Chapter 47 - My Dear Hana (3)

When he turns 18, he comes back for her.

He watches her from afar. His Hana is 11 years old now. She is playing with her friend. She has already let someone else in her life. The other girl is scolding her about something. She is grinning and wagging her arms like an idiot. He hides behind the tree and tries to listen to their conservation.

"Why are you moving your arms up and down?" The other girl asks her, annoyed. "You look like a joker."

"Ji Won, these are my wings... Oink! Oink!" She imitates and makes sounds like a pig. "I am Mimo, the flying pig."

"I hate that pig." Ji Won becomes mad. "Why are you copying that? You are annoying me."

"You irritate me more." Hana crosses her arms. "You are always nagging me when I am playing."

"You play with boys all the time and get hurt easily." Ji Won copies her action and crosses her arms. "You are worse at sports."

"If I am bad at it, I can't play?" Hana argues back. "What kind of rule is that?"

"Don't argue with me." Ji Won puts her hand on her waist. "You have wounds over your knees. The boys taught you to pull off the scalp. It's so gross."

"My knees. If they are gross to you, just look away." Hana points at the tree where he is hiding. "There are a lot of trees. Flowers. People. The world doesn't lack the things to look at. Why do you keep looking at my knees?"

"Because I don't like it when they are bleeding." Ji Won pouts and walks ahead. Ahn Hana scratches her head. She looks at the tree.

"I don't understand her," She says it to the tree before running behind her friend to make up with her.

He sits down on the ground. Ahn Hana has been changed. She has other people she loves. There is no space for him. She doesn't remember him or her promise.