Hi Ena, this is the story you have forgotten, I hope you will remember this.
**
You are very busy organizing and re organizing the photographs you have collected. Photos from different eras that interests you, photos that you continue to document for quite some time now.
You are a cinematographer, a writer and a director. You are the kind who doesn't stay to a specific genre or country for that matter and so this time you tried to do a documentary of the events that happened during the old age of South Korea, you researched the dynasties, you studied their history, I can say you were pretty obsessed to be honest. There are no nights or days that you don't visit and revisit places that are in your photographs, believing that somewhere, something will match. Something will connect.
And you were right, as much as I cant believe, you were right. Because one day, on one of your strolls, you did not go home. People close to you haven't seen you for a week.
And you told me this, you have been in the center of the Silla Dynasty.
You are walking in the streets of Seoul, with your camera still rolling, a man noticed you, and he was so curious about what you're doing. He didn't even know what the heck is the gadget you are holding. You find him funny, because you thought this is one of the pranks he pulls on the girls that he likes. He smiles alot and you can't keep your eyes off of him even though he literally stands like a giant next to you. Following you while you roam, you enjoyed his company.
The night was almost over when you stopped pointing the camera at the streets, you put it down and sit at one of the benches. The man sat beside you, the smile he was wearing fade away and so you asked him why
''I actually don't know where I am'' you stopped smiling as well, not sure if this is one of the pranks he'd still like to play.
''What do you mean? Are you lost or something? You certainly look Korean to me'' you playfully responded, trying to ease whatever the tension is all about. He looked at the night sky, breath deeply and looked at you straight in to your eyes this time,
''I am Chanyeol, Park Chanyeol'' You were shocked for a moment, the name sounds familiar, but you just can't remember why.
''I am Ena''
The two of you stood up and walked through the night again, he asks you tons of questions, to which you politely answer, he was the curious kind you cant resist and as a foreigner on a foreign land with a stranger at night, this is one of the craziest scenarios you have ever been, but you don't care.
You stopped when he took a moment to look at the outside walls of the museum you happen to pass by, he looked so fragile to which you thought is such a beautiful moment to look back at some time. You opened your camera, pointed it at him, just the right position to capture all the elements in the frame, hana, dul, set. You clicked the capture button.
The one thing you thought you should not ever did.
''Ena''
''Ena''
You heard voices, rushing voices forcing you to wake up.
You saw faces, familiar faces, again.
''Fix your dress and get inside already! Your hair is such a mess'' a lady in her 40s scolded you.
You stood up trying to compose yourself and your blurry vision. Your eyes grew wide when you saw that you're wearing a traditional Korean dress and that's when you realize that everyone around you is wearing the same, hanbok, as what people call them.
You followed the order given to you and fixed your hair, suddenly your hair was long again. Suddenly, your hair touched with green is all black again.
You entered a room where people of different ages are gathered.
''Please settle down, on your seats please'' it was the lady again.
You don't know where to go so you went to one of the available space near you and seated beside a woman holding her child. The woman looked at you and gave you the most confused look saying ''What are you doing?"
Before you can even answer, a man pulled you, a man wearing traditional clothes that matches yours, in print and in color. It was the combination of royal blue and silver.
''Why are you seating somewhere? Did you forgot that I'm your husband?'' he smiled and kissed you on your forehead.
You were completely shock, ''I am your wife?''
''Aigoo, I know we had a little fight earlier but acting like that is too much'' he laughs softly, put his other hand at your waist and pulled you close.
You can't believe that Park Chanyeol is your husband.
You stood still in his arms, just looking at the man he points you to look at.
It took hours you haven't counted. Four men painting everyone in the room almost finished their touches.
''The Clan Portrait is done''
Everybody applauded, bowed and gave thanks to the artists.
You caught yourself following Chanyeol to wherever he's heading, you were holding each others hands, fingers intertwined.
He stopped in the middle of the woods and so you did the same.
''Jagiya, remember the promise that I told you?'' He looked so excited.
''I'm sorry it took me a long time, but I think it will never be too late for this''
He gently held both of your hands and placed a pocket size portrait of a beautiful scenery.
''I hope even on our next lives, we can always meet at this place, at the place where I first told you that I love you'' He was smiling as he pulled you close and hugged you tight.
You hugged back and felt like home in his arms. Your eyes was closed and tears started to form, it was a familiar scene, it was the familiar comfort, it was the familiar feeling your heart can't ever forget.
And just like that, you opened your eyes and your back in Seoul again.
Outside the walls of the museum, outside the place that holds the portrait that belongs to you from the love of all your past lives.
You breathed deeply almost ready to feel like crying again, it pains your chest that familiarity is no longer in sight.
You almost cried, but someone held your hands, you didn't have to look, because you know, you now understand, that the man holding you, is the one that has been holding onto you for a series of lifetime.
