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Lee Residences

Seoul, South Korea

Finally, he thought.

Park Jung Su has just ended his service in the action. He stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his epaulette and clutched his cover under his arm before straightening his uniform out. Jung Su finally reached the shores of Seoul, together with his Godfather, were attending his son’s engagement. He stood in his uniform and a small bag, since there was not much to pack and reached a driveway of a mansion. Initially his first visit home was to meet his pastor but out of respect, attended the ceremony.

There was a reception especially for the family and Jung Su was invited to attend to commemorate his Godbrother’s epousal. It has been years since he last saw him. He has spent around five full years serving the Korean Army and surely, it benefitted him well. He turned and saw his senior raising a glass for him. He nodded in acknowledgement before sitting down in front of the dinner table. Dong Wook was nowhere in sight, at least not yet.

         After the banquet, he decided to forego the rest of the events and headed towards the balcony. He was alone outside and ironically was where he found comfort. He enjoyed the cool wind and took in his surroundings. The panoramic view of Seoul was breathtaking.

I wish you could see me wearing this uniform today, noona.

In Young was his late sister. They were both brought up closely with one another. Unfortunately for his sister, her life did not last. Barely making into twenty-one years of age, she was killed. Tragically.

Diminishing the horrific thoughts of her death, he took a deep breath before heading back to join the rest of his officers.

         Nine years ago, Jung Su was faced with a senseless affliction. Back then he was known as the precedented heir. Being the first son, he was already been set to run for the future business empire however, things changed abruptly during his most vulnerable state when he was raided. Unfortunately, his sister was a victim. He was the brother, the man; a figure of virility that was supposed to look out for her, but instead in the midst of saving his sister, it had become too late and he was badly hurt. His face was scarred with burns.

The rest of his family did not speak to him. He was sent to a reclusive city in South Korea to recover. Purposefully for consulting surgeons to treat his face but he knew, it was for him to get away from his life. After merely days of mourning and only minor recovery, he went to Jeonju. He was sleepless, and wanted to bury himself from the face of the world. Abandoned from his family, he was lost. The only comfort then was inspirit.

After a four-year stay in the foreign city, through an inevitable accident he retreated to do his military service in the oncoming war and continued for additional years to where he is now. There was a reason he had missed so much of that particular district, Jeonju. It was a girl he met at the hospital. Her name was Kim Taeyeon.

She left a valuable imprint on him. He fell in love with her.

         Making small talks with the elders, a familiar silhouette caught his eyes. In a single moment, his throat was caught with emotions as tears started to well his eyes. How long had he waited to see the only person he ever ached for? Taeyeon stood onto the side of the hall; her now blonde curls neatly placed onto her shoulders. It had gotten longer and her radiant face glowed as a smile formed onto her lips. It was an agony to comprehend her beauty in a glance. Jung Su held a desperate gaze as his feet attempted to make there way to her. Slowly, there was no rush, not after their feelings that were kept for nine years long.

There and then he watches the way she greeted the people before her, how her hands found their way to receive anothers. It was the first place he remembers touching. He could feel the lingering sensation of their last embrace. Her eyes glistened perfectly and the way she comprehended everything before her. There was no walking stick in her hands. ‘If I could see you I’d never hear the colours of your voice or feel the beauty of your touch,’ she once told him.

It didn't take long for their eyes to meet. Taeyeon greeted him with smile. Jung Su became too overwhelmed with the way her eyes saw him. After so long, he waited for those dark brown hazels to see him, it finally did. Taeyeon was not blind anymore, there were so much he tried to contain and he stopped himself before her. His mouth opened to speak, to call out for her, to take her in his arms, until his quivering lips stopped as he sees his Godbrother leaned in and spoke into her ears.

Jung Su watched the way the latter smiled at her. Then, Taeyeon held her hand out towards him, his eyes never leaving hers. He kept his eyes to hers and noticed the length of her eyelashes, those pupils that he had memorised. He had scanned her beautiful face, that hadn’t changed at all.

"Jung Su-shi, its a pleasure to see you," her gentle voice spoke, how long he had waited to hear them. She had called him Jung Su. It was then he realized there had been nothing in her eyes as she locked her gaze with him. Sudden tears stood, feeling a lump in his throat. No words came out and Jung Su didn’t move. How should he grasp the firm reality that she had seen him for the first time or the way she looked told him she didn’t recognize him at all.

         In silence, he saw the way Dong Wook took the woman by the waist. The ring engraved around her finger. Jung Su swore he could hear the way her voice used to call him ‘Leeteuk’, the way they had held each other as if hanging for their lives merely years ago. He couldn’t believe it. His Taeyeon. How long has it been?

His heart came crashing down, and Jung Su blinked uncontrollably, at everything that happened before his eyes. He let out a gasping choke and inevitably bowed. From then on, he tried to not look back at her; he turned his head and walked off.

He sauntered away and took several deep breaths because his body was yearning so strongly. When he finally reached the backyard, where no one could see him, he cried.