AT ZANARKAND
Jeff plugged his flash drive into his component, and, moments later, music reverberated throughout the house.
It's Sunday. This is routine. On Sundays, exactly 6a.m., Jeff plays music and turned the volume to the maximum. At first, Changmin was not used to this routine, which started only a year ago. Eventually, Changmin got used to it. The music is good, too. They aren't songs - there are no lyrics. Only instruments. Changmin doesn't listen to this kind of music. He thought that lyrics are the most important part of songs, and the instruments are just embellishments. But as he listened to Jeff's music, he began to appreciate it.
Once, Changmin confronted Jeff and asked him about the music.
"Hyung," asked Changmin.
"Yes?" replied Jeff.
"Where did you get those?
"Those?"
"Those music."
"Oh, those. I got those from the different soundtracks of video games that I really really liked."
"Oh, I see. That explains why some of them are familiar to my ears," replied Changmin.
"Yeah, you probably heard it already. Most of them are from the Final Fantasy series."
While music is being played, they ate their breakfast. It's the first time Robedith joined the brothers for breakfast. They ate toasts and bagels. Changmin and Robedith got coffees each. Jeff satisfied himself with pineapple juice.
"You won't drink coffee?" asked Robedith.
"I don't see the necessity of drinking one. Why do you ask?" replied Jeff.
"Won't you feel sleepy later? We're going at Junsu's, and it won't be good if you'll just sleep there," explained Changmin. Clearly, he's having the same thought as Robedith.
"No. Not really. I can stay awake for 50 hours, at the very least," said Jeff.
"You aren't human," said Robedith. Changmin and Jeff laughed.
"It's something that I developed because of work. Especially when working with a tough deadline. There was once this project that was assigned to me, and I must finish it within two days. It's a hard job, but I pulled it off. With no sleep, of course. No coffee, too. Just my plain old pineapple juice," shared Jeff.
"Pineapple juice? I know it doesn't have caffeine," said Robedith.
"No, of course," said Jeff.
"I wonder what it would taste like if we put coffee in your pineapple juice," wondered Changmin.
"Would you like to try it?" said Jeff, lifting his glass of pineapple juice on one hand, and the coffee bowl on the other.
"Ha ha. Just joking," said Changmin.
They all laughed.
"Hey honey," said Changmin to Robedith. "Listen to this music. It's called 'At Zanarkand'."
"'Tis my favourite," Jeff said. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he listened to the music.
A piano was gently playing in the background. Robedith listened to it.
"Beautiful," whispered Robedith.
It is indeed beautiful. Yet it emanates a sad aura. This, Robedith felt. And so does Changmin and Jeff, whose eyes are both closed as they listen to the beautiful music. Then, it stopped.
After a few moments, Robedith finally realized it's over. "That's heavenly!"
"Yeah it is," Changmin agreed.
"Yet the music is sad," Jeff said.
'At Zanarkand' is the last on the playlist. A fitting finale.
"So why do you think I chose a sad song as the closing part?" Jeff asked both of them.
"Because it is the end?" Robedith answered.
"Eh?" Changmin uttered.
"Explain," said Jeff.
"Hmmmm. It's kinda fitting for an end. It's sad. Know what they say about happy endings? Like Cinderella's or Snow White's? Many people don't believe in happy endings. Say, in relationships. You can't imagine a happy ending for a couple, right? I mean, when they broke up, that's an ending. And it will never be a happy one."
Changmin pondered over it. "Yeah. You got a point there. If ever our relationship ended, it won't be happy."
"Ha ha. That's correct. For most people, that is," said Jeff.
"Now you explain," said Robedith, grinning.
"People get sad when their relationship with somebody, ends. They cry. They can't sleep. They get depressed. They reminisce on all the happy moments that they've shared with that someone. And they cry, thinking that those moments will never happen again. The kisses, hugs, laughs, everything. It won't ever happen again," Jeff explained.
"Yeah," Changmin agreed.
"But, look at it this way. Robedith, you're a door. Changmin, you're yourself. The door is open. Beyond the door you see the ocean and a sunset. Beautiful, right? Then you see those birds flying near the horizon. You hear the rustling of the wind. You hear the gentle sounds of the waves. Peaceful. Serene. Tranquil."
"Then the door suddenly closed. What would you do?" Jeff asked Changmin.
"Hmmm. I'd probably sit in front of that door, waiting for it to open again," answered Changmin.
"Okay, so you'll put every little bit of your focus on that door, right?" Jeff asked.
"Yes. I'd ignore everything else."
"So you won't notice that there are other doors that are open, right?"
Changmin were quiet.
"You see, many people will stare at the door that closed upon them and they won't notice the other doors that opened up for them. They are wasting a lot of time mourning over something that surely won't return. They are getting nowhere."
"I hope many people will learn to, instead of mourning over something that they've lost, cherish and treasure all those memories. Instead of crying over something that ended, why not smile and be happy that it happened? Many people are unlucky when it comes to love. Heck, there are those who never experienced it."
"So instead of crying, smile and say, 'Once upon a time I rose up in love and all of it is worth the fall.'"
Robedith was smiling all throughout. "That's impressive. And I forget you're the same age as Min, the immature."
Jeff laughed.
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