You're My Melody

Chapter 1: On Her Birthday

Seohyun was in the car staring at the window looking at nothing in particular. Her mind was on something else. She was nervous because it’s not every day that she gets to see her father and yet that’s exactly what she’s planning to do.

"Miss Seohyun, are you sure you want to visit your father today?" her driver said with a bit of concern apparent in his voice.

"Yes, I'm sure." It's been six years since she last visited her father's office. She can't blame her driver for being worried. He’s been working in their family for years and he knew her father well. He knows nothing will come out of this visit other than disappointment. But still she has to try.

The driver dropped her at the building lobby. She asked him to wait because she didn’t plan to stay long. She went straight to her father’s office and was greeted by Park Min Young, her father’s secretary. Ms. Park is a woman in her early thirties who doesn’t smile a lot, which makes Seohyun thinks she fits perfectly well in her father’s office.

The good thing about being the boss’s daughter is that you can just walk right in without asking for anyone’s permission. However, Seohyun didn’t want to be impolite. If she wanted something from her father, she figured she had to project the image of a nice, well-mannered and refined daughter.

She took a deep breath before she raised her hand and knocked on the door. She heard her father say "Come in." She went inside and when her father saw her, his brows formed into a frown. That didn't hold her back.

If she was the same little girl years ago she would have gone straight to his father's arms and kissed him on the cheek. But years of experience made her realize that her father doesn't like that sort of greeting so she fought the urge to do so.

Hesitantly she asked, "Dad, do you... I mean… is there any chance that you’ll have some free time today?"

"I'm busy." She expected that.

"You deserve some rest Dad... Maybe..." she paused. "Maybe we could go out tonight? Have some dinner?"

"I have business plans for tonight." Her father sounds irritated but that didn’t stop her.

"Then how about lunch?"

Every word she said were carefully planned. She contemplated about every possible answer her father could come up with and the best reply she could give him. But it always ends up with her father refusing and now she's running out of ideas.

"I said I'm busy, Seohyun. Go eat lunch with your friends and stop bothering me..."

"I just thought that maybe we could spend a few hours together today since it’s my birthday...” Today she turned 18 years old and she wanted to remind her father that fact.

Her father looked up from the papers he was reading. "Oh, is it your birthday?"

So he forgot after all, she thought bitterly.

“Do you want me to buy you something? Is there anything you want?”

Yeah, your time. “Don’t bother, Dad. I figured it’s something you’re not willing to give even if I ask.” Then she hastily left the room blaming herself for even trying when she knew from the very start it will end up this way.

People say that those who were born in a rich family are very lucky. Seohyun thinks otherwise. For her it’s just plain stupid. You can have everything and anything you wanted, buy things you don’t even need, have a father who is more like a stranger to you, meet people who stick with you just because you have the money, and then show the world you’re happy even though you’re not. Everything in her life is just so exhausting.

Her father is the president of one of the biggest entertainment company in Korea, SM Entertainment. Other people might think she's so lucky to be the daughter of President Lee Soo Man but for Seohyun it was very unfortunate. Her mom died right after she was born and her father rarely comes home because he spends more time either in his office or abroad. Apparently, he loves his work more than his own daughter.

Ever since she was a child she learned not to expect so much because every time she did all those expectations get shattered in an instant leaving her broken and crying. During Christmas she would dream about her father arriving home with presents in his hand. Every year she would patiently wait in her room staring at the window hoping to see her father's car approaching but it never happens. Then she would wait beside the phone waiting for her father's call which never comes. The maids will prepare dinner for two because she always insists that her father will come home although all of them knew it was pointless.

Her father never cared.

Her birthdays don’t have much difference. During her 10th birthday she asked Jong Gook-shi, the family’s driver to bring her to her father's office. Her father never likes it when she comes to visit but she didn't care. It was her birthday and she missed him so much. She stubbornly entered her father's office and found her dad absorbed with work. If he knew it was her birthday that day, she couldn't tell.

Assuming he did know, she asked him excitedly, "Dad, did you buy me presents?" The old man didn't even spare her a glance. All she got was a cold stare followed by a cold voice saying, "Is your allowance not enough? Ask my secretary for money then go buy anything you want." then he went back doing whatever he was doing and ignored the little girl like she was never there all along. That's when she finally accepted the truth that nothing will ever change. Her father will never love her no matter how hard she tried to please him.

Seohyun took a couple of deep breaths before she managed to calm herself. Every time she's upset or sad she would listen to some soothing songs and then she would brighten up instantly. She decided to do just that.

She walked through the long hallways of the SME building. A lot of people come and go and most of them are familiar faces. Some are actors and actresses and others are singers. No one really paid any attention to her which makes Seohyun conclude that nobody knows who the CEO’s daughter is. Somehow she likes it that way. Some old employees recognized her and bowed when she passed. She just smiled to them in return.

When she was still a little kid she used to wander around the SM Entertainment building that she now became familiar with its rooms and hallways. Sometimes she would go to the music room and listen to some artists playing the piano. Of course her father didn't know that or if he did, he probably didn't mind. She even became friends with some of SME trainees and they treat her like she was their little sister. However, today those friends couldn't be seen anywhere. Some of them are already successful artist and are working themselves to death. Others who couldn't endure the long hours of practice finally gave up and left the company even before they could be given the chance to debut.

She made her way to the music room until she was close enough to hear the sound of someone playing the piano. She smiled. The sound of the piano always brightens up her mood. She once asked his father if she could take up piano lessons. He refused saying it's a waste of time. Then she thought if she can't get lessons then maybe she can still learn if she can practice on her own. So she asked her father to buy her a piano and as expected he also refused.

She knocked on the door of the music room to announce her presence. Then she went inside and found the pianist to be a handsome guy with black hair and brown eyes that were staring at her with curiosity. She recognized him. He's Kim Jaejoong from the group called TVXQ. They are considered as the number one group in Asia and are also recognized worldwide with their amazing talents. Even Seohyun is also amazed by their great vocals and amazing dancing skills.

He stopped playing when she arrived so she said, "Please go on."

He smiled then continued playing. His smile seemed to affect her in some way. She ignored the weird feeling and just let herself be immersed with the wonderful melody emanating from the piano and this amazing guy.