Boys Over Flowers: How It Should Have Ended Part3 (The Return)

Chapter 1

"No man is worth your tears, and the one who is...won't make you cry." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Chapter 1

The light in the backstage room shone too bright for Ji Hoo's eyes. He sat down and decided to stare at the dark blue carpet that adorned the floor instead, but his mind was somewhere else. He was extremely nervous. He was always nervous before a performance, of course, but this time felt... different. This was the first time he was performing in over 6 months. He had practiced hard the last two months, and he was as prepared as he could be, but it did little to calm his frantic nerves.

Calm down, Ji Hoo.

Breathe.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

All around him he could see the other orchestra performers practicing with their chosen instruments. Some looked as nervous as he was, while others looked calm and focused. He went to each group of musicians and thanked each of them for their hard work, and they, in turn, thanked him for his leadership.

He wondered if Jan Di and the others had arrived and were seated out in the theatre. Would he be able to spot them from the stage? He wanted to buy them seats right on the first row, but Jan Di suggested it might not be a good idea for them to be so close. He needed to focus and not be distracted by them. She had a good point, so he relented. She informed him that Yi Jung bought them tickets as close to the front as he deemed appropriate. He wondered what Yi Jung deemed a safe distance.

Truth be told, there was no safe distance from Yi Jung...

"I think we have a sold-out theatre," one of the musicians - a tall, skinny guy who played the violin, announced as he peeked from behind the curtains.

Ji Hoo stood up as he mentally prepared himself for what he was about to do.

You can do this.

His phone beeped.

It was a message from Jan Di. He hadn't seen her all day, but she promised to come to his concert as soon as she got off work. Was she there already?

"Don't be nervous. You got this. We're all cheering for you! Fighting!"

A smile appeared on his face. She must be in the theatre already.

Another beep.

He looked at the message, his face all lit up, but it was quickly replaced by a frown.

Because this time, the message was from Yi Jung.

"I'll lend you my new sportscar for a week if you guys perform Bohemian Rhapsody." The text said. "If you sing the whole thing, I'll add another week!"

Ji Hoo chuckled quietly, shaking his head.

Another beep.

"Please, please, please?"

Ji Hoo rolled his eyes. Yi Jung did not know when to give up. Ever since he found out about the concert, he'd been requesting songs to add to their performance.

He missed performing. Music was a part of who he was. It was an extension of his whole being. It was the one thing that got him through the worst times of his life. Of course, he still played his instruments regularly. But the rush he felt during and after a performance...it was almost euphoric. It was probably the only time he didn't mind being in front of a large audience – and being the center of attention.