𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲•𝐣𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧

eighteen

jisoo watched jeonghan from across the room, standing idle behind the kitchen counter. jeonghan happily tapped away on his phone, squirming on the couch every ten seconds. maybe because he feels so happy.

"once you have succeeded in your mission," the headmaster had said, "your human will not see you anymore, figuratively. when they're fully invested in their love interest, they won't see you anymore literally, and their memories of you will fade."

at least jeonghan was happy, right? jisoo is okay with that. plus, he's going to be human soon! yay? yay. if only i came sooner.

if only jisoo came sooner, he would've intervened in seungcheol's confession and told jeonghan about what he felt before everything was too late. maybe jeonghan would've gave him a tight, tight hug, saying 'i feel the same way too' or 'i'm sorry', but what he says actually just doesn't matter. jisoo just wants jeonghan to know what he feels, and jisoo will accept any answer.

"yoon-jeong-han," jisoo whispered, voice drowned out in jeonghan's giggles. "i remember you. the kid who indirectly 'saved' my life. this time, though, will you remember me? will i? i don't know. but i hope that we remember each other."

hong jisoo's feelings for jeonghan blossomed in his heart all of a sudden. jisoo ignored it, hoping that the petals would wilter and flutter away with the wind, to be forgotten. but it's like the season of jisoo's blooming love for jeonghan lasted forever; though it's beautiful, it was saddening.

maybe this is what the ending that hoshi calls: beautiful and sad, yet comforting and divine.

jisoo hears one teardrop of his fall on the countertop, wiping it away quickly before jeonghan notices. the matchmaker felt so pained, can you blame him? he needed to cry, but he shouldn't. for jeonghan.

but, anyway, jisoo cries. like there is no tomorrow, because there won't be any new day that jisoo would be spending with jeonghan. no more dates, no more coffee in his backyard, no more strolling around jisoo's land, no more embarrassing moments of jeonghan accidentally talking back to jisoo in public, no nothing.

jisoo should go back to the land of the matchmakers to prepare for his reward. once the headmaster isn't busy anymore, he will have time to give jisoo his reward, and he'll just have to wait in his land than torment himself here with jeonghan who can't even see him.

what about the necklace? should jisoo take it back?

"ah, seriously," jeonghan says suddenly, after what seemed like an eternity of silence. "hong jisoo, why are you crying? you're supposed to be happy."

jisoo's eyes widen, before his hand flew to cover his mouth in shock. right, he could still feel pain if i cry! he still knows me!

"jeonghan!" jisoo does not hesitate, yelling the other's name as he runs to the human's arms. jeonghan was taken aback when jisoo reached him and hugged him immediately. "jeonghan, i have to tell you something."

"yeah, me too! you go first. and, for christ's sake, stop crying! we're supposed to be happy right now!" jeonghan says, pulling away from the hug. he crookedly smiled at jisoo as he used his thumbs to wipe away jisoo's tears.

"oh, yeah. i'm sorry. congratulations." jisoo smiled sadly, slumping. "how did he confess?"

"oh, you know?"

"why wouldn't i? i'm the one who made that relationship possible."

jeonghan snorts, surprising jisoo. "what, you were chan and seungcheol's matchmaker?"

jisoo's eyes widen, as a huge wave of realization hit him. chan and seungcheol? so, seungcheol confessed to chan and not jeonghan? what did the text yesterday mean then?

jeonghan laughs, cupping jisoo's face while looking at him intently. "yes, hong jisoo, seungcheol likes chan, and they're together now. seungcheol asked me about what chan's preference in flowers earlier this morning, and revealed that he likes chan even though i already knew."

jisoo's tears kept on streaming down his face as jeonghan spoke. "so, hong jisoo, you know what that means? i'm stuck with you. it's a little selfish of me to say that, but," jeonghan pauses.

"hong jisoo, i like you. very very much."

not missing a beat, jisoo replied: "me too. me too! ugh!"

the two embraced each other, and jeonghan had started crying while doing so because it just felt too good to be true. what if jisoo wasn't real all along? what if he's just hallucinating the whole time, and that he fell in love with a figment of his imagination?

"jeonghan, jeonghan," jisoo calls him twice, as they pulled away. "do you remember putting a forget-me-not in a young man's pocket in the year 2000? a dying man, to be specific."

jeonghan's face was tainted with shock all over again. like jisoo had told him that he felt the same way, like a few moments ago. "that... that was you?! oh my god, you remember!"

"with the help of the council," jisoo chuckles. "i'm really happy that you feel the same way, jeonghan."

"me too." jeonghan replied, lovingly staring into the matchmaker's eyes. it would be really nice if time stopped for a moment, so they can stay like this for longer. "hey, jisoo?"

"hmm?" jisoo hums, with his ever sweet voice. though he didn't particularly speak for longer, or hum for longer, jeonghan felt like jisoo was singing.

"i.... do you remember why you died?"

"no. the mirror warden pushed me in when you were already running and yelling." jisoo explains, melting into the comfortable couch of jeonghan's home. he stares at the ceiling.

"i was in the playground, playing with my toy car. it ended up on the road, and you saw it—then you went to pick it up and then... a truck.. a.. you know what happened next." jeonghan picks on the callouses on his hand, a little anxious. "you know, i'm sorry."

"it's okay. the universe still found a way to connect us again," jisoo reassures, reaching for jeonghan's hand. he smiles when he feels the ring that he gave to jeonghan placed on his ring finger. "if we ever get separated again, i assure you that we'll meet no matter what."

jisoo remembers how the season of jeonghan never ends. it's always there, making his heart flutter and making him feel better whenever there's something troubling him. it's a season akin to a cloudy day, with petals of cherry blossom trees falling on you as the cold wind blows hair off your forehead.

"i will hold on to that promise." jeonghan paused, looking at his hand which jisoo was holding. "what will happen to you now?"