Eight

This is what Soohyun looks like ^^^^

——

Jangmin looked excited as he headed to another basketball practice. Practice was every day after school, meaning I could watch (and risk going blank over Minhyuk again) or walk home with Eunwoo. It was a tough choice, but Eunwoo looked like he might cry if I rejected him. Besides, Jangmin looked like he didn't mind.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" I studied my brother's face but he just smiled brightly at me,

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Go ahead home." He waved at me and jogged away, leaving me with Eunwoo.

"Wanna get some ice cream?" He grinned me and I shook my head at him. He was obviously addicted to ice cream. I wondered where he found the money to buy so much.

"Come on." He took my wrist and ran, causing me to nearly trip on the stairs.

"Slow down would you?!" I was beginning to get annoyed at his sudden urges to grab my wrist.

The sky was bright and the air was warm. Somewhere in the trees birds were singing. The atmosphere was nice, making it a perfect day to be outside. Eunwoo let go of me when we crossed school boundaries and started running, with his hands flying above him and letting out a girlish screech of victory. He looked like a little kid who'd just been promised ice cream, which really wasn't a lie. I caught up to him with a laugh.

"Cha Eunwoo, what the heck are you doing?"

Eunwoo slowed down to a walk and smiled at me, both hands in his pockets.

"The weather is great isn't it? I love days like this." He let out a satisfied sigh and smiled at the sky. I shook my head at him for possibly the fortieth time that day.

"Living in the city must be fun. There must be a lot to do. Lots of food." His eyes lit up when he said the word. I smiled at him, remembering Seoul.

"It's fun. There are plenty of restaurants so I'm sure you would never go hungry." I felt my heart warm at the memory of Seoul. It was home, it was my happy place. As long as I didn't think of what had changed, Seoul was a beautiful thought.

"Watch this Soohyun." Eunwoo hurried to the side of the road where a dozen dandelions were blowing in the wind, their silvery grey seeds dancing. He tore one off, a smile gracing his face as he faced me with it in one hand. Raising it above his head, he blew towards it. The feathery seeds bounced from the stem, floating away on the air. Tons of little feather like seeds flew into the sky. I stood in amazement as Eunwoo dropped his hand, the bare stem between his fingers.

"Whoa." I reached up and touched one of the seeds, watching as it bounced away from my touch.

"Isn't it pretty?" Eunwoo asked me. "My mother says if you wish and blow one your wish will come true."

I turned my attention away from the flying seeds at his comment,

"Really?"

He nodded.

"Let me try one." I reached down and plucked one of the fluffy flowers, raising it to my lips. I closed my eyes tight, wishing to the sky. I wanted to wish for Minhyuk to notice me, but another wish was flashing in my mind. Something I really wanted.

I wanted my family back. I wanted to be as close to Jangmin as I had been, to have a loving parent and a home. I wished for family.

My eyes flew open and I blew, watching in awe as the seed feathers broke away from the flower and took flight. Eunwoo was smiling as he watched me,

"What did you wish for?" He asked. I turned away from him and folded my arms with a smirk, walking ahead of him.

"Not telling."

"Aw come on! I won't tell anyone!" He whined behind me, making me laugh. He was such a child.

"Nope." I was determined to be firm. He caught up to me and stood in front of me. This time it was him who had his crossed his arms with a smirk,

"Then I won't buy you ice cream."

"Hey! You promised!" I reached out to slap him but he ducked away and dodged me, giggling like an idiot.

He ended up buying me ice cream anyway, since he had promised. I tried to persuade him into getting me triangle kimbap at the convenience store but he harshly refused to my disappointment. The guy was such a jerk sometimes.

Then we were sitting side by side down by the sparking lake. The pebbles were round and smooth, but uncomfortable to sit on. I found myself fidgeting. Eunwoo smiled to himself while he ate his ice cream, something he really liked to do.

"I've always wanted my father to go fishing with me here." His voice sounded wistful,

"He's busy all the time, sometimes I wish he'd just quit his job." He sighed deeply and I felt bad for him. Mother would go anywhere with us, fishing was one of our favorite activities. I wondered if I'd ever get that chance again.

"What about you Soohyun? Do your parents spend a lot of time with you?" He turned to face me, surprising me with his question. I paused from eating my strawberry ice cream and felt a stone in my stomach.

"I... I don't have parents." It was painful to say. Eunwoo's eyes stretched wide at my answer,

"I'm so sorry.. I didn't know." His chocolate pupils were suddenly filled with pity. I felt sick at the look, embarrassed and upset.

"You don't need to apologize Eunwoo. It's not your fault. It was no one's fault they said." I couldn't keep my voice from being bitter. Eunwoo nodded and turned back to his ice cream, leaving us both in silence. The wind rippled the waves on the lake, mirroring pale blue sky and white clouds.

"I don't remember my father, he left when I was young." I broke the silence. Eunwoo didn't respond, sitting in silence as he listened. I was kind of thankful for him, I felt like I needed to tell him.

"My mother was the kindest person I've ever known. She always knew how to cheer us up and keep us entertained." I bit into my ice cream, fighting back the tears that threatened to come.

"When the fire lit up the house, me and Jangmin were first ones out. It was scary, leaving mother in there. I told them I wanted mother to go first. I fought with the firemen, I pleaded.

"I don't remember much of what happened after that. There was smoke everywhere, the sirens were wailing. Everything was a blur."

Eunwoo's face was filled with sorrow, his ice cream forgotten as it dripped onto the stones.

"You don't have to tell me Soohyun." His voice was gentle. I shook my head;

"I want to, I think I must." I took a breath, gathering the courage to go on. He watched me in silence, willing me to continue.

"The house was coming down. The next thing I knew she was being carried, her face nearly unrecognizable. Then gone, away in the ambulance. Jangmin and I were desperate. We were alone and scared and panicking. We were taken to the police station and we waited there for a long time." I paused to take another bite of ice cream,

"I told myself it'd be okay. That she'd come home breathing and normal. But it never happened..." my voice caught in my throat and I realized the tears had come again, falling steadily down my face. I dropped my head on my knees, letting them fall.

"I'm really sorry Soohyun, I didn't realize how hard it's been for you." Eunwoo's hand rested on my back, rubbing in small soothing circles. I sniffed in response. I'd finally said it, I'd finally let it all out. It was so relieving, so freeing, but so painful.

"I miss her a lot." I doubted he could understand me through my choked voice but he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me next to him, my head resting on his shoulder. His embrace felt so warm, and again my heart was thundering.

I could feel his chest vibrating as he gently hummed. The tune was familiar, soothing and calming.

"Hey Soohyun, do you know what I do when I'm upset?" I raised my head at his voice, wiping the tears from my face. He reached down and picked up a smooth black stone, showing it to me. I sat up and frowned at him in confusion. Throwing his arm back, he let out a yell and flung the stone. I watched as it flew through the air and landed with a splash in the rippling lake waves. I turned back to him and tipped my head, still confused.

"Here, throw one." He placed a cold silver one in my palm. Gingerly I reached back and threw it, watching it plop into the water and sink away. It was strangely satisfying. Reaching down below me where big pebbles were sitting uncomfortably, I took one and hurled it into the lake; yelling. It did work, I felt better.

"See? It works." Eunwoo stood up and hurled another one. I followed his lead, yelling as the tight feeling from my chest disappeared. The sad feelings from before seemed to have sunken away like all those stones. I turned to smile at Eunwoo, so thankful.

He never failed to cheer me up.