Dear Summer ♡

05

.art credit to koogi.
.song credit to tomppabeats.
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A soft sigh escaped my parted lips, as the caramel colored soles of the small boots I wore hit the concrete beneath them with each step I took.

I pushed open the cafe door, ignoring the burning feeling I felt in my cheeks when I saw him; sitting idly at the table in the corner.

He requested me to meet up with him at the old cafe we used to go to when we were in high school.

His dark hues gazed to me as I walked over to him, a soft smile forming onto his lips as I approached him. He handed me a cup of my favorite drink, Vanilla bean.

He remembered?

A smile spread across my lips, as I took a soft sip. "Good morning Kiyeon." He spoke in a soft voice, even throwing in his old nickname for me.

"You remembered all of this?" I spoke after my lips released the hold on the lid of the cup, and the milky liquid rolled down my throat giving me a refreshed feeling.

He chuckled lightly. "You shouldn't be surprised. It's strange to me how you remember even the smallest details of our childhood."

I shifted the turtleneck collar on my forest green sweater with my index finger, carefully holding the cup with one hand. I noticed the patterns of my sweater matched the light hazelnut pigmented one he wore, as I sat across from him.

"How could I forget about you, and what we experienced together? I'll never forget. About you, about us. In case you haven't noticed you mean a lot to me."  I took another drink of the caffeinated beverage, my eyes closing softly.

"I mean a lot to you?" He asked teasingly quirking a brow towards me, and I simply nodded before opening my eyes again. "Prove it."

My grip on the cup tightened. "H-How do I prove it?" I stammered, the burning feeling I once felt in my cheeks filled my whole face, and my heart began to race.

He stood up and his face got closer to mine, before he spoke in a soft whisper beside my ear. "It's cute. When you blush like that, Babe." He said nonchalantly. 'Babe' was the one word that caught my attention the most.

I hated when he teased me like that just like in high school, though now he was more flirty with it.

I lifted the cup to my lips, and drank more of my drink to mask the embarrassment I felt at that statement before watching him return to his seat.

"You're still not used to being complimented by men?" His brows shifted up as though he was actually surprised. "Shocking. I'm honestly surprised that men aren't all over you." He said while one of his strong, and masculine hands ran through a few strands of my dark locks before he took a drink of his dark roast.

"You shouldn't be." I spoke softly, my eyes gazing down to my feet, his fingers pushed my chin upward so that my gaze was back on him.

I shook the cup to see how much liquid was left; there wasn't much left in the cup. "That's good. I'm glad they realize that you're mine." He muttered lowly.

"What about Jieun?" With a roll of my eyes, I drank the remains of the coffee.

"What about her?" He asked with an amused tone behind his voice. Little did he know I wasn't kidding. "Oh, and yesterday. I told you that I'd explain myself later, and I think now is a great time for it."

"I'm not going to pressure-" He interrupted me.

"You're one of the only people that deserve to know more than anyone." He spoke before crossing his arms over the small cafe table between us, and glancing at me.

"The week before graduation, I planned on it. Coming to celebrate with you, I was glad that after all these years we were still close. Even now." His focus was down to his hands, and I kept my attention on him as he spoke.

"On my way there. I got a call about a breaking and entering double homicide, unfortunately my parents were the victims. I could've never imagined that at the beginning of that week, that they would end up being taken from me." His lips formed into a small smile, he didn't seem too bothered about the information at this point.

"So I left for the last week of school, I stayed at our old home and on the day before graduation; I left straight for active duty as fast as I could. I couldn't bear the heavy burden of the death of my parents, and so I didn't bother telling anyone."

My heart sank hearing this come from him, but he continued. "You know how me and my mother made you leave when my father came home?" He asked, and I gave him a soft nod.

"Yeah."

"I was saving you. If he abused us, he'd definitely abuse you. We also knew the hell you went through at home. You never even knew I could see right through the cover ups."

"You don't have to continue. I'm sorry for pressuring you into telling me." I apologized feeling complete sympathy for Sangwoo.

It must've been hard on him. Lucky for me, I lost them both freshman year, and had to manage things on my own so early.

He simply nodded at my response, and the smile on his lips grew. "You could help me feel a lot better though." He stood up, and found his way beside me.

"How could I do that?" I asked as my gaze was now towards my ivory hands, I played with my fingers to distract myself from the strange, yet depressing situation I was placed in.

"Come with me to a Karaoke bar with a few friends later on." A small smile formed onto my lips, as I glanced up at him.

"I'll be there." I spoke to him, I enjoyed whatever time I could find an excuse to use my voice in a singing manner.

He flashed a smile to me, as we both stood up. "I'll be expecting you." He spoke, allowing me to walk ahead of him and throw the empty cup in the trash.

As I pushed the cafe door, and walked out I felt his eyes glued to me;but, I couldn't see his expressions at that point. I began to slowly walk home, humming softly to myself.

A strong, masculine hand wrapped around my arm, stopping me in my tracks. "Wait. Give me your phone."

The taller male grasped a hold of my phone before typing in his number. "I'll text you later." He spoke, before walking off.

"Arasso!" I yelled at him before he walked away.