Distant Sky

5

A trip into the Past

Joohyun had always been a shy and quiet kid. She didn't really have many friends and was used to getting left out by other kids in the school. But she didn't really mind. She liked being alone, unlike other kids. When she was in elementary school, she used to sit in a corner with her crayons and drawing book, while other kids played outside.

Taeyeon unnie lived in the same neighbourhood as her in Daegu. In fact, her house was directly opposite Joohyun's. She vaguely remembers playing with her when she was little, while their mothers sat chatting in the kitchen. As they grew up, Taeyeon started going out with her school friends more and Joohyun stopped accompanying her mother when she visited Taeyeon's house. Joohyun's mother, worried that she didn't have any friends, would force her to go hang out at Taeyeon's. It was really awkward for Joohyun since she knew that Taeyeon unnie, who was two years older, would rather hang out with friends her age.

Still whenever Joohyun went to visit, usually forced by her mother to deliver something to their house as an attempt to make her socialize, Taeyeon unnie would be nice enough to entertain her. Sometimes she would even take pity on her and invite Joohyun to go out with her friends, but she always refused. If Taeyeon felt burdened or forced to spend time with Joohyun, she didn't show it. They would usually go up to her room, where she would talk to Joohyun for hours about her dreams and what she wished to become in the future. Taeyeon unnie always knew she wanted to become a singer. Well not just a singer, but a performer who could both sing and dance on stage. Joohyun always envied how confident and sure Taeyeon unnie was about what she wanted. She admired how determined she was to achieve her dreams. Taeyeon unnie took ballet and singing classes after school and practiced in her free time.

Joohyun's mother also made her take ballet classes but she stopped going after a few months, much to her mother's disappointment. It was just not for her. Joohyun herself, didn't really have any dreams about what she wanted to to be in the future. She did well in school and always got good grades. But her parents were worried about her lack of social life. They hoped as Joohyun grew older she'd become more outgoing and start making friends. But after the first person she liked enough to be friends with in school, betrayed her, she stopped trying. She got the nickname 'Ice Princess' due to her cold looks and the fact that she kept to herself and didn't socialize.

When Joohyun started middle school, Taeyeon unnie started dating. Joohyun remembers she had gone to Taeyeon unnie's house to deliver a pie Joohyun's mother had baked that day. It was a weekend and she knew unnie would be free. When she found Taeyeon in the backyard, chatting and laughing with a guy, she was surprised. She saw some of unnie's friends before but none of them were boys. She had stood there in the kitchen, watching them, hesitating to interrupt.

She remembers Taeyeon unnie spotting her eventually and introducing her to him. Byun Baekhyun. He looked like one of those idols who get casted on the street for their good looks. He had stood there, looking down at her with a mischievous grin on his face. She didn't remember what he said to her back then, but it was something that made her laugh. It wasn't a forced one either, one she usually used to seem polite. He had genuinely made her laugh out loud. Even though he was a stranger she felt comfortable around him, which never happened with her before. She did remember that he praised the pie though.

After that day, he regularly visited Taeyeon's house. He would come by after school and wait for Taeyeon to return from her ballet classes. Joohyun would look through her bedroom window, as he came by at same time everyday. Then one day, out of curiosity, she had made up a reason to visit Taeyeon unnie and went in knowing he was there. That day they sat and talked about anything and everything till Taeyeon unnie finally arrived. Joohyun had never had so much fun talking to someone before in her life. Soon, it would became routine for them to meet up and just chat and joke around till Taeyeon's return.