It all started in a Korean chicken shop

High on u

"Nari! Nari! Wait up"

Nari immediately recognized who was calling her down the high school hallways. The boy who she had been madly in love with since the day in the chicken shop.

Tim and her had been inseparable since that day. Despite the 4 year age difference, he was her everything. Her motivation for school, to get up in the morning, to cook more. His smile alone made her melt.

Once so scrawny and meekly, Tim had matured into a toned 18 year old, chubby cheeks had become chiseled, and his ruffled curly hair was now parted in the middle perfectly drawing attention the center of his face: his kind eyes and dazzling smile. He was quite the charmer and irresistible when it came to attracting people, gaining a great popularity at their school.

Girls constantly were asking him out or flirting with him all the time. He had one only girlfriend ever, Yuna. She was his equal quite literally. She was Tim but with waist length hair and a petite figure. Yoona was as smart as him, in the same grade and drop dead gorgeous. They were destined to be high school sweethearts until she had to move across the country. That broke Tim's heart and he hasn't been quite the same since her.

Of course Tim's time with Yoona made Nari incredibly jealous but she withheld it as much as she could. Nari didn't quite blossom like time. She barely was hitting puberty and he was applying for colleges. Nevertheless, when they broke things off, Tim returned to his normal state, back to being close again with Nari.

"Nari! Please!"

Nari turned around and greeted Tim with a smile. He was smiling ear to ear, waving a Manila folder in her face. "You will never guess the details this folder contains!"

"Let me guess, another love letter from someone at this school?" Nari said sarcastically meaning with full intent. It wouldn't be the first time.

"Noooo silly, no girl becomes before you mi princessa" he chuckled. "It's my letter saying if I was accepted of denied from yonei"

"No way?! Open it now!!" She squealed jumping up and down in delight.

"I promised my family I would have opened it with them but you come first so I wanted to celebrate a potential special moment with the girl who matters most to me" Tim said ruffling his hand through her hair.

She blushed in excitement.

"Girl who matters most to me?"  She thought to herself.

"Let's go to the chem lab" he said grabbing her hand and dragging her down the hallway.

The entered the room. Nari sat herself on the lab tables as he came beside her, hunched over opening the letter.

Dear Tim Hoang,

At Yonsei university we take great pride in our school and choosing applicants who will greatly demonstrate the behavior we strive for. With great consideration through 120,000 applicants this year, the decision of admitting only 7,000 freshmen into our incident was quite difficult. It is with great pleasure that we would like to offer you admittance into our school for the fall 2018 semester.

"OH MY GOD, TIM U GOT INTO UR DREAM SCHOOL? Congrats im so proud of you" Nari said jumping from the table and embracing him into a hug.

He was grinning side to side in excitement.

"I'm so happy Nars, this means the world to me!"

They look at each others eyes, nari looking into his seeing pure excitement and him, seeing a girl proud of him.

"This means I have to leave you though. But I know u can carry on my legacy here" he said, petting her head.

Nari felt somber thinking of the thought she may never see him again.

"What if I never see you again?"

"Oh, you will. I'll come home for Christmases and holidays. There no end to Tim and Nari. Plus I need a yearly chicken bowl from when u saved me."

She chuckled at his remark. Every year, for 4 years he had been coming in on their anniversary of meeting to get kimchi and chicken bowl from her families restaurant.

"How could I forget. I'll look forward to it" she said smiling.

The school bell rang motioning that classes were beginning soon.

"Well, better get to class. Gotta make sure I pass high school" Tim said. "See you at the shop later?"

"Sure! By goober."

With that Tim left the room leaving Nari with tears flowing down her eyes. She was heartbroken. She felt joy for her friends celebration but also jealousy because the person who mattered most, who she loved most, was leaving.

Nari spent as much as time as she could with him before he left. Tim took her to prom with him and graduated high school a week later. Those are the best two weeks of her life. He picked her up in a limbo for prom and skipped out on grad parties with his friends jsut so he could be with her.

Over the summer, he worked at the chicken shop with Nari to earn some extr cash for university. He was on full scholarship but wanted extra cash in case. That summer was the most expensive one. The shop was always out of kimchi.

Before she knew it, the dreaded had arrived. The shop was closed that day so her family and she could bear her goodbyes to Tim.

He loaded up his car, packed to the brim with Kimchi from Nari's mom, some homemade food from his eomma, and his personal belongings. He bade farewell to him family and Nari's and then came to Nari.

She immediately started crying and Tim embraced her stroking her hair to comfort her.

"I know this is hard for you Nars. It's hard for me too, but live on my legacy at high school for me. You got four years and then Yonsei university where you'll meet me. I'll be waiting for you. I promise to visit every Christmas and our anniversary" he sad tearing up.

Choking between sentences, and barely managed to get any words out other than a goodbye and I'll miss you. She had so much more to say but couldn't.

"I know ur in a rough place rn but here's a letter for u he said handing it to her, read this once I leave. I promise you will love it. Goodbye my Nari!"

Tim broke off the hug, got in his car and drove off.

Nari's mom brought her back into the house and she rested in bed missing him. She opened the letter up immediately.

My dearest Nari,

I know you will immediately read this the second I leave so here's my formal goodbye. I'll probably givd some half hearted farewell to you but it's to hold back my tears. I'm defiantly crying rn on the road, missing my life in Seoul and missing you. You were my bestest friend and I will always hold dear to it.

I know I was your only friend and you relied on me for a lot. But now with me gone, you can spread your wings, find your crowd and blossom into the person you're meant to be. I cannot wait to reconnect with you again when you get into Yonsei.ill be waiting. Live for you and not in my legacy. Do well and see you soon.

I know you won't get a solid goodbye out from your mouth when u bid me goodbye but I know you love and care for me and all I cared about was hugging you and seeing your face one more time.

Tears flowed from her face  as she hugged the stuffed chicken he gave to her a while back.  With the letter clutched in her hand, she fell asleep determined to get into Yonsei to be with him.