Dear, My Dear

His name is one word that contains five letters.

He is Jolly all the times when we were together

He has an angelic appearance

An easy-going person

When he's laughing, it's so natural

Lastly, an obedient and optimistic person I've ever known.

I am proud to say that he's my childhood friend --- Jaeno Lee. We grow up together and even dream for our future.

When I need someone, his shoulder is always there for me to lean on. He's my protector. He's my supporter.

He's the first guy who makes me happy. He's the first guy who always makes me burst in laughter. He's the first guy who makes me feel special more than friends.

As time goes by, I didn't notice that my feelings for him started to grow. My day is not complete without seeing him. My night isn't complete if we don't have late talks and conversations during night hours.

I didn't expect that we will be able to reach our dreams at a young age. I thought it will take us a couple of years to succeed. I am thankful for the opportunity that came to us.

But I am not expecting that this success will be the breakdown of our friendship.

A lot of people kept blaming me for what happened as if they really know the truth.

For me, I just protected my friend but due to my cowardliness, in a flash, we lost everything we had worked for.

But there is something that could lead our friendship into destruction.

LC Entertainment. The Society. Standards and expectations of the people around us.

Thank you My Dear for being a courageous person I've ever known. I hope you can forgive me for everything I did. Thank you so much that I met you. Thank you so much for sharing your memories with me...

~*~

JAESUNG

"Jaesung! Wake up! It's your first day of classes and you will be late" I heard my mom's litany when she entered my room. I covered myself with the comforter and continued sleeping.

"Jaesung! Wake up now! I told you to sleep early last night yet you stayed late playing video games!" My mom scolded me while shaking my body but I still continued sleeping. A moment of silence passed and I thought I am able to sleep at peace now but after a while…

"Ouch!!! That hurts!" I get up while touching my arms. She has beaten me using a broom.

"Once your grade is failed again, I will confiscate your video game player. No buts." She threatened.

"Jeez! I am going to prepare now!" I said and get up from my bed. She left my room and when I feel she's already downstairs, I went back to my bed to sleep.

"Ouch!!!" I reacted again when she hit me with the broom again. My mom is very aggressive.

"You get up kiddo or we're going to be late" I heard a familiar voice inside my room. I opened it wide and I saw Jae Yon who's currently smirking at me.

"If you don't move in 10 seconds, I am going to wash you in the comfort room."

"You're so earl—-" I didn't finish what I am about to say when he started the countdown.

"10, 9, 8" I immediately move and proceeded to the comfort room to take a bath. Jae Yon is my best friend. Both our moms are friends during their high school days. Until they have different partners that turned out to be our dads. Their friendship is kind of cute because it started during the toughest days of their teenage life. They are both broken-hearted due to their confession to their crushes during Valentine's Day. They met each other at the park while crying until they had fun to forget the sadness they'd been enduring.

My mom told me that they've been through a lot of misunderstandings before especially when both of them had a partner. They have no time to bond and hang out. But they didn't let their pride prevails and still forgave each other.

Who would have thought that their friendship could be transmitted with us and Jae Yon. He became my best friend, my protector, and my older brother as well. He's older 4 months older than me.

I don't know if this is a coincidence that our both moms got pregnant at the same time. Of course, Jae Yon's mom will be the first one since he's older than me. Jae Yon knocks on the door that made me brought back to reality.

"Jaesung! Make it faster! We're going to wait for a bus though!" Jae Yon said.

"I'll be done in a few" I replied.

"Oh sh*t!" I reacted when he opened the door of my comfort room.

"Hey! C-close the door!" I shout at him while my eyes are enlarging at this point. I don't know what's on him though.

"Jeez! Don't be shy Jaesung! We've been showering many times when we were a child. I already saw that" and he pointed me my hands that I use to cover my body. I get the soap from the rack and throw it at him.

"You scumbag! Close the door now so I can finish taking a bath!" I shouted again. He smirks at me and finally closes the door.

I continued taking a bath. I am not used to locking the door since I am scared. He's the only one who dares to do that.

After a few minutes, I finished taking a bath and I get out of the comfort room. I opened my cabinet to get my uniform and wear it.

"I am excited for this school year! Finally! We're going to enter another chapter of our lives!" He exclaimed.

"Yes. I saw your excitement as you are early today" I told him sarcastically.

"Aside from that, I want to study hard now to reach my dreams"

"What is your dream?"

"You know my wildest dreams. If it's not car designer, a professional dancer will be enough for me." He answered. Since we were young, he's always telling that. Well, he's good at it and I can't blame him if he wants to pursue it.

"I want to be a professional dancer so I can teach those aspirants because I know the feeling of being a dreamer. Someday, I will be seen on the TV dancing different genres and representing our nation" he said while daydreaming.

"That's good. Continue it until you reach it!" I complimented while I am wearing my pants.

"How about you? What is your dream career? Is it still to be a doctor?" I suddenly became quiet at this point. I don't know if I will be able to reach that childhood dream of mine.

Since we were young, I am aiming to be a doctor. I want to help other people who can't afford hospitalization. Also, I was inspired by the doctors here in South Korea. They're good and really cool.

"Yes. It's still my dream" Jae Yon stand up and went in my direction.

"Always remember. Before treating other people, learn how to treat yourself first" he patted my shoulder and get his bag from my study table.

"I'll be heading down since your mom cooked breakfast for us. Prepare faster and we will be late" he said and left my room. I got startled because of the line he said.

A while later, I went downstairs and saw Jae Yon who's currently eating. My mom prepared Banchan for us. Banchan is a collective name for small side dishes served along with cooked rice in Korean cuisine. It usually consists of bap or cooked rice, guk or soup, gochugang or red chili paste, ganjang or soy sauce, Jjigae or Korean stew, and lastly, Kimchi, our famous side dish.

"Jaesung! Eat now" my mom told me and I sit beside Jae Yon. When I finally sit beside him, he suddenly massaged my leg that make me tickle.

"Stop!" I said to him while pointing the chopstick at him. He charmingly smiled at me. Every time he's doing that, his monolid eyes are vanishing. I continued eating quickly. I saw the clock and it's now 6:30 in the morning. Jeez, we're going to wait for a bus!

After I finished the meal, I stand up and drink the water. "I'm done, Mom! We're going to leave now!" I said and I immediately get my bag and went outside of our house. Jae Yon said goodbye to my mom and he followed me outside.

We went to the bus stop to wait for a bus. Jae Yon and I are walking while his arm is on my shoulder.

"Are you not excited?" He asked me while looking at me seriously.

"I guess that our vacation is not enough though" I replied to his question.

"Damn. You should stop studying, I guess?" He said while he's frowning. I removed his arm on my shoulder and pull him lightly while smirking.

"How dare you to say that I should quit studying? My grades are still higher than yours!" I said and did tongue out.

"You jerk!" He said and run to catch me. I ran fast and we have reached the bus stop. Our timing is perfect because a bus that is heading to our school just stop. We get inside and went to the second to the last seat.

This is our favorite spot since before. I can't explain but if we're going to ride a bus, we're sitting here automatically.

Jae Yon brings out his phone and earphones. He put the other pair of earphones on my ears and plays a piece of music.

He looked at me in my eyes. Whenever I am looking at it, I feel like I am safe…

"I am still sleepy," he said while yawning and putting his head on my shoulder. I looked at his face again and fixed his hair that is covering his eyes