Five years have passed.

While standing in the train station, a sad look formed on my face while looking at my two best friends, whom I haven't talked to for a long time.

I still can't believe that 5 years already passed. I already graduated and I am an intern for a big korean company. Even though it has been 5 long years, I still think about Yeji everyday.

There were many people walking around while carrying their bags and luggages. Everybody who was waiting carefully entered the train that has been waiting for 2 minutes. Behind me, there was Lia and Chaeryeong eating ice cream while looking at us.

I looked at Hyunjin and Heejin. "Do you really have to go?" I asked.

Hyunjin smiled and she put her arm around Heejin's shoulders. "Yep. We decided to go to Busan. Don't worry, we'll come back."

I let out a small smile and I dashed towards them and hugged the two of them. I tried my best to stop my tears from falling rapidly. "I will miss you two idiots." I said while tightly hugging them.

Heejin chuckled and gave me a pat on the back. "Shin Ryujin, you should start dating someone." She whispered to my ear.

"I agree." Hyunjin said.

I broke the hug and I let out a small chuckle at my two best friends. "I'll think about it." I smiled at her.

Heejin picked up her bag that was on the floor and she straightened her back. "Good luck with your life, Shin Ryujin." She smiled.

Hyunjin held Heejin's hand and she fixed her scarf. "Ryujin, we will go now."

The two connected their arms and they walked away from me and walked towards the entrance of the train. They threw a glance at me and they waved their hand at me.

As they stepped inside of the train, my eyes became watery. Tears slowly fell from my eyes while looking at my friends who will be away for a long time.

"Bye!" The two girls happily said to me.

"Bye." I weakly said as the train door closed.

I looked at the smile on their faces through the small window on the door. The train made a noise indicating that it is starting its engine.

While looking at them, floods of memories started flooding my mind. Even though they were a bad influence to me back then, I still liked them. I had so much fun with them. When things go wrong in my family, I always go to them and hangout with them.

I waved my hand as the train's wheels were slowly moving. I wanted to hug them once again and have a long conversation with them, but I couldn't.

"Goodbye my friends." I weakly said.

The train's speed increased every second. It was moving so fast that I didn't see my friends anymore. The smile on my face dissolved and I sniffed as I wiped my tears.

I placed my hands in my pocket and I turned around and faced Lia and Chaeryeong.

"You okay?" Lia asked while eating ice cream.

"Yep!" I happily said. I walked towards the two and I placed my arms around their shoulders.

"Why are you so clingy today?" Lia asked with a chuckle.

I pouted at my friends. "Because Hyunjin and Heejin left. I'm the only Jin left." I explained in a sad voice.

The two girls let out a small laugh at me and gave me a pat on the head. "Don't be sad." Chaeryeong said while patting my head.

My world lit up while my friends were patting my head like a cat that made me feel a little sleepy. "Do you guys wanna visit Yeji today?" I asked.

Chaeryeong carefully broke away from my arm and looked at me. "I'm sorry. I have a date today." She pouted.

My eyes widened at what she said. "What?!" I couldn't believe that the innocent Chaeryeong has a date with someone.

Chaeryeong weakly chuckled. "Y-yeah. She's a year younger than us and she's really tall and her eyes are as big as a puppy's."

The description of Chaeryeong's date reminded me of someone. I looked at Chaeryeong and I smiled at her. "Alright. You should go. Your date is probably waiting."

A big smile formed on Chaeryeong's face. "Alright! I'll see you later!" She giggled and hopped away from me and Lia.

When Chaeryeong was no longer present, I switched my attention to Lia who is looking at me.

I raised my right eyebrow at her. "What are you looking at?"

Lia looked away and she had a flustered look on her face. "Nothing." She had a nervous tone in her voice that made me a little confused.

I put my arm around Lia's shoulder. I was happy that Lia and I became close with each other. She hated me at first because she kept on blaming me for the death of Yeji, but after a few years, she learned how to move on and forgive me.

"Do you have plans for today?" Lia asked.

I shook my head. "Nope. I wanted to hangout with Minju, but she's busy today." I said. "Let's just visit Yeji today. She's probably lonely right now." I said.

Lia let out a small smile making her cheeks look pinchable. "Okay!" She said with a nod.

--

"Yeji, are you doing fine right now?" I asked while looking at a gravestone that have flowers around it, Yeji's name, and a picture of Yeji. "I-I'm wearing your beanie right now." I said as I felt really comfortable wearing Yeji's plain black beanie.

The entire cemetery was silent. The strong wind started sending my hair to different directions. There were many people visiting their loved ones who passed, but it wasn't that noisy that made me a little happy.

Lia, who is standing besides me, crouched on the green grass and let out a smile while looking at Yeji's picture. "Yeji, this is for you." Lia placed an empty cup of hazelnut ice cream besides Yeji's picture.

I crouched and I grabbed some of my hair and showed it to Yeji. "Yeji, I dyed my hair blue and black. Do you like it? it's the same color of the wig we bought for you in a wig store a few years ago."

I bit my lip a little bit as I tried to stop my tears from falling down. It hurts knowing that Yeji died of murder and not her disease.

Even though years have passed, I still blame myself a little bit for her death. If she never got killed, we would've properly bid each other goodbye.

Lia stood up from the ground while looking at her phone. "Ryujin, I'm sorry, but Yeji's mother texted me. She said that she cooked something for us." She placed her hand on my shoulder.

I nodded and I carefully stood up with a small smile on my face.

Lia and I slightly bowed at Yeji. "Yeji, we're sorry. Your mom invited us." Lia chuckled and walked away with a big smile on her face.

I inhaled and sharply exhaled as I clenched my fists. I wanted to do something, but I was hesitating. I threw a glance at Lia who was looking around the cemetery while walking. "Yeji, should I do it now?" I whispered.

Lia turned around and stopped walking. "Ryujin, what are you waiting for? let's go!"

My heart started beating so fast as I looked at Lia's small face. Without hesitation, I said,

"Lia, let's date."

Lia's eyes widened. The smile on her face turned into a surprised expression. "I-I..." She couldn't say another word.

I slowly walked towards her. "Lia, I want to take our relationship to the next step."

Lia chuckled at me. "D-did you bring me here just to confess to me in front of Yeji?" She said in a weak manner. "I-I'm sorry, but that's really obnoxious of you."

I held Lia's hand and I gazed at her with my heart-shaped eyes. "Yeji would be happy. I know that she wants me to move on and pour my feelings on another person." I said. "I-I always had a giant crush on you." I shyly said.

Lia's face turned as red as a tomato. She quickly covered her cheeks with her hands. "M-me too."

My eyes widened out of happiness. "Really? s-so, you agree that we should start dating?"

Lia didn't give me a reply that made me a little nervous. I was afraid that I got rejected. I faced the ground out of sadness as I felt my heart shatter into pieces.

Suddenly, Lia cupped my face. I looked at her with a puzzled look on my face.

"Yep." Lia gave me a tap on the nose. "Chaeryeong is going to freak out when we tell her this." Lia chuckled and she let go of my face. Lia walked away from me with a big smile on her face. "Let's go to Yeji's house." She said while walking.

I let out a big smile and I looked at Yeji's gravestone. "Yeji, I did it." I clenched both of my fists as I couldn't handle the joy I was feeling. "Lia, wait up!" I said and walked towards Lia.

Lia turned around and she giggled as she ran towards me. Her face was so round and her smile was as big as the skies. As Lia approached me, she offered her hand to me. "Ryujin, hold my hand."

I chuckled and I held Lia's soft hand without hesitation. The two of us continued walking along the green grass while feeling the strong wind.

I fixed my beanie and I looked at Yeji's gravestone. "See you later, Yeji."

While I was holding Lia's hand, I let out a sigh of relief. Yeji changed me and she's the reason why I'm alive and well right now.

'I wish I can hug you and see your smile right now.'

'I wish I can hold your hand and put your head on my shoulder.'

'I'm so happy that I met you, Yeji.'

'Thank you for everything.'

- The End -