Piano Strings

Chapter 1

"After the dawn, two of us
We welcomed the morning together
Don't let go of my hand forever
I won't let go of you again either"
~ BTS "First Love"

Yoongi POV

I met her in the hospital of all places. It was the holiday season. Something about her drew me to her. I sensed her walking to the elevator, but she was different than all the other visitors. I couldn't tell you how she was different. She just was. When she turned around, I knew. I knew I wanted to see her again.

A few hours into my shift playing piano, I saw her exit the elevator and head toward the cafeteria. I took my dinner break a little early just to see her. I found an empty table close to her and I intentionally faced her. As she ate, she became quite focused. The poor woman must have been very hungry. Either that, or she had a very healthy appetite. I tried to gather up enough nerve to talk to her, but her phone's text alert went off and she flinched. I decided to wait a little longer, but then her phone rang. I couldn't contain my laugh at the tune, and I wondered who in this woman's life deserved the tune of the wicked witch from The Wizard of Oz.

The song "Let It Snow" started to play in the cafeteria, and she started humming to it, but not quite---it was a different tune that complemented it well. Then she started softly singing as she played with her cranberry sauce. She had a sweet voice, and the lyrics were cute. I listened carefully to the tune to try to memorize it. When she got up to dump her tray, she glanced at me. She must have realized I had overheard her because her face turned bright red. It was adorable.

When I got home that night, I decided to try to play it on the piano. I did my best to play the tune by ear. I really do not know why I put in so much effort for a woman that I would probably never see again, but I did. I was optimistic that she would show up again the next day. Perhaps it was selfish of me, as she was obviously there to visit someone who was likely sick or injured. Yet, I still hoped she would be back the next day. I saw no ring on her finger, so at least it was not a husband she was visiting.

I continued to practice playing it all morning to memorize it. To memorize it for her. And it worked. She was there again that afternoon. And she came close when she heard me playing the song---her song. She introduced herself as Melody--"Mel" for short--and I knew it was kismet. And that afternoon, we became one for the first time.

Melody. Such a perfect name. Being with her left me speechless. I stared at her silently after we had both reached our climax. My silence was misinterpreted by her. She led me to believe I was just a fling for her in her haste to leave. As it turned out, she thought I had grown tired of her---that my silence was telling her she was just another conquest for me. My stare was not one of annoyance, though. It was one of captivation. She had captured my heart. I grew angry at the thought of being of no consequence to her. When I learned that I had communicated that very sentiment to her with my silent stare, my heart ached for her.

And so the two of us, both new to casual sex, found a way to let each other know we wanted to be more. It wasn't casual sex for either of us, after all. I texted her when my shift ended and she met me in the lobby. We went out for dessert and coffee at a nearby diner.

"I'll have a slice of the candy cane pie," she said, her eyes smiling.

"And for you, sir?"

"I'll have the same." I wasn't sure if I would like it, but I was curious as to what something that made her gorgeous eyes light up so brightly could possibly taste like.

"So, how long have you been playing the piano?"

"I started as a young child. I have even composed a little, but nothing that has been published."