Wishes

2: After You Left Me (We Meet Again...)

20 March 2014

When Soo-ho arrived in front of the convenience store that afternoon, a small, ripped paper greeted him at the door.

Hey, Part-timer. Why do you never check your phone, you brat?

How come an old man is better than you at replying to text messages?

Don't bother coming in! Just know that the store is closed for today.

The last words were scribbled in, like an afterthought.

My son has a recital today.

-Kim Sang-beom

He paused and re-read the letter. He had no work today. He frowned, wondering how to clutter his day, to distract himself from the glaring problem. Looking ahead, he saw the pink trees that bloomed along the entire sidewalk, marking the first day of spring. He turned away, and began to walk–somewhere far, somewhere quiet.

The cherry blossoms lined his path and the petals fluttered down, scattering across the pavement. His gaze lingered on the pale pink flowers as his feet walked mindlessly, carrying him somewhere unfamiliar, yet he paid it no mind. All he knew was that he wanted to reach out for the tree. Walking and walking, just to graze it with his hand.

When he heard the faint sound of music, he turned his head and his foot froze mid-step. It was a part of town he had never been in before, yet the familiarity of the place struck him. It was as if he had been here before and before he knew it, his body moved on its own accord and approached the entrance.

Evergreen Record Store. Established 1985.

Entering the shop, the low mumble of 80s music and the smell of old books welcomed him, sending a shiver down his spine. Twenty-seven years of numbness was being subtly unfurled by the little comforts of the vintage shop and Soo-ho had no words to explain the aching in his heart. His feet carried him to a shelf and he brushed his hand over the yellowed, aging music sheets. Classical. 60's Rock. 70's Rock. 80's Disco. His eyes lingered. He walked over, reached for the first cassette tape, and pulled it out.

One Way Ticket - Eruption.

Overwhelmed by the sudden wave of unexplained nostalgia, Soo-ho let out a breath and looked around for a radio or a walkman. Anything, simply anything. Something within urged him to listen to it as if it were a solution to all his ills.

And then he stopped searching.

Nearly stopped breathing.

Because in the corner of the shop, a small, yet significant moment of 1987 was being repeated. That young girl, who was so carefree and magnetic. So lovely and endearingly charming. In an instant, the warmth of that corner flooded his mind, dousing him with deja-vu.

And Soo-ho remembered.

Young-ro, his first love.

The one who bloomed flowers within him, who was so cold and lonely until he had met her.

Who had stayed with him till the very end.

The only woman he had ever loved.

The girl took notice of nothing but the music that blasted in her headphones, and heedless to all around her, she began to sing.

"It's okay to be left alone,

I'm still young

so what if I get sad? I can just cry,

I'm wandering, missing my lost love.

I can never hate him, what do I do?"

The ice thawed and he found himself falling in love with her all over again. The numbness of this life disappeared within seconds. He missed her so much. He wanted to talk to her, see her smile again, hear her laugh.

He took one step towards her.

I want to see her happy once more.

The puzzle was then completed.

You may, upon one condition. No matter how much you long for her, you must long from afar. No matter the pain you may endure, you mustn't confront her. Disoblige and she will be taken back to the loom before her years' span is full.

He froze and turned quickly away as she spun around, realizing all eyes were on her.

"Ah, Choi Young-ro is at it again."

"Didn't she do this last week too?"

"Ah, she looks really embarrassed..."

Quietly, he listened to her hurried footsteps fade away.

The bell chimed as she opened the door.

And just as quickly as he found her again, she was gone.

*

A/N: The song Young-ro sings is "After You Left Me" by Chang Deok. It is sung by Room 207 in their dorm room and in the sauna when they were hiding Soo-ho. The snippet that she sings above is 2:06-2:25.