SOOJIN'S POV
After the doctors call, it now for back to me that I left a decision unmade, and that I had to rush and make one..." What are you doing in the cold...." Minho said as he covered me with his jacket.." Are they done playing?" I inquired because last I checked both his parents and my granny were playing mahjong over dessert.." They still are and my mom is losing so bad but she doesn't want to give up.." he replied as I chuckled softly.." And you..why are you out here?" He asked..." I just wanted some air..." I replied as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder..." it's cold..let's go back inside and have some of that carrot pie.." he said as he led me inside.
While sitting at the balcony eating pie and star gazing I couldn't help ask a question.." Have you ever had a secret..like one so big that you don't know if you should tell it or just keep it.." I said.." Uhmmm well Iam not sure if I should refer to it as big but I did have a secret... remember back then how I always said that in college i would major in photography?" He asked.." Yes..I remember " I replied.." Well I applied to Hainan school of art and design...that was like one of the schools back then that strictly had photography as a major of its own.." he continued.." But as I waited to for them to get back to me time was going...my parents came up to me and expressed their desires for me to study business administration...I couldn't say no to them for some reason like you remember back them my entire life was dedicated to pleasing them..they applied for me to study in some prestigious business school in Han city...at that point I was faces with two decisions..either I follow my heart or just do like I have always done and follow what my parents think is right for me..but just as I received my admission from the business school..I get a call telling me that my admission to Hainan had been accepted....I chose Hainan and also chose to keep that a secret from my parents..since they were barely around..I kept it a secret from them so they thought that I was in Han city studying business but instead I was in Hainan studying photography..at first I thought that I will tell them after my first semester but they didn't come back so I extended it to next year..I kept it a secret for over two years and for some reason it started weighing down on me..untill they accidentally found out from their friend a lecture in Han city school of Business who told them that their isn't a student named Choi Minho in their school....my parents were so angry they ghosted me for half a year..by ghosted I mean they froze my credit card account, they for a while took my name out of the house hold register and disowned me for half a year..." He explained..." Oh Iam sorry I didn't even know that happened.." I said.." how would you know if I didn't tell...or even had no way of telling but that's not the point..the point I that if you keep a secret from some one the longer you keep the secret the more effect it's going to have to the people you keeping it from..that in addition to it weighing down on you....like I studied photography because I liked it but because I wasn't fully sincere..their reached a time when I regretted mt decision...so if you believe that these people need to know your big secret bad or not then say it..and lighten the burden.." he said as I was taken aback by his words.." Why are you talking like it's me keeping the secret?" I asked.." Aren't you?" He replied with a smile.." Well if you are..then you can also share it with some one..Iam sure if you aren't the only one aware of this secret then your burden could lighten up too..." She said with a warm smile.." Iam not.." I said as we both chuckled.
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MINHO'S words echoed in my mind the entire night and I felt the need to atleast tell me granny since my dad wasn't picking up my calls, them being my closest family deserved to know what was going on with my health..I got out of bed, got ready and left for the bakery to see my granny but was told that she usually goes for medical check ups every Thursday and that she was in the hospital, I asked for directions and headed there immediately.
At the hospital, I was shown to the office of her attending doctor and since I couldn't just bump into the office..I sat by the waiting area and waited for granny to come out...it wasn't long before she came out and as I watched her from a far I noticed her holding onto her chest like she had some kind of discomfort.." Granny!" I called out, mt voice filled with worry.." Granny.." I added as I ran to her.." soojin! What are you doing here?" She asked as I helped her sit down somewhere.." Are you not feeling well? If so why didn't you tell me, why did you come to the hospital all alone?" I asked anxiously.." I always come to the hospital every Thursday...I only experienced a bit of discomfort after sitting for long the doctors office.." she replied to me.." There is nothing to worry about.." she added.." I don't know why Iam finding it hard to trust you.." I said as she chuckled softly.." Well you should because Iam telling the truth..if you don't believe me then you can go and check with my doctor..and here are my medical records..Iam fine..Iam just getting old.." she said...." I was worried for a minute there.." I said.. " well don't be Iam okay."
I did trust her words and we headed home.." did you have something to tell me?" She asked as we entered the house.." No no...I just wanted to help you out at the bakery and then got news that you were at the hospital.." I replied.." Why don't you go and have some rest...I will make you some porridge.." I said..as she glared at me.." Do you even know how to make porridge?" She questioned.." Ofcourse granny..what do you think of me.." I replied defensively.." Just go and have some rest.." I said to her as she left.
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" You really did know how to make the porridge.." granny said after having a taste.." Well suprise suprise.." I added as I slowly sat down Infront of her.." Granny.." I called out.." I was thinking that...is it possible for you to come and stay with me in Han city?" I asked..." That way I can carefully keep an eye on you and monitor your health.." I added.. " I understand your worries soojin but Iam fine...and I always take my medicine go to Hospital and more...as much as I would love to see you every day..this is my home..Iam way too old for the chaos in the city.." she replied.." But.." I said to continue convincing her but she declined.." Just keep coming to visit whenever you have time..I don't want to be a destruction from your work..and if it makes you feel any bettwr then I can give you my doctor's number..you can co-ordinate with him in case of anything..." She said..." But you should trust your granny.." she added as I sighed deeply.." As you wish.." I replied.." When are you planning to leave?" She asked.." Why do you already want me out of your hair?" I asked.." No...I just want to know how many more days Iam left with my favourite grand daughter.." she said as she cupped my face..." Stop it!!" I said as we both chuckled...
Well I was leaving, during her weekend so I made most of the day I had left a with granny.
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It was finally time to leave...Minho had offered to give me a ride to the city since he was leaving the same day as well..." Here you go.." I said as I gave Minho my luggage...among them was the guitar he gave me and he noticed it the moment I handed it over to him.." is this?" He asked with a smile on his face.." how do you still have this with you?" He asked as he gently placed it in the back.." Soojin!" Granny called out as he handed me something, " what's this?" I asked.." It's spices...I mean you can take them over some tea..don't just fill your self up with coffee..." She said as she handed some over to Minho.." Thank you.." we both said as I gave her a big hug.." I'll make sure to come back in time for new year's eve.." I said as I hugged her even more tightly.."Okay..you should get going.." she said as I slowly and hesitantly pulled away from her embrace.." I'll call you when we arrive.." I said.." bye granny ling..." Minho said as we both got into the car and left....I couldn't help stare back outside the window as the car drove away....
" You should travel with your head outside the window.." Minho said as I sat back.." Iam just taking in this fresh Xiying air before returning to the city.." I replied as I pulled out my phone.." check this out..if I stayed one more day then he would have come to pick me up himself.." I said as I showed him the numerous consistent text messages Mr song had left me.." Is that your manager?" He asked.." Yes..." I replied.." he really is something..how about we tease him but having you stay one more day..?" He suggested.." Hmmmm as much as I would love that idea...if I don't leave now then I might not leave... there is just something about Xiying that feels so comforting." I said.." I know...I feel the same each time I come back here.." he replied as I recalled something.." There is somewhere I need to make a stop first before we leave Xiying.." I said.
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" JJ records!" Minho exclaimed.." Isn't this the place from back then?" He asked.." I have some one Iam meeting..will you come with more or do you prefer to stay in the car?" I asked.." I'll come with you.." he replied as we walked in.
" Kang soojin! What are you doing here?" Old man Lee's grand daughter Yao yao asked.." Can we sit somewhere and talk?" I asked as she led us to some seats..." Would you like to have some tea or coffee?" She asked.." Iam good..will you?" I asked Minho.." I'll have some tea.." he replied...
" So what is it that you want to talk about?" She asked as she sat down.." Well I remember you saying that business was slow and that you wanted to sell the place..and you also mentioned that the only reason it's been up till now despite not doing well is that you want to keep your grand Las legacy alive.." I explained.." Yes..." She replied.." Well what if I tell you that I have an idea that can save the shop...?" I asked.." Well I'll be more than happy to here that...what's your plan?" She asked.." So of you take a good look around this place then you will realise that it has lots of cool vintage stuff, guitars, record players, records and more.. people are crazy for this kind of stuff but are sadly charged alot because they are rare but what if I inform them that there is a place where they can get them at a fair price..." I explained as she listened.." There is this influence famous people have on people...like let's say a famous person takes a picture with a specific snack then the next time it will be sold out...so what if we try the same for the shop?" She asked.." That sounds like a good idea but how are we going to do it?" I asked.." Well I for one will post your record store on my Instagram and more social media platforms and then I'll have the post be shared by some of my friends in the same Industry and more...." I explained.." So what do you think?" I asked..." The idea seemed tempting but do you think it will work?" She asked.." Well we won't know untill we try it out so how about we give it a try and if it does work you keep the store open and if it doesn't I'll take responsibility.." I added...with hope that this will be enough to convince her..." Uhmmm.." she said as I impatiently waited..." okay!" She exclaimed.." Let's give it a try." She added as I happily cheered..." Well can you give me your number...I'll give you mine as well so you can call me and tell me how things are progressing.." I said as we both exchanged numbers..." Thank you so much.." she said..." You welcome...this place was a big part of me back then and I would hate to see it vanish like that.." I said as I looked around.
" let's hope it works.." she said as she held out her hand for a handshake..." Well can I ask you for one more thing?" She asked.." You have no idea how much I restrained my self from last time..plus you had just learned about my grand pa and it didn't seem like the perfect time.." she explained as she handed me a marker and a cardboard.." Your autograph...can you please give me your autograph?" She asked and with a smile I wrote one and gave it to her..." Thank you.." she said..." Well I also need you to help me with something.." I said.
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What I needed help with was directions to the funeral home in which old man Lee was placed to rest...." Iam really sorry Iam late..." I said with tears flowing from my eyes..." I should have come earlier..." I added..." Thank you so much for everything you did for me back then..." I added as Minho gently placed his hand around my shoulders..." Remember when we took this?" I said as I pulled out the picture..." I had to force you to do it because you didn't want too...but eventually you atleast gave a slight smile.." I said.." I'll return this to you now..." I added as I pinned the photo on his memory wall..a place in the columbarium where the late persons memories are kept..." Bye bye old man Lee..may you continue to rest in peace..." I said as I completely turned and heart brokenly fell into minhos embrace.....
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" Are you feeling better now?" Minho asked after I cleaned my face in the washrooms.." I might feel better after having some seasoned fried fish.." I said as he let out a giggle.." Well remember that fried fish restaurant by the beach?" He asked.." Yah they one we went too to celebrate our highschool graduation.." I replied.." Well Iam pretty sure it still exists so should we go and have our last meal in Xiying there?" He asked.." Well it's not our last..Iam planning to come back more but you can call it our last for now.." I replied.."Shall we ?" He asked as we stepped right back in the car and went to the restaurant.
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