Call Me Lily (ENG)

・゜5. ゜・ *

One year later.

It was quite a cloudy afternoon when Liliana managed to reach their secret place. Jikyo and Lily's place. The boy was still in the orphanage, but the young people found a place where they often met. Wilkinson walked the miles between them, it wasn't that far, and it never gave her any trouble. She enjoyed it because it allowed her to meet Jikyo.

The entire yard of the orphanage was surrounded by a rather old, high fence. At the back of the building, behind the playground and other sheds, there was a narrow passage that was covered with many bushes and overgrown with trees. No one ever even tried to get in there, thinking it was nothing but dirt, cobwebs and other bugs. It became quite a forgotten place that Jikyo and Lily used. The boy sneaked there at the appointed time, making sure that no one saw him. There wasn't much place there, but it was enough.

Teenager just broke through the branches of trees and bushes and reached his destination. Liliana was waiting for him on the other side of the net.

The grass in the little nook was already kneaded from their meeting together. The whole cache had a triangular shape. It was covered with grass, and as before it was covered with bushes and trees.

The teenagers were separated only by a fence mesh that was old enough that the young people planned to cut it open one day.

"I thought you weren't coming. " Redhead said, placing her hands on the fence mesh.

"No, never. " Boy replied with a smile and sat across from her.

"What happened? " She asked worried seeing his scratched face and black eye.

"Oh, it's... " He touched the wound and looked at his companion. "Nothing special. " He waved his hand. "You know... I look different from them, after all. They think I'm weird because I have different eyes than they do. " He said, and his words angered Lily. "After all, I am of Korean-American descent. " He sighed. "They've always didn't like my appearance. "

"Idiots. " Wilkinson snorted.

"Yeah, well. " He lowered his head. "Maybe they're right."

"No. " She interrupted him immediately, which caught his attention.

"They were always picking on it and calling me a freak. " He shook his head. "I guess that's the norm for them."

"Don't listen to them. " Redhead said. "They're not right at all, and the fact that you look a bit different..." She pushed her hand through the fence mesh and took her friend's hand. "You look good to me. And I love your eyes. "She added with a smile that he returned.

"Even this with black eye? " He chuckled softly as she replied.

"Even these. " She nodded, looking down at their hands. Jikyo laced their hands together.

"You know, Lily. " Park moved a little closer and looked deep into her eyes. "I'll be an adult soon and I'll be able to leave from here." He said. "Do you... still want to come with me?"

It is true that Jikyo could've just escaped from the orphanage, but he preferred not to cause himself or anyone else any more problems. In addition, as an adult, it'll be easier for him to get things done. Park had, like Lily, some money set aside for later use. The teenager inherited some money from his deceased parents, and the foster family also gave him some pocket money, which he quietly returned for his family, that they could use it for themselves. They were barely making ends meet, so Jikyo preferred to leave money to them. Although as a little help.

"Yes. " She answered immediately which brought a warm smile to his face. "And do you want me to go with you?"

Park reached through the fence mesh and brushed a strand of her hair out of her face.

"I do. " He said in such a kind voice.

The young people stared at each other for a long time. They forgot about the rest of the world and now focused only on themselves. They had known each other for a long time and day by day, their feelings became stronger. Sometimes they were even afraid to admit it themselves.

"I have something for you. " Redhead said, then reached into her bag and showed him the book. "Dazai Osamu 'No Longer Human'. " She read proudly. "Before we leave here, I'll teach you to read properly." She smiled at him. "Someday you'll read it aloud to me." She pointed to the book.

Jikyo had serious problems with reading. He was quite good at writing, but reading was black magic to him. He had a problem with it from an early age, and when Liliana found out about it, she immediately offered help. Park agreed, and when they were meeting, Wilkinson helped him with his studies.

"Agreed. " Boy replied after a moment. "Do you still practice the violin? You promised me something, remember? "

"Actually, my father broke my violin. " She said with a hint of sadness in her voice. "But I'll play for you as I promised. " She smiled at him, then reached into her bag and took out the said instrument. "I borrowed from school. " She explained. "They won't hear us?" She glanced at the orphanage.

"No, don't worry. " The black-haired man replied. "It's pretty loud in there right now. Kids are having fun in the square, and the rest are making a lot of noise inside. "

"All right. " She nodded and started tuning the strings. "What do you want me to play for you?"

"A lullaby. " He replied which caught her attention.

"Huh? " She was surprised.

"I want to hear your song. " He said with a smile. "Whole song. "

"It has no words yet... "

"But it has a melody. " He interjected and sat back more comfortably. "Play it for me." He said pleasantly. "And when you find the words, sing to me."

Lily felt herself blush. Sometimes she lost her head in the presence of Jikyo. She had to wait a moment to control her emotions. When she succeeded, she arranged the violin properly and sighed softly.

"But it's not a polished song..." She tried to find an excuse.

"I still want to hear it. " He said with a smile.

Woman knew that she wouldn't win with him, so she gave up and slowly began to play her melody. She was focused on the song and the instrument so she didn't see Jikyo's reaction. However, boy listened to her as if hypnotized. He watched her every move, and the melody itself was so pleasing to the ear.

After a long moment, when Wilkinson finished playing, man was speechless.

"Wow..." He said in disbelief. "You look cute when you play, did you know that?"

"Don't laugh at me. " She said embarrassed, feeling that more blush appeared on her face.

"I'm not, I'm stating facts, nae salang. " He said with a feisty smile, and his words surprised Liliana.

"Nae... What? " She was surprised, and when she hid the instrument, she moved closer.

"Nae salang. " He repeated looking into her eyes.

"What does it mean? " She asked curiously.

Jikyo chuckled softly.

"It's a secret. " He shook his head.

"Oh, come on. " She put her hands on the net. "What does it mean? " She asked.

"Are you interested in that? "

"Yes, very much. " She said sincerely. "Can you teach me?"

"You want to speak Korean? " He was surprised. "You want it? "

"Yess. " She replied right away. "Tell me everything."

"It's not as much as you think. All I know is what my dad told me, he grew up there. " Jikyo said. "Alright, I'll tell you what I know. "