The Sign

Each flower is beautiful in its own way. But unluckily, the language it speaks was not for a conversation some of the time. After all, most of the time, people send flowers out for conversation either when they try to woo someone or after their loved ones' death. 

Wang Min Jun hand-picked a few white lilies and yellow lilies. He arranged the hydrangea strategically so that it would peak in between the white and yellow lilies. He made the beautiful bouquet, spending most of his morning. White lilies indicated purity and virtue, whereas yellow lilies for thankfulness and hydrangea spoke gratitude. Nothing gave the solace as he prepared something for the aunt he adored the most in his life.

With the beautiful bouquet in hand, Wang Min Jun entered the Hall of Tranquility. The place always gave him a sense of home since day one of his visits. He has heard as a child that his aunt Yang loved lilies, and since then, whenever he visited her, he brought lilies along with hydrangea for her. But he never knew if she ever received them. For him, it was the thought that always mattered.

"Imo, how are you? I know I did not visit you in a long time. I know you missed me the most. Even though you never met me, I know I am your favourite nephew. I wished we met at least one, Imo. Every time I hear something about you from your sister, I always regretted never having a chance to meet you. But today, when eomma spoke about how supportive you were of your brother's love life, I really wish you were my mother. When I told eomma about it, she laughed and said, if you met me before her, you would have adopted me right then and there, unlike her who thought about it for a few days. Even though we never met, we still ended family, didn't we? I am happy about that." Min Jun stood beside the grave in a private garden. The place was well maintained, and there were varieties of flowers planted in the place. He sat on the ground very close to the tombstone.

"Let me tell you a secret that I did not tell this to abeoji and eomma yet. Obviously, your daughter knows. You know I can never hide anything from that little brat. I came back to Daehanmingug to clear my head. I was hesitant to break someone's heart for the first time. Henry went through way too much that I did not want to add more to his pain. But who knew I would get courage and reason not to bind both of us in a loveless relationship. I realised I don't have to be with Henry out of pity. He would not like it too. Also, I found someone I have a crush on. He was the one who gave the courage to take this decision. This is not the first time I had a crush on someone. But I want to make this my last crush. It's too soon to say I like him, but I look forward to liking him, fall in love with him and spend the rest of my life with him." Min Jun poured out his heart to his aunt. He did not realise that he liked Young Jae even at the moment.

"But I am terrified, Imo. What if I get heartbroken? Worse, what if I broke his heart? When I told this to your little brat, she asked me to look for signs if I am not confident. How do I even know what the sign is? I have never been in love. What do I do, Imo? I wish you were here to teach me all of it?" A lonely tear slipped through his cheeks. He never felt it was bizarre to be fond of someone who died even before he knew them. But growing up, listening to the stories about how great his aunt was, made him like her. He was grateful for his life as it was partly because of his sister - aunt's daughter. 

"Should I check the internet, Imo? It is a weird place with answers to almost everything. Even to the weirdest things. Not all the answers are right, but something is better than nothing, right, Imo?" With that, he pulled his phone out and typed in the search bar.

Multiple links were shown and he started browsing through them. He snorted almost at a few suggestions on his search, how to identify if your crush has a crush on you?

Finally, he clicked on one link stating this would be the last link he would search.

"Five signs your crush likes you. How can you find in five signs, Imo? Is it even possible? 1. They ask about your relationship. Well, Young Jae don't have to ask about my relationship. He knew how worse my lifestyle was. If he likes me after knowing what kind of a mess I was, then damn I am way too lucky. Don't you think, Imo?" Min Jun tried to cover his dejection by attempting to liven the mood for himself and his aunt's spirit.

"2. They act differently around you? Imo, did it means like a hedgehog? He is all full of defence till I get him to calm. When I calm him down, he turns into a lost-cuddly-fluff- ball. You know he is way too adorable. But this point, I am not clear. I can't make decision-based on it. Let's move to next, 3. They knew about you, even the little things you didn't tell them. Nope. No chance for that. Maybe searching the internet is a stupid idea, Imo. But I don't want to ask your sister or brother-in-law. They are crazy." Min Jun was lost in his own world, engaging in a one-sided conversation with his aunt's tombstone.

Min Jun was quite for a minute. " Fine. I will continue because it is Young Jae. And being your nephew, how could I quit before achieving my goal? Then you will be disappointed in me. I can't have that, can I? 4. They look at you a lot. Damn, he had never seen me. It is a shame I can't figure it out anytime soon about how he would look at me?" Min Jun became quite as his mind wandered to Young Jae's injury.

"Isn't eyes the window of the soul, Imo? I had to wait so long to see the way of how he would look at me. He doesn't even know how I look, Imo. Do you think he will find me handsome when we meet in the future? This is absurd Imo. Isn't it, Imo? I don't know what to do with myself and searching the internet only to get more confused, Imo." Min Jun sulked.

A soft breeze blew past him as if someone was there to comfort him. He smiled.