Our melody
One evening, after a quiet dinner, Jiyoon felt a sense of warmth settle over her. The soft glow of the kitchen light reflected off the wooden table where they had just eaten, and the calm silence between them felt more comfortable than it ever had before. She cleared the plates and set them aside, then reached for her old notebook, which had been resting on the counter.
"I thought you might like this," she said, her voice almost shy as she handed it to Jungeun, who was sitting at the table, still idly stirring her glass of water.
Jungeun raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"
"It’s just something I’ve kept for a while," Jiyoon explained, feeling a bit hesitant. She knew she had been opening up more than usual, but this was something different. This notebook held her thoughts, her words—the pieces of her soul that she had rarely let anyone see.
Jungeun took the notebook with a soft smile, intrigued by the worn edges and the faint creases on the cover. She opened it carefully and began flipping through the pages, her eyes scanning the lyrics and poems inside. The words were raw, honest, and deeply personal.
"You wrote all this?" Jungeun asked, her voice quiet with awe. She looked up at Jiyoon, her eyes wide, a mixture of surprise and admiration in her gaze.
Jiyoon bit her lip, suddenly feeling exposed. "Yeah, I guess… It’s just a hobby. Nothing special."
Jungeun’s face softened, and she closed the notebook, her hands still resting on it as she looked up at Jiyoon. "Are you kidding?" she said, her voice gentle but firm. "This is amazing. You have a way with words."
Jiyoon felt her cheeks heat up, her heart skipping a beat. It wasn’t often that she received praise for her songwriting. She had always kept her creations to herself, too uncertain to share them with anyone. But seeing the genuine admiration in Jungeun’s eyes made something stir inside her.
"Thanks," Jiyoon muttered, feeling a little awkward. "I didn’t think it was anything worth sharing."
"It’s more than worth sharing," Jungeun insisted, her voice more earnest now. "You should be proud of this. It’s beautiful."
Jiyoon felt a small smile tug at her lips, a warmth spreading through her chest. She had never considered her songs beautiful, but Jungeun’s words made her rethink everything. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Jungeun continued.
"You’ve got a gift, Jiyoon. Don’t hide it." Jungeun’s words were quiet but firm, like she genuinely believed in them.
Jiyoon looked down at her hands, suddenly unsure of what to say next. "I just… I’ve never really had anyone to share this with."
Jungeun reached out, her fingers brushing Jiyoon’s lightly. "Well, now you do."
Jiyoon’s breath hitched at the contact, and for a moment, everything else faded. It was just the two of them, sitting in the quiet of the evening, with only the soft hum of the refrigerator breaking the silence. Jiyoon felt a flutter in her chest, a feeling that was becoming more familiar with each passing day.
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The days that followed were filled with small moments of shared creativity. Jiyoon found herself pulling out her guitar more often, strumming through the songs she had written over the years. She would play them for Jungeun, who would listen intently, her eyes thoughtful as she absorbed the music.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the countryside, Jiyoon played a new song she had been working on. The chords were simple, but the lyrics were filled with longing, a yearning for something just out of reach. As she sang, she felt the words pour out of her, as though they had been waiting to be released for far too long.
When the song ended, Jungeun was silent for a moment, her eyes distant as if she were lost in thought. Finally, she spoke.
"You should add a bridge here," she said, pointing to a section of the song where Jiyoon had paused. "It needs something to elevate it, to make it feel more… complete."
Jiyoon looked at her, surprised by the suggestion. "Like this?" she asked, strumming a few chords, trying to follow what Jungeun had suggested.
Jungeun hummed, her voice blending seamlessly with the melody. She began singing a soft harmony over the chords, and for a moment, Jiyoon simply watched, her heart skipping a beat at how naturally their sounds intertwined.
"That’s perfect," Jiyoon whispered, her voice full of awe. "You’re really good at this."
Jungeun smiled, but there was a humility in the way she responded. "So are you. You have this raw talent, Jiyoon. I just… help shape it."
The simplicity of their collaboration was what made it so special. It wasn’t forced; it felt like something that had always been meant to happen. Jiyoon couldn’t stop smiling, a sense of joy bubbling up inside her.
"You know," Jungeun said, her voice softening, "I’m not just a performer. I produce a lot of the tracks in Izna." She paused, as if contemplating whether or not to share more. "It’s my passion. Performing is great, but creating something from scratch—something that’s completely mine—that’s what I love most."
Jiyoon’s eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That’s incredible."
Jungeun shrugged, looking a little shy for the first time. "It’s just… who I am. Music is a part of me, and I want to make it in my own way. Not just be a part of someone else’s vision."
Jiyoon smiled, feeling a sense of kinship with her. "We’re not so different after all."
They shared a quiet moment, the air between them thick with unspoken understanding. Both of them had poured so much of themselves into their music—whether it was through songwriting or producing—and for the first time, Jiyoon felt like she wasn’t alone in her passion.
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The next day, after a long walk through the village, they returned home to the small porch outside Jiyoon’s house. The stars were already beginning to dot the sky, their soft glow a perfect backdrop for the peaceful evening. Jiyoon grabbed her guitar, feeling the familiar weight of it in her hands.
"You promised," Jungeun teased as she sat down on the steps, crossing her arms. "You said you’d play for me again."
Jiyoon grinned, her fingers lightly brushing the strings. "I said maybe."
"Close enough," Jungeun replied with a playful smile, leaning back on the porch steps as she watched Jiyoon.
Jiyoon let out a small laugh, then began to play. The melody was soft, almost hesitant at first, but as her fingers danced across the strings, the song began to take shape. It was a gentle ballad, but there was something about it that felt raw, like it was coming from the deepest part of her heart.
As Jiyoon sang, Jungeun closed her eyes, letting the music wash over her. The sound was pure, unadulterated emotion, and it moved her in a way she hadn’t expected. When the song ended, there was a long moment of silence.
"That was incredible," Jungeun said finally, her voice almost breathless. She opened her eyes to find Jiyoon looking at her, a shy smile on her face.
Jiyoon blushed and looked away, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "It’s just something I’ve been messing around with."
"No," Jungeun said firmly, her voice full of admiration. "It’s not 'just' anything. That was beautiful, Jiyoon."
The sincerity in her voice made Jiyoon’s heart race. She had heard praise before, but there was something different in Jungeun’s words. It wasn’t just about the music—it was about her, about who she was and what she brought to the world.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, everything else seemed to fade away. The world became a blur of stars and soft melodies, leaving only the two of them sitting on the porch, side by side, their hearts beating in sync.
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"Jiyoon, I saw a poster. There’s a festival in a town close to here, and we still have time to apply... Would you like to perform with me?" Jungeun asked, her voice tentative yet hopeful.
Jiyoon looked at her, stunned. She hadn’t performed in front of a crowd in a while, especially not since her time with Izna. But she couldn’t say no to Jungeun. Just looking into her eyes made her heart flutter, her mind going blank. She couldn’t think anymore.
"Yes," Jiyoon said, her voice almost a whisper, but it was enough.
At first, she was nervous. What would they perform? But with her songwriting skills and Jungeun’s production, they quickly became a duo hard to beat. They spent every free moment perfecting their song, adding layers, harmonies, and unique touches to create something special.
When the day of the festival arrived, Jiyoon was a bundle of nerves. But as she stepped onto the stage with Jungeun by her side, the nerves melted away. Every time she looked at Jungeun, she felt like she was in a dream, like they were the only two people in the world, lost in their music, in each other.
They sang with passion, their voices blending seamlessly, and when it was over, the crowd erupted in applause. Jiyoon had never felt more alive, more connected to someone, and more at home with her music. She just hoped Jungeun felt the same.
The days turned into weeks, and the bond between Jiyoon and Jungeun grew stronger with each passing moment. They continued to share their music, their thoughts, and their dreams. It was a quiet sort of connection, but it was real—and Jiyoon couldn’t help but wonder if it was leading somewhere.
But for now, she was content to let things unfold at their own pace. After all, sometimes the most beautiful things in life were the ones that happened without force, without expectation.
And as Jiyoon looked at Jungeun, sitting next to her under the stars, she couldn’t help but feel that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something truly special.