The gymnasium was bustling with chatter as parents filled the room, waiting for the PTA meeting to start. My palms were slick with sweat, and my heart pounded like a drum, louder than the noise around me. I spotted my mother across the room, deep in conversation with Yongsun's godfather. They seemed engrossed, leaning in close, their voices barely audible over the clamor. I strained to hear, catching bits and pieces—something about thanking my mom for taking care of Michelle, and a hushed mention of Yongsun not being able to exert herself physically.

My chest tightened. I waited until we were on our way home before asking my mother about it. She glanced at me, her expression soft yet guarded. "I can't tell you everything right now, Jess," she said gently, her voice tinged with an unusual seriousness that made my stomach drop. "But promise me, whatever happens, you'll always take care of Yong. Love her like you do now, and never let her feel alone."

It was an odd request, one that felt both heavy and urgent, and yet, the warmth of puppy love I felt for Yongsun was enough to make me nod, my voice barely a whisper. "I promise."

I tried to sound tough, throwing in a clumsy attempt at bravado, but deep down, I was just a boy grappling with feelings too big for my age.

Yongsun was waiting for me outside the school gates. She was nervous too, fiddling with her fingers in that way she did when she was deep in thought. Today, she wasn’t wearing her glasses, and it caught me off guard. Her eyes, usually hidden behind thick frames, were bright and sharp, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe.

She smiled when she saw me. “Come over to my house,” she said, her voice carrying that familiar mix of assertiveness and sweetness. “I want you to meet my grandmother.”

I nodded, trying to mask my nerves. Yongsun lived just two blocks away, but the walk felt longer, filled with the weight of unspoken words and the strange new awareness of her presence beside me.

Maxi was a bully, a towering figure with a sneer that could cut glass. He was the nephew of a local priest, a fact that seemed to give him a sense of entitlement. He'd been picking on me for weeks, calling me names, taunting me, and making my life a living hell.

One afternoon, as I was walking home from school, Maxi and his cronies cornered me. "Hey, slum dweller," Maxi sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You're good for nothing. Why don't you just go back to your shanty and play with your rats?"

I tried to ignore him, to walk away, but he grabbed my arm, his grip tight and painful. I struggled to break free, but he was stronger than me. Just as I thought I was going to get a beating, I heard a voice shout, "Leave him alone!"

I turned to see Yongsun charging towards us, her face flushed with anger. She was smaller than Maxi, but her fury seemed to give her a newfound strength.

"You're a bully," she shouted, her voice trembling with rage. "You're a coward. How dare you pick on someone smaller than you?"

Maxi sneered. "Is that so, little miss tough guy?" he replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Before I could react, Yongsun slapped Maxi across the face. The slap was loud and sharp, and it caught everyone by surprise. Maxi stumbled backward, his face reddening with shock and anger.

"You hit me?" he roared, his voice rising in pitch.

Yongsun didn't back down. "I'll hit you again if you don't leave him alone," she said, her voice filled with defiance.

Maxi looked around, his eyes scanning the crowd for support. But everyone was too stunned to speak. He knew he couldn't fight a girl without losing face, so he turned and walked away, his tail between his legs.

As soon as Maxi was out of sight, I turned to Yongsun. "Thank you," I said, my voice barely a whisper. I was still shaking from the encounter, but I felt a surge of gratitude for Yongsun's bravery.

"It's no problem," she replied, her voice soft. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

From that day forward, Maxi left me alone. He knew that if he tried to mess with me again, Yongsun would be there to protect me.

A few days later, Yongsun got into trouble for fighting. She was sent to the guidance counselor for a long sermon about the importance of peace and non-violence. I was also sent to detention for being involved in the incident.

As we sat in the detention room, I turned to Yongsun and said, "Why did you fight Maxi? He's bigger than you."

Yongsun shrugged. "I'm your protector," she replied, her voice filled with a quiet determination. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

I smiled. "You're the best friend anyone could ask for," I said.

Yongsun blushed. "I'm glad you think so," she replied.

As we sat there, I couldn't help but think about how lucky I was to have Yongsun in my life. She was my protector, my confidante, my best friend. And I would do anything to make her happy.

One day, as we were walking home from school, I stopped at a video game store. I remembered how much Yongsun loved the Dragon Quest series, so I decided to buy her the third game. As I handed it to her, I said, "Thank you for everything, Yongsun. You're the best."

Yongsun's eyes lit up with joy. "Really?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

I nodded. "Really," I replied. "You're the best."

Yongsun didn’t have many friends, just like me, and we often spent afternoons at her place, playing on her PS2 or sharing cartridges for her Gameboy. She loved RPGs, and I soon found myself immersed in the same worlds she adored, the two of us losing hours to EverQuest and Ragnarok Online, sharing the same account and splitting the cost of time cards like it was our little secret.

Yongsun was a passionate gamer, her love for video games bordering on obsession. She was particularly drawn to games with strong female protagonists and compelling narratives. Her favorite games were those that told stories about love, loss, and redemption. She was especially fond of the Final Fantasy series, particularly Final Fantasy VIII and X. Rinoa Heartily, Garnet Til Alexandros XVII, and Yuna were her favorite characters, women who defied expectations and fought for what they believed in.

Yongsun and I often spent hours playing video games together at her house. We'd sit on her bed, our heads close together as we navigated the virtual worlds. She would often narrate the story, her voice filled with emotion as she described the characters and their journeys.

When we weren't playing games, Yongsun would often be found writing in her notebook. She was a talented writer, and she used her notebooks to create her own stories, often inspired by the games she loved. Her stories were filled with adventure, romance, and a touch of magic.

One day, while we were playing Final Fantasy X, Yongsun turned to me and said, "I wish I could write a story like this."

I looked at her, surprised. "You could," I said. "You're a great writer."

Yongsun smiled. "Maybe someday," she replied.

From that day forward, Yongsun worked on writing her own story. She spent countless hours crafting the plot, developing the characters, and writing the dialogue. She poured her heart and soul into her work, and it showed.

When she finally finished her story, she read it to me. It was a beautiful tale of love, loss, and redemption, filled with adventure and magic. I was amazed by her talent.

"You're amazing," I told her, my voice filled with admiration.

Yongsun blushed. "Thank you," she replied. "I'm glad you liked it."

From that day forward, Yongsun continued to write stories. She published several of them online, and they were met with great acclaim. She was a talented writer, and her stories touched the hearts of many people.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

Yongsun's love for video games was more than just a hobby. It was a passion that fueled her creativity and inspired her to tell stories that would touch the hearts of others. And I was proud to be a part of her journey.

Additionally, once Yongsun learned English, she became even more passionate about video games. She could now fully appreciate the stories and characters of her favorite games. She would often stay up all night playing and drawing fan art of her favorite characters. However, I had to tell her to stop staying up so late. She told me I was a downer, but I hated seeing her with eyebags. I assured her that my love for her wouldn't change, but she needed to focus on her studies and her club activities.

She pouted but agreed. She then asked me to come play with her at her house, as I had missed out the last time. Her grandparents were busy, so my mom didn't let me inside. Now that we had eaten at Little Caesars, we could go. She also kept telling me how good Final Fantasy X-2 was, but I had never played a Final Fantasy game. My dad was thrifty and preferred to invest money in new breeds of birds and horses rather than buy me video games. He said I had plenty of books to read. My mom also didn't let me play video games during school days, so I usually played at Yongsun's house.

Yongsun’s place was a cozy, two-story home that always smelled faintly of jasmine and old books. Her grandmother greeted us at the door with a warm smile, her silver hair pulled back into a neat bun. She didn’t use a cane, still spry and sharp at sixty. “Ah, Jess! Finally, I get to meet you,” she said, her Korean accent thick but her English fluent. “Thank you for taking care of our Yongsun.”

I mumbled something polite, feeling suddenly shy under her kind gaze. She led us into the living room, where the air was filled with the comforting aroma of tteok and freshly made rice cakes. The table was set with a colorful array of banchan—small side dishes of fish, sprouts, spinach, potatoes, and eggplants.

Yongsun nudged me as we sat down. “Eat up,” she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You’re going to need the energy if you want to keep up with me.”

I chuckled, though my heart skipped a beat when she added, almost shyly, “I want us to be healthy so we can stay together for a long time.”

Mrs. Kim watched us with a knowing smile. “Yong is the sweetest of the sweets,” she said proudly. “She’s always so thoughtful, always taking care of everyone around her.”

Yongsun just shrugged, her cheeks flushing pink. She was always assertive, never one to back down from a challenge, and yet there was a tenderness in her eyes when she looked at me. She had a way of breaking down my defenses, her persistence and patience wearing me down until I couldn’t help but give in. She could be stubborn as a rock and soft as a feather, all at once.

After dinner, we moved to her room, a cozy space filled with posters of Korean singers like BoA and S.E.S., and shelves crammed with games and comics. She tossed me a controller, her grin wide and inviting. “Let’s play,” she said, her eyes sparkling with the promise of adventure. We lost track of time, as usual, only stopping when Mrs. Kim poked her head in to remind us it was getting late.

As the days turned into weeks, Yongsun started talking about taking taekwondo classes and joining a singing club. She’d beg me to join her, her excitement infectious. “You need to be strong,” she’d say, her tone half-teasing, half-serious. “How else are you going to take care of me?”

I’d roll my eyes, pretending to be exasperated, but her words always lingered. I ended up taking up weightlifting and chess instead. “I need to be strong and smart to be your bodyguard,” I joked, flexing my barely-there muscles.

Yongsun just snorted. “A midget bodyguard?” she teased, nudging me with her shoulder. “You’re not tall enough to protect me.”

I shot back, “You’re not that tall either,” and she burst into laughter, the sound bright and carefree, filling the room with warmth.

Still, I encouraged her to pursue her dreams, always telling her that one day, I’d love to hear her sing. She’d light up at that, launching into excited ramblings about Celine Dion, Korean pop stars, and her dream of joining a girl group. “Just you wait,” she’d say, her eyes sparkling with determination. “One day, I’ll be just like them.”

I’d tease her back, saying she was too ugly to be a pop star, and she’d pout, hitting me lightly on the arm. But I’d always pull her into a hug afterward, holding her tight, unsure if my words were just a joke or a poorly disguised truth. In those moments, she’d wrap her arms around me too, squeezing just a bit harder, her voice soft and almost pleading. “Don’t ever let go,” she’d whisper. “Let’s stay like this as long as we can.”

The soft glow of the lamp cast a warm, inviting light on Yongsun as she sat on her bed, her fingers dancing across the strings of her guitar. She was playing a Korean version of "Eyes on Me," a song from the Final Fantasy VIII soundtrack that she loved. Her voice, a delicate melody, filled the room with a haunting beauty.

As she played, I watched her, my heart filled with a mix of admiration and affection. I had never heard her sing before, and I was blown away by her talent. Her voice was so pure, so full of emotion.

When she finished playing, she turned to me and smiled. "I can also play it on the piano," she said.

I was surprised. "Really?" I asked.

She nodded. "I learned how to play when I was younger."

I asked her to play it for me, and she did. Her fingers moved across the keys with grace and precision, and the sound was even more beautiful than I had imagined.

As she played, I couldn't help but think about how lucky I was to know her. She was so talented, so kind, and so beautiful.

When she finished playing, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly. "Thank you," I whispered. "That was beautiful."

Yongsun smiled. "I'm glad you liked it," she replied.

As I held her, I couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. She was so young, so full of life. And I was falling in love with her.

I pulled back and looked into her eyes. "You know, you're like the woman singing that song," I said. "You're strong, independent, and beautiful."

Yongsun blushed. "Really?" she asked.

I nodded. "Really," I replied. "And I love you."

Yongsun's eyes widened. "You're serious?" she asked.

I nodded again. "Very serious," I replied.

Yongsun turned away and wiped a tear from her eye. "It's too early for romance," she said, her voice trembling.

I reached out and took her hand. "I don't care," I said. "I love you."

Yongsun looked at me, her eyes filled with doubt. "Are you sure?" she asked.

I nodded. "Very sure," I replied.

Yongsun smiled, her eyes sparkling with a mix of joy and disbelief. "Thank you," she said. "I love you too."

It was the kind of promise that seemed unbreakable, made in the warmth of a shared moment. Yet, there was something in her voice that always felt a little ominous, a shadow lurking behind her bright smile. But when she told me not to be afraid, when she laced her fingers through mine and squeezed, all my worries faded. Her hand felt warm, soft—like holding onto a piece of sunshine. She smelled faintly of jasmine, a scent I’d come to associate with comfort and home.

As we grew older, our bond only deepened. We spent every weekend together, whether it was playing games, doing homework, or just lazing around on her rooftop, watching the sky change colors from dusk till dawn. Sometimes we’d read comics like Tintin, Judge Dredd, and X-Men, comics we’d saved up for and bought from the local grocery store.

Yongsun and I were inseparable. We spent countless hours together, exploring the city, reading comics, and watching movies. She was particularly fond of X-Men and Judge Dredd, classic superhero comics that were popular in the 90s.

One day, Yongsun mentioned that she wanted to buy some Sailor Moon manga. I was surprised. I hadn't heard of Sailor Moon before, but I was curious.

"Where can we buy them?" I asked.

Yongsun shrugged. "I don't know," she replied. "I haven't seen any stores that sell them."

We spent the next few weeks searching for Sailor Moon manga, but we couldn't find any. It was frustrating, but Yongsun didn't give up. She kept looking, and eventually, she found a small comic book store that had a few volumes in stock.

I was so happy for her when she finally found the manga. She bought all the volumes that were available, and she spent hours reading them.

As time went on, our dates became cheaper, often consisting of watching VCDs at home. But we didn't mind. We enjoyed spending time together, and we didn't need expensive dates to have fun.

Yongsun was also starting to get interested in makeup and fashion. She would often experiment with different looks, and she loved to shop for new clothes. I was a little surprised, but I also thought it was great that she was finding new interests.

People would often ask me if I was Yongsun's chaperone. I would just smile and say that we were friends. But at school, Yongsun would sometimes call me her boyfriend to deter suitors. I thought it was funny, but I also knew that she was doing it to protect me.

I was also getting more fit. Thanks to Yongsun's encouragement, I had started going to the gym and lifting weights. She would often watch me as I squatted and deadlifted.

One day, I told Yongsun that I wanted to join a weightlifting competition when I was older. She was excited for me. "You can do it," she said. "You're strong."

I smiled. "I'll do my best," I replied.

From that day forward, I trained even harder. I wanted to make Yongsun proud. And I knew that if I could achieve my goal of becoming a competitive weightlifter, it would be a testament to our friendship.

Other times, she’d sing for me, her voice sweet and a little shy at first, then growing stronger as she gained confidence. She’d sing in English, practicing tirelessly to keep up with the songs she loved, and I’d find myself struggling to keep up with her pace.

One night, as we lay on her rooftop, the stars twinkling above us, Yongsun turned to me, her expression serious. “Jess,” she said, her voice soft. “Do you think I can be your sun?”

I blinked at her, caught off guard. It was early morning, the sky just beginning to lighten with the first rays of dawn. Her face was bathed in the soft glow of the rising sun, her eyes reflecting a mixture of hope and uncertainty.

Without thinking, I nodded. “Yes,” I said, the word coming out before I even realized. “Of course.”

A smile broke across her face, bright and radiant. She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, a quick, fluttering touch that sent my heart racing. I could only grin back, feeling like the luckiest boy in the world. This was what puppy love felt like—sweet, innocent, and full of endless possibilities.

Time flew by, and before we knew it, high school was on the horizon. Yongsun had grown more beautiful with each passing day, her long hair flowing like a dark river and her cheeks still chubby in that endearing way. She was taller than me now, a fact she loved to point out whenever she got the chance. But to me, she was perfect, my sun and my star all rolled into one.

We were inseparable, and everyone who knew us assumed we were just two kids in love, caught up in the magic of first crushes. I called her my sun and star, and she’d laugh, pulling me close in one of those hugs that always felt like home. It was easy to forget that life had other plans, that things weren’t always as simple as they seemed.

Because little did I know, my star’s embers were slowly fading, her light dimming bit by bit with every passing day.