Frozen Memories➔ps.ff

Chapter 8

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A few weeks had passed since that poignant night when Sunghoon had received the special necklace from Sarang. The days seemed to blur together, each one filled with a mix of routine and turmoil.

The mornings were especially difficult for him, as he struggled to balance his new commitments and the burden of keeping secrets from Sarang.

One quiet morning, Sunghoon sat at the breakfast table with his family. The conversation buzzed around him, but he was lost in thought, his mind preoccupied with the weight of his double life. He picked at his food, barely registering the conversation between his mother and Yeji.

His mother suddenly broke the relative peace, asking, "Sunghoon, did you tell Sarang yet?"

The question jolted Sunghoon from his reverie, and he froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. The lingering sadness he had been trying to suppress resurfaced. He cleared his throat and responded coldly, "No, I haven't told her anything. She doesn't have to know."

His mother cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to diffuse the tension. "Well, let's talk about something else, then."

Sunghoon's mood was shattered. The conversation continued around him, but he couldn't shake the heaviness in his heart. He had promised himself that he wouldn't tell Sarang until he was sure about his path, but every day it seemed harder to keep the truth from her.

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Six months ago, his parents had surprised him with the news that a prominent entertainment company was scouting for trainees. They reminded him of his childhood dream of becoming an idol, something he didn't even remember expressing but had somehow stuck in their minds.

Faced with their enthusiasm and the opportunity before him, Sunghoon reluctantly agreed to give it a shot, even though his real passion had always been figure skating.

The initial shock of the news had been overwhelming. He went to the company with his mother and got registered for auditions, which he passed easily due to his dancing skills. They told him he needed to work on his vocal training, but Sunghoon was determined to drop out eventually.

He didn't want to disappoint his parents but felt trapped in a situation he had never asked for.

His schedule shifted dramatically. Where he had previously spent every afternoon at the figure skating academy, he now found himself training at the company four times a week.

He even fabricated a story about needing extra time to study because his grades were slipping, a half-truth that Sarang believed. She even offered to tutor him, but he declined, saying he had a tutor already arranged.

He hated lying to her but felt it was necessary to avoid her disappointment.

He didn't understand why he had to keep up this pretense. He had always shared everything with Sarang, and hiding his new endeavor from her felt like a betrayal.

His only solace was the small hope he found in seeing her, which reminded him of why he had to keep going.

One day, while heading to the company, he met Park JongSeong (Jay), his friend from the training program, at their usual spot. Jay was born in America and moved to Korea when he was a child.

Jay was coming from school, and they both changed into their training outfits before walking together. The usual chatter and light banter filled the air between them as they made their way to the company.

Jay had become a close friend to Sunghoon after they met at the company, even though it was barely a few moths ago they clicked right away. He was the only one who knows that he actually don't want to be a trainee.

While they were walking he was curious about Sunghoon's situation so he suddenly asked. "Hey, Sunghoon, so not intruding or anything, but what do you actually want to do? I know you're here, but what's your real passion?"

Sunghoon hesitated for a moment, his gaze dropping to the pavement. "I'm actually a figure skater," he admitted quietly.

Jay's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, dude, that's so cool! You're a figure skater? That's amazing!" He repeated it, almost in disbelief.

Sunghoon nodded, a small, wistful smile touching his lips. "Yeah, I've been doing it since I was about 8 or 9. But my parents don't want me to continue. They said it's dangerous or whatever and that I should focus on other things which are worthy of my time. I thought they wanted me to go to a big university, but I guess they had other plans for me." He said with sadness obvious in his voice

Jay looked at him sympathetically. "That's rough, man." 

After a while of walking he again asked him another question. "Also, why are you training here only three times a week?"

Sunghoon sighed, his shoulders slumping. "It's only until my national competition. After that, I'll become a full-time trainee. At least, that's what they expect. But honestly, I feel like I'm stuck. Every day feels like a struggle to keep up with everything."

Jay placed a reassuring hand on Sunghoon's shoulder. "I get it, man. It must be tough to be pulled in so many directions. But if you really love figure skating, maybe there's a way to balance both. You know, find a middle ground where you can do what you love and still meet your family's expectations."

Sunghoon appreciated Jay's attempt to offer support. "I don't know. I feel like I'm giving up on my dreams every day. It's like I'm stuck in this loop where I can't escape, and the only time I feel even a little bit hopeful is when I see Sarang."

With that, Jay looked at him. "Who is Sarang?" He asked him.

Sunghoon sighed again. "She is my best friend. We have been figure skating together since we were a child." He told him.

Jay nodded, understanding the gravity of Sunghoon's situation. "Well, hang in there, man. Sometimes, things have a way of working out when you least expect it. Just remember, you have friends who support you."

As they arrived at the company, Sunghoon felt a renewed sense of determination. Despite the challenges, he knew that Jay's support and the hope he found in his friendship with Sarang were his guiding lights.

He walked into the training facility, trying to push aside the heaviness of his thoughts. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling of being caught between two worlds, neither of which felt entirely right.

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