To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Jung Hoseok

You slammed the door to your parents house shut and raced up the stairs.

There's no way she did that.

You burst into your room and threw open your closet doors, desperately searching for the little hatbox you had filled with letters.

She had to be bluffing.

You spotted it tucked behind an old hoodie. You pulled it out and sat down on the floor.

You desperately grabbed all the letters in your hand and quickly counted them.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8.

You were relieved that they were all still there, but you needed to be sure that they were real.

You took the first letter you had ever written, slowly opened it, and began to read.

To Jung Hoseok,

My first crush.

I was fourteen and your smile was the first thing I saw when we moved into our new neighborhood.

You're a little older than me, about my sister's age, but I never felt like that was the case when I was around you.

You always made me feel like I was included when you two hung out, like I was your friend, not just her little sister.

You were so caring to me. You always encouraged and supported me and my little endeavors.

I'll never forget the first time I saw you dance at my sister's studio. It was like you were a different person. You were completely immersed in the music. Dancing to the rhythm like it had become part of you, hitting every beat perfectly.

You finished your routine and turned around to ask what I thought with the brightest smile on your face.

But you asked my sister first, and you seemed more interested in what she said.

I'll never forget when you came to my soccer game either.

I looked in the stands and saw you with you arms wrapped around my sister. You kissed her cheek and a ball hit me in the face.

As soon as I found out you were dating, my heart broke, but I still ached for you.

Every single word you said to me I hung onto for dear life. I followed you around like a puppy.

My sister found out about my feelings and told you in front of me because she's my sister and of course she did.

You gave me a small smile and kissed my forehead.

Thank you, Jung Hoseok, for being my first love and letting me down so gently.

You let out a sigh of relief.

That one was safe, on to the next.