Hard Love: Reminiscence - Michaeng || Book II

-9-

:: "It is foolish to tear one's hair in grief," ::

21 years ago - Autumn 2004
Osaka, Japan

"Mira-chan!" The little girl named Mira couldn't turn her head in time when a force pushed her down on the ground, into the pile of fallen yellow leaves, causing the just-done swept leaves to fly scattered again. She felt a weight upon her body as she pushed away from the leaves that scattered on her face to regain her sight in order to see the heavy object above her.

"Momoring!" Mira groaned, "I just finished gathering them! And it's not safe to jump on people like this!" She whined as she gently pushed the little girl off her to make herself stand and scold the girl for doing so, but not forgetting to help the girl to stand up from the ground as well. Though she's just worried, Mira is worried that the little girl, Momo, might hit her head on the ground and it could have caused deep damage to the girl.

"Gomen-nasai," Momo who's turning seven a few months more muttered while hanging her head low, puckering her lips out as she felt guilty for making the other girl unhappy. Mira sighed as she knew what the younger had in her head. Though she can't deny the fact that those pouty lips caused the latter to look even cuter.

"Cutie pie." Said Mira, which quickly made Momo tilt her head up to face the girl who was staring at her with a gummy smile.

"Nani?" Momo felt grand at the sudden name the girl called on her. She felt a heat upsurge on her cheeks as she avoided her eyes from the girl, feeling shy yet fluttered from the simple endearment. The older Japanese chuckled at the flustered younger which her hands made it to those puffy cheeks unconsciously and give them a slight pinch, watching the young girl lovingly.

"My Moguri is so cute!" Momo blushed more at this state hearing the words from her favorite person. Brushing away the shyness, she showed a tooth grin that made Mira in awe, her eyes sparkling at this cute raccoon-like girl in front of her that's pouting as if showing off her cuteness that all their friends have knowledge of. Momo inched forward and hugged the latter, burying her face in her chest since Mira is slightly taller than her.

"Mira-chan..." Mira hummed whilst surrounding her arm on the younger's waist. "I love you." The three words were muffled on her clothed chest, but she did catch them clearly as the balmy air blows through the cloth, sending her goosebumps, a good one.

Mira smiled upon hearing those three simple words that probably meant nothing, oh but she knew. She knows the younger has more than just admiring her, she knows better herself as well. It is not impossible for them to be one since Mira is just months older than Momo, and even if they had a ten-year-old gap, she'd still choose her cause love has no boundaries. Mira smiled in happiness, couldn't hide her smiley face as she planted a soft kiss on the top of the younger's head.

"And I love you to the dearest, Momoring."

-

"You must be insane." She paces back and forth while shaking her head, letting out a skeptical wheeze then stopped and face her friend with an absurd look, "What were you thinking Chae!" Dahyun's eyes widened after hearing her friend's encounter with the two people a day ago, and even more in disbelief after the cub told her about her decisions.

"What am I supposed to do, she's homeless, without money, and Jihyo sneakily resigned her life-supporting job without even telling her. She'd die here if we did nothing."

"What do you mean 'we'? Don't drag me into this crap, I'm out of it. Plus, isn't she from some rich heck family in Japan?"

"Did you not hear me? She ran away from the arranged wedding, so her dad froze all her usable payment software." Dahyun rubs her face frustratedly. She's not taking any of this, apparently, not again.