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The day that SMDJ and S3 meet again finally comes. It's been more than a year they haven't seen each other. Seunghee and Jeonghan are both as reluctant to face each other.

SMDJ is the first one to arrive at the venue, meanwhile, S3 has just arrived and is about to enter the building.

"S3! Welcome!" their coordinator says.

Seunghee is sitting down at one of the tables, facing the stage, while her members are just standing about around her. S3 walks in closer to them, along with their coordinator.

Jeonghan can't help but glance at the sitting Seunghee. Why does she have to make it obvious that they're not on good terms? She could've welcomed him normally, since they split up mutually. Not like this. She makes it even more awkward for them and it's not nice.

"SMDJ, meet S3," he introduces.

The tension is present, between Minhyun and Jeonghan, meanwhile Seunghee is still sitting down, not facing them, not willing to face her previous lover.

"Long time no see guys!" Soonyoung greets them.

Dongho and Jonghyun just slightly waves at him.

"So you guys know each other?" their coordinator is surprised. "Well, that's good. Cuz I still have something to fix backstage right now. I'll leave you guys first. I'll be back in 30 minutes."

Mr. Coordinator then runs to the stage and directly passes to the back.

As leaders, Soonyoung and Minhyun step up to introduce each member once again formally.

"Well-" both Soonyoung and Minhyun say at the same time but Minhyun gestures for Soonyoung to go first in which the latter does.

"Well, guys," he looks at his members and then, "Ha, Teul, Se!"

"Anyounghaseyo, S3 mida!" all three of them greets like a boy band would.

Then Soonyoung introduces themselves, "I'm Soonyoung, the leader. This is Seungkwan, our lead vocalist and of course, Jeonghan, our main vocalist. We hope we can work together smoothly."

Jeonghan grits his teeth as he glimpses at Seunghee. He knew it will be hard, but this is not what he expected. This is too much.

Seunghee is still not facing the group. She hasn't heard Jeonghan say a word and it scares her to look at him. She's scared to find some kind of stranger in his eyes when he looks back at her.

"Well, we are SMDJ," Minhyun utters. "I'm Minhyun, the leader and the guitarist. These are my members, Dongho on base, Jonghyun on drums and our singer, Seunghee."

"Anyounghaseyo," Dongho and Jonghyun greet.

Elkie has finally arrived, she is late cuz of some business she had to fix at the restaurant.

"Unnie!" she's all smiles as she approaches. She has also seen Seungkwan and she's more than glad.

The tension-filled air slightly softens as Elkie reaches the group. She passes by Seungkwan and gives him a kiss on the cheek before going to Seunghee. She can perceive the look on her face. She's too nervous to face him but she has to.

"Unnie, let's greet them together," Elkie whispers at her.

Seunghee only nods and finally stands with Elkie. Slowly, she turns to face the others. Slowly, she lands her eyes on each of her members and then one by one at the members of S3. And finally, she sees him.

Jeonghan holds his breath when she finally stands up and turns. She still looks perfect. She still looks like the woman he's gonna spend his whole life with. She's still that one girl he wishes is still by his side. And when she finally lands her eyes on him, he knew his love will always be and will never fade. But things are still different right now and he just have to deal with the present.

Seunghee and Jeonghan's eyes meet again, and they both just want the world to stop turning and stay like this. But reality has its way of kicking in and remind them that it's been a year they fell apart. It's been a year they haven't been in each other's arms. It's been a year they both decided to not be a part of each other's lives.

"Anyounghaseyo," Elkie and Seunghee greet the S3 members.

From then it's crystal clear to both of them. This is not about them anymore. This is about their chosen paths. The paths that lead them apart. The paths that's gonna pave the right future for them.

With one last look they gave each other, they turn to their respective members and focus on what's in store for them.

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If the first meeting after one year isn't nerve-wracking enough, another heartbreak happens for Seunghee once again.

For the afternoon's rehearsal, there unexpectedly came a tall slender girl at the set. It's Junghwa. She's asking everyone where Jeonghan is and when she finds him backstage, she gives him a tight hug.

"I've heard from uncle," she tells him.

"Why are you here? We're busy, I can't attend to you," Jeonghan tells her.

"Don't worry about me, I'm here to attend to you," she says with a wink.

"Okay, alright," he just shrugs.

From the other side of the stage, Seunghee's eyes widen as she witnesses this. It's painful. It hurts. It's a shock to know that he's already seeing someone else. What's more is that the girl looks familiar and she easily recalls that time at Kayak. So he was there? He was there with that girl since that time? Realizing it, her heart slowly shatters to pieces. She didn't expect this. She wasn't ready for anything like this.

Her eyes become teary all of a sudden and when she realizes, she's already crying. Thank goodness no one has seen her yet, she excuses herself and runs away without a word.

Only then Minhyun and Elkie notice her, from their busy posts.

"Seunghee-ya!" Minhyun calls her out but she's running nonstop.

Elkie then runs after her to check if there's something wrong.

Minhyun then turns to the other part of the stage and sees Jeonghan looking back at them with a girl clinging to him. He instantly knew it's about him again. For how long will he keep hurting her? He's just unforgivable.

Jeonghan catches Seunghee running when he came to. He didn't see her crying, but he caught her touching her face. Just then he sees Minhyun glaring at him. He glares at him the same. He won't back down when it comes to him. There's no way he will ever get over the fact that he's the one by her side. He may be the one beside her, but he will never let him be the one for her.

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"Unnie!" Elkie finds Seunghee crying at their dressing room.

She ran there, knowing there's no other person around. Elkie walks over her and she just breaks down and hugs her in her sorrow.

"Elkie-ya!" tears flow nonstop from her eyes. This time she just can't hold a poker face anymore. It's too much. Seeing him with another girl is simply the death of her.

Elkie gives her the shoulder she needs for as long as she needs it. It's pity that she's suffering like this when she just loves him so much. Maybe, too much love can really kill you. But too much misunderstandings can be the death of you too.

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Rehearsals take place as soon as the order of performances is laid. S3 will be the opening act of the evening and they have a longer rehearsing time than all other performers that evening since it's their first stage at the venue.

"Jeonghan-ah! I brought a towel for you. Here," Junghwa says and hands him the towel, which he quickly accepts.

"Thanks," he replies, wiping his sweat with the towel.

Seunghee is just standing a few feet away from him, witnessing the unlikely scene. She stands there giving no reaction but her insides are coiling up in unwanted anger, jealousy and pain. She just cried her heart out a few hours ago, this time she won't let her tears overwhelm her anymore. She still can't stand seeing him with another girl but she realized there's really nothing she can do for now. It's only been a year, so how can he act like they've broken up so long ago? Why is he doing this? She doesn't let it all show and she won't give in to his play. But she's not gonna get back at him. She only hopes he stops doing this infront of her, but that seems not to be the thing.

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A lot of other instances happens with Jeonghan being cozy with the other girl and Seunghee just tries to disregard it. She's not so good with being angry, but she can be good at hiding her feelings. It's not just Seunghee, of course every other member of the band can see what Jeonghan is doing. He can mean it or not, but it all appears negative in their eyes. So Minhyun does what is supposed to comfort Seunghee and anger him in return.

Minhyun walks over Seunghee and sits beside her. They are only a few more minutes away from rehearsing.

"Hey, would like some water?" he asks.

"No, I'm okay," she replies.

"Are we good?"

"Yeah."

"You don't need anything?"

"Why are you so askey right now?"

"I'm not being askey? Is there even a word like that?" he chuckles.

"I don't know. I just made that up."

"Okay. You answer my questions anyways so why not ask?"

"You're being silly."

"I'm not always like this so you have to treasure this time."

"Why should I treasure it?"

"Now you're the one being askey!" he chuckles.

She then giggles, "How silly."

From where he is along the seats, Jeonghan catches a glimpse of Seunghee and Minhyun. Of all people, why him, why now? And it's automatically making him angry.

They aren't doing anything, they are simply sitting beside each other chatting and laughing but Jeonghan's temper hits all time high. He's holding Junghwa's hand cuz of the towel and he doesn't even notice that he's already gripping it tightly, enough to hurt her.

"Jeonghan-ah!" Junghwa tells him, taking her hand back.

He still doesn't notice, until she hits him lightly on the chest.

"Yah!" she screams at him.

That's the only time he finally lets go of her hand. She massages her hand which is slightly red from the harsh grip.

"What were you doing? It hurts," she complains.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes.

He glances at Seunghee again and they are still talking about something. He wants to pull them away. He wants to move her away from him. But all he can do now is look at them and drown in his anger.

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When SMDJ rehearses, a lot of other groups watch them. Seungkwan is with Elkie as the band takes the stage, meanwhile Soonyoung is talking with the coordinator. Junghwa has gone home and now Jeonghan is alone at the corner. He refuses to watch. He won't benefit seeing Seunghee with the guy she dumped him with. But when he hears her sing, his stoned heart simply gives in.

From behind all the other spectators, he watches her. Her voice still sounds like an angel's. And her song still never fails to amaze him. From the last time he heard her, she progressed a lot. She can now hit higher notes, she can now control her voice more efficiently and she can now perform on par with professionals. So she's done a big improvement in her craft and it makes him glad. But on the contrary, it upsets him again. So she really doesn't need him in her life to achieve her goals. How cruel. So there really is no need for him to even try again to enter her life. Thinking about this, he turns his back again and exits through the back door down and out.

Just when Seunghee finds him in the crowd watching her, he turns his back and takes the exit. For a split second she feels glad, but he takes it all away when he leaves. Why? Do they really have to keep hurting each other until now? Frustrated at this, she sings her heart out in rehearsals, earning cheers from the observing crowd.

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TO BE CONTINUED...

Published: 04/20/18