Briskly walking under the smoldering April summer heat makes Ji Hyun pant  and sweat profusely "I will give my body and soul for an ice cold water" she greedily thought but she knows why she's doing this...she needs this kind of heat to dry up what was left of her tears...idle time is really a no-no, she always needs some action and productive diversions to exorcise the memories....

"Look at that sweat?" Prof. Lee her thesis adviser said "Don't tell me you walked all the way from your house to our school?" she followed jokingly

"No but I did ride the bus to here...guess I needed to do some walking under the sun for some Vit. D" Ji hyun she replied coolly

"Oh is that so?....Congratulations! for being such a no fuss celebrity and on making it to the list of Scholars for UCLA" said Prof. Lee 

She was dumbfounded "How? Why? When?....Really?" she said with amazement "I'm so happy...but I didn't submit any application? How did it happen?"she replied still in a daze

"Oh I did...I just thought it was such a waste to let go of this opportunity and since your work is worth a try...and I know you're scared to try it yourself...you being clueless about it makes it even better" her adviser said teasingly

"Why?" Ji hyun asked still in disbelief

"If you fail then it's ok since you don't know anything about it...If you pass...then it's Congratulations!" her adviser beamed

"So the papers you asked me to complete was the actual application?...No...it's not right? You copy all the informations on that sheet...right?...and the actual application was the one I signed after my thesis was made into a movie, where you said it's for the defense and it's only a pretense?...that's it! right?" Ji hyun asked incessantly still in disbelief

"Woah! Daebak! Hoel!...Prof. Lee you're Jjang!" Ji hyun squeeled getting really excited

"No you are Jjang! and you made it...Congratulations! Nam Ji Hyun-sshi I'm really proud to be your mentor and adviser" Prof. Lee said seriously 

"So what are your plans now...next week your team will be going to Cannes...and will be really busy till the awards night right?" Prof. Lee asked

"Uhmm yes...the itinerary they gave is so hectic...just reading it gives me headache...but I guess that's what I need especially on times like this" Ji hyun said dropping her gaze to her hands

"Come on you made it until now, what is there to be afraid of? Ji hyun-ah...I believe you, like I believe in everything you do...so trust yourself...you are going to make it!....So you will go to UCLA? Right?" her adviser asked

"Yes! I will" she affirmed

It's been 2 weeks since Ji Chang Wook was discharged from the military...Jihyun was laying still on her bed...her thoughts always end up with him. "I really need to get a grip...there are so many things I want to do...I have to do...let's stop this okay!"she muttered convincing herself

"Ji hyun-ah" her mom was calling her from the hallway

"Yes Mom!" she replied

"Your SOOP President wants to talk to you...He'll wait for you in his office this afternoon after lunch" she heard her mother saying

"Oh I haven't informed Boss that I'll be going to US...gosh what will I do?" she whispered

"Congratulations! Nam Ji Hyun-sshi...your movie bagged most of the major awards including...Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Grand Prix and Palme d'Or...you are a gem! Guess you'll be busy with interviews and tv guestings now" SOOP CEO exclaimed

"Ah Sir, I just want to inform you about my scholarship..." Ji hyun said cautiously

"I know about that and you don't have to explain anything, your manager just explained and I agree with him...it will be such a waste if you will not grab this opportunity...anyway....it'll only be a 9-mos program right?...let's say a year will do...but you have to promise me that you will update your fans regarding your activities and you'll still from time to time do CFs and photo shoot if your time permits...then you can go" her boss said with a smile

"Really, Sir...you're giving me permission to leave?" Ji hyun exclaimed

"No!" her boss said seriously

Ji hyun's shoulder collapsed with a sigh

"You still have to do an interview with Section Tv on Friday then you can go..." her boss said jokingly

"Boss!" she cry out

Tomorrow will be Ji hyun's last day in Korea. She will be going to US to fulfill her post grad studies....Tomorrow will be her last day of being a celebrity. She'll be doing a taped interview with Section TV...Tomorrow... Tomorrow will be her last day to see the remnants of the past...of a love that was gone...

"Nam Ji Hyun...Best Actess in the recent CANNES Film Festival" the STV interviewer exclaimed "Congratulations! Nam Ji Hyun-ssi" she continued

"Thank You" Ji hyun meekly replied 

"You don't fail to amaze us...imagine from being a child actress to a full grown multi-awarded actress...How did you do it?" the interviewer said

"Just love your work and it will love you back...I guess I do things without expectations and if there was anything I had in mind while doing my job..was that whoever watched it will learn something from it and it must leave a lasting impression to the viewers" Ji hyun replied

"Is it true that your school thesis was the basis of this movie? And you collaborated with the writer for the details?...I've already seen it and it's really DAEBAK?" the interviewer said

"Writer-nim is a close friend of my mentor/thesis adviser and in passing they've talked about my proposal...that gave writer-nim an idea, she set up a meeting with me and my adviser to discuss the whole dissertation, it's a personal research, I collaborated with her for intricate details since the subject matter is delicate and the rest is history" Ji hyun explained

"The gist of the movie is about Love and it's abuse...since you've compiled documentaries about different kinds of relationships and it's abuses...did it scare you a bit?" the interviewer asked

"No, personally I think everyone is prone to different kinds of abuses...yet it still depends on the person and his/her willingness to submit...you have to maintain a certain limit on anything that you do...at work, with friends, with your lover etc...I will not discuss the kinds of love and it's abuses here" she laughed "or else it'll take us three part shooting days for it to finish" she added jokingly

"Have you ever been in love?...you may choose not to answer" the interviewer said jokingly just to diffuse the seriousness of the topic

"Yes..." Ji hyun candidly replied "I'm already 25 yo it's unbelievable if i haven't right?" she added smiling bitterly "I was grateful...what I've gained while I'm at it will all be charged to experience...he made me what I am now...and I'm grateful" she added

"Nam Ji Hyun-sshi, you made me want to fall in love now...if I were to be you...I'll fall in love tomorrow" the interviewer said jokingly "Any words for our viewers?"  she added

"To all my fans who unceasingly support all my works and endeavors...please watch our movie...Love Lust coming this June.....please continue to love me......I'll be going to the US to pursue my Post grad studies and I promise you all that I'll be back with a better image of myself...I love you all... Thank You" Ji hyun said while waving, shooting kisses and heart fingers to the camera.

Nam Ji Hyun dashed quickly, saying her polite goodbyes and thank you to the staff and crew of STV....she walked briskly towards the parking lot...have to beat the traffic, so as not to be late for her flight...she's taking a late flight to US and she's running late considering the traffic at this time....then she saw a familiar figure standing in front of a black van...that vehicle looks familiar.....he looks familiar...she dropped her gazed and focused on her walking, scold herself and dismissed the thought thinking "Not again, you're running late and yet you have time for some squishy squashy reverie...pali, pali!" 

"Quick! Ji hyun-ah" her manager shouted

"Coming!" she said opening the back door quickly and slumping onto the plush seat...she drew a heavy sigh and whispered "Here's to a new chapter of my life".  And so they go, in passing she saw Ji Chang Wook standing in front of the black van with flowers in his hand staring at them as they passed.

Nam Ji Hyun felt numb...she formed her fist into a tight ball and hold it to a firm grip...closed her eyes to hide the pain...and she mumbled to herself "I'll be gone for a year with a prayer...that there will come a time...I will be able to breathe freely under the same sky with you my love..."