Fleeting Moments With You

019

"Oppa, omma had an accident."

That one text had sent me on a bus back to our hometown. It was only two and a half hours but for me, it was like eternity.

Numerous thoughts were crashing down on me – is mom okay? What happened? What would we do without her? My siblings can't be orphans. I would be the only one they would depend on. I don't know how to be a father, a mother and a brother at the same time. How would we survive? How would I fill the gap that my parents used to fill? How –

My trance halted as I felt a hand clasping mine and only then did I realize that I was already shaking in fear. My eyes travelled from the hand holding me to its owner – Dahyun.

I didn't know how and why but she was beside me. She then hugged me as careful but as tight as she could as she whispered, "Everything would be okay."

I then, closed my eyes, letting her warmth melt away all my doubts.

By the time that we arrived in the hospital, my siblings and I got a good scolding from the one who had worried me.

"I didn't tell him to come!" Ryujijn reasoned out to our mother, "I just told him that you had an accident!"

I huffed and weakly said, "I thought that it was a life and death situation."

"Look at what you've done!" Mother exclaimed as she hit Ryujijn, "Your brother became worried sick just because of a simple fall!"

"You still can't walk with a sprain that bad," I frowned.

"Nevermind that. I could manage since these kids are on their break and the doctor said it's not too serious that I'd get discharged tonight," my mother explained. Then, a sparkle was evident in her eyes as she added, "Instead, why don't you introduce that girl you brought with?"

I then turned to Dahyun but she did not need my introduction as she bowed at them and said, "Good day. I'm Kim Dahyun."

"I'm Seungmin. This is Ryujijn noona and this is my mom," Seungmin excitedly replied, "So are you my brother's girlfriend?"

"W-What?" Dahyun stuttered.

"Seungmin!" I exclaimed.

"Why are you asking her those kind of questions?! Aigoo!" my mother complained. But then she turned to Dahyun and asked, "So how did you two first meet?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration but when I glanced at Dahyun, there was a genuine smile on her lips as she engaged in a conversation with my family and it was beautiful to see her blend well with the ones who are also important to me.

They had interviewed her for too long that I grew tired and proceeded on sleeping at the vacant sofa near the bed so I couldn't differentiate between my dream and the reality when I heard mom say, "My son has been a source of strength for the people around him. I'm glad. I'm glad that finally, he already has someone he could lean on. Please stay beside him, Dahyun-ssi."

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Exams were over and Seulgi, Jaebum, Jisoo and I decided to eat dinner together. It was my turn to pay for our meal so they proceeded on going out without me as I pay at the counter. We already said our goodbyes so I was expecting for them to leave. However, when I was done, I still saw them standing at the fruit shop across the street.

I crossed the street and when I was near them, I called them by asking, "Why are you still here?"

As they turned, they also revealed a frightened and confused Dahyun.

"Hey. Park Jimin. Your girl is pretending not to know us," Jisoo exclaimed.

"Kim Dahyun. This face and figure should not be that easy to forget," Jaebum joked as he neared Dahyun but the girl, in turn, took a step back.

Seeing how uneasy she was, I walked towards her and stood beside her before holding her hand in reassurance.

"Who are they?" she asked me, making the three more astonished.

"They're my friends. You've already met them," I smiled weakly.

"I'm sorry," she bowed and apologized at the three.

"What's happening?" Seulgi questioned, "This is just some simple misunderstanding, right?"

"For now, let's all go home – " I tried to escape out of the situation but it was Dahyun who was brave enough to stand up to it.

"No," she said as she squeezed my hand, "I'd explain. Since you're Jimin's friends and there are chances that I'd meet you again, you too should know."

I invited all of us for some coffee and snacks in my house, and despite being full, the three proceeded and I could only conclude that it was the curiosity that drove them. We sat in my living room and she kept me close, as if always asking for permission and strength from me. I on the other hand, only assured her as she told her story for the people, who, at that time, were strangers for her.

The whole room fell silent by the time that Dahyun finished explaining. No one knew what to do or what to say but Dahyun seemed to know that the three would have more freedom to react without her, so she excused herself, apologizing that she needed to go. I knew she was lying but she pleaded me to let her be.

Silence still lingered until Jaebum spoke, "You like her right?"

"What?" I asked.

"He's smitten. That's for sure," Jisoo said, "He wouldn't stay despite knowing if he didn't have feelings for her."

"Or is it just pity?" Seulgi looked at me.

I shook my head with a small smile, "I could only do so much with pity."

"Is it already beyond affection?" Seulgi inquired.

I closed my eyes and thought of all the times I had spent with Dahyun – of how much I want her to be with me.

As a realization struck me, I said it out loud, "I love her."

The words resonated in the room as silence filled in it so I repeated, "I love Dahyun."

"How long?" Jaebum seriously asked.

"What do you mean how long?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"How long are you planning to stay?" Jaebum repeated, "With the situation she's in, it would be too often that your relationship would feel one-sided. You're falling deeply in love with her while she... she'd forget you – over and over again."

A bitter smile played on my lips as I said, "I'd stay... for as long as I could endure the pain of being forgotten."