The Ticket

“No fucking way.”

You held the crumpled, almost fragile paper in your hands. Time hasn’t been fair to it, but the smudged scribblings stayed.

One (1) date. Valid only by 20256.

You could even see the scratch-out where you’d fucked up your math, but it was there, legible and intact.

“Hyunseo,” you mumbled, “I–”

“Who’s Hyunseo?,” she teased.

“Hyunseo. You. Your name.”

“I don’t know who that is,” she smirked, obviously hinting at something.

You rolled your eyes. “Okay, Leeseo.” She beamed in an instant.

“Really? That nickname?,” you pressed. “I thought you’d grown out of it. Nobody calls you that anymore.”

“But it’s your nickname for me,” she pouted.

You pulled her in and gave her a tight hug. “Okay, fine. Happy birthday, Leeseo.”

“Thanks, hyung,” she whispered.

“Anyway, this…,” you trailed off, holding it in front of you. “Didn’t I make this when we were…”

“In 7th grade, yeah!,” Leeseo jumped excitedly. “Well, it’s 2026, and I’d like to cash this in.”

The classroom she caught you in was dead silent. No one was around peeking from the corner, no janitors or teachers nearby. Just your breathing, her breathing, and a lone squeaky ceiling fan.

She stepped closer to meet your sunken gaze, breaking your train of thought. “Is something wrong?”

“No… well, I’m trying to gather my thoughts here.” You pulled up a chair, and Leeseo sat on the table in front of you.

Where to even begin?

“Leeseo? Leeseo!”

“Sweetie, maybe she’s busy playing with her friends.”

“No, mom! I have to give her my gift! Leeseo!”

“Hyung! I’m here!”

“Leeseo! I have a gift for you. Gotta close your eyes first, okay? Three, two, one– surprise!”

“Hey! Free ice cream! I’m gonna use this tomorrow. And a sleepover? I don’t even need this coupon to do that. Wait, what's– a date?!”

“Yeah! In case you get old and wrinkly and nobody wants to go out with you. Ow!”

“You’re so mean to me! But… thank you!”

“Ow! Leeseo! Too tight!”

“I love you, hyung!”

“Leeseo… it’s been, what, nearly 7 years since I gave you that.”

“And what about it?,” she pressed. “You’re the one who made me wait until I was 19 to use this, dumbass.”

“Alright, alright, point taken.”

Leeseo smirked. “Why did you make it for when I was 19?”

“Because you were crushing on that boy in the other class, Junhee. Remember him?”

“What the hell?,” she raised an eyebrow. “I mean yeah, I remember him, but what’s he got to do with this?”

“He was younger than you by a year. So I figured I’d give you a year after he was legal to figure it out.” Leeseo lightly kicked your thigh.

“You’re crazy. That was years ago! You really think I would have asked him out? He’s so short! And he’s younger too? I didn’t know that!,” she exclaimed.

“You say that like you’re so tall,” you said as you stood up, her head as high as your shoulders while she was sitting on the table. You patted her head, and she poked your rib. You grabbed her by the waist and slung her over your shoulder, the two of you giggling all the way, and you escorted her out of the classroom.

When you put her down, the afternoon light shone on her face, eyes and teeth twinkling. She’s grown a lot, you thought to yourself, but somehow still the same.

“What are you thinking about, hyung?,” she asked, stepping a bit closer to you.

“Nothing. I can’t believe you’re 19 already.” You pulled her in for a tight hug; her body felt warm, soft, and almost as if she was melting in your arms. She hugged you back just as tightly, the spots where her arms held you stayed fuzzy. She gladly buried her face in your chest, as if trying to rub herself onto you or you onto her.

“Wow, you’re touchy,” you remarked.

“Do you want me to stop?” she asked, pouting again.

You rolled your eyes again. “Come here.”

“Hyung.”

“Leeseo?”

“I think we should get married. W-whoa! Are you okay?”

“I– Y– huh?! Get married?!”

“Did you hurt yourself? Why did you fall down?”

“I don’t know, shock? Where did that come from?”