Dream

7: Haengbokhaja, Sungjae

"Dessert?" Sungjae suggests.

Joy nods excitedly. "Let's go! I'm craving for patbingsoo." Joy leads the way to the café. "They have the best patbingsoo in Melbourne. When they've arrived at the café, they pick a table and sit face to face. They decide to order 2 small patbingsoo. 

"Have you been doing well?" Joy asks. Sungjae has been joining her friends' conversation, so they just talked about themselves and now she wants to talk about him.

"Do I still make you worried during our recent comeback?" Sungjae asks straightforwardly.

Joy nods a little. "Sorry that I can see through your eyes. Now, I sound like I'm disrespecting your effort in making yourself happy."

"Aniya. It's better to tell the truth. Why are you so eager to see me happy though?" Sungjae asks curiously.

"Don't you want to be happy?" Joy asks.

"I do, but you seem to care more about it than myself," Sungjae says.

"Because I want to give back what I've got from you. Although you're an idol, you have made me happy and my days better. So, I want to do the same for you."

Sungjae smiles after hearing Joy's answer. "There's no need to do that for me. I'm happy when I see my fans happy."

"Liar. It's obvious that you aren't enjoying your life right now," Joy stares at Sungjae intently. "I don't know what your problem is, but you should care about your own happiness as much as you care for others."

Sungjae looks away and clears his throat, avoiding Joy's gaze. "Then tell me, what if the thing that makes me happy, make me suffer at the same time?" Sungjae asks because being a singer makes him happy, but he suffers more because of it. Joy is stunned, not knowing how to answer Sungjae.

Then, Sungjae continues, "For me, even if I know that it will make me suffer, I'll still do it. And I've never regretted my choice even once despite suffering right now. I'm grateful toward my past self who bravely made the decision so that my present self doesn't regret it or asks 'what if' questions only to avoid the sufferings. I believe all the hard work and problems that I go through now will be paid off someday."

'I hope those days will come soon,' Sungjae wishes as he gets tired of the sufferings.

"Well done, Sungjae," Joy replies. "I'll also do the same as you since I have the same principle for my life. But is it really impossible to be overcome? It's sad to know you're suffering because you deserve happiness too."

Sungjae smiles pathetically. "I'm sorry for making you sad. I shouldn't have told you about it, then. I don't.."

"Aniya," Joy cuts him off. "Don't be sorry. It's not that I'm the one who is in trouble. I'm glad that you tell me so that at last, I can show my support or encourage you. How can I help you out?" Joy is eager to free Sungjae from his suffering.

"You've done enough, Joy. Thank you for doing my favour," Sungjae says sincerely.

Joy is surprised, "Do you really get my messages? I was devastated when my friend reminded me that you don't have a phone, but I still end up sending those texts, hoping that number can rely my texts to you."

"You should've stopped when you knew that fact. Why would you hope for the impossible?"

"Because that's how much important you are to me. It doesn't cost me anything to send those texts, so why don't I send them when there's a chance for it to be sent to you and make your day better. Also, I remember how serious you are when you ask the favour," Joy explains.