Minyoung’s house…

It’s been 5 days after Minyoung found out Taekwoon’s secret toward her. To be truth, she still couldn’t believe the fact that Taekwoon will leave her soon, maybe forever. She still couldn’t accept it, it is too much for her. She doesn’t feel want to go any class for the past of 5 days and her mother getting more worried about her. Hyojung sometimes will come to her house to accompany her and soothe her. All she does for these past of few days is staying at her room and crying.

Oppa, what should I do now? Why you have to go so quickly? I still need you…

Minyoung’s tears start to flow from her eyes and she hug her pillow tightly. She couldn’t imagine her life without Taekwoon. Taekwoon has always been there for her. Before she met him, she has such lonely life after she lose her father while her mother has to work to maintain their living. That time she was just accompanied by her guitar, computer and smartphone that containing her favorite songs. Almost every day after she came back from school, she will fill in her free time by do some chores, finish the schoolwork, took a walk at the park or playing some random melody with her guitar while waiting her mother home.

After Taekwoon appeared in her life, she has already given him the special place in her empty spot. Taekwoon also don’t mind to let himself to spend his precious time with her as he already aware that Minyoung’s past make her craving to need someone to lean on. As days passed, they both started to develop their feeling each other. They always spend their time together especially during weekend. Right now, she is completely incoherently. She doesn’t want to lose him. Not now.

“Minyoung-ah.”

The voice wakes her from her long, sadden thought. She looks at her room’s door. “Omma.”

Her mother gave her a completely concerned look. She went to her daughter and sit at her side on her bed.

“Minyoung-ah. Please don’t be like this. I’m really worried about you. You not going to your college about 5 days and only shut yourself completely in your room. Hyojung and Hongbin are completely worried about you.”

Minyoung doesn’t know what to say. In fact, she has to admit that what she did has already make people around her worried.

“Minyoung-ah. I know that you are crying because of what happen to Taekwoon. But you have to accept it no matter what. I know it’s hard for you but the more you afraid to accept it, the more hesitant your heart to live. Because that’s what Taekwoon want you to do. He wants you to live as usual even without him.”

Minyoung’s tears start to flow even more. “I can’t, omma. I just couldn’t do it. He will leave me someday and I will be lonely again. How can I move on without him? I’m scared.”

Minyoung’s mother approach to her side and hugs her. Then, she caress her hair, calming her. 

“I know. I understand. That’s how I felt when I heard that your father had accident few years ago. I felt that I couldn’t continue my life without him. He always be my greatest supporter and the only place I could nurture my heart and soul after we married. After he’s gone, I completely lost. I always feel that I couldn’t accept it and I always found myself alone after I woke up. But, it’s you, my daughter. You are the reason why I couldn’t let myself down no matter what. Because you are the priceless treasure that your father leave to me. Thanks to you, I'm be able to move on and having a normal life with you .”

Minyoung look at her mother’s eyes. She can see how she meant to her words.

“Minyoung-ah. The person that we love will always live inside of our heart. Eventhough they will be gone someday, but that doesn’t mean we will forget them. I think that’s why Taekwoon did a lot to you for these past few months. He wants you to remember a lot of memories that you share with him eventhough he wouldn't be at your side anymore.”

She let Minyoung crying in her arms for a few moment before she wipes her daughter’s tears with her hands, “There. Don’t cry. Taekwoon will be sad if he see you like this.”

Minyoung using her sleeves and wipe all of her tears to dry. Then, both of them get up from the bed. “Omma, I think I want to see Taekwoon oppa right now. He doesn't have much time, so...

I think I want to stay at his side as much as I could.” Seeing how determined her daughter now, a smile appear on her lips. She is completely happy with her now.

“And…” Minyoung hug her mother, again.

“Gomawo…”

At hospital…

Minyoung walk through corridor and reach the room. The room that she felt familiar with it from few days ago. She reaches the doorknob and opens it. In there, she can see the figure lying on the bed, with his face facing the window, observe the view from outside.

“Oppa…”

The figure turns his head toward her. “Minyoung-ah.” The voice of the figure is quite low but Minyoung manage to hear it.

“Oppa. I’m sorry. It looks like I didn’t come to see you so long.” Minyoung walk closer to him and grab some chair for her to seat at his side.

“Ani. It’s okay. I know you were getting a huge shock went you heard that I'm dying right now. Mianhe…”

Seeing Taekwoon right now really hurt her from inside. He looks so pale and skinny. His lips are the as pale as his skin and his eyes looks droopy. Under his nose, there’s a tube that supplement the oxygen through his nose.  He looks completely weak, unlike Taekwoon that she used to know.

 Both of them couldn’t speak any word for a few minutes until Taekwoon decided to let out some words.

“You must be upset, right?”

Minyoung look at him.

“Hongbin had told me everything from what happen few days ago. You got angry with him and hit him, right?”

She pulled her head down. She suddenly feels embarrassed when she thought about it.

“It’s not his fault. It’s me who ask him to not to tell you about this. It’s my own decision and he just want to help me. I know that he refuse a bit with my request, so that’s why I beg him many times. So, please forgive him.”

Minyoung can only nod her head to him, signing that she knows what he mean.

“You must be suffered a lot from inside, are you?”

She feels hesitant to admit it at first. But, that’s how she’s been through a lot from these 5 days.

“I can see it from your eyes. It’s alright. Because I’m also felt the same when you are not come and visit me for these few days.”

Her tear flow out from her eyes, again. She is so cruel for leaving him few days like this. She quickly wipes it to not let Taekwoon see it, “Mianhe…”

Taekwoon couldn’t help but feel hurt seeing her crying. He reaches out his hand and touches her face. “Ani. It’s okay. Don’t cry.”

Minyoung take Taekwoon’s hand and grab it with her both hands. “I’m really missed you, oppa. Few days without you is totally unbearable.”

He gives her weak yet heartening smile to her. “I’m missed you too. I really want to hear your voice and see your face again.”

She look at him. He is weak right now yet his desire to meet her is so strong that it make her feel sorry for him. She shouldn't leave him that time. This time she make sure that she always at his side.

"Minyoung-ah..."

"Ne?"

"Do you remember the first we met?"

"You mean when you and I were ride in the same bus? Yes, I still remember it. I dropped my ID that time and you found it.Then, you accompanied me to my home."

Taekwoon nod his head. "At that time, I was just thought about went home and I didn't paid any attention to you."

"But, for the next morning, that's when I completely saw you and fall for you."

Minyoung look at him with amusing expression. "Wait, it means that you didn't feel anything that time but you were the next day?"

Taekwoon can feel how embarass him now. "I'm sorry. I'm just felt tired that time."

They both laugh hearing his answer. 

"It's okay, oppa. That time it was night and you just came back from training. I know that."

Her hands start to gently caress his hand. "How do you felt that time when you saw me?"

Taekwoon think about it for a moment. 

A year ago…

Taekwoon decided want to have some workout at the park near his apartment. He went out with just his training trouser and grey hooded jacket.

“Taekwoon-ah. You want go out now?” His mother is at the kitchen to prepare some breakfast.

“Ne, omma. Just want to get some air.”

“But I’m just about making some breakfast.”

“Don’t worry. It wouldn’t take long. I will eat it after I back.”

“Well, then. Be careful.”

Taekwoon went out from his house and went to the elevator.

At the park, Taekwoon jog following the road and totally engrossed with it. He just focusing which way he wants to go and doesn’t even bother anything around him. He does it for about 20 minutes without decreases his speed.

As he was about to sit on the bench and take some rest, suddenly he hear a voice singing something along with the tune from the instrument that he familiar with it. He hearing carefully and found out it’s a girl voice. He got up from the bench and tries to find the owner’s voice.

He follows the track of the voice and it came from his behind. It’s the area with the single tree which is bigger from the rest. He takes a look at it and saw a girl sit under it. Taekwoon noticed that the girl is singing while playing her guitar. Her ears were covered with headphone with the end of the wire connecting something inside her pocket, maybe MP3 player.

‘Wait a minute. Is that girl that I met last night?’ Taekwoon suddenly remember the girl that almost lost her ID student and he helped her with it. Not to mention he also accompany her to her home last night. The girl doesn’t notice that there’s someone stared at her. She just focuses playing her guitar and singing. Taekwoon look at her and listen to her singing intently.The simple pale pink sweater with black brown trousers and her sweet, melodious voice completely matching with her innocent appearance. He completely lost into her voice and without realizing it, he approach her to listen her sing closer. He couldn't help but feeling amused by the girl infront of him. For a moment, he could feel that he start to fall for her a bit. 

She sings till the end of the song and that’s when she turns her face at her side and notices the man at her side stare at her. “I’m sorry. Didn’t I bother you? Am I sing too loud just now?”

“No. Of course not.”

The girl took off her headphone, takes a look at the man and finally recognizes him. “Wait. You are the sunbae who helped me last night!”

“Ne.”

The girl gets up from her spot and bow to him.

“No, no, no. It’s okay. You don’t have to be so polite.”

“You are my sunbae and you already helped me. Of course I have to be polite with you.”

“I know. It just… I feel awkward when you did that.”

The girl couldn’t help but giggle with his awkwardness. 'Wait, did she smile just now?' Taekwoon look at her and he's right. The girl is smiling at him. 'Omo, her smile is so pretty.' Taekwoon could feel his heart beating fast and his face feels a little warm. He hopes the girl doesn't notice it. Seeing how awkward their position right now since they both just standing facing each other, she invite him to sit next to her.

“What are you doing here?”

“Nothing. Just want to get some fresh air. What about you?”

“I’m just doing some light exercise here.”

“I see. You must be an athlete.”

“Not really. I’m just a soccer player for my college.”

Taekwoon couldn’t continue their conversation as he getting more awkward. He never spoke to any woman besides his mother and sisters. He has to speak something to the girl. “You have such a nice voice. Are you a singer?”

“No. I’m a music student.”

“Why you playing music here and not at home?”

“I’m quite bored at home since I’m living with my mother and she has to go to work this morning. Besides, it feels better when going outside than just stay at home.”

Taekwoon finally understood what she meant.

“Since you already know my name, can I know yours? I didn’t mean to be rude but since you are my hoobae and you live at this area maybe we will be able to meet again.”

“It’s okay. I’m also sorry for let you tell me your name without knowing mine.”

Taekwoon smile at her honesty.

“I’m Shin Minyoung.” the girl introduce herself to Taekwoon. "Nice to meet you, sunbaenim."

"Nice to meet you too, Minyoung-ssi."

"That time you are like the most beautiful girl I never seen. And we spend together that time like we knew each other for a long time."

“And that’s how we know each other for the first time.” Minyoung's lips form a smile the moment she thinking about it.

“Glad that you smile again.” Minyoung look at Taekwoon. "I hope that smile that you have will not disappear from your face."

Minyoung look at Taekwoon and caress his hand, ensuring that she is feeling better now. That’s how they both spend their time in the ward, telling all of the best moment they had in the past.

Yiruma – River Flows in You

Rin Oikawa – I’ll Be Your Home