I, Lily, Nari. | Jeon Wonwoo |

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11 Years Old

Jeon Wonwoo,
It has been three years since we've been friends. And I am grateful that you became my friend because I had none. In this small town, this small island that we live in, no one wanted to be my friend. Maybe because I never bothered to make one, I never bothered approaching a person my age and ask for their names, and I never bothered to play with anyone my age.

The park is where the kids build their friendship, but in my case, the park is where I enjoy my time alone. I sit alone while my mom will have a conversation with her friend nearby, she wouldn't live me to sit by myself so she made sure I'm always on her sight. But while I was sitting alone, I would read books, that is suitable for my age of course and I would even sleep sometimes, under the tree.

It was always like that until you came that day, and we built our friendship beside that ice cream truck. It wasn't anywhere in the park but at the side of the road! Beside an ice cream truck! And after you bid your goodbyes to me I thought, that we won't see each other again.

But I was wrong,

The fact that you lived around my neighbourhood made it possible for us to meet again. After three days of our encounter, we met again at the convenience store. You bought five cups of ramyeon, and had difficulty handling it all at once. I decided to come over and help you. You look startled to see me and I let out a laugh.

"Wae? You said to see me again soon, why are you surprised?" I asked you,

You just smiled at me and let me carry two cups of your ramyeon. You purchased your goods and we walked outside, with our mothers trailing behind us. It seemed that they were comfortable with each other and they talked a lot. Looks like there is not only one but two friendships were built,

All thanks to you, Wonwoo.

And since that day we agreed to meet at the park everyday, if not everyday then at least the weekends. Even if I was a little shy but your bright mood gave me the energy to play, what surprised me the most was that you did not even look at the other kids at the park, you did not do the same thing you did to me that day, which was making friends.

That led me to questions, did you noticed me before the ice cream truck incident? Or did you not have any friends but decide to make one with me only?

I never asked you those questions up until now. Now we are both eleven years old, we do not play at the park anymore but instead we would go to the bookstore and read the displayed books there, the workers did not mind us spending our times there because we are familiarized with them. There were not a lot of workers since it's a small bookstore, there were only five of them and they see us as family.

Even if we don't go to the bookstore, but we both went to the flower field nearby our neighbourhood. The beautiful flower field that overlooks the ocean, we would run around and admire the flowers there even though we have looked at them many times but we both knew the power of nature will always capture our hearts.

One time I sat on the bench, I was holding a flower, A white lily to be exact. Despite its sad symbol, the white lily is the flower that I liked the most. You sat beside me minutes after, and you were holding up the same flower as mine, only in different colour.

"Nari, your name means lily in English. And lily is a flower," You said, then you put the flower on my ear, "This flower I give you is a Peruvian lily, it symbolizes friendship. I made friend with you three years ago nearby that ice cream truck, and each year I spend my time with you, our friendship grew stronger. This flower will show the devotion in our friendship, and with this flower, let's make a promise to last long in our friendship, Arasseo, Han Nari?"

I let out a giggle upon hearing your words, "You give a great speech despite being an eleven years old, Jeon Wonwoo,"

"Perks of reading too much books in the bookstore," You smiled,

I smiled too, I looked at the white lily I just plucked and stood up to place the flower on the dirt close by. I returned to the bench and pulled you in a bear hug. We both laughed together and as soon as I released you, I nodded, "Arasseo, Jeon Wonwoo,"

"Great, My Lily,"