Voiceless Cries

Chapter 16 : Promenade

Prom Night at was initially not a prom at all. It was an annual tradition in Myungyeon High School. The legend goes that once, on an illuminated night that smelt of spring, music was twirling gently in the cool air. This occurrence repeated every year, on the same night where the moon was radiating with vivacious splendor. People started coming, beguiled by the music’s fathomless depth and comforting warmth. They knew that four hands were playing on the piano and the music flowed fondly, like lovers cooing in the night.

The people had tried arduously to find the source of the music but despite their earnest effort, they had failed each and every year. They could never trace the source of the music that was brimming with the warmth of love. The place was close to the clock tower. And some thought that it came from the fountain which glittered under the moonlight.

Each year, the people gathered and danced to the music laughed along with each other and clung to their partners’ shoulders. Romance sparked in the night and jubilation emanated from the area.  But one day, the music stopped. This swept the people by confusion but they came every year, spent gruesome hours under the moonlight and waited for the music that will never come.

Rumor has it that the lovers who played the piano every year had lost their love and their bliss had turned into sorrow. Five years after the music stopped, the people that gathered started making their own music and danced to their own beats. Gradually, “The Night of Music” became “Prom Night” because that was the closest thing the students could relate to at that time. Now, few knew about the story behind thePromenade.

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A thin line of yellow stretched along the horizon, colored with smudges of grey. The sun had slowly crept its way towards the west, disappearing beneath the rooftops. The navy sky had never seemed so obscure, with only a single star that had managed to strike the deep sky with its feeble light.

The light that seeped into the room was thin and flimsy, shadowing the room in solid grayness. The open window beckoned in as little to no light, making Jiyeon’s reflection in the mirror more ethereal than ever before.

She was draped in a flowy dress of a deep, midnight purple that cascaded to her knee in soft waves. Glitter was splattered on the dress, scattered like little stars against the twilight sky. The gentle material clung on Jiyeon like air, caressing her skin softly when she moved. The deep color complemented her delicately fair skin and enhanced the dark enigma of her eyes. Her hair was loose, falling down her shoulder in subtle curls.

Jiyeon gleamed with a suppressed smile as she made eye contact with her mother through the mirror. She was standing behind Jiyeon with her arms crossed and her expression mild. Her posture was somewhat relieved to have found a suitable dress. Eunjung was there too, admiring the beauty from the shadows. Then, Mrs. Park stirred from her fantasies and swiftly ushered Jiyeon out of the room.

“You are so late. Whatever possessed you to sleep at six in the afternoon?”

Jiyeon pouted before being hurriedly rushed downstairs. Truth to be told, she had not chosen to sleep so late into the afternoon, she was just so worn out from the day’s activities that she accidently fell asleep while unyieldingly figuring out what to wear that evening.

“Wait,” Eunjung suddenly said, causing them both to stop before they could even reach the bottom of the landing. Jiyeon and her mom turned to face the girl, anticipating what she had to say.

Eunjung’s face scrunched up as though trying to solve a very complicated riddle, her finger thoughtfully tapping her rounded chin.

“Who is picking her up?” It took some moments before the question finally tumbled out of her pursed lips as her legs started laying out careful steps.