Autumn Story Chapter 28
October 18th, 2008
In 24 hours they would be separated again.
But unlike their usual separation, both were anticipating this particular one.
Because they knew now that separation brought anxiety, and anxiety brought memories.
Attached them even stronger to each other.
*****
“You don’t want to have the practice room besides the garage? Why?”
“I can’t see anything from there. It’s angle to the garage blocks everything from the river.”
They were sitting in the bench with his canvas of the sketch of the house between them.
“Oh, okay. Get it. So should I move it to the second floor? But don’t you think to have there would lessen the privacy?”
“Hmmm ... that’s true.”
Joohyun’s eyebrows furrowed. Kyuhyun watched her in fascination. He found it funny that she was looking even more beautiful when she was frowning.
“I have an idea.” She announced it gleefully. “Why not building a room above the garage where the patients and their pets can climb a stairs from beside the garage? That’s will separate the private area with the public ones.”
He touched his fingers to his lips, deeply concentrated. She watched him with awe. Fourteen years and he still had the same routine while thinking. Not that she had problem with t since he was so cute when he did that.
“Hmmmm.... I think you right. Maybe I should also move the drawing room there, so the view can be seen from that room as well.”
She clapped her hand happily. He tapped her nose, felt a dejavu from fourteen years ago when he first suggested their childhood nick names.
“Hyun-Baby is so clever.”
She smiled. “Hyun-Oppa is one best teacher.”
He laughed. “Not really. He is a worst learner.”
“But he still able to find me. Always.”
Joohyun bowed her head, avoided his gaze. Kyuhyun blinked, trying to suppress his tears.
“But maybe he wants to be found instead, this time.”
*****
Three hours later, the sun was almost set.
They finally finished with the re-drawing of the house’s sketch. On different canvas of course, since she did not want her precious birthday canvas became ruin.
Joohyun pulled Kyuhyun to the railing and told him about the new birds and swans nests and the changing path of their migrations.
“The winter is getting shorter, Oppa.”
“Global warming.” He sighed. “I wish we can help to stop it.”
“We can’t.” She shook her head. “But we can help to slow it down.”
He laughed sadly. “Yeah, sometimes slowing down is a good way to exist.”
“Oppa...” She shifted her gaze to him.
“No... I meant in a good way.” He took her hand in his, unconsciously.
She nodded, and let him keep her hand in his.
“I know what you meant.” She put her head in his shoulder.
They sat like that, her head in his shoulder, her hand in his, for several good minutes before she finally broke the silence.
“If by prom you still couldn’t forgive yourself, just come, okay? You can come again later, I am not going anywhere.”
He chuckled. “Really?”
She nodded. “If it is on my control, Yes. Definitely.”
“Good.” His fingers brushed hers softly.
Another calming silence between them. For several minutes.
“You’re coming at Prom, right?”
He laughed “Like I dare not to.”
“You better. Or I’ll ask Yonghwa-....”
“Revenge, Hyunnie?”
“Safeguard.”
He chuckled again. “Clever little Hyunnie.”
She smiled. “Witty Oppa.”
“When will I get a new nickname, by the way?”