[A/N: YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO LISTEN TO THE SONG AS YOU READ~ It would seriously bring out more emotions. :') I'm dead serious. Kkkk]

Listen: Daydream - Super Junior

Lay just got off the train after taking the subway. The sound of footsteps from people walking along the same crowded station was the only thing he could hear aside from the advertisements and reminders from the speakers of the place. The bright morning was gloomy at the same time. The sun might have been shining like the first sight of a new born baby but to Lay, it was just an ordinary day and the fair weather did not catch his attention.

Lay stopped on his tracks. He stood tall as the river of crowd passed by him. He clutched tightly on the bouquet of white daffodils he was holding. The beautiful arrangement of flowers was ornamented by small buds and jasmine and ribbons on the white linen paper. His hands fell to his sides. His breathing was calm. But the sight of a happy couple walking towards his direction was piercing his sensible eyes.

The couple was entirely stranger him. But the sweetness and compatibleness filled the crowded place and started suffocating the sight of Lay. Slowly, he closed his eyes to avoid the scene. Memories flashed back inside his mind as much as he wanted to avoid remembering everything.

He was taking everything in, breathing deeply for courage. That’s when he felt a hand slipped on his free hand. The same slender fingers that perfectly fit between his fingers made his eyes slowly open. The same crowded place appeared in his sight. He glanced to his left and saw the closest to perfect human God must have created.

She smiled sweetly at him as he squeezed his hand, “Come on. Let’s go.” She softly said before she dragged him towards the sea of people.

She kept glancing back at him. The smile plastered on her face stayed for the longest time than he could last remember. He was too amused by her smile just like always that the crowded area made his hand slip off from her. He had to squeeze in between people to catch up with her. She just continued walking as if she never noticed Lay was slowly catching up with her.

He lost her.

As soon as he reached the spacious street, he finally saw her sitting on a bench. She smiled again at him, “Let’s go.” She chuckled as she stood up and took his hand again. They walked side by side. She kept on swinging their hands. She was just the same cheerful person that Lay used to know. He just wanted to stare at her for the whole time but he had to look ahead to keep his pace fast so he wouldn’t lose her again just like in the subway station.

She glanced at the bouquet of flowers Lay was holding, “You brought my favourite flowers. Well, I’m glad.” She sweetly smiled at him again. “I know you’ll never forget the things I like.” Lay pursed his lips before smiling at her.

They continued walking together until fewer and fewer people were walking with them. The sunlight beamed directly from the sky. The hot weather almost burned Lay’s unjustly fair skin. The warmth of the air brushed through Lay’s skin. But he could still feel the lady’s hand on his.

“I feel bad to see you wearing such dark shade of shirt in a summer day.” She mumbled. “Look at me, this sunny white dress is pleasing to the eyes!” she grumbled as she slipped her hands off his and walked ahead of him. Lay was almost startled by her action. She paused from walking and turned back to face him. As soon as he was close enough to her, she reached out her hands for him to take. “Come on, Yixing. Let’s walk faster. I can feel that it’s going to rain soon.” She then started dragging Lay once again.

After a long walk, crunches of dried leaves filled the absolute silence of the place as Lay stepped on them. It was a little windy but the sun was still shining brightly. As soon as he saw the exact spot he was supposed to go to, he started suppressing the tears that felt like playing behind his eyes.

The lady who was still walking with him gave his hand a squeeze. He looked at her lips moving. She still looked perfect. Her angelic face never stopped making him adore her.

“I’m glad you never forget to visit here.” She said. Lay just averted his gaze to the tomb of the person he loved the most. He stooped down and placed the bouquet of white flowers neatly above the grave.

She just watched him fix her favourite flowers. Her tears gleamed on her eyes. “I’m sorry, Yixing. I’m really sorry.” She softly sobbed. She covered to avoid him from hearing her though it was rather ironic. Lay placed his hand on the name written on the tomb. He started tracing her name.

‘I love you, Seo Joo Hyun. I wish I could have told you that before. I’m sorry for being unable to speak. I’m sorry for being unable to hear.’ He thought. His gaze was focused on the tomb as if it was something so interesting when in fact, there was nothing but pain upon visiting his lover’s grave.

After a few more minutes, Lay stood up. He looked at his side and saw Seohyun looking at her own grave. Somewhere beneath that soil was her dead body. Lay couldn’t hear anything she was telling him. He can only try to read her lips as they move. But he couldn’t completely figure out every word she say.

Being disabled like him—missing out on the sense of hearing and missing out the voice inside him, there was nothing but frustration in his life. Seohyun stepped closer to him and placed her hands on his cheeks. Her hands were cold on his skin. He closed his eyes to savor the touch of his lover’s soul. He slowly held Seohyun’s hands and moved them to cover his ears. He slowly closed his eyes.

His useless ears suddenly started hearing the whistling wind. “Yixing, you may not be able to hear me out but I’d want the birds or the grasses or the fallen leaves or even the air to hear these words before I completely leave you.” He wanted to open his eyes but Seohyun interrupted her. “Don’t you dare open your eyes, just close them... just feel me.” She softly muttered and covered his eyes before placing them back on his ears so Lay kept his eyes shut. He was hearing things. For the first time in his life, his ears functioned. “Remember when we used to hang out on the garden every morning...” Seohyun started narrating their memories.

Lay and Seohyun stayed in an orphanage for quite some time since both of their parents left them. They never noticed each other when they were young. But during their teens, they finally started greeting each other. Seohyun was the only one who says ‘hi’ to Lay but he’d always give her a nod or a small smile in return.

One day, Seohyun dragged Lay to the music room.

“I’d want you to hear my first composition!” She said. Blankly, he just sat on one of the chairs and watched her play with the piano. Seohyun would harmoniously sing along with the melodic tune of piano. Lay casually glanced at his watching and quietly left Seohyun inside the room. After the song, Seohyun was shocked and disappointed to see Lay had left. Her shoulders would always slump in defeat for the same event happened for so many times.

One day, just the usual routine that Seohyun brought Lay in the music room to hear him play. Since he couldn’t hear anything at all, he started studying her facial features and how good she moved her fingers to play the piano keys. It was rather gloomier not being able to hear the sound of her voice and the music she played. He started spacing out and earth only awakened his deep thoughts when someone tapped his shoulder and did hand gestures that says, ‘Come with me. You’re late with your ear therapy.’

Seohyun’s eyes widened in surprise. It was then that she discovered that Lay was deaf and mute.

With all great efforts, she started learning the sign language in order to communicate with Lay. She did not treat him differently. In fact, she’d still bring Lay to the music room and sing for him. Lay noticed the changes. His feelings toward her eventually got deeper. Until he realized how in love he was with Seohyun.

It was early in the morning, their usual hang outs in the garden...

They sat on the bench as Seohyun laid her head on his shoulder. Lay was taken aback by her action. He slowly held her hand. They were unusually cold. Seohyun straightened up upon feeling the warmth of his hand on hers. She slowly looked up at him. He noticed her bloodshot eyes and how pale she was.

‘Can I tell you something?’ Seohyun gestured her hands. He nodded. ‘I am not feeling well today.’

Lay tucked a lose strand of hair behind her ear. ‘You’ll be okay.’ He replied.

‘Can I tell you one more thing?’ He just nodded once again. ‘You are important to me.’

Lay almost blushed. Their foreheads touched and Lay took this as a sign to lean in. He planted a soft and short kiss on Seohyun’s lips. Her tired eyes slowly opened as they parted.

‘I have one last thing to tell you.’ Seohyun used sign language again. He nodded again. ‘I have leukaemia.’

It was the most complicated relationship that ever existed. When Seohyun’s illness worsened, Lay did everything at all cost, with all his might. Less and less words through body language were exchanged as Seohyun grew weaker.

It was not long enough when Lay entered her bedroom and it was empty. His pace towards the orphanage’s helpers became faster. As soon as they saw him, they glanced at each other with sad looks on their eyes.

Nothing but tears defined the extreme sorrow that Lay had to undergo for months. His grief did not end at Seohyun’s death. His depression continued with the fact of not being able to speak and tell her how much he loved her.

Tears flowed on Lay’s cheeks. “...but I never stopped loving you. Yixing, even my death could never put an end on the love that we shared. I love you, I will always do.” Seohyun tiptoed and gently kissed his forehead.

When Lay felt her lips on his forehead, his eyes shot open. He wanted to just see her again. But as soon as his eyes opened, the familiar crowded train appeared before him. The sound of the nature disappeared once again. Only her touch could make him hear. But now she's gone.

The reality hit his face. He glanced down on his lap and he was still holding the bouquet of various white flowers. His gaze slowly looked ahead of him as the train stopped to the next station. He slowly got off from the train and looked around the crowded place.

He just fell asleep on his way there. All the memories of Seohyun just appeared in his dream. Having Seohyun walk beside him and being able to hear her words and sweet voice was all a dream. This was a reality he had to face. He wanted to just daydream about her all over again if that was the only way to hear her out.

If he’d be given the chance to hear her once again, he’d likely try to speak and tell her how much he loves her.

The memories of having him once loved controlled him so easily.

As he walked towards the cemetery, a droplet of water landed on his cheek. He slowly looked up and the heavens started pouring drizzle.

The drizzling soon turned into a heavy rain. But there he stood still in front of her grave, reading her name over and over again while he was drenched in the rain. “Seo Joo Hyun. 1991-2012”

With all the hopes that he'll daydream once again and she'll appear beside him once again...