piano girl (이희승) ✔️

// 26

"It's been better." I look up at him slightly. "Did you hear about the JYP High Stalker Scandal?"

Yoongi nods. "Two kids were getting stalked by a girl who was obsessed with them, right? Then one of them almost died because she tried to murder them?"

I stop myself from cringing and shaking even more from the trauma. "Yeah." I smile. "That happened to my boyfriend and I."

Yoongi's jaw drops. "Are you okay? Is Heeseung okay?" 

I sigh. "We are. But Heeseung lost all his fucking memory of me."

"He doesn't remember you? But he remembers everyone else?" His eyebrows furrow when I nod. He's quiet for a moment before asking: "Can I hug you?"

I nod and he gently hugs me.

Dahyun finishes, and a loud applause follows. She comes backstage with a wide smile. Yoongi and I break the hug and I stand up, clutching my piano music.

"You go, Eunji-ah!" She whispers, then wraps me in a tight hug. I nod a little stiff, before stepping out on stage.

It's bright out. I can't see anyone in the audience, simply outlines.

"Now, we'll have Ms. Hwang Eunji, playing Debussy's Arabesque No. 1." Mrs. Kwon announces. 

I bow and sit at the piano, placing my sheet music on the stand.

I find my first note, then begin playing.

This piece means the world to me.

When Heeseung and I met, he played this for me. I've been wanting to play this ever since.

Pouring in all my emotion into it, I suddenly am brought to tears. 

It's like in the movies, where the main character's doing something crazy and they have a memory hit of everything they did with their lover.

That's what's happening to me.

I chew on my bottom lip to stop myself from crying.

After weeks of denying my tears and thoughts, it wants to come out now.

I finish off strong, letting my hands sit on the keys for a few seconds before standing up and bowing.

A huge wave of applause nearly causes me to fall over.

The other pianists come and join me, Dahyun and Yoongi at my side. We bow together before I walk off stage.

"You played beautifully!" Dahyun exclaims. "I almost cried!"

"She did cry." Yoongi corrects. I smile.

"Thanks, guys." I bow and walk out from backstage.

 Changbin tackles me. "Eunji-ah!" He yells, and Minho slaps him to shut him up.

"Guys!" I laugh, embracing the hug. "I haven't seen you in forever!"

Seungmin smiles. "You were always either asleep or just... not really feeling well." 

I smile lamely. "Sorry."

Chan shakes his head. "We're sorry for not doing anything."

Hyunjin pats Changbin's back. "We're heading to lunch. You coming?"

I roll my eyes. "Duh. I'm starving."

I get quick congratulations from SEVENTEEN and ENHYPEN, before they quickly follow Stray Kids.

Heeseung slinks behind them.

"What did you think?" I ask him.

"You're an amazing piano player." He states. I nod in thanks.

"Oh shit, I forgot my music up on the piano." I turn around quickly. "Want to come with me?"

"Sure," Heeseung says with a smile. We walk backstage and back onto stage.

It's completely empty.

I walk over to the stand to grab my music, before Heeseung grabs my hand.

I flinch.

"Oh- I'm sorry." Heeseung stutters as I turn to face him.

I smile. "It's fine. Is everything okay?"

Hee nods slowly. "You played Debussy's Arabesque No. 1."

"Yeah!" I smile and shuffle closer to him a little. "Did you like it?"

"It's the piece that I played for you when we met." He says.

I freeze.

"Excuse me?" I ask. It comes out nearly a whisper. I inhale, looking at the 6 foot tall boy. "You remember when we met?"

Heeseung shakes his head, and my heart drops.

"No, Eunji-ah." He says, moving his hands to my waist.

What?

"I remember everything." He whispers, searching my eyes.

"What?" I repeat out loud. I feel my lips tug into a smile. "You... remember me?"

Heeseung pulls me closer. "I'm so sorry, my Eunji."

"You're not joking, right?" I whisper.

He smiles. "I'm not." 

He stares into my eyes.

Tears crowd. "I missed you, Heeseung," I choke.

"I missed you too, Eunnie." He responds, tears falling from his eyes as he smiles.

He pulls me into a kiss.

Again, I'm pulled into another memory loop.

We had our first kiss at the piano.

Again, we have our 'first' kiss at the piano.

When we pull away, he smiles. "I love you, Eunnie." He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "You're my piano girl."

fin.

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