"Say, do you know what Byeol is?"
"Byeol? What, is that the word of the day?"
"Hmm, I had a different word in mind, but I suppose so?"
"I have not heard of that word before. What does it mean?"
"You're not even trying to guess?"
"Nope, nothing comes to my mind."
"It means Star or Stars in Korean. My mother taught me that word."
"Oh, Hera did?"
"Hera? Do you guys know each other?"
"Well..you can say so?"
Vivian smiled brightly.
"Hey! That's not fair! I don't even know your mother. Let alone her name."
"You wouldn't remember hers even if you want to. Don't even talk about pronouncing hers the right way."
"You're underestimating me."
Kai smirked.
"I like your confidence, but no."
Vivian giggled.
"Anyways, Mr.Victor is hosting a party soon. I heard it's gonna be hugeee."
Kai stretched his arms to further exaggerate his statement.
"A party? What's the purpose?"
"I don't know. Adult stuff, I guess?"
"Adult stuff?"
Vivian looked at Kai with big, curious eyes.
Kai pouted as he looked at Vivian and flicked her forehead.
"What are you thinking, Vivi?"
"OWW! What was that for?!"
"You're thinking dirty. That's what it is for."
"YOU..."
Before Vivian could finish her sentence, Hera Kai's mother called for him.
"Kai? Kai!"
"네 ! " (Meaning: Yes in Korean)
"Oh! Vivian!"
Hera radiated a warm smile.
"안녕하세요 !" (Meaning: Hello in Korean) (Pronounced as Annyeonghaseyo)
Vivian greeted Hera.
"오모 You've learned quite a lot, Vivi."
Hera chuckled. (Meaning: Oh my, in Korean) (Pronounced as Omo)
"Yes, Kai taught me well, hehe."
"Oh, did he?"
Hera patted Kai's head gently.
"여보 !" (Meaning: Honey or Darling in Korean) (Pronounced as Yeobo)
A man's voice was heard loud and clear.
"오모 Kai's father is calling for us. We need to get going."
Hera looked apologetic.
"It's okay! 안녕히 가세요!" (Meaning: Goodbye in Korean) (Pronounced as Annyeonghi Gaseyo)
Vivian bowed.
"네 네" (Meaning: Yes in Korean) (Here she said "Yes Yes" in a polite way)
Hera smiled and bowed her head to return the gesture.
Kai smirked and remarked,
"I indeed taught you well."
"Hmph."
Vivian turned her head and made her way back into her house.
Days went on, but Kai never made it to their usual meetups.
On those days, Vivian walked home alone. Or just laid her back on the cold, wide slide in the park.
It was around 9 on a Saturday morning.
Vivian was on her way to their meetup spot as usual in hopes of meeting Kai.
Before she reached the playground nearby, she noticed cars stacking back and forth. Forming the longest line she had ever seen.
Vivian knew that the party Kai had been excitedly talking about had come.
She gave out a sigh and shook her head.
She still went to the playground despite knowing that she wouldn't be able to meet with Kai.
As Vivian lay in her usual spot, she could hear a faint noise of classical music from the direction where Kai's house was located.
Vivian smiled to herself and said
"Must be nice. Having the time of your life, huh."
As she closed her eyes. The rhythm brings out the aching pain in her chest. What is this feeling, she wondered.
Just then, she smelled something familiar in the air.
Something sweet and chilly. The smell of woods, or perhaps a forest? It's closer to the smell of the sea. The crashing waves as they meet the stacks and the shoreline.
"Kai."
"Yes?"
"How long have you been here?"
"Not long ago."
"You're one busybody, aren't you?"
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I'm not blaming you."
"Are you not going to open your eyes?"
"Not really. Not for now."
"Why? It's been like a week since we last met."
"Yeah. I kept count of it."
"Me too."
Kai's voice grew small and soft.
"So, how's your life been? Within those few days?"
"They forced me to learn some etiquette for the party. The party was indeed huge."
"Etiquette? So, are you a prince or something?"
"You bet."
Vivian scoffed.
"Anyways, I brought you some snacks from the party."
"..."
"Vivi?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you still mad at me?"
"No, not really."
"Then why have you not opened your eyes? Are you not gonna look at me anymore?"
"It's not you. It's just..."
"Did something happen?"
"No, it's nothing."
Vivian gave out a small smile.
A moment of silence came between them.
"So, what did you bring? You know I don't like sweets."
"Red Velvet Cake with yogurt cheese and-"
The second Vivian heard 'Red Velvet,' she opened her eyes, wide and alert.
"Is that all it takes to open your eyes?"
"You bet!"
Vivian's eyes smiled along with her lips. Leaving a crease near her eyes. As her upper teeth bite her lower lips in excitement.
Kai looked at Vivian as she gobbled up the Red Velvet Cake he brought. He watched over Vivian as if he was a proud mother looking at her children eat the food she cooked.
His gaze was gentle and soft, like a glint of sunshine touching our skin.
He smiled softly.
"Slow down. No one's gonna steal it from you."
Despite Kai's words of confirmation, Vivian continued to devour it without leaving a speck of cake on the plastic container.
"Done?"
"Mhmm!"
"So, are you gonna look at me now?"
"Why do you keep insisting that-"
As Vivian turned to look at Kai, her voice grew smaller.
"I look at you..."
Kai smirked.
"What? Cat got your tongue?"
Vivian turned away, hearing Kai's remark.
"So, is this part of your etiquette lessons?"
"You can say so? But then it's mainly for the occasion."
Vivian was quiet.
As Kai was waiting for her response. He noticed that Vivian's ears were as red as a cherry.
Although Vivian didn't notice Kai staring at her. She was thinking of ways to jump onto another topic.
Vivian's copper hair covered her red ears as the frigid gentle wind blew past them.
Noticing that, Kai extended his arms, grazing Vivian's cheeks with his fingers to tuck her copper hair behind her ears.
Noticing the icy touch on her cheeks, Vivian turned to look at Kai.
Their eyes interlock.
As they locked eyes, Vivian's cheeks and ears grew extra red.
But Vivian tore her gaze off of Kai.
Yet Kai remained the same.
He was still observing every move of Vivian's.
He then touched her ears lightly.
Kneading her cherry-like ears between his thumb and index fingers.
To his surprise, Vivian covered her ears with her palm when she felt Kai's touch.
Vivian rose up from the end of the slide.
"You should get going! Your parents must be looking for you. Well then, bye!"
Vivian left Kai without staying back to hear what Kai had to say.
'You...'
Kai's eyebrows were lower and pulled closer together. His lips drooping.
He looked at his palms, where his skin touched Vivian's. The warmth from it subsided, and the chilling cold feeling replaced his senses.
He let out a sigh, wearing a pained expression.
Hoping he could keep this warmth for a little while, he turned his palm into a fist, leaving the playground altogether.
That was the last time they saw each other.
He was 12, and she was 10.