LAVENDER HAZE [YOON JEONGHAN]

CH: 21

Luna

I looked at my practical file and then at my phone. My written exams were over and tomorrow was my practical exam, my last exam. I picked up my phone and kept it again, wondering about Jeonghan. After that day, almost a month passed by and I wanted to text him about my exams or how it was going since he was always there for me. He was always there to ask me how my exams went and how was I doing and maybe I was starting to miss him. Every night, after that night I would randomly think about him. I wanted to text him and ask him how he was doing but everything felt so wrong but one thing was true I started to miss him so much. I never missed him like this, there was a lingering feeling, this time this feeling was different from that one month when we were out of contact and I wanted to contact him. I couldn’t understand the thing I was feeling. This time, the feeling was different from when we were out of contact for a month. I didn’t just want to reach out to him, I felt a stronger connection, and the desire to talk to him was more intense than before.

Sometimes I would just sit down and stare at the last message he sent me that night and after that there were no texts exchanged between us. Somewhere in my heart, I wished he was doing well but there was a different complexity in my emotions. I always wanted to be a well-wisher of Jeonghan and I wanted to know if he was doing well or not but at the same time, the thought of facing him after all that left me unsure of what to do. I didn’t know how I could handle seeing him again.

I opened my practical file and started checking everything once again to divert my focus on my studies as I needed to ace my last exam tomorrow.

************

I got inside the cab and was excited to go to the café. I was happy my practical exam went well and I wanted to have hot chocolate. I wanted to come here after my exam and wanted to invite Bora as well. During my exam, I was so busy I couldn’t meet her, but today I wanted to meet her. I was thinking of giving her a call once I am inside since she had her last exam as well and our timings are different from each other.

Every time I think about the café, Jeonghan is the first thing I remember. I am always reminded of Jeonghan; how we met here and how he once took care of my shirt when someone spilled coffee over my shirt, how I went to this café every single day to meet him for a month after I couldn’t go that one day. All those memories were so special to me somehow because of all the care he showed. This café held a special place in my heart, and maybe it was because of Jeonghan. Every time I walked in, it wasn’t just the warm atmosphere or the coffee; it was him. He made the place feel like home, and I found myself longing to be there, just to catch a glimpse of him

Once I reached the café I got down from the cab. After paying the driver, I was about to text Bora about the café and was also about to enter. Then suddenly, a guy caught my attention, and I could see him from the transparent glass. I had mixed feelings when I saw him, and all the memories flood back from that night, yet I was somewhat excited to see him after a month. I was starting to feel at ease and something different. Looking at him smiling somehow reminded me of our first meet in this cafe. There was an unknown smile on my face and a longing feeling since I missed him, I was lost in him. I just wanted to call his name, and I wanted him to turn to look back at me with a smile. I was about to push the glass door and walk towards him just to surprise him.

But then, the very next thing I saw sent a chill through me, making me freeze in place. I saw him getting up from his seat, and there was a girl beside him, who blew up the candle with him and then got up from her chair. Jeonghan took a step closer to her, and they hugged each other tightly.

I was right there, barely able to feel my legs. The next thing I saw was him kissing her forehead and patting her head, and then she hugged him again. The smile Jeonghan had while looking at her couldn’t compare to anything, and as if the forehead kiss wasn’t enough; he was smiling with all the fondness in his eyes.