1 Somewhere Under the Cherry Blossoms

As Liu Chun Ja sat on the tile floor of the dark, dim lit room, feeling betrayed by the only man she ever loved. She loved him even though she knew that he could never love her back. But, she was content with that. Nevertheless, things were different now. New things came to surface that tore her faith in the man she loves apart. Out of all the things he could have done, never she would have thought he was capable of doing this. As she sat and contemplated how could the man she met 4 years ago do this to her, the only thing that came flooding through her mind as fast as her tears falling down her face was that memory. The memory that was forgotten somewhere in time. The memory of the start of their love underneath the falling cherry blossom trees.

Spring of 2014 - Chun Ja's Grandfather's Hanok (Traditional Korean House)

"Chim Chim! Where are you old cat?" yelled Chun Ja as she ran through the halls of the ancestral house. "Where could that old cat be?"

Suddenly from the glimpse of her eye, she could see the fat cat running through quickly escaping from her sight.

"Yah, Chim Chim get back here!" She said as she ran to quickly catch up.

Past the gates of the house, she went to the dirt path with the cherry blossoms trees blooming right next to it. These acres were in the part of the city where the outskirts lay and the chaotic city commotion just can't reach you. The acres were used for farming so you can also see vast fields with tea plants. Also next to these were large estates of hanoks (traditional Korean houses) that are sprawled out over the hillsides. These estates were mainly occupied by wealthy people who just visited for a while to go somewhere peaceful like a vacation house or second home. It was peaceful and calm here like just straight out of an animation film.

After taking in the view she quickly looked around, searching for any trace of Chim Chim. Chun Ja could barely see Chim Chim as he hurriedly left leaving her with only a path of drifting cherry blossoms. She went on with her search until she finally caught up to him and grabbed him. Chun Ja was so focused on getting hold of Chim Chim she completely didn't notice the man standing a couple of feet away from her.

It was not until she picked up Chim Chim she gracefully rose her head meeting the man's face. With their eyes locked within each other's gaze, astonished with each other's image.

The man wearing a gray dress shirt following with black cropped pants. His face resembled that of a young man probably around 24 years of age. His features showed off his youth with his defined chiseled face.

In his perspective, Chun Ja was a petite sized woman standing in front of him wearing a knee-length dress in a color of whiteish gray with a white ribbon that wrapped around her waist to the back tying a perfect bow. Her face with rosy pink lips so delicate and black eyes that can trap you in as she did to that man.

The man slowly approached her as she took a step back a little startled.

The man reacted quickly to her actions and said, "Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything bad. I just wanted to introduce myself." After a few seconds, he saw the cat in her arms so he added, "Oh...so that's your c-c-cat. I was going to take him. Oh, w-w-wait I mean I was going to see if he has a tag on or something to find his owner. "

Chun Ja was curious about what this man's business about being here was about. Why was he here? Houses in these neighborhoods were slightly spaced out to open up room for rolling green hill for plantation. She just stared at him, trying to gather up all the information she can without speaking to him. Of course, she was still a little anxious since it's just her and him, alone.

He could see her anxious look and decided to carry on the conversation in hopes of making a pleasant conversation out of her. He said in a friendly voice, "But anyway I'm Liu Mi-n Jun." Min Jun still stumbled a bit with his words. He was a little tense since this was his first time meeting such a girl like this.

"Hello, nice to meet you, Min Jun. I'm Wang Chun Ja." She responded back in a gentle, graceful voice that just eased all his worries that were unraveling from his mind.

After a couple of minutes conversating Min Jun found out that Chun Ja was her with her parents visiting her grandfather's hanok for spring and that Min Jun was also here with his parents because they had to attend a very special meeting to finalize the expansion of their company, The Liu Financial Group (One of the largest banks in South Korea).

Soon a couple of minutes turned out to be a while, they felt so natural with each other, it was like they knew each other for quite some time. Chun Ja was completely entranced by him and already started falling for him. I guess you can say this is love at first sight.

A sentence or two later Chun Ja came to an assumption that this fellow was nice and need of company so she asked him, "Min Jun if you want to come I can take you on a picnic to my grandfather's secret garden. Will you like to have to come along?"

She regretted this immediately. She thought to herself why would the young master of South Korea's most prestigious family actually agree to go with her.

Min Jun was a little but the shock that this girl he briefly just met would ask him to a picnic. But before he could say anything Chun Ja left with her cheeks blushing red from the embarrassment. Chun Ja ran for some distance with Chim Chim still in her hand.

Min Jun in response said, "Wait!"

But Chun Ja just kept running. After some time, she stopped running and walked out of breath. She thought she was alone now but did she not know that Min Jun ran to catch up to her and was secretly walking a couple of feet behind her.

As for Chun Ja, she was talking out loud still embarrassed. Chun Ja mumbled to Chim Chim, "Aish, why did I say that Chim Chim! He probably has a hot, better-looking girlfriend with sexy lingerie on waiting for him with loving arms on the bed at the hotel."

Min Jun chuckled. This girl is really something all right.

Chun Ja heard the chuckle and turned around to the sight of Min Jun right behind her, with a loving smile.

Chun Ja realized what she has said out loud and felt another wave of embarrassment hit her like a tsunami. What does she say now? Has she offended him?

"Yah! You scared me, you even scared Chim Chim so now I have to go and take him home to avoid . . . um . . further shock." She replied back.

As she was about to turn away and walk from his horrendous scene, she felt a warm soft gentle hand grab her arm and turn her around. Min Jun spinner her around as now she was directly facing him

Min Jun laughed and said, " Hold on, first I don't have a girlfriend waiting for me and secondly I would like take you up on that offer for a picnic if that's still available."

Chun Ja was utterly shocked ehh this man she just maybe offended wanted to come with her even though she's the one who invited him. She could only build up the courage and mutter this out, "Sure. . . Let's go . ."