You're My Melody Chapter 1: On Her Birthday

Seohyun was in the car staring at the window looking at nothing in particular. Her mind was on something else. She was nervous because it’s not every day that she gets to see his father. And yet that’s exactly what she’s planning to do.

"Miss Seohyun, are you sure you want to visit your father today?" her driver said with a bit of concern apparent in his voice.

"Yes, I'm sure." It's been six years since she last visited her father's office. She can't blame her driver for being worried. He might have remembered the incident 6 years ago when the driver picked her up at SME building after her visit to her father. She had been so quiet that day. She went to his father’s office full of spirit but when she left she was like an empty shell void of any expression. For a young little girl looking like that and knowing the reason for it the driver couldn't do anything but feel sorry. He wished she would just cry but the little girl never cried believing her father would hate her even more if she showed him some weakness.

Some people are just lucky to be born in a very rich family. Seohyun is just one of them. She was raised in a life where everything she could ever want could be easily given to her. She has almost everything. Well, almost... Because she lacks the most important thing that a person should have... LOVE

Her father is the president of the biggest entertainment company in Korea, SM Entertainment. Other people might think she's so lucky to be the daughter of President Lee Soo Man but for Seohyun it was very unfortunate. Her mom died right after she was born and her father rarely comes home because he spends more time either in his office or abroad.

Ever since she was a child she learned not to expect so much because every time she did all those expectations get shattered in an instant leaving her broken and crying. During Christmas she would dream about her father arriving home with presents in his hand. Every year she would patiently wait in her room staring at the window hoping to see her father's car approaching but it never happens. Then she would wait beside the phone waiting for her father's call which never comes. The maids will prepare dinner for two because she always insists that her father will come home although all of them knew it was pointless.

Her father never cared.

Her birthdays don’t have much difference. During her 10th birthday she asked the driver to bring her to her father's office. Her father never likes it when she comes to visit but she didn't care. It was her birthday and she missed him so much. She stubbornly entered her father's office and found her dad absorbed with work. If he knew it was her birthday that day, she couldn't tell.

Assuming he did knew she asked him excitedly, "Dad, did you buy me presents?" The old man didn't even spare her a glance. All she got was a cold stare followed by a cold voice saying, "Is your allowance not enough? Ask my secretary for money then go buy anything you want." then he went back doing whatever he was doing and ignored the little girl like she was never there all along. That's when she finally accepted the truth that nothing will ever change. Her father will never love her no matter how hard she tried to please him.

Today she turned 16 years old and she wanted to remind her father that fact.

The driver dropped her at the SME Building lobby. A lot of people come and go most of them were familiar faces. Some were actors and actresses and others were singers. No one really paid any attention to her. They know that President Lee Soo Man has a daughter but no one knows how she looks like. The president never mentions her anyway. It's not that she cares. Some old employees recognized her and bowed when she passed. She just smiled then headed straight to her father's office.

She took a deep breath before she raised her hand and knocked on the door. She heard her father say "Come in." She went inside and when her father saw her, his brows formed into a frown. That didn't hold her back. If she was the same little girl years ago she would have went straight to his father's arms and kissed him on the cheek. But years of experience made her realize that her father doesn't like that sort of greeting so she just went straight to the point.

"Dad... do you... have a free time today?"

"I'm busy." She expected that.

"You deserve some rest Dad... Maybe..." she paused hesitating. "Maybe we could go out tonight? Have some dinner..."

"I have business plans for tonight."

"Then how about lunch?"

Every word she said were carefully planned. She thought about every possible answer her father could come up with and the best reply she should give him. But it always ends up with her father refusing and now she's running out of ideas.

"I said I'm busy, Seohyun. Go eat lunch with your friends and stop bothering me..."

"I just thought that maybe we could spend a few hours together today since it’s my birthday...”

Her father looked up from the papers he was reading. "Oh, is it your birthday?"

So he forgot after all, she thought bitterly.

He reached for the phone to call his secretary. "I'm going to send money on your account," he told her. "Do whatever you want with it."

When the line went through he gave instructions to his secretary on how to transfer money to Seohyun's account. When he hang up he faced his daughter and told her, "Call me if it's not enou-" He couldn't finish his sentence because Seohyun cut him off.

"Don't bother dad. I won’t need it anyway." Then she hastily left the room. She took a couple of deep breaths before she managed to calm herself. Every time she's upset or sad she would listen to some soothing songs and then she would brighten up instantly. She decided to do just that.

When she was still a little kid she used to wander around the SM Entertainment building that she now became familiar with its rooms and hallways. Sometimes she would go to the music room and listen to some artists playing the piano. Of course her father didn't know that or if he did he probably didn't mind. She even became friends with some of SME trainees and they treat her like she was their little sister. However, today those friends couldn't be seen anywhere. Some of them are already successful artist and are working themselves to death. Others who couldn't endure the long hours of practice finally gave up and left the company even before they could be given the chance to debut.

She made her way to the music room until she was close enough to hear the sound of someone playing the piano. She smiled. The sound of the piano always brightens up her mood. She once asked his father if she could take up piano lessons. He refused saying it's a waste of time and that she has to concentrate on her academics and work hard to be a doctor someday. Then she thought if she can't get lessons then maybe she can still learn if she bought a piano. So she asked her father to buy her one and as expected he also refused.

She knocked on the door of the music room to announce her presence. Then she went inside and found the pianist to be a handsome guy with black hair and brown eyes that were staring at her with curiosity. She recognized him. He's Youngwoong Jaejoong from the group called Dong Bang Shin Ki. They were considered as the number one group in Asia and were also recognized worldwide with their amazing talents. Even Seohyun is also amazed by them. They have great vocals and amazing dancing skills.

He stopped playing when she arrived so she said, "Please go on."

He smiled then continued playing. His smile seemed to affect her in some way. She ignored the weird feeling and just let herself be immersed with the wonderful melody emanating from the piano and this amazing guy.