TOO SHORT

                                    

                                          
You finally found him. 

The man in your dreams. The man with milky skin, charming eyes and noticeable dimples. The man whose sad smile bothered you every night. The man who has the most familiar face and name. 

Lee Jihoon, the man you were destined to die with.

You can't help but smile when you realized that he looked even more beautiful in real life. His image was breathtaking.

"From now on, Jihoon will become part of our family, so please take care of him.", the teacher in front introduced the transferee.

Jihoon, on the other hand, looked very uncomfortable standing in front of the whole class. He just bowed slightly and went to find a seat.

Like how you experienced everything in your dream every night, he saw an empty seat beside you. He spared you a glance before he settled himself beside you.

You smiled at him sincerely, like how you you always do in your dream. That smile made him blush, so he looked away.

"Good morning, class. Our lesson for today is---"

"Chemical nomenclature.", you whispered the same time with the teacher and smiled when you were correct. You were filled with excitement because finally, you're prophecy is happening.

Actually, you are not an ordinary student. You're gifted with clairvoyance, the power to see the future. You often dream about what's going to happen in your life. An ability you kept as a secret ever since a tragedy happened when you tried to stop a friend from dying.

It may seem useful for others but your gift is a curse for you. It used to scare you off and cause sleepless nights, but because it happens frequently, you got used to it. Your power is a curse because the only thing you can predict is how and whe a person will die. 

They were just ordinary dreams for you at first because all you dreamt about were strangers. A man you happened to pass by, a service crew that served your food, an ice cream vendor at the park where you used to play; random people you don't know have appeared in your dreams and you witnessed how they died but shrugged it off because you don't know them.

Until that one night happened.

After you fell asleep, you dreamt about your friend's boyfriend, Seokmin, die by being involved in an accident. That dream scared you because the next day, you kept having the feeling of deja Vu. 

Convinced of the excessive knowledge about that day, you told your friend about your dreams and tried to convince her to protect Seokmin from the impending danger. She took your words seriously and tried to get her boyfriend away from the streets.

However, no one can cheat death. 

That very same day, Seokmin sneaked out of their apartment to surprise your friend with a gallon of chocolate ice cream. Just like how you prophesied, it rained and a truck lost its control. Seokmin happened to be in the place where the truck was and was ran over by it. He died, just like how he did in your dream.

That day, you learned that even you who has the power to see the future, has no control over it. You learned to accept every death you witnessed, in your dreams and in the real world. Some of them were creepy enough to wake you up with cold sweats, and some with tears in your eyes. Some faces you recognized, and some you don't.

You hated the power, and prayed to have you dream of your own death instead of anyone else's. To be the only dying person you will see in your dreams, instead of having you witness your loved ones dying even before they actually do.

Your prayer was heard.
One night, the nights after that, you just kept on dreaming of Jihoon. A series of dreams started to cycle every night as you dreamt of one man, whom you will love, who will love you back and whose arms you are destined to die in. It was about you're own death but it never scared you. You don't know why but even after seeing yourself, weak and bathing in blood, you felt peaceful because you will die in his arms. 

You don't know why, but having a short life doesn't bother you, because you know that you will meet him.

"Hey, Y/n!", Soonyoung called you.

You looked at him and went to where he was sitting. The cafeteria was almost full with students today. Luckily, your best friend Soonyoung found a seat for you and Seungkwan.

You sat opposite to the seemingly busy Seungkwan who has his mouth stuffed with black bean noodles. 

"Uhmm...can I join you, guys?", a voice said behind you.

You didn't have to turn around to tell who it was. Your dream never disappointed you. 

"Yeah, sure.", you said and turned to smile at him.

Though uncomfortable, Jihoon was left with no choice but to sat next to you and eat his own lunch.

You looked at him and smiled secretly when you saw how cute he was while munching his rice balls. It was a lot more fascinating to see him up close than seeing him in your dreams. He seems so fluffy and cute that you want to keep him inside your pocket to protect him from all the bad things here on earth.

Although you are aware that you were about to make a mistake, the praise still escaped from your mouth. "Too short, but cute.", you muttered, but still loud enough to make Jihoon perk his ears up and glare at you.

You immediately covered your mouth and stood up to give him a full 90° bow. "I'm so so sorry! Please forgive me!", you shouted out of panicking and hit your head on the table because of the sincerity of your bow.

Complete silence overtook the whole cafeteria before everyone bursted out with laughter, even your best friends, Soonyoung and Seungkwan.

"Hahahhahaha what a stupid being!", Seungkwan teased you and almost fell from too much laughing.

"Hajshgdueiebdgdcyso­­w", Soonyoung tried to comment but his mouth was full of black bean noodles so nevermind.

You closed your eyes out of embarrassment and sneaked a peak at Jihoon reaction.

Your eyes almost teared up when you saw him laughing his heart out while clutching his stomach. You can't help but melt to hear him laughing and see how happy he was. It was a sight you don't want to ever forget and you want to keep forever inside your heart.

You didn't notice that tears found their way out of your eyes as you looked at the candid Jihoon, whom you fell in love with even before your paths crossed, and who is destined to lose you soon.

Jihoon stopped laughing the moment he heard you sobbing. "H-hey...", he called out and reached for your hand to help you sit down. "I-I'm... I'm sorry for laughing. Please don't cry.", he whispered to you and tried to calm you down.

You pursed your lips and looked at his brown eyes. He returned to you the gaze. Then, just like in your dreams, you placed your hand on his cheek and caressed it. 

'I'm sorry if we have to meet just so you could lose me in the end. I'm so so sorry, my love.', is what you want to say to him, but you can't, because everything was planned.

He was clueless what was happening inside your head, but can't deny the fact that your warmth was too familiar for him, too. Even though he's not fond of skinships, he didn't feel the urge to tap your hand away from his face. 

Both of you felt attracted to each other, maybe because of the fact that you found each other beautiful, or perhaps it's the destiny playing its role to make you guys meet up and fall in love.

"Ahem, please respect the single hamster here.", Seungkwan complained and gave you a disgusted look while pointing at Soonyoung who was minding his business.

"Tch. If you're envious of them, just confess to your beloved American boy and don't involve me, BuKwan.", Soonyoung scowled at the diva.

You ignored the fighting idiots and smiled at Jihoon before withdrawing your hand from his face.

That day, exactly 117 days before you die, you promised to yourself that you will do everything to make Jihoon happy before you could leave him.

1. Go to an amusement park.
2. Dye your hair.
3. Bathe in the rain.
4. Buy an expensive pair of shoes.
5. Eat sea urchin.
6. Kiss and hug your mother every day.
7. Love Jihoon.
8. Keep Jihoon happy every day before you leave.
9. Write a song for him.
10. Perform it in the middle of the crowd, for him and for your secret dream.

You were about to go home from school when a heavy rain poured. Because of that, you had no choice but to wait for the rain to stop. Well, that's what at least you would do...

If you haven't seen this in your dream.

"Hi, Y/n.", Jihoon greeted when he saw you by the school's entrance.

You smiled and thought, 'Just in time.'

"Hi, Jihoon!", you greeted back cheerfully.

He smiled at you and returned his gaze to the scene laid before your eyes. Both of you became quiet and listened to the raindrops. It was peaceful, cold but warm at the same time, to spend your remaining days with Jihoon by your side.

"Have you tried bathing in the rain, Y/n?", Jihoon asked out of the blue. 

"Never been.", you replied. 'Because I'm saving that experience for you.', you thought.

"Wanna go try it out? I really wanna try it but I'm really shy to try it out alone.", he explained nervously.

You looked behind you to spare your locker a glance and smiled when you remembered that you have kept a pair of shirts there for this day. 

"Sure. It seems fun!", you replied and pulled him to the rain.

You knew that you will spend your day full of laughter and joy because one of the things you wanted to with him happened. You two bathed in the rain, danced to an unhearable song, played to your 
childish heart's content and laughed unstoppably, just like how you guys did in your dream.

He was surprised to know that you have spare clothes but you managed to clear the suspicion. He thanked you and accepted the shirt. He also invited you to come to the amusement park with him by the end of the week because he won two tickets. That was the chance for you to fulfill four of your to-do list. 

That weekend, you woke up early and dyed your hair reddish brown and bought a pair of hundred-dollar-worth­­ sneakers, to which you saved up for.

Jihoon complimented your new hairstyle. Actually, he just had another reason to fall in love with you. He tucked one side of your hair under your earlobe and offered you his hand to you. You accepted it and held tightly on it whole day.

That day was one of the best day of your life. It was full of happiness, that you didn't want to end it. 

"Hey, Y/n.", Jihoon called you while looking fondly of your hand on his. "I had fun today. Thank you for going with me."

You smiled at him. "What are you talking about? I should be the one who's thanking you right now. It was your treat."

"I told you, it's nothing. I just wanted to spend the day with you, you know.", he said. For some reason, he sounded so nervous. You tried to remember what happened in your dream for this day. You blushed when the memory came to you.

Right then, you knew that love will blossom.

"I don't know if it's too fast for you...b-but I...", he paused and sighed before he looked at you in the eyes. "Can I court you?"

There it was. The trigger to your chest, the teaser to your love, the start of your tragic love story. You thought of running away, thought of just walk away from him and save your life and his heart...

But that start, though tragic, is still a love story. A story full of love. And who are you to end everything before it can even start?

So with a heavy but brave heart of the woman who will risk everything for her love, you smiled and held his hand tighter. 

"Of course."

And accepted your inevitable fate with the person you will love the most. Because you knew that your life is just meant to be too short, yet meaningful.

---The End----