Butterfly [j.jk]

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또

"jangmi-ah..."

with an easy breath, her name rolls off his tongue like how rose petals flow through fresh winds. with that, the spring breeze brushed softly against their faces, and underneath the sun's beaming rays they stood still.

their gazes lock, her eyes looking far more soft than he remembered. but everything else was the same. her raven hair that would flow in harmony with the breeze, a gentle smile that captured the sun's warmth, her frail figure he used to cradle in his arms, and those crystal eyes he had once fallen deep for.

that name he had long forsaken, like one sick dream, was standing right before him amongst the lush fields like a flower. she herself was a flower, after all. delicate and beautiful, like a rose; like jangmi.

"it's good to see you again, jeongguk-ah." her gentle voice flows through his ears after all these years. as gentle as the wind, he thought he would never hear that voice again.

"what brings you here?" the boy asks.

suddenly bashful, her eyes meet the ground. "me and my husband had our wedding here. it's almost our one year anniversary so..."

her first anniversary. oh how time flies.

the old jeongguk would've had his hands clenched and a bittersweet tang in his chest. that man would've bawled right then and there, but to his surprise, he greeted her with a grin. a soft curve at the corners of his lips that made her too crack a smile.

and as if the sun beamed it's rays upon the two, warmth engulfs them. this barrier they've built between them, with bricks of pain, guilt, and sadness of their past had vanished. the seemingly unbreakable wall was broken. whatever feelings they bore, whether hurt or misery, like dust had dissipated. and once more, they're hearts open.

"the irises here look really nice, dont you think?" jangmi says, mesmerized by those petals of purple scattered along the field, as well as the other flowers that graced her sight.

the boy smiles. admiring the flower that only brings him memories of gold. they're both caught in a daze.

"your friendship means a lot to me." he mutters.

she turns to look at him, cocking a brow at the boy.

"irises, its a flower of friendship. in the language of flowers it means, your friendship means a lot to me." he repeats.

"how'd you know that?" she asked, both surprised and in disbelief.

jeongguk was never the sentimental type. he never gave any thought to little things like these. and the way his eyes gleamed, looking at the irises with such a tender gaze, surprised her.

but i guess people change, she thought. and oh boy, has he changed a lot.

"a friend of mine told me." the glimmer in his eyes grow deeper, akin to all the stars that danced in the night. he fiddles with his fingers, suddenly he grows sheepish. but a subtle smile creeps upon his lips.

he finds himself smiling and quickly bites his lip.
it was an adorable habit he had that peeks whenever he feels even the slightest bit of embarrassment. and just watching makes the girl crack a laugh, "that must be a really special friend."