STILL HERE

In 1960, two beautiful girls were born on the same fateful day. Mayo and Zhin, their houses nestled close to each other, both belonging to middle-class families. Mayo’s father worked tirelessly as a typewriter in the bustling city, while her mother, Lin, lovingly tended to their home. But Zhin’s life was marked by tragedy from the start. Her father passed away before she was born. Zhin’s father was a kind and hardworking man who worked as a taxi driver in the city. One day, he was driving a passenger to the airport when a drunk driver ran a red light and crashed into his car. The impact was so severe that Zhin’s father died instantly, leaving her mother, Qina, alone and pregnant. After Zhin’s father passed away, Qina was devastated and lonely. She had no one to support her or to help her with the pregnancy. She gave birth to Zhin in a small hospital, with only her mother by her side. They named her Zhin, which means “precious” in Chinese, because she was their only hope and joy. Desperate to provide for her daughter, Qina’s mother arranged for her to marry a man who promised to support them. But this man turned out to be a cruel alcoholic who would come home in the evenings and beat Qina and her mother. One day, Qina woke up to find that he had taken all their money and left them with nothing. Despite the pain of losing her husband and the betrayal of the man who was supposed to help them, Qina found comfort in her mother’s arms. Together, they made the brave decision to start a business making jewels and string art. Their hard work paid off when a wealthy patron from the city took notice of their talent and began buying their artwork. With this newfound success, Zhin’s future was finally secure. Zhin and Mayo were the best of friends, their bond unbreakable from the moment they met. They walked to school together, hand in hand, giggling and whispering secrets as they went. Despite the difference in their family’s wealth, there was never any discrimination between them. They cared for each other deeply, always there to lend a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. As they grew into teenagers, their bond only grew stronger. Zhin and Mayo changed schools when they were 10 years old because their old school was closed down due to a lack of funding. They were nervous and scared about going to a new school, but they promised to stick together and make new friends. They adjusted well to the new environment, thanks to their cheerful personalities and their mutual support, making new friends and exploring new interests. Mayo discovered a love for photography and, for her 12th birthday, Zhin surprised her with a small camera. In return, Mayo gave Zhin a colorful beaded bracelet that she had made herself. They celebrated their birthday with a small cake, just the two of them, their laughter filling the room. At school, rumors swirled about their relationship - some thought they were a couple, while others believed they were just friends. But Mayo had a secret crush on one of their classmates, Chayin. She kept her feelings hidden for almost a year before finally confessing to him after their final exams. But Chayin rejected her and Mayo was heartbroken. She returned home from school in tears and her mother asked her what was wrong. Mayo lied and said she wasn’t feeling well, so her mother told her to rest. But Zhin knew something was wrong and rushed over to Mayo’s house. When she arrived, Mayo broke down in tears and hugged Zhin tightly. Zhin comforted her friend and told her mother that Mayo was just not feeling well. She stayed with Mayo that night, holding her hand until she fell asleep, offering comfort and support in her time of need. Zhin and Mayo had spent the holidays exploring the city on Zhin’s cycle. They spent their days playing and exploring, always finding new adventures to embark on together. They would ride their bicycles through the winding streets of the village, laughing and shouting as they raced each other to the town square. There, they would buy ice cream cones and sit on the steps of the fountain, watching the world go by. In the evenings, they would cook dinner together in Zhin’s small kitchen, experimenting with new recipes and flavors. They would sit at the table, holding hands and talking about their dreams for the future. One day, they went on a hike in the mountains or took a walk in the forest, surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of the natural world. As they walk, they talk about their hopes and dreams, sharing their deepest thoughts and feelings with each other, laughing and gossiping. As the sun began to set, they found themselves at the beach, watching the waves crash against the shore, with the warm glow of the setting sun illuminating their faces. Mayo, do you want to make a sandcastle with me? Sure, Zhin. That sounds like fun. Let’s go to the beach and get some sand and shells. Okay, Mayo. Let’s go. But we have to be careful not to get sunburned. Mayo: Don’t worry, Zhin. I have some sunscreen and a hat for us. We’ll be fine. Okay They started making sandcastles. Look at our sandcastle, Mayo. It’s so big and beautiful. It has a tower, a moat and a flag. Yeah, it’s amazing, Zhin. It’s the best sandcastle ever. It has a bridge, a gate and a dragon. A dragon? Where’s the dragon? Right here. See? It’s made of shells, seaweed, and rocks. Wow, that’s so cool, Mayo. You’re too much creative hehehe. Zhin turns to Mayo and takes her hand, telling her how much she means to her. Mayo smiles and squeezes Zhin’s hand, feeling grateful for their friendship. Suddenly, Zhin turned to Mayo and asked her who her favorite person was. Mayo’s eyes softened as she looked at Zhin and replied, “It’s you.”They were like two halves of a whole, perfectly complementing each other in every way. Zhin leaned in and gently pressed her lips to Mayo’s cheek, causing them both to burst into laughter. They were like two crazy kids in love, caught up in the moment and the joy of being together. The warmth of Zhin’s kiss lingered on Mayo’s skin, sending shivers down her spine. They looked into each other’s eyes, their laughter fading into soft smiles as they shared a moment of pure happiness and connection. I have something to tell you, Mayo. I’ve been keeping it inside for a long time, but I can’t hold it in any longer.” “What is it, Zhin? You can tell me anything.” “I love you, Mayo. ”Zhin’s heart swelled with happiness as she confessed her feelings to Mayo, telling her that she wanted to grow old with her. But Mayo’s reaction was not what Zhin had expected. She looked at Zhin with anger and pain in her eyes before running away. For weeks, Zhin and Mayo didn’t speak. Zhin wrote a note to Mayo, telling her that she was leaving to join a military academy in another city. Mayo’s mother baked some muffins for Zhin to take with her on her journey and asked Mayo to deliver them. The next morning, as the sun began to rise, Mayo knocked on Zhin’s door. She took Zhin back to the beach where they had shared so many happy memories. Zhin spoke with pain in her voice as she told Mayo that she regretted confessing her feelings and ruining their bond. But Mayo took Zhin’s hand and looked into her eyes, telling her that she was going to make things right. In a moment of passion, Mayo leaned in and kissed Zhin. They shared a deep, emotional kiss as they talked about their future together. When it was time for Zhin to leave, she told Mayo that she loved her. Mayo replied with a smile, “I love you too.” As Zhin boarded the train to Nowon-gu, she asked Mayo to write to her while she was away. She also spoke with Chayin, asking him to take care of Mayo while she was gone. As the train pulled away from the station, Chayin told Mayo about the rumors that were circulating at school about her relationship with Zhin. Mayo confirmed that the rumors were true and Chayin revealed that he had known all along. He had had a crush on Mayo, just like many of the other boys at school. But Zhin had made it clear that Mayo was hers and nobody else should dare to ask her out. Mayo was surprised by this revelation but happy to know that she was loved by both Zhin and Chayin. In high school, many kids had teased and bullied Mayo for being a lesbian, but Chayin had always been there to protect her. Zhin and Mayo kept in touch through letters and phone calls whenever Zhin had free time. Two years passed and one day, Mayo found herself missing Zhin more than ever. Mayo visited Zhin and asked her when she would be coming back to their hometown. Zhin smiled and told Mayo that she would be back soon and that they would tell their parents about their relationship once they had secured jobs. Zhin asked Mayo about her ambitions, and Mayo replied that she wanted to be a photographer. As their conversation came to an end, Zhin kissed Mayo on the forehead and said goodbye. Mayo returned home with a smile on her face, eagerly anticipating Zhin’s return. A year later, Zhin finally returned to their hometown. She and Mayo caught up on everything that had happened in their lives and finally decided to come out of the closet and tell their families about their relationship. Zhin’s mother was cool with the news, having suspected it all along. She was supportive and happy for her daughter. Zhin’s grandmother was also accepting of their relationship. Mayo’s parents, however, were shocked. They had never expected this from their daughter. Two days later, Zhin’s grandmother passed away. She died peacefully in her sleep, after suffering from a long illness. Zhin and Qina were heartbroken, as they had lost their only family member. They arranged a simple funeral for her, inviting only their closest friends and neighbors. Mayo’s parents came over to Zhin’s house to offer their condolences and support. They saw how much Zhin loved Mayo, and how much Mayo cared for Zhin. They realized that they had been wrong to judge them based on their sexuality and that they should respect their daughter’s choices and happiness. They told Zhin and Qina that they were okay with their daughter’s relationship with Zhin. Mayo’s parents and Qina became friends after attending Zhin’s grandmother’s funeral. They found out that they had a lot in common, such as their hobbies, their values, and their dreams. They decided to go on a holiday together, to relax and have fun. They invited Zhin and Mayo to join them, but they declined, saying that they wanted to spend some time alone. Zhin took Mayo on a romantic date at a fancy restaurant. They had a candlelit dinner, with soft music playing in the background. They talked about their future together, and how they wanted to get married and have children someday. After the date, as they were walking home with a tipsy Mayo, Zhin saw a poster for an international photography competition. She pointed it out to Mayo, telling her that she should enter it. The next day, Chayin, who was now married to his girlfriend Rita surprised Mayo with a new camera that he had bought for her birthday. He told her that he had always admired her talent for photography, and that he wanted her to pursue her passion. He encouraged her to enter the competition, saying that he believed in her potential. He also revealed that he had known about her relationship with Zhin all along, and that he was happy for them. Mayo was overjoyed by Chayin’s gift and his words of encouragement. She hugged him and thanked him for being such a good friend. She also thanked Zhin for supporting her dreams, and they spent a steamy night together. The next day, they traveled to China to take photos for the competition. It was an adventure-filled journey for both of them as they explored new places and captured stunning images. They visited famous landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army. They also experienced the local culture by trying different foods, learning some words in Mandarin, and making friends with some of the people they met. They came across a soothsayer who offered Mayo two red string bracelets. She rejected the bracelets first but then agreed to tie them. Mayo tied one on her wrist and one on Zhin’s before taking a photo of their hands entwined together. They submitted this photo to the competition and returned home. As Mayo and Zhin were returning home, Zhin’s hand was pricked by a small thorn. A drop of her blood dripped down and was absorbed by the red bracelets. Mayo immediately tended to Zhin’s wound, gently wrapping a bandage around her finger. She leaned in and tenderly kissed Zhin’s finger, offering comfort and love in this small moment of pain. The red bracelets, now stained with Zhin’s blood, seemed to glow even brighter, symbolizing the deep bond between the two women. Months later, the results were announced and Mayo won second place! They celebrated with a feast, inviting all their friends and family. Mayo, I’m so proud of you. You’re amazing. You deserve this prize. Thank you, Zhin. But I couldn’t have done it without you. You’re my inspiration. You’re my everything. And you’re mine, Mayo. I love you so much. I love you too, Zhin. Zhin, look at this cake. It’s so beautiful. It has our names and our photo on it. Wow, it’s gorgeous. Who made it? The shopkeeper did it. OH. During the celebration, Zhin proposed to Mayo, asking her to marry her and spend the rest of their lives together. Mayo, can I ask you something? Of course, Zhin. Anything. Will you marry me, Mayo? Will you be my wife and spend the rest of your life with me? Oh, Zhin. Yes, yes, yes! I will marry you, Zhin. I will be your wife and spend the rest of my life with you. Oh, Mayo. I’m so happy. You’ve made me the happiest woman in the world. And you too, Zhin. Mayo accepted with tears in her eyes and kissed Zhin passionately. From that day on, Zhin and Mayo were inseparable. They built a life together, filled with love and happiness. They would often look back on their childhood memories with fondness, grateful for the bond that had brought them together. They celebrated their victory at Chayin’s house, surrounded by love and happiness.