forget me not // shownu

chapter 1

old habits die hard.

It's been roughly 7 years since I've seen him.

I know we promised to keep in touch, but it's not like I really expected much. Sure, I was disappointed for the first few years. Not gonna lie. I always held out hope, just making up stupid excuses as to why he never spoke to me again after he left. I mean, it's not every day you fall in love with a Korean exchange student.

It was only our junior year of high school, but his parents didn't feel like the new country was the right fit for him. They remained in Korea, but sent Hyun Woo to America, in hopes of a different type of education. I guess they weren't as impressed as they expected to be. He was here for 1 school year, giving us just enough time to bond over crappy teachers and stressful classes. From that point on, he was my everything. I never told him that though, I was much too proud. Hyun Woo, on the other hand, was like an emotionally unstable 12 year old. So sensitive, but so freakin adorable.

Well now I'm almost 23 years old, finishing grad school with my masters degree. I have so much planned for my future, but I can't move on without taking a step back first. Even though Hyun Woo and I ceased communication, I still stayed in contact with many of his fellow Korean exchange students. They treated me like family and taught me so many things about Korea. I probably wouldn't have survived senior year if it wasn't for them. Which is exactly why I've planned a trip to Korea to visit them.

"All ready?"

Jane yelled from the bottom of my stairs.

"Yeah, just give me one more minute!"

I yelled back. Jane and I have been friends since before I can remember. Even though we went to the same high school, we didn't see much of each other until our senior year. Things with Hyun Woo took up most of my time, and I kind of pushed her aside. I still regret it to this day, but she stuck with me regardless.

"Holy crap El, you take forever!! Are you packing you're entire wardrobe?!"

Jane laughed as she criticized my time consuming packing process.

"Hey! You never know! Watch yourself, or you may regret it when I don't come back!"

I retorted, stifling my laughter as best I could.

"Yeah, yeah. Just get your ass down here in the next 5 minutes!"

So bossy, I thought to myself. But she was right, I did take a long time. I just had to make sure I packed every cute piece of clothing I owned. I mean.....I gotta impress those Korean boys ;)))

As I looked around the room for anything I had missed, I noticed a white bundle in the corner of my closet shelf. Nearing closer, I concluded that it was some article of clothing, most likely stuffed up there years ago. I pulled it down, curious as to where it came from and why I hadn't noticed it before. Unwrapping it, I realized that it was a sweatshirt from my high school. The lettering was faded but I could still make out the words Central High Baseball, written underneath a worn out Central High logo. It had been years since I'd seen that sweatshirt and I didn't even know if it was mine.

Then it hit me...

"Oh my god."

The words slipped out of my mouth before I had a chance to stop them.

"What happened?"

Jane asked, as she walked through the door I'd mistakenly left ajar.

"Uhhh...nothing!"

I blurted out, quickly stuffing the sweatshirt into my suitcase.

"Ummm yeah. You're full of shit. Now show me what you're hiding!"

She yelled, lunging for my suitcase as I hovered over it, trying my best to keep her from seeing inside. But unlike me, Jane was persistent and it took her less than a minute to rip the sweatshirt from my hands.

"A sweatshirt? That's it??? This is what you tried so hard to hide? You're ridic-"

Then she saw it.

"Oh..."

Jane was never friends with Hyun Woo, but she knew of him and everything that happened between us. After he left, she was my shoulder to cry on. She listened to my every word and never tried to lecture or correct me about anything. She held me when Hyun Woo wasn't there to, and loved me when he clearly didn't.

But now it was different. In the recent years, Jane had begun expressing her true feelings about Hyun Woo...and I can't say she's the biggest fan.

"I can't believe you still have this."

She said, with the coldest look in her eyes.

"I didn't even know it was there."

I replied, giving her the only defense I really had.

"Throw it away."

She said.

"What?"

"You heard me. Throw it away. Now."

After tossing the sweater back on my bed, I watched her as she walked calmly out of my room and proceed down the stairs.

"I'll be in the car! Get down here soon unless you want to be late for your flight!"

She yelled, as she exited out the front door.

It took me a minute before I came back to my senses. Jane's words stung and I couldn't shake it off. She was never like that. What even set her off? Sure, it was unexpected, but there was no reason for her to tell me to get rid of it. It's just a high school memento, nothing more.

I quickly picked up the sweatshirt and stuffed it in my suitcase. Then I double checked my luggage and headed downstairs.

Korea here I come.

♡ minyoongles