I'll get used to it, like catching a cold again
The ash gray light pushes through and endlessly passes by
But still

I must get through it
Cuz it'll pass, it'll pass
Just need a moment
Cuz it'll pass, it'll pass
Cuz it'll pass, already

In the gray sky, there is a brighter light
Behind the dark clouds, there is a dazzling light

Snap out of it, get up and brush it off
Pain is just a passing storm to me

This isn't the end
Better days will come
At the end of that day
You'll shine on me like this

The sun is behind the clouds that cover the light
Without change, you shine on me forever
The quiet air, the warm wind
They're all there, always in the same place

You shine like the stars
You light up my heart
At the end of today's hardships
Brightly shine on me

Junmyeon sang with his eyes closed, his fingers gently taping the strings of the guitar. The whole lounge echoed with the sound of clapping when he ended. He slowly opened his eyes, smiling genuinely when he saw the children overjoyed, happiness evident on their faces. He sat on the two steps beside the Christmas tree which was decorated with vibrant lights. The small wooden window behind him was open from where the dying rays of the disappearing sun could be seen.

This is what he does every Christmas. This orphanage was beside his old home and he has been visiting here every Christmas to spend time with the children here.

He looked around the room. His eyes fell on a girl who was standing beside a pillar. Her face hidden under a mask. Standing there against the pillar, she looked like to be in some trance. Under the effect of the different lights in the hall, her face was lit with variant colours. He was a bit surprised by the mask.

Being absorbed in the moment, Jia didn't notice that she has been staring at Junmyeon for several minutes now and that the other has already caught her glower.

"Such a gentleman" She snapped out of her trance only when someone spoke. Observing that the other person has caught her stare, being a little embarassrd she turned around, diverting her gaze to the person who stood beside her.

"He visits here every Christmas, brings some gifts for the children and spends time with them" the forewoman of the orphanage, who looked to be in her late 40's said looking towards Junmyeon. Jia smiled under the mask.

"He has never said a thing about himself but I heard that his house is located somewhere near the orphanage" The woman said. Jia glanced at Junmyeon just to look hurried back because the later was still looking at her direction.

"I will ask them to bring in the cake" Jia said to the woman and hastily went out of the hall to save herself from further embarassment.

Junmyeon looked back at the children when he saw her leave the living room. The children were still dancing and singing in an uneven manner to the song he just finished. He glanced at the cake which was just brought in. A mix of strawberry and pineapple, exactly his favourite or maybe it was in the past. The past that he was still stuck in.

He felt someone tugging on his hand. He looked beside him to find a young girl holding his hand.

"C'mon uncle! We have to cut the cake" the young girl pointed towards the circular table on which the cake was set and the children gathered around it. Getting up from the stairs, Junmyeon smiled at the young girl and went towards the table. He blew up on the candles and cut the cake, earning claps and laughs from the children around.

Amidst of all, he didn't see the girl with the mask again.

💫💫💫

Jia entered the car that stood in the middle of the trees in the dark a little away from the orphanage building.

"How did it go?" She asked the man who was sitting inside as soon as she entered.

"I did as you asked me to" the man, more like a teenager who seemed to have not crossed his 20 yet said. "It was just as you had predicted" he glanced at her as she removed her mask, smiling a bit.

"Did you trace him?" She questioned fixing her hair.

"I did and found where Joseph is hiding" he sat back in his seat, removing his hands from the steering wheel. "It was him who poisoned Carlo and also him who rummaged through your room"

Humming she threw her head back on the headrest.

"Did you see him?" Noticing the sad look on her face, the boy asked after a while.

"I did see him. I heard him singing live and got myself a bit embarassed when he caught me staring continuously at him" a sad smile appeared on her face. The boy laughed.

"With that mask?" He asked and she nodded.

"You would have vexed him you freak and weirdo" he laughed.

"What? Freak and weirdo?" She looked at him angrily shocked. "How is staring weird?" She smacked him on his head.

He was glad as he saw the sadness disappeared in seconds.

"How is staring not weird?" Pointing at the mask that laid in her lap "And that mask even intensifies it" He retorted with the same tone.
"Weirdo weirdo weirdo" he laughed again.

"Maybe its a little weird but not enough to make me a freak" she said a bit abashed.

"Yes it does" he said. " and you are a freak and a weirdo"

"No I am not" she smacked him again.

"Yes you are" opening the car's door he ran away.

"I am not" yelling, she followed him out of the car. The boy laughed loudly as he ran.

💫💫💫

The young boy only searched for one person as everyone around him was wishing him on his 10th birthday, sadness written all over his face. The candles on the pineapple and strawberry cake were lit in front of him.
"Come on baby, make a wish and blow out the candles" a lady beside him said to him..probably his mother.
But no the young boy couldn't blow out the candles without her. His grip tightened on the knife in his hand, he wished for her to come.
And when he was about to close his eyes to make the wish, she appeared...smiling. Her hands behind her back. The young boy, on seeing her smiled brightly, his smile brighter than the stars outside just with the sight of her. The young girl smiled back giving him a thumb and then lifted the bunny from her behind, higher in the air..his birthday gift.
And then he wished, wished for her to be with him..forever.

Opening the cabinet, Junmyeon took out the white bunny. Removing the little dust on it he went towards his bed. He was in his old house, his old room. He has left the house a long time ago but everything here was the same as he has left it. Nothing was displaced. Only the maid would come here and do all the cleaning. Junmyeon would just visit the house on Christmas only to visit the orphanage and her grave to wish her birthday that was on 26th and to cut her favourite cake with her.

He looked around the house. He missed everything. The time he has spent here was not really good but he had his people who cared for him, who made him forget his misery with just one touch. The people who would wipe the tears off his face for him.

He missed his father playing hide and seek with him on weekends, his mother picking him from school, worrying for him when he would get sick. And her, his best friend. It was Ujiha who came searching for him, sat beside him, lending him her shoulder as he cried when his mother left him. After that, she became everything to him.

💫💫💫

After buying a chocolate cake from the bakery nearby Junmyeon drove towards the graveyard. It was near 12 in the night. Pulling his legs he slowly walked, with a heavy heart.

Sounds of crushing leaves could be heard in the middle of the forest mixed with the sounds of heavy breathing.
"Run Jun" a 12 years old girl holding hand with a boy of same age.
She was struggling with her legs, trying to catch her breath.
Her face and legs, which were exposed, were covered with cuts.
"Hurry Ji" he said tightening his grip on her hand and trying to drag her, panting.
"No, I can't anymore" she said pushing him to run.
"No Ji, I can't....I can't go without you. Please hold on a bit more" he pleaded to her while holding her shoulder.
"I think we are far away from them" he said looking around.
Suddenly they heard rustling of leaves and the girl stood protectively in front of him.
"Just go away Jun" she pushed him hard and he fell down. But before he could get up and drag her a bullit came and hit her on her right shoulder. Her eyes wide open her lips parted, pain all over her scratched face.
He stood up and went near her, trying to hold her blood stained hands but she pushed him when they heard sounds of feet approaching them, weakly this time.
"Please Jun! Run for me" she whispered, her eyes half closed.
He saw two figures coming towards them.
He started running, crying. Due to tears in his eyes and he trying to look back now and then, he was unable to see the cliff ahead and suddenly he slipped, going down and down until the darkness covered his senses.

Junmyeon stopped in front of a grave. He slowly sat beside it, placing the cake and the flowers on the ground.

Slowly taking out the flowers from the bouquet, he put them on the grave one by one.

Tears started to rise up in his eyes as he took the knife in his hands when the watch on his wrist struck 12. He slowly cut the cake, his breathing becoming uneven.

Junmyeon put the small piece of the cake he just cut.
"Happy 23rd birthday" he said as breathing became more and more difficult. He held his chest trying to breath in between his tears.

"I told you not to do this anymore" Riahn yelled at him angrily as he approached and started to search Junmyeon's pockets. Taking out a white bottle he gave two tablets to Junmyeon.

💫💫💫

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