The Hwang Hwang Couple
14

On his tenth birthday, Hyunjin can't hear anything. He was confused when he saw his mother's lips moving, without the sound he could hear. He said, "Mom, what are you saying?" and was surprised that his voice did not come out. Hyunjin screamed shrill, but the sound didn't come out. His mother had a panicked face, quickly holding his rebellious hand. His father rushed into the house, trying to calm him down. Hyunjin was silent, his eyes watered and his hands trembled. Little Hyunjin was really scared. But through writing on paper, his mother explained something important. In this world, at the age of ten, everyone will be dead. Hyunjin is still. Tears began to fall soaking the paper. Emotions. Annoyed. Disappointed. At the age of ten, his hearing was snatched away. His hearing will only return if he meets his soul mate - who can be a woman, a man, anyone. Then he will spend the rest of his life with his soul mate, as his mother is always with his father. His mother cpt writing his story, how his mother met his father and his hearing returned to perfection. His mother was at least lucky, meeting his father when he passed each other on the basketball court. Hyunjin? He was only ten years old and he did not know when his hearing would return. Hyunjin still wants to hear the sound of cartoon shows on television. Still want to hear Led Zeppelin's songs. Still want to feel how beautiful the world is with the sound at each step — the voice that convinces Hyunjin at every step that he is never alone. But see now? Hearing his own voice he was no longer able. His lower lip was bitten firmly until he tasted salty metallic blood. Frustrations. It was as if he wanted to throw something as an outlet for mixed emotions. . . . Ten years passed and Hyunjin was still dead. His body rose, his Adam's apple began to appear, but he was still deaf. He is no longer an elementary school student, he is a medical student who earn ear are deaf. Some of his friends have heard again — of he saw them talking to their soul mates or to those who had found each other's soul mates. Seeing it makes Hyunjin's blood boil. He pronounced "all you bastard bastards" every time he saw his eyes. Concerned about people's reactions? No. Besides he could not hear them. He can't hear anything, like them. His steps are accelerated. A sharp gaze was on everyone who looked at him (oh, could they hear him? He was jealous). Seoul is snowing thick, but he doesn't care. Cold broke through his scarf and coat. Hyunjin cares about the devil. Anything cold like this won't make it die. . . . See and? He was even close to his apartment.

Nobody walks. There is only snow piled up, white and cold and disturbing. His nose smelled cold wet wet, along with white steam that kept poking. Good riddance's. His mood was not good for responding to greetings of friendly people who did not know that they were only passing by). Hyunjin spurred his steps quickly until the tip of his shoe touched something. He bowed his head, then surprised. A girl with long black hair. Lying on a pile of snow. Lying with the shade of a bare tree. Knows? No. But what also does a girl here do? Isn't that girl can get hypothermia? Didn't Hyunjin care too — why both with strangers who never made a contribution? He just tickled and this is not a form of concern, at all. His hand touched the girl's cheek, and he saw eyes that began to twitch. The girl is alive.

On his tenth birthday, Hyunjin could hear nothing more.

He was confused when he saw his mother's lips move, without a sound he could hear. It says, “Bu, say what the hell?” and surprised that his voice did not come out. Hyunjin screamed, but her voice did not come out. His panicked-faced mother quickly held onto her rebellious hand. His father entered the house, trying to calm him down. Hyunjin fell silent, her eyes watering and her hands trembling. Little Hyunjin was so scared. But through writing on paper, his mother explained something important.

In this world, at the age of ten, everyone would be deaf.

Hyunjin was still stunned. Her tears began to fall on the paper. Emotion. Piqued. Disillusioned. At the age of ten, his hearing was taken away. His hearing will only come back if he meets his soulmate—which can be female, male, anyone. Then he would spend his entire life with his soul mate, just as his mother had always been with his father. His mother continued to write his story, how his mother met his father and his hearing returned to perfection. His mother was at least lucky, meeting his father while passing him on the basketball court. While Hyunjin? He was only ten years old and he did not know when his hearing would return.

Hyunjin still wants to hear the sound of cartoon shows on television. Still want to hear Led Zeppelin's songs. Still want to feel how beautiful the world is with sound at every step of the way—voice that assures Hyunjin at every step that she is never alone.

But see now? Even hearing his own voice he could no longer.

His lower lip was bitten hard until it was stamped with metallic blood salt. Frustrations. It felt like he wanted to throw something as an outlet for mixed emotions.

.

.

.

He could hear nothing, unlike them.

Steps accelerated. A sharp look was cast on everyone who looked at him (oh, can they hear it? He envies). Seoul is snowing heavily, but he doesn't care. Cold managed to pierce through his scarf and coat. Hyunjin cares about demons. Cold like this won't make him die anyway.

.

.

.

And see? He was even close to his apartment.

No one has passed. There was only piled snow, white and cold and disturbing. His nose smelled a cold wet smell, along with white steam that continued to puff out. Good though. His mood was not good to respond to the greetings of familiar people (who did not know that they were in the life of Hyunjin just passing by). Hyunjin spurred her pace quickly until the tip of her shoe touched something. He lowered his head, then was surprised.

A long black haired girl. Lying on top of the snow. Lying with the shade of a tree whose branches are bare. Recognize? No. gabe. But what is a girl doing here? Can't that girl get hypothermia? Not that Hyunjin cares also—what cares about strangers who never make a contribution? He was just intrigued and this was not a form of caring, at all.

His hand touched the girl's cheek, and he saw eyes that were beginning to twitch.

The girl is alive.