A year ago, Jieun had showed up at Younha's doorstep, one Sunday morning, looking lost and confused, suitcase in hand, and a guitar case slung over her bag.
"A-ah," she had stuttered. "Go Younha-sshi?"
Younha nodded. "Yeah, how may I help you?"
"I'm Lee Jieun," Jieun had introduced herself, giving her a 90 degree bow. "Kim Hyungsoo-oppa sent me— he said you might be able to give me board and lodging while I'm in Japan?"
Younha had stared at her in confusion for an entire minute, maybe even more, but then Jieun had quickly said, "I can help pay rent!"
But the reason Younha takes in Jieun is because she feels sorry for her, and because the younger girl reminds her of herself from a few years ago, newly arrived in Japan, lost, and barely speaking the language.
"Happy one year in Japan!" Younha greets Jieun when the latter wakes up, and walks into the living room. "What do you want for dinner later, I'll treat."
"Ah unnie!" Jieun exclaims, mouth forming an 'o'. "Has it really been a year?"
Younha laughs. "Doesn't feel like it, huh?"
"I'm so sorry for intruding on your space for such a long time," Jieun frowns.
Younha smiles at her. "You haven't been a bother, don't worry."
"But dinner doesn't have to special, unnie," Jieun tells her. "And I kind of have a gig tonight. Well not really a gig, but kind of, um, well there's an open mic night at this place. In town."
Younha smiles at her, amused. She finds it cute how Jieun tends to stumble all over her words.
"You should come!" Jieun declares, clapping her hands together excitedly.
"What time is it?" Younha asks. "I can try to swing by after work."
"The event starts around 7PM," Jieun says. "But you can come around 7:30 I guess."
"Okay, I'll be there," Younha says with a smile.
"Yay!" Jieun exclaims, enveloping Younha in a tight, excited hug. "Ah, actually, unnie," Jieun rambles even more excitedly, pulling away. "You should sing too! Or we can maybe sing together!"
"Oh, uh," Younha's face falls a little.
It's been a while since she last sang for an audience. Actually it's been a while since she last sang at all, she realises. She barely even hums in the shower these days. Her keyboard sits in the coner of her room, gathering dust, accompanied by the guitar she had bought, just before she flew from Korea to Japan.
She looks at Jieun, whose face is alight with excitement, and hopes, and youthful dreams— this is why Jieun used to remind her of herself. Younhs suddenly feels so old, and broken with time. Her dreams are at least that, she thinks. When she was younger, she felt that nothing can stop her. Music is what she loves, so music is what she will do, no matter how many hundred, or even thousands of rejections she gets.
And then one day, she just got fed up.
"Ah, I can't," she says, smiling, and trying to stop her sadness from showing. "I'm too old," and even as the words come out for her mouth she feels stupid for saying them. They sound so strange without context.
Jieun's brow creases, confused for a split second, but then she breaks out into a big smile.
"Don't be silly, unnie," she tells Younha. "No one is too old for music, and no one is too old for dreams."
Younha is surprised by her words, Jieun somehow knew what she meant, like the younger girl had somehow read her mind. She just smiles at Jieun, still a deflated, but somehow the smile Jieun flashes back at her gives her a little hope, like Jieun is sharing some of hers.
(That night they sing together, the two of them, and Younha suddenly remembers why she loves this— singing, the music, performing. And when they walk home together, Younha gives Jieun's hand a little squeeze, as if to say thank you, thank you for reminding me about things that mean a lot to me.
Jieun just looks at her, crinkles her nose, and lets out a little giggle.)
younha/iu - never too old to dream, 670w
A year ago, Jieun had showed up at Younha's doorstep, one Sunday morning, looking lost and confused, suitcase in hand, and a guitar case slung over her bag.
"A-ah," she had stuttered. "Go Younha-sshi?"
Younha nodded. "Yeah, how may I help you?"
"I'm Lee Jieun," Jieun had introduced herself, giving her a 90 degree bow. "Kim Hyungsoo-oppa sent me— he said you might be able to give me board and lodging while I'm in Japan?"
Younha had stared at her in confusion for an entire minute, maybe even more, but then Jieun had quickly said, "I can help pay rent!"
But the reason Younha takes in Jieun is because she feels sorry for her, and because the younger girl reminds her of herself from a few years ago, newly arrived in Japan, lost, and barely speaking the language.
"Happy one year in Japan!" Younha greets Jieun when the latter wakes up, and walks into the living room. "What do you want for dinner later, I'll treat."
"Ah unnie!" Jieun exclaims, mouth forming an 'o'. "Has it really been a year?"
Younha laughs. "Doesn't feel like it, huh?"
"I'm so sorry for intruding on your space for such a long time," Jieun frowns.
Younha smiles at her. "You haven't been a bother, don't worry."
"But dinner doesn't have to special, unnie," Jieun tells her. "And I kind of have a gig tonight. Well not really a gig, but kind of, um, well there's an open mic night at this place. In town."
Younha smiles at her, amused. She finds it cute how Jieun tends to stumble all over her words.
"You should come!" Jieun declares, clapping her hands together excitedly.
"What time is it?" Younha asks. "I can try to swing by after work."
"The event starts around 7PM," Jieun says. "But you can come around 7:30 I guess."
"Okay, I'll be there," Younha says with a smile.
"Yay!" Jieun exclaims, enveloping Younha in a tight, excited hug. "Ah, actually, unnie," Jieun rambles even more excitedly, pulling away. "You should sing too! Or we can maybe sing together!"
"Oh, uh," Younha's face falls a little.
It's been a while since she last sang for an audience. Actually it's been a while since she last sang at all, she realises. She barely even hums in the shower these days. Her keyboard sits in the coner of her room, gathering dust, accompanied by the guitar she had bought, just before she flew from Korea to Japan.
She looks at Jieun, whose face is alight with excitement, and hopes, and youthful dreams— this is why Jieun used to remind her of herself. Younhs suddenly feels so old, and broken with time. Her dreams are at least that, she thinks. When she was younger, she felt that nothing can stop her. Music is what she loves, so music is what she will do, no matter how many hundred, or even thousands of rejections she gets.
And then one day, she just got fed up.
"Ah, I can't," she says, smiling, and trying to stop her sadness from showing. "I'm too old," and even as the words come out for her mouth she feels stupid for saying them. They sound so strange without context.
Jieun's brow creases, confused for a split second, but then she breaks out into a big smile.
"Don't be silly, unnie," she tells Younha. "No one is too old for music, and no one is too old for dreams."
Younha is surprised by her words, Jieun somehow knew what she meant, like the younger girl had somehow read her mind. She just smiles at Jieun, still a deflated, but somehow the smile Jieun flashes back at her gives her a little hope, like Jieun is sharing some of hers.
(That night they sing together, the two of them, and Younha suddenly remembers why she loves this— singing, the music, performing. And when they walk home together, Younha gives Jieun's hand a little squeeze, as if to say thank you, thank you for reminding me about things that mean a lot to me.
Jieun just looks at her, crinkles her nose, and lets out a little giggle.)