TEEN SPIRIT

MELODY OF YOUTH - @sunootz

Written by: sunootz

PARK SUNGHOON - ENHYPEN

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

MELODY OF YOUTH —

(writing contest, teen spirit) ft. park sunghoon

It's quiet, just like how it's always been, but Jihye knows that this silence is temporary, for in five minutes by now, the all too mellifluous sound of the piano keys being hit will fill the next room, echoing through the empty corridors of the school and reaching her own ears.

Just like every night, she'll subconsciously smile to herself, she'll pack her things up and follow the sound, open the door at the end of the hallway and find him, the once strange figure of a boy with such strong passion for the instrument before him. Jihye peeked from the door looking at the person, sensing the passion running through the room.

"Still the same melody." She said letting herself come closer towards his frame, as she sat near the piano. He wasn't eager for her presence but somehow it peaces him. Sunghoon, remember the first night they met, he was playing as she dancing feeling the music through her veins— his soft fingers slowly played that melody, he will forever remember.

"Stille the same dream." He could only reply that Sunghoon doesn't have anything to say that melody was suddenly playing in one of his dreams, eager to know the meaning of this melody he'll hear every time; he'll close his eyes as the melody would softly play. — leaving the school quietly at night.

Sunghoon was marching towards the bus stop, waiting for the next. He was a high school student, quieter than usualSunghoon doesn't have many friends like it seems to be. At first, he was living with his grandfather near the city. But like every teenager at his age, he wanted to pursue his dream to be the best pianist in his grandfather's eyes.

Reaching the bus stop, Sunghoon stepped inside it, taking the place near the window. The sky was gloomy, and it seemed that it'll rain soon. The dimple boy, sigh resting his head on the window, before closing his eyes. Everything happened so quickly, Sunghoon doesn't even know where the passion for that special instrument is, but it was like a piece of evidence. Once the bus stop in the neighborhood, he bid goodbye to the driver and stepped out of the bus; looking at the gloomy sky mixing with a glimpse of light. "Rainy days, for tonight."

Sunghoon was a nostalgic boy, and somehow the piano could reflect some memories of the childhood he once shared with his grandfather. But everything changed, Sunghoon moved near the campus leaving his grandfather living on his own, in order to pursue his dreams. He stepped inside the small room he found for a petite rent per month knowing that no one was helping him financially— taking off his coat, Sunghoon sighed turning on the desk lamp as he took his notebook.

A petal from a rose fell from your hand as you were trying to hold mine; who are you my Rose?

Another nightmare. Sunghoon is tired of his insomnia. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. This isn't the first, and it won't be the last. He took a sip from the water bottle and put the blanket aside; dreams have been a part of his life ever since he moved out from the countryside with his grandfather, Sunghoon doesn't why his childhood suddenly resurfaces bashing his dreams.

A thing he was sure, that Rose from his dream made him forget about how awful the reality could be despite the strength he kept to face the world alone. Sunghoon was up for another day at school, ditching class to play the piano— his comfort place.

For Jihye, she knew where the passion came from, and seeing Sunghoon this passionate for a single activity, all she wanted to do was support him when no one was there for him. Melody rang through the corridors every night, as she smiled at that melody. It was like Sunghoon was playing out his pains, feeling the strongness over the notes he would play; like a soul searching.

But one night, Jihye was packing her stuff as she finished the last practice before the competition in two days; she sighed closing the door waiting for that melody— but nothing. The sad silence took over the corridors hearing the owls at night. Jihye felt alone, it was the first time ever since they started to meet at night; it was the first time where Jihye felt uncomfortable at school.

She marched slowly towards the music room, about to twist the doorknob as peeking her head inside before letting her body slide inside the cold room, dark without a glimpse of light. "Sunghoon?" Her voice wasn't loud enough to catch any attention, she put her bag near the chair as she called his name for another time; hoping to be here. "Sunghoon..?"

Near the window, Sunghoon was there sitting at the edge of it notebook in his hand as he wiped his tears away, what happened here she thought for him to be in the worst state she could know. Sunghoon wasn't the type of crying easily, but that night— he understands everything.

Rose! Let's play together! — ran through the field of his grandfather as he was giggling over the happiest moment he could feel. Sunghoon took her hand, running together towards the highest hill of their village. Hey! My name isn't rose. — she laughed cutely, Sunghoon stroked her hair; Rose wasn't her name but her scent reminds him of a rose— this is where everything started, his wistful dreams.

"The melody was from Rose." He looked beside him, meeting her soft gaze as she linked their hands together intertwining their fingers. His mysterious melody wasn't from his grandfather, Sunghoon discovered that melody from her, Jihye. His rose was Jihye, hearing her humming the same melody since the first night they spent together— they were connected.

She chuckled turning her head away from his gaze as she closes her eyes tightly; she never thought of finding her childhood love and the happiness of her youth, but Sunghoon was there holding her hands like there's no tomorrow together.

It all started with a melody of their youth, sharing wistful dreams together to sharing the most meaningful together.

"Be my pianist for my performance."

And that is where their story begins, by recreating their youth together, running through the field as she was humming the melody of youth.