Love Waits

Summer classes aren’t new to anyone. But every time I hear the word summer class, it feels like bad news. For most people, summer means vacation, fun, and rest. For me, it means more lessons when I should be on break.

I’m Ivan, 20 years old. Just a simple guy. People sometimes say I have slanted eyes, which makes me “attractive” in their eyes. Some even chase after me, but I never took it seriously. Tomorrow is the first day of summer class. I should sleep early, but I can’t stop thinking about how annoying it is. Instead of enjoying my summer, I’ll be stuck in school.

After class, I decided to drop by one of the parks in our town. It had been a long time since I last went there. Since it was still early, I thought if I went home right away, my mom would just give me chores.

I sat on a bench near a tree, replying to some texts. Then suddenly, someone sat down beside me. He had fair skin, was a bit tall, simply dressed. But still, he was handsome and cute.

“Are you here alone?” he asked me.

“Ahh, yes,” I quickly replied.

“Why are you still in uniform? Are you taking summer class?”

“Ahh, yes,” I answered shyly, scratching the back of my head.

“Hmm, why do you look so shy? Maybe you’re the troublemaker in class, huh?” he teased.

“No, not really. Maybe just a little.” I smiled.

“Haha. You know what? You just reminded me of when I also took summer class. It was fun! After class, my friends and I would hang out. I’d usually get home around 6 p.m. because I didn’t want to go home right away. My mom wouldn’t stop giving me chores.”

Wow. He talked so fast—like a machine gun. I could already tell he was the chatty type. It was like listening to a girl trapped in a guy’s body, the way he talked so quickly. But I realized we were the same—we both didn’t like going home right away.

“By the way, why are you here? Do you come to this park often? Because if you do, why haven’t I seen you before? I’m always here. I just like watching kids play. It reminds me of when I was young. My mom used to scold me because I was always at the park. HAHA. I just enjoyed it, especially the swings, and—”

Then suddenly, he went quiet. I thought he would never stop talking. He lowered his head and avoided my eyes.

“I’m sorry. Maybe I’m being too noisy. Am I talking too much? Sorry… I’ll just go.” Then he suddenly ran off.

“Hey, wait!!” I shouted. He stopped and turned around. I saw tears falling down his face. Why was he crying? Did he have a problem?

That night, his face kept appearing in my mind. I started going back to the park often, hoping to see him again. But days passed, and then two weeks, and he never showed up. Didn’t he say he always came to this park? Why did he suddenly stop?

I regretted not asking his name. It would’ve been easier if I could just search for him online. The strange part was, I had already had relationships with others before, but this time it was different. I couldn’t stop thinking about him—especially the moment I saw him crying. It made me want to take care of him, to protect him.

The following Saturday, I went jogging at the park. The air was fresh, and for the first time I noticed how beautiful the park really was. Since meeting him there, it had become my favorite place. I sat on a swing, realizing how long it had been since I last sat there. It felt nostalgic.

“Can I sit here too? Are you alone?”

I turned around. My heart skipped a beat—it was him. I felt a rush of happiness seeing him again, as if I had been missing him for years.

“Oh, it’s you! Why only now? I’ve been coming here a lot, but I haven’t seen you,” I said.

“Really? You’ve been waiting for me? You were looking for me? Haha, no way!”

“Yes, way. It’s weird. I’ve never felt like this toward someone before,” I admitted as he sat on the other swing.

“You know, I really missed sitting on swings. I remember the last time I did, it was raining, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to swing again. The next day, I got sick—sneezing non-stop. My mom forced me to take medicine, and I cried because I hated tablets back then. It was so annoying.”

“Damn, I missed this,” I said, smiling. I had really missed how talkative he was.

“Missed what?” he asked. “Speaking of missing, I also miss my dog. Someone special gave him to me on my birthday. You know what happened? One day, I was rushing to school and forgot to feed Dusty—that’s what we named him. And when I got home, he wasn’t barking like he usually did. At first, I thought he was just sleeping, but then I realized he had gotten sick. The vet said he probably ate something bad while I was gone. Maybe from the trash, because Dusty was always so playful and curious, and I wasn’t there to watch him. By the time I noticed, it was too late. I cried so hard that day. I really missed him… and the person who gave him to me. You know, until now, I still feel guilty. I keep thinking if I hadn’t been in such a rush, or if I had fed him earlier, maybe he wouldn’t have tried to eat something else. Dusty was my first dog, and losing him like that—it hurt so much.”

“You sure talk a lot,” I teased.

“Sorry about that,” he said, lowering his head again.

“No, it’s fine. Honestly, my day doesn’t feel complete without hearing you talk. You know, ever since we first talked here, I can’t get you out of my mind.”

Suddenly, he stood up and ran away again. But before disappearing, he looked back at me. Tears rolled down his cheeks once more. Why? Every time we met, everything seemed fine at first—but then he would suddenly cry and leave. What was going on with him? I really wanted to protect him.

But once again, I forgot to ask his name.

After my summer class ended one afternoon, I went straight to the park, hoping to see him again. I stayed until 7 p.m., but he never came. What could be wrong with him? How many more weeks would I have to wait before I saw him again?

I finally went home, only to be scolded by my mom for always coming home late. I just went straight to my room, skipped dinner, and lay on my bed. I had no appetite. I didn’t know why, but it felt like I was slowly falling for him.

Maybe I was in love with him already. I didn’t even know his name yet, so in my head, I just started calling him Park Guy. It sounded like something out of a Korean drama, right? But I couldn’t help it.

Two months passed. My summer class ended, but still, I never saw Park Guy again. What happened to him? What was his problem? Why was he always crying whenever we met? It felt like he was carrying a heavy burden. I couldn’t stop myself from worrying.

One afternoon, I reached for my phone, which had been charging in my drawer.

As soon as I picked up my phone, one of my childhood friends called.

Calling…

Rafi

“Hey! Long time no talk, how are you?” I answered.

“Yeah, I know. I’ve just been really busy with school. You know how college is. I’ve even been working on fiction pieces I need to finish before finals.”

“Ah, I see. Well, make sure to drop by here sometime, okay?”

“Sure, if I’m not too busy. By the way, how are you? Still a playboy? Haha.”

“Nah, I’m not okay, and I’m not a playboy anymore. I’ve changed. Park Guy changed me.”

“Ha? Park Guy? Who’s that? A Korean?”

“Haha, no! I met him at the park. I don’t even know his name yet.”

“Ahh, so that’s why you call him Park Guy. Nice. Hey, speaking of the park—do you know what date it is today?”

“Hm… October 21. Why?”

“Nothing. Anyway, I gotta go, I still have to finish something.”

“Oh, okay bro. Bye.”

I ended the call, took a shower, and then decided to head back to the park. To my surprise, I saw him again. My heart raced as I ran toward him and sat down beside him. But once again, he was crying. When he noticed me, he quickly wiped his tears.

“You… it’s you.”

“Hey, why are you crying again?” I asked.

“N-nothing. I just thought you weren’t coming anymore.”

“Of course not. I’m always here, even if I know I’ll get scolded by my mom for coming home late. I’ve been waiting for you. You’re the one who keeps disappearing. At least tell me your name before you run off again.”

“Don’t you recognize me?” he suddenly laughed. “I’m Oli. You don’t know me yet, do you? How about you—what’s your name?”

I smiled and answered, “Ivan. My name is Ivan. Finally, I know the name of the person I’ve fallen for.”

“You know what? I’m mad at you. It’s my birthday today.”

“What? Oh man! I’m so sorry! I didn’t know. October 21 is your birthday, huh? Sorry.” I stood up, picked a flower from the side of the park, and handed it to him. “Happy Birthday, Oli!!!” I shouted, not caring about the people staring at me.

He stood up, walked closer, and once again, I saw tears in his eyes. This time, I decided to finally ask.

“Why is it that every time we meet, you always end up crying? What’s wrong? Who keeps making you cry? I don’t want to see you like this.”

“I hate you,” he whispered softly before running away.

I chased after him, but when he turned a corner, he was gone.

I went home that night, full of disappointment. Sure, now I knew his name, but it felt like he didn’t want me in his life. I didn’t even know the reason why.

Lying on my bed, all I could think about was Oli.

One day, I went back to the park after my mom scolded me for breaking her favorite vase from Australia. I noticed a little boy sitting on the swing, crying. I walked over and asked him,

“Hey kid, why are you crying?”

He looked up at me and wiped his tears.

“Because… my classmate’s puppy died. Even though it wasn’t mine, I loved that puppy so much because my classmate, Rafi, always brought him to our house.”

“Rafi? Who’s Rafi?” I asked.

“I just told you! He’s my classmate, and it was his dog! You’re kinda slow, huh? You must be bad at your subjects too. You remind me of my older brother—he’s super slow and always fails Math. That’s why my mom gets mad at him and he has to go to summer classes. I don’t even know why he goes to school during vacation. Maybe that’s why they call it summer class, huh? Maybe you’ll have to study during vacation too.”

“Haha, you sure are talkative. What’s your name?”

“Me? I’m Oli. What about you?”

“I’m Ivan. Friends now?”

“Of course! Actually, let’s be best friends! And hey, let’s meet here again tomorrow, okay? It’s my birthday.”

“Really? So October 21 is your birthday?”

“Yep, so don’t you dare forget. If you do, I’ll tell you ‘I hate you!’”

“Don’t worry, I won’t forget my best friend’s birthday.”

“You better not! Anyway, I have to go home now.”

“Alright, see you tomorrow.”

I hurried back home too and apologized to my mom for breaking her vase. She eventually forgave me. Then I begged my dad to buy me a puppy because I wanted to give it as a gift to Oli for his birthday. I told him Oli was my best friend, and he agreed. Together, we went to the pet shop and picked out a cute puppy.

The next day, I saw Oli at the swing. He looked surprised when he saw me carrying the puppy. I walked up to him, and his face lit up with happiness.

“Happy Birthday, Oli. Please don’t cry anymore. Here’s a puppy for you—it’s my gift.”

“Thank you so much, Ivan! What should we name him?”

“It’s up to you. I’m giving him to you, after all.”

Then a breeze blew by, and dust swirled in the air. Oli laughed as he closed his eyes.

“I know! Let’s call him Dusty, since he was baptized with dust. Haha.”

“Good one. Dusty it is!” I said, laughing too.

A month later, I noticed Oli stopped showing up at the park. No matter how often I went, he wasn’t there anymore.

One day, a boy about my age approached me.

“Are you Ivan?” he asked.

“Yeah, who are you?”

“Hey, I’m Rafi, Oli’s classmate.”

“Oli? Oh, right. Where is he? Why haven’t I seen him here?”

“They had to move. Oli needed surgery—he had a tumor.”

My heart sank. “What? But I thought I was his best friend. Why didn’t he tell me he was leaving?”

“He said he didn’t want you to know. He was afraid you’d be sad.”

I clenched my fists. “I’m mad at him!” I shouted and ran back home.

That day, I swore to myself I would forget him. I convinced myself that if he really thought of me as his best friend, he wouldn’t have kept such a big secret. I told Rafi never to mention Oli’s name again. And for the next nine years, I succeeded. I buried his memory deep inside me, not realizing how much of my heart he had taken with him.

I woke up drenched in sweat. A dream. Everything I had just remembered—it was all a dream, but at the same time, it wasn’t. It was a memory.

That’s when it all came back to me. I felt like the dumbest person alive. All this time, I had forgotten Oli. He was the reason behind everything—why I had flings, why I always felt something missing. No wonder he kept crying whenever we met.

The things he told me should’ve been enough to make me remember. The way he talked non-stop, his stories about Dusty, and even the way he reminded me of his birthday—it was all connected. He gave me so many chances to realize it, but I was too blind, too slow.

The words he said before—“the person who gave me the puppy was someone special”—it was me. I was the one who gave him Dusty. And that time when my friend Rafi asked me if I knew what date it was—October 21—he was hinting at Oli’s birthday. But I was too dense to figure it out.

I once promised Oli that I would never forget his birthday. And yet I did.

Two years passed since the last time I saw him at the park. Two years of silence. Two years without his endless chatter. To anyone else, two years might feel short, but for me, it felt like a lifetime.

But I endured it. I focused on my studies. I graduated from college. I even landed a good job. And yet, in all of that time, Oli never left my heart. He was always there. The boy who once filled my days with noise and laughter, the boy who once cried in front of me, the boy I once abandoned in memory—he was the one who shaped me into who I am now.

Sometimes I asked Rafi if he had any news about Oli. But he always told me the same thing: no updates, no messages, nothing. Oli had disappeared from our lives.

One afternoon, after work, I decided to visit the park again. It had been years, but I still carried the same feeling every time I walked in. This time, I brought with me a little puppy I had bought last October 21. In my heart, it wasn’t really mine. It was for him.

I sat down on the bench, holding the puppy close, and let my mind drift back to the memories I had buried so long ago. I smiled, thinking about the way Oli used to talk—so fast, so full of life, so unstoppable. I missed it. I missed him.

And then, as if the universe finally answered my heart, someone sat down beside me.

“Are you here alone? Wow, that’s such a cute puppy. You know, this reminds me of when someone special once gave me a puppy for my birthday. I’ll never forget it—it was my first time receiving one. His name was Dusty. He was playful and always hungry. But one day, I was rushing to school and left him without food. By the time I got back, he wasn’t barking anymore. We found out he had eaten something bad. I felt so guilty. I cried and cried, not just because Dusty was gone, but because that puppy came from someone I loved so much…”

My hands trembled. My heart raced. I slowly turned my head toward him, and when our eyes met, I couldn’t stop myself. I pulled him into my arms.

“Oli…” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Yes, I was alone… when you weren’t here. Don’t leave me again. Please. I remember everything now. I remember you.”

Tears welled in my eyes. I felt him tense up in my arms, then slowly pull away just enough to look at me.

“You really… remember me?” he asked softly.

I nodded, my tears falling freely. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for forgetting. I’m sorry for every tear you shed because of me. I should have remembered sooner. I was stupid. But look—Dusty is here again. I bought him for you, Oli. He missed you.”

He reached for the puppy and cradled it gently. His smile was faint, but his eyes shone with the same warmth I remembered.

“Dusty… You silly little thing. Don’t be greedy this time, okay?”

“He still eats a lot,” I said through a shaky laugh. “I missed you so much, Oli.”

“I missed you too, Ivan,” he whispered.

“I missed your endless chatter,” I added.

“Hmp!” he said with a little grin, wiping his tears.

“I love you, Oli.”

“I love you too, Ivan.”

“So… does this mean we’re together now?”

“Of course not. You still have to court me properly. I’m already 26 and I’ve never been courted the way I wanted. Every time someone tried, I told them I already had a boyfriend. That always scared them off. Because the truth is, I only wanted one person to court me. You.”

He leaned forward and kissed my cheek before running off, carrying Dusty in his arms.

“Hey! That’s my puppy!” I shouted playfully after him.

“It’s mine now!” he yelled back, laughing. “I know you really got it for me anyway! Meet me here again tomorrow, okay? And start courting me properly. Don’t mess this up! Guys like me—talkative ones like me—we’re one of a kind! You won’t find anyone else like me! And by the way, I love you!”

He waved his right hand at me while holding Dusty with his left. Then he ran farther and farther, his voice echoing across the park.

He was always so talkative. Always so full of words. Always so Oli.

And at that moment, I realized: love really does wait.

I’m Ivan, and I can say with all my heart that love waits. We shouldn’t rush to find a partner to love. Sometimes, in life, we have to be patient—no matter how long it takes—because if someone is truly meant for you, then they will always be yours.

Do you know why? Because one of the hardest challenges in life is to find that one special someone who was meant to be with you all along.

And that’s how I fell in love with Oli.

So don’t rush. Don’t force it. Love has its own timing. And when it’s real, it will always find its way back—just like it did with us.

—FINISH—

Property of Rafictions