The Inevitable (1/2)

France was a beautiful country: the cuisine was foreign and refreshing, the life was laid-back, the endless heavenly sceneries in the country-side with greens which stretched for miles and miles and the fruity fragrance from vineyards made the nation très romantique.  In all honesty, France was truly heavenly for Kim Kibum, but what made the country especially blissful was one small girl- a girl of 12 year-old by the name of Charlotte Fournier.

Back then nothing was complicated; Key loved being with Charlotte.  Charlotte was fun to be with; after meeting her, Key felt that she was someone he could trust, someone he could have a relationship with- no, a close friendship which didn't involve love and lust.  Kim Kibum could talk to her all day, spend endless mornings and nights talking in the garden and laughing with her.  She was the first girl who he felt comfortable with; he loved- no, he cherished her company.  You might say she was the best friend he never had, and never will.  He liked hearing her call him "Oppa" in her French accent, not like how whiny or moan-y girlfriends do nowadays.

"Ahhhh…" Key and Charlotte were in the garden one sunny afternoon, a week since their meeting, "ces devoirs sont très difficile.  Je déteste les mathématiques, tu es d'accord, non?   Oppa?"

"Hmm?"  Key loved Charlotte speaking in French, despite his not knowing what she said.

"Ahhh pardon, j'oublie.  I hate maths, don't you?"

"They're useful, but I can't say I like them."

"Oui, tu es d'accord avec moi.  Alors, what are your plans for next week?  It's your last, non?"

"Yes.  What do you think I should do?"

"I don't know, but don't spend all your time here.  I feel bad for wasting your whole week avec moi.  How about visit Paris?  You must visit Paris if you haven't already."

"The Eiffel Tower?  It's too… over-rated.  Maybe some other time."

"Ahhh nonn… you can't stay here though, it'll be boring!"

"How about you take me to some local clothes shops?  I could always do with a new wardrobe."

"Ahh oui, bien sùr! I love shopping; and we could visit a beach and take walks!  You will be able to see the French life!"

"Sounds fab."

Charlotte tilted her head.  "Why do I sound more exciting than you?  And I live in France!"

"Well, I like it here: the quiet, the picturesque fields…"

"Mon Dieu! You sound so old!  I expect to hear this from my grandpapa and not you."

"Back home, I live in Seoul so I really appreciate the tranquillity and the smell-"

"The smell?  The smell of cow poo?"

Key laughed.  "Beside that sometimes there is the fruity smell of grapes."

"You're so weird."

"And you're such a kid."

"I am a kid."

Charlotte put down the pencil in her hand and closed her maths book.

"What is Seoul like?  Is it like Paris, too?"

"Life in Seoul is perhaps twice as intense and fast-pace than in Paris."

"Ahh really?  I would like to go there.  You are so lucky."

"Am I really?"

"Of course!  And do the people there speak good English like you do?"

"Some people speak good English but the majority doesn't.

"And the girls there?  I hear the celebrities are quite pretty."

"French girls are pretty too."

"I'm not pretty," Charlotte twirled her dirty blonde hair, "my friends are pretty though.  They sometimes have boys' attention."

"Beauty isn't everything."  Key said, his finger gently lifted Charlotte's chin so her eyes were level with his, "And some people are late bloomers, that's what I call them anyway."

"Late bloomers?"

"That means as they grow into young men and women, their looks will change and they may become quite attractive people."