Now playing: Peter pan - EXO (piano cover)

Seoul, South Korea – June 20, 2016

KIM MYUNGSOO | L

      It’s the day of the festival and everyone is having fun inside the campus. There are tons of booths that you can play on. Jiyeon and I are here at the Book Lover’s club’s booth, the Book Café. This is Gayoung’s booth; she’s the president here so we got free coffees from her.

      “Aren’t you guys nervous?” Gayoung asked as she placed the two cups of coffee on our table.

      “I am,” Jiyeon answered, “I don’t know about this guy.” She exclaimed, referring to me.

      “I’m great, not nervous.” I shrugged.

      I looked at the time and we only have two hours to go before the festival so I quickly stood up and grabbed my coat from the chair.

      “I’ll just go somewhere,” I muttered.

      “Huh? But it’s almost the festival time.” Jiyeon exclaimed.

      “This will take just a minute.” I told her and quickly left.

      I went to the parking lot and quickly got my car and drove off. I decided to go to the columbarium first before performing. You may be wondering why I’m here. Well, I’m here to visit a friend. I went inside the columbarium and saw a marble cremation urn.

      “Long time no see Nayoung-ah,” I exclaimed as I placed the bouquet of white rose that I’ve bought earlier.

      Just being here after two years just brought back the pain that I was trying hard not to feel, after two long years… I’m here again, looking at her picture, the picture of my lovely Nayoung. I’ve been in love with Nayoung since I was thirteen years old. Yeah, it’s a bit too young for a guy like me to fall in love with him but they say that age is just a number.

      “Nayoung-ah,” I called, “I’ll be performing today. I’ll be dedicating my song for you.” I muttered, “Peter pan… my song for you is called Peter pan. I wrote it just for you and I hope you will like it.”

      I wrote the song Peter pan one year after Nayoung’s death. I wrote it on her 1^st death anniversary. I was still devastated that time and I was always crying because of her death. I decided to write a more cheerful song for me to move on because I know that that is what Nayoung wants. She doesn’t want me to sulk and forever live on her dark death.

      “Nayoung-ah, I will also sing a song titled “Dream” together with my new found friend, Jiyeon.” I smiled, remembering Jiyeon’s face, “You know, now that I saw your picture again, I can tell that the both of you look really alike.” I muttered, “She is also like you… sweet… cheerful and she always lift people up.” I couldn’t help but to feel the tears flowing down my cheeks, “When I first saw her, I thought that you were playing a bad joke on me but then, I guess that’s your way of telling me that I can be happy now. But always remember that no one can ever replace you in my heart.”

Samsung Medical Hospital, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea – June 2013
(Kim Myungsoo – 16 years old ; Jeon Nayoung – 15 years old)

      It has been a month since I was admitted here in the hospital and that month has been a hell for me. I was involved in a car accident with my friend. He died while here I am, alive. I was fortunate but… I lost my sense of sight because of severe head trauma. The doctors said it’s not permanent and we can still save my vision by having an eye surgery but the problem is, there’s still no eye donor for me. In that month, I changed, a lot. I became grumpy and I would always scream at those people who tried to show their concern for me but good thing Nayoung is always here with me.

      “Myung, you should eat.” Nayoung exclaimed.

      Even though I can’t see her, I know that she’s still smiling even though I’ve been grumpy towards her these past few days.

      “I already told you that I don’t want to eat.” I muttered, covering myself with my blanket.

      “But you haven’t even eaten your breakfast yet and it’s already 1:00 pm.” She muttered.

      “Fine, you don’t want to eat?” she asked, “Are you bored?”

      I didn’t respond but yeah sure, I’m bored.

      “Y-yeah,” I answered, unsure.

      “Then, why don’t we sneak again to the music room?” she asked, giggling.

      I just smiled and nodded. She led me to the wheelchair and wheeled me to who knows where. After some time, Nayoung stopped, “Stay here.” She whispered.

      I didn’t know what was going on until I heard the piano play and I know what piece this is. This is Nayoung’s favorite piece, “Saying I love you by Wonder girls.” I smiled and tried visualizing Nayoung playing the piano. It has been a month since I last saw her beautiful face and I just really want to see her beautiful smile again. I didn’t notice that Nayoung had finished playing already.

      “I really wish to hear you playing the piano,” she muttered.

      “You want me to play the piano?” I asked.

      “Yeah,” she muttered.

      A week has passed since Nayoung had asked me to learn the piano and in that small amount of time, my mom and dad has found an eye donor for me. I will be having my surgery tomorrow and I just hope that everything will go well.

      “Hey Peter pan!” I was startled when I heard someone spoke, “You didn’t feel my presence, huh?” Nayoung asked.

      “I… I was just occupied.” I chuckled awkwardly.

      “Tomorrow’s the big day for you, Myung! You’ll be able to see us again!” she muttered, “So how do you feel?” she asked.

      “I’m nervous as hell!” I exclaimed, “I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow!”

      I didn’t expect it but Nayoung pulled me into a hug and brushed my hair and there, I felt my heart beating fast.

      “Stay strong Myung, I know you can do it!” I just smiled at her and nodded.

      The rest of the day was fun since Nayoung was there to accompany me and to lessen my anxiousness. We were inside the musical room the whole day. Nayoung was playing all sorts of musical instrument just for me. It was as if I attended her concert, haha.

      It has been a week since I had my eye surgery and today is the day when the doctors will remove my bandages. I just hope that Nayoung’s here to see me take the bandage off but mom said that she hasn’t come here since last night and I think that’s odd because she always come here early in the morning.

      “Myungsoo-ah, open your eyes.”

      I didn’t notice that the bandage was already removed from my eyes. My heart was trembling and I was praying so hard that everything went well, as I opened my eyes… I saw that blinding light until… I saw everything, clearly.

      “Mom! I can see again!” I rejoiced.

      Mom and dad hugged me tight and thanked the doctors for the successful operation. After that, mom and dad treat me great food in the hospital but everything was still incomplete. I haven’t seen Nayoung since I opened my eyes. It’s already night time and my sister is already telling me to sleep.

      “L, you should get some sleep. You wouldn’t want to tire yourself, right?” Hyelim noona exclaimed.

      “But I haven’t seen Nayoung yet.” I muttered.

      “I’m sure she’ll be here by tomorrow.” She smiled.

      I just nodded and decided to sleep. I don’t want to tire myself out after all these. I was about to sleep when mom came barging in my room, shock was written all over her face.

      “Mom,” I called.

      “Myungsoo,” she called, “Nayoung’s dead.” She muttered.

      I don’t know but I suddenly felt like someone was squeezing my heart and it feels like I was having difficulty in breathing. Nayoung’s… what?

      “She died after getting hit by a car this morning. She was on her way to the bake shop to buy you a cake… but she died while crossing the street. I’m very sorry,” she sniffed.

Seoul, South Korea – June 20, 2016

      “Don’t worry Nayoung, I will make you proud today.” I smiled.

      I stood up and eventually left. I looked at my watch and saw that there’s only an hour left before the music festival. I quickly went back to school and saw Jiyeon waiting for me. She was waving at me with that bright smile of hers.

      “Nayoung, I hope you’re happy for me.” I muttered and quickly parked my car and went to Jiyeon’s place.

      “Where have you been? Everyone’s busy practicing!” she nagged, “Come on, let’s have one last practice.” She smiled.

      “Jiyeon, you know what?” I asked. “What?” she asked back.

      “You look like someone I know…” I muttered.

      “Who?” she asked again.

      “You look like her… Jeon Nayoung.”

Now playing: I love you - Taeyeon

PARK SOOYEON

      It has been days since I broke up with Kai. Mr. Kim also contacted me the next day, telling me that I did a great job listening to him. I don’t know why but I just wanted to curse at him at that very spot but good thing I didn’t. After breaking up with Kai, news had spread out that Kai is engaged with Jiyeon but I didn’t believe it because there has been countless of time when this happened but it never pushed through. I just hope that it is the case right now. I’ve been feeling alone these past few days now but good thing Minho is always there to help me up and cheer me. Right now, I’m with Minho at the auditorium for the music festival of the school. Minho said that it’s a great time for me to forget all those heartaches.

      “Minho, I’ll just go to the comfort room.” I told him.

      “Do you want me to go with you?” he asked.

      Minho has been very protective of me since that day and I am thankful rather than pissed because I know that he’s being like this because he doesn’t want me to get hurt.

      “No need Minho,” I smiled and stood up.

      I left the main auditorium and searched for the comfort room. As I was searching, I saw two people by the backstage.

      “Here’s your water,” Kai exclaimed as he handed a bottle of water to Jiyeon.

      “Thanks,” Jiyeon smiled.

      “Don’t stress yourself too much and just do your best.” Kai winked.

      “Of course I’ll do my best.” Jiyeon muttered.

      “Now go on there and make your fiancé proud.”

      The show already started as I heard the loud cheers from the auditorium as well as the deafening music but the sound of my heart shattering is much more audible than that of the auditorium’s. Kai just called Jiyeon his… fiancé. I quickly ran away from the backstage and went back to the auditorium. I didn’t bother going back to our seat because I don’t want Minho to see me wrecked, again. I tried hard casting my feelings aside and just decided to listen at the concert. The first and second act finished and I was trying hard not to cry but when the third song came, I couldn’t help but to burst into tears. A girl started singing Taeyeon’s “I love you”.

      “Did it pass by…Our love? Is it just a heart-breaking memory…? It’s turning around…Your heart… Can’t I catch it with my tears…?”

      I couldn’t help but to break down, right there. People were staring at me but I don’t care a single bit. All those emotion that I was holding in finally came rushing to me. All the pain that I’ve been enduring has finally took a toll on me and I just shattered there, I was broken beyond repair.

      “My love I love you, I love you… Are you listening…? My love…Don’t forget…Don’t erase… Our love…”

      After some time, the song ended but I wasn’t finished crying just yet. I thought that listening to that song made my heart ache but it was nothing compared to the pain that I felt towards the next song.

      “The Music club’s ace, Lee Jiyeon!” the MC called.

      A beautiful girl went out of the backstage. She was wearing a beautiful floral dress that suits her very well. Everything in her just screams “perfect”, and if you would compare her with me, I am nothing. She smiled to the audience and everyone went wild. My insecurity hit me hard, telling me that I am no good against her and Lee Jiyeon will always be the winner.

      “Good evening everyone,” she smiled, greeting, “I am here today as one of the representatives of the Music club. Well, we actually have two members only… that’s me and Kim Myungsoo. I just hope that you would sign up for our club and let us jam altogether at the school’s music room.” She smiled, “But for now, I want to sing a song for everyone… this is I’m in love by Narsha. I hope you guys enjoy this.”

      Before Lee Jiyeon could even start her performance, I went out of the auditorium and cried. I don’t want to see that girl anymore. My insecurity will just eat me up.

Special character;

Jeon Nayoung
Died at the age of 15 years old
Died on June 30, 2013
Myungsoo's first love

Proverbs 4:18 - The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.