Epilogue

2013

It was the night of the last snow; flakes of white fluttered and fell, slow and soft, gently silencing the world in a mirage of peace and simplicity. The only sounds in the night were the monotonous and rhythmic beeps of the telemetric unit and the irregular murmurs of heaving breath. For nearly a century, this room remained the only one untouched by the flow of time in the eastern quarter of the Park estate. Original chests and drawers furnished the room, along with the old lounge couch and narrow working desk, still covered by piles of paper but no longer of the same content as the past. Although trinkets and books no longer littered the luscious carpet and sets of medical equipment had occupied the free space, the youthful air of the room was maintained, as if to preserve a happier time when laughters were brighter. Everywhere, in every crevice and corner, between the curtain and the sheets, and under each floorboard and above each ceiling tiles, there existed the memories of two boys and the memoir of a man. And amidst it all in the middle of the room, an aged man fatigued from sickness and time laid in the bed from his childhood. Amidst it all, there laid Park Chanyeol.

Slipping in and out of consciousness, Chanyeol dreamt of the once were, could have been and should have been. There were once so much joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate and desire; but now, everything had become nothing, merely fragments of the past and fleeting memories that seemed so distant. It was as if he was watching a movie rather than his life, scenes jumbled out of time ordinance came and went.

He was awakened by a slight breeze gently caressing his aged façade. Chanyeol cracked open his eyes and glimpsed wearily towards the agape window. There, underneath the luminescing moonlight that streamed in through the fluttering curtains, a young man bowed politely. 

“You called for me, young master?”

His voice was just as soft and melodic as Chanyeol remembered.

“Don’t call me that.” Chanyeol scowled in a husky whisper. The young man raised his head and smiled shyly, tenderness reflected in his dark and clear eyes. Without a sound, he made his way to the large bed.

“You’ve come.” The old man said.

“I’ve never left,” the young man smiled fondly at the aged man, “I am always here.” He pointed at Chanyeol’s heart.

“That’s true.” Chanyeol croaked, fatigue in his voice. He reached out a shaky hand and the young man grabbed on without hesitation. Chanyeol blinked at the touch, feeling coolness make contact with his lukewarm hand. It had been twenty years since he last felt the other’s touch.

“It’s time to go?”

The young man nodded silently in reply and he gazed gently at the old man with eyes filled with love. Blinking slowly, Chanyeol also nodded thoughtfully.

“Yes… It’s about time to go. I’ve made you wait long enough.”

“Selfish as always,” the young man teased with a sweet smile, “but that’s alright. I promised I’d wait no matter for how long."

Chanyeol smiled back with gratitude. Craning his neck with some difficulties, he scanned around the room one last time. This was a place of happy memories and a space that retained many precious moments. On top the drawer, the needle of the old phonograph no longer scratched the record with no label, but Chanyeol could still hear the honey-like voice that once sang on a summer evening. Glancing to the bedside table, the worn out, leather-bound box came into view. Inside the contents remained unchanged for two decades except for the addition of a single, dried out tea rose and a hand written will by the elderly man.

The will was simple: to burn everything in the leather box with his remain. Then together with the small wooden box he had been carrying everywhere, bury him deep below the old magnolia tree in the woodland. Together they will remain there for an eternity, fulfilling their unspoken vow.

When Chanyeol focused his dimming eyes on the young man once more, as his heart slowed and breathing waned, the other smiled reassuringly and padded his hand in comfort.

“Kyungsoo?”

“Yes, Chanyeol?”

 “Are there magnolia trees on the other side too?”

“Yes, and they bloom all year round.”

“Good… I’d like to smell the white flowers again, together with you.”

“We will.”

“… and Kyungsoo?”

“Yes, Chanyeol?”

“Thank you for waiting.”

Chanyeol closed his eyes in contentment and he drifted off peacefully.

Vaguely in the blinding lights, he saw a tall young man of bright smiles shouting and running towards an old magnolia tree. Beneath the blooming tree, another laughing young man with heart-shaped lips welcomed him with open arms. As they embraced each other and showered each other with fleeting kisses, their laughter echoed in the passing breeze, intermingling with the faint smell of the sweet flowers.

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Tap, pause, tap tap, pause, tap tap tap, pause.

It means we will love each other forever, even if we are separated by time and space.

We will always have this code, for the words we could not say.

Park Chanyeol & Doh Kyungsoo (1934 – 1993)

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FIN.