Lessons From Romance

My Bandaid

They finally arrived at the park a few minutes later and Namjoo walked ahead toward the empty swing sets. She could hear Luhan closing the door behind her, but didn't stop to wait for him. She was sure that he had no choice, but to follow.

Plopping down onto one of the swings she slowly kicked herself back and forth. Glancing in Luhan's direction showed her that he wasn't amused. He didn't budge until a van full of young children arrived. As soon as the door opened those children rushed out of the van toward the monkey bars and the playground no less than ten feet from her. Their shrieking quickly took over the silence and Namjoo listened to some of them battle over playing tag or a game of monsters.

As she glanced down she felt a laugh and a smile overcome her. After a short sigh he stepped forward and unwillingly sat down in the empty swing beside her.

"You call this a hiding spot?" He sounded somewhat dry of entertainment.

Did he really have no energy to try and enjoy himself?

"Yes," Namjoo answered nonchalantly.

"That doesn't make sense," he heard her mumble to himself.

"Well," Namjoo started, "it's a hiding spot from myself; my adult self."

A soft smile tilted her lips as she watched a small girl chase after a bigger boy.

"Most problems we have are because we can't change our perceptions," Namjoo told. "I really hate it when someone knows they've done wrong, but don't admit it. Instead of being upset with them, I try to understand why they did what they did. When that doesn't work, I close everything off by becoming a child again."

She turned to look at Luhan who was staring off into space again.

"That makes sense, doesn't it?" Namjoo asked. "No one knows I come here, but now that I've shared it with you, it's our secret."

They sat in silence listening to the swings go back and forth against the flow of the wind for almost another half hour. During that time Namjoo wondered if he felt any better about himself and his circumstances.

Out of the blue she turned to him and asked, "Now are you regretting coming out in your pajamas?"

"When does your shift end?"

Namjoo tilted her head to look at him and raised a brow.

"I mean," Luhan started, "I don't like eating alone."

Namjoo ran her eyes over him and asked with an almost laugh, "Or is it that you don't know how to cook?"

"Maybe..." he started quietly, "both."

Namjoo found herself choking up with laughter.

An hour later she was walking down the hall laughing to herself when she heard someone calling her.

"Hey, where are you going?" Ki Chan hurried toward her.

"To the office," Namjoo answered. "I have a ten minute break. Were you running?"

"Huh? Oh...yea," he pointed his thumb back, "I just came from the ER."

"ER? Is everything all right?"

"Yea, the kid I last checked up on fell down and scraped his knee."

"That's good news," Namjoo smiled. "Then I'll see you later."

She felt him slightly grab her arm as she readied to walk away.

"Wait, Namjoo," Ki Chan called. "Um..." he glanced at the floor then at her, "when are you done today?"