twenty-two.
[flashback]
1 year ago

She looked at the man in front of her with so much ardor, like there is an instant connection between them even if it was the first time they saw each other. He offered her a bag of chocolates, and a small velvety box occupied his other hand. She stared at him with wide eyes, contemplating whether to accept the gift he insists on giving or to ignore him because she remembered how her dada always say to not to talk to strangers.

"This is for you, sweetie. Don't worry, I am not a bad person. I just want to give you all of these to make you happy," he said to her, his eyes glistening, maybe hoping that she will accept the gifts.

"Dada gets angry when Seolmi talks to strangers," she barely muttered. She saw how his smile turned into a frown after hearing her reply. He pouted in front of her, and she instantly thought it's cute.

"Your dada knows me, sweetie. So you need not to worry, okay? I'm a good friend of your dada," he showed her a smile once more, but she doubted if it's genuine. She placed her chubby fingers under her chin, as if she was trying to think if she should believe him or not.

"If you're dada's friend, why not talk to dada?" She asked, trying to find some flaws against him. He sighed before ruffling her hair.

"Your dada might get angry at me because I came here without his permission. But I really am a friend of your dada," he convinced her once more, after showing her some pictures from his phone.

"Ooh. It's dada!" She squealed in delight. He nodded and laughed at her enthusiasm after seeing her dada on the screen.

"See? Your dada knows me."

"Seolmi believes now!" She said, waddling towards him to hug his leg. She felt him freeze for a moment before his hands find their way to her hair, stroking it gently.

"So will you accept my gifts now?" She showed him her dimples before making grabby hands.

"Thank you-" She stopped her sentence because she actually don't know what to call him. He bent down to level his body on hers before smiling at her sweetly.

"I prefer if you just call me Bunny, 'kay? Take care of your dada. I will come visit you again soon," She grinned before giving him a peck on the cheeks. He closed the gap between them, giving her a very tight hug then kissed her on the forehead.

"Bye bye, Seol."

"Buh-bye, Bunny!"

He stood up, dusting his pants and then he turned his back against her. And right before he even did that, she didn't miss the tear rolling down his cheeks.

❄️

Little Seolmi then had the habit to fidget her necklace whenever she is alone or nervous. She would feel the small spikes, tracing it with her fingers, constantly smiling when she feels the snowflake pendant under her fingertips.

"Hello, Seolmi~ Why are you here alone? Don't you want to play with your classmates?" Her teacher said before bending down in front of her. She stopped swinging and shook her head shyly.

"They're meanies... they mock Seolmi because  daddy isn't here," she whispered. Her teacher caressed her cheeks before eyeing the necklace Seolmi was still grasping.

"Your necklace is so beautiful. Why is its pendant a snowflake?" Seolmi showed her teacher her dimple before answering gleefully.

"My dada always call me little snowflake, teacher."

"So that's why you're called Seolmi. You are as beautiful as the snow. Did your dada give that to you?"

The teacher creased her forehead when Seolmi said no.

"My daddy gave this to me!" She shouted with delight.

❄️