our delicate string | 최범규

11: waltz.

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"THE CITY IN the winter time?" Aera exclaimed, smiling as they walked out of the restaurant together.

"yeah, originally we were thinking that since Taehyun's parents have a beach house that we would stay there, but it was too cold or whatever." Beomgyu laughed. "instead we're going to Seoul, which is absolutely beautiful in the winter."

"i've been there in the winter a couple of times, but since i've stayed in this town most of my life, i don't recall it completely. it's gorgeous, though." she looked at him as they continued their path to her home. "when are you guys going, Seoul isn't too far from here."

"we don't have the details yet, but i think we'll head out on the 30th and come back the 2nd of january." he looked at her. "just in time for your birthday."

"oh, yeah you're right." she looked down at her feet. "you remembered."

"of course, i did. i have a couple of gift ideas for you already." he smiled.

just like that, the snow resumed. as if it was a scene in a film, the snow fell to the ground, glistening. Beomgyu looked at the girl who was admiring the snow, smiling at how it fell so beautifully.

"do you like the snow now?" Beomgyu smiled, as they paused their walk to admire the snowfall.

"it's not that," she shook her head. "it just feels so surreal. i was actually hoping that you'd go to the beach instead so that you could tell me how the snow is on the beach, it's one of my dream places to see." she smiled at him.

she looked around at the snow as it fell endlessly. "this would be the time in the film where the main two characters would dance together in the snow." she smiled, pointing at the few couples across the street, "it would be them."

"or," Beomgyu reached out his hand to her. "would you like to dance?"

Aera swallowed as she met his eyes, his hair slightly covering them with the snow melting on his hair tips. he smiled as she placed her hand into his and stared at him. they exchanged glances as Aera's heart skipped a beat, running faster than she could catch.

"shall we?"

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"we danced together!" Aera exclaimed to Ji-Na over the phone. "he's such a good dancer too, it was so romantic!" she paced around her room, holding her phone in one hand and biting her nails in the other.

"Aera, you're falling in love!"

"i'm not! i just really, really like him. i don't know." she sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling. "he gives me butterflies."

"i'm so glad he can treat you better than Jun-ho did."

"i told you i'm over that man, he was horrible to me. i hope him and his girlfriend are doing splendid."

"yeah, Beomgyu is 10x better and plus...way cuter. like you guys are gonna be a power couple."

"Ji, we aren't a couple!" Aera exclaimed laughing. "i just hope he likes me too."

"girl, how many guys have asked you to dance before?? he obviously likes you."

"whatever, i have to go practice. have a safe flight."

"love you"

"i love you too."

she smiled and hung up, laying flat on her bed. the time was now 10 pm and as much as she wanted to practice her piano, she was also exhausted. she sat up and walked towards her piano, practicing a familiar tune. she smiled at the awards that were hung up and displayed across her vision. she was proud of her skills, they were something memorable.

"i thought i heard mozart." her father knocked on her door and walked in.

"no way, i'm not on that level." she laughed.

"you did awesome at your recital the other day. was that a new piece?" he talked to her, standing at the door.

"actually, i-i wrote it." a smile appeared on her face.

her dad stood in awe. "well, i cant wait to hear more. i'm heading to bed, goodnight."

"night." she replied as he walked back out, shutting the door.

as Aera was left alone in her room, she sat at her piano pondering about what Ji-Na said. could she really be in....love with Choi Beomgyu?

nonsense. it hasn't even been that long and she just broke up with Jun-Ho a month ago. but, did she really move on so quickly? could she really be in love with this boy who was so beautiful inside and out?

she looked down at her string and rested her head on the keys of the piano. her gaze fell down to the string tied around her fingers. she never even figured out why she was tied to Beomgyu—but she didn't really care. she just considered it fate because to her, Beomgyu was a breath of fresh air when she needed it.

he came to her as a companion when she was alone, comfort when she was upset, he was there. even in that month, she had made a close friend that she never wants to let go.

she laughed at herself. "Ji-Na's just talking nonsense." she shook her head before sighing and cleaning up her sheets of music.

oh no, i'm falling in love again.

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three days had passed as Beomgyu began to pack his suitcase up for the trip him and his friends had planned. it was both a nice getaway but also a way to pass the time as his mother informed him that she wouldn't be back until after New Years.

he expected it, but he still hurt. it wasn't like the trip would heal everything, but it would still be something that would make him forget all the chaos in his life right now.

the last time Beomgyu went to Seoul was with his mother a year ago. they watched the bright city lights and the incredible duality from their small hometown. though they can take a train to Seoul every once in a while, Beomgyu still appreciated the sentiment he associated to the city.

the chestnut reached for the scattered clothes on his bed that he sorted through to decide what outfits to bring. as he lifted a band t-shirt, he saw a piece of paper hidden underneath.

the song that he had written Aera.

a sigh escaped his mouth. it's cliche, he knew that. but somehow, expressing his feelings through writing was easier. somehow, their tale with their red string had lyrics flowing out of him as if he had been waiting for this moment his entire life. because maybe he was—he was falling in love with the girl on the paper.

he didn't want to. she had just broken up with her boyfriend months ago and he knew she didn't feel that way about him. he just needed to get his mind off of everything—even the girl of his dreams.

he threw the band t-shirt into the suitcase along with his other few outfits and items. latching onto the zipper, he closed the suitcase and placed it on the other side of his room, planting himself onto his bed.

uh oh, i'm falling in love.