A/N - here's a super long, fluffy chapter for you after the deep/darnkess of the previous chapter. Let me know what you think! Thank you for all your support!!! *bows*

<3 mei

It was an icy Friday in mid-December, and I was ready to celebrate my first day of winter recess with a day of snow fun and Christmas shopping. With the exception of one more week of productions of Fame, I had my days completely free to myself. I had gotten up extra early so that I could utilise every second of daylight to its max. At a quarter after eight, a knock arrived at my door. Peering through the peephole, I saw stressed Jinhae holding a fidgety Yuchun. I quickly opened the door and in an instant Yuchun was at my side

“Joheun achim, Jinhae ssi. How are you? Is everything alright?”

Jinhae shook her head. “Ani, something’s happened with Haruna’s unnie. She’s going to fly back home this morning to Miyazaki, and I need to take her to Incheon for her flight because she doesn’t like public transportation. Anyway, I just got done dropping Yumi off at school, it’s her final day before recess, and Haruna is packing. I know this is extremely last minute, but do you think you could watch Yuchun and pick up Yumi later today at 15:00? I am so sorry to impose, but I promise to compensate you. I should be back sometime around 17:00.”

Holding back a sigh I smiled. “Ne, of course I can. Don’t worry about it, just make sure that Haruna chan makes it to Japan safely. Yuchun and I will have fun, won’t we?”

I looked down at Yuchun, only to find he had disappeared and made his way into my flat and was happily entertaining himself with my electric keyboard in the general room.

Jinhae bowed his head. “Neomu neomu neomu neomu kamsahamnida, JiYoung ssi. Here’s a brief outline of Yuchun’s schedule, as well as the address to Yumi’s school. I’ll text you any updates.”

I nodded and smiled as Jinhae dashed down the stairs. I turned and closed the door, sighing. There goes my free day of winter fun and shopping.

I ran down the hall to join Yuchun. I glanced down at the note Jinhae had given me. Nap at 9:00 for roughly an hour; snack upon waking. Lunch at noon, pick up Yumi at Seoul Jungdong Elementary School by 15:00. Snacks for both of them. Should be back by 17:00. Kamsahamnida!

Well, I now had about an hour to kill before Yuchun would take his nap. This wasn’t my first time having Yumi and Yuchun in my care, as it was written into my lease, but it was the first time on a weekday, and on the first day of recess too. Completely oblivious to my presence, Yuchun continued to pound on the keys, singing some version of B2ST’s “Shock.”

“Every day I shock SHOCK every night I shock SHOCK I’m sorry jebal naege dasi dolawa jullaeeeeeeeeee every day I shock SHOCK every night I shock SHOCK nan neo ttaemun e amugeosdo hal su eobsneunde ooooooooh!”

I laughed. These two sure had quite the taste in music, and it made me smile to know they cherished it as much as I did. I sat on the floor next to Yuchun and sang along as he finished his mini concert. When he was done he took an exaggerated bow, limbs flailing in the process and his sleek, black hair swishing as he moved. I laughed and clapped in applause, calling for an encore.

Yuchun let out an exasperated sigh, as if the encore was a bit too much to ask for. He made a face, contemplating the request. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he pulled me up to the piano seat.

“JiYoung noona, I’ll do an encore if you sing with me. Jeballyo?” He pleaded at me with his doe-like eyes. I smiled. How could I resist?

“Arraso, you got me Yuchunnie. What would you like to sing?”

Yuchun put a small finger to his chin in serious contemplation.”Hhmmmm…” he started. “How about...OH I know! I want ‘I Remember.’ The song with Yoseob hyung in it? Except this time I want to be the rapper. Can you play that one noona?”

I smiled and nodded. “Arraso Yuchunnie.” We had sung this arrangement together so many times, we could both probably perform it in our sleep. I started the haunting piano intro and singing the “oh ohs” that lead to Bang Yong Guk’s powerful rap. Yuchunnie did the best he could, stumbling over a few words (but honestly who was I to judge, having spoken the language in fluency for less than eight months). I doubt he understood the full meaning of the lyrics (and quite frankly I hoped he hadn’t see the music video because although it’s a tragically beautiful piece, it’s a bit too graphic at times for someone his age).

Our encore ended, and while Yuchun pleaded for an encore of an encore, I shook my head and told him it was time to do something more calming. He sighed but agreed, and I ran to my bedroom desk to grab the art supplies I bought for when I watched Yumi and Yuchun. Yuchun’s eyes lit up at the Pororo coloring book, and he quickly grabbed that in his left hand, a handful of crayons in the other, and plopped himself at the dining table. He carefully turned each page, inspecting each one and trying to decide which he should colour first. While he studied each outlined scene of the spectacled bird, I grabbed my comp book and continued working on that one song. I already had what I felt was a strong bridge, a solid chorus, and a verse. All I needed was another verse or two, and maybe a hook or an outro to tie it all together. I tapped my pen on my head. Writing lyrics to a song in a language that is not your first was difficult, especially when this one was so personal. Abandoning the lyrics, I picked up my music book, Yuchun still colouring away at an image of the bird flying a plane. I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. I stared back down at my other notebook, musical staffs covering the page with musical notes dotting the lines and my personal notes dictating playing style. I flipped to the page that had the corresponding music to the lyrics I was stuck on. At the top of the page were the words “Falling [Without You].” It was just a working title, and was probably bound to change as I continued to work on the lyrics (most of my songs did anyway). I hummed the tune that I had aloud, testing it aloud. It wasn’t bad, but it definitely needed more work. I peered over the top of my book and caught Yuchun yawning and rubbing his eyes. I knew he had been up since at least six when his parents get up, so he was bound to be exhausted. Putting my pen and book down, I walked to him and knelt next to him.

“Are you getting sleepy Yuchinnie?”

Yuchun quickly put his hands back at his sides and shook his head, but was unable to stifle another yawn.

“Aniyo noona, I’m *yawn* not sleep at all.”

“Jeongmal? I’m not so sure about that~” I sang as I scooped him into my arms. Yuchun tried to resist as I carried him to my room, but as soon as I laid him on my bed he calmed down.

“Noona, can you please *yawn* sing a song for me? Juseyo noona?”

I smiled and nodded. Yuchun and Yumi were both great lovers of music, and it was humbling and flattering (and helpful) that they could be calmed so easily through the right song. Letting him snuggle under the covers, I his head as I knelt to him and began to softly sing.

“Oceans apart day after day, and I slowly go insane. I hear your voice on the line, but it doesn’t stop the pain. If I see you next to never, how can we say forever? Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will be right here waiting for you. Whatever it takes, or how my heart breaks, I will be right here waiting for you.”

Yuchun’s eyes were sealed shut, his breathing at a steady calm. I sighed in contentment. Yes, that’s a song typically meant for lovers at war, but I always found reassurance in it, ever since my dad played it so many years ago in California, back when I had the beautiful innocence of Yuchun.

his hair one more time, I stood up and carefully left the room. Walking back to the general room, I couldn’t help but sit at my piano and play the beautiful piano intro to the song, humming the lyrics as I went. I made it to the second chorus when I heard a knock at the door. I jumped at the noise. I wasn’t expecting anyone...was I? Jinhae wouldn’t be back for hours, and I doubted it was any of the other tenants, as I rarely interacted with them. I cautiously approached the door and peered through the hole. All I could make out was a blonde head and black skinny jeans. The figure turned around and I caught a glimpse of my visitor’s face. No. Frickin’. Way

I unlocked the door and propped my door open.

“JiYong?"

The figure turned around and smiled.

“I’m glad I got the right address. Can you imagine what would have happened if I got it wrong? Boy would I be in trouble.”I stood in the doorway, mouth ajar. What the hell was JiYong doing at my flat? And how did he even know where I live? He must have been able to read my mind, because he answered both questions in succession.

“How did I find your address? I have my sources.” He smirked. “As for why I’m even here…” he suddenly got shy and started to rub the nape of his neck. I cocked my head, waiting for an explanation.

“As for why I’m here...I guess I wanted to see you. I haven’t been able to make it to the bar, and I miss our talks and I miss your company and I miss...I’ve missed you.”

My heart stopped beating. Did the Kwon JiYong just say he’s missed me?

He bit his lip and lifted his gaze to meet mine. “I didn’t mean to impose or anything, but I know that yesterday was SNU’s last day of classes for the year, and I’m painfully free, and didn’t know if you were free too. It’s fine if you aren’t, I understand that this was totally unplanned and unexpected. I just figured I’d at least say hi It’s been months since I’ve seen you in person.” JiYo