Chapter Text
Song-hwa knew what pain was at a young age. When she was 7 years old her mother died leaving her alone with her appa, then when she turned 10, she suddenly had someone else that she was supposed to call her eomma. But she didn’t like that idea. Ever since the other person came to her and her father’s life, things changed. She suddenly was not able to visit her eomma’s grave again, she had to cut ties with her halmeoni all of a sudden, and she didn’t like any of that.
So, at such a young age she learned how to rebel. She would sneak out at night and go to the garden that her neighbors had. Her neighbors had such a huge house, young Song-hwa thought it almost looked like a castle. It was surrounded with beautiful flowers and a playground that was even bigger than the once in the park.
She would always sneak at the back to marvel at the playground and sometimes she would even spot this beautiful yellow and black colored butterfly. Whenever she was around her neighbor’s backyard, she would always spot the butterfly and play with it until one time someone caught her outside.
Ik-jun and Song-hwa are acquaintances. No, they were not friends, because friends loved each other, but they didn’t.
The first time Ik-jun spotted Song-hwa she was running around with such a huge grin on her face as she seemingly was chasing a butterfly. It has been too long since the last time he saw someone wear such a huge smile, so when he suddenly felt a feeling of warmth spread inside his chest, he knew what was happening.
He suddenly stopped the young girl, from what he thinks was 2 years younger than him. “Oy! What are you doing here?” She saw the kid suddenly stopped and saw her eyes suddenly tremble. She was looking everywhere as if finding where the voice was coming from.
“Over here!” Ik-jun shouted trying to take her attention. The young girl finally saw him and ran towards him.
“What are you doing here?” Ik-jun asked with his usually cold voice. The young girl was looking at him with her round eyes and she answered. “I was playing here.”
“At this hour? And do you even know where you are?”
“Ohh… I’m not sure…”
Ik-jun rolled his eyes as he said, “Do you know how reckless you are? It’s already 11 pm and here you arerunning around at a house that you are not even familiar with, do you possibly know what could happen to you?”
The girl was fidgeting and was playing with her fingers when she answered. “Ohh… every night I go out to feel at peace for a while.”
“At peace? Can’t you do this at your own house? Why do you need to trespass in order to feel at peace?” He scoffed as he answered while looking at the small kid in front of her.
“Ohh… I can’t really…” the kid looked around, then suddenly brightened up when she saw the butterfly
“Well… it was because of that. That butterfly always helped me feel at peace, I think it’s because of the beautiful flowers here. Uhmm… whenever I’m at our house, everything is loud. I could not really take some time off. My appa’s wife would always shout at me whenever I try to get close to her. So, I always lock myself up. So, every night I would go outside and play so I could at least feel at ease.”
Ik-jun remained stoic as ever. “Why do you constantly have to be close to her if she doesn’t like you in the first place?”
“Well, because I don’t have anyone besides her anymore, my appa just works and I have no one else to lean on.”
“You have yourself.” He blankly answered.
“You may not have anyone else, but at least you have yourself. You should not force other people to like you and you should not let yourself love someone that does not even acknowledge you.” Ik-jun continued as he looked at the young girl whose eyes are watering.
Ik-jun squatted down and looked at her. “Why don’t you sit down for a while?”
At that night, Song-hwa made a new friend. Not only that, but she also learned about the sad tale of his friend’s favorite garden. The story was truly sad, and she doesn’t want that to happen to her as well, so she listened to him carefully. She didn’t know that some people also went through the same thing that she did, it rather felt comforting. It felt rather nice to think that the butterfly won’t be the only one she looked forward to every night, but her friend told her that he would wait for her every night whenever she felt like it.
Ik-jun and Song-hwa formed a very conventional friendship– or as Ik-jun would like to call it, acquaintances. As two children that both lost their parents and truly understood each other, they learned how to rely on each other, without any fear. They went to the same school, and they would always meet every night at his halmeoni’s garden to talk or sometimes to try and catch the butterfly Song-hwa played with so much. They were true acquaintances.
As Ik-jun grew up in the countryside, the town was not small, but if you have a multi-millionaire grandmother, it was difficult to not be the talk of the town. He went to a huge private school with Song-hwa. He got in because he was smart like his eomma, and he could afford to enter the school. And of course, he’s acquaintance Song-hwa was even smarter than him and was an academic scholar ever since she started studying. When Song-hwa was thirteen, she eventually got out of their house and stayed at her halmeoni’s house which meant that they couldn’t meet each other every night anymore, but at least they saw each other at school every day.
As he continued his studies, people would always approach him, or sometimes some people would even send out letters to him through Song-hwa. And rest assured that he would always scold Song-hwa for getting the letters, because he was tired of reminding her that he would not accept it anyways.
For the common people, one might say, Lee Ik-jun, the grandchild of the famous Lee Empire, is handsome but has a terrible attitude. People studying at the school would always try to catch a glimpse of the one and only Lee Ik-jun, only to spot him either by himself reading a book or reading a book with the petite girl who wears thick rimmed glasses. Girls thought he was playing hard to get, while guys thought he was just a plain nerd, but to Song-hwa she was his only friend.
They got on fairly well, whenever they were together, they would always go to the only tree in the basketball court. It has a huge camphor tree beside the court and directly underneath it was a part of the bleachers, and they would always sit there. People rarely played basketball in this court, because unlike the other bigger basketball court this was outdoors and has plants surrounding it, it still looked fairly new since the trees and flowers surrounding it was not unkept but the court for the most part was already abandoned. So, this was the perfect place for them.
Ik-jun rarely felt happiness anymore, but he would always feel nice whenever he was with his acquaintance. He felt warm whenever he was with her, and whenever he saw her smile, and whenever he saw her eyes twinkle, it felt nice. All the letters and sometimes the pastries he gets does not even compare to how he likes Song-hwa’s company better.
Their relationship continued until the present day.
Ik-jun was now 20 years old and moved to Seoul to continue his studies at a university. He studies for the first year of his premed at Changwon because he honestly just wanted to wait for Song-hwa to finish her studies. When Song-hwa graduated high school the both of them finally moved out. Now, Song-hwa and Ik-jun are now official students at one of the biggest universities at Seoul, Yulje Medical University.
Song-hwa originally wanted to become an entomologist because of her love for the butterfly that frequented at Ik-jun’s house but growing up, she quickly realized that she was afraid of insects, it was only that particular butterfly that she adored so much. So, she decided to just join her friend eventually and enter premed.
It was now the end of their first semester, and everything went quite smoothly. It was difficult sure but Ik-jun and Song-hwa was able to meet people that they would have never thought to be close with.
Song-hwa met this two lovely people named Min-ha and Gyeo-ul. The three of them were around the same age, though Song-hwa was born earlier in the year compared to them. This two apparently have been together since they were young and decided to take the same path together, which she thought was rather adorable.
Gyeo-ul was just like her name, she is quite cold, she reminded her of Ik-jun. She was quiet, preserved, and very intelligent. Just like her, she was able to study at such a renowned university because of a scholarship. While Min-ha was her polar opposite, she is loud, bubbly, and very fashionable, she always knew how to stay on with the trend that sometimes Song-hwa feels rather old whenever she was with Min-ha. Apart from her classmates she also has a new roommate named Ik-sun, Ik-jun’s cousin. Ik-jun personally set the both of them up because his cousin apparently has her own apartment already and has a little too many rooms for someone that lives alone.
The four of them got along fairly well. Ik-sun was studying business while the other three was studying premed. They would always stay at Ik-sun and Song-hwa’s place because Ik-sun’s apartment could be well described as a penthouse already, it was stupid big, she even has her own library for crying out loud, so it was rather a perfect place to stay in.
“Iksun-ah, can I borrow one of your books again?”
“It’s our books unnie, you don’t need to ask me when you want to read one.”
Song-hwa glared at her as she was scouring at her– their library. The library was truly a masterpiece that it could even compare to public libraries. It was all updated and so well kept because Ik-sun’s mother’s assistant was a part time librarian before, so whenever she had free time, which was almost all the time, she would frequent at their growing collection and would update their books.
“Gyeo-ul and Min-ha will come here later, right?” Ik-sun asked as she admired the great work her librarian had done once again.
“Eo, they just need to visit someone they said, not sure who.” Song-hwa answered as she laid eyes on a medical book.
“It’s probably Min-ha’s crush, she’s such a hopeless romantic I don’t even understand why she would chase after that guy.”
Ah, that reminds her. Ik-jun also found his own pair of friends or as he calls, his ‘No! They’re not my friends they’re only acquaintances like me and you!’ in short, Song-hwa calls his closest friends.
The three of them works so well together. There is this very snappy guy named Jun-wan, she only met him twice because ik-sun went on a blind date with him. During that time, she stood as Ik-sun for a while because her classes overtimed. She remembered the piercing gaze he had when he would constantly ask what time Ik-sun would arrive, she thought that Ik-sun would reject the guy, but surprisingly, they were now going on their fifth date.
Then, there is Seok-hyung who apparently went to the same school as them when they were in high school and just like Ik-jun, he too was part of a rich family. Song-hwa would describe him as a mix of Gyeo-ul and Ik-jun, quiet and preserved and very cold at the same time, he is not snappy like Jun-wan, but he is definitely not bubbly like Min-ha. So, when she heard that Min-ha was head over heels for someone like him, she could not believe it.
“Wae? Isn’t that great? I mean, people used to chase Min-ha and now she knows how her past suitors feel.” Song-hwa answered with a small laugh.
“Also, can you please stop calling me unnie? I’m not even a year older than any of you.”
“You’re right unnie, but you act just like one– an older sister.” Ik-sun said as she stifled a laugh.
“Yah! I don’t act like that!” Song-hwa said as he went down the stairs to reach Ik-sun who was looking at the books at the first floor.
“Unnie, did you forget? You even asked me if you could escort me home if Ik-jun oppa’s friend was a pervert.”
“Yah! I only did that because I was worried, the guy looked very scary you don’t even know how he made me feel when I was first with him.”
“See! This is exactly what I mean! Why would you feel worried about something like this, you know I fight well, unnie.” Ik-sun dropped everything that she was doing and gave on a full laughter.
“I told you to stop calling me unnie!!” Song-hwa shouted as she rushed towards Ik-sun, but Ik-sun quickly saw and ran towards the door.
The apartment, or rather the penthouse as Song-hwa would call it, is rather huge for 2 people so when Ik-sun eventually left the library and as Song-hwa followed her. They continued running around the kitchen, which was very pristine and clean, since they rarely cook. And they continued through their living room, which really is the entrance of the house; continued their cat and mouse chase through the family room, or as they called it, the Four Seasons Lounge; then through the balcony that oversaw the buildings in Seoul. They continued chasing each other as their laughter echoes through the house, when suddenly the doorbell rang.
“Oh, I think goddess winter and head over heels min-ha is here.” Ik-sun said as she was catching her breath.
“I’ll get the door.”
Song-hwa quickly went to the door as Ik-sun went to the kitchen to pour herself some water. The moment Song-hwa opened the door, a loud pierce of crying bounced through their walls.
“Unniee!!!” Min-ha was crying as Gyeo-ul beside her trying her best to calm her down.
“What happened Minha-yah?” Song-hwa said as she cupped her face.
“Let’s go inside unnie, I’ll tell everything.”
Ik-sun ran at the door as soon as she heard the piercing cry. So, when Gyeo-ul and Min-ha eventually set foot inside of the house, Ik-sun took their take-outs and set them at their room, the 4 seasons lounge while Song-hwa tried her best to calm the poor girl down.
When Gyeo-ul and Ik-sun sat down, everyone looked at Gyeo-ul as Song-hwa said, “So, what happened?”
When the girls finally finished their meal, Min-ha was now taken care off. She was well fed and well hydrated and the tears had dried off her face leaving a very vivid stain at her cheeks.
“Minha-yah, take off your make-up already. I think you put on too much eyeliner today.” Gyeo-ul said as she took some of Min-ha’s make-up wipes and tried to take off the black stain.
While Gyeo-ul helped Min-ha on erasing the evidence of her crying session Ik-sun was eyeing at Song-hwa who looked like was fuming.
“So, unnie, did the both of you fight?”
Song-hwa was so done with Ik-jun’s stupid tale. When Gyeo-ul said what had happened, Song-hwa went on her full older sister mode. She quickly called Ik-jun to report to him what his jerk of a friend did.
“Oy! Ikjun-ah, your friend Yang Seok-hyung, don’t you think his too much? I mean, don’t you think telling someone that they’re ‘too loud’ and ‘I don’t like you, so stop showing in front of me’ is too much!? My friend only went to confess but, don’t you think saying this upfront is rude?” Song-hwa was walking back and forth as she shouted through her phone.
“Don’t you think that he’s actually being kind? Don’t you remember what I told you when we were kids? Your friend might get sick if Seok-hyung didn’t answer truthfully, at least now your friend can easily move on.”
“YAH! You’re so clever?! How can somebody as clever as you be so stupid?!1 The tale your precious mother told you is NOT REAL! So, stop acting almighty when you hurt someone else’s feelings by telling them off. And can you please tell your horrible friend to stop treating my friend as if she was a virus.”
The moment Ik-sun, Gyeo-ul, and even Min-ha heard the mention of the tale, they all stopped what they were doing and fully looked at Song-hwa. Their mouths agape, eyes wide and their breathing stopped. They all knew what Song-hwa was talking about. Ever since Song-hwa came to terms that she did indeed have some feelings for Ik-jun, she could not stop talking about how Ik-jun would always reject girls by telling them the ‘tale’.
Song-hwa grew up with Ik-jun and she knows how much the story means to him, but it frustrates her to think that a 20-year-old premed student still believes in such mythology. The moment she heard the tale as a child, it fascinated her and as they continued to grow older, hearing the tale over and over again every single time Ik-jun would reject a letter or chocolates of some sort from other people, she decided to know the truth.
From there on she learned about the sad fate of goddess Gyeo-ul and god Jeong-won. And other thing was the fact that people could actually not produce flowers in their bodies when they feel unrequited love. She felt foolish when she realized how absurd the idea actually was, and she wanted to enlighten her dear friend. But then she remembered how much the story meant to him and how it was one of the late memories that he had with his mother, so she decided to keep her mouth shut.
So, the fact that she finally used the ‘tale’ as she shouted at Ik-jun through her phone, it felt like the world had stopped spinning for a second.
“I’ll stop the call, goodnight.” Ik-jun answered blankly with no stinge of emotion.