it was always you... || kim woonhak

01.01

November 29, 2006...

"It's a boy!"

"It's a girl!"

And since that moment, the two had been inseparable. 

September 20, 2013... 

As the two children played outside, their mothers were at work in the kitchen preparing for the last day of Chuseok. 

"Nara, I bet you can't reach that tree over there before me," Woonhak smugly challenged the young girl, while pointing at the far away tree.

"Woonhak-i...that's too far. We'll get in trouble!" Nara hesitated.

"What? You're scared I'll win?" he quickly shot back at the girl, knowing it'd trigger her.

"Of course not!" she mumbled, "Are you coming or not?" Nara impatiently rolled her eyes while readying herself.

Not long after, the two set off on their race.

With Woonhak in the lead, Nara felt determined to win. She couldn't lose and let him gain bragging rights! 

She sped up without a second thought. Her hair blew in the air and the wind whistled in her ears. Woonhak was left behind in Nara's trail.

Just as it felt her legs couldn't keep up with her adrenaline, she tripped over her toes and skid across the concrete. 

Woonhak took the opportunity to speed past her, finally reaching the tree.

"Ha! Told you. I won!" Woonhak celebrated shamelessly, "Nara! Did you see that?! I was like the Flash!" 

The boy paused when he didn't hear a sulking Nara. He looked around, realizing she'd been left behind.

"Nara?" Woonhak quickly ran to the little girl.

Sobs escaped her mouth as she held her knee, not wanting to cause a scene. 

"Nara, what happened?" He grabbed her hand to reveal her injury.

She had a large scrape on her knee, which caused Woonhak to gasp.

"Nara are you okay? Do you want me to get your mom? You can get on my back. I'll walk you to the house!" The little boy turned to offer his back to Nara.

"I'm okay, don't worry," Nara sniffled, attempting to seem as brave as possible.

The stinging sensation urged her to wail for her mother, but she didn't want to seem weak. 

"Let's go back, dinner should be ready soon," Woonhak offered his hand to the girl.

She took his hand, wincing with the pain of her knee. He put her arm over his shoulder to help her walk.

The two arrived at the house, met with Nara's concerned mother. 

Nara's mother dressed her wounds as Woonhak held her hand for support.

"Aunty, is Nara going to be okay?" Woonhak asked with tears welling in his eyes.

"She'll be fine, Woonhak-a," she placed her hand on his shoulder with caring eyes, "go wash up, dinner's ready."

The family ate, celebrated, and soaked up each other's presence. 

The night was full of laughter and stories. 

Nara laid on her bed, a smile on her face, despite her incident earlier.

"Woonhak?" She called out to the boy laying in his sleeping bag on the floor.

"Yea?"

"Thank you for helping be earlier," She whispered.

"Anything for my best friend," He responded wholeheartedly.

Nara got out of bed, heading to her dresser, "I made you something," she said as she handed Woonhak a weaved bracelet.

Woonhak took it in his hand and looked back up at Nara in question.

"It's a friendship bracelet," she showed him her identical bracelet.

"Thank you, Nara," he hugged the girl tight as possible.

She nodded and walked back to her bed, "Happy Chuseok, Woonhak."

"Happy Chuseok, Nara."

After five minutes of silence, Woonhak called out to Nara, "Nara?"

"Yea?"

"We'll always be best friends...right?"

"Why would you even ask that? Of course!" she immediately responded, not wanting to entertain the thought of not having the boy as her companion.

"You're right, that was a silly question..." Woonhak muttered in embarrassment.

"Woonhak, I promise. We'll be best friends forever."

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