Title: Autumn
Rating: G
Pairing/Focus: Minho/OC
Summary: Ga Eul was her name and it literally means Autumn.
Ga Eul was her name.
Autumn, that’s what registered on Minho’s mind first after hearing it. How cliché could it be since her own physique-her lips which portrays the color of the leaves, her eyes were as warm as autumn’s morning sun, her voice which was as soft as autumn breeze and her brown locks represents the autumn trees- was as great as autumn. She wasn’t as cold as winter, nor was she as hot as summer. For Minho, autumn was his favorite time of the year.
He was utterly speechless when they first met. He wasn’t a speaker nor was she. Later on anyway, silence has become their comfort zone and it wasn’t as bad as everyone thought.
Their relationship advanced as Minho’s endeavor of confessing amused her. Ga Eul thought that his audacity suited his personality.
Loving, they were as loving as autumn’s breeze.
Ga Eul was her name.
Just like her name, she was born on an autumn day. People would often describe autumn as dry and so is she but her dryness was great as well. For him, her dryness is equivalent to her social skills. She is usually disinclined with people but all was well.
For Minho, she was the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. Although he also thinks that the word ‘beautiful’ is an understatement for her too.
The touches they have made, the kisses they have trailed on each other, the endearing exchange of words they had only reserved for each other, and it felt heaven to him. He wanted to stop the time, carefully caress her face, initiate a peck on her lips, nibble on her lower lip, then deepen the kiss. Everything was perfect, epitome of perfection.
She was his everything.
Ga Eul was her name.
Slowly though, just like autumn, she became distant, dragging its way to winter. However, unlike season’s variation, she suddenly changed.
“Minho, I don’t think we can do this anymore.” She said one summer day, a week before autumn.
“Noona..” His voice faltered at her sudden resignation.
“It’s not your fault but please let me go. Don’t make it hard for the both of us.”
“Why, noona? Did you have a change of heart? Do you like someone now?”
She breathed heavily, thinking first before saying ‘Yes’ which eventually broke Minho’s little world.
“I’ll do better, noona. I’ll be like him if you want. Just don’t leave me.” Tears streaked down his cheeks, rolling slowly as they depict Minho’s emotion.
“I can’t do this anymore okay. Stop acting like a kid.” Her voice rose on him for the first time and she walked away.
His precious autumn walked away before his eyes, and there was nothing else to be done.
Ga Eul was her name.
And that autumn, she moved away without any trace being left behind. It’s ironic how it rained that day. It rained so hard that all of his sobs weren’t heard by any one. All of his sad and desperate calls weren’t noticed.
Rather than anyone else, he just wished she’d go back. Back to him, back to the peaceful and blissful autumn they had together.
“She had her reasons, Minho-ya.” Kibum tried to woo Minho which isn’t helping.
“I can’t forget her. I still don’t understand.”
“Just move on, that’s the best thing you can do for her and for yourself.” Minho shook his head and left Kibum. It is unfathomable, from how he left her and how moving on will help. He can never understand and he never wants to understand.
Minho thought they were doing so well. Or maybe, it was just him. Maybe from the start, Ga Eul was sick of him and he was the only one falling on his own reverie of a perfect relationship.
Nonetheless, he never stopped believing. He never stopped thinking that they fell in love, that they were happy.
However, this kind of thought didn’t help him in moving on. How could someone move on without helping his/her own to do so, anyway?
Ga Eul was her name.
One autumn day, a year after. Minho was still drowning in his misery when he received a letter which broke his heart more than their sudden break up.
“Minho-ya.
It’s Ga Eul-noona. I’m sorry if I had abruptly left you without explaining things to you. I hear things from Kibum, saying you’re having a hard time until now. I didn’t know what to do when I heard about my disease. I wanted you to move on before I leave the world. But I can’t, Minho. I can’t leave the world without even saying goodbye to you.
You are the most precious thing to me. You are something I cannot give up but death is inevitable. So I thought it was time to let go.
However, I was wrong. I just made things harder than it should be.
So please, if you still have feelings for me, even just as a friend, visit me. That way, I believe we can peacefully separate.
I love you.
Ga Eul”
Ga Eul was her name.
And just like each season goes back every year, he went towards her. He finally found her.
Even if her hairs were falling off just like leaves in the trees of autumn, Minho still thinks she’s pretty. No matter how much she changes, no matter how many times she leaves him, Minho’s feelings for her wouldn’t waver.
Because Minho loves Ga Eul.
Because Ga Eul was his autumn.
Because Ga Eul was his everything.
“I’m glad you came.”
“I’m glad you asked me to.”
“I love you, Minho.”
“I love you too, Ga Eul-noona.”
Ga Eul was her name and it means autumn.
Just like autumn, she left the world. Just like autumn, her existence wasn’t that long.
At the first snowfall that year, she left the world. Minho felt like the world left him instead. Why? Because she was his world.
However, unlike autumn, she won’t come back next year. Unlike autumn, she won’t come back even for 3 months, 3 days, 3 minutes nor 3 seconds. Though, he would be thankful to feel her again, to touch her again, to say he loves her again even for just 3 seconds.
But that wasn’t possible because just like autumn, she already passed by.
And it was the start of never-ending winter for Minho.