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The morning sun peaked through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Sunoo's room. He sat on the edge of his bed, heart heavy, staring at the calendar. Today marks another year without Heeseung. Sunoo’s fingers gently touched the moon charm on his bracelet, while his other hand clutched the box holding the rest of the charms—each one a memory, a piece of Heeseung.
Jungwon shuffled into the room with a breakfast tray in hand.
“ Hey, sleepyhead,” he said, setting the tray down. “You need to eat something.”
Sunoo glanced at the plate and put on a half-hearted smile, tugging at his lips. “You know I’m not really hungry.”
“It’s your favorite, pancakes with strawberries,” Jungwon insisted, nudging him gently. “It’s a tradition.”
“Tradition.” The word felt heavy in Sunoo's mouth. “Heeseung always made them for me.”
Jungwon’s expression softened. “I know. But you deserve to celebrate today, even if it’s different.”
A knock interrupted them. Sunoo’s heart raced as he exchanged a glance with Jungwon.
“Who could that be?” Jungwon asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sunoo shrugged, unsure whether he wanted to know.
“Check it out,” Jungwon urged, nudging him again.
Sunoo stood, the floor cool beneath his feet. He approached the door, hesitating for a moment before opening it. A delivery person stood there, holding a small, neatly wrapped box, a familiar logo peeking out.
“Delivery for Sunoo,” the person said, their voice bright against the muted morning.
Sunoo blinked. “What? I didn’t order anything.”
“Looks like someone did.” The delivery person grinned, handing him the package.
Sunoo’s fingers trembled as he accepted it, the weight of the box somehow both comforting and unsettling.
“Who’s it from?” Jungwon asked, peering over Sunoo’s shoulder.
Sunoo tore the wrapping, uncovering a small, familiar box. He opened it carefully, the hinges creaking softly, and inside, nestled in velvet, revealing a charm—a delicate sun with rays catching the light.
“It’s... a charm,” he murmured, disbelief threading through his voice.
“From Heeseung?” Jungwon asked, eyes wide.
Sunoo nodded, breath hitching. “He must have prepared this before…”
“Before he...” Jungwon’s voice trailed off, emotion thick in the air.
As the reality settled, Sunoo clutched the charm, heart aching and swelling all at once. “It’s just like him. Always thinking ahead.”
Jungwon placed a reassuring hand on Sunoo’s back. “You should call her.”
“Who? ” Sunoo asked.
“His mom. She might know something.”
Sunoo hesitated. “What if she... feels it’s too painful?”
“Or what if she wants to talk? This could be something special.”
Taking a deep breath, Sunoo nodded. “Okay.”
He dialed the number, fingers shaking against the phone. After a few rings, a soft voice answered.
“Hello?”
“Um, Mrs. Lee? It’s Sunoo.”
“Sunoo! Oh, my dear, how are you?”
Her voice wrapped around him, warm and inviting yet laced with sorrow.
“I... I received a delivery today. A charm from Heeseung.”
Silence lingered, then she exhaled shakily. “He planned that. Every year. He wanted to make sure you felt his love, even when he couldn’t be there.”
“Every year?” Sunoo echoed, a mix of joy and sorrow flooding through him.
“He knew how much those charms meant to you. He wanted to keep celebrating your birthdays together.”
Sunoo choked back a sob. “I didn’t think… I thought this year would be different.”
“Different doesn’t mean less. It just means he found another way to be with you.”
Sunoo wiped his eyes, feeling Jungwon’s steady presence behind him. “Thank you for telling me. I... I just miss him.”
“I know, sweetheart. We all do.”
After they hung up, the weight of the conversation lingered.
“Wow,” Jungwon said, breaking the silence. “That’s... really something.”
Sunoo nodded, clutching the charm tightly. “It’s like he’s still here.”
“Maybe he is,” Jungwon suggested with a small smile. “In those charms, in your memories and heart.”
Sunoo’s gaze drifted to the bracelet on his wrist, the sun charm gleaming among the others. “Each one tells a story.”
Sunoo sat back down on the edge of his bed, the sun charm shimmering in his palm. Jungwon settled beside him, curiosity lighting his eyes.
“Tell me about the charms,” he encouraged gently.
Sunoo took a deep breath, memories flooding in. “This one,” he said, pointing to a silver heart, “was the first one he gave me. He engraved it with the date when we became a couple. ” He smiled softly at the memory.
Jungwon listened intently, his eyes reflecting understanding . “What about the others?”
Sunoo smiled faintly, his fingers brushing over the starfish and seashell charm. “These remind me of our beach trips. He loved collecting shells, and the starfish was for all the times we’d laugh and play in the sea.”
“And this one,” he continued, holding up a charm shaped like a star, “was for when we graduated. He said it represented my dreams, shining bright. He always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.”
“And the turtle?” Jungwon asked, pointing to the charm that represented Heeseung’s favorite animal.
“Heeseung always liked turtles, especially the ninja ones,” Sunoo replied, his heart swelling with memories. “And then there’s Dory, my favorite. He got it because he knew how much I loved
‘Finding Nemo.’ He’d joke that I was just like her—forgetful but always finding my way back.”
Jungwon nodded, absorbing each story. “What about the moon?” he asked, gesturing to the charm that had been a constant on Sunoo’s bracelet.
Sunoo looked down at the charm he wore, a bittersweet smile gracing his lips. “That was the last one he gave me. He said it represented dreams and hope, even in darkness.”
As Sunoo spoke, the room filled with the echoes of laughter and love. “Each charm is a piece of him,” he said, his voice trembling. “And now, this sun charm… it feels like he’s still here, guiding me.”
Jungwon wrapped an arm around Sunoo’s shoulders. “He really thought of everything,” he said softly.
“Do you think he’s watching us?” Sunoo asked softly, glancing up at the sky through his window.
“Maybe. I think he’d want you to be happy.”
“Yeah.” Sunoo smiled, but it faded quickly. “I just wish… I wish I could tell him how much these charms mean to me.”
“Why not talk to him now?” Jungwon suggested, stepping back toward the doorway of Sunoo's room. Sunoo hesitated but then nodded. Jungwon offered a reassuring smile and softly added, “I'll give you some privacy.” With that, he stepped out, quietly shutting the door behind him.
As Jungwon left, he felt the door click shut behind him, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He took a deep breath. “Heeseung…” he whispered, his heart racing as he spoke into the silence. “I got your charm today. It’s beautiful. I can’t believe you thought of me even when… you knew.” His voice cracked, vulnerability pouring out like sunlight through the curtains.
Sunoo closed his eyes, imagining Heeseung’s bright smile, the way it lit up every room they entered together. “Thank you for always knowing how to make me smile. I miss you so much.”
A warmth enveloped him, a sensation that felt like Heeseung’s embrace. “But I’ll carry you with me, always.” He opened his eyes, glancing at the charms Sunoo allowed himself a small smile.
The sun charm glimmered in his palm, and for the first time in what felt like ages, he felt a sense of peace. Heeseung was gone, and that still hurt, but he had left behind something precious—memories that lived in every charm.
As the morning light filled the room, Sunoo stood. He would celebrate his life, honor Heeseung’s memory, and cherish the love they shared.
“Let’s make new memories,” he whispered to the air, a promise to both himself and to the boy who would forever be his guiding star.