She tries to slip back into bed as quietly as she can, because Mina is a light sleeper and always has been. True enough, Mina shifts and opens her eyes blearily. "Baby?"
"I'm right here," Jihyo soothes, letting Mina curl into her side, her forehead meeting Jihyo's clavicle. Jihyo wraps an arm around Mina, sweeping a gentle hand up and down the staircase of her spine. "I just went to pee. Go back to sleep, love."
Mina makes a small, indistinct noise, but her breathing evens out as sleep claims her again. Jihyo listens to the steady sound of Mina's breathing, remembering moments when they used to share a room at the dorm and in foreign hotels, when the sound had soothed her to sleep.
The only difference is that Mina's hers now; Jihyo is no longer wary of any boundaries, of gazing only from a respectable distance. And there's nothing to stop her from kissing Mina's temple, so she does.
I love you, Jihyo thinks, teetering on the edge of sleep. I love you I love you I love you. There has never been a day I haven't loved you.
[REVIEW] Park Jihyo Redefines Love in Poetic New Album, "Saltwater Dreams"
Park Jihyo has had a long and illustrious career, both as a member of arguably the nation's biggest girl group to date, Twice, and as a solo singer after the group's disbandment. While Jihyo normally stays away from the controversies that plague other artistes of her generation, she was swept into a scandal just eight months ago - one that saw her disappear from the limelight and rumour has it, retreat to the tropical shores of Hawaii, where former member of Twice, Myoui Mina, apparently resides after her exit from the group due to anxiety-related health issues.
However, Jihyo's latest album, Saltwater Dreams, is a triumphant return. It breaks away from her previous albums and is a creative accomplishment that is entirely written and composed by the young star. Saltwater Dreams elevates Jihyo to a new height of artistry and creativity in its honest attempts to bring a deeper, personal and almost intimate touch to Jihyo's music.
As a whole, the album brings us on a journey as love changes shape; we begin with heartache and missed opportunities, and end on a more hopeful note of a love that's everlasting - a fitting happy ending to this love story.
The true strength of the album lies in the poetic lyrics, delivered by Jihyo in her unique vocal colour and timbre that reflects her talents as a singer, going far beyond her K-pop idol roots.
Upon release, the tracks from Saltwater Dreams instantly took over real-time music charts: an indication of her fans and the public's appreciation of her growth not just as an artiste, but as a true singer-songwriter.
Indeed, with this album, Jihyo has proven that she's no longer just an 'idol'. She has the talent and the tenacity to rise above controversies or hardships that come her way. In fact, with every new release, Jihyo solidifies herself as a true artiste with additional layers to her creativity and musicality. Park Jihyo is breaking through as a force to be reckoned with - and she's definitely here to stay, with so many more heights to reach.
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