Hye-jae: Book 4

Musical Moments Part 43

Separated over the summer, the couple missed each other terribly, though it seemed as though they had entered into a silent pact not to refer to this too much but instead to rise each other's spirits with the frequency and warmth of the messages they sent each other, with little personal endearments only they would understand and love.  Seon-jae often called Hye-won his super sexy sweetheart - as he had done so breathlessly on their first night - while Hye-won would from time to time threaten an extreme compliment on her love - bringing back the pinch on the cheek that she gave him on Day One, when words had failed to express the tumult of feelings coursing through her.  Sometimes, it would just be a selfie - Seon-jae's almost always including some kind of brattish gesture, like a wink or a smirk or the hint of a tongue or a cheeky wave - which Hye-won would mirror back with a tease of her own - these cute, virtual interactions easing the pain of their separation a little.

By far, the most unique way that they interacted that summer was through their love of music.  It had started with Seon-jae sending Hye-won a link to a song that he had heard in a taxi, telling her how it had made him think of and miss her and she had answered by sending him a song that made her miss him.  Each would read the message and listen to the tune and lose themselves in a bitter-sweet moment, knowing that their one was sharing these feelings.  As always with this couple, their interactions became more complex and meaningful over time.  One morning, Ciara was dancing to a pop tune on the radio, as she made their usual yoghurt smoothies, and the lyrics just spoke to Hye-won - I've been hearing symphonies, before all I heard was silence, a rhapsody for you and me and every melody is timeless.  She smiled at the word rhapsody, reminiscing how Seon-jae's mastery of Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for his debut concert had been such a meaningful and eventful period of their falling for each other.  It was uncanny how the boppy ditty seemed to capture the way she felt that her life had 2 distinct parts - before Seon-jae and after Seon-jae - and how blessed she felt that they had found each other - life was stringing me along, then you came and you cut me loose, was solo singing on my own, now I can't find the key without you.  It seemed like the perfect description of their love affair in music - so if you want the truth, I just want to be part of your symphony, will you hold me tight and not let go?   Hye-won sent Seon-jae the link to the song and a text which pricked tears to her eyes, as she wrote it - 

Seon-jaea, I just know that you will love this jaunty, catchy tune - it spoke to me because I do just want to be - part of your symphony and have you hold me tight- so tight, the way only you can, my love.  And the words - every day you're here, I'm healing - brought a lump to my throat and made me ache to have you here to tell you...or even better, show you in person - but know it, sweetheart - every day with you is a gift.  Love you love you.

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Seon-jae listened to the tune and knew exactly why Hye-won had connected with it.  He felt how it captured their love so aptly and the devotion in the text made him close his eyes for a moment of pure longing for his girl.  She kills me, my woman, with every beautiful thought she sends me.   For a moment, he toyed with the idea of searching for a similar pop tune but then inspiration struck and he found the link and sent an answer to his love with a secret smile - 

My darling, such beautiful thoughts and words - thank you - and you really do kill me softly - love you love you too.

He sent the classic tune, with such evocative lyrics - there he was, this young boy, a stranger to my eyes, strumming my pain with his fingers, singing my life with his words, killing me softly with his song - and it brought a rueful smile to Hye-won's lips, as she listened.  You gorgeous brat, Lee Seon-jae - though you are not wrong.  You kill me softly every day too - and I love every moment.