foreign space - poetry&prose

joyrene ○ lucky people

"and a huuuge good morning, folks! today's a sunday, but asides from that, it's... 14th of february! and all you lovebirds know what that means - an especially special day for you - it's valentine's day! but don't worry, florist shops are still on full business, and you can expect your favorite booths and restaurants to be open until those late nights-"

[click]

"joohyun-ah... could you not set that ruckus as the morning alarm?"

"(soft) hm?" [rustling]

"the radio. dj eunwoo. you didn't...... tell me you were setting that as the alarm today." [rustling]

"oh." [(soft) laughter] "i mean, he's right. it's valentine's sunday."

"valentine's sunday?"

"mmhm, valentine's sunday. it should be grammatically correct." [humming] "happy valentine's day, park sooyoung."

"(mumbling) happy valentine's, bae joohyun."

[static]

[yawning] "hyun-ah, i don't wanna leave this bed. it's very comfy here. can we... not go anywhere today?"

"but i already booked tickets for the scary vintage screenings. the ones at parker's street."

"the one at 9? that's okay, we can go then. is it audrey hepburn and gregory peck?"

"what else? unless you wanted the 1980's godzilla. the tacky american one, i remind you."

[laughs] "alright then. what else did you want to do?"

"well..." [rustling] "i was thinking about marrying you."

[even more fucking rustling] "that sounds nice. what about marrying, then?"

[soft sigh] "i was thinking like, asking you first. then we'd tell our parents about it. and they'd agree, because, i mean. i've known them for years. and i was thinking about getting you that really nice dress you wanted at the really expensive place. the pretty one on sale."

"i think i'd like that. did you buy me a ring?"

"i did. it's small though. i'm not sure you'll like it."

[giggling] [it stops] "i think i will, don't worry about it. anything else?"

"i kind of want kids, i think. maybe two or three. then we can drive them to school. i'll drive you to work if you want, because henry's place is a little far away. or maybe the other way around. mm..." [large amounts of rustling] "but if we don't have that, we can just do our thing. just... as wives, i guess." [laughs] that sounds weird.

"it kind of does, future wife. can we have a dog?"

"......maybe. if we get the doghouse first and-

[static]

"provided it doesn't bite. (soft) hey, park sooyoung......"

[(soft) laughter]

"don't laugh, please."

[laughing stops] [breathing] "okay. i won't."

[static]

"hey, joohyun?"

[rustling] "yeah?"

"(whispering) i love you."

"(whispering) i love you too."

"also..." [coughing] "sorry. but you wanna know who's my valentine?"

"yeah? who are they?"

"it's funny, really, i first saw her when i got into university. i was like really excited and everything, it was really fast paced. then on the third week after lunch, and i was walking around the west block, you know, the one for 4th college...... i was only supposed to be looking around. but i stopped in front of one of the study rooms. [breathing] someone was singing lucky people by waterparks. and i thought, who would sing this early after lunch? and then i looked inside."

[static] [breathing]

"you won't believe what i found. i found the prettiest girl in the entire world. she was so beautiful i fell in love instantly. see, she dyed her hair light brown at the time, and she had this slightly oversized jacket on, and she just kept singing and singing, and her voice was so nice. the kind you want to sing you to sleep. i didn't move an inch then, until she stopped and walked towards the door. then i scrambled like hell." [laughs, then gradually gets softer] "(weak) and now, she's the girl right beside me. and i can't believe she's been my valentine for six years. and hopefully counting."

[static]

"i don't think i know that song, actually. i've never heard of it?"

"(high-pitched) what?!" [intake of breath] "no."

"i'm serious." [rustling]

"no, that can't- ah! joohyun, stop!" [laughter] "that tickles!"

"(loud) happy birthday, merry christmas / to the one i call my missus ~"

[laughter] [pillows hitting each other] [intense rustling] [silence]

"sooyoung?...... i'm yours."

"i know, i'm me too."

[whining]

"okay, okay!" [laughter] "don't worry, i'm yours anytime, future wife. happy valentine's day." [silence] [soft breathing] [snoring]

[content humming] [breathing]

[click]

- let's keep each other safe from the world

180203