The professor called out names for the assignment.
"Song BoRa - Kim TaeHyung"
I stood up from my seat, looking around the classroom for my partner. A boy at the far end of the class stood up, already looking at me, rather staring with an expressio...
"Yes." I replied knowing that he knows the park I am talking about.
Both Namjoon and my father are business partners. We are practically friends since birth. Before moving into our present homes, we both used to live in the same locality and played at that special park. Now, if you ask me why that park was special, I won't have an answer for it. Similarly, how I would never have an answer for why I love my parents or why I trust Namjoon. Some things have no answers because they are feelings that can't be expressed.
"We reached" Namjoon snapped me back from my thoughts. We both went inside the park. The park wasn't the same as it used to be back when we lived in this locality.
"It has changed a lot. It has been so long we visited this park, right?" I asked Namjoon.
"Yes" He replied a little later, busy looking at the place he practically spent his all childhood.
I felt contentment seeping into me, with just the aura that surrounded this park. The air had the same fragrance, through which I could feel my childhood again. I could hear our giggles through the birds chirping around. This here brought peace in me.
We both went near the swings and sat at our regular ones, enjoying the silence that surrounded us.
"Joon-ah, do you remember us both playing at these swings?" I questioned him the obvious, while swings back and forth lightly.
"Yes, of course. The one you are sitting at was your favorite. I remember how you would pick up a fight with anyone who tried to use this swing. You didn't let anyone else have it."
"I did let you have it, sometimes." I replied giggling.
"Oh please. Sometimes meant only my birthdays. Which if I calculate shouldn't be more than 6-7 times in total since we moved out of here when we were 7 or 8 I guess."
"Yeah-yeah, don't make me the bad guy here. Everyone has his or her favorite swing, okay! You had your own favorite one so you weren't interested in mine."
"Yup" He replied and there was silence again until when he asked,
" Bora, you remember everyone at the locality knew that these 2 particular swings were ours. I mean other kids weren't really interested in ours since they enjoyed the other ones." He said pointing to other swings in line, which were empty now, swinging occasionally by the wind that blew.
He continued, "Until this new kid on the block who obviously didn't know how the swings had their owners, sat on your swing"
I tried recalling the incident "Was this the day when our parents told us we would be moving in our new homes?
"I guess that was the day"
15 years ago
I was walking towards my favorite swing with Namjoon when I noticed someone already using my favorite swing. When I went near to the swing to see who the kid was, I noticed he wasn't someone I knew.
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"Hey! Are you new to this area?" I asked him politely, knowing that he must be oblivious of how here kids used only one particular swing to avoid fights amongst the kids. The rule decided by all our parents.
"uhm, Yes." He replied, "My family shifted in today."
"oh. Hi! My name is Bora" I extended my hand forward for a handshake. "This is Namjoon," I said pointing towards Namjoon. And before he could reply back with his name, I said, "And that is my swing you're sitting on. We kids have our own particular swing here. You can decide yours from the other ones leaving the 2nd, 4th and 5th. They belong to other kids."
I explained to him so he leaves quickly and I can enjoy my swing. But his expressions spoke he was confused.
I waited for the kid to leave. Namjoon was already enjoying on his swing, which was beside mine.
"If that is the case, can I have this swing? I like this one." Namjoon stopped his swing. He knew this won't end up good.
"No" I replied sternly yet politely, not wanting to pick a fight with a new kid.
"But I want to have this swing. I like it."
"No, this is my swing. You can select from others. Now please leave I want to enjoy my swing. Otherwise my 'play time' will be finished."
"No. please, I like this one. Can you not select any other one?"
Namjoon gulped. I was getting angry and I almost held the kid's hand to make him leave the swing when I heard my Mom's voice.
"Bora-ah, Namjoon-ah, come home. It's urgent."
I looked at Namjoon. Mom never interrupted our 'play time'. It meant something was indeed urgent.
"You better not be sitting at this swing tomorrow. This is my last time I am warning you." I quickly told the kid before leaving with Namjoon for our Moms that waited at the Park's gates.
Little did we know we were never coming back to that park again.
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"I remember how we both cried just for this park. We didn't even worry about shifting to a new school, new teachers, and new homes. All we were sad about this park." I replied living the memory again.
"Yes. Remember how our parents were laughing at our crying faces."
I nodded. "He was a lucky kid. He must have made this his swing and enjoyed a lot."
I felt peaceful, living the bittersweet memories again. No matter where we reach in our lives, our childhood memories hold a special place in our hearts. They never fail to leave a smile on your face, a very lovely genuine smile. This is what I wanted. After an exhausting day, this helped my rejuvenate myself.
"Oh Bora-ah, Didn't you have to visit your father today at the hospital?"
My smile went in just a matter of milliseconds. "Sh*t! How could I forget? Please, can you drop me at the hospital?" I asked him with pleading eyes.
"Hurry up! Let's go" He replied already running towards the gates. I followed him.
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Hi Guys!
This story reached 100 reads? Lol.
Thank you, guys! I still don't know why are you even reading this shitty story?
If you have any feedback, positive or negative, feel free to tell me. I would appreciate and try to improve.
