SIX

Jiyong keeps an eye on me for a while before he heaves a deep sigh, and leaves.

I’m thinking I really shouldn’t have come. Even though I’m happy for Youngbae, and I’m happy he wanted me here to join him in celebrating this wonderful moment in his life, I wish he hadn’t invited me. I would have felt excluded to say the least, left behind even, but only for a little while. I would have gotten over it pretty quickly. But now… Getting over seeing Daesung like this, I don’t know if I can do that. Definitely not since I’ve never gotten over him to begin with.

Just like Jiyong did, I sigh, and get up as well. Slowly, I trudge back inside.

The first person I notice upon opening the doors is of course Daesung. He’s dancing again. I stop to watch him. Even though we have all aged, it seems as if he’s still able to move as smoothly as he did so many years ago. I want to say I envy him, but what I’m feeling leans closer to admiration. Yes, I guess I have always admired him.

The first thing I admired about him was his voice. That’s what drew me in. The moment I heard him sing, was the moment I started to lean backwards.

The second thing I admired about him was his smile, his laughter came third. Combine those two, and you literally feel like floating. The sound of his laughter has always messed with my stomach, making it flutter, making it rumble, making it roar. The moment I heard him laugh, was the moment my heart stopped, because I had tilted too far.

The fourth thing I admired about him was his unwavering positivism. No matter how hard things were, or how many mishaps he stumbled upon, or stumbled upon him, he kept the faith. He has always been sure that things will turn out for the better eventually, and I think that the moment I first saw him get up after receiving a blow I was sure no one would ever be able to recover from, was the moment I had fallen completely for him.

It didn’t take me long to realise that my process of falling would never end. The only thing that would happen was me falling deeper, and deeper, and deeper. There was no getting out, and back then, for a short, but happy period, I didn’t mind.

“They look good, don’t they?”

I look to my left.

“Who?”

Youngbae rolls his eyes, then obviously decides not to give the very sarcastic reply in his head.

“Daesungie and Hikari.”

I raise an eyebrow. Hikari? Is that her name?

“Not particularly,” I answer.

Youngbae shifts his gaze to me and frowns.

“Hyung, don’t tell me…” He takes a step closer and his voice turns into a whisper. “Still?”

I roll my eyes, huff, and focus them back on Daesung.

“Hyung…” The tone of his voice has completely changed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

My only reply is an indifferent shrug. Well, at least I try to look indifferent; I’m not indifferent at all. Never when it comes to Daesung.

Youngbae’s eyes light up when he sees his bride approaching us. She flashes him the widest smile she can, and Youngbae automatically does the same. Now they look good together.

“Seunghyun-ssi?” Haejung asks with a light bow, her eyes are sparkling.

I nod as I bow back.

“It’s so very nice to meet you,” she giggles.

Then Youngbae has found her hand, and their fingers intertwine.

“Haejung has always been a huge fan of you,” he says.

I look at her, and smile thankfully. Her cheeks turn into a light shade of pink and the giggling turns a little louder.

“Though she liked Daesungie better,” he adds, softly.

Haejung is about to say something, when her eyes suddenly fall upon Daesung and Hikari. The music has slowed down, and they have moved a little closer to softly