The constellation of the whale

- In the last week, the stars have been shining brightly in the sky at night. In particular, astronomers single out the constellation of the whale. Many Seoul residents watch the night lights at the observatory. What about you? - the presenter, whose interview with one of the most sought-after figure skaters is coming to an end, is peeking at the script because she forgot her question in her excitement. It's understandable, because Chaeyoung is sitting across from her on a comfortable couch. And Park never leaves people indifferent. - I like to watch the night sky. Find constellations and invent different stories for them. You know, it's very soothing. Especially if you've been so busy all day that you haven't had enough time to even sit down and relax, - the brunette carefully considers her answer before saying something. - Park Chaeyoung opens up to us from a new angle every day. No wonder you're the darling of not only South Korea, but the whole world. Tell the audience, how long have you been interested in this therapy? - I didn't always like this kind of activity. Jimin taught me how to identify constellations correctly, - a warm smile touches the girl's face from the memories of her partner. The audience bursts into gasps. - Then it was already known about his illness. I refused, and he kept repeating: "What are you going to do when I'm gone? They'll ask you what this constellation is called, for example. And what do you say? I'm sorry, I don't know? No way, my dear. Let's go, your beloved oppa will make you a pro," - this story always makes the skater's heart flutter. Jimin taught her a lot. That includes loving a person so much that your knees give way just by looking at them. - His favorite was the constellation of the whale. That's why Oppa asked me to think about him every time I see this constellation. "I will make it shine brighter than all the other stars in the sky, just so that you can recognize me. After all, you're such a fool, Cheena, that you're unlikely to remember what even this whale looks like. The girl hesitates to tell this remark of the black-haired man, so she hides it from the presenter and the audience. - And I remember this story just by looking at the sky. But I never forget about Jimin. He lives in my memories and in my heart, which is very important - the people in this hall continue to love the "incredible duo" of figure skaters, no matter what, so they find a part of themselves in Chaeyoung's words. This black-haired Park has forever settled in their memories as a nineteen-year-old boy who goes to his goal and puts his desires above others. The presenter, who shed tears remembering how Park Jimin loved figure skating (and his partner), wiped the moisture from her cheek with the sleeve of her blouse. - Thank you, Park Chaeyoung, for such a touching interview. To be honest, I didn't think I'd cry today. But despite the tears, it was incredibly nice to see you back in my studio. I think the audience also liked the first interview of the famous figure skater of our time in a year and a half, - Jeon Ji Ah, that's the name of the presenter, turned her head to the left and asked the audience. They, in turn, positively shouted, showing all their love and support for the brunette. Park smiles broadly, bows and waves to her fans. She is really grateful to them for everything. - It is a great honor for me to be here and in front of you, Presenter Jeon. Thanks to your skills, our very first interview with Jimin attracted a lot of fans to figure skating, - Chaeyoung gets up from the couch and bows to Ji Ah, extending her hand. The woman shakes it and bows back. Then they both turn to face the audience and bow to them. - Today's episode of the Talk to the Star show has come to an end. See you next week!

***

November 27th. The first anniversary of Park Jimin's death. How many nervous breakdowns, tantrums, and pools of tears has Chaeyoung endured over the past year, stretching like an eternity. It took her a long time to come to terms with the death of her teacher, beloved partner, best friend, and just a guy. For the first month, they tried to pull the girl out of depression. Loss of appetite and interest in life, weight loss, avoidance of any way of communicating with people, increased sleep duration - all this had to be dealt with by a specialist. For people suffering from this diagnosis, all these symptoms are not unusual. That's how they seemed to Chaeyoung's entourage on the day of Jimin's funeral. The brunette had never before described herself as an unprofessional figure skater. She's never turned down the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart conversation with her mother. After all, she's never missed a workout. It was the first time she had been seen so depressed. Fortunately, her father, guessing about his daughter's diagnosis, made an appointment with a therapist on time. It's been a year, but Chaeyoung remembers that day perfectly. The day when a person dear to her heart, a piece of her soul, died. Jimin died of cardiac arrest on the operating table while doctors were fighting his glioblastoma. It was a big shock for everyone. The brunette has a tradition: on Park's birthday, she rolls the number that she and he put together 2 years ago. They used to enjoy it together, but even now the girl is sure that Jimin is looking at her somewhere up there and rejoices with her.

***

Nineteen years old is a special age for South Korean teenagers, as they come of age. This means that they acquire the legal right to dispose of their personality, actions and decisions, ending the control and legal responsibility of their parents or guardians for them. Today, Park Chaeyoung, the youngest professional figure skater in her country, has reached this special age. After a break of a month and a half two years ago, the brunette devoted herself to training, and then her studies and figure skating became the meaning of her life. - Good morning, Chaeyoung. I congratulate you on your birthday and wish you to continue to conquer the professional world! - Ahn Dong Hwa handed Park two boxes, a small one and even smaller, as soon as she got into the car. - On the second one, - he nodded his head, as it seemed to Chaeyoung, with sadness in his eyes. - You'll open it when you get home. The brunette, smiling, thanked her manager and put both gifts in her bag. The first thing she will do is open them. - How are you going to celebrate your coming of age? - starting the car, the man asked. Then they drove off and went to the sports center, as they do almost every day. - My parents offered to have some kind of party this Saturday, but I was too tired of the hype, so I declined. Instead, I want to have dinner at home tonight, with my family. Besides, you know how much I hate it when too much attention accumulates around me, - Park watches from the window at fast-moving buildings, trees and people hurrying somewhere. - Well, yes, exactly, - every time he hears such things, Ahn laughs, just like the first time. Chaeyoung's career, which involves a lot of attention in her direction, and Chaeyoung, who doesn't like that kind of attention. It sounds really funny. - You'd better tell me, how are you with your personal life? Did you find anyone? - the brunette cunningly shifted all the attention from herself to a man who has been divorced for at least a year and a half. She 's too curious - I'm constantly busy with work, and I don't have time for dates. And you know it, Miss Park. "He got nervous. So he's got a girlfriend after all. Okay, Ahn Dong Hwa, I'll pretend to believe it." -Okay, Oppa. I get you. After several hours of grueling training, the birthday girl finally returned home. Since there was some time left before the arrival of her parents, the brunette didn't eat and immediately went to her room. She's going to unpack the presents that were given to her today. First of all, the girl, sitting on the floor next to the bed, took out the boxes given by Dong Hwa from her gym bag. Chaeyoung is terribly curious about what this "old man" gave her (the Packs came up with this nickname for him together). According to the count, Park chose the one that was bigger and eagerly began to tear off the beautiful wrapper. Purple. No wonder, because Ahn had long ago identified the colors suitable for the "incredible duo" and gave gifts exclusively in boxes or packages of the chosen color. Removing the lid, the brunette saw something incredible: a glass figurine of a bouquet of white roses with a note "Nineteen roses for a nineteen-year-old" and perfume with her favorite peach scent. Wow, Ahn Dong Hwa knew how to please his ward. Her love for glass figurines has long been a well-known fact. That's why Chaeyoung can't take her eyes off this beautiful thing right now. But that's not all. At the bottom of the box, under a layer of confetti, the girl found a Baby Pink lip tint and a mirror. The brunette knows her manager too well not to realize that he has someone. He would never have given her anything like that himself. Besides, even though he has two sons, the "old man" hardly knows about the tradition of giving boys and girls three gifts on coming of age: flowers, perfume and a kiss. Park thought the gift was very thoughtful: instead of flowers, there was a glass figurine, and instead of a kiss, there was a tint. Impatient, Chaeyoung put aside the contents of the lilac box and began unpacking the next one. - It's too small, what can he put here? Except that... - the figure skater didn't have time to finish because she saw the flash drive. The usual red flash drive. - Really? - there is no limit to her indignation. Accidentally turning over the lid of this box, the brunette noticed a note glued on. "Chaeyoung-ah, happy birthday! I know you'll think the flash drive is a strange gift, but please look at its contents.                              Your favorite oppa💋" Was it really him? But how is this possible?   Park got up from the floor and went to the desktop to get her laptop and came back. Slowly taking out the flash drive, she turned on the technology. Just as slowly, Chaeyoung sticks it into a special hole. For some reason she's scared, but at the same time she wants to find out as soon as possible. A window with a single file appeared on the screen, so the girl clicked on it without hesitation. Just a few more seconds... - My sweet Chaeyoung. Happy Birthday! - A video of Jimin appears on the screen, which is several minutes long. And the first tear on the birthday girl's cheek. - I'm probably already gone, since you're watching this video. And it's probably hard to live without someone like me. And just without me, - that bastard is still laughing. And the brunette can't stand it and sobs loudly, covering her mouth with her hand. - That day has come. Your coming-of-age day. I've been planning to make it special for you for a long time. But now I realize that I'm unlikely to succeed. I'm afraid I won't live to see this important day, - as if the elder is looking not at the camera, but into her eyes. He's so sad that it feels like he's going to cry. - I don't know how much time has passed since my death, and I don't even want to imagine your torment. But unfortunately, this involuntarily happens every time I sit in front of the doctor, and he is silent, instead of saying directly and clearly: "Park Jimin, you are not destined to live until next year." And it hurts so much just to think that you're going to suffer because of me. Why do I deserve you, Park Chaeyoung? - teammates on different sides of the screen and time intervals literally drown in their own tears. - Just a minute, - he asks her to calm down himself, but that's not enough time. Through a veil of tears, Chaeyoung attentively watches every movement of her beloved partner. She had missed him so much during these unbearable two years. She missed his voice, his laugh, his hair. After all, when the brunette gave him a head massage, the black-haired man always lay down on her lap. After all, by his hugs and kisses on the top of his head, because Chaeyoung was still underage. - You have brought a lot of joy into my life, and I'm incredibly grateful to fate for such a gift in the form of you, Chaeyoung. You know, I liked you when you were that ten-year-old girl with the cute pigtails and the Australian accent. You know how crazy I'm about your English. As the days passed, I began to notice more and more often that I couldn't take my eyes off you. More precisely, it seemed to me that I was the only one who noticed this. The first person who came up to me with the question "Jimin, do you like Chaeyoung?" was Coach Song, - Park smiles and sometimes laughs at his story. And Cheyeon starts crying louder and louder, not even trying to calm down. This house has good sound insulation, so she doesn't have to worry about the neighbors. - Do you remember how I used to bring your favorite candies to training and pretend that I didn't know about it? - I remember, oppa. I remember everything perfectly. - And how I used to add avocado to sandwiches, even though you don't like it, just to annoy you. I really wanted your attention, which you gave to training. We were partners and spent a lot of time together, but it still wasn't enough for me. I felt like a greedy egoist, but I was happy, - Jimin closes his eyes for a moment and seems to remember something. - When you turned sixteen, I realized that I felt more than just sympathy for you. I have found my soul mate in the form of you, a man dear to my heart. You know that figure skating is exactly what I wanted to connect my life with, and it brings me pleasure? So, being paired with you, Chaeyoung, brings me pleasure. - such serious things from Park's mouth are not immediately perceived by a sobbing brunette. - And so, on October 25, 2023, I, Park Jimin, officially confess to Park Chaeyoung, my beloved and only partner. I love you, Chaeyoung-ah, - the video message ends with an air kiss from the elder. -I love you too, Park Jimin. From the Earth to the moon and back several times, - the younger one's eyes hurt from the endless amount of tears pouring out of them. They're so red, but Park doesn't care. The brunette turns on the appeal of the black-haired man over and over again and chokes on her own tears every time, just like the first time. This continues until the parents find their daughter lying on the floor in front of her laptop. The girl runs her index finger through the guy's hair, face, and hands on the monitor. - My God, Chaeyoung, baby, what's wrong with you? - with horror, the mother jumped up to her child. - Why are you standing there? Bring the water! - she ordered her husband, and she looked at the laptop screen, stroking the birthday girl on the head. Upon seeing Jimin, Ms. Chan couldn't help but cry herself. She knows how much the partners were dear to each other. Before going to bed, Chaeyoung chokes in tears for the umpteenth time that day. She came across edit in tiktok. She and Jimin share photos of them smiling at each other, one after the other, accompanied by sad music.

"Over the years, her eyes have been shining with joy."

The next frame showed her alone. It's based on a recent interview.

"Now they continue to shine, but from sadness."