Winter's Secrets | BTS ✓

20

After bundling up in extra layers of clothes, Jin leads Lily out into the backyard, the moonlight dimly illuminating their surroundings.

"I made this for your sister," he says, gesturing to the large snowman in front of them.

Lily raises her eyebrows. "Impressive. When did you do this?"

"While you were in the shower," he says, grinning. "I figured this is perfect for her. She loves winter."

"Always has," Lily says.

"She loves the snow - loves being surrounded by it," he continues. "I promised to always show her that she is beautiful, and now - with this - she will feel beautiful in her own way. She thinks the winter is beautiful, so I made this for her. In essence, this is her."

Lily stares at the creation in front of her. "Beautiful speech. How many times have you practiced that to say to her when she sees this masterpiece?"

"This is for you too, you know," Jin says, ignoring the sarcasm.

"Oh? But I hate winter," she says, hugging herself as the snow swirls around them.

"But part of you loves it because your sister loves it, right?" he asks, and she sighs, her breath turning into a white fog.

"I guess, Mr. Philosopher," she says, rolling her eyes.

"So, we'll keep rebuilding this all throughout the winter, making sure it doesn't melt until winter ends," he says, smiling at his creation. "But eventually, it will melt and we will have to accept that. We will have to move on from winter, leaving it and its secrets behind as we move into spring. Spring... that reminds me of you. So I'm particularly excited for it."

Jin stares up at the snowman as Lily shakes her head.

"Did you eat some yellow snow or something? You're acting weird," she says. "Let's go inside. I'm freezing and I want hot chocolate."

"I want some too," Jin pipes up, grinning at the red-nosed honeysuckle standing next to him. "I'm gonna find some sticks for the arms. I'll be in there in just a minute."

"I'll make the hot chocolate," she says, taking off running toward the warm house as Jin continues to stare at the mound of snow in front of him.

Jin will figure out a way for Lily to live without her sister. Maybe she ran away because she couldn't stand the pain of being without her mother. Maybe she started a new life because she realized she didn't love Jin and didn't have the heart to tell him.

All he knows is that his sun-kissed honeysuckle girl will notice her sister's empty bedroom, her window open and some of her most treasured belongings gone. He will cry with her - comfort her. A part of him mourns the loss of his strawberry-kissed girlfriend.

But she can't compare. She never could.

He's always much preferred the spring.

Though winter is very good at keeping secrets.