dejavu.
finally playing | epilogue.
↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ
status: very unedited
It was roughly 10 years later, and the pair had grown into their skins, and became the ripe age of 30.
Stood outside of a large glass building, the pair couldn't help but linger in the vast parking lot. They stood shoulder to shoulder, though it was more like shoulder to head from their undeniable height difference, and gazed out— hearts swelling with pride.
Jisung sneakily stole a glance at the woman of his right. Her long brunette hair from college was now dyed with blonde highlights, and for the past year she's been trying to find a perfect hairstyle for it. Yesterday it was two french braids, today it was lazily placed into a bun with two framing locks at her front— from waking up later than expected.
Her chubby cheeks from the past had now slimmed down, and her hazel eyes seemed much more brighter than it could have ever shone in their university days.
But he didn't blame her.
University wasn't necessarily an easy time for them.
It was filled with mistakes, picking each other up, and trying again endlessly.
He remembered that day he nearly ended his life, and as his heart began to tremble, he knew he would've missed so much.
He would've missed the Fever Dreams big breakout into the industry. Though he missed the semi-finals, Jisung had been able to pull himself together with the support of Aeri and their other friends to perform.
And as if the clouds opened up on a gloomy day, their wishes had finally been granted.
Late night basement practices turned into studio session with big names, and small concerts at a local park became crowds of thousands and thousands of people in convention/concert centers.
It was remarkable what the competition had done for them.
The band was also fortunate to gain back their favorite lead singer, Han Aeri. After much thought, she knew her heart belonged to that band, and her very beat up composition book that carried it's numerous songs.
Before long, the eight became a sensation in the country of South Korea. It was undeniable. They were stopped on streets, booked until the next five years and so on.
But as the group all reached their thirties, they decided to go their individual ways to test waters. They've been together since middle school and high school, it was time they tried things for themselves.
And what Jisung and Aeri chose to do felt a personal success for everyone.
"We did it, Sung," Aeri grinned excitedly, turning her head to face the boy. Her mature voice filtered into his ears, and immediately he was pulled out from his reverie.
Jisung mirrored her expression, and leant down to place a warm kiss at her temples. As he did so, the brunette closed her eyes in content, sighing with such relief as if one kiss really was the cherry on top of her entire ten years.
"Life is so good to me. I have my favorite boy, and my dream right in front of me," She whispered, more to herself, yet Jisung heard clearly and chuckled at her adorable nature.
It took quite a while to be that man for her, but it was all worth it.
Their heads turned back to the front and they reread the sign for the millionth time.
HAN RUA INSTITUTE OF MUSIC
No matter the amount of times they've read their school's name, it still swelled their hearts.
Earlier that year when the building was first being renovated and the sign was finally finished, Aeri cried for hours. She wanted to dedicate this school to not only her late mother and brother, but also her father.
Jisung reassured her on those glum nights in their shared apartment, kissing her hair and whispering sweet nothings to remind her that she was doing more than anyone could ask.
Aeri was also there for Jisung too.
He hadn't contacted his family in years.
Once he was 18, he packed up and left, the only gift he took from them was his childhood home that they moved out from, but kept. They were going to rent it out to others, however Jisung felt too attached.
Luckily over the years, he matured and sold the home on his own accord. He used the money for the down payment on their current apartment, and to kickstart their Music School.
It was only a few months back that he had invited his parents and siblings to a dinner. It was at the most expensive restaurant he could find in the heart of Seoul, and he bought the most precious bottle of red wine, and a new luxurious suit and dress for Aeri. He made sure to get his message across that he was doing perfectly good without them.
but the night of the dinner, he felt nothing but embarrassed and ashamed. Despite the numerous expensive items he bought and the gloried reservation he attained— he felt ashamed.
He didn't even know if his Music School was going to be any great. Despite having success already as a Artist and awards for his songwriting and production skills, his music school was the closest achievement that his parents could understand, because it was a business.
It was a private and prestigious institution, though it only started that year. But thankfully for critics, the press and his amazing reputations for the staff of his school, it was already called one of the top music schools in the nation.
He just hoped they'd feel even a tad bit proud of him.
That night it was quite hard to express his love for music and the dedication, sweat and blood he put into his career as not only an Artist, but also a professor now— having gone back to college for his degree in education. Though Aeri had already gotten hers initially when he majored in Music.
With the squeeze from Aeri's hand, he spoke fluidly to his STEM-like family, hoping they'd see in his eyes, he was doing good in his own way.
Luckily at the end of the night, a nod of approval from his father, a gracious smile from his mother and the friendly pats on the back from his other brothers— it ended very well.
And for once, they felt whole.
Including Aeri, who his mother had excitedly welcomed, saying she was sick of being surrounded by only men.
He felt a sense of pride overwhelm his body— watching as how Aeri made his brothers laugh, his mother grin, and his father's eyes twinkle just
like his.
Life was good to them.
All the tears they had shed back in High School and University watered the flowers of their present ever so powerfully.
"Hey, I found something in one of the old moving boxes the other day, it's some type of camcorder," Jisung informed as they began to walk towards the school.
Aeri glanced at him slightly before turning back to the approaching doors. "What's in it?" She questioned, earning a shrug of confusion from the male.
"I don't know, I was kinda hoping you'd listen to it with me," With one single nod, they ventured to Jisung's office.
Once in there, Jisung wasted no time in connecting the camera to his desktop with a single cable. As soon as he plugged it in, a video popped up, and curiosity filled Aeri as Jisung's eyes failed to widen in surprise.
"Is this thing on?" The male's high school-like voice filtered out of his computer, echoing throughout the large room.
Aeri's eyes began to prick with tears as she saw the baby face of Jisung, and the tired, smiley face of her late father.
It was when he could still hear.
"Jisung, I don't get why you have to do it now— don't get me wrong I love you two, but just because me and Mrs.Han got engaged at 18 and married at 19 doesn't mean you should too," Her father ranted, as Jisung fiddled with setting up his camera on what seemed to be her old home's dining table.
The two men sat together in front of it, like some interview, her father nonchalantly blabbering about like a teacher— pushing his small framed glasses higher on the bridge of his nose, as Jisung perhaps fiddled with his hands under the table after sitting.
"Mr.Han you already gave me your blessing," The young Park groaned, rolling his eyes at her father's nagging nature.
"I know, I know, and quit calling me Mr.Han, I'm not your teacher anymore," The older grumbled, habitually pushing his glasses up more.
"Okay, I got it, but can we, um, get back on track—" Jisung tried to speak casually, however it was bit hard when your old teacher was also the father of his high school girlfriend.
"Yes, of course, okay wow," Rua chuckled, turning his attention to the camera, his eyes locking with 30 year old Aeri's through the computer screen. "Hi Aeri, Princess," That was enough for a wary sob to escape her lips, as tears flowed down endlessly. The brunette couldn't help but cover her mouth with her hands, though not as securely as her whimpers still filtered though her fingers. "It's your father, and your boyfriend has held me captive—"
Both her and Jisung laughed— his own eyes glossing over— even though he's already watched the video on his own.
"Seriously?" the younger deadpanned— overwhelmed with nerves.
"I'm kidding! It's fun messing with this boy when he's so nervous and riled up," Rua joked, nudging the boy's shoulder.
"Yeah, for good reason," The young park grumbled.
"Yes, anyway I just wanted to say that I love you Aeri, and you'll forever be my little girl, but I know that I also share you with Jisung. And if you say yes to his next words, your old father is going to have to share you with him for the rest of our lives,"
Finally at those words, Han Aeri realized what was going to happen. In utter disbelief, she whipped her head to the side, seeing Jisung's kneeled figure on the hard wooden floor— a velvet box held open in his hands.
The ring was the one she stared at longingly when they were randomly window shopping. He remembered.
"Aeri, will you be mine, forever?"
Aeri imagined this situation in her head for the past 7 years of their relationship. And never once had she imagined that she would be sobbing as hard as she did right now. Perhaps it was because she could hear her father's voice again, or the fact he had wanted to marry her at 18, but it was certainly because the man she held so deeply in her heart, wanted to grow old with her.
Wanted their little Daesung they had come up with in High School.
Wanted her, and solely her.
Because unknown to Aeri, she was still his golden sun.
"Yes,"
. . .
songs for this chapter
i. the bones - maren morris
ii. always been you (live)- shawn mendes
iii. halley's comet - billie eilish
iv. dumb love - mimi webber
v. make it to me - sam smith
vi. love in the dark - adele
vii. turning page - sleeping at last