JU NAKWON. EX-CLASSMATE, EX-GIRLFRIEND.

the bond that he and nakwon shares is immense and tight at its time. two kids from divorced parents meeting each other and becoming best friends, both named after paradise. despite his sharp-tongued, cool demeanour, nakwon may have been fond of eden in a more deeper sense. the shared fate of their parents separating, the naming, the way nakwon can always rely on him to be there for her and listen to her stories and empathize her... how could young nakwon possibly not like him? nakwon told him she liked him and wanted to try meeting him, it was during the summer break before their senior year.

eden wasn't sure how this would go, from the start but he couldn't reject nakwon out of all people. they tried to meet in secret (they thought they succeeded in that but it was too obvious) and they lasted eleven months until the day of graduation. however, eden knew nakwon was just a friend. he couldn't love her the way she wants him to and that's how he knew that he wasn't the person nakwon is looking for. eden and her bond over their painful pasts and their search for their own "edens" but eden knew that he'd choose to love someone who doesn't come form the same pain as him. he'd rather love someone who was born with overflowing love and affection so that he could love and protect them so much that they don't need to know the pain he went through.

that's how he had to utter the words to her on graduation day, "nakwon, i know it might seem harsh, but... i'm not the one you're looking for, really." he remembered how she would end up crying in front of him as he had to hug her, comforting her. since then, he's drifted away with nakwon, leaving her to navigate life alone as she searches for the answer. what is she looking for? someone with the same scars or someone who can love her differently? one thing eden's sure is that his eden is not the paradise that parallels or equals her visions of paradise.

eden hopes that nakwon, wherever she may be and whatever she may be doing, is doing well and wishes her only the best even if he did hurt her in a way. the reunion can see them making amends and talking it out, leaving no malice between them. 

KIM TAEHYUNG. EX-CLASSMATE, NOW SUPERSTAR.

kim taehyung the high schooler was very unassuming to eden. his positive energy and warmth helped eden settle in daegu high school at the time. kim taehyung used to be one of eden's pillars during his time in daegu high school, always helping him out with some advice and a nice pat on the back whenever possible. it's the small gestures from taehyung that stood out for eden and the one that touched eden the most was when taehyung prompted everyone in the daegu squad to shelter him with umbrellas as he cried in the rain. eden never doubted taehyung's kindness, but he didn't expect his classmate to suddenly debut as a member of bts under the stagename v.

eden's contact with taehyung started to lessen even before his ex-classmate has become a worldwide superstar. it was after graduation, really. eden went to enlist right away while taehyung managed to become a trainee at big hit entertainment. the stars never aligned for them to cross paths and meet up in person again but eden still trusts him enough to exchange messages with taehyung every so often.

THE BAEKS. THE FAMILY HE GREW UP IN.

故 BAEK SOLGYU. 50. FATHER.^{(fc: song kangho)}
before the divorce, eden and his father were like any other father-son pairing. they understood each other the most, his father often joking around with him while giving him lots of wise advice about life in a way his young age could understood. eden knew his father was sometimes not there for his proclaimed important moments since his father was the breadwinner of the family, after all but even then, eden understood. what he couldn't understand was how his father would be so hard on his mother. this was always on his mind until it finally popped when his mother told him about the divorce. everything changed since then between the father and son.

eden didn't want his father back in his live and it seemed as if his father was formally still in it from the way he noticed him helping his mother pay for his education and wiring some money in his bank account to prepare for university. eden, at the time, shrugged it off. he didn't want to hear from his father anymore. everything he saw in him was shattered and altered to the point of no return. his father was the catalyst that made him want to become better than him in all ways; a better son, a better brother, a better student, a better friend, a better boyfriend (at the time, he wasn't meeting nakwon yet but he meant it in a future sense), and eventually to become a better husband and father to his own family.

so, when eden heard about his father's passing, everything seemed distorted. he felt guilt, rage, worry, relieved and all these other emotions mixed together. it was grief. he cried so much that he was numb inside. he didn't know how to navigate this one. he wasn't kind to his father after the divorce and eden felt remorseful when he looks back to what he's done to his father. even until this day, he still looks back at those actions and times with a lot of pain and perhaps, deep down, he hasn't fully let go.

LEE SOOKHEE. 56. MOTHER.^{(fc:kim sungryung)}
as he was growing up, eden loved his mother so much that he always seemed to favor her more. well, you couldn't blame him as his mother was always present for his small moments. another reason why eden went with his mother to daegu because he's seen that she's been through a lot. his mother was his first love and he didn't want her to be alone. she had him and that's why eden always expressed how amazing she was and always wanted her to feel appreciated. he'd never be picky with his food, not compliment her dishes, jokes around with her, and despite not talking about himself that often, she could feel his care when he hugs her before going to bed.

eden knows that in her eyes, he may seem like the spitting image of his father and that perhaps deep down, his mother is holding back. just like he does. that led him to conclude that after the events that happened during his high school days, his mother needs a break from him. after having relied on each other through the rough times, she needs some time to herself to heal. that's why he enlisted quick and afterwards, went to australia to study abroad. his mother never objected which led him to think that his conclusions or assumptions were true.

like his sister, she had the belief that eden can be something much more than his father if they set him free which they did. his mother supports him endlessly and even if he hasn't returned to korea ever since, his mother knew that it was better than to hold him back. eden was now a paradise set free. 

BAEK INYEON. 30. OLDER SISTER.^{(fc:rv's irene)}
eden knew that there was proof of the saying "blood is thicker than water" and that was his sister, inyeon. she was the one who held him together after the divorce. even before that, she was always a nice sister to him who babied him around and spent a lot of time with him. inyeon was more emotional than him and she always saw the good in others but eden admired her for that. rather, he envied her. 

his sister, inyeon was the one he could never lie to. just when he thought he could stay away from all the problems or emotions that chained him, hearing her voice answer his call always undid him. he trusts inyeon with everything, more than anyone in the world. he could never cut her off of his life as he didn't want to be truly lonely. if she wasn't in his life, only god knows what'd happen to eden back then.

inyeon is currently working as an accountant at a mid-level company in incheon. she had been part-timing after her school hours ever since the divorce and made sure she could wire some money to eden unknowing to their father. eden couldn't understand why she didn't wire some money to their mother instead at the time but now, he knew that inyeon didn't want to trouble their mother even more. eden never used the money inyeon wired him. he couldn't bring himself to so when she said she'd help him study abroad, eden knew he couldn't go against her. inyeon was determined and had everything calculated to the smallest won (befitting of her job, indeed).

of course, eden keeps in touch with his sister every day (she'd kill him if he didn't) and even, has her come over to melbourne at times for the holiday or vacation. he introduced her to bibi and he's very relieved that the two get along with each other well. his sister still remains the tree he can lean on who could provide some shade from the sun in his life and honestly, eden wouldn't have it any other way.

lights will guide you home  and ignite your bones...
and i will try to fix you.

FULL NAME. kim hyungseo 김형서.
NICKNAMES.
 BIA  this is her official english name she decided on her own, inspired by the fictional character of bianca stratford from 10 things i hate about you. she only introduces herself as "bia kim" when she exchanges first greetings with people but will also emphasize on "call me bibi from now on".
 BIBI 비비  eden's still not sure how and why she chooses to be known as "bibi" when she does have "bia" as an english name but certainly, she had everyone around her calling her this name and he first knew her by this name. as he got to know her, he found out that it was because her birthname sounded masculine and "bia" seemed a bit bland. she wanted to be known by something more unique and catchy so "bibi" it was for her.
 BABE, BABY BOO, BUB, BIBI BOO  the many nicknames eden has come up with due to his oozing affection and love for her which she reciprocates gladly. he enjoys calling her "bibi boo" the most since it's like a play of words with her common nickname.
 BIBI BOO 비비부  her contact name in eden's phone, not much more needs to be explained as it is how he often calls her "bibi boo".

DOB + AGE 10/27 + 21 ('98)  
BIRTHPLACE busan, south korea
ETHNICITY south korean
ORIENTATION biual, heteroromantic

FACECLAIM+BU bibi, soloist + soojin, (g)i-dle; park jiwon, fromis_9; jang yeeun, clc
 
PERSONALITY 
— observant, enthusiastic, expressive, amiable
— emotional, easily stressed, distracted, overthinker
— enfp-a, assertive campaigner, libra, gryffindor
— a female version of the cheerful persona lucas hides himself behind when he's all dressed up in front of the camera while in reality, is actually serious, anxious and calm about everything.

THE STORY

PART 1: WHEN EDEN MEETS BIBI
don't hesitate, we're having good vibes,
look at me straight, we can make it right
exclusive - taemin

most of eden's college life in melbourne did involve a colorful night life with him frequenting parties or clubs and enjoying getting himself drunk underneath the faint lighting. he went to any party his classmates were going to. one night, when he was twenty one (sophmore year) and she was eighteen (freshman year), he and several classmates joined tables with a certain group of female students from the media and communication major. one of them was bibi, who was clearly already pretty drunk at the time. they exchanged some greetings and he knew that bibi already passed his limit. he couldn't easily stand up from his spot as it'd seem unwise to leave her alone so he stayed and kept her company while watching over the belongings of his classmates.

eden didn't think much of bibi at the time but there was certainly something about the giggly and bubbly drunk girl that made him want to take care of her. this led to him ordering an uber for her when it was time to separate ways. amidst the drunken slurs, bibi's drunken aegyo forced him to give her his phone number so she could call him when she safely returned to her house. she did and before hanging up, she slurred, "make sure to save my phone number as bibi. with a heart! because i'll be in your dms no matter if it's am or pm. bibi bibi~" eden didn't know how to react to this behavior. bibi's actions, despite causing her to be extremely embarassed the following morning, left an impact on eden.

PART 2: WHEN EDEN OPENS UP TO BIBI
if it can help you heal, no matter how much,
i can deal with all the painful words,
tell me everything, i'll be your enemy
be your enemy (ft. wendy of red velvet) - taemin

despite bibi absolutely letting herself go the first time she met eden, he was understanding as she was under the influence of alcohol. she remembered all the embarassing details upon sobering up the next morning, texting eden that she'd like to compensate him over a meal. by his moral compass, he accepted as he knows it'll only cause awkwardness and it's not right to reject such invitations. they talked a lot over lunch and they managed to clear up any misunderstandings. now that she's sobered up, bibi was actually a really kind and energetic person. he enjoyed listening to her stories that she uttered to loosen the mood. yet, when bibi asked him, "what about you? aren't there many stories inside the computer major?", eden literally froze.

he didn't know how to talk about his life and himself so he froze and tried to avoid the question but bibi knew better. "sometimes, it's okay to talk about yourself, i mean i already talked so much now that i feel quite embarassed," she said as she sipped from her beverage. it was from then that eden decided to allow bibi to befriend him. he couldn't deny that talking with bibi brought out a lot of different emotions that were dismissed by him and perhaps if he became her friend, he could find out what those emotions were. he didn't know by doing this, he was allowing himself to wander with bibi, to open up slowly, and to realize what he's been dismissing.

his emotions, all the messy and dark ones included.

ever since he met her, he's told her almost everything about him with or without the influence of alchol. what did bibi do in response? she smiled, patted him on the back, and ever so often tells him, "thank you for telling me everything, this will help you heal inside, i just know it. sometimes, closing the silence of the story by talking about it helps."

looking back, eden could tell that she was right.

PART 3: WHEN BIBI SHOWS EDEN HOW TO LOVE
i think you're the only one of mine, i think it's love
there's a lot i want to tell you
i think it's love - taemin

perhaps, the reason why eden left for australia was so that he didn't have to go visit his father's ashes at the columbarium back in south korea and so that he could escape from his reality of being deprived of a normal childhood or teenage year. eden just wants to be loved or paid attention to without being pitied on. that's why he suppresses his feelings, so that he could avoid exposing his weaknesses or being hurt by pity or sympathy for him. it's a complex that he needs to sort out and to add to that, meeting bibi undid him. to see her be there for him without a hint of pity or sympathy was rare for eden. he became a paradise set free around her and he liked it. 

she always seemed to dash to where he was and whenever he was ready to shed some tears, she had the tissues ready and would always calm him down even if she herself has her own struggles. she fell for him first but through her small gestures, he fell for her much harder. he felt nurtured by her, but seeing the bubbly, cute side of her that seems like a young child makes him want to take care of her. he listens to her rants or stories and always offers her a shoulder to cry on or a hug. he embraces her anxiety and worries as they both undo themselves, revealing the darkest, most vulnerable side of them.

eden told his sister about this, to which his sister immediately cut him off by saying, "little brother, that is what you call love. that means you love her."

he couldn't deny it. he felt his heart beat faster around her, a blush always appearing when their eyes meet and the determination to treat her well.

so one day, when he was twenty two (junior year) and she was nineteen (sophmore year), as they were enjoying a meal as they watched the sunset, eden casually threw the sentence at her, "i think this is love and just when i thought happiness starts with 'h', i realize that it starts with you." he felt proud as bibi laughed upon hearing those words.

after calming herself down, bibi replied, "i think happiness does start with you, eden." 

eden leaned in for a kiss and at that moment, his logic and heart both told him that he was happy.

PART 4: WHEN BIBI IS HIS OWN PARADISE
my life has been searching like
i was wandering around all those times for the ‘now’
the belief that the reason of my existence is you
pansy - taemin

the couple never looked back since then, now passing their second anniversary together. she was there for him when he was preparing his final dissertation and was invited for his graduation. he was there whenever she wanted to crumble down and needed an escape or a warm hug. after graduating, eden moved into her house as he could no longer use the accomodation that was available for undergraduate students only. that is how the two have now been living together for two years now.

at this stage in his life, eden is ready to commit to bibi. he sees her in his future, in his dreams, and in their bed. he can go on and on about just how amazing bibi is as a person, sparing no praise for her. she made him a better man than his father was, something his sister and mother would agree. 

eden was able to loosen up his stubbornness after meeting bibi. for some reason, she makes him learn to become a better person and eden's presence is able to ease her stress or worries. they find solice when they are together. eden was determined to love someone so much that he'd want them to not hurt or to know his pain. he wanted to be in love so much that he'd want to protect them from any harm.

he found his own paradise in bibi.

"do you know, babe, something that i realized after meeting you?" eden once asked her one night as they were cuddling on the sofa together. bibi turned to him with a curious look, causing him to continue.

"the paradise in my name doesn't have to mean that i have to be someone's eden. turns out... it could be for me to find mine. in you."

HER TRIVIA 
+ is the youngest daughter out of three siblings (one older sister, one older brother) from a family of immigrants who own a korean restaurant.
+ is 168 centimeters tall and she claims it is the perfect height for her to lean on eden's shoulder
+ will let eden eat all the mint chocolate chip ice cream because she's not a big fan of it.
+ is a final year student at the university of melbourne as a media and communication major with a minor in development studies.
+ her college classes from monday to friday are all placed after 9am and she mostly finishes classes or working on her final dissertation by 5pm
+ is a lightweight, will start to slur and be a bubbly drunk after the second soju bottle.
+ can still handle two or three bottles of beers
+ lets eden drive her black hyundai i30 because ever since meeting him, she's never had to drive that often and is pretty rusty (read: reckless at times)
+ loves to get her nails done every other week
+ the house she and eden are currently living used to be her older brother's before he moved to sydney
+ is the baby in the family who secretly gets pocket money from her siblings even without doing aegyo
+ has quite the sense of humor and can light up the room with her energy because she's nice like that
+ her coffee order is a java chip frappuccino
+ her mcdonalds order is a cheese burger, mcnuggets with bbq dip and some fries.
+ even with the chick western style makeup and matte lipstick she wears, she's still able to give off a warm and open first impression to others.
+ does zumba workouts or running sessions with her classmates on some mornings in the weekend
+ can't cook for her life despite being born to parents who run a restaurant

THEIR TRIVIA 
+ bibi will always borrow clothes or head accessories from eden's closet like some of his sweatshirts, sweater, hoodies, snapbacks, or beanies.
+ bibi lets eden drive her black hyundai i30 because ever since meeting him, she's never had to drive that often and is pretty rusty (read: reckless at times)
+ the reason why she's okay with eden using her car is that bibi usually does walk to campus as their house is only a ten minute walk and she can drop by a cafe or convenience store before going to class
+ when it comes to drunk bibi, her friends will immediately call eden to pick her up.
+ they have their own separate playlist they play over the speakers when they're at home together and another for when they're driving in the car
+ bibi's parents and siblings love eden and so, they'd sometimes dine together at the restaurant they run because sometimes, eden gets a little homesick
+ eden loves to cook for her, knowing that she can't cook so he makes sure that his babe is well-fed with nutricious meals instead of delivery food.
+ they love to put on mask sheets or wash-off masks together and take selfies before they remove them
+ eden is the type of boyfriend who hypes bibi up whenever she's trying on some clothes at a store
+ it doesn't matter if it's a silly suggestion for eden because if it's from bibi, he'll do anything
+ being the affectionate youngest daughter, bibi loves to initiate skinship first like holding hands, linking arms, hugs, cuddling, and light kisses
+ they have a "family picture" of them with cece hung up in the living room of their house
+ they both have a polaroid of each other displayed on their phone case