Secret Love Story; Heung-Min Son

Chapter Eight

Dear Diary,

John and I haven't talked for a while now. Olivia too. I guess, I wouldn't have appreciated it if my boyfriend's bestfriend had been in love with him this whole time and Olivia was starting to be nice to me. I haven't heard from Heung-Min either, or even seen him, except for the days where I would spot him entering and leaving his workplace. 

I haven't had time to fully wrap my head around the fact that he was getting married soon. It has been three weeks since I went through that dramatic night, and honestly, I wish father was here to advice me and hear me out. 

Marilyn sat in her bath tub as the tub slowly filled with water, her body submerged in the cold water. And then, there was a knock on her front door, loud enough to send her rushin downstairs with a her bath robe. "Coming!" she wailed, stunned upon the sight of John at her front door. "Hey," he greeted, with an awkward sense of tone in his voice. "Hey," Marilyn responded. "Come in," she added as she led him into the house. "Sorry, I was taking a bath," she uttered as she poured John a cup of tea. It was peppermint, his favourite kind. "Ah, I see." She let him have a few minutes by himself as she threw on decent clothes, enough to potray an image that she hasn't been in a devastating state for the past few days. "So, how's Olivia?" Marilyn finally broke the silence as she took a seat opposite where John was seated. 

"Good. Good. How is... I mean, how are you?" John raised an eyebrow. "Better than ever," Marilyn lied through her teeth, but somehow felt worried that John was able to read it through her fake expression. "What brings you here?" she asks. "Do I need a reason to be in your company?" John chuckled. "I mean. No. But-" "I get it. I haven't talked to you for a while now and I just showed up unnoticed, I get it." The atmosphere was silent again. 

"Look, can we... I don't know, talk? About everything that happened the other day?" Marilyn hung her head low as John uttered the question she's been dreading to hear. "What about it?" Marilyn answered curtly. "Come on, you know exactly what I'm talking-" "Okay, yes, I was in love with you. Was. You're so nice, so gentle and the more we got closer, the more I thought I was falling for you. I spent years, dreaming that one day we would be more than friends. Until... Until Olivia came along. You... you seemed happy. And I was... happy too. For you," Marilyn blurted. "But why didn't you tell me?" "What? What do you expect me to say? I was afraid I'd put our friendship at risk. But it has already been done, even without trying." John placed his cup of tea on the table and heaved out a sigh before he lifted up his chin to face Marilyn. "You're very important to me. I guess, in a way, I've been selfish. I shouldn't have been too protective over you when you were going out with him. At least, now that I know that you had to spend your time in misery while I was with Olivia," John said, his eyes embarking guilt. 

"That's thoughtful," Marilyn heaved out a sigh of sarcasm. "But it doesn't matter now. His getting married anyway," she added. "You really love him, huh?" "Are you crazy? No." 

"Frankly speaking, I've never seen you happier than when you were with him," John added."For all it's worth, you shouldn't just give up. You know one thing you both have in common is that you don't want that wedding to happen. So don't let it." 

 Love is the answer to world problems because it reduces cortisol, the stress hormone, which alters brain architecture for the better. 

Lower stress and fear is the answer to world problems because it heals the brain to a better architecture and enhances the ability for love and nurture. 

Creating conditions for the healing of the brain is the answer to world problems because healed people soothe others, reducing cortisol and spread more love.

Start in faith, science or humanity - the answer stays the same.  

Marilyn sat up from her bed as she set aside the book she was reading. She fiddled through her bag for her diary and almost like it was planned, fate, destined, a folded paper fell out of her bag as she rummaged through it. It was labeled from Heung-Min, probably secretly slipped in by him while they were together. 

 "I believe that each of us deserve a chance at love. And I know it sound silly that there's someone out there for everyone but I believe in love. Now I know some say there's no such thing as true love, that it all ends in heartbreak and pain, but I think that's the beauty of it. To have something so perfect for such a short while, and then for it to disappear into nothing. It's an endless loop, never ending, always on the move. You never know where it will take you. That's the thing about love, it's so beautiful and mysterious and magical. I believe we all deserve a chance at love, because we all deserve something magical. And for me, it started when I met you on the road. I was ready, prepared to protect you. I admired how confidently you carried yourself, with a smile so beautiful and eyes so dreamy. I think about you more often than I should. Love, I'm not perfect, but I'd follow you into hell if that's what it took to keep you safe. I am your protector as you are mine, one to shield the other. After keeping children safe, as all adults must, not a single soul comes before you. So I'll stay with you as you stay with me, trust in you as you trust in me, and together we'll ride through every storm, waiting to see what the new dawn may bring.You said that my love wasn't like a new song, but like opening a book and finding a language you'd never seen before. I want you know that I feel the same way. Your love is something beautiful; meeting you is like meeting an enigma. I don't know how you exist in this world yet you do. So let me tell you now - I will always love you in mind, body and soul. You are the trap I've been wanting to fall into my whole life; liberty from you would simply be an infinite prison. I am the softness you seek and you are the cradle for my head and heart. I love you." 

"I... cannot let that wedding happen."