68 hours

"Dry your tears."

Chanyeol sat beside me in a bench next to Jinri's coffin.
 

"What...what are you talking about..."

"I'm not an idiot. You're still crying. I know it. Lying won't help."

I wiped my tears with a handkerchief and stared blankly at her coffin.

I still can't move on.

My parents died of car accident 5 years ago and it's my grandma who took care of me. But like everyone, she vanished from the world.F And now the only person in my life died too. I feel so incomplete.

"Did you sleep? Your eyebags became huge. Just come back to your dancing profession. Anyway, here."

He placed a huge notebook on my lap and stood up, brushing the dust off his pants.

"Read that at night since you don't even sleep. That would help you make an enjoyable use of your time, I suppose. Anyway, I'll go now. See you."

Chanyeol tapped my shoulder and left. I am still out of my mind that I just stared at the notebook he gave me.

 
"Hello."

I was taken aback by a sweet and tiny voice that seems familiar to me. As I turned my head back, a lady was standing beside me, smiling.

It...it was the girl I met at the jewelry shop.

"Oh! You?! You're here?! ...you know my sister?!"

I am not able to speak as I heard what she said. Sister? Is she Jinri's sister? So, Jinri actually have a sister? But she did not tell me about that... So that's why they look similar huh...

"Sister? You are Jinri's sister?"

She smiled at me and replied with excitement.

"Yes! I am. Are you close to my sister?"

With eyes blinking, I answered in a low voice.

"I...I am her fiancé..."

Shocked, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped a bit. But shortly after, her eyes began shining and twinkling.

"Oh my! Amazing! I didn't know my sister is engaged to such an amazing man! So the ring, you actually gave it to her? Then what I did is worthy?"

"Yes...I did. But...Jinri did not see the ring..."

My heart aches more as I said those words. But I can't do anything about it...It already happened.

"Anyway...can I ask something?"

She pouted and nodded with a confused expression.

"Yes, of course. What is it?"

"Why is it that Jinri never talked about you?"

Her face changed to traces of disappointment and she looks unwilling to answer.

"Never mind. Maybe I should not-"

"Jinri was mad at me.

She sat beside me and heaved a sigh.

"I'm the reason why we became a broken family. Our father went with me to Canada and my mother remained here with her. I was jealous that mom and dad pay attention only to her so I made a way. I asked a boy to sleep beside her and when our parents woke up, they were mad at her because she's sleeping with a boy. Dad hurt her and did not believe in her while mom believed her reasons and even tried to stop dad. He was really mad but he doesn’t wanna tell mom and Jinri to leave. So we're the ones who left. Mom and Jinri lived together. But then you know… she got killed..."

She breathed heavily and stared at me with sad eyes.

"I was really sorry of what I did. I hope she forgave me already."

"I know she did."

"Thanks."

She smiled brightly and we both kept quiet for awhile.

"Ah! We've talked about so many things but don't know each other's name!"

Laughing shyly, she offered a handshake and grinned.

"I'm Lee Ji Min. 19 years old. You?"

"I'm...Kim Jong In. I'm also 19 years old."

"Really? So, you were older than Jinri and the same age as me? That's amazing then!"

"Yeah."

"But it's sad she did not even know you are already engaged to each other."

"It's fine...I did my part."

She sighed and smiled at me.

"She's so lucky to be loved by you. But...I'm just curious...Are you ready to love again?"

I was astonished by what she said. Something gets into my mind... Or maybe I got the wrong idea?

"You mean..."

"If you'll meet someone you could like again, are you ready to fall in love by that time?"

"It depends. Maybe after years."

"I'd wait for that then."

Smiling, she stood up and left.

Wait for that? But why?

My heart beats weirdly. I know this isn't love. But I don't know what it means too.

58 hours

Sound from the crickets can be heard outside. I sat on a couch and opened the huge notebook that Chanyeol gave me.

On the first page I read a familiar penmanship.

"To my beloved oppa that's always with me since we met."

I turned the pages and read it. It all stated the moments and memories Jinri and I created. It was...Jinri's novel? So, this is what she wrote before?

I turned the pages until it opened to a page with special designs.

"168 hours"
I want to give up now and let myself die. But I asked Jongin to do my wishes for a week. After this, I would surrender and rest in peace. I will also forgive my sister for what she did to me.

She called me Jongin?


1ST DAY
I wished from oppa to stay with me in my house since I live alone. He danced for me and we made more memories. I hope to see him dance again. Will I still be able to witness every flicker of his fingers?

I read the other things she wrote until the 6th day. The day she left this world.

6TH DAY
It's the 6th day. Everybody has slept already including Jongin. I wanted to wish something from him. I want to ask him to watch the fireworks festival today but my body feels too weak already and I could feel that my end is near. I wanted to kiss him...This might be the last...I am worried.


Together with my heart beating fast, tears fell down my eyes. It hurts me more to know how she felt. It hurts that she had been enduring the pain through those times. And that I seem to be forcing her to be more hurt.

I closed the notebook as I tried to stop myself from crying even more. I clenched my fists to my heart and tried to prevent myself from weeping but the words she wrote at the back cover hurt me even more, at the same time, made my heart pound.

"I love you, Jongin. My love lasts forever. Even if you'll meet the girl who would be with you until you both get old and leave this world. My spirit lingers on your heart  even if you forget about me and our memories."
 

(to be continued with an extra chapter)