It was May 25, 2022. It was the week before Summer Break. Bianca had made it through a whole year without any prejudice between students, to teachers, to any other hostile being.
But it’s not over yet. Bianca had one more event to attend to. Actually, two.
The first one was the photo competition!
“Bianca!” Bahiyyih shouted from afar.
She suddenly turned around and Bahiyyih stood right in front of her.
“Guess what!” Bahiyyih shouted.
“What?” said Bianca.
“Namjoon got married during the weekend and, for their honeymoon, they are attending the Arts Night Awards at the end of the school year, which is on June 3.”
“On a Friday, right?”
“Yup!”
Bianca was shocked.
It’s on the same evening as Jake’s violin performance at the violin competition! I promised I’d be there! What am I going to do?!?!
Bianca stammered.
“So…on the 3rd, it is?”
“Yup!”
*~*~*~*~*~*
The next thing was the violin competition.
Just before she was informed of the Arts Night Awards, Jake met up with her after school.
“Bianca,” he said, “My mum bought four tickets for you, your mum, Bahiyyih and Jungwon to attend the violin competition next Friday. On the third!”
“Really?”
“Yup!”
Bianca smiled with glee.
But currently, she frowned, as she found out that the two events, the one she was participating in and the one she was invited to, were on the exact same day. What frustrated her the most was letting down her own big crush and future boyfriend and her best friend.
I have to find a way to attend both. The big question is how to juggle it all together.
The next day at school, Bianca went to the photography club after school. At the same time, it was the rehearsal for the competition.
She saw Bahiyyih and Jungwon, saying, “I can’t make it for today’s meeting, I have a family emergency. Seems to me that they need me for ‘moral support’.”
“Go on right ahead,” said Jungwon, “We were just going to begin setting up shop for our awards show at the little theater anyways, so not much help is needed.”
“Thank you!” said Bianca, rushing out with her school supplies and backpack.
She dashed her way to the big concert hall in the middle of the city and snuck inside just in time for the rehearsal to begin. Jake was rehearsing both Zigeunerweisen and Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. The way he played made her swoon off of her seat.
She woke up hearing the loud high notes from Jake’s small caramel brown instrument that happened to have a tall stick and horse hair. But she couldn’t contain focus.
She then collapsed…and had yet another dream. But this dream was much more short-lived than her previous one about her wedding with Jake and then trying on all of those white-veiled ball gowns.
She awoke and found herself laying on her mother’s shoulder. On the other side were Bahiyyih and Jungwon. They looked dressed up as if they were already a married couple. Bianca suddenly winced with embarrassment.
Are they married now? What’s going on? I fell asleep again, didn't I?
And then, she couldn’t stop admiring Jake’s playing. She couldn’t even stop remembering the time she ran into him as he was practicing the selected piece at the national park and then snapping vexatious (to her) photos of him and then keeping printed out versions of them in her diary.
She swooned and swooned. When that particular note was hit, she collapsed again. And soon enough, she was back at the auditorium.
Bahiyyih, Jake, and Jungwon surrounded her as she laid there like a dead corpse.
“Bianca,” said Jake, softly, “Bianca! Wake up!”
Bianca could not wake up. She was in a deep sleep. And all she wanted was for people to understand it was a lot difficult to juggle one thing and another at a time.
“Bianca!” Jake shouted.
Eventually, she slowly woke up.
“What happened,” she yawned, “What time is it?”
The students looked with outrage.
“What are you doing here? You said you had a family emergency! You lied to your own best friend?”
Bianca sat up and said, “I’m sorry, you guys. Jake invited us to the music competition in the evening, and then I remembered that it was on the same day as the Arts Night Awards. It saddened me, so I kept trying to figure out how I could be at two places at once. And then, after dreaming about the performance, I realized it was not possible. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t exist at all!”
“Bianca,” said Jake, “I would have totally gone to your awards night. But I could not miss the opportunity to be in something I want to do.”
“It’s the same thing for me,” said Bahiyyih, “If me and Jungwon could have gone, then we would have video- taped it and sent it to you.”
Bianca frowned and then set out for home.
*~*~*~*~*~*
A month later, it was the day right before the art competition. Bianca laid in her bed and tossed and turned. She was saddened.
I really wished there was some way to attend both events at the same time.
The big night came. Bianca looked out to see if at least Namjoon and his new wife attended the big event. She saw the happy couple smiling away and happy as can be. She then frowned.
She then sighed.
As the night went on, she looked at the time constantly. And then…it was her turn for her presentation.
Bianca’s edited photos of Jake playing his violin caught the audience’s attention and made everyone look in awe. She was surprised herself.
They like my photos?
But, still, she frowned.
Meanwhile, Jake was prepared for the violin competition of the evening. But He looked out in the audience for Bianca and Bahiyyih. There was no sign of them.
I wish this arts program could have been a day early. Then everyone wouldn’t have been in such a mess to come and watch. I’ll miss Bianca from right here.
He then sighed.
It was at the end of the Arts Night Awards, when Bahiyyih stepped out as the final MC for the event.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” she announced, “We have tallied up the points that each presentation has received. And we can not wait to announce the first, second, and third placers.”
In third place was the contemporary ballet performance. In second place was the painting of Independence Academy. And in first place…
“Bianca’s beautifully edited photos of violinist Jake Shim!”
The crowd cheered deafeningly. And the name Bianca was chanted from all of the students. Although the British girl had so much talent that she felt was “too private” to share, she eventually was loved by everyone in the audience and that included her own teacher and his wife.
There is still time, she thought, Jake was the very last competitor anyways!
Bianca and her mother raced to the auditorium and found Jake backstage, sitting as lonely as can be. But he stood up when he saw his girlfriend right there before him.
“You made it?” he asked.
“Yup,” said Bianca, “Trust me…I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
Jake pulled her tightly in his arms.
“I’m sorry I missed the Arts Night program.”
“It’s really okay. I guess I won’t tell you that my presentation received first place.”
“WHAT?!”
“It’s true!” Bianca laughed.
“So…what did you get?”
And up next is Jake Shim, performing–
“Go on,” said Bianca, “I’ll tell once it’s over! I wish you luck! But first, a quick pic!”
*~*~*~*~*~*
It was right after the performance. Bianca sat alone outside the theater.
“You’re usually not alone at school,” Jake said as he was coming close to her, “Even with me.”
“I’m sorry,” said Bianca, “Everything that just happened this school year…it’s just so hard to let go of it, now.”
“What do you mean?”
“When something just happened…I’m scared that I might forget about it.”
“You won’t forget about it,” said Jake, “I have a feeling that you and I will keep these memories safely and let them out when it’s time to say goodbye.”
“Okay?”
“Trust me…it will be worth it in the end.”
In the evening, Bianca had trouble falling asleep. It was not from the trauma, though. That had been long gone since the talk of the Arts Night Awards. It was something else. Jake.
For some reason, she actually remembered him. She even envisioned the first time she crushed on him at her previous school.
Whenever Jake would pass by, Bianca would ignore her “studies” and just focus on him. Even though the teachers would curse out on her for having just a simple crush, those were the only times that Bianca did not care about the other people’s thoughts and opinions.
Everyday was a new day for her to either make it right again, or to look forward to seeing a new friend. But to her, it was both. Pleasing schools: not her thing. Falling in love: very much a popular hobby.
Bianca then remembered the time when Jake shyly gave a gift to her and called her pretty. But the other boys his age jeered at him to run away from her. But he didn’t care and befriended her anyway. Although he was bullied for having a girl best friend, he, too, did not care about others opinions as well.
However, she woke up from her visions and frowned as she did not want to sit up from her bed. She didn’t know that it was the beginning of Summer break. When the sun shined brightly on her, she was blinded.
“Morning, my darling,” a voice said so brightly, as though it was just another day.
Bianca recognized the voice of her father. She felt confused.
Father’s home? But he was announced dead at the hospital. What is happening? MOTHER!!!
The familiar figure of Bianca’s father stepped forward in her room, in military uniform. She missed his warm and soft smile. It also reminded her of Jake whenever he would smile. She then teared up with joy.
“Well,” said Father, “Don’t I get a hug?”
Bianca stepped into her father’s embrace. It was warm and tight, just like her mother’s. She then wept with her tears of joy.
“I had missed you, my girl,” said Father, “I hadn’t been at home since I last saw you. But I’m home for good now. Your mother doesn’t have to worry about me being so far away.”
She felt a tear on her cheek. At first she wasn’t sure whose tear it was until she felt it.
I’m crying? But Father returned and…he won’t leave us forever again. Won’t he?
“Father…Father! Daddy! Don’t leave me! Dad!”
When Bianca shouted, she found herself covered in cherry blossom petals. She was back in her room in Seoul. She frowned again.
And I thought my father was not dead.
Bianca sniffled.
She went downstairs and saw at least eight beautifully wrapped gifts that were on the counter table. She was a bit confused about the occasional props. And then, her mother walked downstairs properly dressed for a tea party.
“Why aren’t you dressed? Have you just woken up?”
“I think so,” replied Bianca, “But you wouldn’t believe the dreams I’ve been having. I saw Father again in them. And it was the time he came home from the army while I was trying to cook pancakes.”
“At seven years old, the batter you made splattered all over the kitchen. I remembered being so hopping angry. But it wasn’t you, only your father, who didn’t even bother to try and clean up the place, since he arrived on the day of your birthday.”
“That’s right…I remember that, too.”
Mother frowned. She missed her husband as much as her own daughter did. She considered feelings and comforted her, too.
“I miss your father too. He was taken away too soon.”
“He could have taken one of us with him. So he would not have to be so lonely.”
“Then who would Jake play with if you were with your father?”
“And who would give me a Starbucks if Dad took you with him? I guess I thought a bit too soon.”
“No, no,” said Mother, “I get you were trying to joke around, just like him. You take so much from him, rather than me. I am just an old fashioned woman.”
“But sometimes, you can be new fashioned as well. For example, Starbucks every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”
“I guess there is nothing wrong with that. Now get dressed. Your friends will arrive very soon! Unless it was a pajama party.”
“Too girly.”
“I know. Nothing wrong with that, either.”
Bianca was confused about this morning. The presents. The sudden dreams from her memories. The way her mother dressed. Someone was having a party. She thought that Bahiyyih wanted to have a celebration for graduation. She thought that maybe they were going to have a little gift exchange and the big present was for Bianca, and she was going to be the last to open it.
But Bianca was wrong. It actually was her birthday.