Farewell at Dusk
The starlight and fragrance of gardenias from their engagement night seemed to linger, yet the hands of reality relentlessly approached the point of parting. In the final two weeks before his enlistment, G-Dragon canceled all unnecessary public appearances, compressing his time into a private vacuum that belonged only to him and Su You.
Their last formal date was on a drizzly night. G-Dragon drove his understated black sedan, taking Su You to a private art museum far from the city center. The museum director, an old friend of his, had specially cleared the space for them. In the empty exhibition hall, only the sound of their footsteps echoed, as they silently gazed at the modern paintings on the walls.
They didn't hold hands, nor exchange many words; they simply walked slowly side by side. Occasionally, G-Dragon would pause before a painting, whispering something to Su You—perhaps about the background of the artwork, or perhaps just a random thought that crossed his mind. Su You listened quietly, sometimes nodding, sometimes smiling. A tranquil and profound understanding flowed between them; there was no need to deliberately create romance—their companionship itself was the highest form of expression.
After leaving the art museum, they went to a 24-hour convenience store like any ordinary couple. G-Dragon, wearing a baseball cap and mask, only his smiling eyes visible, watched as Su You browsed the shelves, putting his favorite banana milk and her favorite strawberry gummies into her basket. When it was time to pay, he naturally took out his wallet; the clerk's change jingled as it landed in his palm, carrying the warmth of everyday life.
On the way back to the apartment in Hannam-dong, the rain stopped, and fine raindrops condensed on the car windows, blurring the neon lights of Seoul into patches of light. Inside the car, the demo of the mini-album that G-Dragon had made just for Su You was playing on his phone. The soothing piano melody flowed out, and he hummed along softly. The lyrics were still an unfinished draft, but Su You understood the precious sentiment in them.
He parked the car in the underground garage, but instead of getting out immediately, he turned off the engine and sat quietly in the darkness for a while. Then, he turned around and took Su You's hand.
"Youyou," he called her by her nickname, his voice particularly deep and clear in the enclosed carriage, "while I'm not here, make sure you eat well, sleep well, and study hard." He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, "Don't miss me too much... but don't completely stop thinking about me either, okay?"
Su You was amused by his contradictory words, but her nose felt a little sore. "I know, you nag." She squeezed his slightly cool fingers back. "You too, take care of yourself, don't get hurt, don't push yourself."
"Mmm," he responded, leaning in to kiss her forehead precisely in the darkness, lingering for a long time. It was a kiss devoid of lust, filled only with endless tenderness and promise.
On his last day before enlisting, G-Dragon spent it with Su You at his parents' house. There was no grand ceremony, just a warm, simple home-cooked meal. G-Dragon's mother kept putting food on Su You's plate, her eyes full of love and reluctance. G-Dragon's father didn't say much, just patted his son on the shoulder and said, "A real man should shoulder his responsibilities."
After dinner, G-Dragon and Su You were enjoying the breeze on the balcony. Looking at the setting sun in the distance, he suddenly said, "I think I've never hated parting as much as I do now."
Su You leaned against him and whispered, "It's not a farewell, it's a pause. Our movie has just been paused for a moment. When you come back and press play, the story will continue."
He looked down at her; the girl's eyes were clear and resolute, reflecting the sunset and his own image. His unease and anxiety were strangely soothed.
The next morning, accompanied by his manager and family, G-Dragon went to the Nonsan Training Center. He was wearing the simplest dark sportswear, a baseball cap, and a mask. Among the many people who came to see him off, his slender and upright figure still stood out.
He didn't let Su You come to the scene. He didn't want her to face the possible media cameras and noisy environment. He hoped their final farewell would remain on the quiet evening of last night on the balcony at home.
He stopped in front of the training facility gates, turning back for one last look. In the distance lay the blurred city skyline, and the direction of the girl he held dear in his heart. He took a deep breath, and facing that direction, in a voice only he could hear, he repeated:
"Wait for me to come back."
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he turned and strode into the doorway that symbolized a brand new, and also a forced period of silence. His back was resolute, carrying the inherent pride of a top superstar, as well as the responsibility of an ordinary man heading towards the future for love.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, Su You was sitting in a classroom at Peking University, preparing to begin her day of study. She touched the "Earth and Moon" earrings on her ears, then touched the Rilakkuma keychain hanging on her backpack zipper—the same one as G-Dragon's—before opening her textbook.
Her expression was calm, her eyes focused. She knew that the best waiting wasn't stagnation, but rather striving together to reunite at a higher level. Her stage was now at Harvard's future; his "battlefield" was the military camp. Their stories were simply unfolding simultaneously in a parallel universe.
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