trans·lu·cent

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming.” Lee Haejin, Twenty Five, Death Perception, Advocate, Composer. ♔

[miss-mini-mimi-blog]

Mimi chuckled, pulling her hand back to twirl her own lollipop in her mouth, her cheek bulging out to one side.  “Good thing you came across me and my bad aim then, yeah?” she teased, still grinning as she held her hand out again, this time in an introduction.  “Name’s Mimi.  Nice to meet ya, fellow candy-lover.”

[leehaejin-blog1]

Haejin grinned, taking the others hand and shaking it gently. To some, a firm handshake was best, but Haein was a gentle person and to him, it was considered rude. “Its a pleasure to meet you, Mimi.” he replied as he undid the wrapper on the candy she’d given him, popping it in his mouth. “Haejin, if you were wondering.”

[charlie--kim-blog]

“I’m not much good at being smart,” he said, “It’s too hard sometimes, but I have to learn everything in this workbook. If I don’t, then it means my baby brother is smarter than me ‘cause he finished it real fasts.”

Judging by the wear-and-tear on the workbook, the boy had been carrying it around at least for a few months. “One day, I’m gonna be real smart and learn everything super fast.”

[leehaejin-blog1]

“Everybody learns at their own pace, learning new things is hard for anybody to do, it doesn’t mean you aren’t smart or good at being smart.” he said softly, dropping his hands into his pockets as he watched the other.

“I’m sure you’re incredibly smart, you just don’t see it. Not everyone can see their worth, but you’ll see it one day. It just takes time.”

[charlie--kim-blog]

“Yeah, but that’s normally,” he explained, “They’ll be growing super fast now that they have calciums.” The boy unzipped the pouch of his teddy bear once more, rifled through its childish contents, and pulled out a few essential items.

He had a kindergarten level workbook with him, as well as a few colored pens and a juice box. “Hey mister, are you good at reading and writing?” he asked, “I’m not good at that kind of stuff. I’m better at playing the fiddle.”

[leehaejin-blog1]

“Maybe so, I suppose we’ll see, wont we?” he asked, shrugging lightly and watching as the other rifled through the pouch of their teddy bear.

“Me? I suppose so, yes. I like writing, and the fiddle? How interesting! Why do you ask? Do you need help with something?”

[charlie--kim-blog]

“Thank you,” he said, “Herman says he’ll buy you a drink sometime.” Charlie crawled forward on his tubby stomach army-style. He was mere centimeters away from the ruler, which he squinted his eyes at to see. “I think I see it growing a little bit,” he claimed.

[leehaejin-blog1]

“No problem,” he replied with a chuckle as his eyes followed the boys to the ruler. “You think? I’m sure it’ll take a little more time than that, these things takes days, even weeks to grow. Don’t think too hard on it, Charlie.”

[charlie--kim-blog]

“Thank you,” he said, “Herman says he’ll buy you a drink sometime.” Charlie crawled forward on his tubby stomach army-style. He was mere centimeters away from the ruler, which he squinted his eyes at to see. “I think I see it growing a little bit,” he claimed.

[leehaejin-blog1]

“No problem,” he replied with a chuckle as his eyes followed the boys to the ruler. “You think? I’m sure it’ll take a little more time than that, these things takes days, even weeks to grow. Don’t think too hard on it, Charlie.”

[charlie--kim-blog]

Charlie took the lollipop without the slightest hesitation. His brother wasn’t the most responsible when it came to enforcing safety rules; they’d never even gone over the classic “don’t take candy from strangers”. He popped the sucker into his mouth as soon as the wrapper was stuffed into his teddy bear’s pouch. “Hello, I’m Charlie and this is my best friend Herman.”

[leehaejin-blog1]

Haejin sat back on the concrete, flipping his sunglasses over his eyes as he faced the sun and rested his wait on his palms behind him. “It’s nice to meet you Charlie, I hope your grass plan works, oh, and it’s a pleasure to meet Herman, as well.”

[charlie--kim-blog]

“I can play this game,” he repeated. Charlie stared back for as long as he could manage, which was only a few minutes. He even held his breath – to the point his face tinged blue – in hopes of becoming the perfect copycat statue. The boy exhaled and sat up.  “You’re too good at this game,” he huffed. 

[leehaejin-blog1]

Haejin grinned and sat back, clapping excitedly. “I always won that game when I was a child, the trick is not to think too hard about it.” he added, pulling  a lollipop from his jacket, offering it out. “Anyways, really, what’s your name? I’m Haejin.”

[charlie--kim-blog]

“Sure, what’s your name?” he repeated. Charlie adjusted his position so that he could sit exactly like the stranger, thus effectively copying him. He stared as long as he could without blinking, then stuck out his tongue.

[leehaejin-blog1]

At this point, Haejin was sure he was speaking with a child, regardless of the visuals of a near adult. “I can play this game.” he responded with a grin and also turned to face the other, dropping his chin into his palms and silently staring up at the boy.

[miss-mini-mimi-blog]

“Fair enough,” Mimi laughed, twirling the lollipop in one hand before sticking it into her mouth again.  Rolling the taste of artificial cherry over her tongue, she took a step towards the stranger as she fished a new lollipop out of her jacket pocket.  “Truce?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as she held the candy out.

[leehaejin-blog1]

Haejin tilted his head to the side, his eyes falling on the new candy she’d pulled out of her jacket and offered out to him. The smallest tinge of a smile found it’s way to his lips. “This is pretty ironic-” he paused, taking the candy and undoing the wrapper. “This is the one day I didn’t bring one with me.”

[charlie--kim-blog]

“Yeah-huh, sir,” he said, “Well, the doctor told me that calciums are what make people grow. Nobody else was feeding the grass, so I thought I’d take charge. I’m doing it for free, too.”

Charlie unzipped the pouch of his backpack, then pulled out a plastic ruler. He wedged it into the ground, as far as his chubby hands could push it. From there, he used a pen to mark where the current height of the grass.

“Now all that’s left to do is wait,” he said, giving a shrug. He reached into his backpack once more, this time pulling out a juice box. “You wanna watch it grow with me?”

[leehaejin-blog1]

Haejin just nodded along to what the boy said as he shoved the ruler out of his little backpack and admired the way he went about his business shamelessly.

“I admire your devotion, sir. Sure, why not?” he’d said before taking a few steps next to the by and plopping down on the concrete beside him.

“Sure, what’s your name?”

[charlie--kim-blog]

Today’s adventures involved a safari hat three sizes too big, a “field journal” filled with stickers, and a horde of stuffed animals to act as his fellow “researchers”. Charlie tilted his head back – so far back, his hat fell off his head – so he could look up at Haejin. “It’s not trash,” he explained, “The grass is kinda dead over here, so I’m doing an ‘speriment.”

He nods and sprinkles a handful of stale crackers over the land.

“Goldfish snacks have calciums in them for strong bones,” he said, “My hippo-pothesis is the grasses just need vitamins like calcium to be green again, see?”

[leehaejin-blog1]

Haejin was stunned by the amount of thought that went into the actions of the shorter person, they seemed older but spoke with the voice and thoughts of child. The tall man blinked, tilting his head and stepping over to watch what the other did.

He crouched down to the same level as the other and observed, silent for a moment as the continued to explain their ‘speriment’.

“Is that so?” he asked, pausing to think about his words for a moment. “And you think this will help the grass grow?”

[miss-mini-mimi-blog]

“Hm?” Mimi turned to glance over her shoulder at the person who spoke, a sheepish grin curling her lips when she saw the lollipop wrapper in his hand. “Oops, my bad,” she giggled, pulling the candy out of her mouth with a slight pop noise. “Must have missed it.”

[leehaejin-blog1]

Haejin dropped it in the trash and rose a brow, tilting his head to the side as the other popped the candy out of her mouth. “I can see that, lucky you I didn’t!”

[nurseblaithin]

“That’s very true. Have you been to Teacoon yet? They make the most wonderful cupcakes!”

[leehaejin-blog1]

“Maybe, if I did I didn’t pay much attention to the name. I did try a place down on 6th street the other day, is that the place you’re talking about?”

[will-tuan]

“It’s biodegradable.” Will argued, pouting like a child.

[leehaejin-blog1]

“That would be a great excuse, if you’d dropped it in the grass, but we’re walking on concrete, my friend.”

[narcissist-pup]

“Where’re you trying to go?” He sighed and took another drag, leaning back on the bench.

[leehaejin-blog1]

“Music store, could you lead me there?” he asked casually, he wasn’t shy by any means, and it didn’t seem like the other had much else to do.

[sebastian-ward]

“S-sebastian. You don’t…need to apologize. I should, have known you wouldn’t know my…name.”

[leehaejin-blog1]

“It’s nice to meet you, Sebastian. It’s all fine, don’t worry about it.” he nodded to the tall man, carrying on with the conversation. “Have you been in Ashworth long?”

[narcissist-pup]

“If you want a drag, then cough up some money. If not, move along.”

[leehaejin-blog1]

“Charming, but no. I was more interested in directions, actually.”