"Sometimes, bad decisions reveal the best moments of life"

"Congrats Hansol , u made it in" - my professor wipes away my anxiety with one sentence. He smiles comfortably while patting by shoulders before handing me a certified documents.

"Didn't I say you will get in for sure?" He boosts proudly where I could only smile back due to excitement.

UCW or university cultural workshop is an exchange experience between three universities - where their most elite students gather together a day to learn a cultural lesson lectured directly by the world famous universities in the States. It is a single day participation - yet the scope of competitiveness and the essence of the content make my victory a lot soulful. I walk out of the office - grasping the documents tightly - unable to pretend to the world how much joyful I am right now.

I bump into a random girl while looking carelessly. She bows to me quickly and leaves - without even giving me an opportunity to apologize. At last , her blonde hair leaves a fragrance that is familiar. After waiving my thoughts , I make a call to the most special person for me - to share my jubilation.

Lee Chaeyoung doesn't pick up my phone. Conisdering her wide circles of friends , it is highly likely that the social butterfly is busy collecting pollen somewhere. I close my phone after two fail calls - reliving my mind since I am about to see her in a few days anyways.

This friday will be a rainbow spot on my diary. In the morning , the UCW will commence - where not only I could meet number of sharp people but also will be able to study from the top rated professors. The reaps of the opportunity is fruitful. After it , I have a date with Chaeyoung. I may not have rights yet to call it a date yet but after being scrumbled in pain after our first failed encounter , I am anticipating so much more for the second reconciliations. This time , I pray no rain or any unexpected boundaries will cancel the appointment anymore.

I walk home cheerfully - hoping clockhands to be turn faster than I could wait.

.....

It is extraordinary to see this much people gathering in one place. The auditorium is big enough but it is crowded with the sheer enthusiasm of the participants. Could I recognize some faces from our university such as the freshmen representative and the three year consecutive dean list engineering major. Those selecteds are on the much higher league on me.

There are so many students from other two universities as well. All three of us are renowed to be one of if not the most prosperous teaching venues in the current Seoul. The unfamiliar students are always brimming with smart aura - everyone looking like they could ace any exams without studying.

The place is big and the people are countless. Thus , I cannot scan for all walks of life in the workshop yet I personally don't feel the need for it. When the project suddenly gets booted up and the professor works out , everyone alarmingly keeps focus as it is the signal for the workshop to draw its first curtains. I straighten my position and readies myself for the lectures.

We go through many interesting projects where the lecturers encourage active participation. From sharing different perspectives to brain storming various solutions , such game-like apporach to teaching is very intelligent as it makes the lessons less repetitive and wordy while keeping one hyped all the time.

"This time , we will think about the cultural differences. Our teaching assistants will hand you papers with two columns. On a narrow column , please write a possible culture shock when a foreigner visits South Korea for the first time and in the wider second one , you will write about what to prepare about it. Everyone will get a nice 10 minutes to think at least three of them and some people will present - Enjoy this session and I wish you all do well "

The professor calmly annouces the bext activity as students click heads in interest. After politely receiving a printed paper and getting ready to overlay some thoughts already in my mind , that's when I realize I don't bring a pen.

Looking around makes me feel more anxious as people are rushing in to chop down their ideas while I lack the instrument to ink. I try to ask for help for the student beside me but he seems too busy writing that I amn't dare to bother his workflow. Knowing someone is directly behind me , I take a deep breathe and turn around - when my hand gesturing a pen scribbling to not break the silence.

That's when our eyes meet - again.

The blond girl glances at me with her reserved nature. Right when she realizes who is the person in need of a stationary , her eyes lower with a flash of thoughts - that is hard to understand. Her round eyes return to normal after seeing my gestures as she opens her pencil case and hands me a pen as I take it and bow to her as a thanks that she returns the same.

The fragrance of her is beautifully familiar. Just like the one I bumped on the corridor that day. Just like the one I shared my umbrella with. Just like the one I gave my doll.

No , just like Yurina dancing under the sakura tree.

After finish jotting down my ideas , I reflect on what I wrote with satisfaction before suddenly remembering whose pen I am using. I immediately turn back and find her carrying on with the activities. I put down the pen on her desk not to disturb her since she is too immersed in her job that she doesn't seem to even notice - farther reply a word.

I carry my body facing front back - questioning the destiny that brings her here. As people say , third time cannot be labeled as coincidence anymore.

not a coincidence anymore , but not a fate either. If our wish at Tokyo is coming true then , why are you not feeling the same memories as me ?

Chaehyun - you are her reincarnation, right ?

.....

"You all did a great job today ! Everyone ! Thank you so much for attending this lecture"

"Thank you so much" - the hall fills up with claps and cheers as we genuinely show our appreciation to the professors and the lectures content. Everyone is grateful about how soulful teh experience as well as what they learn. But I lost my concentration in half of them as my mind starts to drift in opposite direction. Specifically, after borrowing a pen from certain someone.

I look back only to find an empty desk. I have no idea when or why did she leave so quick. There is even a paper used for brainstorming that is left on her desk - which in rush she might forget to take. I eavesdrop at her handwriting for a bit but nothing other than lecture contents is found. I grin and leaving it there - I leave the hall quietly - fighting with an unusual thought that just enter my mind.

Everytime I met her , it is unexpected. It is always unexpected.
But I wasn't able to say anything to her - because everytime she left so early.
Is that because there is a question that needs to be answer?

I am dragging my body - as my conciouness is in the astral plane. The way I walk almost imitates the soulless zombie. Thankfully , everyone is too occupied to witness my uncomfortable state. I check my phone to inquiry the time. It is 10 minutes to 12. The class ended a bit earlier than expected which is ideal since I can take the time to walk to the industrial design building where Chaeyoung will be having her lessons in. It doesn't look good for a gentleman to be late in appointments considering love right.

I exit the hall and slowly jog towards my destination. Thankfully , there is no rain although the weather is colder than expected. There must be a drizzle like an hours ago since some paddings of the road are wet but it can never bother my afternoon treks.

But there is something that is going to split me into a pools of uncertainity?

A girl .. no a blonde girl.. with a unmistakable fragrance is walking gentky in front of me - carrying her blue backpack that seems heavy. She seems to be annoyed by random paddles on the floor yet she still holds out her hand to feel the raindrops.

She doesn't seem to notice me although I automatically find myself trailing behind her instead of easily overtaking and heading my way pacily. Something inside me is forcing me to follow her from behind as I slowly match her footsteps.

Things get complicated when she makes a right turn near the convenience store. The way she is heading leads to the main gate of our university - indicating that she is going back to either home or venue. In order to go straight to the industrial design building , I have to take a left turn - a complete opposite path of her.

I look at her as she drifts farther from me - blaming the script again for pulling her away too soon.

But then I realize , destiny is not pulling her away now. I am pulling her away if I don't take a chance. Because there is an obvious chance that I may never get again

I check my phone out of options. It is only 2 minutes to hit 12 sharp - and a message of Chaeyoung saying "I am waiting for you !" - flashes right through the lockscreen. When in dilemma, time seems to slow down as a part inside you want to have just a few more time with Chaehyun while other just want to focus on the date. It is a hard choice that I have no inspiration to make. Since both options are good yet dangerous- well there's only one option that is dangerous.

If I choose to follow Chaehyun , then I might not be able to take to her still. What if she refuses , what if I miss her , what if something happen. Thoughts circle around me.

If I choose to go with Chaeyoung as always , it is the something that I always want to do. She is very open and willing in this situation and this encounter might level up our relationship. And moreover I like her.
Or do I also like Chaehyun ?

There is a obvious bad decision and a good decision - and it is smart not to force for changes. In such simple situation , why are you struggling to make up your mind Hansol ?

Because

Sometimes

I smiles as I make a right turn.

Sometimes we choose bad decisions because we believe there is a reason they are bad - and we want to change them.

"Sorry Chaeyoung , I cannot make it today" - I close my eyes when sending this message but I pray the regret rebounding from such choice will not retaliate me too much.

I sprint across the lowly pavement to the figures that is almost transparent.

"Chaehyun-ah wait up" I scream in exhaust.

When she turns her head around, I am already panting from the marathon. She stares at me not expecting such encounter.

"Hansol shi" she repeated.

"Just call me comfortably - thank you for the pen today"

She pulls her head down - but I catch a trace of smile in the face that she hides.

"It's okay -

Oppa"

She bites her lips.
But the way she looks at me is different from before.

Thinking is enough for me today. That's what enforce me to do the first thing that immediately comes into my mind.

"Do you have anything to do right now?" - as she shakes her head to answer following up with "why? "

I grab her wrist - of course gently.

"Why - suddenly?" - she looks shocked yet doesn't force to break away from it.

"Let's go" - I hold her arm and sprint across the main gate to the place even I haven't decided yet.

Looking back at her smile, I assume she accepts my invitation.

And that is how I turn a bad decisions into a lifelong memory.

Like how memories force me to do this.

Now as Lee Hansol
Not as Nakamoto Rima

But still, everything feels so fresh.