unseen || yang jungwon

18: tale

"Ok, I'm ready!" Choon Hee said coming out if her room. "You had me waiting a little too long don't you think?" Jungwon replied with a chuckle. As they head out the door Jay reminded them, "Don't come back too late alright?"

"Choon Hee." He paused at his words while walking, "Have you ever liked anyone before?" Choon Hee bit her lip, "Why do you ask this?" Jungwon scratched his nape, thinking how to respond. "I'm not sure, just wondering." The girl's heart started to beat faster. "Yes." 

Jungwon quickly turned his head towards her, then turned back. Could I be having my hopes too high? No, she's probably speaking of someone else. But, she would've told me about him before? 

"What about you?" "I have." Choon Hee nodded to his answer, having her hopes up as well. The two arrived at his house and went inside. "And I still do." Jungwon said under his breathe.

"Maeumi!" Choon Hee knelt down to greet the puppy. Maeumi jumped about seeing the guest for the second time. "Huh." Jungwon scoffed, "You never greet me like that." Though he continued to carry his puppy. "Why don't we go upstairs?" He put down Maeumi and held her hand, "Come on." 

Choon Hee felt her face going hot again, she didn't like the feeling. Jungwon already said he was joking, why do I keep getting mixed feelings? 

"Here you can take a seat on my bed." As she sat with her legs crisscrossed, Maeumi joined her laying on her lap. The girls giggled as the puppy moved around her. Jungwon on the other hand grinned, seeing her happy made his heart soften. He then took a seat next to her, leaning on the wall. "He likes you a lot, I'm jealous.", he chuckled. "Uh huh, I might like him more than you.", she laughed. 

A small thump on his balcony door sounded. A small black cat had hit it's tail against the glass. "Ah, it seems she came back." "Who?" Choon Hee blinked, not knowing what happened. "This cat, she often comes up the stairs to my balcony to say hi." "You have a balcony?" "Yeah, here I'll guide you." He opened the glass door and held her hand. 

The cat's tail rubbed against Choon Hee's leg. As she knelt down to pet it, it had already ran off. "It's alright she's just shy." Choon Hee took a deep breathe. "Yang Jungwon, what does the sky look like?" He tilted his head in confusion, "What do you mean?" "Like, describe it to me. It's been a while since Jay has told me what the outside looks like." He then remembered upon meeting her, she mentioned Jay's eye for nature. "Well, I won't be able to describe it as well but the sky is clear, a few small clouds here and there." She smiled, "It must be pretty." Jungwon looked over to her with sympathy. "I know you'll be able to see it again one day." Choon Hee looked back and chuckled, "Jungwon, it's been 10 years, I already know that's not possible." 

He knew what she meant, but he had still, some hope. "Have you ever heard of a tale called, "The Exchange"?"  She shook her head, "No I don't think I have." "Well, I'm not sure if it's true, but my grandmother had told me this tale." He let out a deep sigh and continued, "It's about this couple, they met on vacation." Jungwon paused again, thinking it through. "And then what?" "I just now found this coincidence, but the man was blind." Choon Hee didn't respond, instead she was curious about the tale her friend was telling. "Anyway, the woman had took care of him for months, which led to their married relationship. One day, the man fell down the stairs, hitting his head severely, and his wife took him to the hospital. The doctors said it would take a miracle for him to continue his life so the woman cried out to the sky. She asked for anything, an exchange even, her life for his. But the so called 'gods' had mercy, letting her live, but not as herself. The man then walked out of the hospital, not only living, but he could see." 

Jungwon then stopped his words, seeing Choon Hee with tears down her face, although a smile went across her cheeks. "Choon Hee, what's- what's wrong?" He put his hands on either of her shoulders. "He could see again. I know it's just a story but he could see again." Jungwon pulled her to himself. He hugged her, "I'm sorry, maybe that wasn't appropriate." She sniffed then proceeded to wrap her arms around him back. "No, I liked it." 

When she calmed down, she realized she was in his arms. Choon Hee broke the hug and looked away. Jungwon grinned, "What." Her face went red again without her realizing it. "Nothing." "You know, maybe it's just me, but do you know whenever I touch you your face gets red?" 

Choon Hee's heart dropped. So he can tell? What do I say? Am I about to mess this up, again?

"Are you sure? I could just have rosacea you know." Jungwon laughed, "I don't think so." "Yang Jungwon! What are you saying?" "Ok ok, maybe I got you wrong", he hesitated, "but I can't get me wrong." Choon Hee gave him a weird face, "Huh?" "I'm basically saying I can't get myself wrong because I know my own feelings." The girl was still confused, "And, what exactly are you feeling?" He looked at her face, her eyes were closed. "Choon Hee, I like you."

Her body tensed. "I like you"? Did I hear that right?

"Li-Like as a friend? Or.." "No. I don't know if you feel the same way, and I understand I'm taking a big risk, but I do. More than a friend." Choon Hee couldn't believe her ears. "Why?" Jungwon chuckled, "Do I really need a why?" "Well, yeah. There's not that much about me to like, so why?" Jungwon lightly flicked her forehead. "Hey!" "That's what you get for saying those things." He sighed, "There's several things I could say but I'll give a few. Whenever I'm around you I feel happy, I know it sounds general but when you're with me, I'm relaxed about everything. You're also so positive and when you smile I find myself smiling as well."

Choon Hee's heart fluttered, was this really happening? Am I that special to him? 

"But I understand if you don't feel the same way. I just needed to let that out." Jungwon felt embarrassed after saying those words. He then leaned on the balustrade. 

"But I do feel the same way." He quickly turned around. "Say that again.", Jungwon said with a smile. Choon Hee's hands went to his face, cupping it. "No." She teased. "Are you serious?" "You think I want to lie?" She looked down, her face flushed with red. 

Suddenly the two heard a sound coming from below the balcony. Choon Hee stepped back, hoping someone didn't hear them. Jungwon looked down, "I think it was just the cat." They let out a breathe, both flustered by what just happened.