I walked late at night in the streets of Seoul, trying to buy myself a cup of coffee. This has been my first time in S. Korea, and I didn't know that it would be this cold in winter. I rubbed my hands together and held my cheeks, my neck and rubbed them again but I stopped when I finally reached the cafe. I opened the door slowly, and walked in. I ordered a black coffee, held it with my bare two hands and sat down. The coffee was really hot, but it is the fastest way to warm my hands and my body. I sipped a little and put the coffee down. I looked around. There were not that much people, well, maybe because it's already late. I decided to reach for a book near my table, but I saw someone's hand reaching it.
"Oh. Mianhaeyo~" I bowed as I said sorry.
A fine looking handsome guy was standing before me and looking at me. He seemed a little... hm. Someone who's not that friendly, but at the 15th second as we were already staring at each other, he smiled and I smiled as well. I just suddenly felt like we had this connection.
He suddenly bowed with a smile and as he said, "Aniya, gwaenchanha."
We were stuck in between the moment and we were just siling at each other. What a weird feeling. My hands were shaking and my fingers were trying to tap the wooden table where my black coffee is placed.
So I decided to break the ice.
"Ireumi... mwoyeyo?" (What's your name?) I suddenly asked.
"Jeoneun..." He sat down in the chair in front of me. "Kim Myungsoo imnida." He smiled again and called the attention of the waiter. I think he's asking for coffee. I can't understand that much so... Yeah.
"Yeongo halsu isseoyo?" (Can you speak Engllish?) I asked him and sipped my coffee again. It was still hot, the steam's visible. But, it's hard to talk to someone whom you can't understand at all.
He did not answer me, he just smiled.
"Uhm.. Hangukeojokeum halsu isseoyo." I smiled.
He suddenly laughed and suddenly, "Kyeoptaaaa~" (cute), then laughed. "Jakkaman." (wait a minute), he said and got two paper cranes out of his bag.
I stared at those cute things made with a construction paper. They seem pretty old though. He didn't talk to me and even aswer me but he was teary-eyed. He just pointed at them and smiled at me.
So I took one of the paper cranes and raised it, trying to ask if I should read it or something. And he replied with a nod.
I slowly opened the paper crane I was holding, afraid it might be torn. It was already old. Maybe 10 years ago? I don't know. I can't guess. As I was unfolding it, I saw something inside.
And... my name was there.
I raised an eyebrow but he reached the other paper crane to me. I just took it and unfolded it the way I unfolded the other one.
And I saw his name there.
He suddenly got up and hugged me.
"Mianhada, dangsineul ddeonan. (I'm sorry, I left) I'm sorry, I can't protect you anymore. I'm sorry, I can't reach out to you, hold your hand and make it warm. I'm sorry I can't hug you, kiss your forehead and let you know that everything's going to be okay. Keunde... (but) I promise to stay by your side forever. I promise, I will never leave you. One day, I know, we will meet again." He hugged me tightly as I felt him disappearing inch by inch.
Tears were already rolling down my cheeks.
On the day of our engagement, we both had an accident. Myungsoo died, and I was alive. But I had an amnesia, and I didn't know any of these things until maybe, my parents wanted me to know. They wanted me to remember slowly so they sent me here to Seoul... the place where we met. And out of the blue, he appears in front of me, not knowing that he will also disappear.
The people left in the cafe was staring me since I was sobbing already. I wiped them but they still keep coming and falling.
I suddenly looked at the table, and there were the paper cranes and a ring. Which wasn't there earlier. I got it and looked at it, his name was carved inside. I immediately wore it, and kept the paper cranes inside my bag.
Kim Myungsoo... kidaryeo juseyo. Eo? (Please wait for me, okay?)
Saranghae...
Yeonhwonhi... saranghae... naui cheonsa.