“People come and go in life. 
Some leaves footprints that can 
never be erased from your heart"

Ara looked down at the black envelope in her hands. The queue to the front of the stage seemed to be moving faster than ever. Everything around her was blurry and all she could see was him, flashing his best, humble smile at every fan. That was Park Sungjin whom she fell in love with for the past 6 years of her life. That Park Sungjin who would give his 200% in everything. Her eyes had never left him ever since she first saw him.

"Please move forward, No photography allowed" the guard repeated in his monotone voice.

Sungjin was the last in line. Ara sat before him and handed him the letter while he was signing halfway. Sungjin stopped signing and looked up in surprise. He met eyes with her reddened and swollen eyes. It surprises him.

"W-what's wrong Ara-sshi?" He asked.

Shaking her head vigorously, Ara forced her best smile at him. A tear slipped from her eyes as she hesitantly stood up when the guard behind him shoved her slightly, prompting her to move on.

"Thank you for the beautiful memories all this time. I'm sorry Sungjin oppa. Please read this" Ara managed to choke out those words she spent the entire night rehearsing.

Then, she left without looking back. She was afraid if she looked back, she wouldn't be able to move on.

"What's wrong with your fansite today?" Jae asked casually in the van.

"Stop the van," Sungjin said.

"What's wrong," Wonpil asked.

"I said stop," He said once more, putting the letter down.

"We have another fan signing to rush to, continue driving" Their manager butted in.

Sungjin punched his thigh hard at his words as he crumpled the letter in his other hand.

~~~~
Dear Sungjin

The past 6 years knowing you have been the happiest years of my life. Thank you for brightening my days like the sun, accompanying my darkest days like the moon and for always shining brighter than the brightest star in my galaxy. I've always thought I could unconditionally be your fan for a long time to come, just looking at you from afar. However, I guess I can't do it anymore. I am sorry, I am sorry for breaking the promise I always say in my every letter for you, to be there for you infinitely. I am sorry for being selfish and writing this letter to you.

I love you and I still do. However, things have become difficult for me to continue loving you like this. I know you'd continue to shine brightly even without me, just another fan in the platinum gold sea. So, please continue to shine brighter than ever. I will treasure these memories you've given me for a long, long time. And please always know you're truly perfect so please don't doubt yourself anymore. Please stay healthy and happy always! Smiling Sungjin is the most handsome! For the last time, allow me to say this. 사랑해 . . . Thank you for all the beautiful memories.

With love,
Ara

"Yah! You bad girl!" ShinYe hit Ara on her shoulder as she burst into tears.

"How could you just quit the fandom and ignore me like this?" She half yelled.

Ara smiled at her kid-like friend who was crying like a baby. Hugging her, she apologized. Her heart warmed when she bothered to find her at her doorstep.

"Is DAY6 the only thing that holds our friendship together? You bad girl!" She cried into her shoulder.

"My crybaby ShinYe, shall we continue crying in the car? I'm going to rush to the airport now" She laughed, dragging her by her hand.

"You're flying again? I am so bored in Seoul while my best friend is flying all over the world" she pouted.

"Can't be helped. My boss trusts me this much" She winked smugly, earning a hit on the arm.

"What's your new photography destination this time?" She asked.

"Paris" Ara answered with a dreamy look.

"We used to travel there together. . . Do you remember?" ShinYe sighed, looking out of the window.

"I will always remember," Ara smiled.

The topic ended there. Neither did Ara ask how DAY6 was doing nor did ShinYe update her about their recent activities. The traffic lights turned red. Ara stepped on the brakes and looked out the window too. A bus stopped beside Ara's car and it had Sungjin's birthday advertisement on it. She stared at it for a long time and she knew she missed him. Absence only made the heart grow fonder. However, this was the closest she would allow herself to see him.

"I'll ask you out for a drink when I am back in Seoul" Ara patted her head.

"Promise?" ShinYe stuck her pinky finger out like a kid.

"Promise" She hooks fingers childishly and leaves for departure.

“See you in a month" ShinYe waved both arms in the air.

She nodded.

~5 years later . . .

"Your photographs are truly amazing" The middle-aged man complimented her.

"Thank you, you're too kind" Ara bowed slightly in gratitude for his kind words.

"I’ll take this," He said, signing a cheque.

After sending the customer off at the exit with the other staff, Ara stretched her arms in the air.

"I must be growing old. I am getting tired from standing the entire day" She yawned.

"I'll go get some coffee, anybody wants?" She asked.

"If it's the boss's treat, of course," They chimed and Ara laughed in response at their cheekiness.

Returning with iced Americanos in both hands, she handed it to her staff.

"Oh right! A man left this note just now" One of the staff handed her a paper.

~
To: Photographer Lee

Your photographs are really beautiful. It always makes me smile just looking at it so I got one of your masterpieces to hang it up somewhere I can see every day. Someone once said I'm most handsome when I smile so I guess with your help, I can be handsome every day now ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Thank you!

-PSJ

"Where's the man?" Ara tightened her grip on the plastic Starbucks cup.

"He just left a couple of minutes ago" She replied.

Ara found herself running out of the art gallery but the weekend crowd was too overwhelming. She lost him amidst the mass crowd, just like how he lost her back then. Maybe, sometimes, some things are fated the way it ought to be. She sighed, looking down at the note with the handwriting she would never forget even in a thousand years. She crumpled the note slightly as she scanned the crowd desperately but to no avail. Dejected, she headed back to the gallery with the note in her hand. Maybe, they were just two parallel lines that had accidentally crossed paths. Now, everything is simply back to how it should be.

"I missed you" She whispered in her heart, something she had forced herself not to admit for the longest time.

"Excuse me, I'm sorry but I think you might have wrapped up the wrong piece for me" The bells on the entrance door chimed as someone entered.