The Author's Spotlight ??

Hello, everyone! Welcome to another week 5 participant! This is Hopie's short story, ad I think you guys are really going to like it. This story is about Sohee and Byeol, two individuals I think you're going to grow to care deeply about throughout this short. This is a journey of a story, so I hope you guys enjoy it!

By: Hopie37

Winter.

Chilling and calm. It was the same way silence was for me.

I looked outside pulling the curtains aside, there wasn't any white cover inconveniencing the roadsiders, or giving kids an excuse to not go school, or letting any day go by not reminding me of my mistake.

But there was that cold atmosphere which could make me clutch my sweater and gradually glance at the bed. Warm and full of sleep.

Waiting for another moment, I still didn't find any good reason to go out. There wasn't any reason to go outside but there was a reason to not go. Somehow, I stepped back to lie on the bed, the warmth was relaxing but never good enough to calm me down.

Whenever the warmness started to rule my mind and tell me to forgive myself, her laugh would echo from a distant corner.

"Hey, do you think you will be saved after disturbing my sleep with those icy hands of yours?"

Her open laugh and giggles now felt distant as if it was a dream. As if it had been for a longer time.

"Mine are icebergs. Just wait!"

We would end up in a cold hand fight. Late night home party with just the two of us reminiscing our moments about how we became this close friends. The room overfilled with the half suppressed laughs of hers and my rant about life.

Sohee.

A small smile came over my face, and I could tell that it was bitter by each and every regret I had till now. I snuggled more while some tears threatened to break the walls. I just again built them higher.

"Do you think we are soulmates in every universe?"

Ding.

"Byeol? Are you there?" I immediately fluttered the feeling away sitting straight hearing the voice from outside the door.

I assumed it to be the next door grandma who was also the owner of most of the houses here. Reaching the door, she was again with the letters and now with a new box of fruits.

"Here. I've been getting back and forth between that Choi and the society work." She handed me the box making me bow at her gesture. Those letters weren't hers but the fruit basket was surely another gift for me from her.

"Mr. Choi is your husband." I stressed on making the sentence an exclamation but my inner will suppressed every emotion.

"So what? He calls me Kang and I call him Choi. Want me to tell you a thing?" She forwarded her hand as I came close while she muttered suppressing her laugh. "We fight everyday about the best last name. Guess who wins?"

"You?"

"Right! That's my girl. I'm glad you are with me otherwise Choi always have the audacity to brag about Hana and Sohee's support-"

I stiffened and she realized it instantly. Her next words came as hushed as if they were pitying my presence.

A soft hug from her as she patted my back, the softness didn't settle for more than one second and went away as quickly as it came.

"How can I forget about that? It's okay, Byeol. Everything will be fine." Her silent mutters failed to calm my agony which was somewhat composed but full of the past. As if it could get a redemption, it could die in peace.