Memories || Wonu ff

six

Wonu - freshman year of college

I've never really seen myself as a believer in love at first sight, but the world decided to both prove me wrong and also bless me. I've never met someone so intriguing and breathtaking, either. And out of all the places, I never thought fate would being me to her pretty face in my most favourite place on campus: the library.

I'm glad that I decided to leave my dorm room and head to the library to find a new book to read; because while I was searching the shelves, I accidentally bumped into someone who was crouched down in front of the lower areas of the shelf.

Apologizing, I lean down a bit to make sure they didn't drop anything nor did I hurt them by accident. Then she looked up at me and we locked eyes, and right there and then, my heart felt like it was going to burst.

Putting away the few books she had left in her hands, she then stood up to almost match my height. Noticing the name tag on her shirt, I realize she was a student who also happens to be a library worker.

"Did you need help with something?" she asks, confused that I was just staring at her.

Gosh, her voice sounded so sweet and like a melody. But snapping out of my trance, I tell her that I was looking for a book that didn't have a cliche or predictable trope or plot line. Smiling, she takes the time to show me around the library and recommend a bunch of books she's read, even giving me a in depth description of each one. I could've sworn she's read every book in that building, but that doesn't matter.

I finally found someone who also has a passion for literature as much as I do, or even more than me! I feel like I'm over the moon, yet I just met her.

After selecting a few books, she walks with me to the front desk and helps me check them out. Once scanning each of them, she hands them to me while flashing me a cute smile.

"I hope you enjoy those books, uh..." she trailed off a bit, trying to ask for my name.

"Oh! Uh, Wonu. Jeon Wonu." I introduce myself and stuck out my hand "I'll be sure to come back and tell you my thoughts on each book."

"I'll be waiting for your opinion on those ones, Wonu." She replies as she slid her hand into mine and shook it, causing my heart to skip a beat "I'm Seo Hyeon, by the way."

Before I could say anything else, another student called for her and she had to excuse herself as she let go of my hand. My heart's still racing as I'm writing this sentence, and I feel so giddy thinking about it.

I wonder what she's studying at the college? I'll have to start going to the library more often just to see her again.

Seo Hyeon...♡

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Ji Young

"Well that was.... unexpected. It really shows that he started writing around this time" I mutter to myself as I finish reading the first few pages "Is she the reason he started publishing his books in the first place?"

It was really weird thinking about dad having a crush on someone, especially since he's a lot more timid and closed off with others. Many people always try to flirt or make a move on him, but he often turns them down as politely as possible, yet people still persist. Though something about the few pages I just read felt a bit... off to me.

The way he wrote about her sounded like the beginning to a novel where an obsessive stalker character meets the object of their so called 'affection'.

Or maybe I'm reading a little too far into it. I gotta stop reading those novels before bed.

My thoughts were then interrupted by the sound of my stomach growling and I only now realized that I barely ate today. Heading down to dad's study, I return his journal back to its original spot and head to the kitchen to grab a snack.

Grabbing a granola bar from the pantry, I just stood in the kitchen and ate it in silence. I then hear the sound of the door opening and lean over a bit so that I could look into the foyer.

"Dad?" I call out to him.

"Hi sweet pea," he greets as he places his stuff down on the floor "Shouldn't you be sleeping? You did say you were tired."

I shrug "I am, but my stomach kept growling and it was impossible to fall asleep." 

He tuts "I know you've been focused on your exams and projects, but you have to remind yourself that you're human and not a machine." He then places his hands on my shoulders "You're a growing kid, and I will wreak havoc on that school if they value your grades over your nutrition."

I roll my eyes as I smile "Thanks dad, but we both know that you hesitate to even tell a fast food employee that they got your order wrong."

"Well, yeah-" He pauses for a moment, knowing that I had a point before excusing it "but the employee ended up giving me food I actually enjoyed, so it worked out in the end."

We share a laugh before I quickly shift the topic "So how did the event go? Sorry again that I couldn't go."

"You don't need to be sorry, I know that you're exhausted." He says as he places his travel mug in the sink "The signing also went really well. What surprises me is that I've seemed to have gain a bit of an audience outside of the usual demographic."

I tilt my head in confusion "Oh? What do you mean?"

"Withered has always been a series meant for readers in their mid to late 20s, but when I went tonight, I met with a lot of readers around your age as well as some parents who brought their children. It was... different. Not in a bad way, but it felt encouraging."

"I guess your books are starting to appeal to a lot more people than you thought." I commend him as I clap quietly "Congratulations dad."

He lets out a small laugh "Thank you, but I think I still need to get used to this." he then off-handedly says "Originally these books were meant for only one person, but now my books are loved by many."

One person, huh? I can already tell who that is.

I then find myself yawning for real this time before excusing myself. We say goodnight to each other before I head up to my room and flop onto my bed, slowly drifting off to sleep as I made another mental note in my mind: re-read Withered with the new context of the journal in mind.