✔︎ retrouvaille | yang jungwon

ep. 06

"There aren't many places you can just walk into." Jungwon started as he moved his chess piece. "Each place has different ways to enter. Like this one. Mrs Song found this place and got all her seeds and little plants from the greenhouse here." Riki moved a black pawn piece two checks in front.

"It's the same with people too. If I pay attention closely, they'll exist in front of me." Riki just looked at Jungwon as if he was crazy. He was spurting out nonsense that didn't even make sense." He was about to ask when Jungwon suddenly moved his castle piece to eat Riki's last pawn.

"And we're done."

Riki just glared at Jungwon before laughing together with him.

.

"Aw man. We're not in the same class." Jungwon sighed as they looked at the class list in the hallway. Riki placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and smiled. "Who cares ?! We'll meet up after school either way." He ended with a small wink.

As they were walking back to the cafeteria, they bumped into someone.

"Watch where you're going."

The person mumbled.

The person being Jake Shim.

Jungwon just glared at him before looking at Riki who paid no mind to the incident. "You're not mad at him anymore." Jungwon spoke. Riki hummed before replying. "I just think he's not worth my emotions nor existence." Jungwon smiled. He was proud to encourage his best friend this far.

.

It was winter. Snowing and the cold temperatures still didn't stop them from playing archery on the school rooftop. "Woahh- You've improved a lot !" Jungwon cheered as they laughed again. "Ey, what are you talking about ?? You're the president and my personal coach. Of course you should be proud !"

Riki joked as Jungwon hit him several times before falling down to the snowy ground. Riki then turned to Jungwon, feeling snow fall on his face. "Thank you."

Jungwon then looked back at him.

"Thank you."

.

Advanced to a year later, going to senior high school now. As usual, Riki would always stop by Jungwon's class to say hello.

But this time, his seat was empty.

He went to his seat and was curious. Jungwon didn't text him during the weekends, last being on tuesday so he thought they would meet in school. "Jungwon's absent on the first day of school ?..." He mumbled. The person in front of him turned around looking at Riki.

"You didn't hear ?"

Riki looked at the person with eyes pure of curiosity.

"He emigrated during the last week of school."

Riki couldn't believe it. Where exactly ? Why ? Why didn't Jungwon tell him ?

"I heard he's gone for good."

.

"So you were friends..."

Seori spoke after listening to Riki's story. They were both sitting on the old bus where RIki and Jungwon used to hang out. It was deja vu. "Yeah.. I think we are. Well 'were'. I didn't get to talk to him after that. We just sort of cut ties." Riki looked forward, looking so depressed as Seori looked at him nervously.

"Can you believe it though ? That jerk had the time to leave someone letters but couldn't even bid a proper goodbye to me after all this time. I feel like I've been used and played around with. Being toyed." He gritted his teeth before standing up. "I found your letter for you. I'm leaving."

Seori opened up the envelope to see gloves and a letter. Usually just a letter but gloves ? She thought about Riki's story for a while before remembering.

Right.

He plays archery. He needs gloves.

She quickly stood up and stopped Riki, luckily he did not jump off the bus yet.

"WAIT !"

The boy turned around, annoyed. What could possibly the girl ask for next ? To dive in a pool to find the next letter ? Hell nah he was helping. "What else ?" Seori caught up to him and handed him the letter.

"I think this letter was from Jungwon to you."

Riki's eyes lighten up before taking the envelope from the girl's hand and going down the ladder, sitting down on one of the seats in the bus.

Dear Riki,

I'm sorry for leaving you with just a letter. I was not sure when I'm coming back so I couldn't bring myself to tell you in person that I was leaving. I didn't one to say goodbye because I want to meet you again. Take care of yourself and keep playing archery for me. We'll meet up again. Just know that I'm always grateful to you for being my best friend.

Jungwon.

Riki had tears flowing down his face, lips trembling.

 The letter was short and simple, having only a few lines. 

But the boy read it over and over again. 

Jungwon didn't answer any of his questions.

 Riki just wanted to know where exactly he went. 

But then again from a distance, Seori slowly walked up to him and sat next to him.

She thought the boy would be sad. 

But she was shocked to see Riki crying with a smile on his face. 

[07022022]

877 words

time started : 11:23:p.m
time ended : 11:41 p.m

Seori knows about Riki's past and a little about Jungwon. Jungwon had not said goodbye to any of them just yet.

Was he coming back ?

Riki was right, Seori couldn't just be a stranger.

Who was she to Jungwon ?

don't forget to vote and comment ! ♡