[FIC][Sunday/Yoochun] To Be Remembered by The Person You're Trying to Forget
Title: To Be Remembered by The Person You're Trying to Forget
Author: torakiss
Beta: unbeta-ed, please forgive my errors.
Pairing: Yoochun/Sunday
Genre: Drama, Fluff
Length: One Shot
Rating: PG
“I tried my best to convince him,” Jiyeon said, scratching the back of her neck with her right hand, thinking of a proper way to say what she was about to say.
“Him??” Bora blurted out, cutting her senior’s sentence off.
“Let me finish!!!” Jiyeon retorted, placing her hands on Bora’s mouth. “You see, I tried to convince him - or should I say - ask him, Yoochun, to write a birthday letter for you, but all I’ve got is this one,” she continued, withdrawing her hands as she fumbled in her pockets. Slowly, she took out a folded piece of white pad paper and placed it on Bora’s hands.
Bora stood dumbfounded by this unexpected present. She didn’t want to believe it. She supposed that if she thinks that it’s not there it would go away. Although she could feel the light weight of the paper on her hands, she didn’t bother looking at it. Instead, she continued eyeing her three best friends.
“Aren’t you going to read it?” Sungmi joyfully said, jumping up and down on her heels. Judging from her tone, Bora could tell that she was as excited as she is.
“Aissh. Does this guy know some decency? He could’ve written it in a card or some stationery or just a piece of colored paper! But in a piece of pad paper that we use to answer our quizzes?! How selfish can this guy be?” Bokyung complained, earning her an elbow from Jiyeon.
“Look at the bright side! At least, he did write something,” Jiyeon scolded her junior. “I tried to make him sing too so I could record it, but he insistently refused. Anyway, go on, Bora, open it.”
“Open it, open it!” Sungmi repeated, exclaiming with a nod.
Bora carefully unfolded the delicate piece of paper like it was some kind of evidence to an investigation.
To Jin Bora,
Happy birthday! Congratulations, you have lived another day for you to celebrate another year of being born into this world! Continue to be a blessing to your friends and family. I wish you good health and happiness and success in your dreams. Once again, happy birthday!
From Park Yoochun.
“Five sentences? Just freaking five sentences?” Bokyung shouted in disappointment, and Bora swore she saw steam coming out of her ears.
“Shut up, you’re not the one who’s gonna be keeping that letter!” Sungmi slapped Bokyung’s arm.
“A half-crosswise piece of paper! He could’ve written a better letter than that. I mean, with the format of that letter… that’s probably what he gives to every teacher or guest in their school. You know, like the ones we write where we just leave a blank to fill the name in later. It’s automatic,” Bokyung pouted.
Automatic or not, all that Bora cares is that he wrote her name. He wrote her name. And his name is also on that same piece of paper.
That night, Bora secured that letter on the inside pocket of her wallet.
~~~
It was the finals of the inter-school Math Contest. Two months after her birthday. Two months after she received that letter. That letter. Jiyeon-sunbae’s ultimate gift.
Park Yoochun is in the same year as she is. Bora worked hard to be one of the representatives of her school. But the truth is, she studied day and night because this was the only way she could see him aside from school festivals. In inter-school competitions.
Bokyung was her partner, and with that, her seniors and juniors had placed such big expectations on the both of them. Their schools are rivals in the field of academics, although one could not truly say because her school was an exclusive school for girls and Park Yoochun’s school was an exclusive school for boys. But for these two schools, competition in the field of academics is fierce.
“I promise I will not get distracted,” she shouted at her partner, giving her a 90-degree bow.
“Ya! Quit it! It’s embarrassing!” Bokyung whispered, pulling her up. Bora could be clumsy and embarrassing in such situations, she made a mental note to herself.
“Oh,” Bora said, fixing her bangs with her fingers. As she did so, she saw a glimpse of Park Yoochun, ten people away from where she stands, looking at her.
Looking at her.
She immediately turned around; dismissing the idea that Yoochun was just probably mesmerized by Bokyung’s beauty.
It was their turn to compete. And because they are the top 2 in the semi-finals, they are seated at the second pair of seats. Park Yoochun’s team placed third in the semis so their seats were practically next to them.
Bora has especially requested for Bokyung to sit on the chair next to Yoochun, for the reason of “this is for our better good.” Bokyung eyed Bora disapprovingly but still complied with her request.
In this moment, you are here to represent your school, Jin Bora, she said to herself.
~~~
“I’m so sorry,” Bora and Bokyung said to each other while doing a 90-degree bow. When they straightened up, they laughed loudly.
“I’m so sorry we weren’t able to stay in the top three,” Bora apologized to Bokyung.
“I should be the one who’s sorry. I wasn’t even able to help answer any of the easy and intermediate questions! And you Bora, you answered all of the easy ones in just two seconds each!” Bokyung said while ruffling Bora’s hair.
“You should’ve seen how nervous you were onstage!” Jiyeon interrupted the two as she ruffled both of their heads. She was the representative of the third year.
“Unnie!” her juniors exclaimed.
“Oh. And before I could blurt out how adorable the two of you are, I have some people I want you to meet,” Jiyeon said as she moved her arms, directing the attention of her two juniors-slash-best friends to the two people behind her.
“Oh are these the two geniuses?” The older one, Bora assumed because of the pin on his uniform, asked. “Hi there. I’m Kim Jaejoong, and this little guy here is…”
“Park Yoochun, nice meeting you.”
Park Yoochun, the prince of Bora’s dreams. Park Yoochun, whom she used to see in her dreams. Park Yoochun whom she used to admire from afar as he sings onstage. Park Yoochun, who is in front of her now, with no walls or windows or people in between, looking at her and giving her a breathtaking smile.
Bokyung and Bora were about to bow to them but they stopped midway by the pair of hands that are in front of them. These guys prefer the handshake, the two girls assumed.
“Kim Bokyung.”
“Jin Bora,” she introduced herself, hesitating to grab Yoochun’s hand. Instead, Yoochun, quickly held hers and shook it. Bora swore she felt warmth on her cheeks, and her heart was dancing to an unheard rhythm.
“You guys are amazing,” he complimented, in his deep, happy voice.
“We weren’t able to stay at the top three though. We’re the ones who should be congratulating you,” Bora replied a bit faster than her normal speech. Only Bokyung and Jiyeon noticed, being her best friends.
“Nah, they just got lucky,” Kim Jaejoong told them, ruffling Yoochun’s hair.
“We just got lucky,” Yoochun repeated, pushing his senior’s hand off him. “Seriously, your teamwork was even better than ours. Even everybody in the audience says so.”
“Too bad it didn’t work out on the intermediate and difficult levels,” Bokyung sighed.
“You did well, Bokyung-ah,” Bora smiled at her.
“I could’ve done better. But you, Jin Bora, you were amazing,” Bokyung answered her, swinging her arm to pull Bora closer to her. Both girls giggled.
And Bora swore she saw Yoochun smiling at her.
~~~
Since that day, Yoochun has been keeping contact with her and Bokyung. In the case of Bokyung though, she doesn’t reply to any of his messages or answer his calls unless Bora convinces her that Yoochun needs to talk to the Kim Bokyung, the Vice-President of the student council, pertaining to matters of the school.
For Bora, however, she gladly replies to his messages, answers his calls, exchanging emails, staying up late chatting with him on Yahoo Messenger talking about science, philosophy, religion, history or just the latest gossip in his school.
And it was this latest gossip in his school that changed their friendship.
Chun_sa: hey guess what :D
Sunday04: what? :)
Chun_sa: are you aware of the latest rumors in school? :D
Sunday04: LOL. You gossip more than any girl in our school XP
Chun_sa: you’ve got to be kidding me ==
Sunday04: go on XD
Chun_sa: get real ==
Sunday04: i said go on already! ><
Chun_sa: okay, okay, don’t bite me!!
Chun_sa: i wasn’t aware about thing until Jaejoong-hyung told me.
Chun_sa: Jaejoong-hyung… do you remember him?
Sunday04: yepp-o!! (^o^)/ he’s the senior you’re with during the Math Olympiad, neh?
Chun_sa: yes! he’s the one!
Chun_sa: he told me something abt you
Sunday04: and what is it abt me? O___O
Chun_sa: i guess you’ll have to figure that out by yourself. XD
Sunday04: yaaaaaaaaaaah!! >________<
Chun_sa: XP
Chun_sa: you haven’t lied to me abt anything yet, right?
Chun_sa: i supposed it’s not true then?
Chun_sa: but then again, Jiyeon-noona was teasing me too
Sunday04: UNNIE TEASED YOU???
Chun_sa: hey hey hey, easy, tiger!!!
Chun_sa: but judging from your reaction then this is quite true i guess
Sunday04: WHAT IS IT ABOUT?? >__<
Chun_sa: i said take it easy XD
Chun_sa: but i guess i’ll assume this is true then
Sunday04: if Jiyeon-unnie is bothering you, then i’ll go tell her to stop
Chun_sa: so you DO know abt it
Sunday04: NO
Sunday04: NO.
Sunday04: NO. I say NO.
Chun_sa: I see you’re lying here XD
Sunday04: Am I not allowed to?
Chun_sa: The truth will set you free :D
Sunday04: don’t believe such rumors especially when i’m involved.
Sunday04: can you promise me that?
Sunday04: please?
Chun_sa: As I’ve said, the truth will set you free :D
Sunday04: promise me first.
Chun_sa: it won’t affect our friendship or anything :D
Sunday04: >____<
Chun_sa: okay okay
Chun_sa: I promise. Just between the two of us.
Sunday04: I’m not rushing or anything.
Sunday04: I’m not expecting any immediate answers.
Chun_sa: uhuh.
Sunday04: don’t believe any rumors about me
Sunday04: unless you hear them from me.
Sunday04: get it?
Chun_sa: sure :D
Sunday04: it’s just a simple admiration.
Sunday04: I’m your fan when you sing :D
Chun_sa: gee thanks
Sunday04: and you’re smart as well
Chun_sa: no, YOU are smarter than me!
Sunday04: no, YOU are.
Sunday04: that’s why I work hard
Sunday04: I work hard because maybe…
Sunday04: just maybe
Sunday04: I could see you.
Chun_sa: O__O that’s too much
Sunday04: I like you, okay? But not in the lines of whatever you’re thinking of.
Sunday04: I like you. I’ve been liking you since….
Sunday04: it’s not that important now
Sunday04: I like you okay?
Sunday04: So… yeah
Sunday04: bye
Sunday04 has signed out of Messenger.
Bora switched to invisible mode because she’s so afraid of what Yoochun will say.
Chun_sa: hey!
Chun_sa: hey! are you here?
Chun_sa: hey, give me a buzz when you log back in okay?
Two hours after, Yoochun went offline.
And from that day on, Bora became invisible in Yahoo Messenger.
In the same way as she was invisible in the chat room, Yoochun never called nor sent her a message either.
~~~
And they meet again at the finals of the inter-school Math Contest; a year after Yoochun got her and Bokyung’s phone numbers. A year after Yoochun first shook hands with her. A year after Yoochun first smiled at her.
And Yoochun was still the reason why she worked hard to become a representative of her school. That despite what happened, what she caused to happen, she still wants to see him. This time, she’s the senior. And no Jiyeon-sunbae to push her around.
This time, like last year, she and Bokyung won 4th place again. Bokyung was not disappointed. However, Bokyung cried in Bora’s arms blaming her self that they weren’t able to place 3rd. And like any other best friend, Bora just embraced her partner, comforting her that they were seniors after all and that they had lots of things in their hands.
“Bora, can you accompany me?” Bokyung asked after she was done crying.
“Where to?” Bora responded.
“The classroom where Yoochun and the other representatives from his school are. I just need to ask him something,” Bokyung smiled.
“Yoochun? No way!!” Bora refused.
“Oh come on! And Sungmi told me that you told her that you guys were not talking anymore! He’s worried about you!”
“How would you know?”
“He told me. As to how I knew, it’s not that important. Now please accompany your Student Council President as she has matters to settle with the other school.”
And both of them went to where Park Yoochun and his schoolmates are.
And she saw him. There, sitting comfortably on a chair, drinking from his bottle of Gatorade. Seated next to him were his partner and two of his juniors. She felt her heart flutter at the majestic sight of him. She already saw him twice today. Now she just wants to disappear, because she felt she’s not worthy of Yoochun’s presence.
Bokyung held Bora’s hand as she advanced into the classroom to speak to him.
Bora did not bother to listen to what they were talking about. She didn’t want to be here anymore. Unless the person Bokyung was talking to wanted her to stay. Bora was sure Bokyung was glancing in between sentences, but she just remained silent, holding on to her partner’s hand and staring at her shoes.
But everytime Yoochun speaks, she could feel her heart coming to life. Her hands were going cold, and her legs becoming weak by every word. It’s a good thing Bokyung was holding her hand as much as she was clinging to hers.
When Bokyung, as the Student Council President, was done discussing with the other school’s student council president (Yoochun), she looked at Bora, then sighed and told her that they’ll be leaving. She gave Yoochun and his company a polite bow and Bora followed suit. But when Bora straightened up, she happened to look at Yoochun. Yes, she happened to look at him. And he also happened to look at her.
Their eyes stared into each other for five seconds. That moment, Bokyung was sure to count. As for Bora, she was silently hoping, or rather, praying, for him to talk to her. She was praying that he would talk to her casually like the time before she confessed to him. She wanted him to talk like nothing happened. This time, Bora had decided, she will not be the first to run away.
It was Yoochun, however, who turned to his side as if he was pretending that she was not there.
And that simple gesture alone broke Bora’s heart.
And from that day on, she decided that she is going to forget about him.
~~~
It was her birthday. 3 years after she received that letter from him which she dearly kept, which 2 years later she lost when a thief stole her wallet, where she had placed it.
She, together with Bokyung, Jiyeon, and Sungmi, was at her apartment celebrating her birthday. They reminisced their wonderful memories, laughed at their innocent mistakes, and suppressed their tears at the happy moments that made them want to go back.
They were singing their hearts out at her home karaoke when, unexpectedly, her phone rang. All heads turned to her while she fumbled in her pockets for the said device. She excused herself from her three best friends and hurriedly went out to the veranda.
The number wasn't registered so she decided to answer the call.
"Yeoboseyo?"
Three seconds of silence.
"Yah! Bora! Thank goodness you haven't changed your number!"
Her eyes grew wide. Her heart was racing madly. She recognizes this voice. She knows whom this voice belongs to. This same voice that she used to admire on school events and mini-concerts. This same voice that she used to listen from the recordings that she made whenever she could be near him or the recordings she made by being near the speakers. This same voice that used to make her feel breathless. But why? Why? Why that in after such a long time… Even though she had already said that she has moved on… Why does her heart feel so alive, yet so hurt at the same time?
Despite her trembling lips, she forced to say his name out loud, "Yoo... Yoo... Yoochun?"
Two seconds of silence.
"Bingo. You're still the genius Bora that I know," he confirmed in a lively tone.
Bora's heart was beating fast. And now she's having difficulty breathing. She clutched her shirt, particularly on the area above her chest, trying to breathe and stop herself from shaking.
“What’s the matter? Do you have a problem?” she asked, trying to sound as cheerful as possible like she was smiling in front of him, although they could not see each other’s faces.
“Ya! Do you think that the sole reason people make phone calls is that they have problems?” he joked. “I called to greet you, silly. It’s your birthday isn’t it? Oh no, don’t ever deny it to me.”
“H-how d-did y-you know?” she asked, her nervousness evident in her voice.
“High School, Bora. Your friends were ecstatic about it, remember? Jiyeon-noona even made me write a letter to you,” he answered happily, seeming to not notice Bora’s trembling voice.
Two seconds of silence.
“Bora! Sungmi says she wants to eat your cake now,” Jiyeon called out, giggling and popping her head from the sliding door. And then she finds Bora on the verge of tears. And suddenly, Bora falls to her knees, and the tears fell from her eyes at the same time. Jiyeon runs to her side and embraces her.
“Oh, is that Jiyeon-noona? And Sungmi-shi is around as well? How can I forget, Bokyung-shi must be there too! You guys are inseparable. Must be a big party you’ve got there. How come I didn’t hear you’re throwing one?”
“I… I… I’m sorry.”
“Must be fun. But anyway, run along now or Sungmi-shi will eat your cake whole. Happy birthday, Jin Bora!”
“Th-thank you. I thought you’ve forgotten about it already.”
“How could I? You’re worth remembering, Bora. Once again, happy birthday!” he greeted her one final time before he dropped the call.
You’re worth remembering . A little bit of hope. A little bit of hope that Bora refuses to acknowledge. She doesn’t want to expect anything from him anymore. She doesn’t want to think about things that she knows (or rather, thinks) would never happen. But that does not mean that such things are too impossible to come true. She just doesn’t want to be hurt anymore.
Bora turned to face Jiyeon, who looked so puzzled but didn’t bother to say a word of comfort to her. The unnie instead tightened her embrace on her dongsaeng. Tears were trailing down Bora’s cheek, and she looked at her phone, which had a wallpaper of the four of them together, which is now being tainted by droplets of her tears.
“Unnie,” she cried in Jiyeon’s shoulders.
“Yes, Bora?” Jiyeon answered, trying her best to help ease the pain in the birthday girl’s heart.
“Unnie… R-remember the last time I m-mentioned Yoo-Yoochun’s name?” Bora said amidst the sobs and hiccups.
“Mmm. You told me you’re gonna forget about him. You even made a fuss about us teasing you to him. After that we never said his name in front of you again,” the older one answered.
“I was trying to forget about him… No. I was trying to forget him!” the birthday girl cried.
“I know that,” Jiyeon replied. “But why are you crying? Was that him on the phone just now?”
Bora nodded.
“So why are you crying?” Jiyeon asked, worry evident in her face.
“I was trying to forget him. Until now, I am trying to forget him,” Bora pressed on. “But you know what? While I was trying to forget him, he was… remembering me.”
Jiyeon rubbed Bora’s back, hushing her to stop crying. “You should be glad about it, you silly girl,” she told the younger one.
“He was remembering me, unnie! And all this time I was trying to forget about him! He said I am worth remembering, unnie! He said I am worth remembering! How ironic can this be? He said I am worth remembering! He said…”
Jiyeon hushed her, rubbing her back while she continued to cry. “You are worth remembering, Bora. You are.”
But to be remembered by the person you wanted so much to forget, how complicated it can be.
~~~~~
A/N: I've been trying all day to transform this to a yaoi fic but I just can't. T___T And I've been trying to think of a good pairing but I fail at everything.
okay /dies, digs grave, buries body with soil
Author: torakiss
Beta: unbeta-ed, please forgive my errors.
Pairing: Yoochun/Sunday
Genre: Drama, Fluff
Length: One Shot
Rating: PG
“I tried my best to convince him,” Jiyeon said, scratching the back of her neck with her right hand, thinking of a proper way to say what she was about to say.
“Him??” Bora blurted out, cutting her senior’s sentence off.
“Let me finish!!!” Jiyeon retorted, placing her hands on Bora’s mouth. “You see, I tried to convince him - or should I say - ask him, Yoochun, to write a birthday letter for you, but all I’ve got is this one,” she continued, withdrawing her hands as she fumbled in her pockets. Slowly, she took out a folded piece of white pad paper and placed it on Bora’s hands.
Bora stood dumbfounded by this unexpected present. She didn’t want to believe it. She supposed that if she thinks that it’s not there it would go away. Although she could feel the light weight of the paper on her hands, she didn’t bother looking at it. Instead, she continued eyeing her three best friends.
“Aren’t you going to read it?” Sungmi joyfully said, jumping up and down on her heels. Judging from her tone, Bora could tell that she was as excited as she is.
“Aissh. Does this guy know some decency? He could’ve written it in a card or some stationery or just a piece of colored paper! But in a piece of pad paper that we use to answer our quizzes?! How selfish can this guy be?” Bokyung complained, earning her an elbow from Jiyeon.
“Look at the bright side! At least, he did write something,” Jiyeon scolded her junior. “I tried to make him sing too so I could record it, but he insistently refused. Anyway, go on, Bora, open it.”
“Open it, open it!” Sungmi repeated, exclaiming with a nod.
Bora carefully unfolded the delicate piece of paper like it was some kind of evidence to an investigation.
To Jin Bora,
Happy birthday! Congratulations, you have lived another day for you to celebrate another year of being born into this world! Continue to be a blessing to your friends and family. I wish you good health and happiness and success in your dreams. Once again, happy birthday!
From Park Yoochun.
“Five sentences? Just freaking five sentences?” Bokyung shouted in disappointment, and Bora swore she saw steam coming out of her ears.
“Shut up, you’re not the one who’s gonna be keeping that letter!” Sungmi slapped Bokyung’s arm.
“A half-crosswise piece of paper! He could’ve written a better letter than that. I mean, with the format of that letter… that’s probably what he gives to every teacher or guest in their school. You know, like the ones we write where we just leave a blank to fill the name in later. It’s automatic,” Bokyung pouted.
Automatic or not, all that Bora cares is that he wrote her name. He wrote her name. And his name is also on that same piece of paper.
That night, Bora secured that letter on the inside pocket of her wallet.
~~~
It was the finals of the inter-school Math Contest. Two months after her birthday. Two months after she received that letter. That letter. Jiyeon-sunbae’s ultimate gift.
Park Yoochun is in the same year as she is. Bora worked hard to be one of the representatives of her school. But the truth is, she studied day and night because this was the only way she could see him aside from school festivals. In inter-school competitions.
Bokyung was her partner, and with that, her seniors and juniors had placed such big expectations on the both of them. Their schools are rivals in the field of academics, although one could not truly say because her school was an exclusive school for girls and Park Yoochun’s school was an exclusive school for boys. But for these two schools, competition in the field of academics is fierce.
“I promise I will not get distracted,” she shouted at her partner, giving her a 90-degree bow.
“Ya! Quit it! It’s embarrassing!” Bokyung whispered, pulling her up. Bora could be clumsy and embarrassing in such situations, she made a mental note to herself.
“Oh,” Bora said, fixing her bangs with her fingers. As she did so, she saw a glimpse of Park Yoochun, ten people away from where she stands, looking at her.
Looking at her.
She immediately turned around; dismissing the idea that Yoochun was just probably mesmerized by Bokyung’s beauty.
It was their turn to compete. And because they are the top 2 in the semi-finals, they are seated at the second pair of seats. Park Yoochun’s team placed third in the semis so their seats were practically next to them.
Bora has especially requested for Bokyung to sit on the chair next to Yoochun, for the reason of “this is for our better good.” Bokyung eyed Bora disapprovingly but still complied with her request.
In this moment, you are here to represent your school, Jin Bora, she said to herself.
~~~
“I’m so sorry,” Bora and Bokyung said to each other while doing a 90-degree bow. When they straightened up, they laughed loudly.
“I’m so sorry we weren’t able to stay in the top three,” Bora apologized to Bokyung.
“I should be the one who’s sorry. I wasn’t even able to help answer any of the easy and intermediate questions! And you Bora, you answered all of the easy ones in just two seconds each!” Bokyung said while ruffling Bora’s hair.
“You should’ve seen how nervous you were onstage!” Jiyeon interrupted the two as she ruffled both of their heads. She was the representative of the third year.
“Unnie!” her juniors exclaimed.
“Oh. And before I could blurt out how adorable the two of you are, I have some people I want you to meet,” Jiyeon said as she moved her arms, directing the attention of her two juniors-slash-best friends to the two people behind her.
“Oh are these the two geniuses?” The older one, Bora assumed because of the pin on his uniform, asked. “Hi there. I’m Kim Jaejoong, and this little guy here is…”
“Park Yoochun, nice meeting you.”
Park Yoochun, the prince of Bora’s dreams. Park Yoochun, whom she used to see in her dreams. Park Yoochun whom she used to admire from afar as he sings onstage. Park Yoochun, who is in front of her now, with no walls or windows or people in between, looking at her and giving her a breathtaking smile.
Bokyung and Bora were about to bow to them but they stopped midway by the pair of hands that are in front of them. These guys prefer the handshake, the two girls assumed.
“Kim Bokyung.”
“Jin Bora,” she introduced herself, hesitating to grab Yoochun’s hand. Instead, Yoochun, quickly held hers and shook it. Bora swore she felt warmth on her cheeks, and her heart was dancing to an unheard rhythm.
“You guys are amazing,” he complimented, in his deep, happy voice.
“We weren’t able to stay at the top three though. We’re the ones who should be congratulating you,” Bora replied a bit faster than her normal speech. Only Bokyung and Jiyeon noticed, being her best friends.
“Nah, they just got lucky,” Kim Jaejoong told them, ruffling Yoochun’s hair.
“We just got lucky,” Yoochun repeated, pushing his senior’s hand off him. “Seriously, your teamwork was even better than ours. Even everybody in the audience says so.”
“Too bad it didn’t work out on the intermediate and difficult levels,” Bokyung sighed.
“You did well, Bokyung-ah,” Bora smiled at her.
“I could’ve done better. But you, Jin Bora, you were amazing,” Bokyung answered her, swinging her arm to pull Bora closer to her. Both girls giggled.
And Bora swore she saw Yoochun smiling at her.
~~~
Since that day, Yoochun has been keeping contact with her and Bokyung. In the case of Bokyung though, she doesn’t reply to any of his messages or answer his calls unless Bora convinces her that Yoochun needs to talk to the Kim Bokyung, the Vice-President of the student council, pertaining to matters of the school.
For Bora, however, she gladly replies to his messages, answers his calls, exchanging emails, staying up late chatting with him on Yahoo Messenger talking about science, philosophy, religion, history or just the latest gossip in his school.
And it was this latest gossip in his school that changed their friendship.
Chun_sa: hey guess what :D
Sunday04: what? :)
Chun_sa: are you aware of the latest rumors in school? :D
Sunday04: LOL. You gossip more than any girl in our school XP
Chun_sa: you’ve got to be kidding me ==
Sunday04: go on XD
Chun_sa: get real ==
Sunday04: i said go on already! ><
Chun_sa: okay, okay, don’t bite me!!
Chun_sa: i wasn’t aware about thing until Jaejoong-hyung told me.
Chun_sa: Jaejoong-hyung… do you remember him?
Sunday04: yepp-o!! (^o^)/ he’s the senior you’re with during the Math Olympiad, neh?
Chun_sa: yes! he’s the one!
Chun_sa: he told me something abt you
Sunday04: and what is it abt me? O___O
Chun_sa: i guess you’ll have to figure that out by yourself. XD
Sunday04: yaaaaaaaaaaah!! >________<
Chun_sa: XP
Chun_sa: you haven’t lied to me abt anything yet, right?
Chun_sa: i supposed it’s not true then?
Chun_sa: but then again, Jiyeon-noona was teasing me too
Sunday04: UNNIE TEASED YOU???
Chun_sa: hey hey hey, easy, tiger!!!
Chun_sa: but judging from your reaction then this is quite true i guess
Sunday04: WHAT IS IT ABOUT?? >__<
Chun_sa: i said take it easy XD
Chun_sa: but i guess i’ll assume this is true then
Sunday04: if Jiyeon-unnie is bothering you, then i’ll go tell her to stop
Chun_sa: so you DO know abt it
Sunday04: NO
Sunday04: NO.
Sunday04: NO. I say NO.
Chun_sa: I see you’re lying here XD
Sunday04: Am I not allowed to?
Chun_sa: The truth will set you free :D
Sunday04: don’t believe such rumors especially when i’m involved.
Sunday04: can you promise me that?
Sunday04: please?
Chun_sa: As I’ve said, the truth will set you free :D
Sunday04: promise me first.
Chun_sa: it won’t affect our friendship or anything :D
Sunday04: >____<
Chun_sa: okay okay
Chun_sa: I promise. Just between the two of us.
Sunday04: I’m not rushing or anything.
Sunday04: I’m not expecting any immediate answers.
Chun_sa: uhuh.
Sunday04: don’t believe any rumors about me
Sunday04: unless you hear them from me.
Sunday04: get it?
Chun_sa: sure :D
Sunday04: it’s just a simple admiration.
Sunday04: I’m your fan when you sing :D
Chun_sa: gee thanks
Sunday04: and you’re smart as well
Chun_sa: no, YOU are smarter than me!
Sunday04: no, YOU are.
Sunday04: that’s why I work hard
Sunday04: I work hard because maybe…
Sunday04: just maybe
Sunday04: I could see you.
Chun_sa: O__O that’s too much
Sunday04: I like you, okay? But not in the lines of whatever you’re thinking of.
Sunday04: I like you. I’ve been liking you since….
Sunday04: it’s not that important now
Sunday04: I like you okay?
Sunday04: So… yeah
Sunday04: bye
Sunday04 has signed out of Messenger.
Bora switched to invisible mode because she’s so afraid of what Yoochun will say.
Chun_sa: hey!
Chun_sa: hey! are you here?
Chun_sa: hey, give me a buzz when you log back in okay?
Two hours after, Yoochun went offline.
And from that day on, Bora became invisible in Yahoo Messenger.
In the same way as she was invisible in the chat room, Yoochun never called nor sent her a message either.
~~~
And they meet again at the finals of the inter-school Math Contest; a year after Yoochun got her and Bokyung’s phone numbers. A year after Yoochun first shook hands with her. A year after Yoochun first smiled at her.
And Yoochun was still the reason why she worked hard to become a representative of her school. That despite what happened, what she caused to happen, she still wants to see him. This time, she’s the senior. And no Jiyeon-sunbae to push her around.
This time, like last year, she and Bokyung won 4th place again. Bokyung was not disappointed. However, Bokyung cried in Bora’s arms blaming her self that they weren’t able to place 3rd. And like any other best friend, Bora just embraced her partner, comforting her that they were seniors after all and that they had lots of things in their hands.
“Bora, can you accompany me?” Bokyung asked after she was done crying.
“Where to?” Bora responded.
“The classroom where Yoochun and the other representatives from his school are. I just need to ask him something,” Bokyung smiled.
“Yoochun? No way!!” Bora refused.
“Oh come on! And Sungmi told me that you told her that you guys were not talking anymore! He’s worried about you!”
“How would you know?”
“He told me. As to how I knew, it’s not that important. Now please accompany your Student Council President as she has matters to settle with the other school.”
And both of them went to where Park Yoochun and his schoolmates are.
And she saw him. There, sitting comfortably on a chair, drinking from his bottle of Gatorade. Seated next to him were his partner and two of his juniors. She felt her heart flutter at the majestic sight of him. She already saw him twice today. Now she just wants to disappear, because she felt she’s not worthy of Yoochun’s presence.
Bokyung held Bora’s hand as she advanced into the classroom to speak to him.
Bora did not bother to listen to what they were talking about. She didn’t want to be here anymore. Unless the person Bokyung was talking to wanted her to stay. Bora was sure Bokyung was glancing in between sentences, but she just remained silent, holding on to her partner’s hand and staring at her shoes.
But everytime Yoochun speaks, she could feel her heart coming to life. Her hands were going cold, and her legs becoming weak by every word. It’s a good thing Bokyung was holding her hand as much as she was clinging to hers.
When Bokyung, as the Student Council President, was done discussing with the other school’s student council president (Yoochun), she looked at Bora, then sighed and told her that they’ll be leaving. She gave Yoochun and his company a polite bow and Bora followed suit. But when Bora straightened up, she happened to look at Yoochun. Yes, she happened to look at him. And he also happened to look at her.
Their eyes stared into each other for five seconds. That moment, Bokyung was sure to count. As for Bora, she was silently hoping, or rather, praying, for him to talk to her. She was praying that he would talk to her casually like the time before she confessed to him. She wanted him to talk like nothing happened. This time, Bora had decided, she will not be the first to run away.
It was Yoochun, however, who turned to his side as if he was pretending that she was not there.
And that simple gesture alone broke Bora’s heart.
And from that day on, she decided that she is going to forget about him.
~~~
It was her birthday. 3 years after she received that letter from him which she dearly kept, which 2 years later she lost when a thief stole her wallet, where she had placed it.
She, together with Bokyung, Jiyeon, and Sungmi, was at her apartment celebrating her birthday. They reminisced their wonderful memories, laughed at their innocent mistakes, and suppressed their tears at the happy moments that made them want to go back.
They were singing their hearts out at her home karaoke when, unexpectedly, her phone rang. All heads turned to her while she fumbled in her pockets for the said device. She excused herself from her three best friends and hurriedly went out to the veranda.
The number wasn't registered so she decided to answer the call.
"Yeoboseyo?"
Three seconds of silence.
"Yah! Bora! Thank goodness you haven't changed your number!"
Her eyes grew wide. Her heart was racing madly. She recognizes this voice. She knows whom this voice belongs to. This same voice that she used to admire on school events and mini-concerts. This same voice that she used to listen from the recordings that she made whenever she could be near him or the recordings she made by being near the speakers. This same voice that used to make her feel breathless. But why? Why? Why that in after such a long time… Even though she had already said that she has moved on… Why does her heart feel so alive, yet so hurt at the same time?
Despite her trembling lips, she forced to say his name out loud, "Yoo... Yoo... Yoochun?"
Two seconds of silence.
"Bingo. You're still the genius Bora that I know," he confirmed in a lively tone.
Bora's heart was beating fast. And now she's having difficulty breathing. She clutched her shirt, particularly on the area above her chest, trying to breathe and stop herself from shaking.
“What’s the matter? Do you have a problem?” she asked, trying to sound as cheerful as possible like she was smiling in front of him, although they could not see each other’s faces.
“Ya! Do you think that the sole reason people make phone calls is that they have problems?” he joked. “I called to greet you, silly. It’s your birthday isn’t it? Oh no, don’t ever deny it to me.”
“H-how d-did y-you know?” she asked, her nervousness evident in her voice.
“High School, Bora. Your friends were ecstatic about it, remember? Jiyeon-noona even made me write a letter to you,” he answered happily, seeming to not notice Bora’s trembling voice.
Two seconds of silence.
“Bora! Sungmi says she wants to eat your cake now,” Jiyeon called out, giggling and popping her head from the sliding door. And then she finds Bora on the verge of tears. And suddenly, Bora falls to her knees, and the tears fell from her eyes at the same time. Jiyeon runs to her side and embraces her.
“Oh, is that Jiyeon-noona? And Sungmi-shi is around as well? How can I forget, Bokyung-shi must be there too! You guys are inseparable. Must be a big party you’ve got there. How come I didn’t hear you’re throwing one?”
“I… I… I’m sorry.”
“Must be fun. But anyway, run along now or Sungmi-shi will eat your cake whole. Happy birthday, Jin Bora!”
“Th-thank you. I thought you’ve forgotten about it already.”
“How could I? You’re worth remembering, Bora. Once again, happy birthday!” he greeted her one final time before he dropped the call.
You’re worth remembering . A little bit of hope. A little bit of hope that Bora refuses to acknowledge. She doesn’t want to expect anything from him anymore. She doesn’t want to think about things that she knows (or rather, thinks) would never happen. But that does not mean that such things are too impossible to come true. She just doesn’t want to be hurt anymore.
Bora turned to face Jiyeon, who looked so puzzled but didn’t bother to say a word of comfort to her. The unnie instead tightened her embrace on her dongsaeng. Tears were trailing down Bora’s cheek, and she looked at her phone, which had a wallpaper of the four of them together, which is now being tainted by droplets of her tears.
“Unnie,” she cried in Jiyeon’s shoulders.
“Yes, Bora?” Jiyeon answered, trying her best to help ease the pain in the birthday girl’s heart.
“Unnie… R-remember the last time I m-mentioned Yoo-Yoochun’s name?” Bora said amidst the sobs and hiccups.
“Mmm. You told me you’re gonna forget about him. You even made a fuss about us teasing you to him. After that we never said his name in front of you again,” the older one answered.
“I was trying to forget about him… No. I was trying to forget him!” the birthday girl cried.
“I know that,” Jiyeon replied. “But why are you crying? Was that him on the phone just now?”
Bora nodded.
“So why are you crying?” Jiyeon asked, worry evident in her face.
“I was trying to forget him. Until now, I am trying to forget him,” Bora pressed on. “But you know what? While I was trying to forget him, he was… remembering me.”
Jiyeon rubbed Bora’s back, hushing her to stop crying. “You should be glad about it, you silly girl,” she told the younger one.
“He was remembering me, unnie! And all this time I was trying to forget about him! He said I am worth remembering, unnie! He said I am worth remembering! How ironic can this be? He said I am worth remembering! He said…”
Jiyeon hushed her, rubbing her back while she continued to cry. “You are worth remembering, Bora. You are.”
But to be remembered by the person you wanted so much to forget, how complicated it can be.
~~~~~
A/N: I've been trying all day to transform this to a yaoi fic but I just can't. T___T And I've been trying to think of a good pairing but I fail at everything.
okay /dies, digs grave, buries body with soil