Unexpected Week

Epilogue

It's been more than one year after I came back to Korea. My 23rd birthday was going to be in a few days. I've been really busy preparing for a new album, doing promotions, fan meetings, events, going to radios and going back and forth Japan. It has been a really busy year but I would still think about her. I still remember the day we separated, just like the day I suddenly appeared in her house I appeared in the dorm. Hanbin and Jinhwan were surprised and I couldn't explain what had happened, even I wasn't sure what had happened.

As soon as I came back I demanded Hanbin to explain me about the issue in YG, but he said it was a lie, that he just followed what she had told them. I was relieved, since there really wasn't a problem but at the same time I was sad. She knew a way of returning but didn't tell me. Or was she not sure about it? So far I don't know. More importantly, my mind was only filled with her.

"Babi, what are you going to do with your girlfriend if you are here?", asked Jinhwan hyung when I came back.

"She wasn't officially my girlfriend, but I still like her", I responded. He just looked at me with an understanding face and didn't ask further.

Days passed and then it was my birthday. The other iKON members woke me up by throwing me water, then they would sing the happy birthday song. I was angry but on the inside I was happy. The only bad thing about that day is that we had an event. A signing event is really exciting but tiring at the same time. Thousands of fans would come and give us a lot of stuff, though I was thankful that we had a lot of support. The good thing about this one event and by request of all the members, it was reduced to just 1 thousand fans in a small venue where we would do a mini concert and after that we would go celebrate my birthday.

The event was at 2pm, so by noon we were ready and were waiting for the transport to pick us up. The van was downstairs and we excited got on, on the way to the venue we were playing as we always did. As we got closer,we could see more and more fans waiting in a line to enter. We got down and the scream of the fans greeted us. Inside we did a little sound check, and when everything was good, we prepared with the clothing. At 2pm we could hear the murmur of the fans that were already in the hall.

We would begin with a song and then continue with the event. We were on stand-by behind the stage, and when they gave us the signal we came out. Many voices screaming our names throughout the song made the atmosphere more exciting. After the song, we presented ourselves and the MC began with the event. After some games involving the fans and two more songs, the main event took place. A big table with 7 chairs was put on the stage and we sat. The MC asked the fans to form a line so they go one by one to get anything they had brought to get it signed.

- Look at all those girls, Babi. A lucky one might come out to be my girlfriend - said Jinhwan hyung who was sitting on my right.

- You mean an unlucky one - said Hanbin who was on my left and heard him.

- Hanbin ah, that your girlfriend doesn't call you, doesn't mean you need to take it out with me - said hyung trying to defend himself.

- Ya! She does call me! Don't go around saying lies!

- Yeah, yeah, whatever. More importantly, Babi, you got lots of fans, you should pick one girl too. It's been over a year - I knew what he meant with that.

- It can be over 2 or 3 more years, but nothing will change - I said.

- Leave that for later, the fans are coming - said our leader.

More and more people would come to greet us, ask to shake our hands, we would sign this and that, take some pictures and accept some presents. After Hanbin got a girlfriend he wouldn't receive presents anymore but he would still have lots of fans. On the contrary, Jihnwan and I would receive the most. The others said they envied us, but as I could see in the event they had gotten more and more fans. So after this I don't think they would say the same. As time passed I would get tired, but I would always maintain the smile on my face.

The line was getting shorter and shorter and I could see the end of it. I was a bit relieved, and by seeing my partners' face,they were thinking the same. And finally the last fan got on the stage. She looked a bit familiar. She was wearing platforms and a red skirt with a white blouse, she had a nice body and her hair was a bit short, it barely touched her shoulders. Across her chest she had a little bag but something that didn't match her outfit was the red cap with the words "the King" on it. I couldn't see her face because of it but my heart skipped a beat when I saw her. Maybe I was hallucinating.

I wouldn't keep my eyes away from her. The more I looked at her the more it looked like the person I left behind. She was carrying the booklet from our latest album for it to be signed. First, she approached Donghyuk and he signed it with a big smile, she smiled too and took his hand. Then, she moved to Chanwoo and did the same. The closer she got, the more uneasy I would feel. When she moved to Yunhyeong she even took a picture and I felt a little bit angry that I had intentions on standing up just to stop with the incertitude.

- What's wrong Babi? - asked Jinhwan when he noticed my intention.

- Nothing, it's just that, they look alike - I whispered to him.

- Oh! It's you! - said Hanbin surprised.

When I turned he was looking at me, then he looked at her that was in front of him. I almost dropped from my chair in surprise. She was here! After all this time! And from all the ways I thought of meeting her again, it had to be here! I kept staring at her, she had changed, she was in a way more beautiful, I was right when I told her to use more feminine clothing, she looked just gorgeous and her hair was just perfect. She still kept the cap I chose for her and that made me happy. But she wouldn't look at me. Then what she did left me more surprised. She didn't stop in front of me and moved to Jinhwan. He looked at me not knowing what to do.

- Can you please sign it? - she said extending the booklet. He had no choice but to do it and then shook her hand. Just then she turned to me and from a moment I thought the time had stopped. She was intensely looking at me, she moved her mouth but I didn't listen to what she had said. I just could see her, her face, her smile and wasn't paying attention to anything else.

- Babi! - said Jinhwan while shaking me. I reacted and looked at him - She's asking you to sign it too.

- Ah, right, sorry. Your name - I looked down at the booklet and saw a picture of me that was in it.

- Hmm, can I tell you what you should write? - she said still smiling.

- Sure - I tried to correspond her smile.

- Then, "To my beloved Ekaterina noona, from the bottom of my heart and with lots of love" - I was looking down and after hearing those words I blushed, and with my hand trembling I could barely write what she asked for.

- He-here you go - I said but when I looked up she put something on my head. With my hand I reached for it and noticed it was a cap. The cap she bought me.

- Ready for another week, Ji Won? - my heart accelerated when she said my name. I stood up and looked into her eyes.

- Why don't we extend it to a life time? - I said, she blushed and just smiled at me while nodding.