CHAPTER FOUR: HERE WE MEET AGAIN PART ONE
MINHO'S POV
I got woken up by the sound of my phone ringing..." Hello..." I said lazily..." Hey minho it's Suho.." he replied as I sobered up.." Good morning...can you please help me out..?" He asked.
" Iam sorry you had to cancel on your sleep for this.." Suho said..." it's okay..O still have plenty of days to catch up on sleep.." I replied.." It's just that Iam in charge of the year book for this year's seniors and I had promised them to take their year book today but then the photographer called to cancel and then I thought of you soo..." He explained.." it's okay..." I replied.." I'll then go and ask them to start preparing for the photos.." he added as he quickly left...
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I made preparations and started to take the students photos each capturing their joy and excitement as well as the beauty of their youth..." Okay okay..that's it for now..the rest of you who wish to take more photos can come back after lunch..." Suho said as they all responded by voicing about their di satisfaction..." Come on come on...Mr Choi here has to have something to eat too..." He said as they all agreed and started to leave...." You have worked hard.." Suho said as he handed me a bottle of water..." It was unexpectedly fun...I sort of missed this kind of environment while taking pictures..I usually work with professional models and actors and actresses...the atmosphere always feels rather intense and serious...but with these kids I got to even smile and all....I had fun too." I replied.." Well if that's the case then I might invite you to take photos during our end of senior year camp out....that's if you interested.." he said.." Well text me the details and I'll be there.." I replied....
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Later on, Suho, Arin and I had agreed to have dinner together at our very own favourite hot pot restaurant..." It's been a while since I've had this..." I said.." Right...me and suho stay here and could have this at any time but it just hits more differently with you here.." Arin said...as we started to dig in...
After the meal..." Are you sure you don't want to ride with us?" Suho asked.." No...I feel bloated so I'll take a walk home.." I said as they both said their goodbyes and left.
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My little evening stroll led me to the highschool.... realising that the gate was closed..I chose to go over the fence...I walked up to the school rooftop and saw someone standing precariously close to the edge. In the dim light, I could make out the figure of a woman..." Is she trying too..?" I asked my self as I also called out to her lousy but Fearful that shouting might startle her, I cautiously approached from behind and managed to pull her back just in time, causing the both of us to tumble to the ground.
"What are you doing?" the lady asked, quickly getting up from on top of me... "What do you mean, what are you doing? What were you thinking?" I nervously responded, trying to comprehend the situation. "I don't know what you're going through, but taking your life isn't the answer." I added....The lady remained silent, staring at staring at me and then, " what are you talking about...I wasn't trying to commit suicide..I just needed some air..." She replied As I strained to see her face in the darkness, " That's a pretty dangerous place to get some air don't you think..any one in my position would have worried that you were planning to jump..." I replied.." Well thanks for the concern..but I wasn't.." she replied as I prepared to Question her more but the lights suddenly flicked on, revealing the person before me..... To my astonishment, the woman I had just seemingly rescued from the edge was none other than Kang Soojin...at first I thought that I was seeing things....so I quickly rubbed my eyes to clear up my vision....."Kang Soojin," Minho uttered in disbelief as she turned and stared at me as well...." Choi Minho!" She exclaimed as well as we both stood there frozen as we stared at eachother.....
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SOOJIN'S POV
" Sorry Iam late..I hope you didn't wait long.." dad said as he quickly sat down across from me.." Why haven't you ordered anything..what would you like to have?" He asked.." I don't need anything..I just want to talk to you about something..." I said as I took a deep breath to gather the courage to break the news of my illness to him..." Dad.." I said as I got cut off by his phone ringing..." Let me pick this real quick.." he said as he stood up and left...
" Okay what's it?" He added as he sat down but I couldn't say anything again as his phone kept buzzing..." You seem pretty busy..maybe we should do this some other time.." I suggested.." No no...it's just that today's is Kang has birthday ( my step brother)and we are supposed to have dinner with him today..so they are a bit in a rush..." He explained.." Well I would hate for you not to make it in time so let's talk about this next time.." I said.." Are you sure?" He asked.." Iam...I also have somewhere to be." I said as he quickly left.. without even turning back..." Well that went well.." I said under my breath as I sipped on my glass of water.
I didn't have much to do so I spent the entire afternoon locked up in my apartment and as I scrolled through my phone...I came a cross a picture of my granny...and it gave me an idea...maybe what I needed right now was a break...a break away from my thoughts...and there is no better place to get that than my hometown...in xi Ying...so I stood up, packed my travellers bag and hailed a cab to take me to Xiying....
" Xiying!" Nana exclaimed..." Yes...I already talked to Mr song and I'll be back to Han city in a week..." I replied...as I hang up...and leaned back my seat.
It wasn't long before we finally arrived in Xiying and As I stared out the car window, taking in the sights and sounds , I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the familiar yet comforting aura that surrounded me.....
The silence here is different, soothing, interrupted only by the cheerful chirping of birds, a melody that resonates with memories of simpler times. The marketplaces, once vibrant and noisy, now bustling with activity, still retain that lively charm that defines Xiying. The friendly smiles on the faces of the people here, unchanged by time....
It's amusing how little Xiying has changed, despite my absence for more than ten years. The nostalgia that washes over me is bittersweet, a reminder of the enduring spirit and essence of this town that holds a special place in my heart. Xiying, with its timeless beauty and unwavering charm, remains a haven of memories both good and bad.
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" We here..." The taxi driver said as I quickly placed a face mask on and stepped out of the taxi..." Here you go.." the taxi driver continued as he handed me my luggage..." Thank you.." I said as I turned to leave when he stopped me.." Are you by any chance..Kang soojin..the singer Kang soojin?" He asked with a wide smile on his face.." Iam sorry I just I noticed earlier when you took off your mask but I didn't want to disturb your journey so I kept it to my self.." he added.." You see my daughter is a big fan of yours.." he added.." can you help me with an autograph...she will be happy to have it.." he added as he handed me a note pad.." Your daughters name?" I asked.." Li Wei.." she said as I signed and left a little message for Li Wei..." thank you so much.." he said cheerfully as I turned to leave.
Thankfully...the neighbourhood for some strange reason seemed rather quiet so I didn't have people stopping to talk to me or ask me questions..play I had a mask on and was unrecognisable I think..." Granny!" I called out as I knocked on the door.." Right..she has to be at work at this time..." I said as I looked around..." I hope she still keeps the key here.." I said as I opened the large flower pot and saw the key..." Somethings really don't change.." I said as I picked it up and quickly opened the door.
As I step into Granny's house, that familiar lavender scent fills the air, just like it always has. Everything is arranged exactly as it was ten years ago, preserving memories of days long gone. My eyes land on a photo of Granny, I and my friends back then..Arin, Suho and even Minho.. and as I stared at it.. a rush of emotions floods over me as I pick it up....
Walking into my room, it's like I've time-traveled back to high school! My room is decorated with all my past tastes and preferences: a huge poster of my favorite soloist, HAEIN, proudly displayed on the wall, my guitar resting in the corner, and my bed covered in stuffed animals....
I quickly took a shower and tried to call granny to alert her of my arrival but she wasn't picking up, I thought of stopping over as her bakery but I didn't want to draw attention to my self Soni just stayed in....
After hours of boredom, I decided to take a stroll outside...and hoped that granny would be back by the time I had finished...I stopped my a convenience store and bought a can of beer and then headed to my favourite place in the whole town...my high-school rooftop...
As I sit at the rooftop of our high school, echoes of laughter from our past adventures with my friends fill the air. "This spot still has the best view in the entire town," I reminisce, leaning against the ledge to soak in the scenery. With arms outstretched and eyes closed, I'm suddenly jolted by a hand grasping mine, pulling me back. "What are you doing?" I blurt out, startled by the unexpected interruption...." What Iam I doing? What are you doing?" The mysterious person asked...." Look I don't know what you going through but taking your life isn't an answer..." The person adds as I realised what they thought..." Look I wasn't trying to commit suicide...I just wanted some fresh air..." I replied...." Well isn't that a dangerous way to get fresh air.." he added as I took a deep sigh...it wasn't long before the lights flickered on so I looked up to see who this most mysterious person was..only to get dumbfounded by looking up to a familiar face..." Kang soojin..." He said with disbelief...." Choi Minho!" I exclaimed as well....
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