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The window stood firm, shielding him against the pouring rain outside. His empty eyes stared through the shadows that were faintly reflected in the glass, scattered among the raindrops that never stopped.
I thought the rain would pass. Noah let out a sigh. The tinkling of the piano followed. The memories from the bright day were like a miracle—but I could no longer remember, neither about that day nor about them.
He held a piece of paper with musical notes written on it.
Especially him.
Beep, beep, beep.
"Noah Hyung!"
"Wake up already!"
"Hyuuung!"
Noah's brows furrowed deeply. His hand instantly flew to his face, protecting him from the dazzling sunlight. Then he rubbed his eye, slowly letting the view of the garden outside reach his eyes.
"The rain ... has stopped?"
It wasn't meant to be said out loud, especially with the other three around.
Noah quickly shook his head. "Nevermind," said him. "What's wrong? Did something big happen that I have to sacrifice my sleep?"
The three looked at each other before one of them blurted out, "You sacrificed more than your sleep, though."
It came from Hamin, the black-haired man whose foot was immediately stomped by Bamby. "Don't mind him, Hyung."
"Mhm," Eunho followed. "William was looking for you. Said he has someone to introduce and all."
"Oh." Noah leaned back, covering his face with a piece of paper. "I'm not interested—"
"We know." Bamby replied fast, his hands clenched into fists despite his flat face. "But just this once, at least let him meet you."
The blond paused, taking the paper off his face. "You've met him?" asked him, eyes still glued on the musical notes written there.
"We have." The silver-haired man answered. "He's a great singer, Hyung. I ... I showed him the song."
"Huh?" Something inside him snapped. Noah nearly jumped from his seat, his eyes gleamed with anger. "You did what?"
"I was the one who asked him," Hamin casually replied. "It's not Eunho Hyung's fault."
The creak of the chair was loud against the quiet classroom. Bamby quickly stepped between them as Eunho grabbed Noah's hand tightly, not allowing the fist to hit Hamin's face.
"Don't, Hyung. We don't hurt each other."
Hearing that, Noah slowly lowered his hand, unclenching his jaw even though his heart was still pounding with frustration.
The room fell silent once again. Hamin looked down at his own blurry reflection on the floor. "I'm sorry." His voice was low and heavy, as if he didn't really want to say it. "But please. Just this once."
Noah's eyes shifted to the paper lay on the table. In the end, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Do whatever you want."
***
The studio felt unfamiliar, no matter how many times he stepped into it. Noah was tying his hair when the door squeaked.
Suddenly the room smelled like the ocean.
He raised his head. His eyes met the blue eyes in front of him.
"Oh, Noah. You're early."
Noah looked away. The strands of hair that didn't reach his hair tie fell down, covering a small part of his beautiful face. "Not really."
William threw a gentle smile. That middle-aged man always looked at Noah as if he were his own son. "For this year's festival, I want you to consider him."
The blond didn't rush to look back at him. Instead, he crossed his legs, staring blankly at the piano sitting quietly in the corner of the room.
"I'll pass." He shrugged. "Told you I've stopped singing."
William sighed softly. There was no way to win an argument with Han Noah, but he tried anyway.
After all, it wasn't the first time.
"Nam Yejun is his name." He patted the man sitting beside him. "I hope you two get along well."
Noah quickly stood up, walking toward the door as he tried to chase him. "Ya, did you even listen to me?!"
But William didn't even turn at him and reached for the doorknob instead. "You still love music, don't you? Otherwise, why would you still come here every single day when you've graduated?"
Noah froze, his hand hanging in the air. Then the door before him closed, leaving him alone with his tangled thoughts and the blue-haired man who remained still in his seat.
The sound of shoes colliding with the floor broke the silence. A hand was extended toward him.
"Nam Yejun," the man said.
Noah swore it was the first time he heard that voice, so why did it sound familiar?
"Han Noah." He reached for that hand, and it felt warm.
Well, it's summer.
"Was it right?"
It snapped him back to reality. "What?"
Yejun put his hands inside his pants pocket. "That you've stopped singing."
Noah tucked his hair to the back of his ear, leaning back against the door. "Well, I still help with lyrics. Though, most of them ended up in the trash."
Yejun tilted his head, confused. "Why?"
A chuckle slipped out. "If I say that I woke up from a weird dream and suddenly lost the ability to play instruments, do you believe it?"
Noah clasped his hands together. For some reason, he didn't want to meet the eyes in front of him.
"I ... just figured I'd stop singing and give up on music. But in the end, I keep coming back here. Weird, isn't it? It feels like ... I left something behind, and that thing is waiting for me to pick it up."
The room grew quiet, only the hum of the air conditioner filling the gap between them—until Noah grabbed the doorknob and let out a forced laugh.
"What, you believed that lame story? Of course I was just joking around. Aren't you so innocent? Haha." He patted Yejun's shoulder before he pulled the door open. "Anyway, I'm just here because the kids asked me to meet you. I still wouldn't sing for the festival, but feel free to join our band—I mean, it's not like I'm the leader or such, so ...."
The door before him was slowly closing, and the last thing he caught was the smile tucked at the blond's lips, before his eyes went blurry.
A drop of tear slipped.
Yejun dragged his back against the wall, falling down to the cold floor. No matter how many times fate brought them back together, he still wasn't used to the pain of having Noah forget him.
After all, it was Han Noah. The one who owned his heart.
"I've come back, Noah."
It wasn't the beeping of the alarm that woke him this time, nor the noise of Eunho and Bamby arguing. It was because someone took a piece of paper from his hand—from the hand that held it tightly even in his sleep.
"Oh, s-sorry—"
Noah had snatched it before Yejun even finished his word. The paper was crumpled now as he squeezed it into his hoodie pocket. "Need help with something?"
That voice was hoarse, heavy with sleepiness. Yejun stood up from his knees, pretending to set up recording equipment on the table across from him. "I brought tteokbokki. Eunho said he wanted it." He slumped into the chair, taking the guitar into his lap. "I thought you fell asleep while working on the lyrics. Sorry, I didn't mean to peek or anything."
Noah crawled back into the couch as he yawned, his eyelids fluttering shut. "Nah, don't mind me. I'm just here to sleep."
Yejun glanced at the blond before shifting his eyes back to the guitar. "You sleep here?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah." Noah waved his hand lazily, as if he didn't think the question was necessary. "It's not a big deal. Eunho once played around with the drums and Bamby nagged him, yet I still slept soundly."
Hold on, is that so? He frowned. Wait, I can't really remember—or is it a false memory?
Noah squeezed his face into the couch. Lately, he spent most of his time lying around in the studio—if not the empty classroom—but instead of getting a clear mind, his brain kept showing him flashes of memories he didn't know he ever had.
"Anyway, you can sing as loud as you want. Just think I'm not here."
Noah might not realize, but Yejun had been looking at him from his seat. He strummed the guitar in his lap, pressed his lips together and hummed along to the melody.
He didn't think it'd make Noah get up from the couch and walk toward him. Every footstep filled with rage he was trying to hold back, and by the time he reached there, his trembling hand grabbed Yejun's collar.
"N-Noah? Y-You said I can—"
"What song were you humming?"
Yejun's grip on the guitar loosened. "Eunho showed me the demo," answered him weakly.
Noah always hated those eyes. The eyes that looked at him with longing. The eyes that, for some reason, could pull him out from the ache in his heart.
"Noah," Yejun called softly, "what did I do wrong?"
Noah let go of Yejun's collar slowly. His hand was limping on his side. "Sorry," he replied, voice barely above breath. "That song isn't supposed to be shown to anyone. So, please, don't touch it."
Yejun's fingers twitched. As if a hammer had been thrown at his heart, his chest tightened. "Is it yours?"
"No," Noah answered, his voice as cold as his eyes. "Someone made it, and I've been waiting for him to finish it, but ... I can't even remember who he is. I just know I have to protect it."
Yejun's hands clenched into fists. He wanted to burst. He wanted to shout. He wanted to tell Noah that it was him who made that song.
That he was the one Noah had been waiting for.
"The paper you held in your sleep," he paused, "musical notes are written there. Is that the lyrics?"
The blond-haired man looked away, squeezing the paper even tighter. "I thought so at first." He took it out, gazing down at the lyrics. "But it doesn't match the notes."
Noah gently stroked the crumpled paper. There was always a familiar throb in his heart every time he read it.
I won't forget
So please don't forget
That we were here
That we loved each other
He clutched at his chest, quickly crushing it back into his hoodie pocket. It's clearly a letter, right? A farewell letter ....
"I can't see that too?"
Yejun's voice snapped him back to reality. "You can't. It's a letter from someone."
Noah lied—or so he thought. He didn't remember how he ended up with the paper. But there was one thing he was sure—that letter, and the musical notes, were all meant to him.
"From someone? Who? Your lover?"
Yejun put his hand on the table, supporting his cheek as he stared at Noah's flushed face. A cheeky smile tucked at his lips.
"'If you don't forget me, I won't disappear.'" Yejun threw a soft smile. "Is that what the letter was saying?"
If it weren't for the voices of the other three people outside, Noah wouldn't be able to even move a finger. For a split second, he felt his heart sink into his stomach.
How did he know?
But Noah didn't say a word. Instead, he turned away, leaving Yejun alone in the studio as he slammed the door shut, not caring if the other three were looking at him worriedly.
Noah didn't know why he acted that way when he knew it might be nothing at all. Yejun might've accidentally read a part of the letter. That was all. There was nothing he needed to worry—no, what exactly did he worry about in the first place?
He pinched the bridge of his nose. Suddenly the air surrounding him tightened.
"Noah?"
The one being called paused. A strong wind hit his face, blowing strands of his hair away. He never thought he'd meet Nam Yejun outside the school—especially not on the beach.
"Oh, Yejun-ah." He tucked his hair back to his ear. "With the kids?"
"Nah, I was just looking for fresh air." A soft chuckle slipped out of Yejun. "Writer's block, is it? Haha."
The blond just nodded. He scratched the back of his head—it was rather awkward.
"Did something happen? You hadn't been coming to the school for a week."
Noah looked away, walking closer toward the water, letting the calm waves reach his barefoot. "Because I've graduated?" He turned around, facing away from the orange hue of the setting sun, throwing a faint smile to the blue-haired man a few steps away from him. "I'll come to the festival. Don't worry—"
"Is it because of me?" Yejun quickly asked. "Because I hummed that song? Or because of the letter?"
"What? No!" Noah jogged despite the wet sand getting between his toes. "Don't be so cocky—"
He paused—an earbud slipped into his ear. Yejun's fingers gently slid through the blonde hair before tucking it into the hair clip. "I like this song. Give it a listen."
Noah could feel the warmth on his face as he hesitantly reached for the hair clip. He wasn't the type to let anyone else touch his hair, but for some reason, he didn't want to push Yejun's hand away. That touch felt different. It was soft and delicate, like a gentle breeze on the sea.
As the sun finally set and was replaced by the moon, their fingers gently brushed against each other before finally intertwining, accompanied by the song playing through the shared earbuds.
Let's take our joys and sorrows
Hand in hand, to the sea
Yejun's eyes glued to the one beside him. Noah was so beautiful under the moonlight. The curl in his lips as the song was ending, the glow in his eyes as he gazed at him, and the excitement in his voice as he said he loved the song too. For the first time in his long journey, Yejun finally let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad, you still love music."
Red bloomed across Noah's cheeks. "I never said I hate it."
The blue-haired man chuckled softly, but his hands clenched behind his back. He wanted to caress that face. He wanted to stroke that hair. He wanted to pull Noah into his arms and take him into his warm embrace. There were many songs they hadn't had the chance to sing yet. Countless melodies they hadn't finished making.
Even so, Yejun knew he shouldn't be greedy.
We had a heartbreaking farewell that tore us apart. But in this world, we meet again.
The delicious smell wafted through the air as the door swung open. Noah quickly jumped from the couch, putting the headphones away on the table. "Buldak!" shouted him in excitement.
But the blue-haired man lifted the plastic bag too high that Noah couldn't catch. "Yours isn't spicy food."
It made the blond click his tongue. "What's with you?!"
Yejun tousled Noah's hair playfully, a soft giggle escaped him—completely unaware of the existence of the other three younger members. "You'll get a stomachache later." He put down the plastic bag, taking out the colorless, boring food from there. "Stop pouting. We'll pass by your favorite restaurant on our way back."
Noah slapped Yejun's hand away from his cheek—still pouting, still sulking. "Promise?"
"Promise."
For a few minutes, there was only the sound of chewing from Eunho. If Bamby hadn't cleared his throat, Yejun's pinky finger would probably still be hooked with Noah's for the next few hours.
Noah walked back to the couch. It had become his favorite spot for the past few weeks. A place for him to take a nap, or vent out the ideas that suddenly popped into his mind.
Yes, he came back to school. The day he met Yejun at the beach, he was told that the other three were worried—they just didn't have the courage to ask. Using it as an excuse, Noah agreed to come back.
In fact, he only wanted to listen to Yejun singing.
Noah knew Yejun was a pro, maybe even better than him. Still a mystery why that man came to this school and joined their amateur band only for a year-end festival. Yejun wasn't even the student here. Strangely enough, he quickly blended in well—both with the three band members and William, the director of Seonghwi Art Highschool. Well, he has that charisma, was what Noah thought.
If he could be honest, Noah, too, couldn't help but admire him. Together with Eunho, songwriting had become much easier ever since Yejun joined them—and surprisingly, Noah slowly regained his ability to play instruments. It was as if his brain suddenly remembered how to do it.
Still, he refused to go on stage.
Yejun's presence was enough, at least that was what Noah thought. Even without him, this band wouldn't shatter. As long as Yejun was there.
"No? I don't think so."
Noah blinked. He was in a daze when he realized there were crepes in his hand.
"The reason we don't force you is, because we don't want you to sing forcedly. Singing isn't something we can just do half-heartedly. And I remember how much emotion you put into your singing."
Noah nibbled on the crepes as they walked side by side. It was past twelve when they finished with the songs, but Yejun kept his word. They passed by Noah's favorite restaurant, bought the crepes, and now Yejun was walking him home.
"You've never even seen me sing."
Yejun paused, then a giggle slipped out. "I have," replied him. "They showed me your old performances."
Lie. The other three never showed him anything. But there was no way Yejun could forget how Noah sang when the man was his lifetime partner. Deep in his heart, he yearned for Noah to be on stage with him. With all five of them. Like how things used to be.
But for one more time, like an existence on the other side, they were completely different.
"So I can't understand your everything."
Noah turned, taking off the earbud from his ear. "Huh? Did you say something?"
Yejun's lips curled into a faint smile. He reached out, his fingers threaded through the blonde strands. "No."
I love you, Noah. Today, in the next lifetime, or on the other side—all versions of me will find their way back to you.
But you're so important to me
We can support each other because we're different
Where I fall short, you'll fill in
And even if they don't, you'll be the one who runs toward me.
Noah rubbed his heavy eyes as the phone kept on vibrating. He couldn't even see the name that popped up on the screen, the one who disturbed his sleep. "Hmm?"
"Noah? Still sleeping?"
He put the phone on the bed, eyes still closed. "Mhmm, why?"
"No, it's just ...."
For almost a minute, Yejun remained still, making him click his tongue in annoyance. "What's—"
"The festival is about to start ...."
Noah immediately jumped out of bed. His eyes widened as he read the clock. Only half an hour left.
"Shit, why didn't you call earlier?!"
He put the call into the loudspeaker, grabbing whatever clothes he could get.
"I've called, but only now you pick up. Thought you were busy, it's the weekend, after all."
He snatched his phone and it proved Yejun was right—there were multiple missed calls from him. The sound of the door slamming was heard afterward. "I'm going."
"You're driving? Noah, don't—"
Noah ended the phone, rushing as he put on the seatbelt. He could already imagine how crowded the streets were.
"Where did that annoying alarm go at times like this?!"
He slammed on the brakes—the light turned red.
"Hold on ... What exactly is that alarm?"
Noah's grip on the steering wheel tightened. Only now did he remember.
He never even set an alarm.
Bamby's scream in his ear, the smell of food Eunho brought into the studio, and how Hamin sat on his chest until he ran out of breath, he couldn't help but wake up. All this time, the three of them took turns waking him up.
So what was that alarm sound he always heard after every weird dream?
Noah quickly shook his head. The festival was about to start, and for some reason, he felt like time was running out.
As if something was chasing him from behind.
He was tying his hair as he pushed his way through the crowd of students. Finally the stage was right before him.
Then his eyes met Yejun's, who just received the mic from the director.
Yejun broke eye contact, scanning the sea of audience ahead with a faint smile on his lips. Noah knew it wasn't his first time performing—because that smile, that confident smile, was something no amateur would ever have.
"Tonight, together with these three wonderful members, I, Nam Yejun, stand here. Not as Noah's replacement—nobody can replace him."
Noah could feel the warmth spreading across his cheeks, along with his heart pounding as the crowd cheered him on relentlessly.
"Noah has helped us a lot. Without him, these songs wouldn't have been born. So, even though he's not standing here tonight, please give him a round of applause."
The crowd continued to cheer him on. Some nudged him playfully. Others whistled loudly.
Meanwhile, Noah could only look down to hide his red face. He'd expected his name to be mentioned in the credits, but he never thought Yejun to be the one to do it—and for the opening, of all the times.
"Also, there's a song that I worked on myself. It had been sitting in my drafts for a long time, and I lost some of the notes I'd written ... But I hope you enjoy it."
Noah clutched at his chest. For some reason, Yejun's words just now seemed like they were directed at him.
As a producer, coming home late at night was just an ordinary day. A boring life where they slept when the birds started chirping. Looking back, for the past few weeks, they'd spent almost all day in the studio, preparing for this festival. But only now did he remember—there were days when he found Yejun asleep in the studio, still wearing the same clothes as the day before. Maybe he's a little bit of a maniac, was what Noah thought. He never asked why Yejun stayed the whole day in the studio, or what song he was working on. The only thing he did was offer help, which Yejun gently declined. In the end, Noah just sat there quietly, not realizing that he'd kept him company.
"And we're reaching the end ...."
Noah quickly walked back to his place even though he was only a few steps from backstage. Let's say hello later.
For a split second, his eyes locked back on Yejun's—the eyes that shone brightly under the stage lights. There was a pang in his heart he could only laugh at.
He regretted not performing.
He wanted to stand alongside Yejun—maybe with the piano, or harmonizing with that siren voice.
If only he'd agreed to perform back then, would he have shared the same stage with Yejun?
No.
If he'd agreed, William wouldn't bother looking for another vocalist. If he'd agreed, Yejun wouldn't have to help them with the songs. If he'd agreed, they wouldn't have met in the first place.
Noah let out a soft chuckle. Who knew—maybe even at a place he couldn't see, a place he didn't know, he still lived thinking about Nam Yejun.
"... Before this festival ends, there is something I'd like to say."
Yejun's gaze swept across the audience before finally settling on the blue eyes at the front of the crowd. He gripped the mic tightly.
"About you coming into my life—thank you so much. Thank you. I'm so happy that I met you."
Loud cheers filled the entire field as Yejun finished, but amidst all the chaos, Noah remained still. He didn't need to take the paper out of his hoodie pocket; he'd read it enough times that he remembered every word written on it.
And those words, the words that came out of Yejun's mouth, were exactly as written there.
Noah felt a tightness in his chest, as if Terra had suddenly run out of oxygen. But the night continued, along with music and melodies he'd never heard before. Why did Yejun's voice sound so familiar to him? How did he know his favorite dessert restaurant? Why didn't he let him have the spicy food that day? A wave of questions suddenly flooded his mind.
Questions he finally knew the answers to.
It seems like it's still a gift to me
I promise you until the day I close my eyes in this world
I love only you
A tear slipped out of his eye, but he chuckled. Why didn't it ever occur to me to match the music notes to the demo song? Han Noah, you fool. He took out the crumpled paper, lifting it as high as he could until the wind finally carried it away, along with the hopes he prayed for.
The same hopes he had every year.
And the sky rumbled, as if it were in a fury. Time had been frozen, but not with the warplanes that flew closer toward them.
Noah brought his legs to run, leaping over into the blue barrier—like he'd done it several times before. The four of them had already been waiting for him there. He slammed into Yejun's body, sinking himself in his arms.
Oh, how he missed that warm embrace.
"Took you long enough."
Noah finally raised his head, letting the tears wet his cheeks. He gazed into Yejun's eyes deeply, his fingers gently stroking the face before him.
As if he was trying to remember every detail, embedding it into the deepest part of his brain.
Because once again, they lost.
"You ... finished the song."
Yejun let out a soft chuckle. He cupped Noah's cheeks, bringing it closer, landing a gentle peck on those lips.
Finally, Noah remembered him. Finally, they met again.
"It's okay ... You'd be okay."
It'd be a lie if he said he wasn't angry. From the bottom of his heart, Yejun shouted a curse at fate.
"Hyung ...,"
Noah gazed at the three. It was time for him to snatch the glowing brooch on his collar. A time for him to click the reset button. A time for him to say "until we meet again".
But this time, he held Yejun's hand instead.
"'If you don't forget me, I won't disappear,' right?"
Yejun's hand, which had been keeping them alive under the solid cage of the barrier, lowered. He looked at Noah, then the other three behind him.
Is this right?
Bamby was the first to catch it. "No, Hyung, what are you doing?!"
Eunho and Hamin followed—alas, they weren't as fast.
The shield had been closed without Yejun and Noah inside.
"Stop joking around, Hyung!"
"Come back!"
"Hyung!"
Perhaps because the warplanes were loud, neither of them could no longer hear those voices. No matter how loud Bamby screamed, or how many times Hamin kicked, or even how hot Eunho's fire was—nothing could bring them back into the shield.
Because this time, they chose a different ending.
Maybe this time, finally, they'd hold each other in their arms, without needing to say goodbye.
"Those kids won't forget us, will they?"
Noah wrapped his arms around Yejun's neck. His eyes glowed beneath the flash of the meteor.
So pretty, Yejun thought. He pulled that waist closer, pressing a kiss on Noah's forehead, rubbing the blood away as his blue hair was slowly turning into red.
"They won't."
Yejun buried Noah's face in his arms. Amidst the rain of bullets that continued to pour down, their fingers intertwined, keeping the spell active until the shield finally disappeared, engulfing the three people inside, taking them to another story, to a different ending.
Would they meet again? Neither of them knew. But the wind that carried the paper away would surely bring them back together.
Because even on the other hand, it's still us.
By the time this voice reaches you
We'll meet again back where it all began
After so many hellos