There it was. In a display case made out of the finest glass, the trophy brimmed with pride. The golden treble clef illuminated brighter against the vanity light installed inside the case, letting the three tier trophy earn its own spotlight. There were multiple trophies lined up from top to bottom, all coming in different colors and sizes. Underneath the largest one that took center position, golden letters were engraved unto its black base plate:   1st Place National Show Choir Competition 1975 Crescendity, Balgwang University   What a long time it had been. As the years approached a new millennium, prizes stopped decorating its case. An empty spot remained, signifying the end of a legacy. Crescendity may have been feared once during its golden era, but all good things came to an end eventually.   “Our moms looked so pretty,” Heejin spoke, linking her arms with her shorter, yet older cousin. She leaned her head against the other, a perfect height to be used as a headrest. Her eyes seemed to sparkle more as she kept staring at a particular photo frame beside the trophy. A bunch of college students were cheering, holding the same trophy in their hand. Immense joy radiated from their face, having achieved what no one else could.   “They did,” Hyunmi agreed, but unlike Heejin, she found no will to smile at the heartwarming sight. Both their mothers had been part of Crescendity at their age, having endured through the thorny path before success greeted on their door. They had lifted Crescendity from an unknown local show choir club into the undefeatable legend feared by the entire country. It pained her heart knowing that was all it ever will be. A part of history.   “It’s a shame,” Jaehwan spoke, sighing right beside Hyunmi. “My parents want me to study marketing to be like the next Steve Jobs, so this show choir club was my last chance at doing what I was born to do. Sing.”   “Dude,” Kibum, their other friend wearing a flashy red cardigan interrupted, side eyeing Jaehwan judgingly. “Why would your parents want you to be the next Steve Jobs? He died at 56.”   “Dunno. My mom thinks he looks good in a tight black sweater.” Jaehwan shrugged.   Kibum wasn’t sure how to react and decided it was always better to ignore the stupid ones. He turned to Hyunmi who was still staring at the display case, as if an invisible force hypnotized her. He lost count of how many times she stood there, just watching in silence.   “Come on, you’re gonna be late to your meeting with Mr. Park.” Kibum sometimes had to remind her of her schedules, knowing she could easily lose track of time when she had put her entire mind into it. Staring at a dead legacy was one of such times.   “I wished there was something we could do,” she said, feeling Kibum wrap his hand around her shoulder to pull her away.   “There isn’t. Let it go,” Kibum said bluntly.   “So mean. At least let us dream a little,” Heejin commented to their friend, forced to rake her gaze away from the pretty picture.   “I did. I let you stare like stupid zombies, didn’t I? Someone needs to be realistic enough to tell you when you start to dream too big,” Kibum said proudly, grinning at his importance he had bestowed into their life.   “I am so glad to have a friend like you, Kibum,” Hyunmi said sarcastically, keeping her voice monotone, not even bothering to smile.   Heejin was less receiving of his arrogance and kept pouting in annoyance. Sometimes, she questioned her cousin’s choice of friends. And by sometimes, it meant her decision to befriend Kim Kibum.   They needed people who shared the same dream. Because dreaming together made the impossible seem a bit more possible.     During lunchtime, Heejin found herself all alone in the cafeteria. Hyunmi was meeting with Mr. Park for some extra credit assignment negotiation, Jaehwan was in one of his marketing classes, and she was kinda glad Kibum had gone who knows where. Luckily she had other friends who decided to stay during the summer break to take summer classes instead of going back home.   “Ughh.. This is the worst decision I have ever made,” Seulyi complained as Heejin sat down next to her. The stylish girl decided to dress like a hobby for once, letting her upper body fall unto the table surface, almost letting it swallow her. She was too tired to care about her appearance for once.   “Why?” Yerin asked after swallowing her food. They had alfredo macaroni with broccoli that day, which was quite an odd combination. Then again, the chefs were all students from the culinary department who used fellow students as extra credit assignments.   “I want to go back to my room and lie down in bed. Why am I even taking summer classes? I want to quit school and work,” Seulyi mumbled with her lips pressed against the table, nearly inaudible for the others to hear.   “I thought you wanted to find a rich husband,” Yerin corrected her friend, never letting go of the fork in her hand. She scooped the pasta as quick as she swallowed the food in . Sometimes it made her seem like a homeless who had nothing to eat for weeks, so her friends let her indulge in her food paradise, crying with sympathy on the inside.   “Yeah. I’m just gonna find a rich husband, make a lot of babies, and have my kids earn money for me when they get older,” Seulyi decided, completely convinced of her brilliant plan.   “Wow, you have your entire future planned out. Congratulations,” Yerin said with fake excitement. She decided not to burst Seulyi’s bubble, not when they weren’t done eating yet.   “Speaking of future husband,” Heejin suddenly whispered, her lips lifting playfully, “There is Kim Myungsoo.”   Seulyi sat straight up from the table, following the direction of Heejin’s gaze. She unconsciously tucked her hair behind her ear, her lips clean from any leftover alfredo sauce she may have on her lips, and hoped he would look at her direction.   “As always, attracting a crowd,” Yerin spoke, staring along.   Kim Myungsoo was handsome indeed, no one could deny it. Looking at him was like staring at Michaelangelo’s statue come to life, but with clothes on, and having an Asian face. He only had to stay still, staring at the blank space with an intense gaze, and girls would swoon over him. Wherever he went, an entire crowd of his fanclub members would follow him.   “One day, I will go and talk to him,” Seulyi muttered, keeping her eyes fixed on his god-like face. “One day.”   “Oh, isn’t that your roommate? Boo Rika?” Heejin suddenly noted, seeing as a girl had sprung up from a nearby table, greeting Myungsoo like casual friends. To her, Myungsoo would smile at. He willingly accepted the invitation to sit at her table where she was surrounded by two other boys. The fanclub members dispersed in disappointment, bearing the same tragic look on their face as Seulyi did.   “Well, you better do it soon. Summer’s break is almost over. When other students return for the Fall semester, you’ll have less chance to talk to him,” Heejin reminded. She got up from her seat, took her food tray in her hand, and turned around only to bump against the helpless soul who had chosen the wrong path through the cafeteria.   Heejin’s eyes widened as far as fell open. A normal bump would’ve been fine, but she bumped against a guy who was holding unto some sort of miniature project she could only assume to be a 3D modeling assignment. The styrofoam buildings were still intact, but nothing could save the poor plastic trees from falling on the floor, some even cracking in half. She almost cried, seeing the empty spots on his now destroyed 3D model.   “I’m so sorry! I’m sorry!” She kept yelling, panicking over her own mistake. For a few seconds, she awkwardly decided whether to help him out or put her tray down first. Only when he bent down on his knees did she make up her mind to leave her tray on the table and squat down next to him. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you.”   To her surprise, the boy chuckled instead of getting angry at her. Imagine if it were Kibum, she’d be dead by now. But this guy was truly an angel in comparison, forgiving her immediately.   “It’s alright, you don’t have to cry about it,” he said, his voice mellow yet sweet.   “But I broke your project! Oh, I even stepped on your plastic trees! Why are they so easy to break? You should’ve gotten stronger ones. But it was my mistake for bumping into you. I’m so sorry,” Heejin’s apology became a run down of her unfiltered thoughts, completely disregarding his earlier mercy.   “It’s alright, really. The trees were just for decoration purposes. It wouldn’t affect my grade,” he continued, holding the few plastic trees he managed to save in his hand. He laughed once more in an attempt to calm her down and got up on his feet.   “No, it’s not. It looks so empty without the trees!” Heejin sobbed hysterically, almost crying for real. Seeing the lack of trees saddened her. It reminded her of the deforestation in the world, which was horrible. She needed to help him out.   “Oh! I know!” She suddenly yelled, and turned to her food tray. To Seulyi and Yerin’s surprise, she took a piece of untouched broccoli, and set it down on his model to act as a tree. A smile of relief painted her face, completely satisfied at her solution. “There. That works.”   The boy looked dumbfounded, and after a few seconds, burst out in a laughter of amusement. He had never seen anything so incredibly ridiculous yet innovative. “Thank you. I am sure this piece of… broccoli… is going to impress my instructor.”   “I hope so. Good luck!” Heejin told him with an encouraging nod. Due to her embarrassment, she quickly picked up her tray and walked away from the scene, pondering in her own stupidity and clumsiness. He’d probably come hunt her down if he failed the class. So she genuinely prayed with all her heart for him to get a good grade. Or perhaps, she’ll ask her cousin to teach her how to negotiate her grades.     “I’d like to ask why