April 8, 2016

Is it just me, or is Kyuhyun smiling? I keep taking glances at him, who was standing next to me. Not only his face is glowing (and I don't think it's not just the BB cream that works wonders on his acne scars), but his foot taps to some inaudible music only he could listen to in his head. And the next thing I know, he is whistling to "Flying Deep in the Night," which I remember him telling me it is sung by a Korean ballad singer, Lee Moon-See. It's been a while since I hear him whistle. 

I say, "You look cheerful today." 

He shrugs, "I'm always cheerful." 

"Really? I thought your course workload makes you look like a sloth. You always look so sulky after a whole day of quizzes and labs." 

"Hmm?" he raises his eyebrow, "Then maybe you haven't looked harder." 

"Dude, I've known you since elementary school." I point out, "Something must have happened that made you break your shell." 

He is about to answer when we spot a familiar face strutting through the gates. "Konnichiwa!" he chirps. 

"Ryeowook-san! Konnichiwa!" Kyuhyun waves with a bigger smile that shows his white teeth. 

I greet, "Oh! Ryeowook-san!" 

"Konnichiwa, Yesungie!" 

Yesungie? Did he just call me by my nickname? 

Kyuhyun asks casually, "How was your class?" 

"Fun!" he replies, "Zhoumi Sensei taught us how to wrap cutlery with napkins. It felt like we're preparing for a grand dining event."

"Lucky!" he pouts, "I wish I can take a class like that!" 

I think I've missed something. Since when they started to click?

Kyuhyun immediately meets my gaze and chuckles, "Looks like someone got up from the wrong side of the bed this morning." 

"What the heck is going on?" I snap, "First, you were so cold towards him. And now you're all friendly and...smiley."

Ryeowook exclaims, "You didn't tell him?" 

Kyuhyun sticks his tongue out. "I forgot to tell him about last night."

The shortest of us three shakes his head. "Aish! 本当に (hontoo ni- really)!" 

The tallest one winks, "Which is why we're gonna tell him all about it once we find a restaurant."  

"Sounds good. Where are we going?" 

"This is not a hidden camera prank, is it?" I narrow my eyes. 

Kyuhyun smiles innocently. "Nope. Not at all." 

Someone must have put a mantra on him. I've never seen him that cheerful on a Friday. 

Ryeowook whines, "Please don't tell me you haven't thought of a place yet because I feel like I can eat a horse right now!" 

At one point, I feel like crying because I see the Ryeowook whom I've missed so much. Another point is I feel like I'm in a dream, and I don't want to wake up from it. The fact that he has returned after so many years is indeed the perfect gift I can ever ask for. Now that we're standing by the gates with growling stomachs and smiles, I swear my mind is swept off by a tsunami of nostalgia. 

"Well, remember that famous okonomiyaki place we used to go? I'm not sure if you still..." I am about to finish my sentence when Ryeowook's face lit up. 

"Momiji, right? In Uehonmachi area? I remember that!" 

I am so happy to hear that; I throw my arms to give him a super-duper squeezy bear hug. 

Ryeowook exclaims, "What the..." 

"Sorry," I pull back, "It's just that I'm so happy that you're back." 

"I am too." 

I then grab both of their hands and drag them to the bus, which arrives in the nick of time. I fish out my monthly bus pass from my jeans pocket, anticipating our first lunch together after so many years. 

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"Kyuhyun! I've told you I'm too full!" Ryeowook's eyes are like saucers. He watches in shock as Kyuhyun tosses one large pizza-slice-shaped piece of yakisoba-fused Japanese savoury pancake onto his plate. 

The brown-haired smirks, "What? I've never seen you so skinny before! You should eat more!"

The red-haired groans, "Whatever...Okaasan." 

"Hey! Why you call me mom?" 

"Well, serves you right for giving me extra!" 

"That's the last piece! And you should be grateful that I'm giving you my share!" 

"I'm literally at my limit!" 

"Okay! Okay, fine!" Kyuhyun says with a goofy smile, "I'm just teasing you anyway." 

I look at them in amusement. It's only the first week of the spring term, and they get along naturally. 

Ryeowook turns to me, "By the way, Yesung..."

"Huh?" 

"Kyuhyun told me that you planned to ask me out for lunch yesterday after Sungmin's class. Why didn't you do it then?" 

"My dad told me to run some errands right after class. He had to print the handouts for next week." 

"Handouts?" 

Kyuhyun says, "Yeah, Sungmin Sensei said that we'd be looking at this ancient novel called Tale of Princess Kaguya, remember?" 

Ryeowook's eyes widen."I know, but...wait a minute...Sungmin Sensei is your dad???"

I burst out laughing. Kyuhyun joins in. 

Ryeowook gasps, "I can't believe I didn't even recognize him at all!" 

Kyuhyun smirks, "First, you can't recognize us, and now you can't recognize Yesung's Dad? Wow! You need to get your eyes checked." 

Ryeowook's mouth hangs open. He immediately points his greasy fork like he is about to stab his face, "You're still snarky as ever." 

"And you're still as clueless as ever." 

I throw my head back and laugh. Ryeowook hisses, "Hey! Keep it down!"

I quickly calm myself down and remark, "Just like old times."

"What do you mean?" Ryeowook's head tilts. 

"You know!" I answer, "Us three together!"

They look at each other for a moment before their lips curl. Kyuhyun nods, "He's right." 

"Besides, my dad has been so eager that KRY will reunite."

"Is he?" 

"Yeah! When my dad told us about you helping him back at the river, he pretended that he didn't know you personally, but he does recognize you." I explain, "So when I saw you on the second day of class, I thought he was right. Your face still looks the same, just a lot...older." 

Ryeowook laughs. He swats his hand in front of my face lightly, "We all have grown older." 

"Hey! Ryeowookie!" Kyuhyun's face lights up, "Remember when we used to jump on Ojisan Sungmin's (Uncle Sungmin's) couch just to relieve the jitters before our mini-concerts?" 

"Oh my! How can I not remember!" 

"Yeah!" I chirp in, "The jumping worked every time...until Otoosan chased us away with his back scratcher." 

"That back scratcher! I remember that peeling pink unicorn horn!" 

"Oh, gosh! Yes!" Kyuhyun almost falls out of his chair. 

This time, we all laugh so loud everyone looks at us like we're a bunch of buffoons. 

"Oh! How's your mom, Yesungie?" Ryeowook asks. 

I take a long gulp of water from my glass. "She's doing great! She's travelling around Australia since last week."

"Wow! What for?" 

Kyuhyun shoves his phone in front of his face, "She's a performer now."

Ryeowook's jaw drops as a video of my Okaasan playing piano in an orchestra flash before his eyes. I watch it proudly.  

"She doesn't teach vocals and piano anymore?" 

I reply, "She still does when she doesn't have concert tours coming up." 

"Sugoi (Amazing)!" 

A waiter comes to our table and slips a mini clipboard with our bill attached. Kyuhyun immediately pulls out his credit card. 

Ryeowook stares in shock. "What are you doing?" 

He replies, "I'm footing the bill."

He fumbles for his wallet from his backpack. "You can't do that!" 

"Why?" 

"Because," Ryeowook reasons as he slams a 10 Yen bill on top of the printed paper, "that wouldn't be fair." 

Kyuhyun looks at him blankly. I dare not to move a muscle. They look at each other like they are starting a no-blinking battle. Kyuhyun never fails to win a debate on who's going to pay the bill every time he goes out with the rest of his friends and me. No one can ever beat his blunt words. 

To my surprise, he sighs and raises his hands like he just got arrested. "Okay. How about this? We pay for our orders." 

Ryeowook's face softens. "Fair enough." 

Huh. That's a first. I've never seen him going easy before. 

Kyuhyun smiles and waves at the waiter to tell him to separate the bill. After I add my share on top of theirs, I feel Ryeowook tapping my shoulder. 

"Is Kyuhyun always like this?" 

I shoot him a questioning look. "What do you mean?"

"Does he always pay for his friends?" 

"It's a Japanese tradition to pay for a group meal." Kyuhyun jabs. 

"True," I say, "but sometimes I think he does it a little too much. He doesn't like it when his friends pay." 

The waiter comes back with a card machine for Kyuhyun.

"Don't you feel bad that he pays all the time?" Ryeowook furrows his brow. 

I nod. Kyuhyun, who seems to be distracted by Ryeowook's question, turns his head slightly to our direction before focusing on punching the buttons. 

"I honestly think," Ryeowook continues, "that everyone should have a fair turn of paying their own thing. They can offer to pay to show their gratitude to other people, but a little too much of that may make people uncomfortable and guilty."

Kyuhyun finishes paying and puts his credit card back into his bag. His head hangs low for a few seconds. Chatters from a table next to ours buzz through the restaurant. A part of me senses that he is pissed off. He finally looks up; his lips curl slightly. "Then maybe I should take note of that from you because I've never thought of that in a long time." 

Ryeowook smile back. I heave a sigh a relief. "You know, this day couldn't get better."

"Why?" Kyuhyun asks.

"Because this is happening. We're together again."  

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"Tadaima!" I call from the door. It's already 6:30 pm, but I don't smell food. It's a relief because I'm still full from the okonomiyaki feast. 

"Ah! Yesung! Okaeri!" Otoosan's voice echoes from upstairs. I quickly take off my shoes and walk up to the dining room. The first thing I see is a glass teapot with a teabag of dried pink petals and green tea leaves in the infuser; it colours the boiled water in a magical soft pink. It looks like something a girl would order in a cafe. As I absent-mindedly watch white puffs rises from the spout, I am startled by Otoosan, who comes forward with a couple of glossy cream-colour teacups. 

I ask, "You didn't cook?" 

He replies, "You're not hungry,? I've received your text saying you had a heavy lunch." 

"Yeah...but what about you?"

"I had a couple of tuna onigiri just now." 

"So...what's this?" 

Sungmin flashes a toothy smile and holds a tea pack. Bold red Kanji characters are at the center of the background. He draws an invisible line under the letterings with one finger and boasts, "This is an all-new Matcha Sakura tea. We should try this out. I bet your mom will love this as well." 

"Ah," I nod, "I'm sure she will. It's funny that you and Okaasan have similar tastes in almost all of the food you like."

He chuckles and pours a cup. "I guess that's what makes us incompatible." 

I take the cup and put it onto a saucer to let it cool. My eyes begin to wander around the house. It sure is quiet when Okaasan is not at home. As you can tell from her career, she often travels, especially outside of Japan. The best part of her homecoming after every concert tour she has been to is souvenirs. I don't mean to sound greedy, but I've always loved it when she comes back with tons of snacks, unique handmade musical instruments, house decor figurines, and signed CDs from musicians she has worked. She even has done a collab with a couple of my favorite musicians on YouTube, Lindsey Stirling, and The Piano Guys! I've always thought the fact that my father, the professor in one of the top universities in Japan, chooses to marry my mother, a global classical performer, is indeed what makes me so blessed to be a part of the family. 

"Speaking of incompatible," Otoosan says, "I remember that I have to tell you something." 

"What is it?" 

"I have to tell you about the legend of Kena Sakuranominaya park."

I stare. "The legend of...what?" 

"Kena Sakuranominaya Park." 

"It's just a park with cherry blossoms blooming every spring." 

"I know," he looks at me seriously, "and that's the park where you used to go with Kyuhyun and Ryeowook, right?" 

"Of course." 

"Well, there's a story hidden beyond the cherry blossoms. Not many people know this unless they've met this beggar." 

"What are you talking about?" 

"Just listen, Yesung," he says, "and your tea is getting cold." 

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25-years-old Lee Sungmin was a handsome Korean immigrant who had won the hearts of women but failed expectations of the workforce. He dropped by as many stores as he could, leaving countless copies of resumes in the hands of managers. Big and small companies. Unfortunately, until that day, luck hadn't found its way. He had no one to talk to. Most of the time, he cursed himself for not coming to Japan with a proper backup plan after his dream of becoming a ninja master got backfired, because he accidentally kicked a 70-years-old sensei in the balls; however, at some times, Sungmin had this glint of hope in his eyes, reminding him that he would find a job.

He sulked as he tossed a dime into the rippling waters of a river. He was aware that the cherry blossom shower was happening. As he tore his eyes away from the river, he spotted a frail-looking woman sitting cross-legged at a far end. She was holding a cardboard with Sharpie font that said, "I have nowhere to go. A piece of your heart means so much to me." Impressively, it was in both English and Japanese. On the ragged tatami, she was sitting was an empty soup can that was excessively rusted for probably more than two years. 

Once he read the sign, he could felt his heart aching. He immediately checked his pants pocket; he was relieved to see his last silver coin shining in the evening sunlight. He made his way pass smiling couples and quietly dropped his final bit of savings into the can. The beggar looked up; her pale lips curled into a gentle smile. 

She smiled, "Thank you, young man." 

I exclaimed, "You know I can speak English?" 

She nodded, "When you reach out to me, I can see through you. You have a good, kind heart." 

Sungmin bowed, "Thank you." 

"I can guarantee that you will find what you want very soon." 

"How can you tell?" 

She smirked. Her eyes gleamed with wisdom. "When you fall in love, good things will come to you as a reward." 

"You sure?" 

"Trust me, young man." she winked, "The charm in the wind tells me so." 

"What?" 

The beggar wiggled one finger, motioning him to get closer. He squatted till his was close to the floor. He was surprised because her face was leaning against his right ear. Her voice turned into a whisper as soft as a ghost's. "The cherry blossoms in this park are not ordinary. They carry a secret charm that can only be unlocked by the power of love from a special couple." 

Sungmin was both confused and intrigued. He asked, "What kind of charm?" 

"The charm that releases all boundaries of love." 

"How is that possible?" 

"The heavens have buried the charm here in this area long ago. They've sent me to find the chosen pair, but I couldn't because my time here on earth is almost up. So that's why I'm here to search for a replacement. Good thing my sign has finally reach you." 

Sungmin's eyes widened with amazement. Her story didn't stop there just yet. 

"Young man. On my behalf, find the couple who will unlock the charm of the cherry blossoms at this park. And if it truly happens, not only the world will rejoice, but also the spirits in the skies above."

"H...how am I suppose to do that?" 

"Look around you, lad. People can be so absorbed in the world, yet they haven't discovered the little things. You, on the other hand, have found me. This means that you have the eyes to look for certain people with an extraordinary purpose of living on this earth." 

She put her bony hands onto Sungmin's shoulders. "Please. You are the only one who can help me. This mission is yours, so don't let it slide. The couple who break the spell will transform those who are blinded by the dark sides of love. Love is limitless. Love can be unchained. Do you agree?" 

Sungmin couldn't help but nod vigorously at every word she said. He answered in his most determined voice, "I'll do it. I completely agree with you that everyone should know what love can do and what love can fight for." 

"Promise?" 

Sungmin got up to his feet. "I promise." 

And from that day onwards, he stopped by at the park to grab a quick snack from the Takoyaki stand located at the front and observe the two targets. He eventually got a job at the university, thanks to Tsubomi Michitara who was a part-time conductor in the orchestra club. They quickly became friends after they bumped into each other when he was observing on one chilly night. He told her his situation, and she immediately recommended him to the dean of the university, who accepted him to become a lecturer (his Bachelor of Education, which no other place didn't even agree, was a plus). And then, a few months later, they fell in love. A year later, they tied the knot. Sungmin realized that love was something that was far more important than money. All that time, he was thirsty for money to survive when he first arrived in Osaka. But now, he had a partner who guided him along the way. 

However, he still walked around the park and couldn't find the couple. Sometimes, he wondered whether the old lady was testing him. What if he and Tsubomi were the chosen couple? He explained to her about the legend and his mission of finding the destined couple. Questions etched in his mind. What would be the consequences if we fail the task? What would happen if the charm was never to be found? What did the beggar exactly mean by releasing all boundaries of love? Love has its ups and downs, and everyone has to face them. He didn't see any weird signs at all. There were no wars or famine or even natural disasters happening. He has seen couples fight before, but they would either makeup or break up. And that's normal. 

So...what does the mission do? 

Sungmin would take his wife to see whether the charm would acknowledge them. The beggar had explained to him how the charm sees. One has to stand at one side of the river and the other on the other side. And when both stare into each other's eyes despite the distance between them, their love for each other will remained uncrossed. The wind that causes the cherry blossom shower will suddenly go incredibly strong. If their feelings for each other are the strongest, even till the moment you can touch the skies, the wind will form into a hurricane of petals (it won't be destructive) and burst all over them. This will signify that the charm is released. It will spread to the whole of Japan, even to the whole earth. Sungmin had tried a few times standing on the left side and told his wife to stand on the right; however, the wind didn't react. The cherry blossom rain was always gentle every spring. He realized that he and Tsubomi weren't the destined couple, yet he wasn't one bit disappointed. He kept on strolling at the park, looking for clues. 

Miraculously, not long ago this year, Sungmin believed that he had finally found them. He noticed them at the exact positions. He rode his bike at full speed, hoping to tell the short one with dark red hair about the charm. Unfortunately, he lost control of his bicycle and crashed into the fence. He was about to tell that lucky person the mission, but he didn't have the chance to spill. And that person was no other than Kim Ryeowook. 

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I nearly spill my tea. Otoosan finishes his drink with a satisfied smile. 

"Y...you mean...could it be..." 

"I know it's all new to you," he replies, "but trust me, I saw them with my own eyes. I'm 100 percent sure Ryeowook and Kyuhyun are the people that will free the charm." 

"You're telling me...that they are...together? As in...lovers?" 

"Why not? I can see it! Since you three were kids, I knew that there was something more between Kyuhyun and Ryeowook."

"But...what...how..."

I wish I don't have to believe him, but my head is now whirling with strange thoughts. Have I ever seen them as a couple before? I don't think I have. I remember this afternoon when Kyuhyun was all smiley for the first time in a while. Of course, he's overjoyed that Ryeowook has returned. But...is there another feeling he has besides happiness? Like maybe...a crush? Ryeowook was no longer intimidated by Kyuhyun too. Kyuhyun told me that they got along well last night, but they didn't tell me the exact details on what happened. 

Otoosan waves his hands at my face. "Yesung? Yesung! Are you even listening?" 

I blink. "Huh?"

He sighs, "I know it's a lot to take in. Gomen ne (I'm sorry)." 

"No, it's fine." I shake my head, "But...why are you telling me this now?" 

He traces the brim of the cup with his index finger. "Because now that you've grown older, I figure it's the right time to tell you. I shouldn't have kept this away from you for so long; I hope that you can help me with my mission too." 

"Well..what do you want me to do?" 

"I want you to tell them to meet you at the river tomorrow, but you pretend that you'll arrive a little late."

I stare in shock, "You want me to set them up? What am I? Cupid?" 

"I mean, not abruptly! I want you to make sure that both of them are in the same space alone. Just the two of them."

I finally have my first taste of the tea. Its perfect balance of herbal sweetness dances in my tongue, but not enough for my system to relax after all the information I've received. 

"They'll think I'm suspicious, Otoosan." 

"They won't. We'll be watching them from the bridge." 

"For what?"

He pours a second cup. "For you to see what I've seen." 

I sip my tea some more. He looks at me so intently like a puppy. He doesn't look like he's joking at all. He is always honest, but I've never seen him so enthusiastic about something that sounds unrealistic. Still, I've decided to trust him on this. 

"Okay. I'll do it." 

Yesung (イェソン)