I want to put my pinky through his and make a promise that I can't keep.
I had a rough idea, but the professor was too talkative and I didn't know anyone. I felt like I was left in a foreign land. I thought it would be okay if I just had that guy I met yesterday, Daniel.
''What... I only know the name, but I don't know anything about it...''
I sighed deeply, cursing myself for feeling so special to Daniel. Then, as if by magic, Daniel came running.
"All right, Daniel?"
" CHIEF!"
He waved at me cheerfully. I nodded slightly, observing the expressions of his friends, and waved back at Daniel.
Daniel chatted briefly with his friends next to him and then ran over to me happily.
''What about your friends?'' ((Yeoju
'' Oh... My little tomboy. You didn't forget our promise, did you? '' ((์ฐ์ค
Oh, my little tomboy. You haven't forgotten your promise to me, have you?
'' I'm sorry, but I'm so happy to meet a Korean '' ((์ฌ์ฃผ
Sorry, but I'm so glad I met a Korean...
''I'll allow it just this once.'' ((Fed
''Overwhelming gratitude'' ((Yeoju
Daniel seemed pleased with my words, his lips rising even higher than before. As I stared intently at his smile, he quickly covered his mouth.
And when his mouth was visible again, the corners of his mouth were back in their original positions.
'' So...ย Do you have anything to say to me? '' ((์ฌ์ฃผ
So... do you have anything to say to me?
'' Nope '' ((Fed
no
When I looked at him with an expression that said, "Then why did you talk to me first?" Yeonjun smiled and said.
'' I'm here to see my cute tomboy. '' ((์ฐ์ค
I came to see my cute little tomboy girl.
''What??'' ((Yeoju
I looked at Daniel in surprise. He chuckled at me. He lightly stroked my head and met my eyes with a playful expression.
''ย Of course it's just a joke. I came running because I was so glad to see you. '' ((์ฐ์ค
Of course I'm joking. I came running because I was so happy to see you.
''ย Can you leave your friends behind and come to me? '' ((์ฌ์ฃผ
Can you come to me and leave your friends behind?
'' Well... You're more important to me. '' ((์ฐ์ค
Hmm... you are more important to me.
I turned my head away at his potentially misleading words. I felt a faint heat rise in my cheeks.
'' Yeah, I think you're more important. '' ((Yeonjun
Daniel said that, then bent down and whispered in my ear.
'' Federal Reserve. Choi Yeon-jun '' ((Fed
'' Huh...? '' ((Yeoju
''That's my Korean name.
Please call me that when you're alone. I want to be called that only by you '' ((์ฐ์ค
Please call me that when we're alone. I want to call you that only to me.
''Okay, Yeonjun.'' ((Yeoju
I answered like that and continued talking with a faint smile.
''ย Can I call you YEONJUN now that you and I are alone? '' ((์ฌ์ฃผ
Since it's just you and me now, can I call you Yeonjun?
'' Of course. ''
of course
''I want you to call me Yeonjun.'' ((Yeonjun
"It's an honor" ((Yeoju
"Luna, it's possible because of you" ((Yeonjun
He boasted to me that he'd never told anyone his Korean name. I smiled and agreed with him.
"Then..." ((Yeonjun
Yeonjun spoke for a while, then suddenly began to hesitate. Well, actually, maybe it wasn't even sudden. He'd been watching me from the start.
Where did his always playful and cheerful face go? Instead, he appeared with the face of a boy who had just become an adult.
"Tell me too... your Korean name." ((Yeonjun
"My Korean name??? " ((Yeoju
" Yes...ย I want to be special to you, too... " ((์ฐ์ค
Yeah... I want to be special to you too...
"Yeoju... Yeoju, my name is " ((Yeoju
"Yeoju... Yeoju..." ((Yeonjun
Yeonjun muttered as if trying to remember my name. It felt a little strange, perhaps because it had been months since he'd heard it.
My heart was pounding and fluttering, as if I was nervous. It felt strange.
"Haha... It's not that pretty, is it?" ((Yeoju
"No, I think it's a really pretty name. It really suits you. Really." ((Yeonjun
He waved his hand, emphasizing the "really" part repeatedly. His serious expression made me laugh involuntarily. Yeonjun followed suit, laughing and joking.
"Don't tell anyone your Korean name either. It's a nickname for you and me." ((Yeonjun
"Are you jealous?" ((Yeoju
I chuckled and ran past Yeonjun. Because of that, I didn't hear his answer. It was okay. It was a promise that wouldn't be kept anyway.
Because I'm just a passing friend to him.
" uh... "
Thinking about it, a part of my heart ached. I smiled bitterly and turned to look at Yeonjun.
thud.
As I gaze at his face, my heart sinks. The surroundings are quiet. His footsteps sound slow. The ticking of the clock's second hand slowly echoes in my ears. My heart beats faster than time, passing slowly.
thud
thud
thud
My mind is growing increasingly dizzy. I can't see anything around me. In my world, only I and Yeonjun exist.
If this isn't love, then what is?
"Yeonjun, promise me. We won't tell anyone our Korean names. Here, I will be your Yeonjun and you will be my Yeoju. Promise me." ((Yeonjun
His voice, his expression, his tone of voice sounded so sweet. I want to feel just a little more of this sweetness. I know it'll hurt, but I want to link my pinky with his and make a promise I can't keep.
"Okay. Let's do that." ((Yeoju
Even if he forgets me
Even if I become a forget-me-not
I decided to embrace this foolish love that would hurt me.