Formula of Forever | Liskook

O

As time ticked by and the reunion drew to a close, I found myself bidding farewell to friends and classmates, all the while stealing glances at Lisa as she engaged in her own farewells. With each passing moment, the desire to speak with her grew stronger, until I could no longer resist the urge to approach her.

As she made her way towards the exit, I hurriedly rushed after her, calling out her name in a breathless plea for attention. "Sunbae," I called out, coming to a halt and panting slightly as I caught my breath, my hands resting on my knees.

Turning around, Lisa's expression shifted from confusion to recognition as her gaze met mine. I straightened up, meeting her eyes with a mixture of nerves and anticipation. "Sunbae, I'm Jeon Jungkook from division B of the 10th grade," I managed to say between breaths.

A smile of realization spread across Lisa's face as she recalled our shared history. "Ah, Jeon Jungkook," she exclaimed, her confusion melting away. "Of course, I remember you."

I couldn't help but feel a surge of relief wash over me at her recognition. "Su-sunbae? You remember me?" I stammered in disbelief.

"Yes, of course. I've known you since grade 5," she replied with a warm smile, reminiscing about our shared past. "You were the quiet one who always sat at the back of the class, right?"

Feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me, I sheepishly nodded, scratching the back of my neck. "Y-yeah," I mumbled, unable to meet her gaze.

Lisa's smile widened as she continued, "Ah! I can't believe how much you've grown into a handsome young man."

Blushing furiously at her compliment, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and gratitude towards Lisa for remembering me after all these years.

"Ah, yeah," I mumbled, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I wasn't good with compliments, so I didn't know how to react or what to say.

"How are you, by the way?" She smiled softly.

"I'm fine, sunbae," I replied, hesitating for a moment. I wanted to ask her how she was, but I was afraid she might feel sad considering her recent loss, so I decided to change the subject. "How was the reunion?"

"It was amazing!!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with joy. "Glad to be back after all these years and seeing my friends and juniors, especially you, kiddo." She chuckled as I gently pouted.

"Sunbae, you're acting as if we have a large age gap, but in reality, you're only two years older than me," I teased, joining in her laughter.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but I'm still your senior, though," she replied with a grin.

As we continued chatting, I couldn't help but admire her resilience and positivity despite her recent loss.

As we exchanged a few more words, I couldn't shake the feeling that this unexpected reunion was just the beginning of something extraordinary.

As I arrived home and collapsed onto my bed, memories of the small moments with Lisa during our school days flooded back to me.

Each year, the seniors would visit our classes to foster camaraderie between the upper and lower grades. Without fail, Lisa and a few of her friends would always come to my class, and we would have a blast together.

Back in middle school, I was the kid sporting oversized glasses, but whenever Lisa visited, I couldn't help feeling self-conscious. So, I made the switch to contact lenses in a bid to appear more confident. Despite my efforts, I struggled to engage in conversation, plagued by my introverted awkwardness.

One day, as I sat quietly in class, lost in thought, Lisa caught my attention. She approached me and took the seat next to mine, catching me off guard. I looked up at her, feeling both startled and captivated by her presence. Her smile was warm and inviting.

"Hey there, kiddo! How are you?" She greeted me with a gentle smile.

I struggled to form coherent words, my nerves getting the best of me. "I-I-I'm f-fine," I managed to stutter out.

"That's great to hear. Why don't you talk or interact with us like your friends do?" She leaned in, resting her chin on my desk, her proximity making me even more flustered.

"I-I-I don't know how to really talk or interact with others," I confessed, my speech stumbling.

"Hey, it's okay. Take a deep breath," she reassured me. Digging into her bag, she pulled out a vanilla-flavored milkshake and handed it to me. "Here, this might help."

I accepted the milkshake gratefully, finding solace in both the gesture and her encouraging smile.

"What's your name, by the way?" Lisa asked softly, as I paused to answer between sips.

"Je-Jeon Jungkook," I replied, feeling a surge of warmth at her genuine interest.

"Ah, nice to meet you, Jungkook," she said sweetly, briefly running her fingers through my hair before pulling back.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of their visit, Lisa was called away by her friend. With a final smile and wave, she bid me goodbye, leaving me still smiling like an idiot long after she had gone.

Continuing the scene, as days passed, I found myself replaying that encounter with Lisa in my mind over and over again. Her kindness had left a lasting impression on me, and I couldn't shake the feeling of longing to talk to her more. However, each time I mustered the courage to approach her, my nerves got the better of me, and I retreated into my shell once again. Despite my inner turmoil, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for a genuine connection between us.