Fleeting Moments With You

011

It was already late at night when the four of us decided to go home so the streets were quiet. I was walking silently, deep in my own thoughts of whether Dahyun would like my gift and when am I supposed to give it to her. Should I knock on her door and give her the stuffed toy all of the sudden? Wouldn't that make me look weird? But even before I could decide, the answer went speeding towards me.

"Hey, neighbor!" I heard a familiar voice call my name and as I turned around, I spotted Dahyun, speeding towards me as she rode a bike.

"Hey!" I greeted her back.

I was expecting her to stop right in front of me and I knew that she hoped to do that too, but instead, she passed by me, her bike wobbled and a sound of crash immediately followed after. I ran towards Dahyun who had stumbled down on the street with her bike. Worry filled me thinking if she had suffered more injuries, but that anxiety immediately vanished when I heard her let out a roar of laughter. She was laughing her heart out with her body still laid down on the street together with the bike. I smiled and shook my head as I held out a hand and helped her stand up.

"Any new wounds?" I asked as she dusted herself off.

She inspected her elbows and her knees before shaking her head with a grin, "None, doctor."

I was then reminded of the stuffed toy in my bag and after letting out a gasp, I got it from my bag and handed it to her, "Here. Consider it a as my gift for you as your new neighbor."

"Wow. Thank you," she took it and hugged it tight as she admired the duck plushie. She then chuckled as she mumbled, "It looks like you."

"That's what I thought of too," I chortled back.

"Hey, let's go home riding my bike," she suggested with a big beam.

"Okay," I replied, "On one condition: I'll be the one to drive."

"Fine," she grumbled.

I could only laugh in reply as I steadied her bike back into place before riding it. I then motioned for her to hop on and her frown quickly became a smile as she rode in front of me. Her hair was tied in a pony-tail and she was wearing some sweat pants and tank top. She smelled a little of sweat mixed with the scent of strawberries and the wind carried it continuously to my nose. Strangely, I liked the way she was being etched onto my senses and yet again, the proximity between the two of us had started to fuel my heart.

We both enjoyed the silence that surrounded both of us but curiosity struck me so I asked, "What are you doing outside so late at night?"

"Practicing how to ride the bike," Dahyun giggled.

"At this hour of the evening?"

She shrugged, "I couldn't sleep so I thought that I should tire my body first."

I hummed and we were engulfed in silence once more as we savored the night breeze rushing towards our direction.

Suddenly, Dahyun whispered, "Once I learn to ride the bike well, I'd take you to my favourite Ramyun shop."

"Promise?" I glanced at her for a short moment.

"Promise," she assured me with a smile, and I found myself looking forward to the simple event.

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There was like an unwritten agreement between the four of us to accompany each other during the weekdays. This time, it was Jaebum who was buying some sports gear for surfing. He actually didn't request for our presence but Jisoo wanted us to tag along. Fortunately, I also found something that I would want to buy. I thoughtfully grinned as I took some knee and elbow protectors.

"You're into cycling?" Seulgi appeared beside me.

"Yes. But I'm not buying it for myself," I replied, "I'm buying it for someone clumsy."

That night, I walked down the streets, cautiously looking around to find any trace of a girl riding a bike.

"Neighbor!" I smiled as I heard the familiar voice.

I turned around and found her rushing towards me. I closed my eyes as I thought that the bike would crash onto me but then the wheels screeched and there was nothing. As I fluttered my eyes open, I found Dahyun smiling proudly.

"Tada!" she raised her arms in a gleeful manner. She had managed to stop the bike just half-a-meter from me.

I slowly clapped and mumbled, "Well done. Well done."

Her hands then went back to the bike's handle as she said, "Hop on. I'd take you to the Ramyun shop, now."

"Okay. But wear this first," I replied as I handed her the protective gears I bought.

"Thanks but you're pampering me too much," she cooed as she gave me a teasing gaze.

"If you're thinking that it's because I care for you, then I won't even deny it," I smirked.

"Or maybe it's just your doctor instincts," she retorted. Then, she recited, "Besides you have that quote that goes like... prevention is better than... better than..."

"Prevention is better than cure," I finished her sentence.

"Yes," she clapped, "That one."

I sighed and shook my head. Redirecting the conversation, I asked her, "So are you going to take me onto the Ramyun shop or what?"

"Ah! Yes. Come," she replied as she made some space for me.

Not knowing where to hold onto, I put my hands on her waist and fortunately, Dahyun seemed not to mind it but the tiniest skin ship had made me nervous once more. Too preoccupied on the feeling of having her near me, I didn't even notice that we have arrived in a small Ramyun stall beside the street.

"Oh, Dahyun-a!" the stall-keeper greeted her.

"Hello!" Dahyun greeted back.

I was confused as onto why we haven't got off her bike but then she told the keeper, "Ahjumma, two special Ramyuns for take-out please."

"Take-out?" I asked her.

"Hmm," she nodded, "Let's eat it at my house and consider it as the invitation to dinner I promised you."

I let out a playful scoff, "Aren't you hitting two promises with one stone?"

Dahyun just stuck her tongue out in reply and not long after, we have been given her ordered meal. Complaining that she was already tired. to pedal some more, she let me drive our way back to the apartment. This time, I took the opportunity to both enjoy her presence and every detail of the beautiful night that we shared.

The next thing I knew, I was back into her apartment once again and compared to the time that I was helping her change the light bulb, I now had the luxury to observe her unit carefully. Everything was so organized that one would think she had an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Even her schedule was posted on the refrigerator and she had lists of things she needed to buy. There were framed pictures hanging on her wall and most of them were abstract paintings – the ones that are just for decoration. However, there are two picture frames on the drawer by the wall that caught my attention.

"Hey. Food's ready!" Dahyun called me but as she noticed that one of the picture frames was already in my hands, "Guess you finally met my mom and dad, huh."

"Ahhh," I nodded. I put down the picture of her parents and took the one in which there was a young Dahyun posing a peace sign together with an older boy whose arms were wrapped on her shoulder. I asked her, "And this one is your brother?"

"I don't have a sibling," she replied with furrowed eyebrows.

She then walked towards me and looked at the picture I'm pertaining to. She took the picture from my hands and her thumb grazed the male's face as a smile formed on her lips – and I was sent into a daze as the smile on her lips so thoughtful yet so sad.

"Who is he?" I asked again.

"The one who stole my heart," she whispered as she put the picture back in place.