last word. Nearly everything is determined at first sight, in terms of what school you go to, how much money you have, and how you stacked up in the eyes of others. And even after knowing all these things, you still wonder, why I ask about the reason for your love towards me, again and again?" I am about to burst out in front of him, but I'm holding back.

"But why do you think you're not pretty? You're the prettiest one, to me"

"That's the point Ji Hoon. It's to you. Not for the world" I emphasized on "to you"

"Why should people matter? Who cares what they think? I am not loving you for people's sake." he said matter-of-factly

"It's not that easy as you make it sound like"

"I agree. But" then he grabbed my palms, maybe he is out of words, for the first time. Then he squeezed my hands to give me all of his warmth.

If he hasn't, at this time, squeezed my hand and laid my head over his right shoulder, I wouldn't have been able to breathe or open my eyes.

"It hurts Ji Hoon.." I whispered in a voice which is barely audible.

I can feel that he is looking at me, but my face is facing downwards.

"I wish I were different" I again whispered.

He stroked my cheeks without saying a word.

"There is no reason why we love someone. We just love them endlessly, unconditionally and strongly." he finally has something to say.

I looked at him

"That's the beauty of love. One can't define love and I don't even want to or else that beauty of love will degrade"

I kept looking at him while he kept speaking.

"Love is the most powerful and real emotion we feel, and I think it's sort of magical that we can experience this greatest emotion in our life."

I nodded in agreement

"A life where one has loved is a miracle, a life where one has been loved is also a miracle."

"And, thank you Ha Na, for letting me experience this greatest emotion. This miracle, called love."

"I always wanted it to be with you and now when I'm finally having it, I can't even believe if it's real, because all of this is .. is like a dream to me. You won't believe, what you have done to me."

"I often lose sight of myself but when I remember you, I become myself"

His each and every words are gradually healing my each and every wound.

I closed my eyes to lose myself in the exquisite harmony. And I wondered

This must be why people love.