Lonely Epilogue
Title: Lonely Epilogue
Author: limnological
Rating: PG
Pairing: YoonYul ft JeTi
Description: AU, Slice of life
Epilogue
[A month later]
Voices echoed backstage as students prepared hurriedly for the play that was about to finally be put on.
“We’re going on in 10!” The stage manager called out as the seats began to fill up to the point of fully occupied.
Audience members opened up their programs, reading the premise and cast settings with curiosity.
Narrator - Jessica Jung
Cinderella - Im Yoona
Prince - Choi Sooyoung
Stepsister - Lee Sunny
Stepmother - Kim Hyoyeon
Fairy Godmother - Kim Taeyeon
Attendant - Seo Juhyun
Directed by Tiffany Hwang
In the dressing room, Yoona inhaled and exhaled heavily, trying to calm her nerves. She glanced to her left and smiled at the relaxing sight.
A bouquet of pink and yellow tulips in a vase sat neatly on the counter. Beside it were her and Yuri’s cellphones. The Rilakkuma phone cover complimented the newly decorated Mickey Mouse phone cover.
A knock was heard at the door and Yoona smiled wider, knowing who it was.
“Hi.” Yuri walked in, smiling at her girlfriend.
“Hi.” Without another word, Yoona stood and held out her arms from the other girl. They embraced and she felt like her nerves were calming a bit.
“Nervous?”
“Of course. Your designs turned out really beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be okay, right?”
“No matter what happens, just know it was meant to be.”
It was a cryptic message, but Yoona had no time to decipher it as she was called out on deck. Yuri gave her hand a last squeeze, smiling reassuringly at her.
--
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jessica asked, clipboard in hand as she and Yuri stood backstage away from everyone else.
Yuri inhaled deeply, nerves completely on edge. “Yes.”
“Just know that in five minutes, you can’t back out no matter what.”
“I can do this.”
“Yeah? What makes you say that?”
“Because it’s for her.”
Jessica smiled, knowing all too well the feeling that Yuri was trying to convey with her words. “Good answer.”
“Thanks. By the way how are you going to make it up to Tiffany?”
Jessica smirked. “I’ll just kiss her.”
“What?
“Break a leg, Yuri.”
Yuri stared dumbfounded at Jessica as she walked away, but soon snapped out of daze as someone called out, ‘five minutes to curtain call!’
She had no time to decipher Jessica’s message.
There really was no backing out now.
--
As the audience members settled down and the clock struck 7 pm, Jessica’s voice bellowed throughout the theatre, playing her part as narrator.
[Scene 1]
In a land far, far away, there lived a young girl named Cinderella. She was a beautiful girl, strong, and kind, but pitiful. Her only family passed away, leaving her with an evil stepmother and short-legged stepsister.
(The audience gasped and eyebrows furrowed together as Sunny stepped onto stage with her hair dyed a wonderful array of rainbow colors and Hyoyeon wore an awfully unflattering dress with random furs and colors splashed together.)
“Cinderella!” Hyoyeon bellowed as she strutted across stage. “Clean the cupboards. I found a speck of dust inside!”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Cinderella!” Sunny stomped her feet together. “Why are you so tall and I am so impish? Life is just cruel and unfair.”
“Yes, I know my lovely sister.”
One day while cleaning, an invitation arrived to the abode of the four women, but minus one sister.
In royal attire, Seohyun politely held out an invitation for Hyoyeon.
“I bring a message from his Royal Majesty. All females of this household have been invited to the Royal Food Ball.”
The four women, but minus one sister of the household looked at each other.
“The what?” Hyoyeon asked.
“The Royal Food Ball.” Seohyun’s tone was polite and calm. “It is a banquet filled with much food, a dash of dancing and most importantly, much food. It is also a masquerade so please prepare masks.”
With that, Seohyun took her leave.
“How exciting!” Hyoyeon exclaimed as she quickly went off stage and returned with a hideous dress. “Cinderella, I want you to tailor my dress to look like this, but with even MORE vibrant colors.”
The dress looked like it had been throw in a garbage disposal, used by a caveman, and then targeted by children with paintball guns.
Sunny shook her head. “You can’t have her do that Mother, you are a fashion terrorist after all.”
“How dare you? I am grounding you!”
“What?” Sunny pouted and whined cutely. “But I just bought new insoles for the ball…”
“Very well, I will ground you next week. Remind me when we get home.”
“Okay.” She squealed in delight.
“By the way Mother…” Yoona looked around curiously. “Where is our dearest oldest sister?”
“She called me a fashion terrorist, too. But now I can’t find her anywhere…” Hyoyeon smiled creepily towards the audience. “Oh well.”
“Oh.” Yoona muttered as she eyed the dress Hyoyeon held up high. “Mother… Are you sure you want to add this patch of green onto that… thing?”
“YES. IT’S ALL IN STYLE RIGHT NOW, OKAY.”
“Er… yes Mother.”
And so, Cinderella tailored their dresses and the ball had arrived.
[Scene 2]
Without delay, Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsister, minus the other one, left for the ball, leaving Cinderella alone to tend to all the chores.
Yoona scrubbed the stage diligently, working up a sweat on her brow. She wiped it with the back of her hand and looked to the audience with sadness.
“Oh, how fun would it is to go to the ball! I wish I could go!”
Without notice, a cackle from backstage erupted.
“Fairy dust, fairy dust.” Taeyeon spun around stage, wand in hand while her other hand threw fairy dust all over herself and the stage.
“Uh…” Yoona looked up surprised by the appearance of this odd creature. “Who are you?”
“I…” Taeyeon gave a twirl in her giant dress and grinned happily. “…am your wonderful Fairy Godmother.”
“Uh… hello.” Yoona frowned as the other thing continued to sprinkle fairy dust all over. “Could you stop that? I have to clean it up.”
Taeyeon stood still at the request.
“Oh yes, right of course.” She cleared her throat. “I have come to encourage you to go to the ball.”
Yoona clasped her hands together in awe. “You heard my wish?”
“No, wishes aren’t real, but fairy dust is!” Unable to contain herself, she threw another handful of dust upon them.
Yoona dropped her cleaning rag, frowning at Taeyeon, waiting for the next line.
“Oh right, sorry.” She cleared her throat. “If you want to go to the ball, go yourself.”
“But I don’t have a dress!”
“I brought you one.”
With a snap of Taeyeon’s fingers, the dresser behind them opened and a beautiful white dress appeared before them.
“It’s beautiful.” Yoona said in awe.
“Yes, yes, now get going young lady. Don’t forget your Rilakkuma handkerchief.”
Yoona nodded firmly. “Yes of course.”
And so, Cinderella prepared for the royal food ball.
[Scene 3]
The curtains drew open with a long dinner table in front of the stage and many people dancing in the background, including Sunny and Hyoyeon. The Prince hungrily filled up her plates with an abundance of food as the Attendant looked at her disapprovingly.
“That is unhealthy!” Seohyun frowned as Sooyoung shoved a piece of fried chicken into her mouth. “Unhealthy diet accumulates and you’ll die!”
“So?” Sooyoung scarfed more food down without looking at Seohyun. “I’ll die one day anyway.”
“Prince, please stop feeding yourself like this.”
“Oh, go eat some sweet potatoes.” Sooyoung picked up a sweet potato and flung it at Seohyun.
With a gawk, Seohyun caught it and shook her head as she murmured to herself. “There is no hope for this country.”
Yoona walked on stage with her beautiful white dress on and everyone turned their heads. Without a glance at them, her eyes landed on the table.
“FOOD.”
She made her way to the table and piled her plates up as the Prince eyed her.
“So you like food?” The Prince spoke, eyes glimmering behind the mask.
“Who doesn’t?” Yoona retorted as she reached for the caviar.
“I think I’m in love.” Sooyoung crooned as they bonded over food.
(Backstage, Yuri grinned as the scene went on, proud of Yoona’s acting ability. Hara tapped her on the shoulder and whispered into her ear. Yuri nodded and inhaled another deep breath. Hara turned on her heel and Yuri followed closely behind.)
Standing afar, Seohyun shook her head as she spoke to the audience. “This country is onto the pathway to obesity if those two get together…”
Midway through conversation with the Prince, Yoona gasped.
“Oh no! I forgot that Mother wanted to go clubbing tomorrow. I must return home immediately to finish it.” Without another word she dashed off stage as Sooyoung held out a chicken leg for her, calling aimlessly.
“Wait!”
To no avail, Yoona was gone.
Heartbroken, the Prince who had found and lost her match-made in heaven silently brooded. But then, she glanced at the ground noticing a peculiar sight.
Sooyoung stepped forward, picking up the piece of cloth.
“A Rilakkuma handkerchief?” Sooyoung cocked her head to one side. “With this, I will find out her identity tomorrow!”
[Scene 4]
“Cinderellaaaaaaa! Where is my clubbing dress?” Hyoyeon waltzed into the living room.
“Here it is Mother.” Yoona held up a ridiculously unfashionable dress up.
“Yes, it’s perfect.” Hyoyeon hummed as she took the dress and proceeded offstage to change.
“The Prince wishes to enter your house.” Seohyun bellowed as she and Sooyoung walked on stage.
Sunny and Yoona looked at each other, shocked expressions on their faces.
“I am looking for my one true love. I met her last night at the Royal Food Ball and she had left something of hers behind. If you can name this object, I will believe you are my one true love.”
“Leftovers?” Sunny said with some wit. “Because it was a Royal Food Ball?”
“Buzz!” Seohyun answered robotically.
“My one true love would never leave leftovers!” Sooyoung bellowed dramatically.
Without warning, Yoona let out a fake sneeze and then scrunched her face together.
“Where is my Rilakkuma handkerchief? Did I drop it?”
Sooyoung and Seohyun locked eyes with one another. With heavy steps, pure joy appeared on Sooyoung’s face.
“My one true love… I have found you!”
“What?” Yoona asked as everyone’s eyes were suddenly on her.
At that moment, the Fairy Godmother appeared.
(Backstage, Tiffany’s eyes widened and her fists clenched together.
“That is not part of the script!” She whispered harshly under her breath. “What is Jung doing!?”)
The lights dimmed and a spot light was casted onto Taeyeon as she appeared, yet again sparkling fairy dust onto herself and the stage.
“I have come to intervene.”
Everyone fixated their eyes on Taeyeon, especially Yoona who was extremely confused at the sudden plot twist. Her eyes side glanced at Sunny who just gave her a slight nod.
“Intervene what?” Sooyoung spoke firmly, yet convincingly.
(“I am going to kill her.” Tiffany fumed as she made her way to the sound booth, too furious to watch her masterpiece crumble in front of her.)
Yoona was so lost. Everyone on stage, but her seemed to know what was going on.
“Cinderella’s one true love… is not you, but your twin sister!” As Taeyeon said this, a large amount of fairy dust sprinkled the stage.
Everyone gasped and the stage darkened as feet were heard scurrying around. Yoona was starting to sweat bullets.
Without warning, the light shined brightly and Yoona had to readjust her eyes for a moment. Her eyes grew wide as she stared at Yuri who was standing right in front of her in a beautiful dress.
“Hi.”
(Backstage, people panicked.
“WHAT IS GOING ON?”
“WHY IS YURI ON STAGE?”
“HOW CAN HER TWIN SISTER HAVE BLACK HAIR IF HERS IS BRUNETTE - HOW DOES SHE EVEN HAVE A SISTER? WHERE IS TIFFANY?”)
Yoona was too dumbfounded to respond quickly. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Why in the world was Yuri standing on stage with her?
Yuri licked her lips, heart beating rapidly and ears ringing. The spotlight was making her hot, but she tried not to think of it. Instead, she focused her eyes onto Yoona’s, not wanting to look anywhere else.
With a deep breath, she spoke.
“I wanted to tell you why I like you.”
Yoona couldn’t help the smile that was forming on her face as Yuri continued speaking.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself because of you. I feel like I can see the world much clearer now. I feel like I’ve learned what it really means to live. You’ve taught me a lot, stayed by my side when it didn’t make sense, had patience with me, and gave me a chance to really be myself. Thank you for being my first friend.”
Yuri’s voice began to pick up, her confidence rising as she stared into Yoona’s eyes.
“What I really want to say is… I thought I knew what it felt like to be lonely, but I was wrong. I didn’t know what it really felt like until I met you. When you left my side, I realized what it meant to be truly lonely. Don’t leave my side, Yoong.”
Yoona’s grin grew so wide, her cheeks were starting to hurt as Yuri continued.
“I like you.”
Yuri took one step forward as she continued her monologue.
“I like you because you took a chance on me. You gave me the opportunity to be myself, to learn, and to grow. I like you because when you’re around, I can’t stop smiling. I like you because when you’re gone, I recall my memories with you, a smile accompanying my face. I like you because you’re beautiful, inside and out. I like you because you’re not perfect, but human. I like you because, you’re you.”
Yuri stepped forward, hand placed gently on Yoona’s cheek as she smiled wholeheartedly.
“I like you, Im Yoona.”
Yoona knew then if there was a moment she could pick to relive, it would be right here and right now.
Pure happiness was pouring from every fiber of her being. Her smile was ear to ear as she kept her gaze within Yuri’s eyes only.
She also knew then, that they were going to share their first kiss in front of hundreds of people.
Both girls smiling ridiculously, their heads leaning forward as the curtains began to draw to a close.
And so, Cinderella lived happily ever after with her own one true love.
Up in the sound booth Jessica smiled as she made sure the curtains closed right before their lips actually touched, shielding them from the audience’s eyes.
Some things were just meant to be private.
The audience clapped as the production ended, some very, very confused at what had just happened, others swooning at the last character’s monologue, and some nodding in approval at the entertaining show.
Jessica let out a stretch, finally relieved that the show had ended. Then she popped her neck, counting the seconds down.
Three.
Two.
One.
Tiffany barged into the sound booth, door swinging widely. The other two girls sitting with Jessica cowered in fear and ran out of the room before they could fall victim to the wrath that was about to ensue.
“You.”
The way she said it was akin to a lion finding its prey after starving for three days straight.
“Yes?” Jessica replied calmly as she swung her chair around and stood up, waiting for the other girl to make her move.
Tiffany walked forward, much quicker than Jessica had anticipated.
“You.” Tiffany’s right index finger jabbed at her chest. “You ruined my perfect production. It was my baby. You -”
With one hand, Jessica grabbed onto Tiffany’s attacking one and leaned forward, placing a chaste kiss onto Tiffany’s lips, silencing her.
When they parted, Tiffany had a stupefied look on her face. She had rendered her perfectly speechless for a good 0.72 seconds.
“You were saying?”
It was a taunt.
Tiffany folded her arms, eyebrows furrowing together. “How dare you interrupt me when I am ranting?”
One side of Jessica’s lip curled up into a thin smile, knowing she had just won.
“Are you done now?”
“Yes…” Tiffany’s eyes averted to the not-so interesting wall to the right of her as she asserted her next command. “Just kiss me again, Jessi.”
Jessica couldn’t help the smirk that was appearing on her face.
Tiffany may have won the battles between them in public, but Jessica was always the one to win the war in private.
Some things were just meant to be private.
“As you wish, Tiff.”
--
Behind the curtains, the backstage members clapped as well as Yoona and Yuri parted from their first kiss.
Like they were the only ones in the room, their eyes never left each other as Yoona spoke first.
“You kept your promise.”
“I said I would.”
“When did you get so brave?”
“After I met you.”
This was so backwards. Why was Yuri, who wasn’t good at speaking, so good at saying things that made Yoona swoon?
“When did you get so good with your words?”
“I’m not. I’m just saying everything from the bottom of my heart.”
This made Yoona grin even more as she pulled Yuri into a hug.
“You’re too good to me.”
“I just want to give back what I can to the person who’s given me so much.”
“Yul?”
“Yeah?”
“I really like you.”
That was all Yuri needed to hear. The past month of rehearsing her lines, working up her courage, and overcoming her stage fright was so worth it.
“I really like you, too.”
No ‘I love yous’ were shared and they were perfectly content with that. Their young love was just starting. They had come so far in the past two months and yet they knew they had all the time in the world to keep moving onto this path of love together.
There was no rush. It was just the beginning of something really beautiful after all.
Something beautiful called ‘love.’
Unbeknownst to them, a red tulip began budding in Yoona’s garden that day.
It would grow brilliantly into a truly beautiful flower.
--
Words were such ugly, deadly weapons. Words could be so heavy on the heart. Yet, words could be the catalyst for mending and restoring relationships.
Yuri learned at a young age how powerful words were. They had the power to hurt someone, but also the power to heal. Words were a double edged blade and Yuri had learned to wield it the right way.
If it’s possible to be hurt by someone, then it is possible to be healed by someone.
In due time, Yoona had healed Yuri’s wounds slowly, but surely while Yuri did the same for the former’s hidden faults and scars.
There are many different forms of loneliness out there in the world. With some compassion, patience, and love, both Yuri and Yoona were able to combat their different situations of being lonely.
They were no longer lonely in this world.
All they needed was a little bit of love from each other.
Together they stood, the mere definition of being lonely dissipated into something of the far past.
Together they shared an unbreakable bond.
Together they lived, rarely ever lonely again.
Together they loved.
---------
Author's Note: I hope you've had some fun on this journey with me and my story. Thank you so much for reading this fanfic, for commenting, and for giving it some of your time. It's been real, it's been fun, it's been real fun.
Have a PDF while you're at it.
PDF
Author: limnological
Rating: PG
Pairing: YoonYul ft JeTi
Description: AU, Slice of life
Epilogue
[A month later]
Voices echoed backstage as students prepared hurriedly for the play that was about to finally be put on.
“We’re going on in 10!” The stage manager called out as the seats began to fill up to the point of fully occupied.
Audience members opened up their programs, reading the premise and cast settings with curiosity.
Narrator - Jessica Jung
Cinderella - Im Yoona
Prince - Choi Sooyoung
Stepsister - Lee Sunny
Stepmother - Kim Hyoyeon
Fairy Godmother - Kim Taeyeon
Attendant - Seo Juhyun
Directed by Tiffany Hwang
In the dressing room, Yoona inhaled and exhaled heavily, trying to calm her nerves. She glanced to her left and smiled at the relaxing sight.
A bouquet of pink and yellow tulips in a vase sat neatly on the counter. Beside it were her and Yuri’s cellphones. The Rilakkuma phone cover complimented the newly decorated Mickey Mouse phone cover.
A knock was heard at the door and Yoona smiled wider, knowing who it was.
“Hi.” Yuri walked in, smiling at her girlfriend.
“Hi.” Without another word, Yoona stood and held out her arms from the other girl. They embraced and she felt like her nerves were calming a bit.
“Nervous?”
“Of course. Your designs turned out really beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be okay, right?”
“No matter what happens, just know it was meant to be.”
It was a cryptic message, but Yoona had no time to decipher it as she was called out on deck. Yuri gave her hand a last squeeze, smiling reassuringly at her.
--
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jessica asked, clipboard in hand as she and Yuri stood backstage away from everyone else.
Yuri inhaled deeply, nerves completely on edge. “Yes.”
“Just know that in five minutes, you can’t back out no matter what.”
“I can do this.”
“Yeah? What makes you say that?”
“Because it’s for her.”
Jessica smiled, knowing all too well the feeling that Yuri was trying to convey with her words. “Good answer.”
“Thanks. By the way how are you going to make it up to Tiffany?”
Jessica smirked. “I’ll just kiss her.”
“What?
“Break a leg, Yuri.”
Yuri stared dumbfounded at Jessica as she walked away, but soon snapped out of daze as someone called out, ‘five minutes to curtain call!’
She had no time to decipher Jessica’s message.
There really was no backing out now.
--
As the audience members settled down and the clock struck 7 pm, Jessica’s voice bellowed throughout the theatre, playing her part as narrator.
[Scene 1]
In a land far, far away, there lived a young girl named Cinderella. She was a beautiful girl, strong, and kind, but pitiful. Her only family passed away, leaving her with an evil stepmother and short-legged stepsister.
(The audience gasped and eyebrows furrowed together as Sunny stepped onto stage with her hair dyed a wonderful array of rainbow colors and Hyoyeon wore an awfully unflattering dress with random furs and colors splashed together.)
“Cinderella!” Hyoyeon bellowed as she strutted across stage. “Clean the cupboards. I found a speck of dust inside!”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Cinderella!” Sunny stomped her feet together. “Why are you so tall and I am so impish? Life is just cruel and unfair.”
“Yes, I know my lovely sister.”
One day while cleaning, an invitation arrived to the abode of the four women, but minus one sister.
In royal attire, Seohyun politely held out an invitation for Hyoyeon.
“I bring a message from his Royal Majesty. All females of this household have been invited to the Royal Food Ball.”
The four women, but minus one sister of the household looked at each other.
“The what?” Hyoyeon asked.
“The Royal Food Ball.” Seohyun’s tone was polite and calm. “It is a banquet filled with much food, a dash of dancing and most importantly, much food. It is also a masquerade so please prepare masks.”
With that, Seohyun took her leave.
“How exciting!” Hyoyeon exclaimed as she quickly went off stage and returned with a hideous dress. “Cinderella, I want you to tailor my dress to look like this, but with even MORE vibrant colors.”
The dress looked like it had been throw in a garbage disposal, used by a caveman, and then targeted by children with paintball guns.
Sunny shook her head. “You can’t have her do that Mother, you are a fashion terrorist after all.”
“How dare you? I am grounding you!”
“What?” Sunny pouted and whined cutely. “But I just bought new insoles for the ball…”
“Very well, I will ground you next week. Remind me when we get home.”
“Okay.” She squealed in delight.
“By the way Mother…” Yoona looked around curiously. “Where is our dearest oldest sister?”
“She called me a fashion terrorist, too. But now I can’t find her anywhere…” Hyoyeon smiled creepily towards the audience. “Oh well.”
“Oh.” Yoona muttered as she eyed the dress Hyoyeon held up high. “Mother… Are you sure you want to add this patch of green onto that… thing?”
“YES. IT’S ALL IN STYLE RIGHT NOW, OKAY.”
“Er… yes Mother.”
And so, Cinderella tailored their dresses and the ball had arrived.
[Scene 2]
Without delay, Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsister, minus the other one, left for the ball, leaving Cinderella alone to tend to all the chores.
Yoona scrubbed the stage diligently, working up a sweat on her brow. She wiped it with the back of her hand and looked to the audience with sadness.
“Oh, how fun would it is to go to the ball! I wish I could go!”
Without notice, a cackle from backstage erupted.
“Fairy dust, fairy dust.” Taeyeon spun around stage, wand in hand while her other hand threw fairy dust all over herself and the stage.
“Uh…” Yoona looked up surprised by the appearance of this odd creature. “Who are you?”
“I…” Taeyeon gave a twirl in her giant dress and grinned happily. “…am your wonderful Fairy Godmother.”
“Uh… hello.” Yoona frowned as the other thing continued to sprinkle fairy dust all over. “Could you stop that? I have to clean it up.”
Taeyeon stood still at the request.
“Oh yes, right of course.” She cleared her throat. “I have come to encourage you to go to the ball.”
Yoona clasped her hands together in awe. “You heard my wish?”
“No, wishes aren’t real, but fairy dust is!” Unable to contain herself, she threw another handful of dust upon them.
Yoona dropped her cleaning rag, frowning at Taeyeon, waiting for the next line.
“Oh right, sorry.” She cleared her throat. “If you want to go to the ball, go yourself.”
“But I don’t have a dress!”
“I brought you one.”
With a snap of Taeyeon’s fingers, the dresser behind them opened and a beautiful white dress appeared before them.
“It’s beautiful.” Yoona said in awe.
“Yes, yes, now get going young lady. Don’t forget your Rilakkuma handkerchief.”
Yoona nodded firmly. “Yes of course.”
And so, Cinderella prepared for the royal food ball.
[Scene 3]
The curtains drew open with a long dinner table in front of the stage and many people dancing in the background, including Sunny and Hyoyeon. The Prince hungrily filled up her plates with an abundance of food as the Attendant looked at her disapprovingly.
“That is unhealthy!” Seohyun frowned as Sooyoung shoved a piece of fried chicken into her mouth. “Unhealthy diet accumulates and you’ll die!”
“So?” Sooyoung scarfed more food down without looking at Seohyun. “I’ll die one day anyway.”
“Prince, please stop feeding yourself like this.”
“Oh, go eat some sweet potatoes.” Sooyoung picked up a sweet potato and flung it at Seohyun.
With a gawk, Seohyun caught it and shook her head as she murmured to herself. “There is no hope for this country.”
Yoona walked on stage with her beautiful white dress on and everyone turned their heads. Without a glance at them, her eyes landed on the table.
“FOOD.”
She made her way to the table and piled her plates up as the Prince eyed her.
“So you like food?” The Prince spoke, eyes glimmering behind the mask.
“Who doesn’t?” Yoona retorted as she reached for the caviar.
“I think I’m in love.” Sooyoung crooned as they bonded over food.
(Backstage, Yuri grinned as the scene went on, proud of Yoona’s acting ability. Hara tapped her on the shoulder and whispered into her ear. Yuri nodded and inhaled another deep breath. Hara turned on her heel and Yuri followed closely behind.)
Standing afar, Seohyun shook her head as she spoke to the audience. “This country is onto the pathway to obesity if those two get together…”
Midway through conversation with the Prince, Yoona gasped.
“Oh no! I forgot that Mother wanted to go clubbing tomorrow. I must return home immediately to finish it.” Without another word she dashed off stage as Sooyoung held out a chicken leg for her, calling aimlessly.
“Wait!”
To no avail, Yoona was gone.
Heartbroken, the Prince who had found and lost her match-made in heaven silently brooded. But then, she glanced at the ground noticing a peculiar sight.
Sooyoung stepped forward, picking up the piece of cloth.
“A Rilakkuma handkerchief?” Sooyoung cocked her head to one side. “With this, I will find out her identity tomorrow!”
[Scene 4]
“Cinderellaaaaaaa! Where is my clubbing dress?” Hyoyeon waltzed into the living room.
“Here it is Mother.” Yoona held up a ridiculously unfashionable dress up.
“Yes, it’s perfect.” Hyoyeon hummed as she took the dress and proceeded offstage to change.
“The Prince wishes to enter your house.” Seohyun bellowed as she and Sooyoung walked on stage.
Sunny and Yoona looked at each other, shocked expressions on their faces.
“I am looking for my one true love. I met her last night at the Royal Food Ball and she had left something of hers behind. If you can name this object, I will believe you are my one true love.”
“Leftovers?” Sunny said with some wit. “Because it was a Royal Food Ball?”
“Buzz!” Seohyun answered robotically.
“My one true love would never leave leftovers!” Sooyoung bellowed dramatically.
Without warning, Yoona let out a fake sneeze and then scrunched her face together.
“Where is my Rilakkuma handkerchief? Did I drop it?”
Sooyoung and Seohyun locked eyes with one another. With heavy steps, pure joy appeared on Sooyoung’s face.
“My one true love… I have found you!”
“What?” Yoona asked as everyone’s eyes were suddenly on her.
At that moment, the Fairy Godmother appeared.
(Backstage, Tiffany’s eyes widened and her fists clenched together.
“That is not part of the script!” She whispered harshly under her breath. “What is Jung doing!?”)
The lights dimmed and a spot light was casted onto Taeyeon as she appeared, yet again sparkling fairy dust onto herself and the stage.
“I have come to intervene.”
Everyone fixated their eyes on Taeyeon, especially Yoona who was extremely confused at the sudden plot twist. Her eyes side glanced at Sunny who just gave her a slight nod.
“Intervene what?” Sooyoung spoke firmly, yet convincingly.
(“I am going to kill her.” Tiffany fumed as she made her way to the sound booth, too furious to watch her masterpiece crumble in front of her.)
Yoona was so lost. Everyone on stage, but her seemed to know what was going on.
“Cinderella’s one true love… is not you, but your twin sister!” As Taeyeon said this, a large amount of fairy dust sprinkled the stage.
Everyone gasped and the stage darkened as feet were heard scurrying around. Yoona was starting to sweat bullets.
Without warning, the light shined brightly and Yoona had to readjust her eyes for a moment. Her eyes grew wide as she stared at Yuri who was standing right in front of her in a beautiful dress.
“Hi.”
(Backstage, people panicked.
“WHAT IS GOING ON?”
“WHY IS YURI ON STAGE?”
“HOW CAN HER TWIN SISTER HAVE BLACK HAIR IF HERS IS BRUNETTE - HOW DOES SHE EVEN HAVE A SISTER? WHERE IS TIFFANY?”)
Yoona was too dumbfounded to respond quickly. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Why in the world was Yuri standing on stage with her?
Yuri licked her lips, heart beating rapidly and ears ringing. The spotlight was making her hot, but she tried not to think of it. Instead, she focused her eyes onto Yoona’s, not wanting to look anywhere else.
With a deep breath, she spoke.
“I wanted to tell you why I like you.”
Yoona couldn’t help the smile that was forming on her face as Yuri continued speaking.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself because of you. I feel like I can see the world much clearer now. I feel like I’ve learned what it really means to live. You’ve taught me a lot, stayed by my side when it didn’t make sense, had patience with me, and gave me a chance to really be myself. Thank you for being my first friend.”
Yuri’s voice began to pick up, her confidence rising as she stared into Yoona’s eyes.
“What I really want to say is… I thought I knew what it felt like to be lonely, but I was wrong. I didn’t know what it really felt like until I met you. When you left my side, I realized what it meant to be truly lonely. Don’t leave my side, Yoong.”
Yoona’s grin grew so wide, her cheeks were starting to hurt as Yuri continued.
“I like you.”
Yuri took one step forward as she continued her monologue.
“I like you because you took a chance on me. You gave me the opportunity to be myself, to learn, and to grow. I like you because when you’re around, I can’t stop smiling. I like you because when you’re gone, I recall my memories with you, a smile accompanying my face. I like you because you’re beautiful, inside and out. I like you because you’re not perfect, but human. I like you because, you’re you.”
Yuri stepped forward, hand placed gently on Yoona’s cheek as she smiled wholeheartedly.
“I like you, Im Yoona.”
Yoona knew then if there was a moment she could pick to relive, it would be right here and right now.
Pure happiness was pouring from every fiber of her being. Her smile was ear to ear as she kept her gaze within Yuri’s eyes only.
She also knew then, that they were going to share their first kiss in front of hundreds of people.
Both girls smiling ridiculously, their heads leaning forward as the curtains began to draw to a close.
And so, Cinderella lived happily ever after with her own one true love.
Up in the sound booth Jessica smiled as she made sure the curtains closed right before their lips actually touched, shielding them from the audience’s eyes.
Some things were just meant to be private.
The audience clapped as the production ended, some very, very confused at what had just happened, others swooning at the last character’s monologue, and some nodding in approval at the entertaining show.
Jessica let out a stretch, finally relieved that the show had ended. Then she popped her neck, counting the seconds down.
Three.
Two.
One.
Tiffany barged into the sound booth, door swinging widely. The other two girls sitting with Jessica cowered in fear and ran out of the room before they could fall victim to the wrath that was about to ensue.
“You.”
The way she said it was akin to a lion finding its prey after starving for three days straight.
“Yes?” Jessica replied calmly as she swung her chair around and stood up, waiting for the other girl to make her move.
Tiffany walked forward, much quicker than Jessica had anticipated.
“You.” Tiffany’s right index finger jabbed at her chest. “You ruined my perfect production. It was my baby. You -”
With one hand, Jessica grabbed onto Tiffany’s attacking one and leaned forward, placing a chaste kiss onto Tiffany’s lips, silencing her.
When they parted, Tiffany had a stupefied look on her face. She had rendered her perfectly speechless for a good 0.72 seconds.
“You were saying?”
It was a taunt.
Tiffany folded her arms, eyebrows furrowing together. “How dare you interrupt me when I am ranting?”
One side of Jessica’s lip curled up into a thin smile, knowing she had just won.
“Are you done now?”
“Yes…” Tiffany’s eyes averted to the not-so interesting wall to the right of her as she asserted her next command. “Just kiss me again, Jessi.”
Jessica couldn’t help the smirk that was appearing on her face.
Tiffany may have won the battles between them in public, but Jessica was always the one to win the war in private.
Some things were just meant to be private.
“As you wish, Tiff.”
--
Behind the curtains, the backstage members clapped as well as Yoona and Yuri parted from their first kiss.
Like they were the only ones in the room, their eyes never left each other as Yoona spoke first.
“You kept your promise.”
“I said I would.”
“When did you get so brave?”
“After I met you.”
This was so backwards. Why was Yuri, who wasn’t good at speaking, so good at saying things that made Yoona swoon?
“When did you get so good with your words?”
“I’m not. I’m just saying everything from the bottom of my heart.”
This made Yoona grin even more as she pulled Yuri into a hug.
“You’re too good to me.”
“I just want to give back what I can to the person who’s given me so much.”
“Yul?”
“Yeah?”
“I really like you.”
That was all Yuri needed to hear. The past month of rehearsing her lines, working up her courage, and overcoming her stage fright was so worth it.
“I really like you, too.”
No ‘I love yous’ were shared and they were perfectly content with that. Their young love was just starting. They had come so far in the past two months and yet they knew they had all the time in the world to keep moving onto this path of love together.
There was no rush. It was just the beginning of something really beautiful after all.
Something beautiful called ‘love.’
Unbeknownst to them, a red tulip began budding in Yoona’s garden that day.
It would grow brilliantly into a truly beautiful flower.
--
Words were such ugly, deadly weapons. Words could be so heavy on the heart. Yet, words could be the catalyst for mending and restoring relationships.
Yuri learned at a young age how powerful words were. They had the power to hurt someone, but also the power to heal. Words were a double edged blade and Yuri had learned to wield it the right way.
If it’s possible to be hurt by someone, then it is possible to be healed by someone.
In due time, Yoona had healed Yuri’s wounds slowly, but surely while Yuri did the same for the former’s hidden faults and scars.
There are many different forms of loneliness out there in the world. With some compassion, patience, and love, both Yuri and Yoona were able to combat their different situations of being lonely.
They were no longer lonely in this world.
All they needed was a little bit of love from each other.
Together they stood, the mere definition of being lonely dissipated into something of the far past.
Together they shared an unbreakable bond.
Together they lived, rarely ever lonely again.
Together they loved.
---------
Author's Note: I hope you've had some fun on this journey with me and my story. Thank you so much for reading this fanfic, for commenting, and for giving it some of your time. It's been real, it's been fun, it's been real fun.
Have a PDF while you're at it.