Sunggyu was twenty when he got employed as a part-time worker in his dream company, which was a publishing house. He was already considered as a family and so when the employees heard about his relationship with Sunye, they became fond of her. They also knew just how much Sunggyu treasured his siblings.

While being an undergraduate, all he did was organize the files depending on the department he was assigned to work on that day and staple what needs to be compiled together. It was a dull and repetitive job, but who was he to complain when he was able to observe what the others were doing and learn from them?

He graduated with flying colors and by the time he was twenty-one, he got trained by the company to be a competent proofreader and translator. Sunggyu was determined enough to learn. He was flexible and inquisitive, thus giving his seniors an easier time dealing with him. He knew what he was good at, and he knew what he needed to improve on. He had a clear mindset on things. When the company heard about Sunye’s death, they offered Sunggyu to take some time off. He refused. They expected him to dwindle, but he didn’t. Instead, he tried even harder and succeeded.

At the age of twenty-three, he became the youngest and most sought after employee in the company. Some got envious of him, but in one way or another they weren’t able to hurt him. To others, Sunggyu had that kind of aura around him. He was someone people could easily approach, but with utmost respect. Whenever he spoke, they would listen.

The company’s CEO wasn’t oblivious of this fact, and so he chose Sunggyu to be transferred to London. The pay would be higher, and he was allowed to have longer holidays with his family once he completed the initial contract. Everything would be arranged for him. The company would be responsible for his flat and other expenses. It was the perfect offer, but Sunggyu refused.

All because he couldn’t leave Suzy.

Nevertheless, the CEO said the offer would still be open for him until September. It was still May.

“I hope you think about it even more, Sunngyu,” he persuaded. “I have never been so sure about an employee before. This can help you and your family.”

 Before September ended, he went to the CEO’s office to confirm he would take the place.

“What made you change your mind?” he asked, eyes twinkling with curiosity. Sunggyu was known to be enigmatic and firm to his decisions. It was rare for the people in the company to see him change his choices.

The young man could only smile. “Petty reasons.”

The CEO chuckled at his reply, and quickly arranged his flight. The earliest he could get was on the tenth of October. He looked at Sunggyu, and said, “I know this will be your sister’s birthday, so we can move it—”

“It’s okay, Sir,” he cut in. “You don’t have to do anything.”

With a polite smile Sunggyu stood up, bowed, and left the room.

<:>

Sunggyu heard sobs coming from upstairs, followed by shushing sounds and comforting voices. He placed Sang Moon’s fish bread on the dining table before climbing up the stairs. The whole family was in the hallway, sitting on the floor, trying to console the second youngest. Suzy was leaning against the wall, her hair sticking on her red face due to her tears.

Mrs. Bae looked up at Sunggyu with a melancholic stare, and she made way for him. Without a word he sat down in front of his younger sister, but she disdainfully looked the other way.

“Suzy,” he began, as he tried to reach out for her face. She slapped his hand away, stood up, and ran downstairs.

“Suzy!” Mr. Bae bellowed, but Sunggyu held him back.

“I’ll take care of it,” he said. “It’s my fault, anyway.”

He proceeded to follow after Suzy, but Sang Moon grabbed him by the shoulder.

“Hyung,” he muttered. “I don’t want to be like you anymore.”

With that, he retreated to his room. His foster parents looked at him, and he smiled a little.

“I will take care of it,” he repeated. “So please rest.”

“Sunggyu-yah, they found out about you leaving,” Mrs. Bae began. “I think it’s Suzy who can’t accept it the most.”

“I know,” he replied. “I told it to her earlier. That’s why I’ll fix it now.”

He bowed, and stepped out of the house to chase after his summer.

<:>

It wasn’t difficult for Sunggyu to look for Suzy. He knew her too much, and so he could exactly determine where she would be staying. And like the other times in his life, he wasn’t mistaken.

He found her at the back of the abandoned house where she fainted because of Sang Moon’s prank.

“Thank you for not giving me a difficult time,” Sunggyu said.

Suzy sniffed, not saying anything. With a sigh, he stood up beside her and leaned against the wall, staring at the lamppost in front of them.

“You did it on purpose, didn’t you?” she finally asked.

“I did,” he admitted.

“I saw the departure date,” she pointed out. “Did you do that on purpose, too?”

“No, that was how it was supposed to be.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I just did. Over the phone.”

Suzy scoffed. “You can be really cruel at times.”

“I know. You did ask me to stop being nice to you.”

She smirked, before asking, “Do our parents know?”

Sunggyu looked up at the black sky. “Yeah.”

“They didn’t even tell us.”

“I asked them not to.”

“Why?”

He shifted his gaze towards her. “Because you told me once to stay beside you, but it was too late.”

She closed her eyes. “How long will you stay there?”

“Long enough.”

“Will you visit?”

Sunggyu smiled. “Of course.”

“That’s good enough for me,” she said.

The two basked in comfortable silence, and without saying a word, they both knew they would be okay. That one day, everything would be all right.

They knew their feelings would subside, because the love they felt for their family was stronger than the love they felt for each other.

<:>

“You seem glum,” Sungjong pointed out, while they headed for the café.

Suzy nodded. “I received some bad news.”

“What is it?”

“Sunggyu’s flying to London on the tenth.”

Sungjong’s eyes widened, but he figured he couldn’t say anything to comfort her, so he offered silence, instead. He comfortably placed his left hand over her shoulders, and led her to their destination with ease.

“I hope this celebration becomes a distraction to you, though.”

“I hope so, too,” she replied.

The room they rented was quite comfortable. It was built with soundproof walls and tinted window panes. The lights casted off a dim, bluish glow, making the murals painted with neon colors stand out even more. The chairs were soft and cozy, and the smell of caffeine and sweet cakes filled the room. There was a bookshelf near Suzy, and she couldn’t help but search for a title which could possibly catch her attention.

<:>

Myungsoo entered the stage, and the crowd grew quiet. All eyes were set on him, and he was thankful for the soft lights, because it gave him the illusion that he was alone. He was quite used to having public presentations, but pangs of nervousness would never fail to hit his system from time to time. He lightly brushed his hand against one of his pockets, making sure the slight bump of Daehyun’s encouraging letter for him was still there. It was, and it loosened him up a bit.

Myungsoo hyung,

   Since I won’t be there to cheer you on, I want you to remember one of my favorite verses, instead: Romans 11:29!

Love Always,
Daehyun

He smiled upon remembering the short note. With confidence he sat down on the tall stool, adjusted the microphone in front of him and checked the wire of his acoustic guitar together with its strings.

Myungsoo flashed the audience his practiced smile, and with eyes closed, he began to sing.

The first song was the one Suzy heard over the phone back then. His hands moved from one fret to another, and his fingers plucked the correct strings with accuracy. He knew he wasn’t only singing with precision. He was finally singing with his heart. Their conversations flashed before him: that one time when he asked her about the girl he saw in the train; the time when he broke down and she said everything will be okay one day; the time when it was her turn to cry. Everything was as clear as day for him, and tears threatened to emerge from his eyes. His voice began to shake, but he kept on singing with all his strength.

Then, all of a sudden—

“Summer!”

Myungsoo opened his eyes. He stopped playing his guitar.

“Summer…” the girl, who was standing in the middle of the room, repeated. People were looking at her in shock.

From where he sat he could make out her familiar features. She stood frozen on the ground, and everything about her simply glowed. Myungsoo stood up, removed the chord from his guitar and slung the instrument behind him.

His heart felt like bursting then and there, and as he closed the distance between them, everything became nothing but a hazy blur. Tears began to form in his eyes.

He stretched his arms out, and locked her in a tight embrace. He took her scent and warmth in. He took note of her softness, and he began to wonder why his body acted on its own.

“I knew it was you,” she whispered, while hugging him back. He could feel her lips move against his chest. “I heard your voice. I knew it was you, Summer. I knew it was you.”

Myungsoo smiled, and his tears began to flow down freely.

“Thank you,” was all he could tell her at that moment, and for them, it was enough. It was more than enough.

<:>

“Sunggyu, you really shouldn’t have done this,” Mrs. Bae said. “This place is quite expensive!”

“It’s fine, mom,” he replied. “This may be the only chance I'll get to take you and dad out on a date. I should at least make it worthwhile, especially now that I’m leaving.”

“About that…” Mr. Bae began. “Are you and Suzy okay now?”

“We are. We sorted things out, thankfully.”

“She can be quite feisty, that daughter of ours,” he remarked, which sent the other two into nodding their heads in agreement.

The three of them talked and laughed. Time flew by rather quickly, and soon, they were done with their meal.

“Before we leave,” Sunggyu suddenly said, his voice evidently sadder than before. “Can I tell you something?”

The couple looked at their son, and then at each other. They both sat down at the same time.

“What is it, Gyu-yah?” Mrs. Bae asked genuinely, her voice gentle.

There was a pause, and he began, “I’m sorry.”

The two kept quiet, waiting for him to carry on.

Tears streamed down from his eyes. “I’m really, really sorry…but I can’t help it. It was just suddenly there.”

“Sunggyu, what is it?” Mr. Bae asked, obviously concerned. “What happened?”

“I’m sorry,” he choked out between sobs. “I’m sorry I fell in love with your daughter.”

"God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty - never canceled, never rescinded."
- Romans 11:29

I hope this chapter clears things, even for just a little.