Fate Brought Us Back Together
by: Melanie Mataga Magculang

It was pretty late in the autumn of the year when Park Kim Lee decided to go back to New York. The death of Seungjae truly affected Park Kim Lee personally and taught her about the fragility of life. She wanted to do everything, but she felt like she can do nothing. Even her family cannot help her. She lost her world. When he died, part of her died too. The pain she felt from losing him was tough, but the pain she felt from thinking that Seungjae suffer great pain during the war was the worst part of all, it cuts her into a million pieces, similar to what a heart attack feels like.

Things may not be the same and did not last forever but time won’t erase the memories of the past and these memories are trying to kill her. She cried her heart out, listened to the sad songs, she cannot sleep well and she even lost her appetite. She did not know where or when or how to start again. A thousand words could not bring Seungjae back, she knows because she tried neither a thousand tears, she knows because she cried. He left Park Kim Lee with a broken heart and happy memories but she never wanted memories, she only wanted Seungjae.

At the same time on a secret island, while the couple having their night walk on the island. They saw someone lying unconsciously in the seashore. They help him until the guy gets conscious. They asked his name but the guy seems he forgot his name. They asked him random questions but he did not know what to answer. Only then they realized that the guy had amnesia. They let him stay in their house at the island until his wounds will be healed and until he completely recovers. On the other hand, Park Kim Lee’s best friend advised her to find a perfect place to unwind. She said that it's never time that heals all wounds, but the mindset, action, and belief. Apparently, Park Kim Lee took this advice so they went to the undiscovered piece of paradise to refresh. Dumbfounded she was when she saw a guy looking the same as her good-looking husband, she was not sure though because the guy just passes through in front of her or maybe it’s just an illusion because in a blink of an eye the guy disappear.

Park Kim Lee and her best friend will stay on the island for a week. On the second time around, Park Kim Lee and the guy crossed again their fate and this time Park Kim Lee saw the guy face to face. She was utterly astonished because he really looks like Seungjae. But he felt blue when she saw him with a woman and it seems that she’s his girlfriend but she was confused because that guy did not show any gestures and emotions towards her. She thought that maybe that guy was just one of Seungjae’s lookalike and it’s not impossible that he will meet one or he’s a reincarnation of Seungjae. She has the will to hug him tight, she wanted to do it but she does not have the right. But he can’t help herself because she’s longing for his presence for a long time so she hugs him and without doubt, the guy hug her tighter and tears are falling from their eyes without realizing why. The woman who helps Seungjae intervened and break the momentum and she asked Park Kim Lee if she knows him and she said that he looks like her husband. She brought the pictures of them together and she let them watch the video wherein Seungjae’s want to marry her again after the war. The guy cried for an unexplainable reason but one thing for sure his memories came back. He hugged and kissed Park Kim Lee, the house was filled with tears of joy and afterward, they talked privately.

They went back home and marry each other again. The couple who help him to recover was invited to show how grateful they are for having them. Indeed, Park Kim Lee and Ji Seungjae are meant to be, they are destined to be together. Fate brought them back together. They promise to love and take care each other and they will try in every way to be worthy of their love. They will walk with each other hand in hand, wherever journey leads them to health and sickness, through sorrow and success, for all the days of their life. Together forever.

I Only Think of You Until My Last Breath

by: Melanie Mataga Magculang

It was early Spring when Park Kim Lee and Ji Sungjae migrated from New York to South Korea. They moved in a small village surrounded by different varieties of Tulips. Park Kim Lee is an English – Korean Teacher. Teaching is her passion and to teach is her mission while Ji Sungjae is a scout ranger. He is completely and sincerely devoted to his job. Life and living need not be so hard for them. They chose the simple things and find joy in nature’s simple treasures. And like a Tulip in a Spring, their relationship shines bright, blooms, and continue to grow and mature.

They hope and fervently believe that they built a strong foundation in their relationship and it's unshaken. But fate is really playful. Storms are really innate and ineluctable in a relationship. They separated ways because of their job and eventually they do not have time for each other. It made their relationship unhealthy. They always have petty quarrels and always questioned their worth. It seems that it’s a matter of priority. They tried to make their relationship work again and again but it was really hard to fix broken glass especially it’s not just once, twice, or thrice breaks.

It was not easy but they made it through. You can cut all the flowers but you can't keep spring from coming as they say. But it does not end with that. Sungjae was assigned to fight in a war but Park Kim Lee does not like it so she wants Seungjae to quit on his job. Seungjae explained it hundred times to Park Kim Lee why he should go but still, Park Kim Lee does not understand it so she decided to come up with an option. Seungjae will go in a war and end their relationship or Seungjae will quit on his job and continue their relationship burning and live happily and in peace. Seungjae was at a loss for words and runs out of whys for a moment because Park Kim Lee is someone he cannot send away anymore. She is his life, his world, and everything. On second thought, his job is his life too and he has taken an oath to defend the nation.

Like a Tulip in a Spring, their relationship has its beginning and an end. Time will pass by, the bright Tulips will fade. Seungjae decided to fulfill his job and for a meantime, he will leave Park Kim Lee. He believes that if Park Kim Lee truly loves him, sooner or later she will understand his sacrifices. Park Kim Lee accepted his decision with a magical smile but the inexplicable actions of her can find out she is lying, her eyes speak, she is dying inside. She breaks that mysterious engulf by her. She cannot let go Seungjae but she has to.

They parted ways and did not see each other for almost a year. But still, Park Kim Lee patiently waits for Seungjae without pause even though Seungjae chose his job over her. It’s hard to accept that you both love each other but you cannot be together. Time flies so fast, the longer she waits the more pain she feels. So Park Kim Lee decided to search for Seungjae. Since they do not have communication, it’s quite hard to look for him. A few months later, Park Kim Lee heard the news from Seungjae’s colleagues that Seungjae died during the war. Seunngjae’s best friend gave a flash drive to Park Kim Lee it has a video on it showing how truly, deeply, and madly in love, he is with Park Kim Lee and at the end of the video Seungjae express how afraid he is to see Park Kim Lee holding someone she loved more. And after that Seungjae says that he wants to marry Park Kim Lee again. He will quit his job and they will live a simple life when he came back. After watching the video Park Kim Lee almost dry her eyes because of great pain that she cannot stop from crying and she is full of regrets. Their promises for each other, their future plans, and everything are now impossible to happen. It hurts more than you could possibly imagine.

  

----- THE END OR THE BEGINNING -----

BEHIND HER SMILES

by: Melanie Mataga Magculang

Smiling is the best mask she wears

You find her joyful and humorous

But she smiles with tears in her eyes

And she barely made it through the day

She flashes her sweetest and genuine smile

Look how good she can fake it

All she can do is to smile

Hold back the tears and pretend she’s happy

Behind her smile is a broken heart

Behind her laugh, she’s falling apart

Behind her sparkling eyes are tears at night

She is not okay but she smiles anyways

She’s smiling just to stop her tears from falling

But when she’s alone she cries herself to sleep

She smiles through her fears and sorrows

She smiles often and confuses people

When you look into her eyes she will look away

So you will never know the pain

She knows you can see it in her eyes

Because her eyes speak that it’s raining in her soul

Nobody sees she hides a million tears

There’s so much behind her smile they just don’t know

So she needs someone who sees the pain in her eyes

While everyone else believes in the smile on her face

She had great pain and unhappiness

Now she became a happier version of herself

And she will continue to smile

No matter how hard and hurt she is