43 | a moment to remember

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"love is like the wind, you can't see it but you can feel it "

— Nicholas Sparks —

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[ 3RD PERSONS VIEW]


The eternal yellow-brown sky that loomed over the teenagers felt ecstatic. Haruka gazed up at the skies, her hands wrapped around the metal chains of the swing.

"We did it..." Renjun breathed out, a hand cupping his mouth.

It had been a week since they had figured who the copycat was, a whole week of bliss for them. Though school kind of gave them a slight bit of pain, they were still glad that they didn't have to deal with anything anymore.

Haruka was rushed quickly to the emergency room to treat her wound as soon as possible, it wasn't that serious, albeit they still had to treat it immediately or else she would lose more blood.

Her friends would visit her after school, bringing her either homemade food or convenience store brought food.

Jaemin opened the ice-cream packet before handing the popsicle at Haruka, "Ice cream?" he offers with a smile.

Haruka chuckled and gladly taking the ice cream, "Thank you, Jaemin."

"You are always welcome, Haruka." he patted the top of her head, "Also– I love the color of your eye." he points at it with his index finger before pointing at his own blue hair, "Matches with my hair."

"And also, if you ever feel sad or anything, don't be afraid to come up to be, okay? We'll talk about it with some ice cream." Jaemin told her sweetly.

It seemed like everyone but them has forgotten about what had occurred last week, however, someday soon they will also forget about it. Haruka looked up, the cold wind brushing past her as she did.

Her mother.

Haruka couldn't forget her mother. Memories of her mother kept flashing back in her mind as if it was reminding her of everything. She will never forget her mother, after all, it was her mother who suggested for her to play the piano.

She could still visualize it so well.

A young version of her, struggling to keep up with her piano instructor. Eventually, taking these classes as a kid sparked her love for the piano and music. She learned to use the piano for herself – to keep her company, to use it as her own voice.

Her mother was clapping beside her, a delighted grin on her face, eyes turning into crescents as she bobbed her head along with the beat.

"You play so beautifully, Haruka!" her mother praised her, ruffling her dark hair.

"Would you let me play the piano during your birthday?" Haruka questioned innocently looking up at her mother.

Choi Hyosun chortled, pinching the little Haruka's cheeks before lightly tapping her nose, "Of course, Haruka. I'd love that."

It was always like that. Haruka would be playing a song during her mother's birthday while Haruki would give her mother various paintings she worked on.

"Are you okay?" Mark nudged the girl with his elbow, tilting his head a bit to the side.

Haruka sent him an assuring smile, nodding her head, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Just... remembering..."

"Well, our memories are back," Mark stated, "I remember that day so clearly now."

Entering the second week of September, when the twin's mother's funeral was held. It was Haruka's first time in the town of Jinhae-gu, and something was unsettling the moment they passed the welcome sign.

It felt dark, a whole new different atmosphere. Then again, Haruka would remember little stories Haruki would tell her about Jinhae-gu, about the infamous copycat ghost and more rumors.

Haruka fiddled with her fingers, she was going to play the piano for her mother's funeral. The sickening feeling gushing up her throat that she just wanted to puke then and there. She wasn't supposed to be playing for her mother's death — she was supposed to be playing for her mother's birthday!

"How unfortunate..." she murmured inaudibly, shaking her head as she took a deep breath before proceeding to play the piano.

After the burial, Haruka couldn't really take the number of people present, instead, she decided to roam around, eventually leading herself to the nearby park, taking a seat on the empty swing that she now occupied today.

"You're really talented with playing the piano, how about you try and enter competitions?" Mark suggested and Haruka thought about it with a soft hum.

"Maybe... but I just kinda play to express myself, like telling people a story." she replied, "Did you know my mom always loved hearing me play the piano... so it hurt me when she yelled at me, telling me to stop... but I didn't. It was the only thing I have left."

Mark looked at her, she had this ridiculed expression plastered on her face. "Now I understand why she was so afraid of me when I first came into the house... the piano was haunting her. It derided her of what she left me with."

Haruka smiled softly, finishing the last bit of her popsicle before standing up to throw the stick at the trash bin. On her way back, she could see the full picture now.

All of them, together, enjoying time merrily and without a single thing to worry about.

"Everyone looks to happy." Renjun called out, approaching her as he noticed how she looked.

Haruka bobbed her head, agreeing to what he said before realizing something. She shot a look at Renjun, knowing how she saw him with color just a few days ago. She reaches up to cover her right eye, seeing nothing but a grey world.

She lets out a relieved sigh when Renjun thankfully didn't acquire any vibrant color. Renjun stifled a laughed, "I'm not going to die, Haruka."

"I just– wanted to make sure..." she mumbled, looking away.

"I can't leave you alone. I don't want to." his statement caused Haruka to look back at him. Renjun took a deep breath before taking her hand in his, holding it securely. Haruka could feel the warmth of his hand as it cupped hers.

His cheeks hued a soft pink, his heart pounding against his chest. They both focused on the view at the moment. A moment they both wished to remember forever.

Her eyes first landed Jisung, Lihua, and Chenle. The trip were busy laughing and telling jokes at each other, a sight she always enjoyed watching whenever she sees all of them together.

Chenle's iconic laugh that bursted loudly, sounding carefree and joyous. He was glad he came back, he was glad he agreed on the exchange program because he was able to meet wonderful friends.

He eyes the birds that flew up in the sky. The corner of his lips curving up, he remembered what Haruki told him. About how jealous she was with the birds. He gets it now. Haruki wasn't technically free, she just found ways around her mother's overprotectiveness that it shocked him after he knew the truth.

"Hmm, what's better? Reincarnate as a rock or a bird?" Jisung polled, gaining Lihua and Chenle's attention.

"Definitely rock." Lihua nodded her head, proud of her answer.

Jisung's nose crinkled at her response, "Why?"

Lihua shrugged her shoulders, "Then I wouldn't have to worry about homework and such 'cause I'm a rock!"

"Good point." Jisung nodded before pointing a finger at Chenle. "And you?"

"A bird seems interesting."

Lihua cocked a brow up, "Your reason is?"

Chenle grinned, "Haruki."

Haruka smiled before Jeno and Donghyuck, who both sat next to each other on the bench.

Donghyuck kept silent, contemplating whether he should or should not talk to the boy beside him.

Random quasi would surge in the boy's mind – his face crestfallen, there goes his crazy mind thinking about what if's.

Meanwhile, Jeno wasn't exactly calm in his mind either. He felt dejected after finally knowing what Donghyuck was talking about.

Where exactly was he during the times Haruki was the one who was breaking?

Stuck in his room, sleeping for what it seemed like days and weeks. His body was heavy and powerless, he wasn't able to see the point in leaving his bed, so he didn't.

Taking a few days off from school, would ignore messages and calls to that fact Jaemin sworn that Jeno's phone probably has cobwebs and dust around it. Even so, Haruki understood this, she didn't want to get angry or anything, instead she took it in.

Donghyuck, he was the one who got angry. He couldn't believe Haruki would just let Jeno off with that. His heart stung from seeing the girl crying over and over again whenever he came to visit with Renjun. He couldn't believe it – or more like couldn't accept it.

He wanted to just pull her in, hug her tight, tell her he'll be there for her, but he wasn't the one she really loved and needed. He was just a friend, and he will be forever.

"I'm sorry." Jeno startled Donghyuck when he suddenly spoke up. The purple-haired boy averted his gaze onto his friend with a questioning look.

"I know we've already made up, but still, I'm sorry. I know why you're so upset at me... I- I was—"

Donghyuck interrupts him by swinging an arm around his shoulder, latching it before laughing, "It's okay, Jeno. I was just... jealous and hurt. You were supposed to be there for her." he sighed deeply before poking Jeno's cheek, "And I'm sorry for not being able to be there for you."

Jeno scrunched his nose, a small short laugh escapes his lips, "Haruki would've loved to see this sky."

"She is the sky, what do you mean?" Donghyuck snorted before staring at the blazing sun. If Haruki's the sky, then I'll be the sun to keep her company.

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