Twentieth Verse

When you said you loved me
I believed you
Even when you kept pushing me away
Even when you said one thing
and did another thing
I wanted to believe
that you were saying the truth...
-translated from “Wasted Love”
from Future Colors' first mini-album Love/Pain

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The first thing that came to Bea's mind was “YES!” She opened her mouth but stopped short, still gazing at him with disbelief. The unspoken word hung there on the brink of being said, but she was somehow afraid that saying it would break the dream that she seemed to be in. 

At that moment, the phone in her pocket vibrated. Probably an incoming message from Manang Mia, asking for an update. The thought of her cousin felt like a dash of cold water-- that a particularly large wave slapping against the bottom of the walkway suddenly sprayed seawater into both their faces seemed like the perfect punctuation.

Minha glanced at her and then looked away.

“You don't want to...?” he asked.

Bea sighed and touched his arm so that he looked back at her.

“I'm not saying I don't want to...” she said slowly. He brightened, then slumped.

“But...?” he asked.

“But we're both still too young,” she said. “And I still have school. It wouldn't be fair to Manang Mia if I just go and get married and not finish school like I promised her. It wouldn't be fair to my parents who are expecting me to graduate. And it wouldn't be fair to you to expect you to shoulder my expenses for schooling.” 

When he opened his mouth to argue, she covered it with her hand.

“No, listen to me first,” she said. “You also have the band. It wouldn't be fair to the others either. Would it be okay with your agency? They won't make you leave?”

She saw from the stricken look in his eyes that she had made her point, and dropped her hand. He caught it and held it tight.

“Minha,” she said. “I don't want you to end up hating me if I'm the reason you get kicked out of Future Colors.”

“I won't,” he said. “I can't hate you. But I won't get kicked out.”

“But if you do...?”

He was silent for a long moment. When he looked back at her there was a haunted look in his eyes.

“I... don't know what I would do if I weren't in Future Colors,” he said softly. “I can't remember a time in my life that I wasn't acting or singing or playing an instrument. I don't know what I would be if I couldn't be a performer.”

* * *

Philippines

Present day...

“I don't know what I would be if I couldn't be a performer.” Minha repeated the words.

“And I said,” Bea answered, her voice a bit wobbly, tugging at his hand so that he looked at her, and then smiling at him.  “I said, whatever happened to you, you would still be Jeon Minha. You would still find a way to make music. And you would find a way to perform. Because it's who you are.”

They were sitting in the same place, on the walkway, although this time the skies were overcast and a cold wind was blowing in from the ocean. 

“Gomawo, Bebeh-ya,” he murmured, putting his arm around her. “I've missed you so much.”

She leaned against him for a moment, and then looked up at the sky.

“Should we be going?” she asked. “It's a long way back to the house and I don't want us to get caught in the rain.”

“Do we really have to walk all the way to the highway again and find a jeep?” he pouted. 

“It's a short walk up the driveway,” she pointed out. “Nothing like the road from Punta Paraiso.”

“This is a resort with a hotel, right?” He pulled her in the direction of the main building.

“What are you thinking?” she asked. “You can't be...”

“Why? What are you thinking?” he asked back, laughing. 

“Minha!” she protested. He just laughed all the more and went to the receptionist to ask if they would call a taxi. By then Bea was blushing.

“I know what you thought,” he teased her. 

“You made me think it!” she protested, and looked even more flustered when he just laughed.

The receptionist said the taxi wouldn't arrive for another twenty minutes since they were quite far away from downtown. 

“We'll just be in the coffee shop,” Minha said to her. “Would you please call us when it arrives? Thank you.”

“Yes, sir.” The receptionist smiled and said something to Bea, who looked quite embarrassed as she followed Minha.

“What did she say?” he asked as they approached the counter. She merely shook her head, smiling. “Ah, come on, Bebeh-ya, tell me.”

“I want a hot chocolate,” she said instead. “You? Still a latte?”

“Why not make it a mocha?” he asked, diverted. “You don't want coffee?”

“I might not end up sleeping tonight if I do,” she answered. “And I have morning classes tomorrow. I only have classes until the end of the month, and then we'll have final exams... why are you pouting?”

“The thought of letting you out of my sight... somehow scares me,” he admitted. 

“What? Why?”

“It's been a long time since I last saw you.”

“I'm not a bubble, you know. I won't disappear when you turn around.”

 * * *

Three years ago...

“So what do we do?” Bea asked sadly. “I can't stop school, and you can't give up your work. Maybe...”

Minha had the feeling he wouldn't like what she intended to say, so he interrupted, turning to her and holding her hands tightly. “You'll graduate in two years, right?”

“Minha...”

“So go to school and graduate. I'll go on working.” He smiled at her. “Didn't you say that Mia noona wants you to visit them after your graduation? Come to Korea then, and see me again. I'll be waiting for you.”

She stared at him doubtfully.

“And if you're not in Korea by that time, you watch out,  because I will come back and get you.”

That made her smile.

“Oh?” she challenged.

“What? You don't believe me? Just wait and see.”

* * *

Present day...

And you did come back, Bea thought to herself. But do I even dare ask how long you're staying this time? 

“When are you going back to the doctor for a checkup?” she asked instead.

“He said a month.” Minha scowled. “And that I shouldn't sing at all yet until he says I can. I suppose if he gives me the all-clear after that... I should maybe find out how to do a solo career. If I ever get my voice back, that is.”

She didn't let him know she'd noticed that his breath caught on the last sentence, as if it was really hard to say. Instead she tried to smile at him.

“Oh, you will get it back. I like your voice. It will come back as good as new.”

His mouth quirked up at the corners.

“You really think so?”

“Of course I do. When we get back to the house I'll give you some salabat-- remember the ginger tea? It's supposed to be good for your throat.”

“Do I sound hoarse?”

She shook her head. “I admit I don't know enough to tell the difference, but you still sound good to me.”

“Heh.” But he smiled.

“Ma'am, sir, the taxi is here.”

They were both mostly quiet on the ride home, although Minha wouldn't let go of Bea's hand.  And then she remembered something.

“Argh. There's no food in the house!”

They ended up taking a detour to the supermarket.

When they got back that evening, there were taxis in front of the house and the gates were open. 

“Are we having visitors?” Minha asked. She shot him a guilty look.

“Oh, there you both are!” Manang Mia hurried to meet them. “Been grocery shopping?”

“Noona?” Minha stood stock-still.

Manong Jay was right behind her. He pointed a finger at Minha and scolded him in Korean, and then put an arm around him.

And then Myungseok yelled “Hyung!!!” He and Sangmin and Junhee tackled Minha with exuberant hugs, all of them chattering happily.

Bea bent and picked up the bags of groceries and followed Manang Mia into the house, pretending not to see the hurt look that Minha gave her.

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Vocabulary:

Gomawo - Korean, "thank you" (informal)

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Author's Note:

I'm not entirely sure why I chose "Bad Woman" as the background music for this chapter. It seemed to fit, a little. 

Well anyway, now everyone's caught up with Minha. Part of me just wishes he would stay there with Bea forever and ever and just take walks on the beach and stuff, but then of course fate always has other plans... 

Comments? Suggestions? Reactions, violent or otherwise?

Thanks for reading! :3