A Litle Closer: A Fiction

Bomin wants to be closer, just a little bit closer

Choi Bomin was preparing to enter his high school, he was new in town. His father just moved out from London to their hometown in Seoul. He was busy preparing his new high school life and adjusting his new life since it’s been a while he studies in Korean school.

Today was weekend, he was planning to roam around Gangnam or just walk around Han river. It was a nice weather and he was enjoying the spring breeze while listen to his iPod.

The were a lot of people spent their time around Han River, Some just sitting enjoying the sunset, or jogging or doing street performance. One of the crowd with the loudest cheer came from the youths in front of him. Apparently there was a dance battle there. The kids who get the loudest cheers seem to be a sixth grader of elementary that shook him because he was really good.

A person Who was lost

Gave me a heart fluttering feeling.

The kid who dance seems so cheerful and even he was still a child he dances like a pro. The boy attracts Bomin attention with admiration. It seems that he was lost in his own world where there only him and the dance to hip-hop.

Without realising, it starts raining he was running the nearest food stall tent around him. He was a little wet because of the rain. He was busily trying to dry himself when he saw that boy was beside him.

‘It was a great performance’ Bomin finally managed to say something.

‘thanks’ the boy replied while smiling.

I remember it, I keep remembering.

It was already April and its time for him to back to school. He was the first year student on Hanlim high school. His parents want him to enter international high school but he chose to continue his study in Hanlim. Their neighbour son was also a student in Hanlim. Jaehyun was his friend, a Hyung actually, they were quite close before they moved to London and now he’s back they became close friend again.

Bong Jaehyun was a second year student and he was a little bit shy. However, it wasn’t hard for Bomin to close to him since they’re know each other since they’re babies.

Besides schools, Jaehyun likes to improved his confidence by dancing. He was also practicing dance at Woollim and sometimes join a dance competition for high school students. Jaehyun brought Bomin to Woollim  studio since Bomin was interested in dance. The practice time is thrice a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Bomin parents was free him to do anything he likes as long as it did’nt affect his grade on school.

The memory of the boy who danced on Han river still lingering in his mind and he was also want improve his dance skills. He was very exited when Jaehyun asked him to join them. Right after the last bell ringing he was rushed to gate where he was promised Jaehyun to meet.  There, he met another member of their team, his name was Youngtaek. Son Young Taek was a cheerful student and seems very playful. He was joke around a lot and another student was Joochan. Hong Joochan was very skinny, he was playful but not as playful as Youngtaek. Joo Chan wants to be a ballad singer. It was his dream. Jaehyun, Youngtaek and Joochan was second year high school students. Wollim studio was’nt that far from Hanlim, they’re went there by foot.

When they’re arrived at Woollim studio, they were already some people there. Some of them just playing around on the studio. Bomin was a little bit nervous when he was arrived.

The team will consist of 11 members, including him. Apparently the oldest was Daeyol, Sungyoon, Jaesok and Jangjun. They were on third year of high school. Then there are six students on the second year, beside Jaehyun, Youngtaek and Joochan, there were also Jiboem, Seungmin and Donghyun from another school.

They were nice and friendly, Bomin was accepted even he was lack of skills and experience on dance. Jangjun was so loud and extra and thanks to him the room quite lively. When they’re were joking around about Jangjun dreams of chicken, Jiboem, Seungmin and Donghyun arrived because their school a bit far from the studio. Bomin finally met all the team members.

You’re the love that I’ve always been waiting for.

Why didn’t I know.

Bomin was struck, it was him.

The boy from Han river.

‘Annyeong haseo, Kim Donghyun Imnida’ he said cheerfully.

He wasn’t asixth grader at all. Actually and factually he was older by a year from Bomin.

He is a hyung.

Daeyol hyung was the leader, he was arranged the schedule of their activities. The hyungs on the third year was very busy since their also has to prepared graduation and university exam. Since Bomin was new, Dayeol assign Donghyun to teach and practice one on one.

Apparently Donghyun didn’t remember meeting Bomin before.

‘I saw you on Han river a few months ago’ Bomin said to Donghyun ‘You had a battle dance’ he continued.

‘You’re very cool back then’ Bomin keeps blabbering.

‘So Am I not cool right now’ Donghyun replied.

‘Bomin was flustered to his response ‘It wasn’t what I meant hyung’ he said.

‘I know; it was a joke’ he said while laughing.

His laugh was so addicting, Bomin was never know that a laugh can be that mesmerizing.

I’m going a little closer to you

Come a little closer to me, just once

The Words I Love you, Word I didn’t know

You taught me, I love you.

Since Bomin need to catch up with the team, he was practicing every day with Donghyun. Donghyun was a nice hyung since he wants the best for the team.  They had different schools, so they just met on Woollim studio on weekdays after school.

Later on, Bomin starting to know, actually Donghyun is a very mature person. They were practice hard and talk about their dream on their breaks. Donghyun dreams that their team can join ‘Hit The Stage’ a dance competition on one of music tv networks WNET.

Some times Donghyun can be a granny too. He seems to be a tidy freak, he would be complaining and lecturing Bomin. If he was put his bag and uniform carelessly, Donghyun will put Bomin stuff on his locker while lecturing him. On some other time, Donghyun treats him ice cream after their practice. Once in awhile the whole team will be hang around on a beach or amusement park or just to watch some movies on the weekend. They grow closer and closer every day and it become a habit where there were Donghyun there is also Bomin.

You said it’ll come if I wait

Those common words comforts me

I remember it, and actually

That comfort was my everything

You were my everything

A year has passed.

It was almost graduation time for the hyungs who was in the third year. Daeyeol, Sungyoon, Jaesok and Jangjun will be university students. To celebrate their graduation, all of the teams goes to karaoke. Amazingly, all of them was good at singing. They were enjoying the weekend until night in the karaoke. 

Daeyeol and Sungyoon choose the same university with Chinese literature major while Jaesok chose to study education and Janjun become psychology student. Anyway, they were still living on Seoul.

The big plan this year was, we decided to join the competition. Daeyol hyung already send the application to Hit the stage competition and we already received the confirmation. The six member of the team will be in their third year of their high school this year, however they were very enthusiastic and passionate.

It was on 23 february.

Bomin has chocolate wrapped beutifully on his pocket. It was Donghyun birthday. The team plans to eat dinner together on Donghyun’s treat. The menu will be Samgyupsal since it was a special day. Bomin want to show his gratitude and affection to Donghyun on his special day. It was a special chocolate he bought yesterday with a card he prepared. It was a small message happy birthday and I love you and his initial ‘B’ on it.

The dinner was very crowded since there were 11 persons in it plus Jangjun and Taek who never stop bothering Seungmin. Bomin sat beside Donghyun while enjoying the samgyupsal. They talk and talk and talk but Bomin never get the chance to give him the chocolate or he discourage himself to giving it.

They keep on laughing for whatever jokes come out until it was already late. Before they went home finally Bomin manage to put the chocolate on Donghyun school bag.

I’m going a little closer to you

Come a little closer to me, just once

The Words I Love you, Word I didn’t know

You taught me, I love you.

Bomin can see how happy Donghyun is, since they will soon enter the preliminary auditions. Bomin also want to do the best since it was the dream of the whole team. They’re planning on the extra practice time, however since there were six third year students they cannot do that. It was also the crucial times they cannot afford anybody to be sick or injured either.

After Bomin put chocolate on Donghyun bag, they were met for practice. However, Donghyun didn’t say anything about it. They were just joke around as usual. After a year passed, Bomin now more relaxed in their team. He was joking about to send Donghyun to school with kickboard and all of the laugh about it. Donghyun a bit angry tough he wasn’t a child.

It was half jokes and half true tough, he is really want to send Donghyun once or twice or as often as possible if Donghyun allowed. There weren’t really times for just the two of them so Bomin lost the timing to talk about the chocolate. Even he didn’t make the chocolate, the message was sincere.

The preliminary was a success; they were passed to be one of the finalist. There were 12 teams that will compete and they were will be on the show as one of the contestant. And also they will be on TV while they were on the competition. They were couldn’t be happier when received the announcement.

Since today was Bomin birthday, they plan to celebrate the birthday in Bomin’s house. Bomin’s mother has prepared dinner for all of them and then they ordered chicken as snacks. It was a happy occation not only because of the birthday boy but also celebration on their passing as finalist. They make a toast with orange juice and all the team members was introduced to Choi Family.

Bomin also showed Donghyun his room.

‘This is my room hyung’ he said proudly showing his room with white and blue decorations.

‘Wa.. This is nice, you have a nice taste Bomin’ Donghyun replied while sitting on his bed. And then Bomin shows the detail of his room to Donghyun, the cupboard, his clothes, his desk, his shelves, books and his computer.

‘Hyung, I put Chocolate on your bag, did you receive it?’ suddenly Bomin said while they were laying on the bed.

‘Mmm….’ Donghyun hesitated to answered.

‘Bomin its time to eat’ they were hearing Bomin’s mother from downstairs asking to gather for dinner.

They were enjoying their dinner with a little chat right here and there. With their laughter time goes and time to say good bye. All of them went home.

Bomin was in his room, he was zoning out, thinking, back to the time where Donghyun was in his room. He’s happy after all even he didn’t really get the answer he wants today.

The competition goes smoothly, its been months since Bomin Birthday and Graduation already around the corner. Bomin and Donghyun never talk about the chocolate anymore or his feeling or his love for the older. He was just there for him every time, because Donghyun was already so busy with school and the competition. It was an important moment for him and Bomin only want to support him, whole heartily with his best.

This Friday will be Graduation day for the third year students and next week after that will be their Grand final in the stage Competition.  They were planning to eating out together and go to karaoke to celebrate the graduation. 

Bomin wants to surprise him, he wants to be the first that congratulate Donghyun on his graduation. He wants to go to Donghyun school.

‘ Hyung, Where are you’ he called Donghyun.

‘I’m in School, Why?’ Donghyun answered.

‘I’ll be there, Don’t go anywhere, wait forme ok’ Bomin said and closed the phone.

Bomin was happy, he was smiling all the way until his lips reach his ear.  He passed the flower shop and buy some hydrangea and blue rose. It was a beautiful bouquet. He was still in his school uniform and happily wait in front gate of Donghyun school.

He waited, waited and waited, it was still early anyway. The ceremony has just started.

It was a pick up truck that went through the pedestarian.

The driver was drunk.

And Bomin was there with the flower.

And it happened just in the blink of eye.

The ceremony was over when Donghyun was trying to call Bomin.

He said he will come anyway.

The was left with no answer,

He tried and tried and tried again. The result was the same.

It was when he heard some people talk about accident in front of their school gate.

Apparently, the victim was a student from another school.

He was afraid, Donghyun couldn’t think.

He was running to the front gate.

It was already very crowded; they were still waiting for the ambuance.

Donghyun was trying to pass through. He wants to see, to make sure it wasn’t Bomin.

When he saw him first, he drops his heart, it was really Bomin.

Bomin was lying there, Blood is everywhere,

‘Bomina, Bomina, Bomina, Choi Bomin’ Donghyun was crying his heart out.

Bomin was still holding his flower, times goes slowly.

The ambulance hasn’t arrived and Donghyun crying for help.

He keeps on crying while Bomin getting weak.

He doesn’t want to lose him, not today.

Faintly he hears the siren of the ambulance and paramedic came to help.

Bomin almost lost his consiusness.

‘Hyung’ he said while trying to give the flower that became red

because of his own blood.

Donghyun just keeps on crying, he wasn’t expecting to be this surprise.

My growing feelings

Tell me not to leave now, to be happy

That we can be forever.

…Two years later…

 Donghyun continue his study to England,

He is an East asia studies student now.

It was spring break.

Donghyun was sitting on the bench listening to his Ipod.

Saranginaraneun mal nan mollasseossdeon mal

Naege garaechyeojun neol saranghae….

Saranghae….

Saranghae….

Saranghae….

He was listening to Hyorin: Come a little closer while watching some youth doing street dance in Trafalgar square.

It brings back memories,

When he was doing dance battle park around Han river.

‘it was great Hyung’, he remembered his smile.

The smile he will never forget and always miss.

Always…...