The pouring rain starts drenching into the world I live in. Countless people are heading on their way home with their umbrellas to avoid the rain. As usual, you are already at the bus stop waiting for the blue bus that you always ride after school. The blue bus finally arrives, you walk in a hurry because the rain is getting heavier. You look for a card to pay for the bus in the pocket of your uniform, and there is none. You try looking in your school bag and it's not there either. At that moment, you realize that you didn't bring your payment card.
[[Trying to negotiate with the bus driver]]
[[Choosing not to get on the bus]]
The bus driver keeps refusing your negotiations. Then suddenly a guy who wears the same school uniform as you taps his payment card twice “I’ll pay for her, sir”. The tall guy tells me to sit down. You're wondering, did he just pay for me ‘a stranger he barely met’ ? He didn't do that to pity me, right? I don't know what his true intention is, but I really owe him because I can go home without worry now.
[[next]]
The next day, you go through your usual day. Going to school, studying, and catching up with your friends are your daily activities. During the last class, you are asked by the teacher to return the books which are used during the lesson to the library. At the library, the atmosphere feels very quiet and peaceful.While returning the book, you think about skipping extracurricular activities.
In the silence that fulfilled the whole library, you suddenly hear the sound of a book page being turned over. Slowly you approach the direction of the sound and you find a familiar figure. As you get more closer, you gasp “that’s him”. The same guy who paid the bus fare for you yesterday.
[[choose to approach him]]
[[choose not to approach]]
In the evening, you are looking at the photos you have taken today.As you look at the photos, you find the photo of that ‘fare bus guy’ who was reading the book earlier.You are thinking of printing the photo so that you can give it as a token of gratitude if you meet him again.
You also think about finding a good time to meet him and introduce yourself properly after a few accidental [[encounters]]
The next day, you try to find ‘the fare bus guy’ you photographed yesterday. After you searched for his whereabouts, he is still nowhere to be found. “I don't think I'll ever meet him again... maybe next time”
You never thought you would crave for ice cream right before your curfew in this almost winter season. You are looking for a jacket to warm up your body in the cold weather. You rush to the ice cream shop that just opened near your house. You walk in the middle of chilly night on your own while thinking about what flavor ice cream you will buy. When you arrive there, you see that the ice cream shop has already put up the close sign. Slowly you open the door of the ice cream shop “cling!”
You head towards an ordering area that has less queue. While looking at the menu there, shortly, there is a voice asking you “what do you want to order?” this voice… the soft gentle voice… you have heard it before. You are a little surprised, then smile and reply to him. “can i have one cookie and cream flavor,please?” You say. “Okay, that will be $7”. You hand over the $7 and say “here ya go”. Then, you suddenly ask him “By the way, Do you have some time after you finish your shift today?”.he nodded right away as a sign of agreement. “Alrighty, i'll be right there waiting for you while enjoying my ice cream”
[[wait for him inside the store]]
[[wait for him outside the store]]
“Hey”.You turned to the source of the voice calling you out and saw the man sitting in front of you.He was wearing a black jacket, slightly messy hair, and wore glasses that he never took off.
“You actually work here huh? how come i didn’t see the sight of you when I came here two days ago” you started a conversation with him.
“Yes haha, at that time I was on leave from work”
The fare bus guy answered your question with a sweet smile, he continued his words
“Oh yeah, so what do you want to talk about?” “uhhh I…, I…just want to talk-” “— I mean I just want to tell you that I saw you in the library a few days ago and I unintentionally took a photo that surprisingly turned out well’ you gave the photo you took and he accepted it. He looked at the polaroid photo you gave her, then he noticed someone's name written on it.
“belle? Is that your name?” then you answer ‘Yes, belle is my name. I am sorry I haven’t introduced myself properly. How about you?” “Jeon Wonwoo, just call me Wonwoo or whatever you like”
“Is that okay if I call you nonu?”
“Haha, it's okay. Nice to meet you ”
From there the two of you became closer. You often hang out
together to go exploring astonishing places and take memorable photos since both of you are into[[ photography ]]
2 Years Later
The days have passed, we have known each other for two years now. The person I met a few years ago is still with me today. We still love photography and still hang out a lot whether it's just because we're bored at home or whatever. The days we spend together are now more and more filled with overflowing happiness since I know we are both starting to fall in love.
I want to enjoy our favorite things together everyday since I just want to keep him by my side forever. My feelings for him start to get real and deeper as the time goes by. I want to reveal the truth that my heart has been longing for him since day [[ one]]
In the evening, the two of us are walking around while enjoying the cold air. He is very handsome today with his slightly long hair, a cream-colored t-shirt and of course with his favorite glasses that he never forgot to wear. We continue walking without realizing the road we were on is getting farther and farther away. We stop in front of a cafe, “let's take a break here”.It seems to be only a few people there. The quiet and soothing atmosphere was the situation I liked the [[most]]
“click” the sound of a camera which of course was none other than Wonwoo taking a picture of me looking at the menu there.
“Are you taking a picture of me?” I asked him, He replied “Yeah, why not? It is such a nice cafe. “The perfect place to take a picture of the beautiful girl in front of me”. No, he again said something that made me misbehave, “Haha, cut off your nonsense” My cheeks begin to blush and my heart flutters.
I really wanted to confess my feelings for him immediately. But I just can’t control this nervousness. Should I wait a little longer to say it? Then finally, Wonwoo notices my awkward gestures, “are you okay?” he asked me. “It's okay,” I smiled nervously. “I just want to say something”. “What is it about?” He asked while staring at me. His gaze makes me feel even more nervous. Then I blatantly say “How about we become a [[couple]]?”
He is a little surprised to hear what I just said. Then he gives me his sweetest smile while still not breaking any eye-contact, “So you want us to be official? Why?” he asked me. Oddly, I don’t feel nervous anymore and even get bolder now “Because you bring me happiness whenever we are together. I love the way we always smile and laugh at the same thing. I love that you are always by my side when I really need someone to rely on. At first, I didn't even think we would stay together and match each other's energy but look at us now becoming inseparable. I just love everything about you, Wonwoo. I want you to be mine. Is it too much to ask?’’.
Feelings of excitement, nervousness, and worry were all mixed up in me.
“And I think you also feel the same thing” I said again. He continued to smile and looked at me
“How do u know?”
“Think of it as my inner intuition” I playfully answered him
“Haha, okay. Let's make it official and become a couple then” He holds my hand tightly.
Sometimes, your soulmate can just be your best friend. I think I'm lucky to have found both in just one person.