"Miss Yuna," her secretary called, "we need to be in the mezzanine in 5 minutes."

Yuna was entranced, looking outside the window from the 21st floor.

"Miss Yuna," her secretary called again, who took notice of the large portrait on the wall.

"You truly are a timeless beauty," as she had noticed the year 2006 signed, but the artist's name was hidden. "I cannot find a difference between this art and you now. Where have you commissioned it?"

It was a majestic work of art, laid on a 22-by-30-inch canvas of stonehenge paper, that seemed to radiate Yuna's ethereal beauty. The medium used was charcoal. The delicate jawline of her face and the curve of her nose were perfect. The shades revealed how her skin was free from any blemishes. Each stroke of hair was well drawn, along with her eyebrows and eyelashes. Masterful imagery can be seen in the details of the eyes, which captured Yuna's spirit. And then the lips, with so much detail, as if the artist had spent so much time perfecting them. Finally, it was her smile that seemed to be the main subject—a smile that could melt a man's worry away, breathe life into him, and at the same time take his breath away.

"This art screams like this was the woman someone had dreamt of and became a reality," her secretary joked. "It did not miss any detail; it was absolutely astounding," as she felt the artist's admiration and affection in every stroke. "The smile you have here reminds me of the song It's You, sung by Henry."

"It's a gift," Yuna replied, and she was suddenly transported back 17 years ago on her 18th birthday.

-~o*o~-

It was a sunny day, but there was no wind. That afternoon, as Yuna returned to the dormitory from her class, the stationed dormitory guard informed her.

"You have a package, Miss Yuna."

This piqued her curiosity, as there was none she was expecting. It was a large package, along with a stargazer and a note that read,

"Happy Birthday, Yuna" -Taeyang

Her heart skipped a beat, and emotions started gushing through. She felt the urge to find him.

"Mr. Guard, who delivered this? When was this delivered?" she interrogated the guard.

"It was just about a few minutes ago—no, maybe a minute," the guard estimated his recall. "Oh, it was just around 25 seconds ago!" he said, checking the log. "It was a tall, handsome man wearing a white cap, which seemed like a limited edition too!"

Yuna's heart raced. She ran to the streets, hoping to spot him still nearby. The image of Taeyang from the previous night was a painful memory, and she retreated back to the dorm with a heavy heart. She brought his gift to her room.

She delicately placed the stargazer in an empty, slender glass and filled it with water. She slowly unwrapped the gift, and a letter revealed itself. As she read the letter, the magnificent work of art came to light.

"You are my light, my universe, a paradise in my heart. Yuna, all I need to breathe is you."

"I see my infinite future in your eyes. In your lips, I think I found my way home."

"Your smile is both my dream and my reality, never ending forever."

-~o*o~-

They were bound to meet at 7 o'clock in the evening. Yuna was still a beautiful mess with her puffy eyes. She waited for him under the waxing crescent moon. In her positivity, she prepared her usual self: fragrant, poised, and elegant.

Taeyang arrived in his usual self: tall, broad shoulders, very manly. But his eyes were far different. Yuna could not spell the emotions he has made Taeyang feel. Her courage smothered her, and she greeted him with a faint smile and said, "Hi."

Taeyang looked at her, paralyzed by anger, worry, confusion, and all sorts of things. He had wanted to kiss her one more time, wrap her in his arms, and caress her with the correct words from his heart. Yet he can't reveal that he was the man she was seeing. In the end, he was muted, and he responded with a nod.

They exchanged words with their eyes.

Yuna looked onto Taeyang and said, "I'm sorry. This time, please, let me say what's really in my heart. Please hold me in your arms."

Taeyang looked back at Yuna and asked, "What words should I say? Are my actions not enough to convey that you are my heart's desire?"

"Please, say my name even just once," their glances spoke in unison. Neither had the courage to initiate.

Yuna broke the standstill and gestured for a small piece of paper to give to Taeyang. It was a poem she had written with all her tears. Taeyang reached for it and began to read it.

But only the lines that reached Taeyang's heart were

"I'd trade all my tomorrows for a single past with you."

His eyes were filled with sadness, contrary to what Yuna anticipated. Taeyang turned around and slowly walked away. Yuna was confused, but fear had paralyzed her. It seems her efforts have not reached Taeyang's heart.

The waxing crescent moon had played a cruel jest on the two, who would have been lovers—both muted and paralyzed. The sun stood still as the moon returned to its motion, away from the warmth of the sun.

-~o*o~-

Taeyang opened his eyes to the present. His mind had wandered off to a distant past he was not able to understand.

"I'd trade all my tomorrows for a single past with you," he recalled. Those were beautiful words that held a sentimental feeling. It reminded him of his cowardice, a life lesson he has now conquered.

He pulled out the handkerchief, embroidered with the letters L.Y. and placed it beside his tablet.

"I was only the past, never the future, nor the present," he spoke to himself, as it resonated with the bitter, rich taste of the coffee.

"Professor Park Taeyang!" an usher called. "You are up next. Please proceed to the front row of the Ilchul Hall."

In a hurry, he rushed without checking all his items.

-~o*o~-

Yuna had decided to take a stop over to the cafe on the fourth floor, which is near the Grand Ilchul Hall, for a cookie and cream milkshake. As she picked up her usual order and turned around, an intriguing piece of fabric caught her attention.

She felt a strong surge of force smacked into her wits. It was like an ecstasy of concoctions of emotions that suddenly invaded her heart and mind. She composed herself and picked up the fabric. Her heart was beating fast and loud as she refused to succumb to fear as she had before.

Her heart raced, each beat echoing the anticipation of a reunion. She scanned the area in haste, desperate to find him. But Taeyang was a phantom in the bustling crowd.

Taeyang felt the urge to check his items and found a piece of his heart was out of his reach—Yuna's handkerchief was missing! Taeyang panicked about where he could have left it. Focusing his mind, he traced back to the cafe. He impatiently requested an answer from the café attendant: "Have you seen my handkerchief on this table?"

"We saw the beautiful Miss Lee Yuna pick it up," was the answer given. "We saw her headed in the direction of the elevator that way."

Taeyang went crazy at the sound of her name. He had his doubts, but his heart pounded and numbed his mind. He forgo his reason and followed his heart. He raced in the direction mentioned. There were too many elevators, and Yuna was nowhere in sight.

As desperation threatened to overpower him, a cold, sweet voice cut through the clamor. "Taeyang!" The name echoed, freezing him in place. Slowly, he turned.

There she stood, the keeper of his heart, the realization of his dream.

With all the emotions, with all the memories, and with all his heart, he called to her name, "Yuna!"

And the room slowly dimmed. Once again, the solar eclipse commenced.

++ == << E N D >> == ++

Thank you for reading !

What do you think of the ending? 

Does the story give justice to its title "Eclipse" ?

Why did Taeyang keep the handkerchief for this day?

Why did Yuna keep the gift portrait?

They waited 17 years, before the next solar eclipse.

Please Vote, if there should be Part 2!