Unspoken Definites

12 Stormed

AERA got into details with Yuzuru's arrival at Korea. He was there to compete for the Asian Figure Skating Throphy that was hosted by their country. Yuna confirmed this when she looked it up in the internet after she had gone back from buying coffee.

Her eyes dazed on his picture taken from Incheon Airport. He was wearing a bright smile in front of the media, giving a small wave to his airport spectators. How could he grow like this and be more good looking than the last time they were together? Yuna sighed deeply; they were breathing the same air but he seemed so close yet so far.

Yuzuru had definitely gone a long way. She read from the article that he was even accompanied by bodyguards. Yuna could not help but wonder if he still remembered her. She felt her heart grew heavy by the thought that Yuzuru's world was bigger now, she came to wonder if she still had a place in it. She heaved another long sigh. Things have surely changed now. She didn't know where she stood in his life, or if she was still there at all.

If Yuzuru had chosen to forget her, he had every right to do so. After all, she was the one to blame. She thought then that it would be easier for her if he wouldn't know. Realising it now that she was a little older, it was a stupid idea. She must have had the decency to tell him this. But what else could she do, they barely made it to survive in Sendai.

Yuzuru's coming to Korea was not probably about them meeting again just like what Aera had stressed. Maybe it was just pure coincidence that his competition happened here. Yuna gaze one last time on his picture before turning off her computer and went on her way to her boarding house.

---

Yuna lived just outside the campus in a pent house located in Nakseongdae-dong neighborhood. The house she was leasing together with three other girls was a lot cheaper than any of the dorms inside the campus. It was a house owned by an old spinster who liked travelling a lot these days so she had it rented instead.

The two girls she was living with were siblings and were also students at Seoul National University while the other was already working in a corporate firm in Gwanak District. They had their own rooms inside the house and they shared the rest of the facilities which was okay with Yuna. The house was also spacious. Since they were all girls, they were not allowed to bring boys inside the house especially at night time. Ironically, this was monitored by the owner's nephew, Ki Yong, also a student.

Several days had passed already since Yuzuru came to Korea. Aera had not stopped pestering Yuna to go and watch the games live. She pondered how it was a good idea because she just really wanted to see him skate again in front of her very eyes after all these years. But school demanded a lot of her time as well as the pub so instead to travelling all the way to Gangneung, she decided to finish all her work at school. It didn't occur to her that it had been days already. Yuzuru had probably gone back to Japan by the time she had all time for herself.

---

It was Friday night and Yuna's housemates had plans leaving her all alone at home.

"Yuna, are you sure you will be alright tonight?" Ahn Ji Hyun, Yuna's housemate asked as they stood by the door.

"Yes, of course," Yuna answered with a bright smile.

"Why don't you come with us?" Ahn Ji Soo, Ji Hyun's sister who was also her housemate asked. "You know, Chae Bin eonni won't be back until past midnight. You're alone here. Ki Yong is also going home late due to school work. We can ask the guys to bring another friend."

The two are going out for a blind date with guys from another university. Worried about their youngest tenant being alone in the house on this Friday night, the two siblings invited her to come along.

"I'll be fine, sunbae. Anyway, I still have to get to the first train at 5:30 tomorrow so I can go home to Pyeongchang for the weekend."

The Ahn Siblings knew that Yuna always went home to her family in Pyeongchang twice a month. This weekend was scheduled for that. Both agreed not to bother Yuna anymore and so they told her to lock the door after they leave. Yuna assured them not to worry because she would spend her night wisely in their abode.

When they left, she stayed on her bed to read books on Korean Constitution. By 9:30, she felt her stomach growl in hunger and realised that she had not eaten a thing yet since she came home. She went out to the kitchen only to discover that she ran out of supplies already. She thought about borrowing instant ramyun from the Ahn siblings but changed her mind at the last minute. With few money left on her wallet, Yuna decided to buy her dinner and some snacks to eat on her way back home to Pyeongchang. She changed her clothes and wore her shoes.

She decided to head out to the nearby 7-Eleven and buy her stuff. She brought her ramyun, banana milk, and some chips for tomorrow's trip. When she came out of the store, she heard her phone ringing and saw her mother's name.

"Yoboseyo, eomma?"

"Yuna, have you eaten already?"

This was how her mother would say hello over the phone since she left home.

"Yes." She lied. Her mother would nag her tomorrow if she said that she skipped eating dinner and just resorted to eating instant ramyun. One of the conditions that led her parents to agree that she should study in Seoul was for her to always eat healthily and on time. Health was always their priority.

"That's nice to hear." Her mother said over the phone. "By the way, someone came today."

"Who?"

Before her mother could even answer the question, her phone ran out of battery. She cursed a little with their broken conversation but she kept pacing anyway. She thought of talking to her mother again once she reached home, after charging her phone.

The walk from the mart to their house was not that long. It was a good five-minute walk with no hassle at all. The streets were well-lighted and their house was situated in a residential area in the midst of commercial location. However, that night felt a little different as Yuna treaded the empty streets.

Her neighbours were probably enjoying the Friday night somewhere in Seoul as the street looked so empty. However, there was unusual with the way a person had been following her since she came out of the store. Why would this person follow me? She thought and decided to dismiss the idea.

However, when she stopped pacing, the footsteps also stopped. When she doubled her steps, the steps kept on her pace. She further confirmed that it was following her when she made an unexpected left turn. The footsteps were close already. Her heart pounded behind her ears. Yuna finally stopped walking and felt the person following her stopped too. Without any hesitation, she spun and swung the plastic bag she was holding to her potential attacker who was wearing a black hoodie and cap. The attacker took a step back surprised by her act. With every strength she could muster from her body, she punched the person that sent him rolling on the ground.

It was the best opportunity to run, Yuna's eyes widened and aimed to run away when she heard the attacker laughed by her feet. When she turned her back, she saw the familiar looking young man clutching his stomach on the ground while laughing so hard. His cap was on the ground.

Yuna took a step back. She couldn't believe her eyes.

"Y-Yuzuru?"

The boy stopped laughing. When their eyes met, her heart melted away.. He stood up and she took another step back. He had grown taller than her, his body was leaner but he wore the same infectious smile and the same good looking boyish face of his. His hair was shiny and it looked so soft. And she hated the fact that his skin was even clearer than hers.

Her heart practically skipped a beat. She wanted to think it was a dream but when Yuzuru was already standing in front of her giving her a better view of the cute little mole under his eye and hearing him breathe steadily... She knew he was absolutely real.

"Annyeong haseyo, Kim Yuna." He said in perfect Korean but resorted back to his native tongue which she clearly understood. "It's been a while."

---

You look the same so as the way you make me feel.