Lies took the elevator.
Truth took the stairs.
Both arrived and met Revelation.
Jane killed a family in a car accident. Depressive and accustomed to self-harm, she decides to go back to where her life toppled upside down. Jane doesn't know what to e...
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5:00 pm and I'm at the sports center; I don't know what I'm doing holding a bouquet and prepped up. Eun Ju has probably gone inside already.
"Oppa, Oppa, Tae Won Oppa."
I turn to see a hand sticking out, which shakes vigorously in the air; Eun Ju is a small girl. I'm surprised she even managed to see me.
I walk to where she is; she looks like a porcelain doll with her bob haircut and fringe. Soo Ae's little sister has grown a lot, the last time I saw her, she was 13, and now she's a pretty 18-year-old. Her youth makes the soon to be 23 years old in me feel old.
"Wow, unnie will be happy; she told me to wait outside even if I miss her performance."
"Mian [sorry], Eun Ju."
"Qwenchana [it's okay], Oppa, I'm glad you came. Come, let's go inside."
"Wait, are your parents there?"
Eun Ju frowns, "yes."
My face must be pale or something because she adds, " they're waiting for you too."
Eun Ju's words are enough to make me take the steps leading to the hall; I don't know why I'm acting as though I've done something wrong.
It has just been four years since I saw Soo Ae's parents and almost one year since I last saw Soo Ae. But she calls weekly, and I figure her parents must hate me.
The competition has started, and Eun Ju leads me to the place of choice for family members. Her mother gives me a small smile, and her father nods; I bow. Her mother's eye on the bouquet makes me feel obliged to hand them over to her. How foolish of me I should have anticipated this.
"Omo, qwenchana, Tae Won, keep them for Soo Ae," she says, pushing back the bouquet, and I sit down.
Being here reminds me of a lot of things. Watching each other competitions was routine.
Silver sometimes or gold medals, we were passionate, and we motivated each other. Soo Ae she steps in, her name and row appear, my heart skips a beat as I feel the adrenaline mount.
I would qualify Koreans as sports lovers. A medalist from any discipline can find themselves idolized here. People follow and come to events that are as popular as the Superbowl here.
Her fans are screaming, but Soo Ae's eyes are targeting where her family is seated. Her Hawkeyes search till they lock us.
Soo Ae's hair sways out of her cap; I see how long they are even from where I am.
It's her turn to shoot, and she lifts her arm. She lowers all her fingers except her index and thumb, with which she makes an L sign. We did this at every competition. It was our secret cliché message of love to one another.
