Seungcheol Oppa was an apple to my eyes. Ever since I was a kid, he appeared to be the greatest man of all. That's why I once wished to marry him, and once had a goal to spend  my entire life as his partner.

Years passed by and we met again: him as my new professor, and I as a college student. Now that I turned into a fine lady, I thought those childish feelings I had will fade away. However, while I am with him, it goes stronger that I can't stop it any further.

"So how's the college life so far?" Seungcheol Oppa asked while tying his apron.

I tied an apron too and answered, "Exciting. Quite challenging. And...?" My eyes tend to him, with a sweet voice I say, "Romantic?"

Yes I was serious, but he must be thought I was joking, because he just laughs. "Oh really? Did you find a love interest after coming here? Well, being young is great. Enjoy it."

He only saw me as a young kid who used to love him before. I want to tell him : 'Oppa, I am not that young annoying kid who always asked you to marry me. Look I grew enough to be a woman you can hold, cherish and maybe fall in love with.'

But although I was sincere, I knew that it will be impossible. Yes it is.

"Can I ask you to cut this onions?"

"Sure Oppa."

First I peeled the onion. Then I cut it horizontally and-

"Ah!"

"Hey! Oh men. You cut yourself!"

I looked at blood in my finger and it is really red. Oddly, even the wound is deep, there are no pain at all. Why? Is it because my one-sided love is painful enough that my body turned numb?

"I-Im okay proffe- I mean Oppa. It doesn't hurt," I explained.

But he held my hand as if he is holding a fragile vase. "No. A lady should take care of his skin. Come on, let's aid it."

Then he gets the first aid kid and pulled me to sit on the sofa. Gosh, why are you so sweet and gentle? You are making me fall for you more! Tsk, this is bad to my heart.

Seungcheol Oppa treats my wound. While he is focus on my wounded finger, here I am, smiling like an idiot while getting mesmerize by his long eyelashes, thick eyebrows and red lips. How could a man be this freaking handsome? He maybe much older than me but damn, that's make him so sexy! 

"You should be careful (y/n). Or else I'll get worried," he muttered in a gentle tone. When he lifted his head I bowed down so he won't notice my burning cheeks. But guess I made a wrong move. As soon as I bowed my head, I saw the ring in his finger.

Yes. It is the ring that made this hopeless romantic story put in vain.

The reason why I can't love him is because... He already got married.

"Oppa," I says.

"Yes?"

"Its been years since your wife died. Don't you have a plan to fall in love again? To start a new life?" I asked while looking at his ring.

The strength to ask him, as if I put a salt on his old wound, I don't know where it came from. Maybe I became too desperate. Too desperate that there might be an us.

He move back a little and I heard him makes a long sigh. "Hmmm, fall in love? I wonder if it is possible for me to fall in love again. Because until now, there is only her in my life. Even is he turned into dust, my heart still remains. I don't think I can love again the same as I love my wife."

Now I am regretting that I asked him. Why did I even ask when I already know the answer? Stupid me.

~ding dong~

"Oh? Who will come in my apartment this late at night? Wait here (y/n). I'll get the door." He stood up and left me alone on that same spot.

I looked at the finger he wrapped a band aid on. It hurts. I can feel the pain now.

I thought love is like a wound. After some time it will healed. But because of Seungcheol, I am reminded that there are still wounds that cannot be healed. That there are still a love no one can breaks apart even until death.

"Brother in law!?" I heard him gasped. So I tried to peek on the door to see who's the man who came.

"Surprise! I bought an expensive wine bro. I came here to share this with you. Oh oh oh! I smelled something great from your kitchen. Were you cooking pasta? Great! Let's have pasta and wine together."

It is a very familiar voice.

Seungcheol chuckled as he welcomed him, "Okay. Come inside. I have another guest too."

"A guest? Who is i-?"

The man and I met our gaze. I knew it! He is the mister who gave me a ride to my school! What is his name again? J-? J-?

"Oh, I knew her," the man said.

"Joshua, you knew her? How?" Seungcheol Oppa asked.

Joshua! Right! His name is Joshua! He is his wife's brother and the one who told me Seungcheol's painful memories of that accident.

"Yeah. By chance, we met before. I gave her a ride on my bicycle on the way to the school you are working at," Mister Joshua explained before giving me a smile.

I wonder if his wife were like her brother. Mister Joshua gave a pleasing aura with those sweet smile of his. Maybe, his sister were like him that's why Seungcheol fell deeply in love.

"Nice to meet you again mister Joshua. My name is (y/n) if you remember," I greeted him, stood up and bowed.

Mister Joshua giggled, a very soft one. "I do remember your name dear. I think I came in the right time."

I think so too. Because now that he is here, it won't be awkward with Seungcheol Oppa after I asked him about love.

We continued cooking the pasta dish. When we our done, Joshua set the table and we dig in.

"So you two had the same neighborhood before?" Joshua asked while we are eating together.

"Yes. I still remembered when (y/n) is a little kid. She always come to me and says: Oppa! Will you marry me?!" Seungcheol teased.

They both laughed and seemed to enjoy my old most embarrassing past!

"Enough!" I complained. "That was an ancient story mister Choi!"

"That's right Seungcheol," Joshua added. "(Y/n) is a grown up. It must be awkward talking about her old puppy love for you." Exactly! "What about we talk how ready she is to be your woman? Huh Seungcheol."

Wait. What did he say?!

Seungcheol Oppa and I got frozen, maybe unprepared for Joshua's joke. It was a joke, wasn't it?

"Why are you looking at me like that? I am not joking. You two looks great together," he added with a serious gawk.

I looked at Seungcheol's expression. His eyes are wide opened as he put his fork down. "You are wrong Joshua. I don't see her as a woman, neither her to see me as a man. To put it simply, (y/n) and I are just friends, old neighbors, a teacher-student relationship. Don't mistake us like that."

After hearing his honest answer, my heart ache like an insatiable fire that burnt all the oxygen in my body leaving me listless and empty.  It hurts. So damn hurts.

"Is it because of my sister?" Joshua questioned that made him halt. "Are you planning to live by yourself because of her? Seungcheol you are still young. You can try to fall in love again and start a new life."

"Joshua I-"

"Are you still blaming yourself for my sister's death? Then she won't be hap-"

"Stop it! Please!" Seungcheol shouted as he stood up.

Each of us reminded how the tension grew bigger and bigger around us. No one dared to speak. No one dared to even breathe.

"I-I guess I should get some fresh air. I-I'll b-be back," Seungcheol stuttered before he dashed out from his own apartment, leaving the two of us behind.

How did it turned out to be like this?

"I'm sorry. Maybe I speak too much and put you on an awkward position," mister Joshua apologized.

"I-Its o-okay mister Hong. No one is at fault. In fact, because of you, I have now a reason to stop." I took a sip of wine while looking at the door.

"Stop what?" he asked and sip a wine too.

"Hoping. Hoping that Oppa will see me as a woman. It might be wrong to say this because you are his wife's brother, but I once hope he forgets your sister and came to like me back."

"So, you do like him huh?"

I looked at him and we smiled at each other. "Yes I do. A lot in fact."

"Seungcheol is..." Joshua took a deep breath before continuing. "still blaming himself over my sister death. Of course everyone, including me, got hurt when she died. But I am doing my best to move on. However, because Seungcheol cannot accept it, he is still stuck in the past. I am afraid he will live as a lonely man forever. Actually, I love him the way I love my sister. So I really wish him to move on."

"I see."

"You like him right?"

"Huh?"

"Then help him. Do your best so he can like you back miss (y/n)."

"Mr. Joshua."

"Yes?"

"I thought wound is like a love. After some time, it will heal." I lifted my hand and looked at my wounded finger. "But I realized that there are still a different kind of love that exist." Then I stared back again with a smile. "What Seungcheol's experiencing is not a wound. But a an unbreakable love. Do you think he is lonely? No. Because whenever he talks about his wife, I feel happiness in his tone. As if he treasures each memories every now and then. So even though I really love him, I won't push myself to him. It is enough for me to be his side, as his friend. It hurts, yes it is. But I will support him with all my heart."

For a moment, mister Joshua laid his eyes on me without saying anything. He seems to be loss at words. After a minute, he took another deep breath and sip on his wine glass. Then he said, "Dear, you are much younger than me, but you seemed to be a very matured lad. I was amazed by your eyes, your words and maybe at your sincere heart."

That made me laugh. Who knows that in times of pain, there will be someone who will soothe my heart. "I will accept that as a praise mr.Hong."

"Then if you don't mind, can I ask you to fall in love again to another guy?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You said you will stop loving him. That means you are ready to find someone new."

Again, I laughed. "Who knows. Maybe that 'someone' is actually near."

"You are right. What if that 'someone' is actually me?" He asked while looking straight into my eyes.

====

A/n: Anyone who reads my first volume of Seventeen Imagines? Actually this is a part 4 of "Will you marry me?" series on that book. And I think I will continue a lot of unfinished imagines in this book. Can you give me your support?