Our Love

❃ 3 ❃

~One Year Later~ (Age: 14)

"I might be seeing you less these days," revealed Hamin as we were seated on the swings at a nearby park.

"Why?"

"My parents want me to prepare for the high school entrance exam, but I'll most likely be sent me to a special purpose high school."

"Ah, right. I can see why they would prefer sending you there. They think you'll do better there than at a regular high school like the one I'll go to."

"But they want to send Jaemin away to my grandma's place. I already know he's going to feel lonely, so can you look after him from time to time?"

"I don't mind," I quickly agreed. "I'll be sure to treat him to an ice cream."

"Thank you."

"I'm going to be so lonely when I enter high school. I guess I'll have to find a way to make some friends since you won't be there with me," I sighed as I glanced up at the sky without realizing that Hamin was staring at me.

"Will my absence really make that much of a difference? I think you'll forget about me."

"How could I forget someone who I've spent most of my life with. Of course I'll still see you around the neighborhood, but it won't be the same since you'll be really busy," I answered as I gazed over at him and he appeared to be pondering over something.

"What if... I decide not to go? What if I go with you?"

"Your parents will kill you."

"I can find a way to convince them."

I laughed for a second with a small smile forming on my lips. "If going with me is what you want, then you'll have to prepare your speech to them."

"I already have one in mind," he smirked. "When they agree, you're buying me a mint chocolate chip smoothie."

"I really don't understand how you like that. I prefer a strawberry flavored smoothie."

"That's because you don't always like try new things," he flat out stated.

"It just looks....gross," I grimaced as I recalled the image in my head. I shook my head and hopped off the swing.

"Talking about smoothies makes me want to go get one especially since it's getting warmer these days," I said as I used my hand to fan my face.

Hamin got off the swing and handed me my backpack and I noticed that we were at the same eye level now.

Hamin and I will be turning fifteen soon. It's crazy how quick time goes by and how much we can change in the span of time.

Last year, I was slightly taller than him, but I guess we're the same height now with both of us being 5'1.

"What?" He asked feeling somewhat awkward and shy when he noticed that I was staring at him.

"Nothing, I just didn't realize how tall you were growing."

"You're right," he used his hand to compare our height and smiled, "Let's see who ends up taller soon."

Hamin and I stopped by a cafe where we bought a drink and continued our walk home and as we were walking, we passed by an arcade and I could clearly see a few claw machines from the window.

I walked right up to the window and saw the various stuffed animals that were in there with one of them catching my eye.

A small fox.

"Let's go in for a bit," I grabbed Hamin's wrist and dragged him inside the arcade. I immediately opened my backpack and dug around and found some spare change.

I inserted a couple of coins and held onto the joystick as I moved the claw and centered it around the fox.

I pushed down on the button and watched as the claw descended and clutched the fox's tail before it fell down.

"Let me try again." And it wasn't until my third attempt that I managed to win it.

"Here." I handed him the plushie and he stared at it with a brow raised.

"Why are you giving it to me? You won."

"Because it reminded me of you," I stated.

"How?" His lip twitched for a second as he compared himself to the fox.

"You're clever and charming?" I answered with a bit of uncertainty when I said the second trait.

He didn't say anything for a moment as his caramel eyes stayed locked with my (e/c) eyes. The eye contact we held made us grow uneasy and shy as he turned his head away from me.

He could feel his ears growing warm while I remained still for a moment as I tried to ease my racing heart.

"Since it reminds you of me, why don't you keep it and I'll get one that reminds me of you." He had me step aside and used the last few coins that I had and won a sloth on his first try.

"How am I a sloth?"'

"Because you're lazy."

"Hey!" I retorted.

"I'm kidding," he laughed as he used the stuffed animal to hit me over the head before he ran out.

I chased after him under the blazing sun with beads of sweat running down our foreheads and a grin plastered on our faces.

'A sloth can symbolize patience and relaxation

Your presence makes me appreciate the little things in life'

The seed of love has sprouted between us, but it has yet to fully bloom into something beautiful.