Longing

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Three years have passed and Nari has been better than ever. Tim's departure left her heartbroken unwilling to move on. The first months were difficult. She struggled with depression coping with her loss. She stopped attending school and her work at the chicken shop slacked.

Her parents picked up on her behaviour and urged her to attend therapy. While she was against it at first, she soon enjoyed it. Nari learned things about herself and was eventually able to flourish at high school.

She gathered a huge social circle, participated in the schools hip hop dance company and even managed to get a boyfriend.

Jung Ho-seok was perfect. She met him through dance company her junior year and they bonded well together. They shared a love for k dramas, music and serving others. He was the same age as her, a whole foot taller but dazzling in every way. He had this smile about him, it was different from Tim's but cute in every way.

Ho-seok treated her like a queen. He got her "just because flowers", made sure she was the only girl in the world, and even managed to take her to Tokyo Japan for their one year anniversary. They never fought with each other and was essentially the perfect couple. Everyone wanted both of them but only them, wanted each other.

They had been dating for a year and a half now. Now both seniors and graduating soon, both of them eventually faced the dreaded day: both of them wanted to go to separate colleges. He wanted to study in America but she, still with Tim on her mind, wanted to go to Yonsei.

"Nari, I love you but I don't understand why you still need to attend Yonsei? Tim is in the past, I'm am the present and your possible future." Ho-seok pleaded with her.

" I don't know, I just... I just feel like I owe him. I promised him I would go even if we weren't together. He's my best friend Ho-seok. Of course you matter to me but he does too" Nari replied

"I can't go to Yonsei and watch my girlfriend's first love rekindle in her heart after seeing him. I can't loose you.."

"And you won't", she replied "you're my first boyfriend and I don't see us breaking up anytime soon."

"Then go to NYU with me? You're smart enough. You got the grades, the service and volunteer hours and you got extracurricular from the dance co. Why not come with me? It's that simple. We can be together"
He said pleading with her.

"I-I-... I love you so so so much Ho-seok. You may not have been my first but I still feel so much love for you but I can't. I made a promise and I need to keep it." Nari said tears welling up.

"... I told you I wouldn't do long distance. And I stick to my word. You lost contact with Tim two years ago when he stopped showing up for Christmas or your little anniversary. He stopped responding to your emails, your text, your letters. He doesn't want you Nari and you know it. I don't know why you're still hooked on him. I have been so patient with you, holding you when you would cry about him while we were together over him ghosting you. I was so good at masking my jealousy when you would talk about him 24/7 bc I told myself you chose to date me and not him. But in the end. I will always be second best to him. My decision to go to NYU is final. And seems like yours is too" he said coldly.

"Does this mean... does it mean we're.. that uhm we are... over?" Nari said crying. "I didn't mean to place you second best to Tim. He was my first love and I... idk. I'm so sorry. I don't want to be over. Are we really?"

"Yes," Ho-seok said. "My decision is final. Prom is in two days. We will go together but after 12 hits, we're over."

Hoseok left the room in a hurry leaving Nari there sobbing. She immediately called her friend Soo Young for comfort. Nari relayed the information to her and she came rushing over with their other friend Mae to comfort the grieving girl.

Prom came by. Ho-seok was completely normal around her that night. He was caring and so sweet to her but once 12 am rolled around he dropped her off, said his last goodbyes and left. He gave her one final kiss and the doorstep. It was a longing one but cold at the same time. His last words to her were that she was his first love and he would always like to remember it that way but he doesn't deserve second best in her heart. Just like that, he was gone.

The final two weeks of school were hell. News spread fast of their breakup. Most were in support but a lot also bullied Nari for what she did. She was accused of cheating, or other heinous things that lead to their breakup. The bullying got to bad at one point Ho-seok stepped in himself to shut everything down claiming in was a mutual clean breakup. Nari thanked him for that .

Graduation rolled around and Nari bid her classmates one final goodbye. Summer quickly passed and before she knew it, her, soo young and Mae left for Yonsei university. It's was fall 2022 and Nari stepped into her apartment. She took a breath of the fresh college air.

No more chicken shop. No more high school. No more Ho-seok. She felt grief over loosing him. She knew she could have gone to NYU with him but deep down she still believed her and Tim were destined to be. Nari stepped out, walking to campus to grab some boba from the campus cafeteria.

"I have a milk tea boba for a Nari"

She got up from her seat and walked over to the counter to retrieve it. When she looked up she saw him. Tim. Her first love. Her first love handing her her boba.

"Tim?"

"Nari?"

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