Memories (3)
“Hyun-a, Hyun-a, did you hear? Jimin went on a blind date yesterday?”
“No.”
“Come on, does Hyun even care about that stuff? You should be gossiping with someone who’d freak out over it.”
“Yeah… true. So, did you hear about Jimin’s blind date yesterday?”
“I’m hearing it right now. I knew she had one planned for the weekend, and I was curious how it went. Glad it turned out well. What happened?”
“I cornered her first thing this morning and demanded details. But get this—how did Jimin act? She just zipped her fingers like that, making a bra shape or whatever. Can you believe that chatterbox pulling that move?”
“Sounds like she’s really into the guy. Was he hot?”
“You know how picky Jimin is. Before the date, she got the guy’s number from the matchmaker and stalked his KakaoTalk profile and all his SNS. Last Friday, she told me she’d bolt from the date if he didn’t look good in person—threatened the matchmaker and everything. So if it went well, he must be at least decent-looking, right?”
“After all that shopping around, she finally found a guy she likes. Wait, are they dating now? Or just getting to know each other?”
“Not sure if they’re official or still in the talking stage, but they’re going to Fantasia World this weekend. Starting off with a bang, huh?”
“She must be really into him to hit an amusement park right away. Makes sense, though—Jimin’s pretty enough that dating was just a matter of time.”
“Pfft, please. Compared to our Hyun, she’s a firefly next to the full moon. Jimin even shifts away if she’s standing next to Hyun so no one compares them. If Hyun actually tried dating, guys wouldn’t even glance at Jimin.”
“Why are you living vicariously through Hyun? She’s not even interested in guys anyway. Our Hyun, with her brains and beauty, will skyrocket in value the second she steps into Korea University. No need for some random dude right now. Right, Hyun-a?”
“…Getting into Korea University isn’t a given, and it’s not like I can control it. Don’t jinx it.”
“You got all first-grade scores on the last mock exam—what’s there to worry about? Anywhere but med school, and Korea U is basically yours.”
“We’ll see.”
“Whatever. Once Hyun hits college, guys will line up. I’m so jealous.”
“Why not go full celeb mode, like a perfect daughter of a chaebol heir? You’re pretty and smart— instant buzz. If you debut, hook me up with some boy idols. Hehehe.”
“Look at you, just using Hyun to feed your fantasies. Anyone can be an idol? Sure, she’s prettier than most, but can she act? Sing? Imagine Hyun dancing. Ugh, goosebumps.”
“Yeah, fair enough. Hehehehe.”
Lee Hyun wanted to let her friends’ chatter go in one ear and out the other, but that day, it kept circling in her mind. Fantasia World. Kim Jimin, another classmate who always shot her jealous, envious looks. Hyun remembered how Jimin had been hovering around her last week, casually bragging about landing a date. Dropping lines like how he resembled some celebrity, tall, athletic—practically yelling for everyone to hear. It had seemed pathetic.
Hyun could guess why Jimin always yapped right next to her, but she’d never let it show. She didn’t care what the blind date guy looked like, didn’t give a damn who Jimin dated. Her mouth itched to say it outright. But hearing from her friends today that Jimin had actually started dating the guy made it hit differently. Hyun started to care.
Jimin, who shortened her uniform skirt, piled on heavy makeup that made her look older than her age. More focused on dolling up than studying. Hyun felt a twinge of envy. High school was ending in less than a year. The end of this grueling grind to cross into college. But flip it around—only a year left to actually enjoy her school days.
Back in middle school, first time wearing the uniform, Hyun had stood in front of the mirror forever, striking poses to see how it looked. But now? The uniform was just a tool: measures if she’d grown, if she’d gained weight, how comfy it was summer or winter. Nothing more. While other kids roamed in uniforms, dated, snapped pics— for Hyun, it was just the uniform for commuting to school.
She suddenly recalled a friend comparing her and Jimin: the difference between a full moon and a firefly. The friend meant it as a compliment to Hyun’s looks, but she saw it differently. The moon doesn’t shine on its own. Even that massive full moon lighting up the dark night—it’s just reflecting. Waiting for the sun to illuminate it.
A firefly’s glow is weak, but it’s its own. Tiny life, but self-luminous. Short lifespan, but it shines bright, finds a mate, breeds.
Sigh, what am I even thinking?
Hyun shook off the unease from her friends’ talk, reopened her book, and dove back in.
That pathetic guy toughed it out for three years of resits to get into Korea U…
One year. Hyun vowed to endure. Her youth waited beyond it. She believed that fiercely.
“Kyahaaaa!”
“Aaaah!”
A ship soaring through the sky. Or more precisely, a massive one swinging back and forth like a pendulum.
What the fuck is this Viking ride for?!
Seonghwan believed in warm-ups for everything. For studying, clearing his mind to focus. For drinking, priming his stomach with a light beer. Before workouts, stretching. Especially with his heart trauma, he thought ride order mattered at theme parks.
But starting with the Viking—top five for heart strain? No way he saw that coming.
Reason was simple.
“Viking’s closest to the entrance. Hurry and line up!”
Ji-a’s brute-force logic was airtight. After the uniform shop, no one argued—they bolted for the Viking.
Fuck, at least let me ride up front.
Thanks to Ji-a snagging rear seats, Seonghwan was stuck shivering in the back.
Front riders grinning, arms up in victory poses? Infuriating.
Those assholes were scared shitless too. Acting all tough ‘cause they’re guys.
But Seonghwan was a guy too—no showing weakness. Gripped the safety bar, clenched his teeth.
Just… a bit more. Minute tops.
Thirsty guys hate waiting.
“Uwaaa… ughhh.”
At least Hyoseok’s terrified groans beside him were comforting.
“Huff huff, almost over. Hang in there, Hyoseok.”
“Urk. Yes, hyung.”
Finally, the swing slowed. Ji-a’s cheers faded to whines.
“Aww, too short. Was just getting fun. Right, Hyun-a?”
“It was plenty fun. Tons more rides anyway— we can do it again.”
Hyun’s voice held some regret, but more excitement for what’s next.
“Whoa, you guys okay? Seonghwan oppa looked like a statue, all stiff. Hyoseok with his mouth hanging open like he’d faint.”
“Huff. Huff. Huff.”
Seonghwan had no breath to reply. Hyoseok was bluffing hard.
“Guys? Even if Seonghwan hyung struggled, I was bored—yawning the whole time. Total letdown.”
“Ego makes fools. Wipe those teary eyes first.”
“Ack.”
“Still fun, though. Hyun-a, wanna hit another?”
Seonghwan, dazed, grabbed Ji-a before she bolted.
“Hey hey, lunch soon. Eat first. I said I’d treat. Let’s go.”
“Oh, yeah? Hyun-a, Hyoseok?”
“Yeah, sounds good. Skipped breakfast—kinda hungry.”
“Cool!!”
Seonghwan used the heart excuse, but perfect timing. Lunch rush turned the place into a warzone. Early birds like them snagged seats easy, browsed menus leisurely.
“Like a cafeteria—pick anything, eat together. What sounds good?”
“Nice. Chicken for me. Hyun-a?”
“Something simple. Burger and fries? Nuggets too, but if Hyoseok’s cool, share chicken.”
“Sweet. Burger it is. We get burgers, spread chicken and fries in the middle. Perfect. Heh heh.”
Ji-a eyed Hyoseok’s dopey grin pityingly, asked Seonghwan.
“Oppa, what’ll you have? Chinese, tonkatsu, hot dogs too.”
“Eyes spinning. Tteokbokki and fritters for me. Share? You?”
“Yay! Me too—craving street food. Tteokbokki set plus kimbap. Snacks together.”
“OK. Hyoseok, let’s go. Ji-a, Hyun-a—wait here.”
“Heh heh heh… Hyung and Ji-a snacks… Me and Hyun-a burgers… Heh heh.”
“……”
Seonghwan tsked at increasingly dim Hyoseok, dashed to kiosks.
Orders done, he told Hyoseok quick.
“Know burger and snack spots? Wait at table, grab when buzzer goes. I’ll get milk downstairs.”
“Milk? Suddenly? No convenience store here, though?”
“I got it. Go.”
“Hyung? You’re really going? For milk?”
Hyoseok took the buzzer to the table. Ji-a peeked back.
“Where’s Seonghwan oppa? Waiting alone for food?”
“Nah, not that clueless. Said he’s grabbing milk downstairs.”
“Milk? Why? Tteokbokki too spicy?”
“Dunno. Told me to wait and grab food. Maybe he hates spice? Should’ve gone burger like us.”
Hyun froze overhearing.
Milk?
Seonghwan handled spice fine, never fussed for milk. Not the type to hunt other stalls for cafeteria no-show milk. Water or cola, sure.
“Milk with bread. Always.”
“Burger’s bread too? Cola’s the rule. Why so picky?”
“Hate cola—throat burns. Bread chokes, so drink. Not burning cola. Milk! Milk!! Get milk.”
“Ugh, insane.”
Kid Hyun couldn’t fathom bread and cola. Rarely craved cola except real thirst. Never with bread. Grown, she got soda’s appeal—summer refresh. But kid her? Couldn’t grasp siblings slurping cola.
Burger and milk. Weird combo to others. But despite grumbles, childhood Seonghwan always got her milk with burgers.
No way…
Spotting Seonghwan hustling back, cup in hand, shoving through crowds.
“Oh, food not out? Getting crowded. Thought it’d be ready—rushed back.”
“Chicken’s taking time. Snacks backed up. That milk in a coffee cup?”
“Ugh, no con store—asked info desk. They said none, but milk ice cream spot nearby. Begged, they poured plain low-fat. Haha.”
“Not that—why milk? For you?”
“Huh? Oh, this. For Hyun-a.”
All eyes on Hyun. She hadn’t ordered tteokbokki or asked for milk—Ji-a and Hyoseok looked baffled. Amid stares, Hyun fixated on the cup.
“Know how picky she was? Bread meant milk. Burger milk, pizza milk—any flour, milk. Weirdo, right?”
“Whoa, really? Noted for next pizza. Haha.”
Hyoseok’s vow was pointless. Hyun’s tastes had changed. Pizza and cola clicked; soda paired better with burgers and fries. Long ago.
Yet this dummy oppa projected kid her onto now-her. Felt trapped in the past, a bit sad… but his effort—ice cream shop, forcing unsold milk—warmed her fully.
Forcing protest.
“Dummy? That’s ancient. I do cola with burgers now.”
Seeing Seonghwan’s face crumple, Hyun’s lips curved.
“But… I like milk. Love it. I’ll have it with milk.”
Thus, bit by bit, she conveyed her heart.