Last chapter.
Chapter 30: Remembering the Forgotten Times.
His Story.
Remember when we met? You looked so sad when I first laid my eyes on you. It wasn’t a good first impression, but it was interesting.
And do you remember that promise we made to each other before you left for America? You’d made a promise that you’d come back.
I used to spend ages thinking of what words to write to you before I’d send you a letter. I remembered when I would smile in joy when you wrote back. I’d read the letter over and over again before I’d store it safely in a drawer.
But I never knew what happened after the first few letters; we stopped writing to each other. We lost contact of each other, especially after I moved because of my father’s job and my sister’s wedding.
For some time I forgot about you. Thinking back on it now, I don’t know how I could’ve forgotten you. You were so important to me. But when I was going throw a box of old toys from my childhood, I came across a stack of envelopes and letters tied together.
I went through every letter again. I missed you then, I really did. Then it made me think, if you remembered that promise we’d made four years ago.
I wanted to write to you again. But what if you’d forgotten me? Just like the way I had forgotten you for the past year. Would you remember me? Did you miss me?
These questions lingered in my head that night as I read the letters over and over again. I wanted to see you then, I wanted to see your face and play games in the park like we’d use to when we were younger.
When will you come back? I’d never thought of that question until I read your letters again. Would you come looking for me when you came back? I still need the answered for these questions I once asked.
I told my closest friends about you. But you’ll always be my most treasured person, whether you’re my best friend or my lover, you’ve always been there in my heart.
When I walked along the empty school corridors one day, I heard our song. The song you used to bed me to teach you how to play. It was funny at the time, hearing our song. As I followed the musical notes, they led me to you.
At first I thought it was a hallucination, a figment of my imagination because I missed you so much, but no. It was you. Sitting behind the black and white keys playing our song as a smile danced on your face.
When you ran towards me, I embraced you in my arms, how long I’ve yearned for your touch. I almost wanted to cry because of pure happiness then. When I introduced you to my friends, I couldn’t help but feel jealous about the way you looked at Yoochun.
I knew it was nothing, but it still irritated me.
That day when I celebrated my birthday, I waited hours for you. I wanted to tell you something special, something that might change our status. But you never came. Instead I received a phone call that you were in an accident and in hospital.
I rushed there, hoping you were fine when I entered the room. I saw you there, laying there, your beautiful face bruised and cut.
I hated that moment; I didn’t want to see you like this.
I never knew the real reason why you left again, when you came back kept your promise and came back again. You didn’t recognize me. Were you just lying? Or did you really forget me?
But why did you do all this?
I still don’t understand.
Even when you neglected me
Even when time stops
Even when years have gone by
Even when you’re not on Earth anymore
I still love you Minjung.
You’ll always be in my heart.
Thank you Minjung. You’re everything I’d ever wish for.
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Her Story.
I remembered that promise I made. I’d always come back to you. I still remember, that promise is there, locked up inside my heart.
I dreaded that moment when I had to leave you. But we wrote to each other, right? I’d use to stand by the mailbox everyday, waiting fro your letter to come. But one time, I waited and waited. Your letter never came.
Two years later I still remembered you. I kept your necklace close to me, wearing it whenever I had a chance to. I guess that necklace and your letters were the only things to keep your memories alive then.
I miss you.
I still remember those moments when I’d beg my father to let me go back to Korea because I missed you that much. But after a while living in the states, I got used to the life. Of course I still missed you terribly but I’d gotten use to the life in the states.
When my father said I could go back to Korea another year later, the first thing that came to my mind was you. I was overjoyed. I could see you again, after all these years. But when I came back, you weren’t there, you were gone.
But, the funny thing was, I found you again, at school on the first day. I was happy, so happy and overjoyed.
On your birthday that year, I wanted to give you something special, but it never happened. I remembered bright lights and feeling dizzy and then everything went black. When I woke up again, I didn’t know how I was, I didn’t remember anything, I had forgotten you then.
Yoochun; I loved him. He was a true friend, someone you could really rely on. Whenever I felt lost and sad, he always seemed to be there for me.
Thank you Yoochun, I love him. But not the way I love you Jaejoong. You were special. Whenever I saw you, I would blush. Whenever you touched me, my heart would stop beating. And whenever you kissed me, it felt like heaven. You made my life worthy.
When the doctors told me I had cancer, I felt scared. I wanted to tell you, but I was scared you’d abandon me. I was scared you’d leave me, I told Yoochun, and I trusted him to not tell anyone.
But when I saw you, I wanted to tell you everything, I wanted to admit everything. I wanted you to stay by my side. But I didn’t tell you anything. I feel so stupid. Why didn’t I tell you? I was scared. I’ve never been that scared before in my life, not even when my brother, Sungmin, passed away.
But you had your ways. Your beautiful dark eyes would always allure me. That day, I felt heartbroken. It was a greater pain than dying. I know it for sure.
That kiss you gave me, its essence still lingers around my lips.
The moment before I left this world, I wanted to see you.
Nothing more than just one last look at you was all I wanted.
I lived a worthy life with you in it.
Your love was all I ever asked for.
Thank you Jaejoong.
I’d always remember you, even in my next life.
You’d always be there inside my heart.
Jaejoong, I love you.