Chereads / HERE WE MEET AGAIN! / Chapter 3 - CHAPTER THREE: UNFORGOTTEN MEMORIES

Chapter 3 - CHAPTER THREE: UNFORGOTTEN MEMORIES

MINHO'S POV

" I'll have two iced Americanos to go please.." I said as I scanned the QR code for payments.." You can wait right there sir.." the attendee said as I found a place to sit....." Hello.." I said as I picked up my phone.." You still coming right?" Said Suho..my bestfriend.." Ofcourse what kind of best man would I be if I don't even attend your wedding.." I replied as we both laughed.." I just have a few things to wrap up at work..I'll be there first thing tomorrow morning." I reassured him..." order no 10!" They called out as I quickly stood up.." I'll hang up then.." I said as I picked up my drinks and headed back to the studio.

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" Thank you.." my work mate jinyoung said after I handed him his drink.." Aren't you done yet?" I asked.." Suprisingly no..I still have alot of photos to edit and they are all needed by tomorrow.." he replied.." Well how about you send some to me and I'll help.." I suggested.." Sure?" He asked.." Ofcourse...you also have that year book picture gig.." I said.." Right that's in like an hour.." he panicked.." Well I'll send the remaining photos to you...thank you and I'll make sure to repay you.." he said as he quickly stood up to leave.

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In a few hours I was done editing most of the photos and so I headed home...« The next song am about to play just made a record by hitting over 60 million views making it one of the most popular songs to come out this year....this is For you by our very own Kang soojin » said the person over the radio as the song started to play....as I looked around my eyes also fell upon a large billboard with Soojin on it....and seeing her I couldn't help get drifted back into my memories.

* FLASH BACK *

I recalled a time back in highschool when soojin asked me to take a number of photos of her..i asked her why she needed so many pictures, and she simply replied that she was practicing for her future as a famous singer. Her determination and ambition shone through as she explained how she envisioned herself at award shows and other grand events, needing to be camera-ready at all times.

When I questioned her about why she wanted to pursue singing, her response was simple yet profound. She expressed that music was her solace, the one thing that brought her comfort and joy in a world filled with uncertainties. In that moment, as she shared her dreams and aspirations, I couldn't help but gaze at her with a mixture of love and admiration, understanding the depth of her passion.

Lost in the warmth of the moment, I heard honkings of cars that slowly bought me back to reality and With a gentle smile, I reluctantly tore my gaze away from the Billboard... returning to the present as I continued my journey home.

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As I got ready for bed, my phone couldn't stop ringing from the text messages in Suho and Arins wedding group chat...every one seemed excited...as I turned to switch off my phone..I saw an article being sent to the group..one that was talking about soojin unexpectedly fainting at her concert..." what happened?" I asked my self as I quickly went to fans group chat...« Just saw the news about soojin fainting..is she okay now?" I asked anxiously as I awaited a reply...« Our source tells us that she was discharged...I guess she's doing okay...too bad I was looking forward to her concert » someone replied as I sighed with relief.....« Iam glad she's okay..» I texted as I switched off my phone and headed to bed.

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The next morning I had to get up early and head back to my hometown in Xiying for my best friends Suho and Arin's wedding, the three of us..four including soojin grew up together, considering we loved in the same neighbour hood and our parents were friends the four of us were quite close....

It takes around three hours to go from Han city to Xiying so I arrived before lunch, as I drove around the streets of Xiying I couldn't shake off the nostalgic feeling of being home after a while..." Is that granny ling!" I exclaimed as I took a closer look.." It's her.." I added as I quickly parked and stepped out of the car.." Granny!" I called out but she didn't seem to hear.." Granny.." I added as I ran towards her and tapped her shoulder..startling her into raising her purse at me for defence..." Granny..it's me..." I said as she took a closer look at me.." Choi Minho!" She exclaimed with a smile.." Iam sorry...you startled me" she said.." Sorry..I tried to call out to you but it must have been noisy.." I replied.." That and the fact that my ears don't work as they did before.." she said as she chuckled softly.." Is that your way of calling yourself old... because you granny ling still look as young as always.." I said with a smile as she playful hit my shoulder.." And you Choi Minho are still as sugar lipped as always.." she replied.." Well are you heading home..I'll give you a ride." I suggested.." No it's okay..I still have few more errands to run but you can stop by the house for dinner today..." She offered..." Are you sure you be fine?" I asked..." Definetly.." she replied..." Well I'll see you later.." I said as i watched her leave and headed back to the car.

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" Hey...Iam at the school gate..where should I find you?" I asked Suho.." Come over to the indoor gym...Iam having a P.E class.." he said as I quickly went to meet him.

Coming back to this highschool, the same school I studied from bought back many memories, it's like very where I looked...might have changed in terms of appearance but the memories were the same...." Minho!" Some one called out as I turned and saw Suho..who cheerfully walked towards me..." Bro..." He called out as he pulled me in for a hug..." You here.." he added as I hugged him right back.." Iam.." I replied.." Woah look at you...did you get a bit taller?" She said playfully.." Oh I've always been taller than you." I replied as laughed.." Look at you...a teacher!" I said.." Right..it's the last thing I expected to become but here we are..." I said as his phone rung.." I'll pick this up...you can have a seat right there...he said as he left.

Even the gym carried memories of my life in highschool most especially my life in highschool that Involved soojin...it's like she had left a print every where around here....." What are you thinking about?" Suho said as he came and sat down next to me..." Iam just feeling a bit nostalgic now that Iam back here.." I said as he chuckled softly..." I know...we had alot of fun around here...you me, Arin and S..." He said.." You know you can say her name right.." I said.." I know..it's just that after she left back then you were devastated...." He replied..." I was but that's a long time ago..." I replied..." Iam even her fan of her music.." I said.." As always..." He replied, " So the two of you have never talked?" He asked.." Well yes..we all busy with our lives at the moment..it's better that way.." I replied...." Let's go and have something to eat before we got for the wedding attire fitting.." he suggested.." I'll go and change and we shall be on our way.." he added as he stood up and left.

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" Woah...I just say I missed Aunt wu's meatball noodles..." I said as we wrapped up our meal.." I know remember how we used to come here most of the times after school.." Suho said as we both laughed.." Ahhh I really miss those days.." I said.." I know they were special..." He replied..." I'll go and make the payments.." he said.." No I'll pay for the meal.." I suggested.." No way this is my treat.." Suho replied as he quickly left....looking around the noodle Shop, my eyes fell upon the memory corner..where people write small noted and pin there photos as a memory of having a meal here...as I passed my eyes through the different photos..I noticed one that I was familiar with..." How is this still here?" I asked myself as I stared at a group photo with me, Suho, Arin and soojin..." Let's go.." Suho said.." Wait is that?" He asked as he exclaimed at the phot as well.." How that still here?" He asked as well..." I know..." I replied.." Well I'd like to stay and go down memory lane with you but Arin is blowing up my phone..we need to get to the fitting..." Suho said.." Right let's go." I said as we left.

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" Where have you been..?" Arin asked Suho as she playfully hit his shoulder..." Minho!!!" She exclaimed as she ran towards me and gave me a hug.."How are you.." I asked as she smiled.." Iam fine..and I would love to catch up more but we need to get the fitting done...before the shop closes.." she said.." let's grab a drink afterwards.." she added.

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" Are you sure you don't want to catch up with us via a drink and your favourite spicy chicken..?" Suho asked after we finished.." I would love too but I promised granny ling that I was going to have dinner at her place.." I replied..."You right that's important...let's catch up tomorrow then." He replied as they turned to leave with Arin.

Back at granny Ling's house, she had prepared lots of meals for me.." isn't this a bit too much for just the two of us?" I asked.." I wanted to prepare all your favourite dishes.." she replied with a smile as she handed me a bowl of rice..." Plus don't think I don't know that you burg your selves in work and barely have anything to eat back in the city...so you have to make up for all you missed while you here.." she said as I started to dig in..." Have some of this too.." she added as I chuckled softly...Granny ling is soojin granma but also mine since she's technically the one who raised me while my mom was busy with her work.

After dinner, I had a walk around the house and that's when I came across SOOJIN'S old room...another place that holds many of my memories with her...I slowly opened it and it Suprisingly still looked as it did back then...." I didn't want to change anything..for incase she finally comes back..." Granny ling said as she handed me a cup of tea..." Have you talked to her lately?" I asked..." Well as you know she's always busy but yes she did give me a call..." She replied.." And how is she...?" I asked..." Well I sort of saw an article saying she got admitted to the hospital.." I added..." She told me that she was okay...but I refuse to trust her because she didn't sound like it...I was actually planning to pay her a visit in the city sometime next week... something tells me that she isn't okay." She said...

Back home, I stared at SOOJIN'S phone number that her granny had given me...I felt this strong urge to call her but at the same time felt conflicted by the fact that's it's been so long since last talked and maybe we weren't as close enough anymore for me to worry about her...about minutes of fidgeting...O chose to give up on the idea, switched off my phone and went to sleep.

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* EPILOGUE***

( MINHO AND SOOJIN'S HIGHSCHOOL DIARY )

MINHO'S POV

The stage was set for the talent show, and Soojin stood there, determined but nervous. As she froze under the spotlight, I noticing her fidgeting fingers, " Come on soojin just like we practiced.." I said under my breath... The crowd's impatience turned into mockery, urging Soojin to leave of she didn't want to sing...Feeling the weight of the audience's expectations, Soojin dropped the mic and fled the stage.

I followed her and found her hiding, her vulnerability laid bare. As she shared her fears of performing in front of a crowd, I knelt beside her, offering comfort and reminded her of our practice sessions, " There is a difference between singing for just you in my room and singing Infront of a crowd.." she said.." Well then imagine you just singing for me....close your eyes and picture that it's just me..." I said..." That won't work.." she replied.." How will you know unless you try it...or are you just going to walk away and give those people the right to mock you..." I asked...." Of course not...it's my first performance stage debut.....I'll do it.." she said as she stood up..." Fighting..!" I encouraged her as I walked back into the audience.

Soojin returned to the stage. In that moment, as she sang with newfound courage and grace, I witnessed her talent shine brightly....she really did glow and was the happiest when standing on stage....

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