『JenSoo Short Stories』

Asymptote

The cool evening breeze rolls by softly, making the leaves of the nearby trees and bushes flutter gently under the moonlight. Taking a glance at the watch strapped to your wrist, the corners of your lips curl up in a small smile as you continue to walk leisurely.

You still have at least fifteen minutes before you have to meet with your old friend, so you're taking your sweet time to drink in the sight of everything around you. It's been years since you've last been to this old park, and you've missed the place so.

At the edge of the park where it makes way to the dense forest, there's a beautiful clearing that gets filled with flowers of the most vibrant colors during spring and early summer. It's hidden behind a thicket of trees so it's not a place that can be seen if you don't look close enough.

You just happened to be lucky to stumble across the place one particular night that you were troubled. It has been your safe haven ever since. And there's only one other person you've brought here throughout the years. The thought makes you smile.

"Eight o'clock on the dot. Right on time. Wow, that's pretty impressive, Chu."

One corner of your lips curl up into an amused smirk as you pass through the thickets, stepping foot onto the clearing that you've missed so much. 

The girl sitting on a blanket under your favorite tree is the one you've missed the most, though. Ten years, and she still manages to make your heart flutter like crazy as if it's the first time.

But you're never going to tell her that. 

"We haven't seen each other in two years, and the first thing you do is insult me, princess. Oh, how you hurt me so," you tell her jokingly, to which she responds with a good-natured eyeroll.

"Shut up, you doofus. C'mere and sit. I brought your favorite snacks," she playfully snarls at you, but the soft look in her eyes is telling enough of how she truly feels about seeing you again. Your smirk mellows out into a soft smile.

Without saying another word, you make your way towards the blanket and take a seat beside her. She then reaches for the bag that's sitting by the edge, reaching into it and pulling out two plastic food containers. 

One container is filled with cut up fruits while the other is chock full of gummy candies. She also pulls out a bag of squid chips and Super Ring. It makes you smile a bit wider, for years may have passed, but she still knows you like the back of her hand.

With a grateful smile on your lips, you take the food she's offering and start eating quietly. You really did miss her a lot.

"You've been gone for a while. What have you been up to?"

Her question ends the silence between the two of you, and you could only sigh as you let your body fall to the ground, your back hitting the blanket with a soft thud. 

You don't answer immediately, instead pinning your gaze on the starry skies as you gather your thoughts to give her a proper answer. She's gonna kick your if you answer sarcastically now.

"I was soul-searching, I guess," you answer quietly after a while.

There's some shuffling beside you, and you know without looking that she's most probably trying to lie on her side to get a better look at you.

Sighing, you turn your head sideways, only to see her on her side, her head propped up by her arm as she looks at you with something tender and gentle in her eyes. 

It makes your heart clench.

"Well? Have you found what you've been looking for?" she asks after a brief moment of silence where you got lost in each other's eyes. You could only sigh again.