Jiseok Short Story Collection

A flame that will never go out

Sitting side by side with Jiseok on the old swing, I turned the idea over in my head, wondering how I should catch the timing for the confession that had finally come. The sky was high and blue, and the sunlight was dazzling. To me, it was the most perfect timing possible.

But once I actually tried to open my mouth, I kept hesitating..

Jiseok, not knowing what was going on inside me, was just eating ice cream with a happy face. Watching him like that, I couldn’t help smiling. Everything he did, from start to finish, was adorable. Enough that I wanted to kiss every inch of his face and hold him tight against my chest while he slept. I was reaching the point where I could no longer handle this hot flame flickering inside my heart.

But how was I supposed to tell him this feeling?

Maybe feeling my gaze, Jiseok turned around and gave me a teasing smile.

"Did I get something on my face? Or am I just extra handsome today?" Every time he tossed out a line like that, my heart would sink with such a thud that I nearly got dizzy.

I pretended to be fine, smiling as I shook my head. I kicked the ground twice with the tips of my shoes, then stood up with a determined look. And I strode over to the swing Jiseok was on.

The moment I was finally about to open my mouth and pour out my true feelings, a cold drop of water fell plop onto the tip of my nose. Startled, I looked up, and a sudden summer shower had started pouring down over the blue sky from just moments ago. Jiseok laughed out loud, then quickly threw the empty ice cream wrapper into a nearby trash can. Soon raindrops were pattering hard onto the dirt ground. Before Jiseok could say we should get out of the rain, I held out both hands toward him in the pouring downpour. The tension had already turned into a fresh smile.

"Want to dance with me?" I said, taking another step toward the swing.

Jiseok got up from his seat and led me to a spot a little away from the swing. I thought we’d naturally go inside to get out of the rain, but he giggled like a child, grabbed me, and started spinning us around and around. Jiseok’s laughter and smile, spreading through the rain, were like sunlight breaking through dark clouds.

"Jiseok." I called his name.

"Mm?" Jiseok stopped dancing and looked straight into my eyes.

Before I even had time to think, my lips flew to his and pressed against his. In that instant, my mind cleared, and I stumbled backward in shock, blurting out a stream of incoherent apologies.

"Noona." Jiseok gave a low laugh.

My face burning bright red with embarrassment, I stole a glance at him.

Jiseok gently cupped my face with both large hands, then pressed his lips to mine once more. It was a kiss that was light, yet filled to the brim with tender feeling.

"I’ve liked you for a long time too, Noona. Thanks for making the first move. I don’t know when I would’ve been able to confess." Jiseok smiled warmly and planted a kiss on my forehead with a soft smack.

When he finally pulled his lips away, his thumb gently wiped away the raindrop dangling from my eyelashes. I was short of breath, and my heart was pounding like crazy, completely unrelated to the storm. Jiseok narrowed his eyes and gave me a pretty eye-smile. His face was a little flushed too. Suddenly, a stronger wind blew in and the rain lashed at us fiercely, and we both shivered from the cold while bursting into laughter at the same time. "Let’s go inside, quick." Jiseok said with a laugh, squeezing my hand tight and then starting to run energetically toward his apartment building.

We dried off our wet bodies and changed into spare clothes. I never imagined I’d end up wearing his sweatshirt and shorts, but they fit me warmly and comfortably, better than I expected. Soon, seeing Jiseok come back into the room wearing only training pants while carrying two warm cups of tea, my heart flame started raging again.

We quietly drank our tea, smiling at each other across the table, and secretly held hands under it. After finishing the tea, Jiseok let out a low sigh and set his cup on the bedside table. Then he pulled me close in his arms, flopped onto the bed, and pulled the blanket up over our heads.

"Let’s sleep for a bit until the rain stops." Jiseok murmured, kissing the top of my head softly.

If he loved me like this every day, the flame that had risen in my heart would never go out.