The Way It Was, The Way It Will Be

He sits beside the clear window, at that newly opened café. He’s going to meet her after years of not seeing each other. He can’t actually remember how she looks and can’t predict how she is now. She’s like a Third Worlder, no connection to anything techie and stuff. She only has that phone that can only call. How is she able to live like that? Is she like a hermit living under a rock? Suddenly, he remembers her plump stature. Not the prettiest, he could say, but he knows what’s inside it made him fall for her. Or at least, it did.

“Chogeeyo?” a female voice says, awakening him from his reverie.

“Ne?” he says, turning to his right to face her.

“Aneonghaseo, I am …” ‘Shit!’ he thought.  Is this her? Why is she looking like a mom who’s pregnant for twenty times? … “I am Min-ah; I am Sun-mi’s friend. And I believe you’re Baekhyun, am I not right?”

He releases a sigh of relief. It’s not Sun-mi, but where is she?

“Sun-mi, uhm… she’s on her way here. She told me. Minutes ago. She’s actually having a hard time going about Seoul. She’s too traditional, you know.”

He nods in assent. He looks at Min-ah and then around the café.

“You know, seriously; I don’t know where she is right now. The last time she told me, she was at Dongseoul Bus Terminal. I can’t even contact her,” she says, trembling at the sentence she’s saying.

  He stands up, exits the café and enters his car.

“This is so not happening right now,” he mumbles, throwing his jacket to the passenger seat.

   He reaches Dongseoul Bus Terminal and sees a girl, scratching her head, looking at the map she’s holding and looks at the road. Her innocent charms are still evident. It’s been years, I think I can fall for her even at this time, he thought, smiling as he stares out his window. He parks his car and goes out. He walks to the girl, appearing like a stranger. He stands by her, pretending to be a passenger. She steals a glance at him and back on her map. He notices that part of Sun-mi that he fell in love with. She looks different now, the plumpness gone and the pretty small face is obvious. That cute eyes of hers can’t be forgotten, he thought.

“I’m not stupid. I just don’t”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t, don’t,” she once said, her eyebrows creasing. She’s living like an old person; it’ll be hard to believe she was born during the 90’s. His flashback stops when she utters a stutter.

“Cho-chogee-ee-yo,” she says, not taking risks looking at him.

“Do you know where this is?” she says, pointing a part in her map, only looking at it.

“Are you lost?” he asks, looking at her. She looks across the road and shakes her head.

“Anni. I just think I’m dropped off at the wrong station. You see, I’ve been,” she finally turns to look at him. She only wanted to explain but she ended up seeing that person she always wanted to see. He’s staring at her, with that smile on his face. Baekhyun smile, I haven’t seen that in years. I’m falling for that charm again.