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They have been dating for a few months now. Everything was going well between them, though they have been busy with work in the hospital.
“Gyeoul-ah, we have band practice tonight. The guys are asking if I can bring you with me?” Jeong Won asked.
She was surprised “They asked? Really?” she asked shyly.
“Yeah! We’ll have dinner at Seok Hyeong’s place before the practice.” Jeong Won confirmed.
“Hmm… sure! I will finally hear you play. So are you any good?” She teased.
“Hmmp… you don’t trust my abilities, huh?” He pouted, putting his arms on her waist facing her.
“I’m kidding of course! Stop pouting or I’ll kiss you right here!” She teased again.
“Then why not? We’re alone here.” Jeong Won teased back, while looking around the empty GS on-call room.
She then started to lean closer to him, seemingly trying to give him a kiss on the lips, but then at the last minute, she gave him a kiss on the cheek instead. Before he could react, she ran out the door, leaving him dumbfounded.
“I’m going for my rounds now. See you tonight!” At that she ran off, blowing a kiss at him.
‘What happened to the innocent Gyeo-ul? Hahaha!’ He thought happily to himself.
That night, Jeong Won went back to the GS on-call riim to fetch Gyeo-ul. He found her resting on her table. He wanted to wake her up, since they are running a bit late, but couldn’t find the courage to. Instead he got a chair and sat down beside her admiring her.
‘Aissh… she must be so tired. I can’t bear to wake her up. How did I get so lucky to be hers? God, I love this woman. Wait… did I say love? Maybe now is not the right time.’ He thought.
He tucked a stray hair out of her face. She started stirring in her sleep at that.
Everything was blurry when she opened her eyes, but she is so sure that someone was watching her in her sleep.
When Jeong Won saw this, he gave her glasses to her.
“Hey… Did you have a good sleep?” He asked lovingly stroking her hair.
“Yeah. How long have you been here?” She asked.
“Long enough to hear you snoring.” Jeong Won teased.
“Yaah! I don’t snore.” She argued.
“I’m kidding. I was here around 5, 10 minutes already. I really didn’t want to wake you up.” Jeong Won said.
“But we’re already late. You should’ve woke me up. Let me change out of my scrubs then we’ll leave ok?” She said.
He nodded and took a seat again. He texted the guys that they will be a bit late for practice, something that he had never done before.
The door to the on-call room opened again, he saw Gyeoul making her way to him again in her usual clothes, paired up with a denim button down shirt, much like he was wearing.
“I didn’t realize that I brought the same clothes as you.” She said shyly.
“It’s fine. Now we really look like a couple, twinning and all.” Jeong Won teased her as they were finally walking out of the hospital.
“So how are we getting there. You don’t have a car.” Gyeoul said.
“Well, eomma gifted me a car and it just arrived a while ago. That’s why I was out for a while this morning. Had to test drive it first.” He said.
“Omo! Let’s go then.” She said excitedly.
At the parking lot, she saw a white range rover with slightly tinted windows.
“I know it’s a bit too much. But my mom won’t let me take it back.” Jeong Won said shyly.
She didn’t say anything. He opened the door for her to get in the car, got her work bag and put it in the back seat.
He started the car and drove to Seok Hyeong’s place.
In the car, they was chatting all about their day when music familiar to Gyeoul’s ears suddenly played on the radio…
Confessions is Not Flashy
I gave it to you someday
a dazzling bouquet of flowers
The light and the fragrance
It won’t be long before you wither sadly
Now you are prettier than flowers
I’ll lose without strength
It’s not like flowers
our own affection
I’m gonna breathe
Dear my dear,
I promise you without saying anything.
Until your tears dry
I’ll protect you.
Looking back on the present in the distant and distant future.
If I could give you a little kiss,
on this wide world
in those long and long hours
Of all those people,
I only love you
Dear my dear,
I promise you without saying anything.
Until your tears dry
I’ll protect you.
Looking back on the present in the distant and distant future.
If I could give you a little kiss,
on this wide world
in those long and long hours
Of all those people,
I only love you
on this wide world
in those long and long hours
Of all those people,
Thank you for meeting you.
“Omo! I love this song. It’s old but still..” She exclaimed.
“We played this once during band practice. Ik-jun even gave me a solo part.” Jeong Won told her.
“Really?! I should hear it someday.” She said. “Jeong Won-ie, can you sing it for me? Please!” She begged.
“Some other time.” He sighed.
But she just pouted.
“Some other time. Promise.” He said again.
“hmm…” She said sadly.
He glanced at her but decided not to give in, but he was surprised when she suddenly gave him a peck on the cheek.
“Hmmm… okay.” He smiled.
He started singing the second verse of the song, loudly at that. Gyeo-ul was just laughing at his antics.
They finally arrived at Seok Hyeong’s house. He opened the car door for her, held her hands in his and walked up to the house.
“Glad you two lovebirds can join us. Come on and eat.” Lee Ik-jun said.
Lively chatter ensues while they are having their dinner. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jeong Won whispering to Seok Hyeong, which eventually was passed down to the other members of the band.
‘Can we do Far Away by Nickelback today? I want to sing a verse too.’ Jeong Won whispered to Seok Hyeong.
Seok Hyeong only nodded at him then passed it on to others
“What was that?” Gyeoul asked Jeong Won.
“Hmm.. it’s a secret” Jeong Won said.
“Ok.” She said.
“You want to see where we have our practices?” Prof. Chae Song Hwa asked her.
“Yeah! Jeong Won-ah show her. We’ll be right with you.” Ik Jun suggested.
They headed down to the practice room.
“Watch your step. One of the floorboards is…” Before he even finished what he wanted to say, Gyeoul’s foot stepped on it “Loose. Sorry late warning. You okay?” asking her, while holding her arm.
“Yeah I’m okay. Thank you.” Gyeoul answered him.
“So here we are. This is where we practice at least every Friday night. Well I play the drums, Ik-jun and Jun Wan plays the guitar, Song Hwa plays the bass guitar and Seok Hyeong on keyboards. Ik-jun also do most of the vocals, while we back him up.” Jeong Won said.
“Really? Can you teach me to play drums?” Gyeoul asked him.
“Maybe some other time. The others will be down here any moment.” He said.
As if they can hear him, the guys were thundering down the stairs already.
“Ok! Let’s start! With a very special audience today.” Ik jun said looking at Gyeoul.
They went to their respective instruments and warmed up.
The introduction to the song played.
‘Must be an upbeat one.’ She thought.
Before the first verse started, she saw Jeong Won glanced at her and smiled.
This time, this place misused, mistakes
Too long, too late, who was I to make you wait?
Just one chance, just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know, you know, you know
That I love you, I have loved you all along and I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me and you'll never go
Stop breathing if I don't see you anymore
He was singing, not just to anyone, but to her. While he was singing, he thought of all those times he mistreated her with his words and actions. How he could simply deny his attraction to her. To his friends, to her.
On my knees I'll ask, "Last chance for one last dance?"
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all I'd give for us
Give anything, but I won't give up
'Cause you know you know, you know
That I love you, I have loved you all along and I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me and you'll never go
Stop breathing if I don't see you anymore
‘Omo! What’s this? Is he singing this to me?’ Gyeoul thought to herself.
She could remember all those times that she would just watch him from a distance. How he rejected her invitation to dinner with her, and lied about his excuse.
So far away, so far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away, so far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know
I wanted, I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed, I need to hear you say
That I love you (I love you), I have loved you all along
And I forgive you (and I forgive you), for being away for far too long
He remembered that fateful Christmas day. When she begged him to stay at the hospital. How she cried right in front of him. She wanted him to stay, not just in the hospital, but by her side too.
So keep breathing, 'cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it, hold on to me and never let me go
Keep breathing, 'cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it, hold on to me and never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and never let me go
On that last note, Jeong Won saw that there were tears on Gyeoul’s eyes. She probably reminisced also because of the song.
“We’ll be upstairs.” Jun Wan patted Jeong Won on the back. But Jeong Won doesn’t seem to care. He was only looking at his girlfriend. Who was still sobbing quietly.
Jeong Won finally approached her, pulling her in for a hug.
“Hey. Are you okay? Why are you crying?” He asked worriedly.
She only shook her head against his chest, still sobbing.
He pushed her away lightly so he can look at her. But her head was still down looking at the floor between them. He tilted her chin up, so she can look at him.
“Hey. What’s wrong? Tell me. You didn’t like the song?” he asked her again.
“No. I love it. Too much. I just remembered everything that happened to us. You know? Right before we got together. How we fought, no, disagreed on a lot of things. I almost gave up; you know? When I saw that you have no interest. The night I confessed to you, I thought that it would be my last chance, I was going to do it to give me peace of mind. But you felt the same. I was happy and all these months, I always am. Thank you.” Gyeoul said, finally happy to get it all out, but still tears sting her eyes.
At this point, tears were also pooling from Jeong Won’s eyes.
“I am too. Happy that this is finally happening. I never wanted to hurt you back then. But I was still too conflicted to do something about my feelings for you. I always wanted to be a priest, you know? But when I got to know you, I started doubting myself if I really wanted that. The more I knew you, the more I doubted. When I started to have the thought that you liked me, I decided to not be a priest. The night you confessed, I was going to tell you that I will stay, that my calling is to serve the Lord through helping my patients.” He said lovingly at her while cradling her cheeks. He hugged her again. She was shaking from her tears and being overwhelmed to all that he said.
They stayed like that for a while. When her sobbing started to die down. He broke away from the hug so he can look at her.
“Gyeoul-ah, everything you heard in the song, is what I really feel. I love you, Gyeoul-ah.” He told her.
She was surprised by his words. For a while, she didn’t say anything, just looking at his eyes.
“You don’t have to say it back now…” He started to say.
“I love you too, Jeong Won-ah.” She told him sincerely. “I have for a long time.”
He only smiled. He bent down to her to give her a kiss, pouring all the love he felt for her.