august, 2017

winwin had been asked to join some of the other members for nct life in osaka. he had been excited and had fun spending time with the members for something other than work. he wasn't familiar with japan, so exploring was somewhat exhilarating.

and that's when he met her.

the members and staff were walking around a rather bland cherry blossom forest when he spotted her.

she was sitting by a cherry blossom tree when they came across her. since they were filming, the members didn't pay her much attention. expect for winwin.

while they were explaining the rules of the game, which was basically who could take the best selfie, winwin's eyes kept drifting to the girl. she had her knees pulled up to her chest, a sketchbook resting peacefully on her thighs as she sketched something.

sicheng's fascination peaked when she glanced in his direction for a split second.

his cheeks turned the shade of the cherry blossom tree above them. he noticed jaehyun glancing at him and sicheng quickly acted as if he'd been paying attention all along. the older boy raised a brow but didn't say anything. it was obvious that the younger boy was staring at the lone girl drawing under the tree. jaehyun lowered his head as he continued listening to the rules of the game.

when everyone understood what they were supposed to do, the members split up to search for the perfect place to take their pictures. unfortunately, there weren't many pink trees in the areas that the members were asked to stay. the biggest, fullest tree was occupied as the other members tried to get good pictures. winwin attempted to get a good angle, but he couldn't get a shot without a member of the staff in the frame.

huffing in slight annoyance, winwin dropped his arm and glanced around the park for another tree to take a picture in. that's when his eyes found the mystery girl again.

building his confidence, sicheng jumped elegantly from the tree branch he had been sitting on and made his way over to the girl.

•

winwin frowned deeply, his oversized mustard hoodie pulled over his head and he leaned back in his chair. he didn't move as he stared at the phone in his lap. he'd been wishing-hoping that it'd flash with her name, but it didn't.

it never did.

sicheng gently rubbed his eyes and forehead to get the tired ache to go away. it didn't.

the boy sighed, sinking further into his chair. his eyes were screaming at him to let them close, but he kept them open.

the door suddenly opened and winwin lifted his head to see who it was. a little smile met his lips when he saw his fellow 97 liner, jaehyun. the older boy smiled softly and walked into the room. there was something in his hand but winwin couldn't see from his position in the chair. jaehyun took a seat on the armrest of the couch across from the boy.

"still hasn't texted back?" winwin's gaze rose to meet his hyung's, but jaehyun's face remained sympathetic. sicheng hesitated for a second before he shook his head, some of his dark red locks falling in front of his eyes.

"uh, y-you help me?" sicheng tried to ask in his broken japanese. the girl looked up from her sketchbook with wide eyes, but a smile soon occupied her face. she decided to nod instead of responding with words. after trying and failing to ask her to help him find an attractive selfie angle in japanese, winwin let out a frustrated sigh.

"do you speak korean?"

the girl tilted her head to the side innocently as she thought of how to respond. winwin waved a hand to brush off the question and pointed to his chest. "dong sicheng." as if something clicked in the girl's head, her eyes widened.

"are you chinese?" she asked in perfect mandarin. winwin's eyebrows shot up in amazement. "yes! are you?"

the girl stood and brushed her jeans off quickly, "huan yanmei. i came to japan for college. you don't seem to be familiar with this area. are you visiting from china?" winwin shook his head and glanced over his shoulder at the other members, who were struggling to find a good place to take their selfies. "i live in korea with my friends over there. we're here on vacation."

it seemed like she didn't recognize him, and that was a nice change.

the two foreigners talked for as long as they could until it was time for winwin to return to his members. remembering his mission, the boy's eyes widened and he nervously played with his fingers.

"actually, i came over here to ask for your help. i noticed you drawing and assumed you have some artistic qualities, so could you help me take a selfie?"

at first, the girl laughed bashfully after being complimented, but she then nodded. sicheng smiled gratefully and listened carefully as she positioned him in front of the tree. it took only a minute for her to give him the satisfied thumbs up to take the picture. when winwin saw the photo, he gasped lightly with a smile.

"wow! it came out really good!" the girl blushed and glanced away. she then knelt down to grab her sketchbook, still blushing profusely.

without saying another word, she quickly scribbled something onto her drawing and tore the page out of her book. she handed it to the boy, and he took it carefully. "you should get back to your friends. it seems like they're almost done with their missions."

sicheng turned back to see that the others were, in fact, gathering again with their selfies.

winwin shoved the note into his pocket and smiled at the girl once more. "it was nice to meet you, yanmei." she smiled shyly, tilting her head towards the ground.

"you too, sicheng."

a hand on his leg pulled winwin from his thoughts. he glanced up to see jaehyun looking at him, concern written all over his face. the younger boy shrugged, his eyes falling back onto the dark screen of his phone. then, a messy ball of fluff was placed in his lap, covering his phone and grabbing his attention.

sicheng slowly reached for the object, realizing it was a teddy bear when it was in his hands.

"a bear? why?" his question was directed at his hyung, but he didn't look up to ask. he didn't have to. jaehyun shrugged, leaning closer to his younger.

"i'm not sure, exactly. johnny gave it to me for the same reason i'm giving it to you. i guess it's kind of like a comfort thing?"

as winwin inspected it, he realized that there was a crack in one of the beaded eyes. jaehyun scratched his nape when he caught winwin looking, but neither mentioned it. instead, winwin thanks his hyung and accepts the gift without another word.

•

winwin had already tucked himself into bed when his phone lit up. though he was tired, his hand instantly grabbed the device and pulled it closer to his face.

cherry blossom buddies

yanmei
sicheng...
we need to talk
[read at 1:27 am]

yanmei
since you're reading
these, i'll assume
you're awake so i'll
go ahead...

yanmei
i like you

yanmei
i've liked you since
we met in japan

yanmei
these past two months
have been so fun
talking to you...

yanmei
but i looked you up...

yanmei
why didn't you tell me
you're an idol?
[read at 1:32 am]

yanmei
please talk to me

winwin
i wanted to ask you outI

i wanted to asI

i wantI

winwin
i don't know.

yanmei
...

yanmei
okay

yanmei
sicheng

yanmei
i don't think we should
talk anymore...

yanmei
you're an idol and i'm
still just a college
student trying to get
my life together.

yanmei
i'm in no position to be
in a relationship

yanmei
especially a forbidden,
long-distance one with
an idol.

winwin
we could make it work...I

we could maI

winwin
i understand.

yanmei
sicheng, i'm sorry
[read at 1:46 am]

yanmei
sicheng...
[delivered]

winwin tossed his phone on the bedside table and pulled his blanket closer to his body.

his eyes landed on the ball of fluff jaehyun had given to him.

poking a hand out from the warm protection of his comforter, sicheng grabbed the bear and pulled it to his chest, hugging it tightly as his heart ached over the loss of a friend.

• • •

my first time doing a text format, so hopefully, it looks okay.

1427 words