[New Year Special: D.O oneshot] "486"

That Evening

  

   Dinner soon came and being a bonded family they were, the Park family's set of conversations don't seem to end, from the pointless ones to the topics having the most sense and serious content.

   And Ji Hee, was completely lost in her own thoughts, on her feelings for Kyungsoo.

   "Oh, and I remember JiHee's old friend who used to come here every Saturday!" Mrs. Park said. "What's his name? Kyunho? Kyungsoo?"

  "It's Kyungsoo." YuNi answered. With her mention of the boy's name, JiHee's ears perked up.

     "Oh, that Kyungsoo boy, I've missed him!" Mrs. Park said. "He looks and acts like an angel, and he's good at cooking!"

  "Agree. He is smart, and simple." Mr. Park added. "Where is he now, anyway?"

  JiHee wasn't prepared for that.

   "W-well...I don't know, actually. He'd just disappeared four years ago and he never showed up again." JiHee gulped silently, trying not to break into tears while talking about him.

  "Aigoo~ you must've been missing that kid." Mrs. Park said symphatetically. JiHee mentally agreed with her.

  I am waiting all this time, Kyungsoo.

    "Why don't you call him or something?" YuNi suddenly spoke up. "Wouldn't that be great? It's New Year's day plus, you've got to send him a greeting card."

    "But I...I don't have his number or anything." JiHee didn't want to hide her sadness anymore, so she frowned. But she didn't let herself cry.

   "That's sad." Mr. Park said. "Don't worry, dear. Someday you will meet him too, okay? Let's just enjoy these food we have right now."

       "I even remember that kid always waiting for you at the nearby playground at the park." Mrs. Park added. "Oh well, fate will tell."

   

   JiHee halted from any kind of movement. The playground! She shook her head. No, that's impossible. It's been four years, girl. Four years. Still, she can't help but hold one last strand of hope in her. It will not hurt to try--well, it will if he's not there, but better than not trying, right?

  And with just that, she had made a decision.

  "Mom, please let me take a walk at the park for a while." JiHee said, surprising her family with the sudden request. "I haven't been there eversince Kyungsoo left. I will not stay for too long and go home when it's too cold. Please?"

     Mr. Park chuckled. "We'll allow you, since it's just a few steps away. Be careful and bring a thick jacket, okay?"

  "You're the best parents." JiHee grinned, already halfway to get a thick sweater from the back of the door. "I'll see you later!"

     "Yah, you're not hoping to find Kyung Owl the Musician on that place, aren't you?" YuNi teased, and JiHee just laughed it off as if it's a small joke. An image suddenly formed in her head. It was during September, when Autumn is making Kyungsoo glow with such charm the girl couldn't explain. It was one fine day when she saw him lying at the school's music room floor, earphones on and that angelic, heart-shaped smile restlessly lingering on his lips. For that very moment, JiHee watched him and that day, she fell in love with him more.

   Of course not. That was her main purpose, as crazy as it might be.

----

     "K-k-kyung....." JiHee's breath got stuck in her throat as she witnessed the familiar figure only a few steps away from her, wide, round eyes staring at her directly in shock. Both become immobile as they stared at each other for seconds. "Y-you.."