Chapter 7

“I haven’t asked, where are we heading to?” Eunhye popped the question after they both got off the bus.

“I need to pick up some music samples at the records store first, after that what we’ll do we’ll decide later.”




As Shin and Eunhye steps into a huge records store, the attendant behind the cashier counter greeted Shin the moment they stepped in.

“Shin! I was expecting you!” Cindy flipped up the counter ‘door’ and came out to meet Shin.

“Good morning Cindy! Its great to see you again.” Shin stepped in to give Cindy a tight hug.

“I have got what you want!” Cindy winks at Shin and pointed to a bag in the display shelf behind the counter.

“Thanks!! You are the best, Cindy!” Shin patted Cindy on the shoulders.

“Anytime!” Cindy said as her gaze turns towards Eunhye.

“Hello, I’m Cindy, you are..?” Cindy didn’t wait for Shin to introduce them.

“Hello, I’m Eunhye, Shin-goo… I mean I’m Shin’s new assistant. Nice to meet you!”

“I see… haha… nice to meet you Eunhye ssi… I had almost mistaken you for Shin’s girlfriend.” Cindy looks at Shin and cannot help teasing him.

“Yah, Noona, stop joking, you’ll frighten her.” Shin tries to put a stop to it.

“Sorry Eunhye ssi, I’m just kidding, hope you don’t mind. Anyway, I have to get back to work, please feel free to take a look around here and just call me if you guys need any assistance.” Cindy made a gesture towards the box of CDs that she was busy tagging when they both came in.

“Come on Eunhye, let’s go up.” Shin tugged at Eunhye’s hand to pull her towards the in-store escalator before she could reply Cindy.




“When did you last meet Cindy ssi?”

“Just last week, why?”

“Oh…. Nothing….”

“Come on, there must be a reason why you asked that.” Shin probed, eager to know the reason behind.

“I thought you had not seen her for months…. or even years…”

“Huh, why would you think so….. ahhhhhh… because I hugged her?” Shin exclaims, as though he had found enlightenment.

“hahaha~ Cindy’s my god-sister… oh well, to be more accurate, she’s my mom’s god-daughter.” Shin offers the explanation.

“Cindy’s a great noona to me. Just a sister. Don’t be jealous of her alright.”

“Hey, no I’m not!!!!” Eunhye protests.

“Sshhhhhh” Shin puts a finger to his lips as the few customers lingering on the second storey of the store looks up at them.

Eunhye bows several times to ‘apologise’ for the commotion.



“I’m gonna be in that small room” Shin said, pointing towards a glass room.

“Take a look around, if there are albums you like just take them, I’ll put it on the company’s account. I’ll come and get you when I’m done.” Shin heads off towards the glass room right after he finished that sentence.

Eunhye’s face lit up, looking at the huge array of CDs and albums neatly arranged in the racks. At her previous company, Eunhye always loves the outings to the various record stores, checking out what is popular and topping the charts, sampling music at the kiosks, she never consider it as part of her job but something that gave her immerse pleasure and enjoyment.



An hour later, Eunhye went over to the glass room to find out what is taking Shin so long.

Shin sits comfortably in the Orange sofa with a headset over his head. There is a smile on his face and his fingers seem to be tapping along to the rhythm that he’s hearing.




Because You Live

Staring out at the rain with a heavy heart
It's the end of the world in my mind
Then your voice pulls me back
Like a wake-up call

I've been looking for the answer
Somewhere
I couldn't see that it was right there
But now I know, what I didn't know

Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
Because you live, girl
My world has twice as many stars in the sky

It's all right, I survived, I'm alive again
Cause of you, made it through every storm
What is life, what's the use
If you're killing time

I'm so glad I found an angel
Someone who was there when all my hopes fell
I wanna fly, looking in your eyes

Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
Because you live, girl
My world has twice as many stars in the sky

Because you live, I live

Because you live, there's a reason why
I carry on when I lose the fight
I want to give what you've given me
Always

Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
Because you live, girl
My world has twice as many stars in the sky

Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
When nobody else can help
Because you live, girl
My world has everything I need to survive
Because you live, I live, I live


Believing that he might take some more time, Eunhye went to the new-age music section to pick up some CDs and took them to the listening station.



When Shin came to pick Eunhye, she seems to be off to dreamland….

“Eunhye… Eunhye…” Shin calls out her name softly.

Eunhye wakes up and wonders how long have she fallen asleep. She looks at her watch, its almost noon time.

“What hypnotizing music were you listening to?”

“Oh…. ” Eunhye holds up the Stella Mirus CD.

“Its very soothing, can I get this one?” Eunhye asks for Shin’s permission since he had said he’ll sign it to the company’s account.

“Are you having insomnia or what? I wonder if the producer Kazumasa Yoshioka and Eri Sugai would laugh or cry at your purpose for getting the CD, haha!”

“Wow, you sure know a lot about music, Shin-goon! You know who Stella Mirus is made up of?!” Eunhye is amazed with his knowledge.

“Let’s go grab a bite? I’m hungry.” Shin suggested and again walks off towards the escalator, leaving Eunhye behind still seated in the sofa at the kiosk.

Shin picks up the bag Cindy set aside for him at the counter, paid for some of CDs he picked out and the one Eunhye wanted.



“You need some coffee.” Shin stares at Eunhye’s eyes when they came out of the store.

“Let’s go there.” Shin points at the coffee house across the road.