Chapter 9: Mistaken (Hyunjin POV)
First Posted On: 19th July 2021
Last Updated On: 19th July 2021
T/N: This takes place on 9th and 10th May 2020.
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The days were finally getting warmer with spring coming to a close in about a month. But for me, that is the only thing that has gotten warmer. And no, it is not because my personality got colder (even if it may look like it on TV).
In my hand was a box that I never thought would see the light of day again; or at least the dimly lit light in my room. I was trying to deny the reality of it, but after I was left in shock that time at the park when I went busking...I realised I made a huge mistake.
In that box, was a brand new hairband with cat ears. It was not like the one I used to have, because it has black ears instead of white ones.
Yes, keywords 'used to have', because I had accidentally given away my old hairband thinking it was the new one. I do not recall why it happened like this, but maybe I was in a rush and I misplaced its box...? Either way, I messed up, and I only realised it when that stranger in the park that day came up to me...
...wearing said hairband with cat ears. The same ones with a dried-up blood stain on them.
(Flashback to Chapter 8: My Melody)
"I had a hard time when I was younger," I told the kind stranger softly. "I needed to make decisions on my own often. And one day, I made a choice and it benefited me well till this day. That is why I think the choice I made was the best thing I ever did."
She just nodded in response to why I sang 'The Best Thing I Ever Did' that day. Like I thought, I could not let her know I was an abduction victim. That would surely be one way to lose friends.
"Uh..." she suddenly asked me intently. "Would you like to sing a bit? Like a duet?"
"Eh?" I looked at her quizzically. Now that was another way to look dumb before a stranger. Good job Kim Hyunjin.
"A voice like yours really shouldn't go to waste. Since you like busking, you should showcase your talents well," she advised me.
That compliment alone made my heart flutter. I know my members like to praise literally anything I did (especially my unexpected strength), but to hear such kind words from a stranger who was apparently mesmerised by my singing...now that hits different.
"You also have a good voice!" I praised her in return. "I think you would enjoy singing as much as I do! That being said, I'm very happy to sing a song with you!"
Instinctively, the kind stranger decided to sit next to me. Now much closer, I could feel that unmistakable aura of a vocal goddess. She does look adorable, just as I thought when I saw her from a distance earlier, but her tender voice certainly carries an emotional tinge to it.
"What song shall we sing?" she asked me with a slightly more bubbly tone than normal as she turned to face me.
And that is when I saw it. That hairband she wore was no ordinary hairband with cat ears. No...because when I saw the unmistakable mark of the bloodstain on the ears...I flinched.
Oh no...I have made a mistake. A mistake that probably scarred a poor stranger unknowingly. Now, I am meeting her face to face...what luck.
"실례합니다?" She tried to catch my attention while I was in a daze. "A song...?"
"아내내!" I snapped back to my usual self. "Do you have a suggestion? Sorry, my mind went blank for a moment."
What a lie, Kim Hyunjin.
Then the kind stranger said, "Since it is Sunday today, I was thinking of LOONA's 'My Sunday'. I really like the instrumental arrangement and the vocals of Heejin and Hyunjin complement the song well."
As much as I wanted to, and understood how fitting a song like that would be, I could not give away my identity as LOONA's Hyunjin; the same person who sang 'My Sunday' with her group mate Heejin. Luckily, Haseul unnie and Yeojin are in LOONA as well, so I had a much better idea.
"Err...I actually do not know the lyrics to that song's chorus. Luckily, I do know the lyrics for another song called 'My Melody'. They both use the same chords anyway," I offered to the kind stranger. Oh if I donated a penny for every lie I said in five minutes...
"Yeah, let's do it!" she nodded eagerly. So with a small smile, I picked up my guitar and played the familiar tune, which we sang together.
(Flashback End)
For a week and a half, I tried to forget whatever I saw on the kind stranger's head. But it was no use since I had made that mistake of giving her an accessory which only reminded me of the hurt I faced in my life. Now just clutching the hairband in my hands, which were shaking, I really felt stupid.
Sigh...there is nothing I can do about it now.
You see, I waited until all the other members had schedules to find time to ponder over the hairbands. Honestly, it is not like I did not have anything lined up either, because we were tasked to film a few self-cams for our individual LOONA-logs. With our comeback recently concluded, we felt some snippets of our everyday life would be a nice treat for Orbits.
Do not get me wrong, I really enjoy vlogging, but it is hard trying to look as though I'm not emotionally scarred from my past. Anyway, I put the thoughts of the hairbands aside and went about with the vlogging:
With the conclusion of me cooking dinner, a late one as well given I had to do a spot of outdoor filming, I stopped recording the vlog and turned off the camera I was using to film myself. Honestly, I do not think people will judge me for my simple meals these days. Not that I am dieting, but I generally am a bit more health-conscious since I like to workout (even if my physique is not as toned as Heejin or Yves unnie). On the plus side, I definitely cook better than Gowon.
I checked my watch and saw that it was already 10pm. Man time passes by quickly when you vlog. I forgot how calming it is to more or less express myself. Anything to distract me from concerns of my past, I guess. By this point, some of the other members had returned to the dorm, except for Haseul, Yeojin, Lip and Gowon whom decided to return to their own homes for this particular evening.
In my room, I had settled in to watch some YouTube videos. Lately, I have been into listening to people singing covers of other artists' songs. This went on for about two hours (with the occasional cat and bread videos in-between because I needed to embrace my character).
But just a few minutes after midnight, a certain video showed up on my recommended feed. It was another song cover, but the uploader caught my attention. I recognised them as 'PlayM Girls' from the song cover quiz a couple of months ago. On impulse, I decided to watch the video, and I was instantly drawn by the vocals of the singer, Monday. Hmm, that is probably her stage name.
Wait...I recognised that voice. Actually, I heard this exact voice a few weeks ago. 설마...that kind stranger is...Monday?!
Recalling the duet session we had that day, it dawned upon me that her facial features indeed matched the girl in this cover video. I was now certain that was Monday at the park that day, and I sang 'My Melody' with her!
I ended up scrolling down to the comments, which for a video that was only just released already had quite a few. Man, their company must have hyped this pre-debut group a lot. Straight away, I saw a lot of 'happy birthdays'...and that is when I realised that day, 10th May was her birthday! But another comment wishing her happy birthday caught my attention because it said her real name...
...Kim Jimin.
"김지민..." I mumbled the name.
MIN MIN! 도와주세요!
Shocking scenes flashed before my eyes again. Those were scenes I hoped not to be reminded of, but I knew deep down what that moment was...
...the day I was abducted. And someone saw me and my captor.
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A/N: Hyunjin finally knows about Monday, but not her full identity as of yet. And Is Hyunjin being reminded of that horrifying past of hers again?
So as we close in on the Weeekly debut teasers, things are going to unravel. Currently, I am very invested in making a lot of theories about this whole Weeekly universe/timeline theory. You might say, this is also a reason why I'm writing this fanfic; I mean the endless opportunities to lore about LOONA and Weeekly.
While we are on the subject of teasers... WEEEKLY IS MAKING A COMEBACK! I'm so happy right now and I'm not even fully recovered from 'Pain The Town' hype (sorry LOONA we couldn't paint it enough). Was hyping this comeback up a lot on my Twitter (https://twitter.com/pandaileee7) until I just went on a lore theorising spree. Oops...
And if you are guessing, yes the next chapter is going to be about Monday's birthday. Any excuse to give my Weeekly bias more spotlight is good~
Hayoung: *door opens* And you aren't forgetting about me, right?
Me: Well well well, this is a nice surprise. 안녕 하엉씨!
Hayoung: Omo! You are typing in Korean now! How long have you been away author-nim?!
Me: Not long enough to forget about your 26th birthday.
Hayoung: Aww~ and it's also nice of you to support our hoobae group! Welcome back to writing fanfics by the way!
Me: Kamsahabnida~ I'll work hard, and saeng-il chukhahae to you!
Hayoung: Keep working on that korean also! *closes door*
And yes, as I was saying, happy birthday to my same-aged (internationally) star of the 'Long Lost KPop Siblings' series, Oh Hayoung. May you have a great day of celebrating!
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