Because it's you, my heart beats. 

Similar to water for a flower,

Your heart allows me to live.

Though I loved you a thousand times,

I want to say it again. 

-I Loved You a Thousand Times, Co-Ed 

::::::

Key

Current Time

:::: 

It is time. 

Staring at his reflection in the glass of the windows, he twisted at his black bowtie and smoothed down the wrinkles on his white dress shirt. Dusting away non-existent lint from his suit jacket, he opened the doors and walked inside of the church. The whole place was decorated in white ribbons and pink flowers, and there was an almost holy aura to the building. Tall wax candles, bunched with faux flowers, flickered with a homely glow even though it was still daytime. Striding in with quick, long steps, he headed for the bride's dressing room, his eyes scanning the hallway. As he looked at the wedding pictures, he noticed that all eyes were glancing at him. It was quite a common sight, one that Key was used to-after all, he was a handsome, twenty-one-year-old bachelor who was a huge celebrity in the entertainment world. An amazing, talented rapper, and a singer who could bring an audience to tears, he was also renowned for his extremely playboy-ish ways and a highly publicized love for beautiful women. 

And yet, he couldn't even catch the woman he loved the most. 

Entering the room, he couldn't help but stare at her. He trailed his eyes across her tall, lean frame, but not in the sleazy way-it was more an appreciation for the display of her grand beauty. Her long, raven hair was decorated in white lilies, her wedding dress sparkling and touching the floor. She looked like she had jumped out of a magazine, and yet, her makeup was minimal and she had no trace of any flaws. She radiated natural beauty, but you could never hate her. She was nice and kind to everyone she knew, and gave her whole heart out to whatever she did. Key couldn't help but think about all the times that he'd had fantasies like this, fantasies about their wedding day and how they’d say their vows together. It was all happening and unravelling, except the guy in the picture was not him. Reminding him of this fact, Key stared at the picture of the tall, handsome man mounted on the wall.

Was he not better than him?

He was so successful when it came to business, but matters of love were so different.

Key knew that her husband was reliable, hardworking, and honest, which was a huge contrast compared to his womanizing, irresponsible ways. He knew that he’d never win Cho Sun’s heart like this, but he was too selfish to change. He was scared of getting into a serious relationship, as he’d never known how to love a girl. It was too complicated, and something that he’d never comprehend. No matter how much it hurt him to see Cho Sun being given to another man, Key would never confess to her. After all, he knew that it was true love when he was willing to make himself miserable-just to make someone else happy.

“Key!”

Shaking his heads from his wandering thoughts, he went up to her and smiled.

"Hey, Sunny.”

“Thanks for coming, Key-I didn’t know if you could make it.”

“Anything for my best friend-of course I’d show up.”

“Can you believe that I’m going to become a Lee now, Key? It’s not Kim Cho Sun anymore, it’s Lee Cho Sun-it feels like I’ve really become part of his family now. I’ve been waiting for this moment forever, and even though it’s finally happening, I’m so nervous! Oh, Key-I can’t wait for him to see me in my wedding dress-” 

“Is there really anything wrong with being a Kim, Sunny?”

Key smirked and cut into her babbling, but he felt his heart sinking. He was a Kim.

“Ah, sorry Key-I didn’t mean any offence, I’m just excited. It’s my wedding day, and it’s all turning out like I wanted to-” Her cheeks were red and flushed with the prospect of getting married to her boyfriend of eight years, her eyes twinkling in sheer happiness. However, Key couldn’t support her exhilaration. He tried to stay calm, but he knew he was getting angrier with every word that she said. Even though he tried to nod his head and smile as she went on with her post-wedding jitters, Key couldn’t help but think that he was so pathetic. He couldn’t continue on like this.

“Do you really love him, Sunny?”

“I don’t just love him, Key. I’m in love with everything to do with him, everything that involves him. I can't even describe it-it's amazing-all I can think about is getting married and then settled with him." 

“But he hurt you. He’s had fights with you. He’s hit you before.”

“But Key-he’s always called me back. He’s always hugged me and said he was sorry to me, and he was always sincere with me. You know you’re in love when it hurts. You know you’re in love when you only see him, when every little thing he does has the power to swing your emotions. And that only happens when I’m with him.”

Each word was like a sting to him. It hurt so much that he wasn't aware of the words that came out of his mouth.

“He’s not worth it, Sunny. He’s not worth you.”

“Key!”

“He’s evil, and he doesn’t care about you. How will you know that he won’t look at other women? How do you know that he won’t desert you and leave you? He’s a man, Sunny, he will become pickier and he will have greater needs. What if you can’t fulfill his wants? What if you’re not meant to be? What if you marry him, and he turns out to become a useless idiot who uses you as his slave? There are so many things that you’d never be able to predict, so many things that could go wrong if you marry him. ”

“Kim Kibum!”

Cho Sun was now shouting, her eyes slightly wet.

“I always gave you a second chance, Key. You’re my brother. You’re my little brother whom I’ve always loved and always protected. My father and mother didn’t like you, my fiancée constantly told me that you were in love with me, and that I had to break the ties between us. But I loved you too much, Key. We grew up as children in the same neighbourhood, and I remember all those times where you stuck up for me against the other children. I was painfully bullied, but you always saved me. As you grew older, roles reversed-I was always coming over to your home and looking after you. You always listened to me, but I knew you had other plans for your life.

 Thus, It didn’t surprise me when you became famous.

As you became more well known and noticed, you developed a personality opposite to the Key I used to take care of. I knew that everyone saw a boy on the outside who was dangerously handsome, but played around and was often the centre of negative press. But, in truth, this boy was actually highly intelligent, grounded, and kind. He cared for others and wasn’t afraid to stand up for his own rights. This whole celebrity thing-it was all a mask. A clever mask, crafted to hide your cowardice. But I’m your sister, Key. How can you use this mask against me? Do I even know you anymore? You’ve been drawing farther and farther away-so far, in fact, that you can’t even congratulate me on my wedding day. The Key that I used to know would have definitely supported me. He would have been happy for me, because he knew that it was what I truly wanted. Don’t you know, Key? Don’t you know that you can’t forcefully change the feelings of others, no matter what you try? Don’t you know that you can only be yourself and hope for the best?

Please, Key, can’t you tell me what’s wrong with you? How could you forget-how could you forget your father’s own words?”

She stared at him. Waiting, waiting to hear apologetic words. 

Words that would never come.

“What’s wrong with me? You’re asking me, what’s wrong?” Key let out a hoarse, cracked laugh.

“What’s wrong with me is that I can’t stand having you as a sister, Sunny.”

::::

His phone beeped, and Key shot daggers at it.

-Key, get your lazy here.

You’re recording today with a new singer.

It’s important that you get here RIGHT NOW.

SM Yellowtail Studio.

-nico.

His manager was calling him again. Key ignored it, wrenching his cell out of his pocket, and flinging it to the backseat.  He didn’t care about that stupid new artist-all he cared was that he’d just screwed up, big-time, and there was no way to fix it.

I always ruin everything.

He’d been selfish again, and had completely destroyed the day of her life. He didn’t even have the decency to sit in a pew and watch his best friend, and the girl he loved, get married. Shaking his head, he recalled the scene that followed their squabble, and suddenly felt foolish and like a child who didn’t know how to control his temper. He had run out the door, jumping right into his car and gunning the engine to get away from that church as fast as possible. After all, he was the almighty Key-he’d never had to use the words “sorry,” and he never, ever, put himself below others. He was better than everyone else, and even though he liked her, who was she to criticize him? He was a grown adult; he didn’t need another mother figure in his life. But no matter how much he wanted to believe that, he knew that in truth, she was right. She knew everything about him. And everything she said-it was all true. Groaning, Key sharply pulled his car to the side and flung the door open. Everything that she’d said to him had hurt, but it was the fact that she’d pulled her father into the conversation they’d had that stung the most.

“It’s okay to be proud of where you are, Key. But never forget who brought you there.”

When he’d become famous, Key’s father had constantly reminded him with those words of his. His mother had always been the responsible one in the family, tending to the needs and always trying to earn more money. She loved him, but Key felt like she never knew her. She was a distant thing-even though they were related by blood, he knew nothing about her. But he had a strong relationship with his father-his father had taught him academics, sports, but values, values that Key knew he’d inherit as he grew older. But right when he was on the brink of debut, his father died. When he thought back about it, Key realized that it wasn’t only his father who left that day.

On that day, Kim Kibum died with his father, and turned into Key.

:::::

Amber

::::

Amber pulled at her messenger bag and tied the laces on her brightly coloured Converse. Staring at the building, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and amazement. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows adorned the tall, grey stucco walls, and the bright red letters, spelling out “SM ENTERTAIMENT,” glared at her. She was, however, extremely excited and apprehensive-she’d finally gotten one step closer to her goal of becoming famous. And every single step and piece of hard work counted when she was going to try and find him. She was never going to forget him, and it was going to stay that way.

Taking in a breath of fresh air, she walked into the building.

A pretty lady sat at the desk, scribbling on paper and clutching a cell phone between her fingers. She knew the receptionist well, and her boyfriend was one of the members of the maintenance crew that usually acknowledged Amber. Walking into the elevator, she got off at the fifth floor, and strode down the hallway to a wooden door. This door lead to where she practised, where she got every little dance move right, where she worked to her soul’s extent in making every vocal or physical move perfect. This was where she’d cried in frustration, beamed in happiness, and screamed in joy. This room had shared memories with her, whether painful or pure happiness. She felt a twinge of sadness, knowing that she’d be transferred to another practise room, but she was also ready to change. She was not a trainee anymore-she didn’t have to be looked down on by those who already became chart-topping celebrities. She could be her own person now, and finally find Donghae.

After all, her debut was just moments away.