When We're Together [양정완]

24.

That day, Yang Jungwon went home confused with himself. Every time he thought of Chae Aera, he felt his heart beat faster and his smile grow bigger. He laid on his bed, still in his school uniform, facing the ceiling.

The boy rolled over onto his stomach and hid his face in his pillow. He didn't understand what to do or why he was feeling like this. Even though he had spent his entire afternoon with the girl, he still wanted to be by her side.

He carefully removed the photos they had taken in the photo booth earlier that day from his pocket . He laid on his side, staring at the photos before he stood from his bed and walked over to his desk, behind which was a small cork board attached to the wall, full of photos of him, his family, his friends, and lots of photos of Maeumi, his dog.

The male took a star shaped pin from his drawer and carefully hung the photo strip in the middle of the board before sitting at his desk to do homework. But every so often the male's eyes would wander over to the photos, especially the last one, as he felt a smile creep onto his face. Just as he averted his gaze back to his school work, he heard his phone buzz.

Minhye:
Hey, are you going on the winter retreat?

Jungwon:
I don't know yet
Do you want me to go?

Minhye:
Of course I do, idiot
I haven't gotten to hang out with you in so long TT

Jungwon:
Okay, okay, let met think about it

The boy blinked at his phone screen a few times before opening another conversation.

Jungwon:
Are you going to winter retreat?

Aera:
OF COURSE I AM
I've been looking forward to it all year :D
You're coming too, right?

Jungwon:
Yeah I am, don't worry

Aera:
Tsk. Who said I was worrying?

~~~

Winter retreat. The one time of the year students got to go on a non-educational trip together. Since Byeoran was a private school, the funds were amazing and the retreats were always the envy of other schools' students. It took place at the end of November and lasted for a few days. The students usually stayed in hotel rooms with their friends with only a loose schedule and many different activities to attend.

Chae Aera excitedly squealed anytime anybody brought it up, and she was even more excited since it was finally almost here. Since only the third year students usually got a retreat, the second year students were ecstatic when the school decided to make the trip for 3rd and 2nd years, instead of just 3rd years as it had been in the past.

The following Monday, when the students arrived at school, they were all nervous and excited for the location of the trip to be announced. Chae Aera was happy with anything, honestly. She just wanted to go on a fun trip with her friends.

Her homeroom class went silent as Mrs. Jeon entered, with a smile on her face.

"So, I'm sure you're all excited to hear the destination of this year's winter retreat," She started, smiling as the antsy students whispered among themselves in anticipation. "Well, this year," she paused again as the students leaned forward in their chairs and held their breath. "We're going to a theme park!"

The class erupted in cheers and laugher while Chae Aera excitedly turned to Kang Yoona, who looked like she had just won the lottery. "That's going to be so fun!" Yoona chimed to her deskmate.

Then she turned to Baram, but she didn't look so happy. The girl sat with her smile still frozen on her face as if she was in a video that somebody had paused.

"Baram? Hellooooo," Yoona waved a hand in front of the girl's eyes. "Are you okay?"

"No," Baram, still smiling, whispered. Yoona and Aera exchanged half worried and half confused glances. "I'm afraid of heights."

"What? Aw, it's okay. You don't have to go on all the rides then. Tell you what, we can play all those games together and win prizes instead!" Yoona excitedly grabbed her friend's hand, effectively calming her down.

Kang Yoona really was a good friend, Aera thought. She smiled, thinking about how lucky she was to have so many kind friends. She quietly slid a piece of paper out of her phone case: the photo strip of her and Jungwon. Her smile grew. I'm so lucky I met you.