BY THE SEA ✓

LIII

ONE YEAR LATER

여름
aestas
summer

Seol is
in Seoul
again.

the young,
mature,
sophisticated
but free lady
is here to pick up
her certificates
and thank
the teachers
at the university
she studied
for a year at.

it's her birthday
and she's
staying
in a hotel-
one close to where
she needs to go,
one close
to the sea.

as she walks
into the reception
area of the hotel,
the person-
a stranger,
greets her and wishes
her a happy
birthday.

she's taken aback.
Seol didn't expect
to come back from
her breakfast
that she spent alone,
intentionally,
to be greeted by
someone,
except her mom
with a glorious
and pleasant
happy birthday.

thank you-
she presses her hand
against her heart,
still shocked
as she takes
the elevator
to her hotel room.

Seol enjoys
the cut familiarity
of her hotel room.
she closes
the door behind her,
falling onto the bed
and dropping
her certificates-
wanting to get up,
get ready and go to the sea
but she's tired.

a harsh knock
on the door
surprises her
as she sits up straight,
rushing to her feet.
Seol swings open
the door to reveal
a staff member
of the hotel
holding a big,
luxurious
birthday cake,
with a smile on her face.

oh my god-
Seol exclaims,
furrowing her brows
at the female staff member
as she brings the cake inside,
placing it
carefully on the table-
with flowers and a card
in pretty pink.

what's going on?-
she asks the strange lady,
watching her
leave hurriedly.
did my mom do this?

Seol walks over
to the flowers,
smelling the petals
and smiling.
she picks up the card,
taking it out of the envelope
and she feels
anxious.

give me
another chance
this summer-
is what it says.

the knock on the door
makes Seol jump
as she tears
her gaze away
from the cake.
she swings open
the door again,
expecting to see the
same, silent and
female staff.

but Taehyung
stands there-
the boy
who's thought
about Seol
everyday,
since she left.

Seol's hand
rushes to cover her
mouth in shock.
Taehyung is in front of her,
after a long year-
dressed in a striped,
collared shirt
and black jeans.
his shoes covered
with black boots,
a bandana around his waist
as his chestnut bangs
fall in his eyes.

his eyes twinkle
like the candles
on a birthday cake.
gold, huge orbs that Seol
gets lost in,
better than the sea.
fluttering eyelashes,
butterflies in tummies,
licked lips,
anxious looks
and longing.
"birthday candles?"

don't worry,
Seol and Taehyung
held hands
by the sea ...
for a very long time.

THE END
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