It was while we were at my graduation when suddenly, I found a card lying on the table close to the dance floor of the gymnasium. It was a Valentine’s Day card. But…it was not Valentine’s Day, though.
Then…why is this card here?
I opened it…and then it said:
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"To my dearest darling…
There is a reason I am giving you this Valentine card as a formal graduation gift. And don’t worry, I’m not breaking up with you.
I want to tell you that I will not be at the ISU anymore. I thought I was going to another university here in Seoul, but no.
I am going to a university in the United States. Sung-hoon is coming with me as well.
When I heard the news, I thought of you for quite a while, thinking that you would be heartbroken because of this news.
You will forgive me right?
Oh, and one more thing. There is a reason why I have been loving you for some time now.
When my mother was pregnant with another child, we found out she was having a girl. But then, there was the bombing in Brisbane and my mother had an unfortunate miscarriage. I was five years old at the time. And looking back, it is still traumatic to think about. So, it turns out we both had family dramas in our hands.
When I heard about you, I thought you lived a perfect life. But then, my mother informed me that your mum and dad were rifles of the Korean government and the Genovian government as well. They were planning on stealing the money they earned just so they could pay child support.
And another reason. It’s about how they were so cruel to you. Your mother wanted a perfect child. But then, when you were at the preschool they sent you to, my mother came to pick you up, because she sent your mother to the postpartum care in the local hospital, she saw that you were hugging me tightly. My mother had found it “the most adorable thing”. But not your parents. They wanted you to focus on school and not live your life as a “simple peasant”.
When you were brought home, our families had a huge argument about that. While the adults swore at each other, I protected you, as if I was a big brother to you.
The real reason why I had a crush on you was because I never knew what it was like to have a little sister. And now that I have you…I feel closure inside of me. I love you Eunice Park!"
- Shim Jake
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There was an enormous applause from the other high schoolers. And then, there were familiar lyrics from this very song I listened to:
You can hear it in the silence;
You can feel it on the way home;
You can see it with the lights off…
You are in love…true love!
“Oh, Jakey,” I said, “You did all of this…for me?”
Jake nodded his head. I guess he wanted what was best for me.
After the summer, I never saw Jake again. He was gone. Sung-hoon was gone too. Heeseung was released from the federal prison. At least I had my best friends Jay, Niki, Sunoo and Jungwon to keep me company. But…it wasn’t the same.
There was something that I learned while I was with Jake. I had realized that…it’s okay to be flustered about something that happens most of the time in your life, like having a crush on someone…someone that is close to you. Like Jake.
After all of the harsh realities I had been through, after all of the friendships I’ve learned to keep, and after the time when I thought things would end for the worst…I’ve learned that I had love waiting for me all along. I knew someday, and somehow…I will wait for the sound of music again.
“Is that a true story, Aunty?” asked Jenavive, Eunice’s ten year old cousin.
“Well, it’s how I remembered it.” said Eunice in a motherly tone.
The young girl frowned as she felt such empathy for her older cousin.
“Did you and Jake meet again? You must have!”
Eunice struggled to hold back her tears.
“Well…” she stopped for a second. And then she smiled.
“You know what…I’m sure we will see each other again.”
While an eighteen year old Eunice was in bed, there was a sudden knock at the door. Eunice wanted to answer. But she could not fly out of bed. As the door bothered her enough, Eunice then answered.
Standing in the doorway was a man that was twenty years old. Rose pink lips, pale white skin, A fine figure, indeed! Eunice knew who it was.
“Jake?” she said, rubbing her eyes, “What are you doing here?”
Jake gave a chuckle, “I’m moving back here.” he said.
“You, WHAT?!” Eunice shouted from the top of her lungs.
“It’s true,” Jake shushed, “The thought of you kept haunting me forever! And I wanted to marry you, with all of my heart! If it’s not too late…”
“After my college years…I will marry you.”
Jake smiled.
“But for now…let’s just enjoy ourselves as boyfriend and girlfriend.”
In the beginning, there was Jake and Eunice, and that is how it will end. Eunice learned that it was acceptable to be all flustered about things that happen normally. That is how your hormones function.
All her life, Eunice eventually got what she yearned for. Love and friendship. And happily ever after.
[THE END]
A/N: I hope you have enjoyed this completed story…again. After this, don't miss the premier of <By Your Side: Adventures in I-LAND>! IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME! YEAH!!! ;)