Chapter 8

"Yumi, Are you busy today?" I asked, looking at her while we're at the music club. I just recently submitted a form to join here and Yumi is an old member. Even before she told me to participate in this club but I always refused her. It's also my chance to watch for Yejun and Penelope. 

I sat at the piano chair while Yumi was beside me playing. She shifted her head and looked at me. 

"I'm not busy after this." She said and we looked at the door that opened.

Na Hyuk enters the room and surveys the area. He saw Yumi and me at the piano and he stayed his gaze at me. 

"Na Hyuk, I've been waiting for you," Yumi said and gave the paper to Na Hyuk. 

He frowns after checking the paper that serves as my application for joining the club. Then he looks at me. I awkwardly cling my arms to Yumi and turn my gaze to the Music club president. 

Na Hyuk is a very serious person. He is tall with a deep set of black eyes and has black hair. They said he is a genius in playing different kinds of instruments and won an award abroad. His complexion is fair and looks handsome but he is scary. We're not classmates since he is originally from Class B. My information to him is limited. I stare at him with awe. 

"Since you're Yumi's friend... I won't be harsh on you but I will be honest. I don't accept members without skills and just do it for fun. You need to show your  worth." He said in a very cold voice and glared at me. 

"Na Hyuk!" Yumi called him and hugged me. Her protector instinct is showing again. I bit my lip and was about to stare at him with cold eyes but I felt the warm embrace of Yumi. I stopped and shifted my gaze to the piano. 

"Since there's a test... I will just play the piano." I said and let go of Yumi's hold. I walk slowly and sit at the piano.

I am Jia Kim and I excelled in everything. I have talents and I'm thankful that I still had them after dying once. Since I was a child, I have already learned how to play piano, violin, and guitar. I learned it fast and my parents enrolled me in singing, ballet, and Arts. I can do this easily but I have a feeling that I need to do more since his eyes aren't asking for my skills but on how I play instruments using my emotion.

I choose the piece I always played and the first piece I learn with Yumi also, the first piece I play with her. River Flows In You by Yiruma. 

I started to play the first part... I stopped and looked at Yumi's eyes. Then I continue to play the song on the piano. I closed my eyes and opened it again. I play the song with my desperation for a friend I once lost... 

The song is about to end and I saw Yejun entering the room. I bite my lip and look at Yumi whose eyes are having so much emotion. I smile at her and think that maybe this will be the last time I will play her this song. If only I can tell her that I only have less than 99 days to live... If only I can express how much I am happy having her in my life while no one else wanted to be with me. She's the only person I share my feelings with and never leave my side.

I finish playing and I'm trembling while the pain in my heart envelops my soul. I looked at Yumi with uneasy eyes and changed my gaze to cold as I stood up and went to Yumi and held her hand. 

"Jia... You..." She whispered as if she forgot that we were in the music club and gripped my hand to the point it was hurting. 

"Jia, what's wrong?." She asked as if she read my desperation while I was playing. Yumi is always sharp with this and she can read me openly. I withdrew her hand and looked at her. 

"Yumi... There's nothing wrong. What are you-." I stopped when tears flowed in her eyes.

"Hey... what's wrong?" I panicked after I realized that she was as emotional. 

"You... You didn't play like this... Why are you playing as if you're leaving me forever... Tell me now Kim Jia!" She said as if I did something wrong. My mind quickly thinks of reasons and I accidentally look at Yejun. I gaze at him as if telling him not to speak. 

"Listen... I played like that because I know that the club president won't accept me if I just play it like I used to. Nothing wrong with me. Yumi..." 

Clap...

I looked at Na Hyuk who's clapping and made us startle. He grinned and stared at me with pride in his eyes.

"This piece is the hardest to play because of the emotions you need to create while playing it. I see your sincerity, Kim Jia... I'm sorry for being rude but you passed the test. Welcome to the music club." Na Hyuk extended his arm for a handshake and I awkwardly accepted it. 

"Jia! I thought... It's Na Hyuk's fault!" Yumi went to Na Hyuk and scolded him instead.

I let out a sigh and massage my chest then my gaze shifted to Yejun who was already looking at me. I can't read his face but I see a hint of emotion that passes swiftly in his eyes, making me doubt that it's only an illusion. 

"Oh, Yejun you're here. Greet Jia, our new member." Na Hyuk said and sat at the front table while checking some papers. We followed him and sat at the chair together at a long table while Yejun sat across from us. 

"Jia, we have two more members in the club. Yang Juno and Penelope Hernandez. They can't attend today because Juno has a part-time job while Penelope has an emergency at home. You will meet them one of these days." Na Hyuk said while turning his attention to me. 

"I know Penelope because we're classmates," I said to him and he just nodded his head.

"Juno is peculiar. I hope you guys will get close." Na Hyuk mumbled and smirked after a while. 

"I can't hold a welcome party for you today because I'm busy and also the other members are not here." He said in his serious face. 

"It's okay. I'm busy today too." I said and smiled at him. He smiled back and my eyes appreciated his handsomeness. 

"By the way, Yumi. Mr. Josh asked me for this paper to pass to him. Can you help me to look for Ms. Irene and ask her to give us the recommendation letter? Ms. Jane, our advisor, gives me an errand and I can't go to Ms. Irene now without conflicting the time for Mr. Josh." Na hyuk said and Yumi agreed to him. 

"Yejun, print a copy of the club schedule for Jia. We will be back." Na Hyuk said while standing from his seat. 

"Jia, I just go for a while. Stay here and wait for me." She said and they quickly left the room. 

I'm silent and after a while, I look at Yejun who stood up and went to the table with the computer. He sits there and manipulates it, after a while, a bond paper is coming out from the printer. 

"Here." He extended his arm and put two pieces of paper on the table. I scan the paper and see the schedule and events for the whole semester. I calculated the time but I'm still not sure if I can fulfill them all since I only have a short time in staying. 

"Why didn't you tell Yumi that you have sickness?" Yejun asked me out of the blue. 

"Hm?" I met his gaze but I couldn't handle it. I shifted my eyes to the paper and kept quiet. 

"I'm just.... tired…. I'm not sick." I mumble and continue to lower my head. 

"Tired huh?" He scowled. A smirk comes out from his face. 

"You must be exhausted, Jia."  I frown after hearing his remarks. I ignored him afterward.