Myungjun and Jinwoo, a married couple, are attending their highschool reunion after 10 years of graduation. Anonymous recalls on their highschool years when the two started their love.

It is May 25th, a gorgeous, sunny day. The sun sparkling, reflecting off of my wine glass. A small breeze, creating the perfect tempature to have evening activities.

I am at my highschool reunion. 10 years after I graduated. People I used to be friends with are now married, some even pregnant, or are raising a toddler already. Perhaps two.

I greet many whom I knew, and sometimes I still talk to them. Many whom I barely knew, but still recognized as acquaintances. Others as enemies. I knew who they were; some part of me wish I didn't.

I have seen many couples being started in my highschool years. Many of which ended quickly. Some lasted about a year. But there was one that everyone knew lasted all this time. Everyone was quite surprised. They even showed up to this here event; they're married now.

Kim Myungjun and Park Jinwoo; highschool sweethearts of class 2009.

I hadn't known them personally. Though, everyone talked about them. I envied them. Perhaps I still do.

My reason? Ha..! It's quite ridiculous, actually.

Even so, I was jealous of how happy they were together. What I mean by that...is that they can be so happy knowing people hate same-sex relationships. I'm so jealous to the point I feel bad for them. They don't care about other people's opinions. I don't know how.

I wish I could do that. Love a girlfriend freely without being told I'm wrong. Or love one witthout caring what other people think.

That's how I ruined my relationships. I cared too much, despite my idolizing of their's.

Another reason I'm jealous- oh god. Who wouldn't be jealous?! They're so god damn cute together!

~

Freshman Year: 05-06

This began our 9th grade.

Myungjun had come in from an all-boys middle school, from what I've heard, and Jinwoo has always been my classmate in a public middle school.

From what I saw, they immediately became friends. They had many classes together. I sat behind them in Algebra.

I believe they exchanged e-mails addresses, and would e-mail each other back and forth in computer class when we were supposed to be writing essays on an online document. I got a glimpse of Jinwoo's screen one day, and I could read what he was writing to Myungjun.

"hi cutie~~~~~what are you doing after school? i want to hang out at the park with you :D"

He was pretty good at hiding it, too. Everytime the teacher would come around, he quickly clicked back to his document.

They always joked around with each other in classes, as well; even to the point where the teacher lectured Myungjun for laughing too loud.

One day, in English class, Jinwoo passed a note to him- they weren't sitting together in that class, so they had to make-do with what they had-. They gotten away with it many times, but Jinwoo wasn't careful enough so the teacher caught him throwing it across the room.

She took the note and read it aloud as Jinwoo blushed and then laid his head on the table.

"'will you be my bf? check yes or no. ps: please don't say no, i really really really like you :( -love, jinjin'."

"I understand there is a love-fest going on here, but please refrain from asking your crushes out on a piece of notebook-paper during English class. Park Jinwoo? Are you listening?"

Jinwoo looked up, and nodded. "Yes, teacher. I won't do it again."

"I will let it off if you can translate your note in English." She offered, and held out a piece of chalk. Jinwoo stood up and took it, walking towards the board.

He looked like he was thinking really hard- he even went back to look at some of his English notes.

He eventually came up with a sentence and was let off the hook.

"well yo be my boy friend. yes or no. please do not say no. i realy realy realy like yo- love jinjin"

Although it was quite evident of the outcome, Myungjun said 'yes' that day.

I often saw them holding hands in their seats after they began dating. They did in the halls, the cafeteria; basically anywhere they went together.

After Christmas break in January, 2006. Myungjun was already in his seat, I was there too. Jinwoo ran in and sat down looking very excited. Apparently they weren't able to see- or reach- each other all break since Myungjun went on a ski trip during that time, so already he was happy. They shared a hug and then Jinwoo showed him his new phone- a Samsung t908. It was one of the newest at that time.

Myungjun also revealed he got one too. They put each other's numbers into their phones and then proceeded to talk about how their break went until class started.

My favorite moment of them in the year 2006- the dance.

The school held a Spring Dance for us Freshmans. I had no date- but of course Jinwoo and Myungjun would be going together.

The hosts of the event would give out tickets for free- on the condition they would ask out their date publicly. Of course, Jinwoo did it.

He showed up to school in his uniform like usual- but instead of a normal tie, it was a bowtie; what a way to be fancy, and then he walked to Myungjun- who was in his seat- and handed him a full bouquet of sunflowers.

"Will you go to the dance with me, MJ?" He asked, with a hopeful smile on his face.

"Yes, of course!" Myungjun accepted the flowers, and hugged him with a huge smile.

The teacher, some girls, and I all 'awed'. Majority of students gave weird looks, and a few actually made a fake-gag sound.

They didn't mind, and instead paid all their attention to each other.

Since one of the hosts was also our teacher, she gave them free tickets to the dance.

I ended up getting asked to the dance and getting a free pass, though they bailed on me that night and I showed up confused.

I ended up getting a message on my flip-phone from her- she said she didn't want to be seen with me.

I shrugged it off and sat down on a bench, watching other people having fun. I understood her point. We we're both girls. We got insulted many times, and even called slurs. I was ashamed too.

I noticed Myungjun and Jinwoo smiling together while getting their photos taken. They gave a 'peace sign' behind each other's heads, and then side hugged. Back then, giving someone 'bunny ears' showed you liked them.

They ended up getting multiple polaroids and exchanging some, putting them in their pockets.

Some part of the night, they danced very funny to the music. They fed each other snacks, and once they even stood in the corner of the room and talked. They could probably talk forever and never get bored.

As an ending of the night, the DJ played a slow song for the people with dates to dance to. Of course, they had limits. No sexual acts- but we were fourteen to fifteen years old, so no one really did.

The two got in on the action and started dancing together- and by dance I mean they just hugged and swayed to the music.

Whatever it was, they looked very happy.

At the end, I could've sworn I saw them kiss.

They slightly pulled away and looked around; I assume to make sure no adults we're watching; and they spoke to each other before quickly pecking each other's lips and then blushing.

The last month of school went by fast, and it was summer break.

I saw them together at the local arcade once or twice during break. I greeted them and we talked a bit.

Nothing important...only that they were spending lots of time together and they would be going camping with Jinwoo's family a week after that day.

I don't have those details, of course.

By time our Sophomore year came around, they were still together, obviously.

Our teacher had us make an essay on what we did during the summer and choose to share it to the class. Myungjun shared his.

Most of it was about going to the arcade, having fun camping with Jinwoo's family, and going to the beach. He also wrote about going to a 'Super Junior' concert with Jinwoo in Busan.

"It was the best summer ever." Myungjun said, reading from his paper.

This year was when many people got more hateful. Some were calling them slurs. And others were just telling them that "highschool relationships don't last".

Spoiler alert, they were all wrong about them.

I recall one moment when Jinwoo was absent. Myungjun said he fell ill and he had to stay home. Bullies took that as a chance to be even more harsh.

Jinwoo was often protecting him from anyone who said anything bad. They comforted each other anytime there was being mean comments thrown about.

They took that sight of vulnerability as a chance to do worse than just spit mean comments. A couple of guys took Myungjun into the men's restroom and beat and cursed him.

Jinwoo and Myungjun both stayed absent the next day. Jinwoo recovered from the fever, but figured out Myungjun was hurt by some students so he forced him to stay home and they took care of it with their parents.

They were luckily suspended, and hadn't committed violent actions since, but their verbal abuse still went on, sadly.

Somehow, they stayed as happy as ever, though. They had as much pride in their relationship as when they first started it. Maybe even more.

Junior Year: 07-08.

Like usual, they were seated next to each other in many classes I was also in with them. They were always close together, and happy. Nothing was really new.

I got a part-time job around that time as well. I was a cashier at a convenience store. It was late-night on a Friday; the weekend.

I saw Jinwoo walk in alone. Out the window, there was Myungjun sitting at the bench. He was looking through the windows, and I could tell he was probably quite anxious.

Jinwoo went through an aisle, and he was just as- if not, more- nervous than his boyfriend. They looked like they could have been on a heist.

I saw Jinwoo walk out of the aisle with a couple of items in his hand. We made eye-contact as he walked up, and he paused, pursing his lips.

"Hi, how are you?"

"I-I'm fine...thanks for asking... I didn't know you worked here..?" He replied, and slowly placed his items on the counter.

I looked down at them, and gave a small giggle. I quickly scanned the items and put them in a bag.

"Yeah, I started last month. I wanted to save for the new Samsung." I replied. "Will that be all for you?"

"Uh..yeah." He answered, and before I could give him his total price, he interrupted. "Listen...p-please don't tell anyone about t-this..."

"Secret's safe with me." I promised, and 'zipped' my lips shut. "That will be four dollars."

He quickly gave me the cash, with a nod. I returned his change, and handed him the bag. He quickly ran out to Myungjun and stashed the items in his pocket. I watched them walk down the sidewalk, holding hands, but more embarrassed than normal.

I shook my head with a laugh. He bought a 3-pack of condoms and a mini bottle of lube.

The following Monday, they were more distant than usual. They still held hands all day, but never made eye-contact. When they did, they would blush and look away. And they were basically silent.

I could have guessed what happened. And I was the only one who knew. Of course, I didn't say a word to anyone. The secret is still safe with me to this day.

But now you readers have heard it, so I guess not anymore.

Senior Year: 08-09

I still had my job as a cashier. The stops in the store would become more frequent with Jinwoo. He got comfortable after...some time.

I would see him there many times, especially during the summer.

He said both of their parents had planned trips away. They both decided to exclude themselves out of the trips and stayed home.

"We will be alone all summer."-Jinwoo's exact words after I asked why he was always walking in to buy the same items.

I would've suggested for him to just buy a large pack, but they only sold those in mainstream stores for some reason. Then again, he could go to the actual store. But I figured he didn't want to run into anyone else that would've caught on.

Enough about that...

At that point in time, nobody really minded anymore. Except for some girls who were jealous, and tried to split them apart.

Especially after both of them had become 'hotter' over the course of time. They did become very attractive, though. I don't blame some of these girls for falling 'head over heels' for either of them.

Some of them were quite selfish with their feelings, though. Especially the girl I had a crush on. She was my best friend, and she always talked about how much she wanted to date Jinwoo.

I was jealous, nevertheless. Especially since she had been chasing after a guy who was literally dating his soulmate.

She knew, but didn't care. She made a plan to turn them against each other; and while I told her not to do it, she still tried. Before she could really do anything, I informed them on her plan...

She found out and got mad at me...and dropped me as a friend.

"You're supposed to be helping me! Not spoiling my plans!"

"Why should I help? You're gonna try to break up a perfectly fine couple because you're so petty that you want Jinwoo to yourself?" I replied to her, raising my voice. "Why can't you just notice who's going after you?"

"Who are you talking about?" She asked. Is she really that clueless? Absolutely.

"Me, you idiot! I like you." At that point I was crying. She lashed out at me and called me mean insults.

Our friendship was worthless in the end. She was homophobic; who needs her anyway?

Since she was the first girl to try and split them up, I could tell the couple got cautious of others. I know several other girls spread rumors to them individually, but didn't believe them. They weren't true anyways.

The rumors included;

"Myungjun said he wanted to break up with you."

"Jinwoo said he dated you for your body."

"Myungjun is cheating on you with a jock."

"Jinwoo asked me out yesterday and I said 'yes'."

Many more. They were beginning to get tired of it, but didn't let it phase them.

We all soon graduated in May. No one knew they could make it that far. We all said our goodbyes to each other. I didn't see Myungjun or Jinwoo since.

Some students left the country to study in University abroad, others didn't go at all, and I met with some of my peers once again in uni.

~

"Nice to see you again, guys! I can't believe how long it has been!" I greeted both Myungjun and Jinwoo.

"Ah, I remember you! You were behind us in most of our classes." Jinwoo said, with a smile. "You changed a lot."

"You as well! You're both so handsome and tall now." I replied. "So, you're still together after all this time, huh? You two are literal soulmates."

"Yup, and we're going to be adopting soon." Myungjun added.

"Oh my, congratulations! I'm so happy for you!"

---

The rest of the day was good.

I could tell there were many stares at them, and some gossip. But some even apologized to them and explained they are more open-minded than way before.

A lot were just surprised, too.

Overall, I learned a lot from them. Their pride was what made me keep going. I often recalled their love anytime I needed inspiration to stop being so ashamed.

It worked, and now I do have a wife.

The girl who abandoned me at the Spring Dance of 2006 contacted me after a long while. We reconnected, and finally we started dating and got married.

Now she's here attending the reunion with me.

Everything is perfect. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Sincerely,

Anonymous

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