A Thousand Times by E Janetulip

Chapter 17

"시린 겨울의 끝에 맞잡은 손, 나를 기다려준 너."
"[Hands that hold each other at the end of the cold winter, you who's waiting for me]."

⭐

You embrace me with a warm smile on your face.

-Aurora (오로라)

2016. 12. 26.

I've been sitting inside the plane for like forever but in reality, it's only been 11 hours since our flight departed. We still have 3 hours and a few minutes before we land. I have my parents beside me, taking their time to get some sleep. I just woke up and finished having my dinner and now, 'm writing here about what happened earlier today.

We were at the airport waiting for our flight since we're going to spend our new year and also to have a little vacation in the US together with my older brother and my grandparents on my mother's side. We're going to stay in America for almost two weeks.

Our Christmas was full of memories, laughter, and love. We spent our Christmas evening with the Park and Kim family in our house. I've never mentioned Kim is San's last name. It was the best Christmas I ever had because I got to be with the important people in my life. I was with my family, my best friend, Seonghwa, and their families that I also consider my own. My brother couldn't come home to celebrate Christmas with us but at least we get to spend our New Year and have a vacation with him even just for a while.

Seonghwa was beside me, listening to music with me on my phone. He wanted to drop us off before we leave the country. Before we left, San dropped by our house early in the morning telling me his goodbye while hugging me. He also let me borrowed his plushie doll named Shiber, a welsh corgi soft toy that I always play around when I'm in their house or when he brings it to our house whenever we sleepover. Seungmin also texted me earlier telling me to be safe with our flight. She couldn't come since she visited her friend's house in Daegu, almost 3 hrs from Seoul.

I'm wearing my long pink faux fox fur coat, my favorite coat, and underneath is a white shirt, black high waist leggings, and a black pair of Chelsea boots. I didn't put makeup on and also did not do anything to my hair and just put a black beanie on. After all, it's a 14-hour flight from South Korea to New York, my mom's hometown.

Our flight was 8 am. We waited since 7:30 am, my mom doesn't like missing flights. Our flight got delayed for 10 minutes or so but it was all good. I got to be with Seonghwa a little longer.

Few minutes before our flight departed I was hugging Seonghwa as he wrapped his arms around me, making me feel secure. My hands were inside his long puffer jacket and we stayed hugging like that for minutes until we heard the announcer announce our flight.

I pulled away from his warmth and placed a kiss on his cheeks before I grabbed my luggage. I looked at him and my eyes began turning blurry. Tears began forming and I pouted as a tear fell. Within seconds, he was beside me as I let go of my luggage and hugged Seonghwa one last time.

I sound so dramatic telling what happened earlier but I got emotional during that time. Not seeing someone you love for almost two weeks is saddening. I hate goodbyes. Goodbye sucks. It's the worst thing, ever.

He tilted my chin and my eyes met those deep brown eyes while he began wiping the tears that had fallen on my face.

"울지 마라 (Ulji mara)," he whispered with a slight frown on his face, telling me not to cry while fixing my hair, tucking the hair that covered my face beside my ear. "도착하면 전화해 (Dochaghamyeon jeonhwahae)."

"네 (Neh)," I responded quietly, nodding my head to answer his question which was to call him when we get there.

He gave me a tight squeeze before letting go from the hug.

"너 내 선물 가지고 있지? (Neo nae seonmul gajigo issji?)" asking if I brought his gift with me and I nodded again.

We had receive gifts from each other this Christmas. I gave him a pink puffer jacket and a white shirt with minimal design because he looks good with a white shirt and I've never seen him wear pink before. I'm sure he's going to suit the color pink as well. It's not hot pink, more of a soft pink color just like the coat I'm wearing. About that, he got me that coat and he also got me the perfume he always wears. He knows that I love the smell of his perfume and since I'm going to be away from him for almost two weeks, he gave me that so I can still feel his presence when I'm abroad. But still, it hits different when I get to smell his perfume in his clothes whenever we are together.

"뉴욕에서 잘 지내고 즐거운 시간 보내세요. 기다릴게 [Take care in New York and enjoy your time. I'll wait for you]," he spoke softly, cupping my face with both of his hands.

"응, 그럴게 (Eung, geureolge)," I mumbled nodding, telling him I will.

"나를 너무 그리워하지 마 [Don't miss me too much]," he teased with a smug smirk playing on his lips but at the same time, he was serious about it.

I hit him lightly because of his last sentence, smiling as I responded sarcastically. "넵 (Nep)."

"내가 도망가서 다시는 돌아오지 않으면 어쩌지? [What if I run away and I'm never coming back?]"

"야 [Ya,]" his lips suddenly turned into a frown with my words. His reaction said it all.

"농담으로 한 말이야 [I'm just joking,]" I defended. "나는 반드시 돌아올 것이다 [I'll surely be back]."

"보고싶을꺼야 (Bogosipeulggeoya)," he declared that he'll miss me.

"보고싶을꺼야 (Bogosipeulggeoya)," I said, saying it back.

"갈 시간이다 (Gal siganida)," I heard the voice of my dad telling us it was time for us to go.

With that, Seonghwa gave me a pat on the head then smiled at me. The one I'm going to remember while I'm in the States.