The beautiful notes resonating all around the concert hall only to be the loudest at its main stage; the audience sat drowning in its melody. Capturing the hearts of millions over the meaning of each lyric, the voice floated as if it were a professional dancer gliding over the vast space of the concert hall only to bring peace and awe in the listeners' hearts. Unlike a lot other concerts, this particular song would always bring silence along with it as everyone lived their moments while it lasted.

Every single movement of his finger pads over the smooth piano keys delivered their desperate emotions everyone considered to be a proposal melody. In fact it was true, the serenade was truly a step to something better he wished could be true. Numerous thoughts of that one beautiful lip curl and the fluttering of those lashes, the look of it under the moonlight and the feeling of being one on his lips, all of them roamed his mind, heart and whole being every single second.

Dancing fingers and roaming thoughts, his voice gave lead to everything, salt droplets threatening to trickle their presence out. The stage lights illuminating his face just like the moonlight lightened his face into that soft glow he once watched while smiling. Days of falling for him turned to years of longing for him. A longing with no fulfillments promised rather confirmed to be shattered. The multitude of emotions was big when it came to this song but knowing that it wouldn't be actually heard by that name was much more hurtful.

Jongho's life had been going through its usual routine, repeating everyday with loads of hours spent in the studio or at the stage. It wasn't anything new but something he couldn't get used to. He was too addicted to the routine of visiting that single place every evening than being here at the stage at the very same timing now. That didn't mean he hated where he was right now though. Whenever he remembered that voice compliment him, he would want to work more.

The song had slowly started reaching its end when his voice fought with an almost hitch. No one really noticed it though. Jongho's red hair sat parted on his forehead, eyes shut close while the stage lights made him look like an angel; his white sweater adding to the glow. The multiple times he has played this song, sang it, felt it. All of it can never grow less in their intensity, because to him this song is everything to him.

Seconds later, Jongho was finishing the song. His finger pads working onto the keys as they slowly came to a halt. His oceanic finger movements' wonder was followed by applause from audience sitting in satisfaction, complimenting and cheering for him which immediately brought a grateful smile to his features when his eyes opened. He sure was grateful and happy but all that somewhere always had an emptiness in him. Playing within, playing with him.

It was the last song of today's concert and the red curtains had started hiding Jongho behind their barrier, the light's path cutting through as Jongho found himself alone on the stage with muffled chatter of the people. Sighing, Jongho turned around immediately getting startled by someone appearing out of nowhere. "Ah- Hyung! Gosh you scared me." Jongho exclaimed, rewarded by an apologetic smile by the taller man.

"Sorry, i didn't mean to. Come on, you still need to meet some of your fans." Jongho's manager, Mingi beckoned him to follow towards the backstage. Jongho walked behind, his eyes focusing on nothing in general while his steps got closer and closer to the room. As Jongho stepped inside and sat upon a chair, Mingi made sure to handle the fans outside.

While waiting, Jongho's mind roamed around him as usual. 'I wanna see- i mean hear you perform hehe.' Those words echoed through his head suddenly. A small quirk of the corner of his lips until a voice squealed in excitement. "Hyunnnngg!"

Jongho jolted in surprise as he blinked his eyelids to look in front. A woman almost in her last 20s with a child running towards him. The rose pink glow ghosting over his chubby cheeks evident proof of extreme happiness, his small feet running towards him. His figure not any different to the stuffed bear in his hand and that smile just as beautiful to the white rose he held along. Cute.

Jongho's lips curled into his usual gummy smile, eyes scanning every single movement of the small kid. "Wooyoung-ah, don't run like that...I'm so sorry my son is a great fan of you." The woman smiled softly when Jongho just waved her off smiling. However, that was just his outer personality's showcase. Internally, Jongho was having a sudden battle with his subconscious after hearing the kid's name.

With his small stature, the five year old Wooyoung could barely make proper eye contact with the tall man without straining his neck. Jongho realised that, a small chuckle erupting from his throat, crouching down to the kid's eye level. "Aigoo, you're so cute." Jongho beamed, his gummy smile accompanying the corner crinkle of his eyes. Wooyoung giggled through his plump pink lips, his small hands clutching onto the bear and the white rose.

Even through he smiled with happiness to see this cute kid, Jongho from within wasn't ready to accept things. It was all too much suddenly. To see him. He couldn't understand anything. Someone can't be like this. Not at all. The way the kid just smiled and acted, it was no less than a repeat film in front of his eyes. Except, it was much younger this time. "Hyung, Wooyoung wunts to gwive you sowmthing." The chubbiness of his cheeks, that difficulty in speaking felt like a consequence of them and not his age.

Jongho raised his eyebrows trying to look curious as he already was. Wooyoung extended his arms, the bear and rose presented to Jongho with cute doe eyes staring through them. "Wooyoung bwoght tiz for youu" Chuckling soundlessly and curtaining surprise over his face, Jongho mumbled a thanks to the kid. "Wooyoungie is so sweet." Jongho softly pinched the kid's cheek as he giggled. All this while Wooyoung's mother just stood at the side watching her son jump around in happiness and excitement.

"Hyunng you know wy wooyoung bwoght thiz teddy bwer for you??" Wooyoung asked cutely tilting his head to the right. Jongho shook his head pouting. "No wooyoungie, will you tell me?" He asked in return. Wooyoung nodded excitedly. "Bweacse Hyung lwooks like a teddy bwer." Wooyoung chuckled softly followed by Jongho. "Aww wooyoungie is really sweet." Jongho complimented the kid as he sure was loving this kid though.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

That evening, Jongho sat in his studio, his piano sat in front of him. A music sheet and a notebook with multiple scribbles decorating its smooth pages; sign of Jongho's confliction. There above the piano also sat the brown stuffed plushie, smiling its non-living self to Jongho with the white rose lying beside it. All this while Jongho had been staring at it, trying to work on a new song but his inner self was too conflicted to act along the task.

The inconsiderate world terms the biggest and purest memories as past. A mere past. It calls it something unforgettable but something to get over with. But did Jongho really seem to consider himself a member of such ideologies created by the society? Not really. Times came when people suggested to move on, but who cared about the fact that Jongho never considered those times as memories? So why consider moving on?

To him, it is his part and what he is today. The world's term of 'memory engraved' past was Jongho's present today and he was in no place to give it up on any conditions. Jongho could only call it his life and nothing else. His hardwork in reaching this peak and this moment where he came face to face with the world's memory is all because of that single presence that walks with him everyday.

Like his shadow.

Like his sunshine.

Like his rain.

Like his love.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

First re-written chapter finished (:

I can't believe my writing changed so much within a year. I wrote this book in march 2021 and within a year its all so changed in terms of writing.

Also, hope you enjoyed. Stay safe and take care♥️

–Tri.