A Hundred Ways (and more)

015 - i hope you'll like it

It all began a few months back, when one of my friends brought her knitting box to the class. I remember staring at her colorful balls of wool and half finished sweater amusedly; definitely not hers, it was way too big for her small built.

"It's anniversary gift for my boyfriend," she answered with a proud smile after I asked her about it.

Feeling intrigued and challenged, the next day I decided to buy knitting materials and some balls of wool. If my friend could do it, then I could, too. My friend kindly taught me how to knit from the very basic, which actually took me longer than I expected, for I was always a fast learner.

Moving on, it was quite hard to hide it from Jaehwan, since he basically loiter around me on daily basis, except during classes. So, the only time left in the day for me to actually make some progress was at night.

Still, there were times when I feel like giving up. The wools kept being tangled no matter how many times I tidied it, the needles always stab my finger (which hurt a lot), then on busy days I couldn't even touch the box; falling asleep face first onto the bed after a long day without even changing my clothes, et cetera. Although it was quite an exhausting journey, but when I think again about how he'd smile until his left eye twitch, and the small chuckle he'd emit afterwards, everything else doesn't matter.

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He called that afternoon, after approximately five weeks long of knitting. The result was an adequate length of grey scarf with two white stripes on each end. Some knots were messy; you can tell it was someone's first handicraft. I stubbornly kept my own goal to give it for him--even though it was definitely not a season where someone would wear a scarf--because goddamit I went through hardship for this gift he better like it or else I will see red.

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"I just got home and saw a box on my sofa," he started without greetings. I could hear the rustling sound of him probably shaking the box.

"Mm-hm," I confirmed, nodding along even though I know he can't see it. At first, I wanted to give it personally, but he was not home at that moment and I had work to do. In the end, I left it on his sofa with a little note saying the thing inside the box is indeed from me.

"Open it," I told him, gulping nervously.

Jaehwan did not waste time to drop his phone. He probably put in on the table because the rustling sound still sound near, before it finally stopped abruptly.

"Goodness gracious,"

My hands were busy typing my final report, so with phone cradled between my ear and shoulder, I replied, "I hope you'll like it."

The line was silent for a while. Only the faint sound of his breath told me the call was still connected. "Thankyou."

That brought a smile to my face. "So--"

I didn't even get to finish before he interrupted. "I like it. A lot." I could hear sincerity in his voice, even from the phone. "Did you make it yourself?'

I hummed in response, unable to say anything for I am glad he liked it. I guess he probably knew it was handmade because there were a few knots that ruined the aesthetic.

"Wow--" he paused again. "this is the most genuine gift I have ever recieved from someone. I'm gonna use it every day"

"But it's still summer!"

He chuckled. That low chuckle I've been hearing inside my ears as I worked on the scarf. "But this is from you! From some lazy ass who doesn't even want to walk from the tv room to her own room!"

"I am definitely not accepting complaint if you feel hot when you wear it in this summer, okay,"

In a sing-song voice, he replied nonchalantly, totally ignoring what I just said a few seconds back."You're going to see me with a plain shirt, shorts, sandals, and this scarf,"

"Don't even ask me out again if you're going to dress like that."

p.s; this is probably the longest chapter oh my god. but hi again!