Blood stained roses

CHAPTER 4

Younha

It's Saturday evening, I just finished closing the shop with Seonghwa and we are heading to Yeosang's apartment who invited us to eat dinner.
I don't even know why I accepted his invite, I'm exhausted and all I want is to go to bed and fall asleep.
I know that it's my birthday, I'm turning 21 today but I don't really want to celebrate it.

We get in front of the door, knock on it and Yeosang opens.

Yeosang : You made it, come in !

We follow him inside and suddenly, he turns on the lights and a lot of people jump out screaming "surprise". I look around for a minute and notice the decorations, that idiot organized a surprise party.

Yeosang : You were not expecting that, right ?
Younha : Why ?
Yeosang : Because it's your birthday.
Younha : Can I talk to you for a minute ?

His smile fades and we go back in the hall.

Yeosang : What's with you ?
Younha : You know I hate celebrating my birthday !
Yeosang : You hate planning it, that's why I did it for you.
Younha : No, I hate celebrating it ! And you should know why.
Yeosang : Still because of mom ?
Younha : Exactly, what she did at my 18th birthday is not something I can forget easily.
Yeosang : I know but it's still your day ! Come on, just try to enjoy the party, I even baked a cake and invited all your friends.
Younha : You mean your friends who slightly know me.
Yeosang : You still like them and they like you.
Younha : I guess.
Yeosang : All your coworkers are here too.
Younha : Even San ?
Yeosang : Even San.
Younha : You do know I'm mad at you and you're still an idiot.
Yeosang : I figured. Just go back inside and pretend to have fun.

And that's what I did. I greeted everyone, thanked them for coming, chatted and everything but after a long hour, I'm just tired of it. I go up to the roof of the building and seat there under the stars. just to rest a little. After a few minutes, I hear footsteps behind me and see San approaching and seating next to me.

San : Tired already ?
Younha : You saw the day I had at work.
San : Yeah, there were a lot of customers.
Younha : And I hate that party.
San : Really ?
Younha : Since I turned 18, I don't celebrate my birthday anymore.
San : Why is that ?
Younha : Kind of a dark story, are you sure you want to hear it ?
San : Don't worry, I had my share of traumas.
Younha : My mom killed herself on my 18th birthday. And I know everyone in my family tries their best to forget about it and focus on the fact that it's my birthday but I can't do it.
San : That's terrible, I'm so sorry to hear that. And I understand why you hate that party so much.
Younha : It's not actually the party, I know Yeosang putted a lot of effort to organize it and I appreciate it but my mind just isn't in the right place.
San : Of course, it's completely normal.
Younha : I told you one of my traumas, your turn now. Well, only if you're okay with it, I'm not forcing you.
San : It's even darker than your story, are you sure ?
Younha : Yeah, go ahead. Maybe I'll think about something else that way.
San : I warned you. When I was a kid, my family was very wealthy, we lived in a huge mansion. But someday, when I was 7, someone broke into the house at night and they killed my parents. My older brother came up to my room, he made me hide in a closet and all I know after that is that I heard a gunshot, the one that killed him. I only came out a few hours later, when Wooyoung's father found me.
Younha : His father ?
San : He is a cop and after that, he took care of me until he found me an orphanage. That's how I met Wooyoung.
Younha : Do you know why they were killed ?
San : The investigation got classified as an envy crime, some people who were jealous of my family and used drastic measures to get over it.
Younha : I'm so sorry you had to go through to all of that. It's so much worse than my story, I'm not really in right to complain.
San : Don't say that, you lost your mom on your birthday, it's a more than valid reason to complain.
Younha : I still can't believe you lost all your family when you were a kid.
San : Also, it's the reason why I hate roses. My mom loved them so she used to put some all around the house so, when it happened and I finally came out of my hiding spot, all I saw was my parents's corpses and the roses, full of their blood.

I don't know what to say to him.
Without really realizing it, I delicately put my hand on his without saying another word. He gently grabs it and I let my head fall on his shoulder.

Younha : Thank you for listening to me.
San : Right back at you.
Younha : San, what are we ?
San : What do you want us to be ?
Younha : Please don't make me chose.
San : Should I chose ?
Younha : Yes, please.
San : Mmh that's a harsh decision.
Younha : Just by your tone I know you've already chosen.
San : I have a dilemma, can you help me ?
Younha : Whatever makes you answer the question.
San : I've been flirting with this beautiful girl for a month now, I really like her. She's very sweet, very careful about me, we both have horrible family traumas, her smile is just so heartwarming. She's perfect. And I heard it was her birthday today. I don't know if I should keep flirting with her forever or kiss the hell out of her right now.
Younha : You better be talking about me.

He looks at me, a big mocking smile on his face.
I address him a very judgemental look and he gently grabs my chin before putting his lips on mine and kiss me.
It was romantic, passionate, almost needy.
I answered the gesture by putting both of my hands around his neck and deepening the kiss more and more.
We break the kiss after long seconds, both of us breathless.

San : God I wanted to do that since I first saw you smile.