Paper Cranes ☾ n.jm

☾1

November

Jaemin first noticed the girl out of the corner of his eye. If he hasn't turned his head a degree more, he would have missed her entirely. Though she was pretty much hidden from the open area around her, Jaemin was able to make out details of her. (His mom always said he was good at noticing things)

She was lounging in a chair towards back of the cafe, one earbud in and a calculator in her hands. There was a worksheet in front of her (Jaemin presumed to be for math). He could see her mouth the words to the song she was listening to, or perhaps she was simply saying the answer to the math problem she was doing aloud.

Her hair was covering a good portion of her face, and though she swept it from her line of vision, some strands will fell downward, which she ignored. Her brow was slightly furrowed, no doubt working hard on the problem in front of her. So immersed in her work she didn't notice the boy looking at her. While the cafe around her was designed to be in an open area, the seat she had chosen was towards the back, where more of the quieter studiers sat on most days. She had chosen an area that kept her hidden from sight for someone first walking in through the door, though was close enough to Jaemin's table for him to see her face. She was unfamiliar to Jaemin, though at the same time he felt like he knew her. Maybe she went to his school? Something about her was intriguing to Jaemin, but he still couldn't figure it out.

And though he was looking at her, it wasn't her that he had initially noticed. It was the small paper crane sitting on the table next to her.

The crane was miniature, and Jaemin guessed was made out of a sticky note. The bright colors of the papers stood out against the dark wood of the walls. It was small, delicate, and absolutely beautiful. He loved how the wings were crimped in a way to curve naturally outwards, and how it's head was facing slightly towards the light. The tail and neck of the bird was thin and elegant and the wings spread outward, like it was in flight.

He had been to this cafe many times before but had never seen the girl around. The cafe was built for studying, for it was near his school and was connected to the library next door. The chairs and tables were all made specifically for studying and so it was a popular hang out for almost all the students at his high school. He was actually there with his friend Haechan, studying for the upcoming science test.

Distracted from his work, he continued to study the girl. He could assume that she was the one to make the paper crane, as it sat next to her, almost like a companion. Luckily for him, she kept looking at her paper, so she didn't see him looking at her like a creepy stalker.

From behind him he heard Haechan cough slightly, directing his attention back to his study partner. "Dude are you good there? You were spacing out a lot." Haechan said and Jaemin nodded in return. "Yeah yeah, I'm all good. Sorry." And returned back to his work.

Though every once in a while he would turn back, (pretending to stretch or throw something in the garbage) to stare at the curious girl and her beautiful origami crane.

An hour later, he heard a loud snap from a binder come from behind him, and he turned to see the same girl packing up. As she put her binders away, she turned to look at the crane. Without any hesitation, she picked it up, crumbled it in her hand, and tossed it in the garbage. She then swung her backpack across her shoulder and walked out of the cafe without another glance.

Jaemin was, frankly, horrified. How could she of thrown away such a beautiful creature? Almost instinctively he got up and raced towards the garbage, Haechan watching his curiously.

He stared at the crumbled crane, in all of its glory. (Well as much glory as a crane can be, within a garbage can) and without a second thought picked it out of the garbage can.

He could hear Haechan make a slight noise of surprise as Jaemin trudged towards the table. "Did-Did you just... like... go into the trash and take something out?" Haechan asked in disbelief. Jaemin shrugged, not knowing how to answer.

Haechan, who has forgotten all about studying watched him as he uncrumpled the small bird within his hand. As the bird became more bird-like and less crumpled can he was relieved to see it still look as pretty as before, plus extra folds from when she had clenched it in her hands. Haechan shook his head in disbelief. "Did you actually pull out an origami bird from the trash?" Jaemin laughed. "It was just so pretty. I couldn't let it just be thrown away." He said. He placed it next to his folders, almost like it was watching him work.

He was slightly mad at the girl for throwing it away, but mostly confused. Who is she? And why did she make a crane in the first place if she didn't want it? Will he ever see her again? He kept wondering about the mysterious girl for the rest of the time, and even after he had said goodbye to Haechan and went home.

And later that night as he watched the first snowfall come down from the sky, he placed the tiny bird on his windowsill.