Two (1/1)

I wanna be with you

If only for a night

To be the one who's in your arms to hold you tight

I wanna be with you

There's nothing more to say

There's nothing else I want more than to feel this way

I wanna be with you  Days change into weeks. Yunho and I are getting closer. He comes everyday to my house to spend time with Ji and dad, and of course stealing mom’s apple pie. Mom is more than happy to make apple pie every day for Yunho. She even makes extra for Yunho to be brought home for his mother. But I haven’t told him about my condition yet. I’m afraid that he will flee as soon as he hears the news. I know I’m being unfair. But he’s like oasis in ocean of my lonely desert. He brings rain when I am dying of thirstiness. He strikes me with storm of surprises in every turn. He arise sun when I suffer from coldness. I almost think he has love for me, though he hasn’t told me anything yet.He has also introduced me to his mom. Yunho’s mother is a lovely and strong woman. Yunho has single parent after his parents decided to divorce five years ago. I was in the verge of crying when he told me how much he misses his dad. When his dad showed up in front of Yunho, all he could do was spitting his anger to his father for leaving him and his mother for another woman. That’s when I finally realized why he likes to stay with dad and Ji. He has no sibling and dad figure to talk with.“Want to go somewhere?” Yunho whispers secretly at me in front of Ji who staring  up at us suspiciously.We sat side by side in living room couch. Dad is busy reading his newspaper while mom absorbing her TV drama. Ji is trying to finish his puzzle game given by Yunho as a gift.“Dad, they are whispering at each other.” Ji reports at my dad. Yunho and I stifle smiles. “What are they whispering about?” Dad asks nonchalantly.“How do I know? If I know I’ll tell you right away.” Ji purses his lips at me.“I plan to take Yuri to picnic. Will you give me your permission Mr. Kwon?” Yunho straightens his posture beside me. Ji gapes at us. It’s funny to see how his mouth open and close like a fish.Dad set his paper down with smile on his face. “That’s a very good idea Kid. Go take her for picnic, pack some snacks in the kitchen before you go.”Mom nods with a grin.“Can I come with you?” Ji pleads. “I am free this afternoon. Please,” He applies his puppy eyes at all of us.“Bring your ball. I’ll teach you baseball later.” Yunho grins.Ji runs so fast to his room while I silently mouthed thanks at Yunho and set for the kitchen to pack some snacks.“Thank you Mr. Kwon.”“The pleasure is mine Yunho.”I hear their conversation vaguely. Maybe I should tell him today. Dad’s been nagging at me all the time about being honest. What we have now is stronger than friendship. And I can’t – I won’t deceive him any longer.We’re riding his very comfy car. I don’t know where we’re heading to, but I have a trust in him. Maybe it’s another surprise from him. I peek at Ji from the mirror. He’s being deadly silent and just holding his ball tightly.“Are you okay there, Runt?”His boyish grin appears and it’s a good sign. I smile back at him from the mirror.“How far is this place?” I ask Yunho, at last.“It’s almost. You two will surely like this.”The car turns to the left, heading in the direction of desolate street. I’ve never gone this far with my dad before. Before I can ask question again, a hill mounted behind the pine trees. The soft light of the sun is gleaming over the leaves, shadowing the street beneath it. I reach out my hand outside the window. Wind blows against my hair, sending it flutter in the air and it feels wonderful. The fresh air, peaceful atmosphere, beautiful surrounding is indeed good for me.“I never know this place exists.” I muse.“I found out yesterday. I want to show this to you and Ji as soon as possible.”The car moves to the side and we’re heading directly at the top of the hill. Ji squeaks in delight in his seat.“This is awesome! Are we going to park at the top of the hill?!” I can’t hide the ecstatic tone in my voice. My hand keeps outside the window, catching wind in vain.“I’ve reserved the most special place to park our car.” Yunho laughs.The car is slowing down before it’s really stopping. Ji burst out the car before Yunho can open it for him. My eyes widen at the sight of crystalline river down the hill. “Oh my God Yunho!”“Does this meet your expectation?” He shifts so that he can face me.I am speechless and manage fervent nods. Without I realize I throw my arms around his neck. Yunho goes rigid but before long he hugs me back and pats my head lovingly.“I’m glad you like this.”I pull out abruptly, paying no attention with my surprising hug at him. I just want to express my gratefulness at him. “Like this?! I love this!” I grab his hands in mine and tug at him enthusiastically. “I can’t wait to play in the water.”“Let’s get you there, then.”I practically am running down the hill to reach the river. Ji shouts at me worriedly and I send him apologetic grin. I bet Yunho still have no ideas why everyone’s being so careful with me. He’s just smiling confusedly at me. We lay down the picnic blanket beside the river. While I am setting the snacks, Yunho teaches Runt to play baseball. People will think they are dad and son in one glance. There are so many similarities between Yunho and Ji.“Yuri I’m thirsty,” Ji runs toward me with hand in his throat. “He’s good in baseball. I can’t beat him.” He protests. Yunho tails behind him with grin on his face. His hair’s tousled from the wind. I swear I will forever treasure this sight in my memory.“You just need more practice and you’ll beat him.” I pour two glasses of orange juice for them.“You think so?” Ji plops with soft thud beside me. His pout is gone now. I hand him the glass with smile. Oh, how I love the look on my brother’s face when its shine with expectation.“He used to be bad at baseball when he was your age.” I whisper secretly on his little ear. Ji’s face is splitting into a grin.“I am sure you guys are talking about me.” Yunho smiles dryly.Ji hides his smile almost immediately and pretending to be serious. He finishes his juice almost immediately for I need to rub his back when he indicates of choking.“Yuri, I want to catch grasshopper over there. I saw a very beautiful one when I fetched my ball.”“Okay. Don’t be too far or we’ll leave you.”“Take care of my sister, will you?” Runt requests seriously at Yunho.Yunho gives him salute with same serious expression and I laugh out loud. God, but they are so alike in many ways.“I think I came to the point of loving your brother.” Yunho states solemnly.“You love him already the day you met him.”“Maybe, I’m slow at realizing thing.”I stare at the river longingly. “I want to swim.”Yunho glances at Ji, smiling when he see the kid climbing over a tree to catch his ‘very beautiful grasshopper’. “I want to swim too.” He confesses.I stand up and Yunho watch in disbelief as I strip out of my clothes, leaving me with only my underwear. I can’t believe I dare to commit such a reckless behavior. But all of this is too wonderful to be wasted.  I turn away from him to plunge my right foot into the water, testing its temperature. It’s perfect. When I about to plunge my left foot, Yunho holds my shoulders to help me steady. “You know, its feel like swimming in a crystal pond.” One think I miss, I don’t know that Yunho standing behind me only in his boxer. I turn and grab his hands and ready to pull him in the water when swiftly he maneuvers us and yanking me on his chest. “Yunho! What are you doing?!” I gasp at our bare skin contact.He easily runs in the water carrying me without even getting slip. I laugh out loud. Yunho is going in the deeper part and I feel the water in my bottom.“Okay Hulk, set me down now. I can swim on my own.” I state rather breathlessly. Yunho slides me down slowly along the length of his body. My eyes meet him and I note his stare is odd. “What?” My eyes lock with him and for split second I thought he’s going to kiss me. I shake my head to clear my mind.“Yunho I’ve something to tell you.” “What is it?” His voice is low and deep, sending shiver down my spine where his hand resting peacefully.I blink when surge of courage floods into my body. “I have a cancer. My time is limited till the end of summer.” I can’t believe I manage to say it smoothly.“I knew it.” He whispers.Before I can answer he kisses me. Yunho is kissing me. God, he kisses me in the water. Gasping for air makes us pull away from our kiss. I glance nervously at Ji, grateful that he paying no attention on us.“You knew it?” I manage to ask when my scattering wit gathers back in my mind slowly. “Why didn’t you say anything about it?”Instead of answering my question, Yunho kisses me again, deeper this time. My knees turn into jelly, if it’s not for Yunho’s steady hand on my back, I would melt into the water.“How many weeks do we have?” He asks breathlessly.I feel the pain tightening in my chest, spreading to my eyes in annoying way, before turning into pure liquid in my eyes. I hate to cry. I’ve cry so much in the past three years till the point I thought I have no more tears left. I hate to be seen so weak, especially in front of Yunho. “fourteen weeks if God gives me miracle.”He smiles. “We’re going to make those fourteen weeks into unforgettable memories.”The sob escapes my throat. Yunho reaches for my head and rest it in his warm shoulder. His arm holds me tight. “This is the last time I will allow you to cry.” He strokes my hair lovingly with his free hand. “For the next fourteen weeks, there will be only smile in your beautiful face. And that smile is only for me. Or maybe I’ll share with your family, I’ll consider that.” I chuckle at his remark in spite of my overflowing tears. Yunho is so everything beyond my expectation. I look up at the sky. God, is he the light you keep this whole time for me? If it’s he, I thank you for saving him for me.“I think I’m going to add the volume of water if I keep crying.” I mumble in his chest.“It’s good then. We’ll learn to dive instead of swimming if that happens.”I slap his upper arm playfully. “You’re lucky Runt didn’t see me crying.” He smiles in my hair.I don’t know for how long already we stay like this. But he waits patiently till my sob subsides. It seems so right leaning in his arms, to have someone that loves you back as much as you love him. It hits me hard. He hasn’t said he love me. “Yunho, what are we having now?” I brace my self for his answer.“What do you want to have with me? Friendship? Love? I won’t force you into something you’re not ready yet.”I look up at him. “Oh I’m in love with you already.”He smiles softly. His hand’s busy to wipe the remaining tears in my cheeks. “I’m pretty sure that I love you too.”I blink in disbelief. “A hundred percent?”“Thousand even million percent. Doesn’t matter. It can’t be counted.”“I can hardly believe it.” I snuggle back in his neck, savoring my favorite smell of him, Yunho’s scent.“Believe it now.” He rubs my back gently.“What are we going to do in fourteen weeks?” The pain is coming back again, threatening to pool my eyes with new fresh liquid.“Happiness. I’ll bring happiness for you so that you’ll forget about cry, about pain, about time. It’ll be only me, you and your family.” His arms tighten around me as if to shield me from affliction.The combination of the coldness of the water, air and his sweet words makes me shudder. It’s all too much to receive in one time. His kisses had startled me, his statement had made me cry and the last is his love. I don’t know what kind of reaction left inside me.“It scares me Yunho.”“I am here Yuri. No one is going to hurt you. I won’t even let them touch you.”“It’s not that. It scares me to leave you. Your love makes me selfish. I don’t want to go to a place where I can’t reach you.” Fresh tears leak down, wetting his neck. I start to think that we’re not going to swim today.Yunho sighs heavily and resting his chin atop my head. He has no answer for that, I know it.From the corner of my eye, I notice that Ji stride back to the picnic camp. “Oh no, Runt’s coming back.”I feel the tension leave his body as he laugh. “Why do you keep calling him Runt?”“He’s short.” I reason as I pull away from him.“He’ll grow tall quicker than you can imagine.” He states before falls silent.“I’m not going there to see him growing taller.” I shrug nonchalantly. “So, I’ll keep calling him Runt.” I force a smile at Yunho.“Yuri I don’t mean to –““It’s fine Yunho.”He groans and pulls me back to his chest. “Oh God,”“He will see us Yunho. Let me go.” I whisper in panic.“I think he knows that I love you.”I slap his chest “Oh stop it! Let me go.” Reluctantly, his arms loosen around me and in time I flee away from him when Ji see us in the water.“Why didn’t you tell me that you’re going to swim?!” He demands, hands in waist with pouting lips.“You were too busy with your beetle.” Yunho answer smoothly with grin, while I turn my back at Ji so that he can’t see my face.“It is a grasshopper! You can just call me, you know!”“Honestly, we don’t want any disturbance.”“Yunho, stop it!” I hiss through my teeth. His grin is now flashing on me. Oh, this is ridiculous.“You two are being weird! Yuri, are you okay?! Did the imp hurt you?!”Wonderful! Now, Ji is being overprotective. I send glare at Yunho while he’s gaping in disbelief.“Yuri, tell me!” The little boy demands seriously.“Did he just call me ‘imp’?” “Shut up! I’ll handle this.” I hiss at Yunho. “I am okay Runt!” I shout without turning.“Then look at me!”“I can’t. I’m fixing my bikini’s strap.” I pretend to tie the strap even though Ji can’t see it.“Then why you let him see it?!”Arggh! This is getting embarrassing. Yunho’s lips twitch and I blush madly. “He helps me to tie it.”“Yes, I am helping her.” Yunho comes to my side and reach for the straps. I resist the urge to slap his hands. “That’s a very inspiring reason.” He whispers closely in my ears. My cheeks heat even more.“Hey! You can’t touch her!” Ji’s yell is getting loud.“I am touching her bikini’s strap.” Yunho demonstrates it.I groan in despair. “Yunho, stop it. He won’t forgive you for this.”“Dare to bet for it?” He challenges.“I am not making this a joke.” I say sternly.“Alright baby, I’m sorry. I can’t bear the look on his face. I just want to tease him a little.”“Yuri! Do you hear me?! Get out of the water!” Now, the little boy stomps his feet on the ground, emphasizing each word he says.“You hear that? He sounds like your father instead of little brother.” Yunho chuckles low in my ear. His hands still busy tying knot with the strap before let it go and set both his hands in the air. “Alright Kid, I’m finish helping your sister.”“Get out of water you two!” Ji orders fretfully. He definitely will cry if I ignore his request.I splash the cool water into my face several times to erase the trace of tears in my cheeks. My eyes are certainly red and swollen, but I don’t give a damn about it. I grab Yunho’s hand before he can do or say something that irritates Runt even more.“Don’t say a thing. I beg you.” I whisper before we reach the edge.“Yuri this is not funny! You’re not allowed to swim. Not in the river.” Ji chastises before we can even get out of the water. His expression is a mixture of furious, worry and incredulity.“It’s okay Runt. Yunho is with me. He held me in the water.” I try in vain to sooth him with apologetic smile. Ji will forgive me if I offer him my smile.“He held you all the time?” Ji’s voice is tone of incredulous.“Chills out Kid, I was just protecting your sister.” Yunho’s eyes gleams with amusement when I look at him while he helps lift me out of water. I glare at him.“Dad must to know this.” The little boy determines with hatred look at Yunho. “Dad gave you permission to bringing her out for picnic not for raping her.”“Kwon Jiyong!” I automatically shout at my brother. Where on earth a boy of seven learns that sort of word?“Okay! This is very serious apparently.” Yunho holds his hands in the air. Frustration and disbelief are crossing his feature.Ji’s lips tremble in fear while one lonely tear is leaking down his cheek. Usually, when I use his full name it’s mean I am really angry. I groan and reach for my brother shaking body for hug. I cannot believe I just lost my patience. I’m hardly ever angry to my brother.“There now,” I pat his back gently. “Don’t cry sweetie. I didn’t mean it. I am sorry.”Yunho is watching us regretfully. I know he didn’t mean to fret my brother. I smile at him reassuringly. “Can I talk to him?”I stare at him doubtfully. But I think he determines with his request. “Runt, Yunho want to talk to you. What do you think?”Ji pulls away from my hug. His nose reddens and his eyes swollen from crying. “I will talk to him.”I smile while wipe away his tears. He is so mature and strong with when he decides something. I love you, I love you so much my baby brother. Sometime I thought Ji is my own son for he’s spending so much time with me rather than mom. “Alright, I’ll leave you to talk. I’ll be dressed in the car.”I beam at Yunho when I walk pass him. Yunho surprises me by slipping his arm around my waist and planting a soft kiss on my forehead. I catch from the corner of my eye Ji is watching us with new interest.I pretend to be busy but inside the car I observe the two of them talking seriously as if it is business matter. Ji’s eyes lit up when Yunho whispers something and then his small face split up with conspiratorial grin. So, they are an ally now, huh?Ji sprints towards the car and he opens the door in time when I pull in my dress. “What is it? What make you so happy?”“He’s smitten to you!” He exclaims loudly.I gape at him. “Yunho told you that?”He nods enthusiastically. Well, that’s not what I had expected. “Is it okay for you?”“Of course it is! He’s smitten to you Yuri!”I slit my eyes and look at him suspiciously. “Where did you learn that word?”His hand instantly snaps at Yunho’s direction where the man standing near the lake half-naked with boyish grins. I crack into big laugh. “Well Runt, you’ve better stay away that man from now on. He’s bad influence for you.”“Then you should stay away from him too.” He grumbles.I shake my head, still with grin in my face that I dare say makes him piss-off. “I can differentiate between wrong and right.” “That’s not true!”“Yes it is. Now, now, get inside the car. Yunho and I will pack and we’re heading home.” I pull his petite figure inside the car and close it before he can climb down. “Stay inside.” I add sternly.I walk toward Yunho with smile in my face. How can I not? “You did well.” I mutter.He reaches for my hand before tug it and steals a peck in my lips. “You’re not going to cause another problem.” I slap his upper arm playfully.“Come one, let’s clean up the stuff.” I nudge at his arm. “Anyway, thank you for today.”His expression turns sober. “I’ll do anything to make you happy.” He cups my cheeks gently to plant a sweet, soft kiss on my lips. “Anything”  Well, this is weekend. I suppose I have the obligation to update this story. Enjoying this story? Do subscribe and comment so I will know what you think ^_^