18 This Spring Season Seems More Beautiful........

Year 2004

"…So my dear students, today is the last day of your second year middle school…"

"YAYYYYYY!!!!"

"Yes, yes, I know. You all are excited and happy.

So I won't take your much time.

Have a great Spring break my children.

Hope I'll meet all of you again, as a 3rd year middle school student after spring break.

Enjoy a lot. It was a great year with all of you.", said Mrs. Jang happily.

"Thank you, teacher.", said the whole class.

Some of the students went to Mrs. Jang to give her 'Thank you' flowers.

"Aww…My sweeties…Thank you, thank you..", and she received the flowers happily.

Mia was also one of the students who went to give the flower.

"Here, Teacher. Thank you..", she said with a sweet smile.

"Oh! Thank you so much dear.", she took the flower from her hands.

"Did you make this?"

It was an Origami rose.

Mia nodded.

"It's beautiful!"

"Thank you…", Mia said smiling brightly.

'So she smiles like that at everyone...', Ray thought as he was watching Mia from his seat.

~

~

"So Mia, what are you gonna do this spring break?", Gyuri asked as she was walking beside her in the hallways.

"Umm…Actually, we are going on a trip.

We haven't decided the destination yet but it will be an 8-10 days trip.

And after that, I'll go to my grandma's house with Jina."

"Ohhh, I envy you Mia.

Your family always takes you somewhere in the spring break.

I wish my family was also like that.", Gyuri pouted.

"When we'll get older, we'll go on a trip. Okay?"

Gyuri nodded happily.

As they were about to turn towards the stairs,

"Miaa…..Gyuriiiii….."

Someone called their names.

Both the girls looked behind and they saw April running towards them.

"Wait…."

Mia and Gyuri looked at each other in confusion.

April came in front of them panting a bit.

After a while she said, "…I wanted you two to come to my Birthday party."

"Your birthday party?"

"Yes! It's next Tuesday.

Please do come.", April said with a cute smile.

"Who else is coming?", asked Gyuri.

"I am calling all my friends.

And so I am calling you too."

"…Okay. We'll try…", said Gyuri.

"Thanks!", she said and went back happily.

"Since when, we are her friends?", asked Gyuri.

"I like April. She is a nice girl.

We were lab partners, so she is a good friend of mine…"

"Oh, really?

Everyone is nice and everyone is a good friend of yours. Right?" Gyuri rolled her eyes.

"Why are you saying like that? Don't you like her?"

"…No….I mean, she is nice but….

That Choi So Hee…..She'll be there for sure…

And I don't like her at all…..

She is just full of herself….", said Gyuri.

"But it's not her birthday. It's April's.

So I think we should go." Mia tried to convince her.

"…Yeah…okay…whatever…."

"Oh, come on. Now don't pout for such things.

Smile…Come on…Smile now…."

And Mia started tickling her.

"Hahahaha…..okay…okay…..Hahaha….

P..Please….Stop…..Hahaha…"

~

~

Sitting on her bicycle, Mia was heading towards her home.

Riding through the cycle path she was humming happily.

The weather was nice.

It was the onset of the spring.

The cold winter air was now a bit warmer spring breeze.

Birds were chirping and were flying from one branch to another.

The trees on the roadside were taking a hint of pink color as the spring flowers were blooming.

It was really beautiful.

Mia was mesmerized by all this.

'I see this every year, but why it seems so beautiful this time?

Is this because…'

As she was thinking this…

Pfssssssssss…..

"Huh?"

Ssss…

Mia got off from her bicycle.

"Uh, ow….The tire punctured!"

Mia sighed loudly.

She saw here and there.

'There is no shop around here to repair this…..I think I'll have to go home like this….'

She sighed again.

And holding her cycle's handle she started to walk home.

After crossing the square, as she was walking on the footpath, she saw a familiar face standing close to a shop's glass and peeking inside.

'Ray….?'

She went closer.

And saw, that it was a candy shop.

Mia smiled.

"Ray?"

"Huh?", startled by her voice, Ray turned back immediately.

"Oh! Mia!....What are you doing here?"

"That's what I was gonna ask you.

Well, I am going home right now.

But what are you doing here?"

"Umm, I am here to get some gifts…"

"Gifts?"

"Yeah, it's April's birthday next week."

'Oh Right!...I forgot that she is his cousin.

That means, he is also going to be there…..' The thought made her happy.

"…Did you know?", asked Ray.

"Yeah. She invited us for her birthday party."

"Ohh….So….Umm...Are you guys coming?", he asked hesitantly.

"Yeah!", Mia replied.

Ray smiled relieved.

"But what are you doing outside the candy shop?"

"Umm….Well….I was thinking of giving her some cute candies and chocolates."

"As a gift?"

"Yeah….Why?

I gave her candies last year too and she liked them a lot.

She also gave me some of those.", Ray giggled.

"She liked them….or you?", Mia asked smiling and tilting her head to a side.

"Well…..you know…..Hehehe…", Ray scratched back of his head.

Mia sighed.

"Now what?....What should I do?

I can't think of anything to give her….", Ray said putting his head down.

"I know a very good gift shop around here.

Come on. Let's go."

"Huh? What?"

"I'll help you to get a gift for April!", said Mia and smiled brightly.

'That….That smile…again….' He thought.

Mia started walking with her cycle but Ray was still standing there stunned.

"…Ray?", she said looking back.

"Huh?", he came back to his senses.

"Let's go!"

"Y…Yeah...."

And he followed her hurriedly.