Chapter 5    

 

They say that the BEST THINGS happen when you least expected it...

BUT...

How come they never mention that sometimes--- It is also the things that you least expect, that HITS YOU THE HARDEST!

 

*****

SIGH~~
 
I swear to God! If I could only just make myself disappear right now or even teleport myself back to LA at this very moment I would've done it already but unfortunately, I don't have that kind of superpower.

 

I still couldn't believe that this is really happening to me!!! Out of all the many singers here in Korea that I could write songs for--

 

 "WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE HER???"

 

I screamed inside my mind as I anxiously grabbed the glass of water in front of me and drank it in one go. I could feel my dried-up throat eased up a little bit as I finished drinking it. 

 

"You seemed very thirsty Ms. Moonstar!"

 

I jerked up on my seat as I heard the CEO's voice called my name.

I instantly turned my head to the right and saw him smiled at me and I could also feel everyone at our table looked my way including "her". 

 

Yup! You heard it right!

 

We're at the same table with the CEO, the Vice-chairman, and her manager. 
And with her, being seated just right across from me made me feel even more uneasy and uncomfortable. 

 

 "A-ah... Yes, I guess so CEO-nim..." That is all that I could say as I faked a smile.

 

I then carefully placed the now empty glass back down on the table before I looked down to avoid any eye contact with anyone especially her.

 

Then I just heard the CEO let out a small chuckle as he started to talk again...

 

"Well I don't blame you Ms. Moonstar, I guess hearing all these preparations and expectations for Solar's upcoming album made you feel really overwhelmed but don't worry we're not gonna rush you with anything especially when it comes to your compositions. We just wanted to talk about it since you & Solar are both here just so... you know-- help you girls break the ice so that it will not be awkward for the both of you when you start working together next week." he assured me.

 

Actually...  For almost 30 minutes of just sitting here as we wait for the actual program to start, all we did was to talk about the album. I'm not even sure if everything that they've been saying to me was actually registering inside my head for my thoughts were just all over the place right now. 

 

"That's right Ms. Moonstar! So don't be pressured and just enjoy your stay here as you work with each other, right Solar-sshi?" the vice-chairman added as he turned his head to the left to looked at the woman beside him. My curiosity got suddenly triggered as I slowly turned my vision to look in her direction to see what her response would be.

 

"O-of course. I'm pretty sure she'll--I mean... we'll do great if we just have fun while working together for the album." she said as she smiled while looking straight into my eyes.

Then I immediately looked away as I couldn't help but feel different kinds of emotions while staring into her eyes. 

 

*****

 

  After a while the CEO decided to just talk about something else, thinking that it would at least help me loosen up and also to make the atmosphere less serious & business-like which was undoubtedly not suitable for the occasion. 

 

The Vice-Chairman agreed instantly and without a second thought, he started to talk about some of the funny and memorable things that had happened within the company for the past 10 years. He even talked about how he and the CEO were just like Tom & Jerry back then for they have always argued about small petty things when they were still new in the business. And how they even thought of naming the company BAEntertainment before, for which BA stands for Bad- which everyone finds very funny for it almost sounds like they're scouting people to be gangsters and not an idol. 

 

Everybody at our table was laughing at how ridiculously funny the CEO and the Vice-Chairman were that the atmosphere was becoming more and more lightweight unlike earlier. Thanks to that, I was already feeling a little bit relieved and somehow at ease. 

 

However, that didn't last quite long...

 

 Because whenever my eyes would unintentionally meet hers, my uneasiness would just come back in an instant and I would feel dejected right away. 

I really hate myself for being like this. I really looked like a fool. 

 

"Why do you always have to be the first one to look away Byul-ah? And why do you feel so tense & nervous around her??? You shouldn't be like this!!! She's the one who did something wrong in the past so wasn't she supposed to be the one to feel this way and not you?"

 

I questioned & argued with myself before I eventually dared to look at her and observed her (when she wasn't looking of course) to know if she was feeling somewhat nervous & uneasy too. 

 

But to my dismay, she actually looked fine at all. She doesn't even seem to care that we're sitting around at one table. And the fact that she's really good at acting like we really don't know each other, as if this was really the first time we met, made me really mad & frustrated even more. 

 

"Ughhhh!!! STUPID BYULYI!!!! Why can't you just do the same??? Why can't you just be okay with it??? Why can't you just pretend that her presence doesn't affect you anymore??? UGHHH!!! PABO!!!! PABO!!!" 

 

I scolded myself internally as I made sure to really avoid any eye contact with her from now on no matter what. 

That way, I could also prevent myself from looking even more pathetic than I already am.

 

*****

 

After a while, the program started and the CEO and the Vice-chairman said their opening remarks as they thanked all their employees and their artists for all the efforts & hard work they've put in to make their company where they are now. Their speech was really moving to the point that some of their employees and also some of the artists couldn't help but to get a little bit emotional. And as they finished their speech, everyone inside the hall gave both of them a big round of applause. 

Then after their touching message, the dinner was served. 

 

The food came one after the other for it was a full course meal. Everything was really delicious from the appetizers to the main dish and up until the dessert. I was really satisfied but of course, the food from Hyejin's restaurant was still the best for me. 

 

After the dinner, some of the staff & artists came up to the stage for they have prepared a special performance celebrating the 10th year anniversary of the company. They danced, sang, and even have a comical skit going on. It's a very funny and amusing performance. 
I could tell that everyone was really having a good time & that they're really getting along well with each other. They're just like a big family and to be honest, I'm getting quite a little bit envious of it.

 

After the performance, I thought that the party was also coming to an end but I was surprised when the MC announced that they still have one last special performance prepared for tonight. Everybody cheered in glee and I couldn't help but to anticipate what would that be but when I saw a familiar face came up onto the stage, I suddenly froze. 

 

"Ms. Moonstar make sure to really listen to her sing and I promise you after this... you would definitely be more than happy to have her sing all your songs." The Vice-chairman said to me and I just saw the CEO smiled and nodded his head in agreement.

 

I hesitantly turned my head back to the stage where that person is standing. The lights dimmed and the spotlight was only focused on her and as if on cue, the piano instrumental of the song started to play.

 

~woo woo woo

You are someone who gives me happiness

woo woo woo~

 

Shivers...
That's what I felt...
Not to mention how my heart skipped a beat when she started singing...

 

 

~Though the road I’m taking is dangerous and far
I’d like it if you went with me~

 

Her voice was still the same- No-- It was way better than years ago. 
Her sweet, soulful voice brings back lots of memories.

 

~If the morning sun shines on our path
Then I can tell you that I am happy~

 

I couldn't believe that I could ever hear it again...
The voice that I used to love so much... 

 

~Looking here and there but the best part is
That I am together with you~

 

The more I listen to her sing, the more pain I also feel inside.
 

 

~You are someone who gives me happiness
Though the road I’m taking is dangerous and far~

 

For it just reminded me of the past...

 

 

~You are someone who gives me happiness~

 

The painful past that I thought I already buried deep down inside of me...

Is now coming back to haunt me again...

 

*****

 

5 years ago...

 

"Byulyi-ah... Can we talk..." I heard her say.

 

It was 3 weeks before my birthday and we're here in my grandmother's house in Bucheon packing some of my grandmother's freshly washed clothes and some food to bring to her when we visit her in the hospital tomorrow. Actually, it's already been 2 weeks since my grandmother has been hospitalized for having acute pneumonia and since then, we've been going there every single day to visit her and of course to take care of her. 

My grandmother is the only family that I have left ever since my parents died in a car crash when I was only 5 years old. I don't have any siblings, cousins and even an auntie or an uncle for both of my parents were the only child. That's why my grandmother is all that I have in this world but of course... that was before I met her.

 

*****

 

Kim Yongsun...

 

That was her name...

She was the first person I have ever fallen for... 

My first love...

 

Ever since the first time we met at our school department's entrance on that one rainy day, I couldn't really seem to forget about her. I even told Hyejin about what happened but of course not without getting a huge scolding from me, with her being so late. But then, I also thanked Hyejin for that because if she weren't late that time, I wouldn't have met her.

 

At first, I really regretted not accepting her offer when she asked me if I wanted to share under her umbrella that day, thinking that I wouldn't be able to see her again. 

 

But good thing I was able to meet her again... 

 

It was for a school project...

 

We were asked to collaborate with someone from a different major to perform together for our final evaluation before our first year ends. And as if FATE was on my side, she became my partner. She was a major in singing & performing while I was a major in music composition and songwriting. And as we continued to meet up to work and practice for our final presentation, we eventually became friends. 

We have found out that we share a lot of things in common especially when it comes to music & food and as the days & weeks went by, we became closer than ever that even after we aced our final evaluation we still continue to meet up and spend our weekends together. 

 

There's even that one time when Hyejin got really angry & upset with me because I haven't really hung out as much with her unlike before. She even thought that I'm already replacing her with Yongsun as my best friend. But when I told her that it wasn't the case and assured her that no one will ever replace her as my best-est friend (by giving her a one month supply of her favorite honey-butter flavored chips :P) she just calmed down and cooed back in her cave just like a tamed baby cub.

 

The days, weeks & months that follow were the happiest moments in my life knowing that Yongsun was by my side. The more time we spend together, the more my feelings for her became so clear to me--- that I was already falling in love with her. 

And so... just right before the start of the second semester of our 2nd year, I bravely confessed my l