Second day of the holiday break, I woke up early and took subway to the supermarket alone.

Normally, Yongsun or Hyejin would go with me but as I insisted on an early trip instead of an afternoon agenda, they let me go by myself, excusing that they would be still sleeping by then.

"I don't get why you have to go shopping early." Hyejin murmured in her sleep when I was putting on some light makeup. I just laughed her off without an explanation. She wouldn't get it anyway.

The weather outside was obviously cold, since the temperature was around 2 Celcius degree and snow from last night still scattered on the pavements.

The sun was also late even though it was nearly 7 the moment I stepped out. The whole outdoor scene was covered with a thin layer of fog.

It made perfect condition for starting a weekend holiday later than usual for people, and perfect for me to hang out without being disturbed by the bustling life.

The train was much less crowded than any normal weekends. There were only me and a few elder women on the carriage, exchanging diplomatic yet shy smiles once we caught each other's eyes.

They were chatting quite merrily about a drama episode aired last night. I knew what they talked about - Hyejin also followed that drama - but I had no intention to act sociable to join them.

Instead, I just kept on double tapping my wireless earphones to jump through my music playlist.

It didn't take long for me to arrive at the station. I stood up and nodded at the women as I got off at the station connecting with our familiar underground supermarket.

And as soon as I took the exit and approached the place, I was welcomed with the usual strong gusts of winds from the supermarket's ACs consistently working at their maximum performance.

That's freezing.

Same as my neighborhood and the train, the supermarket was almost deserted. This allowed me to complete the shopping list for the upcoming week in half an hour, something that usually took us an hour or more.

Main job was done so smoothly that I still had tons of time left. If I were to return home now, it would be a battle to wake the other Mamamoo girls from their hibernating mode.

Not to mention we were yet to decide who cooked lunch and dinner for today!

Therefore, I decided to order delivery service for the groceries bag I had checked out under Hyejin's name and phone number.

She might get angry at me for it but never mind, I had done the hard job for her!

Having got rid of the bulkiness of groceries bag, I exited the underground areas for a walk around the once busy streets, munch on my favorite snacks from the streetside foodcarts that opened early while filling my lungs with the cool air of a mid-winter day and finally found myself stop in front of the entrance to the stargazing spot.

I can't climb up there.

The thought popped into my mind right away. If I had the groceries bag here, it would be the perfect excuse. But I had sent it home minutes ago.

Nevertheless, I really shouldn't climb up there.

I looked up the stairscase where at its top lay the pavilion and just a few meters away from it was the marble bench where I once enjoyed discussing radio script with Taehyung or laughing at the random stuff he would say.

Those were the times I felt comfortable around him.

If only we could stay that way. Having genuine fun.

But if I refrained from coming here just because it reminded me of Taehyung, that just wasn't fair for myself at all.

Public Area - the entrance signage said so. It was for everyone, not just for Taehyung nor all the uneasy feelings about him.

I then scanned around. Few people were ascending from their morning hike on the trail and surely, they paid no attention to a random girl acting weird right at the first step of the stairscase.

Taking a big inhale, I took a firm step upwards. Another one. Then another one. My music player chose the right time to play an upbeat song.

This is my Heartbeat song and I'm gonna play it
Been so long I forgot how to turn it up all night long

I

halted. Heartbeat song. Damn Spotify and its random play feature. You've successfully brought back memories!

I mean, in a sarcastic way.

"We should keep this song to play for a special occasion, like when our Cupid mission completed." Taehyung once told me so when we were going through a list of possible filler songs to play in case of scarcity.

I, as usual, agreed with him on keeping it for special occasion and at the same time, determined that the occasion must be a real one.

And my promise immediately sparked Taehyung's annoying sarcasm. "So you don't think the kids will become a thing, eh?", to which I just kicked him in the legs, my default reaction when I had no idea of verbal reaction.

If only we could stay that way.

I rolled my eyes.

Not that again. Get yourself together, Jung Wheein.

This trip upstairs turned out to be difficult than I thought but somehow I sensed that once I could finish it, I would feel more relieved next time I came here.

I decided not to skip the song. Kelly Clarkson was still belting notes as I resumed my journey. But just a few steps later, I was once again interrupted.

This time, it was incoming messages. From Hongsol, having ranted at length about what happened to her after Fairytale Night until today.

"He told me that he would drive me to Seoul. What's worse, my dad even invited him to stay with us for another night."

"Wow wow wow" - I texted her back, eyes gluing on the phone while my feet were set on an autopilot mode to search for a stable spot to step on. "Now that sounds like your parents approved him."

"Too early to say anything, unnie. I haven't even been convinced."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"Don't know. I have to set it aside. I still have my thesis to work on after the holiday though."

"But it's Juyeon, Hongsol ah. Ain't this what you wanted?"

"So what?"

"You LIKED him, didn't you?"

"Yes but. . . "

She left her words undone. No more typing. . . sign on my screen.

I stared at the phone for few second and ultimately, turned off the screen and got my gaze back to the staircase.

Hongsol once told me she had read somewhere that there were three things which could be the hardest to do for anyone: to lose weights healthily, to wake up early and to make the person she liked liked her back.

The first two things, she said, had been accomplished with her part-time job at Pyeonghwa's cafe. Meanwhile, with all the happenings between her and Juyeon, the last thing turned out to be absolutely unpredictable.

To the extent that when Juyeon somehow implied that he had feelings for her, Hongsol took a 180-degree turn, pushing him away.

Was it the irony of human relationship?

Or was it just a childish game they tried to play?

I felt the corners of my lips curve into a faint smile. Much to my confusion and agreement to Hongsol's thesis priority, I must admit, seeing her little struggle in the so-called push-and-pull relationship with Juyeon was really my new year guilty pleasure.

"Unnie, should I at least play hard-to-get?"

I let out a scoffing laugh at Hongsol's latest message.

"Up to you nah."

I quickly sent her a Hyojin-ish advice and resumed climbing the stairs, humming to the next song that went on the music player. Somehow it matched Hongsol's current feelings towards Juyeon perfectly.

"I hate you but I love you, I can't stop thinking of you.

It's tru-e. I'm stuck on you."

A few more minutes went by and I almost reached the top of the staircase. It was getting windier, so much that I had to adjust my outer jacket, tuck my long hair inwards in order to prevent it from being a mess.

And as I was fixing up my look, I heard through my earbuds a vague sound of someone speaking near me.

Instinctly, I looked up and my eyes met a strange person staring at me, curiosity was written on his face.

"Sorry?" I took off my left earbud and asked him politely, not meaning to be answered.

"Excuse me" - The young guy finally spoke up, a big smile then became visible on his face. - "Are you. . .erm. . .happen to be Taehyungie hyung's friend?"

I frowned, quickly scanned the good-looking guy wearing black tracksuits in front of me.

He didn't look like a threat to me but considering he mentioned Taehyung, I sensed trouble somewhere.

"Erm. . ." - I cautiously replied him - "I'm not sure which Taehyung you are talking about."

Disappointment dashed across his face in a brief moment as he slightly pouted.

"But you do look like one." - He insisted.

"Sorry, you may mistake me with someone else." - I quickly deflected him and put my earbud back on - "Excuse me then."

I bowed a goodbye to the strange guy and aimed my eyes at the remaining footsteps of the staircase.

Yet once I reached the top and was gasping for air, I saw him. Running towards my direction, shouting something to someone at my back and came to a sudden halt as our eyes met.

"Wheein-ssi. . ."

I could read his lips mouthing my name.

He was wearing a tracksuits, a similar design as the strange guy I met moments ago. His hair was hidden under the grey beanie hat but part of his bang was still visible, stuck to his forehead.

He must be on his way back from a morning hike but it was definitely a coincidence to meet him here, considering that he once shared that he would never want to get active during holidays at all.

"Taehyung-ssi" - I got to take off my earbuds again and tried to put on casual tone of voice despite the sudden nervousness - "Strange to see you here on holiday, huh?"

"Ah yeah, you're right." - He smiled shyly, hands shoving inside both pockets of the tracksuit top. - "My roommates insisted on a hike though."

Roommates? The silhouette of the strange guy I had just met on the way here popped up in my mind. The guy asking me if I was a friend of Taehyung.

Technically, I befriended a Taehyung but how on Earth would I know if he was related to the Kim Taehyung talking to me right now?

"So I think I've just met your roommate." - I pointed to my back - "The one in black tracksuits."

Taehyung got it immediately.

"He's the youngest. There are . . .erm. . ." - He raised a hand up - "6 more in the house, me included."

I chuckled.

"That's a bit too many, eh?"

To which he agreed with a roll of the eyes.

"Absolutely. But it's gonna be a bit lonely without them though."

"Right." - I shuffled my feet, replying him as I assumed I knew what he was referring to - "6 months is quite some time."

"Then how about you?"

He suddenly diverted the topic to me, which had me startle and look up at him, blurting.

"Me what?"

"Well. . . I mean. . .I haven't talked to you about this yet but. . .Now that you're going through changes at work and. . .er . . . Seulgi noona has left, Hongsol will depart the cafe soon, I will be away as well. . . Are you going to be OK without us in the office?"

I listened to his question well and unconsciously, nodded in acknowledgment.

For he made a point.

We had never talked about this even though he had expressed his concern with Hyojin and sent me a cheer up song, for which I had even yet thanked him.

But ironically, the thought of everything being fine ultimately - or I should at least learn to be independent from my close connections - was formed before the news of Taehyung going on assignment and Hongsol leaving the cafe right after the holiday.

Hence, part of me was questioning if I would be really OK when almost everyone in my limited network at Purple Line would be no longer beside me in the upcoming months.

I squinted my eyes and reached my hand to wipe off the oil formed on the corners of my nose in an awkward style, murmuring.

"I must be."

"Great." - He slightly shrugged. - "Anyway, I'm not sure if you remember me telling you this but. . ."

"Hmm?"

"Let me know when you need someone to cheer you up." - He still had his hands inside the pockets, head bobbled from left to right. - "Hongkong is just an hour after Korea though."

I didn't have the chance to answer him as I heard his roommate calling his name from behind.

"Taehyung ah, hurry up.". That must be another one among the 6 sharing a house with him.

"Just go ahead, I'll catch up later", replied Taehyung and then turned to me, chin pointed to my back. "That's another one."

"You should get going.", I urged him.

"So I guess we have to let our conversation hanging once more, eh?"

What a witty guy. It was still clear in my memory, the moment we left the empty parking lot at Pyeonghwa after the New Year Eve, after we told each other that we ran away from each other.

And now we were here, facing each other and were about to create another cliff hanger in our conversation that would take who-knows-how-long to fulfill.

"If I were your roommates, I'd be pissed off with you."

I said and he suddenly cracked up. "Ok, ok. I see." He responded and took his steps forwards. And as soon as we were an arm apart, he reached out and gently patted my shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow, eh?"

I raised both of my eyebrows, an action that could be interpreted as neither yes or no. Perhaps the reaction was due to my being clueless of why we could still strike a conversation, though awkward instead of pretending not to see each other.

Am I being too extreme with him?

"Hey Taehyung-ssi."

Even before I could realize, I saw myself turning around and calling Taehyung. The next words coming from my mouth, I just hoped that they made sense for him.

"So. . . I guess we are still friends?"

Taehyung looked a bit puzzled. But he then quickly regained consciousness and replied with a wink, mischief lacing in his voice.

"Then what do you want us to be?"

Oh yeah, Jung Wheein, your verbal ability sucks.

"Ah no. . . I mean. . . Well. . .I don't mean to reject you or so. . . But I don't know. . . Anyway. . ." - I huffed, hands twisted shyly. "You're right, we got the conversation hanging again."

Taehyung looked at me struggling with the explanation amusedly. His grin got wider as he interrupted me.

"It's ok, Wheein-ssi. Let's have it hanging so we can come back to it later."

And as if realizing he hadn't addressed my question, he added.

"Ah right, we're still friends." - And another wink followed. - "Plus, I do have some catchy materials for your last radio shows."

We both shared a comfortable laugh before Taehyung bid goodbye and dashed downstairs while I settled at our usual seat and got immersed in the tranquilt city scene underneath.

Taking a sip of the canned milk I bought on my way here, I smiled to myself thinking back on the conversation with Taehyung and its impact on me. Many said that words had weights and sometimes words can help lift the weights burdening you. I guess I had just experienced the latter part after Taehyung's confirmation.

After all, I might not know what lay ahead and how my friendship with Taehyung could progress but well, let's just be content with where we were right now.

○●○

Author's note: So people, that's pretty it. There's one more epilogue that follows but I could proudly announce that we've reached the end of The Sound Of Heart. Not a whirling and dramatic journey with Wheein and all the supporting characters but I hope you've had a nice read following Wheein's gradual development into a person accepting changes to be part of her life as well as slowly expanding her limited connection network. And yeah, thank you all very much for supporting and being patient with this piece of writing :)