bindweed. part two.
For Annie.
Haneul/Byunghun
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance
Only, Byunghun had caught her.
And she was sobbing her brother's name, explaining the situation between sobs.
Her brother was in a coma, and unlikely to wake up.
She had lost her roots.
And Byunghun hadn't tried to comfort her or anything; instead, he had said quietly, "Would your brother have wanted you to be so helpless without him?" And Haneul felt immense anger.
Who was he to tell her about her own brother?
But she realised that he was right.
Her brother had never liked her to be weak, for her to be defenseless.
That was why she had picked up kendo, to protect herself, to relieve one burden on his shoulders.
And Haneul found that Byunghun replaced the roots that her brother had been, or tried to, admirably.
Not even her family, her parents, could help her rise up again, for her leaves to become green once more.
And yet, Byunghun became how she lived.
He helped her through with schoolwork she missed.
He brought her all different types of cake everyday.
And no matter what, he would always find ways to bring a smile to her face.
"Neullie, look! I photoshopped myself into a ginseng root!" he had said once, holding out his phone to her.
And it was eerie, because it seemed as if he knew that he, himself, had become her roots, her way of survival.
In just a few months, he had become her life source, and her his dependent being.
In what seemed to her a flash, five years had passed.
They were adults now, having graduated from university.
They had jobs to go to, money to earn.
And it was ironic, really, how Da Eun and Miyeon, even though they had argued so much in high school, had become the co-owners to a successful law firm.
Haneul had taken her brother's role in the family company, and she was doing quite well, really.
And Byunghun was the CEO of one of the many companies his father had given to him.
They were all still friends.
In fact, Haneul had moved in with Byunghun, the two having started dating a few years ago.
And in those five years, Byunghun had become her life source, the way she survived in the world.
He, in such a short period of time, had become the tree, and her the bindweed that fed off from him.
Without him, she could not exist.
And since she seemed to be the only person that was aware of this analogy, it seemed natural that she propose, so that only she could have him.
It wasn't a difficult, complicated event; a candlelit dinner she had prepared.
"Hey, Byunghun, marry me, okay?" she had asked causally, and it took awhile to sink in.
"Oh, okay," he had first replied, then, "Wait, what?
"Marry me," she had frustratedly explained to him, "Yes or no?"
The tone she used made it almost impossible to decline.
Not that Byunghun would.
"Of course. But I'm supposed to lead!" he exclaimed, "I should be the one asking!"
Haneul had inwardly scoffed. Sexist. Stereotyper.
"I'm the bindweed. I have to get a good grip on you before you leave," she had replied simply, much to his bewiliderment.
Of course, Haneul wasn't going to explain anytime soon.
In due course, they were married.
It was a simple affair, despite Byunghun and Haneul's large income. Only close family members and friends were invited to the wedding, and Haneul had become so impatient with the wedding sermon, and had frustratedly asked, "Look, we're not going to get a divorce. Just get to the 'I do's, please?" The surprised pastor had agreed, and it was how all the wedding photos showed a furiously blushing Byunghun clinging onto a disinterested Hanuel.
Hey, at least the food had been brilliant.
If a stranger had seen the event, they'd naturally assume that Haneul was the forward one in their relationship.
But if they looked closer, they'd see Byunghun gently nudge his wife towards his parents, how he held her hand reassuringly during the whole party.
They'd also see that when a problem occurred, she'd instinctively turn to her husband, her eyes pleading. And Byunghun would just whisper instructions into her ear, which she'd proceed to carry out.
If all those factors were accounted, it would become evident that Haneul relied on Byunghun to lead her, to support her. And he would do so, reassuringly and kindly.
Yes, she was a bindweed that supported herself around Byunghun.
It was really quite amazing to see how he had developed from a tiny, weak cherry blossom tree into a bamboo tree, weak in appearance, but difficult to break, to destroy.
And it was to be thanked, Haneul supposed, that she had become so weak.
How else would she have realised that she couldn't live without him?
Haneul/Byunghun
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance
Only, Byunghun had caught her.
And she was sobbing her brother's name, explaining the situation between sobs.
Her brother was in a coma, and unlikely to wake up.
She had lost her roots.
And Byunghun hadn't tried to comfort her or anything; instead, he had said quietly, "Would your brother have wanted you to be so helpless without him?" And Haneul felt immense anger.
Who was he to tell her about her own brother?
But she realised that he was right.
Her brother had never liked her to be weak, for her to be defenseless.
That was why she had picked up kendo, to protect herself, to relieve one burden on his shoulders.
And Haneul found that Byunghun replaced the roots that her brother had been, or tried to, admirably.
Not even her family, her parents, could help her rise up again, for her leaves to become green once more.
And yet, Byunghun became how she lived.
He helped her through with schoolwork she missed.
He brought her all different types of cake everyday.
And no matter what, he would always find ways to bring a smile to her face.
"Neullie, look! I photoshopped myself into a ginseng root!" he had said once, holding out his phone to her.
And it was eerie, because it seemed as if he knew that he, himself, had become her roots, her way of survival.
In just a few months, he had become her life source, and her his dependent being.
In what seemed to her a flash, five years had passed.
They were adults now, having graduated from university.
They had jobs to go to, money to earn.
And it was ironic, really, how Da Eun and Miyeon, even though they had argued so much in high school, had become the co-owners to a successful law firm.
Haneul had taken her brother's role in the family company, and she was doing quite well, really.
And Byunghun was the CEO of one of the many companies his father had given to him.
They were all still friends.
In fact, Haneul had moved in with Byunghun, the two having started dating a few years ago.
And in those five years, Byunghun had become her life source, the way she survived in the world.
He, in such a short period of time, had become the tree, and her the bindweed that fed off from him.
Without him, she could not exist.
And since she seemed to be the only person that was aware of this analogy, it seemed natural that she propose, so that only she could have him.
It wasn't a difficult, complicated event; a candlelit dinner she had prepared.
"Hey, Byunghun, marry me, okay?" she had asked causally, and it took awhile to sink in.
"Oh, okay," he had first replied, then, "Wait, what?
"Marry me," she had frustratedly explained to him, "Yes or no?"
The tone she used made it almost impossible to decline.
Not that Byunghun would.
"Of course. But I'm supposed to lead!" he exclaimed, "I should be the one asking!"
Haneul had inwardly scoffed. Sexist. Stereotyper.
"I'm the bindweed. I have to get a good grip on you before you leave," she had replied simply, much to his bewiliderment.
Of course, Haneul wasn't going to explain anytime soon.
In due course, they were married.
It was a simple affair, despite Byunghun and Haneul's large income. Only close family members and friends were invited to the wedding, and Haneul had become so impatient with the wedding sermon, and had frustratedly asked, "Look, we're not going to get a divorce. Just get to the 'I do's, please?" The surprised pastor had agreed, and it was how all the wedding photos showed a furiously blushing Byunghun clinging onto a disinterested Hanuel.
Hey, at least the food had been brilliant.
If a stranger had seen the event, they'd naturally assume that Haneul was the forward one in their relationship.
But if they looked closer, they'd see Byunghun gently nudge his wife towards his parents, how he held her hand reassuringly during the whole party.
They'd also see that when a problem occurred, she'd instinctively turn to her husband, her eyes pleading. And Byunghun would just whisper instructions into her ear, which she'd proceed to carry out.
If all those factors were accounted, it would become evident that Haneul relied on Byunghun to lead her, to support her. And he would do so, reassuringly and kindly.
Yes, she was a bindweed that supported herself around Byunghun.
It was really quite amazing to see how he had developed from a tiny, weak cherry blossom tree into a bamboo tree, weak in appearance, but difficult to break, to destroy.
And it was to be thanked, Haneul supposed, that she had become so weak.
How else would she have realised that she couldn't live without him?