wonderlife: (Default)
wonderlife ([personal profile] wonderlife) wrote2012-04-25 10:24 pm

When I'm Gone

Author: Nichole
Rated: PG
Word Count: 804
Story Title: When I'm Gone
Summary: Ling'er and her friend Ji Sung take in a movie - a bad idea.








About half way through the film, it had become apparent that taking Ling’er to a film hadn’t been the best idea. She had sat straight up and listened quite intently to every word spoken, but she hadn’t be able to actually see what was going on. Every now and again, she would lean close to his ear and whisper,





“What are they doing? It sounds like a snuff film.”






Ji Sung didn’t want to know how she knew what a snuff film sounded like. He liked the ‘pure’ image he had constructed in his mind. “They’re working out.” Ji Sung would reply in a harsh whisper.






“They tend to work out a lot, don’t they?”


*




Walking along the crowded streets outside the theater, Ji Sung found himself amazed at just how well Ling’er was able to flow with the crowd. For someone who had lost forty percent of her eyesight, Ling’er was remarkable. He wanted to reach out and hold her hand, but knew that it was a bit soon for hand holding. Plus, Ji Sung really didn’t want her to think he pitied her. It was quit the opposite, actually.






Giving Ji Sung a hard look, Ling’er frowned thoughtfully. “’When I die, you can’t fall in love with anyone else.’”






“What? Who says I’m in love with you. I don’t even like you that much I just –" Why was his voice suddenly cracking and why were his palms soaked?




“I wasn’t talking about me or you!” Playfully, Ling'er hit him on the arm. “The female lead said that to the male lead.”





“Oh yeah, she did say that. It was a melodrama.” Glancing at Ji Sung he caught her smiling up at him. “A movie wasn’t really a good idea, though. You couldn’t even see what they were doing half the time.”








“Maybe that’s for the best.” Casually, as if she had done it a thousand times, Ling’er slipped her hand into his. “If I had a boyfriend and was dying, I’d just ask him to remember me.”





Feeling his heart fall his stomach, Ji Sung let out a surprised, “You’re dying?” Ling’er reply was a simple raised eyebrow. “Right. No, sorry.” He was sure his face was red, but he managed to get out, “I’d remember you.”




Ling’er didn’t say anything after that. She just tightened her grip on Ji Sung’s hand.



*


The next morning, Ling’er was standing in front of Ji Sung’s school. She was dressed all in white, and for the briefest of seconds, Ji Sung wondered if she had died the night before and come back to haunt him. Ignoring his usual group of admirers, he headed straight for Ling’er and dragged her around a corner. This felt like it was going to be a private moment and he didn’t want anyone to hear what she was going to say.





“Na Ji Sung.”




“Ling Sara.”





There was an awkward pause, before Ling’er smiled happily. “My family and I might not stay in Seoul forever. Actually . . . we move around a lot. That’s how I got all my siblings.” Ji Sung just blinked. “Never mind. I just wanted to tell you that if I disappear forever or die, I demand that you remember me forever.” Ling’er furthered her point by nodding firmly. “Forever and ever. You can get close to other people and become an old Grandfather, but you have to remember me.”






Whether awkwardly, Ji Sung reached out and took one of Ling’er hands in his. “Okay. “ he smiled softly. “If only so you don’t haunt me.”





“Tsk,” returning his smile, Ling’er kicked Ji Sung in the leg. “who’d haunt you? I’m going to my next life, not sticking around here. I just don’t want to be forgotten by you.”





Nearby the bell rang, letting Ji Sung know that school was about to start and the school gates would be closing any moment. He was still outside the gates and he was sure none of the teachers had seen him yet. There was still time to make a break for it with Ling’er.






Holding her hand firmly in his, he began to drag her down the path. “Come on, let’s go listen to another movie.”






“One where they exercise a lot?” Was that a smile in her voice? “Or one where they don’t exercise much?”





“One where they don’t exercise much.” Ji Sung didn’t want to say it, but when the movies had “exercise” scenes, it made him want to “exercise” with Ling’er. And, how could they do that when they had just started holding hands? Even if they agreed to remember each other after death, they were nowhere near the “exercise” stage.





“Oh, I was hoping you’d pick up a few exercises and show me.”





Damn. A movie with exercise it was, then.