That Day I Said I Love You

Fur Elise

Yoo Ae's POV

Today's the day of my recital (to make it sound positive). In other words, our evaluation day.

It's also getting colder as the autumn breeze is slowly changing into winter.

Maybe it's because of the season that I kinda feel empty with an unknown reason. So I just kept on practicing these past few days.

"Hey!"

I turned to see Mark oppa visit me here at the backstage. He had a bouquet of red roses in his hands. "For you."

I smiled accepting it. "Thank you."

"So.. ready?"

"I should be ready." taking a deep breath. "I have no choice."

He suddenly held my hand. "Halsu isseo!" (You can do it) and he gave me a very sweet smile.

Before, I feel really thrilled everytime oppa acts like this to me. But now, I feel a strange feeling and I dunno how to react with it. Should I be accepting it like how I used to?

I just smiled faintly. "Thank you for coming, oppa. Listen to my performance well, okay?"

"Of course." then he messed my hair. "I came here to support you. I hope I boosted your confidence even just a little."

"Heol."

He pouted. "I didn't?"

OMG! Why is he doing this? Is this really Mark oppa? I chuckled. "You're acting strange, oppa."

"Me?" pointing to himself. "Strange?"

I nodded. "I didn't know you have such aegyo."

He laughed. "I'm really cute and sweet."

"Stop hanging around with Jinyoung. You're adapting to his weirdness." I told him jokingly.

He shook his head. "I haven't been really hanging out with him lately. I had been hanging out with you."

"Ahhh.. so you're telling me that you became strange because of me, huh?"

"I wasn't the one who said that." and he laughed again.

After Mark oppa left, Mom came in with Yugyeom and Youngjae. They said the other guys will come later.

However, I scolded mom for bringing Youngjae along with them. Is she adopting Youngjae or something? Youngjae isn't an orphan to be adopted.

When they exited, Jinyoung came in screaming with Jackson and Bambam that I have to stop them coz they might be heard on the stage since the wind instruments performances are ongoing.

Here it comes...

As soon as I stepped in the middle of the stage, I looked at the judges, gave my greetings with a 90 degrees bow, and looked for my dearest supporters in the audience.

I saw my mom seated at the 5th row on the left side. At her right side is Yugyeom, then Youngjae, Bambam, Jackson, Mark oppa, Jinyoung, and..

No. I don't know the person beside him anymore.

I gave a deep breath before I took my seat in front of the grand piano.

Concentrate. Yoo Ae, concentrate.

And I started to play the first key.

Like how I practiced.

I should be doing it like how I practiced.

(Play the video above to hear the song)

Fur Elise...

The most famous among Beethoven's songs.

Beethoven made this song for "Elise" -- there had been a lot of speculation on who Elise was.

But as I played the piano..

I have envisioned Beethoven making this song..

for Elise..

who he fell in loved with..

but when he confessed to her,

he got rejected.

He made this song thinking how hurt the rejection was..

And I ended the playing the last key in dazed.

I stood up to make my final bow as I watched the hundreds of spectators clapping their hands.

My eyes wondered around, but I still saw the same people in the audience.

A question flashed in my mind.

Did I reject him?

I came back to my backstage room as soon as I finished my performance, sat on the couch and gave another deep breath.

Did I do well?

Did I do the same as practiced?

That feeling...

while I was playing the song.

That feeling made me ask myself if I have done right when he confessed to me.

But I was flustered and don't know what to do.

And Jaebum oppa is a friend.

A childhood friend!

We can't be----

"But you miss him so you wanted him to come. You were disappointed that after that confession, he never shown himself to you."

The little voice inside my head spoke.

"I was disappointed that he didn't come because he is supposed to support me. I'm his childhood friend after all." I stated to myself.

But why do I feel like I'm just convincing myself?

"Yes. That's only it. Even the other members came here to support me. And him---"

'He confessed to you. It's different now. You are expecting him to support you for you know he has been liking you eversince and you are expecting more of him.'

my little evil conscience is really hitting my patience today.

A sudden gushed of blood went up to my head.

I shook my head and breathed deeply again.

SHUT UP BRAIN! I don't wanna think about it.

Then I heard a knock on the door.

My heart jumped as I ran towards the door.

But when I opened the door...

"Hi!" she said with a smiling face. "Are you not happy to see me, chingu?"

No. I am very happy to see her. Very happy that at last she has finally shown her face to me. That she is here and not abroad. I missed her, and I wanna talk to her about a lot of things. But my energy suddenly went down with an unknown reason. "Seulgi?"

"Yah!" Seulgi pushed my forehead with her finger. That's what she usually does. "Were you expecting another person to come instead of me?" She said teasingly as she entered the room.

Was I?

She acted like she's about to cry. "That's so touching chingu.. so touching!" in sarcastic sad tone.

No. N.O. I.Am.Not.Expecting.Anyone. I AM NOT.

"Yah!!!"

And I came back to my senses with Seulgi's scream. "Ne!!!"

Seulgi burst into laughter. "What are you thinking about that you're eyebrows are together? Do you even know I'm here?"

"Eung." I nodded. "Mianhae.. I was just.." I closed the door. "Exhausted after the performance."

Then she went in front of me. "You're performance was AWESOME." Emphasizing each word. "And.." she suddenly hugged me. "I miss you, chingu!"

I hugged her back. "Nado.. jinjja..I miss my besrfriend!" (Me too.. really..)

Then we both acted like we are kids crying loudly. And laughed at our childish act afterwards.

"Chinguya.." she said holding my hands. She looked at me straight in the eyes with a serious face. "I've got something to tell you.."

I also looked at her straight in the eyes with a serious face. Shall I tell her I know everything or will I wait for her to tell me about it?

She smiled brightly and held my hands. "I'm back, chinguya! I'm going back to school."

"Jinjja?? So we're classmates again? I mean, same subjects? You don't have any problems coming back?"

She nodded. "They told me I just have to pass the exams and have extra projects instead."

I, actually, wanted to know if she is okay now going back to school and seeing Mark oppa everyday. But of course, how would she answer that when she doesn't know that I know about it. "That's good news!" I told her as I hugged her again.

"Oh by the way chinguya, I need to go for now. I just stopped by to watch your performance and say good luck. I really hope you get good grades. The audience feedback was so good." She talked really fast. "See you on Monday!" And waved me goodbye before exiting the door.

I smiled seeing the energetic Seulgi again.

And although I want to rant to her for still not telling me about her secret when I'm her bestfriend. I have to think that she may have reasons for not telling me or she might not want to even talk about it.

The last time I saw her at that ally, she looked annoyed and angered at Mark oppa. Maybe she still feels the same way.

But I am happy that she is finally going back here and continue studying music.

That she have decided to face Mark oppa again.

Or has Mark oppa decided to leave to give way to her?

_________________________