Life in America was a bliss. Suzy hugged her beige coat closer to her as the chill of autumn crept up her back. Her long hair billowed about her and her lipstick gleamed under the melting sunlight. The streets of New York were busy and compact with bodies of nameless faces. They stormed about her, setting for paths towards their own fate.

During her two years in America, Suzy recalled the memories she created with the man she loved the most in the world. Surprisingly, Changmin was not as acetic or critical as a lover. There were still habits of his that made her cringe, like his excessive food consumption (that added to their bills), his need to sound scientific and his obsession with waking up at four a.m. in the morning for a daily morning run.

Despite all that, he was strangely comforting, and devoted. He seemed to read her mind whenever she was upset. She did not need to say anything during moments where she missed Korea and her best friends because he would embrace her and kiss away all the pain.

Two years ago, she realised how much Changmin meant to her. It was in that moment where he knocked on her door and told her that he was leaving for America, she collapsed into a bundle. She could not stop crying in the kitchen, even when Luhan appeared to talk with them.

“What’re you doing, Suzy?” Luhan gasped, drawing in all the attention of the females surrounding. “Are you just gonna let him go?”

Suzy sniffled, tears staining her cheeks. “I dunno...I dunno what to do.”

“You go and grab the man you love!” Krystal remarked, pounding a fist on the table. “That’s what you do!”

“Yes, honey,” advised Mrs Kang, in a tone that was restrained. Her vision blurred with tears. “This is hard for me to say as a parent, but I’ll book your ticket and you may leave with Changmin. Your father trusts him a lot.”

And so, Suzy had to wave goodbye to all of her friends. She did not even see the whole Sweety gang as her parents rushed her to the airport. Changmin was utterly surprised when they approached him. Mr Kang was the one who asked him if he cared about their daughter. To Suzy’s astonishment, Changmin announced that he did, and with that oath, Mr Kang gave them his blessings.

Two years.

It did not seem like a long time but for Suzy, it was very long. She achieved a diploma in music and was now improving her vocals in a school nearby. To bring in money, she sang at local bars while Changmin continued to work in the lab like a man intoxicated by science.

They were now engaged but she did not know when he would pop the important question. There were times when Suzy would walk out onto the balcony of their apartment and be greeted by the stars. She wondered if Victoria watched her from above, with a smile on her face-- or a glare because Suzy was now showered with love from the man who once loved Victoria.

There were times when she would drown with worry. She would muse whether Changmin loved her out of pity, whether his heart was still occupied by a ghost but he smiled more these days, and he seemed less gloomy. He never forgot Victoria, and Suzy did not want him to. She understood that Victoria’s memory became vital to his survival as water was for man.

Her thoughts evaded her as Suzy finally reached the building of their apartment. It was so tall, that she was dizzy just staring up at it. She crinkled her nose to prevent an oncoming sneeze and climbed up the stairs in her clicking boots. Once she arrived, she sensed that Changmin must have still been in the lab.

She took her handbag by the sling, used her keys to unlock the front door and stepped inside. As she did, she was met by an explosion of voices, confetti and smiling faces.

Suzy gasped as she clasped her hands over and saw her parents, the Sweety gang and a few other familiar faces crowd the hallway. There were pictures of sunshine, balloons of rainbows and ponies surrounding the vicinity.

“Surprise!” they screamed before Suzy found herself engulfed in their embraces.

She choked on tears, the hole of longing finally filled with love once again.

“Hey! You’re going to kill my fiancée!” Changmin hollered as he pushed past the crowd and saved Suzy from asphyxiation.  He draped a protective arm around her.

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