secret doors. yjw

. . . ⇢ 10 ˎˊ˗

the sky grew darker and heavy clouds loomed overhead, a subtle shift in the atmosphere announced the imminent arrival of rain.

but for jungwon, he didn't mind the approaching rain as he chose to stay behind. his companions had already went inside and he purposely decided to be alone.

silent and lost in contemplation, his gaze fixed upon a solitary gravestone where his beloved's name was delicately etched. his vision blurred gradually, feeling the imminent release of his tears.

unable to restrain himself any longer, he succumbed to the deluge as if the heavens themselves empathized with his feelings. raindrops cascaded around him, their descent mirroring the descent of his own emotions.

he closed his eyes slowly, memories came rushing forth.

"mika?"

a sweet smile greeted jungwon, causing him to smile too. "wonnie, where did you go?"

jungwon reached into his pocket, retrieving a crimson square box. its lid opened to reveal a delicate silver necklace, its pendant adorned with a butterfly.

"w-wonnie..."

"remember my promise? here, this is for you."

mika was left speechless, unsure of what to say. "i-i-is this a c-confession?"

jungwon seemed surprised, awkwardly laughing. "h-ha? of course not, w-we're just friends. right...?"

a prolonged silence enveloped them as mika gazed at him intently, her lips curling into a gentle smile. "yeah, we're friends."

and that night, fate dealt an unforeseen blow. news reached jungwon's ears that mika had met with an accident, her life extinguished before she even reached the hospital.

jungwon hurriedly rushed there, refusing to believe it at the time only to find himself in an accident as well. the difference was- mika didn't survive while he did.

he prayed that it hadn't happened.

what's the use of him surviving when the girl he loved lay cold and lifeless in the hospital? the pain was unbearable and he felt like he was slowly being killed too.

"wonnie..."

slowly jungwon's eyes fluttered open at the sound of that voice, his heart pulsating with rapid beats. he turned his gaze towards the figure standing before him.

there, he felt rooted to the spot as he saw the girl in the black hoodie. their eyes locked in a fateful encounter. she's the same girl he only saw at the hospital but why was she here too?

"w-w-who are you?"

jungwon's voice trembled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. he knew her name was arah but he yearned to unravel the mystery of her existence and her peculiar familiarity with him.

it was not merely a passing acquaintance; she called him by a name that only one person used to call him.

but like before, she didn't answer. and just as jungwon was about to approach her she suddenly ran away- leaving jungwon confused and filled with countless questions.