One of the things that Nurlena liked about working for Big Hit was that she could wear a T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers to work each day. Which meant she was comfortable. And it was so much easier to be creative when one was comfortable. Another perk was a free copy of every new album that BTS released. A signed copy. All seven of the boys’ signatures adorned the covers of a series of albums lining her bookshelf at home. But the best thing about working for the entertainment giant was that she had become friends with Taehyung.
And today they were working together on a song he was writing. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen her, but he had asked her to help him with the lyrics for his new solo.
“Tae, what’s the song called? Have you chosen a title yet?”
Tae nodded. He was staring off at the horizon. They had ridden to the rooftop. An eco-friendly garden lined the roof of Big Hit’s corporate building. Stepping onto the roof was like entering an orchard overlooking a vegetable garden. Some kind soul had even set up a wooden glider for them to sit on in the middle of that garden. Under an apple tree. Nurlena had no idea how someone had figured out how to grow an apple tree on top of a building, but they had.
Where did its roots go?
She had no idea.
But this beautiful garden on the top of a tall building in downtown Seoul was one of the members’ favorite places to rest when they were dreaming up lyrics for their songs. Particularly, Tae. He loved being outdoors. He felt like he had returned to a piece of the countryside every time he set foot in this garden. It was like going home again. To his grandparents’ farm.
Now, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Then he exhaled. The air seemed fresher up here too. Not quite like the country. But certainly better than down on the pavement with all those cars.
“Cherry Blossom,” Tae breathed.
“What?” Nurlena turned towards him.
“The title of my song is Cherry Blossom. But the twist is that it’s a girl’s name,” he revealed his secret.
She didn’t know whether to be disappointed that he’d ruined the surprise or elated that he trusted her enough to share his secret with her. She decided on elation.
“Is the song in Korean? Or English? Or both?” she asked him.
“English.”
“Ah.” She knew there was no Korean name that meant cherry blossom.
“So, she’s an American named Cherry Blossom.”
He shook his head. “Don’t know where she’s from. But her English name is Cherry Blossom.”
“Isn’t that kind of odd?”
“I don’t think so. An American actress named her kid Apple. If a kid can have a name like Apple, why not Cherry Blossom?”
Lena stifled a giggle. Tae was always making her laugh. He had such a unique viewpoint on life.
“So…this song is about a girl…”
“With cherry blossoms in her cheeks.”
“Ooh. That’s a good line.”
“Her eyes and her hair are the color of the cherry blossom tree’s bark. Her cheeks are pink like the cherry blossoms. I have an overall feeling of what I want to say, but I haven’t written a single lyric yet. I do have the melody, though.” He began to hum.
How was it that his rich tones came out even when he was vocalizing? Or simply humming? His voice gave her goosebumps. Even when it was trapped in his throat. Its vibrations always moved her soul.
Lena smiled at him. After a few moments, she murmured, “It’s a lovely melody, Tae.”
But Tae didn’t really know how to write any melodies that weren’t lovely. Not any that she had heard, anyway.
“So…how to begin? That is always the question.” Then he began to hum his melody again.
“You’re a beauty rare, a maiden fair.
Your long hair dark like cherry bark.”
Tae hummed a short interlude before composing more lyrics. Lena was writing them down as he sang them. She already loved this song.
“Your eyes like black holes, they’re burning coals.
Your lips so red, when can we wed?
“Every glance from your eye speaks.
Yours is the passion my soul seeks.
Cherry blossoms in your cheeks
Would pass the greatest of critiques.
“Waken this heart with all the joy
That you find in this blessed boy.
Your eyes afire with blazing love
Your heart’s the song of morning’s dove.”
Tae paused a moment. “What do you think?” he asked her as he squinted in the sunlight.
“It’s beautiful, Tae.”
He laughed. “You always say that, Lena!”
“That’s because it’s always beautiful! I don’t think you’d know how to write an ugly song if you tried!”
“Oh, yes! I’m sure I could write an ugly song if I tried.” He cleared his throat. “But today I’m trying to compose a pretty song.”
“It is! It’s wonderful!” she praised him.
He shook his head. “I think I need to change the line that comes after ‘Cherry blossoms in your cheeks.’ How about ‘Make you like the rainbow unique’?”
“I liked your original line.”
“Did you?” His right eyebrow flew up as he quirked his lips. “All right. We’ll leave it then.”
He smiled at her. He was pretty sure that she believed that he’d forgotten that tomorrow was her twenty-fifth birthday. But he had not forgotten. He was, in fact, going to pick out a very special present for her tonight. She was going to love it! He couldn’t wait to give it to her.
Thank you so much😭😭🥰🥰🥰