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SECOND CHANCE LOVE
by Reji
So-hee sat at the window watching the full moon gleam along with thousands
of stars on a very fine night. Her face was leaned against her knees. She
breathed tiredly and her eyes were drowned by tears. She sobbed gently,
preventing others to hear her. She has been like this since the night invaded
the earth.
It was passed a year since Song-ju heedlessly left her after a four-year
relationship. She never talked to him since then, though she was seeing him
around the city with his new girlfriend.
Things were so hard for So-hee. She was trying to forget him. She focused
her time in sports, academics and in arts. It was a perfect refuge for her
and a total sacrifice either!
A day of her disgusting past came back. So-hee's parents enrolled her on
the same university where Song-ju was studying. He was four years older than
her that made So-hee to be one of the school's freshmen.
"How could I face him?" So-hee had cried to her friend, Jin-sung.
"Don't look at him. Not once! Okay?" Jin-sung exclaimed. "So-hee, forget
about him. He's jerk and psychopathic who doesn't know how to give importance
to a great person like you!"
Jin-sung's words charged So-hee with spirit and courage. After a ride on
the bus, she entered the university's gate gently. She stooped, letting her
long shiny hair cover her face.
"Jin-sung, I'm so sorry. I'm not yet prepared!" she whispered. She immediately
walked to the building and looked for her room. As she was walking through
the corridor, students didn't miss to stare at So-hee. She was fantastically
beautiful, though she lacked confidence to show it to everybody. When she
finally found her room, she never wasted her time. She glued her butt on
the chair and never did plan to stray outside.
"I'll just suffer here!" she whispered.
For the entire month, So-hee started to adjust to her new environment, disregarding
the fact that she was in the same institution with her ex-boyfriend. She
started to become confident at school. She attended activities she wished
to join. But the mere fact was she had her feet off the senior's building.
That way, she would perfectly steer clear of meeting Song-ju.
So-hee's simplicity attracted a lot of students. Without doing anything,
she became popular at school making her as "campus crush." Male students
sent her fan letters that made her a total celebrity at school. But things
resulted only to So-hee's burden, feeling unease every time she passed by
a group of students.
News spread throughout the school including to the seniors. Song-ju heard
a lot of stories about a girl named So-hee but disregarded it, thinking that
she was a different person she knew before. For the record, he didn't see
So-hee as a pretty attractive one 'short haired and thin. And she was nothing
in compared to the fine lady they were describing.
"Impossible! She's a different one," he proudly whispered.
One fine morning, just before the first subject in the morning, Song-ju and
his girlfriend Yuri along with their senior friends sat on the field in front
of the soccer field. They had a very exciting and humorous talk when Song-ju
inadvertently looked at the opposite direction. He can't believe to his eyes.
He never blinked, not once, seeing a fair lady with her sporty denim skirt
and robber shoes. She walked, carrying her bag as her long hair flew along
with gentle morning breeze.
"Han So-hee!" a group of girl soccer players called out.
She waved and smiled. It was the sweetest smile Song-ju had seen. Even his
friends turned their attention to So-hee who passed by.
"Oh man, they're right!" Song-ju's friend exclaimed as they were all staring
at her.
Loud school bell rang....
"Song-ju, come on," Yuri pulled him out of the field, feeling uncomfortable.
So-hee pre-occupied Song-ju's mind. He didn't listen to their lesson and
after class, he unbelievably left. He went back to the field where he saw
So-hee. He stood there for about five minutes and imagined her walking in
front of him. The field was empty. It was late afternoon and the students
were out.
"Perhaps, she's home now," he whispered smiling.
So-hee painted a picture inside her room. She remembered Song-ju and then
contemplated. She stopped painting and sat on her bed. She grabbed her diary.
"It's exactly two years and still, can't forget about him. I guess, avoiding
him wasn't a great idea. It just gave me a reason to miss him. Huh, what
should I do? See him? I guess so!"
So-hee headed first at the school cafeteria than Jin-sung. Carrying her food
on a tray, she searched for an empty seat. When she passed by a group of
students, a loud voice woke her up.
"So-hee!"
In front of her were Song-ju and his friends ' that was the moment she tried
to avoid but she can't escape. She gathered her spirits in a single second
to face him. Finally, So-hee took a stand. She greeted him with a bow like
he was an ordinary fan to So-hee and left.
Song-ju's eyes followed her as she sat on a distant seat with Jin-sung. He
felt disappointed and abashed on So-hee's gestures. His friends on the other
hand surprised Song-ju's connection to So-hee.
"Wow! You didn't tell us, you knew So-hee!"
Yuri angered the scene and stared badly at Song-ju.
"She's a family friend," he exclaimed to ease his girlfriend's jealousy.
So-hee and Jin-sung walked home together. Carrying their heavy duffels with
soccer uniforms and stuffs, they chatted gladly.
"That's perfect, So-hee!" Jin-sung said.
"I can face him now!"
"I told you, that's easy! And what you did was amazing. See, Song-ju realized
that he wasn't that good and there are a lot of guys out there that you can
choose from. Hey, who's Mr. Right?"
So-hee replied a smile ' a doubtful smile. She slowed her pace and became
silent.
It was Saturday and So-hee stayed at home. She cleaned up her room and kept
her old stuffs. On her box were gifts, pictures and letters from Song-ju.
She felt released after meeting him and decided to throw the trash she kept
for so long.
On the other hand, Song-ju gathered back from his box the stuffs from So-hee.
He returned his picture with her on the frame, replacing his picture with
Yuri.
Now that So-hee finally released her memories with Song-ju, Song-ju recollected
them all. Actually it was a big surprise for So-hee when she received a bouquet
of flowers at home. It has no note and she didn't have the idea where it
came from.
After school, So-hee took a ride on a bus and Song-ju surprisingly sat beside
her. She ignored him at once. Song-ju noticed it. He tried to catch her attention
but he has nothing to say. Perhaps, he felt guilty after breaking her heart
two years back.
"Ah.....how's your parents?" Song-ju stammered, struggling to get So-hee's
attention. But, he didn't hear a reply.
So-hee glued her eyes outside. She controlled her anger upon Song-ju. She
doesn't want to build another connection on him because she doesn't trust
him anymore. Song-ju continued talking.
"So-hee, I never thought you're good at sports. I saw you played and your
game's amazing!" he overjoyed and tried to look delighted but not So-hee.
"Ah....I've seen your paintings and they're work of art! Actually, I told daddy
about it and he's coming to the exhibit!" Song-ju added but So-hee remained
heedless. He realized So-hee's anger on him.
"I'm....sorry, I'm so sorry!" Song-ju exclaimed.
So-hee was disgusted. She abruptly stood and asked the driver to stop. She
went down the bus and Song-ju followed her.
So-hee walked steadfastly to avoid him but Song- ju was firm and followed
her.
"So-hee!" he called out. "So-hee!"
So-hee stopped and turned to Song-ju exasperatingly. Her tears began to fall.
"After what you have done, you'll show up as if nothing had happened and
say just a sorry?"
"I'm so sorry So-hee!"
So-hee stared at him. "Things are better left that way than to feel sorry!"
She ran away.
"What? He said that?" Jin-sung wondered. "Oh my gosh So-hee, he's trying
to make up things with you again!"
"Huh?" So-hee acted like she doesn't know a thing.
"Think this way So-hee. Song-ju wants to go back with you. And now he feels
sorry about the past to convince you in accepting him again! Hey, don't easily
trust him. Remember, he once cheated you!"
Song-ju and So-hee's way crossed together at school. Song-ju was walking
with his closest friend Tae Hwa, when he encountered her. So-hee avoided
him, even his eye. He can't do anything to speak to her so he set himself
to be contented in just looking at her. Tae Hwa wondered the scene.
Since that day, Song-ju changed a lot. He started to become quiet and down.
His friends realized it and wondered. He even broke up with Yuri without
giving any reason. Tae Hwa, his best friend appealed some explanation from
Song-ju.
"What's wrong man? You're like that since you encountered that snubby So-hee.
What's with that girl, Song-ju? What's with her that you have to withdraw
your pleasure?"
Song-ju replied Tae Hwa a smile. "I deserve this, man. This is the price
of my actions!" he stood, preparing to leave.
"Who is she? Who is So-hee?"
Song-ju walked and left Tae Hwa. He stopped and shrugged. "Somebody.... Somebody
I missed!"
So-hee noticed Song-ju outside staring at her house in the middle of the
night. There, he stood firm and resilient. She ignored it and go back to
sleep. After several hours for about 2 AM, in the morning, So-hee woke up.
She secretly peeped through her window and unbelievably saw Song-ju there.
So-hee started to bite her lip but she controlled herself and worried nothing
about Song-ju.
That same morning, So-hee woke up satisfied with her sleep. She immediately
took a glimpse outside but found no Song-ju anymore.
So-hee hurried for school. "Bye mom!" She opened the door to leave and astonished
the attraction she saw. Tulips filed on their doorstep amazed her eyes. Formed
into a heart shape, tulips bloomed beautifully. In the middle was a small
note saying I'm sorry!
At school, So-hee found another bouquet of tulips inside her locker and another
sorry note was attached.
"Song-ju," she whispered.
At soccer practice, So-hee found her self alone and surprised. Bunch and
bunch of tulips, So-hee's favorite flower scattered on the field with notes
of sorry on it.
"So-hee!" a soft voice spoke to her. "Song-ju's suffering too! I know how
he had hurt you and I actually don't have the right to speak to you like
this. My best friend, he's never been stupid like right now. He broke up
with Yuri. He forgot to smile. He wandered everywhere looking for tulips
and scattered it on the field. Huh! I don't like him doing those things.
He is now an insane Song-ju but what I understand, he loves you so much!"
So-hee felt relieved. She closed her eyes and imagined Song-ju's face. She
smiled. "Fool!" she whispered.
Song-ju sat drearily on a bus seat. He stared outside exhaustedly like he
lost all his hopes on So-hee. The bus started to leave. Song-ju felt really
tired and he slowly closed his eyes. Out of his tiring day, he managed to
sleep on the bus.
In the middle of his dreaming, Song-ju slipped his head and woke up. He found
himself lying on somebody's shoulder. He lifted his head slowly. He saw the
person's lips, fine cheeks, nose and eyes. She looked familiar.
"How could you sleep on a bus for three hours?" a gentle voice spoke to him.
Song-ju looked around and found no one but the driver and the person on his
side. He realized that it was already pitch dark outside.
"Song-ju, I'm hungry! Can we stop at Burger House?"
Song-ju smiled - his sweetest smile ever. "Sure! But don't forget to
watch your diet, So-hee!"
They both laughed.
--------END-------
July 21 , 2005