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December 23.
On a chilly winter day, Koeun struggles to wear her gloves as her hands were growing numb and her sense of touch was losing its use. Her thin coat was of no help either, but she managed to move for the day. The weather isn't gonna stop her from earning money, after all no one's gonna support her but herself so she has to be strong to survive.
The way to the convenience store where she works were a mere 3-minute walk. It was christmas break but recently students of all levels often come to the store to buy food and that bothers Koeun. Where have they been when the store was nearing bankrupt?
As she enters, the warm temperature from the inside comforts her. "Hey", Hangyul, a guys who enters the same uni as her also her co-worker greets her. "Hey", she says less energetic than the lad. "You didn't get enough sleep again?" he asks as he steps aside so she can enter the staff room. "Don't be silly Han-ah, when do I get enough sleep?" she plainly said before turning her back.
Hangyul was aware of Koeun's actions. This started right on the start of winter break, she entered worked like a lifeless person and was absentminded until she bumped in one of the stalls.
Christmas was only a day away and Koeun couldn't go to her parents because of the other jobs she has. Hangyul actually pitied her, Koeun was suffering at such a young age. But she didn't want to be pitied so he tried so hard to not pity her.
The day passed by quickly and Koeun's shift just ended so she was now on her way to the barbecue place she works at, the customers there were increasing day by day because of the season.
She changed to her usual white top and a black apron and tied her hair up in a bun. One by one the place was filled with customers she was familiar and unfamiliar with. It was hectic inside, left and right there were customers waiting for someone to get their orders.
The smell of soju invaded the place, by now lots of people are already tipsy or drunk. Everyone was having their own business, they were either in groups, couples, or by themselves.
However, one man on the far corner of the restaurant caught Koeun's sight. He was not drinking soju nor eating barbecue, he was just their in his coat with a book in his hand and a slightly cold coffee placed on the table. Isn't it kind of weird to find someone who should be in a peaceful place in a hectic one?
It wasn't her business so she ignored him and continued with her work.
-
12:00, December 24
Koeun's shift was nearing it's end and a few minutes of her standing behind the register was remaining. She didn't really find this day any different from the other's but that weird man she saw awhile ago made her mood kind of light.
"Your shift's over, missy" Yeonjung, her co-worker tells her and pushes Koeun to the locker room. "Get some rest!" The girl reminds and slams the door, Koeun smiles to herself for having such people in her life.
The chilly winter night gave out a comforting feeling to Koeun. The streets were empty, buildings were closed, it was silent. Everything was calm. She was calm. Her heart was calm.
Until.
Standing there right under the street light was him. Him in that same coat the weird man wore, and that same book and that same physique. Koeun did her best to stop those frozen lips of hers from spilling words that she would regret. Alas, they betrayed her.
"Mark!" She called expecting for him to walk away, instead he turned his head to her way. "Let me seriously hug you for just 10 seconds" and that was Koeun failing to stop her mouth.
Again, she expected for something like a walk away or a frown but he opened his arms wide. The days spent crying and locking herself inside her room trying to move on from him was wasted. Koeun desperately ran to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Are you cold?" He gently asked like it was just a normal thing to do. Koeun answered with a nod, he wrapped his arms tighter. The hug lasted more than ten seconds and Koeun was grateful for that, she felt warmer in his arms, maybe because she loves him.
"Hey, i've been politely holding it in but it's just so heavy in my heart and i'm about to get sick from stress but i just wanted to tell you that i love- no, i like you a lot" she says still trapped inside him.
He pulls away faster than light, Koeun felt relieved now that she told him all of the feelings she's been hiding. She has accepted faith and just decided to let everything go and just bury it in the past because all it's ever done to her is make her lonely.
"I just wanted a hug before letting you go, and now that i've done it" she paused and smiles. "I'm going, have a merry christmas" she said turning her back at him and leaving the past behind.
The chilly winter wind brushed upon Koeun's hair, her lips are frozen and her hands are numb, her legs are about to give way and she swears she's about to collapse.
But a pair of arms wrap around her waist and someone's head naturally rests on her shoulders. "Stay" he said as softly as before. Koeun didn't move, they stayed like tham for a minute until she turned around to face him.
"You're confusing" she said, her eyes teary. "I know, i'm sorry" he replies. "But why am I still in love with you?" she says.
"I am too"
"I'll stay just don't forget me please"
And with that Mark pulls her closer and she receives the warmest hug someone could ever give. Her heart was calm. She was calm. All Koeun wanted was peace and calmness in her life, and this warm boy hugging her right now had brought her these once again.
And it absolutely felt like she was floating, like she was dreaming.
