The second Memory-Date

Although Logan had just recently returned to the country, he was often able to learn many things much faster by using his family’s name, the Grand Duke’s.
This time was no different.
Although the Brooks Club was a secret social club, Pembroke was granted access relatively easily.
“…You don’t care that my dad is trying to steal the title from Selene?”
“Not really.”
Even at Evelyn’s dumbfounded question, Logan answered nonchalantly.
Selene herself didn’t value the title much, and if she were to marry him, she would be incorporated into the Grand Ducal family, so it wasn’t an important matter to Logan who had the ducal title.
At that resolute sight, Evelyn rested her chin on her hand and sneered.
“It must be nice to be so easy.”
“I already have a lot to think about. I’ll be going first.”
Logan left the tea room, leaving behind Evelyn who was looking at him resentfully.
“Are you going back to the mansion?”
At the secretary’s question, Logan hesitated for a moment.
Although he had no further schedule, he did not want to return home.
Since he had declared that he would go to study abroad with Selene, his father had been looking at him as if he were a rebellious teenager.
However, he would no longer act lukewarmly, afraid of family matters or of Selene, who only saw him as a friend.
‘To do that, do I have to meet Selene first?’
In his current state, where he felt he could do anything, he felt he could show this emotion that he had buried since his distant childhood.
However, Logan soon decided to postpone that.
It seemed it would be better to meet Theron Cox first and talk.
He had to find out what his purpose was in sticking to Selene, and if he believed he could win her heart back even after committing such an act.
If they were alone, Theron Cox might show his true colors.
‘If I thoroughly grasp his true nature and tell her, Selene might cut him off on her own.’
Having made his decision, Logan told his secretary his destination.
“Let’s go to Cox Corporation.”

Today was the day of Selene and Theron’s second memory trip.
Although it was childish, Selene had decided to call her meetings with Theron ‘memory trips’ on her own, as calling them dates was not appropriate, and calling them appointments seemed too plain.
‘There’s actually a piano piece with that name.’
It was a piece written by an old pianist who had traveled to places with memories just before he died.
The refreshing and calm rhythm was ordinary, but it had its own charm.
Although it was still too early for her and Theron to discuss death, it could be said that their situations were roughly similar, as they were visiting various places they didn’t usually go to for a similar reason.
Even if the place they were going to today was a gloomy place that didn’t suit the word ‘trip’.
Selene, who had finished her preparations, took her parasol and went out the main gate.
She saw Theron.
Theron, who had approached with a grin, handed her a single red leaf instead of a greeting.
“A gift. I can’t give you flowers these days, you know.”
As Theron had said, Selene had kept the vase on the piano empty.
That vase was a sign of her and Theron’s ambiguous relationship.
Since they were not lovers, it was strange to receive a bouquet of flowers as if nothing had happened, as she had before.
So, if the vase were to be filled with flowers again, wouldn’t that, in turn, mean that she had completely forgiven Theron and that they had become a couple who promised a future together again?
Selene silently took the fallen leaf Theron had handed her.
“It’s already autumn.”
“I know. Why does time fly so fast?”
Theron’s lament must have contained his worries about her study abroad.
The boat ticket she had bought for the winter admission of Mulshe Graduate School was still in the drawer of the side table in the piano room.
In that sense, going to her parents’ grave with Theron today was important.

“What I love is not your body, but the soul within it.”

Because it was the day to test his words, which sounded like a vow.
In fact, from Theron’s perspective, he was lucky.
Since the place they were going to was a solemn place like a cemetery, the situation Theron was worried about was highly unlikely to happen.
‘But you never know with Theron Cox, who gets excited at the drop of a hat.’
Selene, who had gotten into the passenger seat of the car, examined Theron’s crotch.
Of course, it was still flat for now.
“What are you looking at so intently…?”
Theron, who had noticed that Selene’s gaze was directed at a strange place, asked with an awkward face.
“It’s nothing.”
There was no need to wake up Theron’s mind with a warning to be careful today.
At Selene’s reply, Theron focused on driving again.
And as the car was smoothly driving down the road, Theron suddenly asked.
“What kind of people were your parents?”
It was an appropriate question for today’s destination.
“They were kind and gentle.”
“That sounds like a somewhat insincere explanation…”
Perhaps so.
But Selene could only explain it that way.
It wasn’t that her heart was heavy or her throat was choked up, but honestly, she didn’t remember well.
“It’s because it’s been a long time since they passed away.”
She remembered the affectionate and heavy sadness of that time, but when asked what kind of people they were, she couldn’t say much.
It had been over ten years since she had last seen them.
“I think people forget more easily than they think.”
That’s what Selene thought.
She had thought she would remember the two of them clearly forever.
But as if to mock that love, time changes people.
Theron empathized calmly.
“I suppose so. In fact, it’s sometimes better that way.”
“You too, Theron?”
“I’m not a genius who remembers everything.”
Theron smiled.
Then he opened his eyes darkly for a moment, as if recalling something.
“Shall I tell you a funny story, Selene?”
‘A funny story?’
Selene looked at Theron.
“On a day when I was worried about you, I was walking down a street in the city and happened to meet my piano teacher.”
“The person who taught you the piano at the pub?”
“Yes. It had been a very long time. But he told me that I had an emotional side and that I loved roses very much. Even though I don’t remember at all.”
‘Theron liked roses?’
‘Honestly, roses and Theron didn’t suit each other at all.’
‘But considering he had once said he smelled a rose scent from me, it might have been true that it was his favorite flower.’
“I think that’s what time is like. It makes you forget even the things you loved. In fact, when you’re busy living your day, you can’t even remember what you had for lunch yesterday, right? So, you gradually forget even the things you loved.”
‘Even the things you love are forgotten…’
At Theron’s words, Selene unexpectedly thought of the piano.
‘Will the day come when the piano becomes like that to me?’
‘The matter of it remaining as a romance of the past. The matter of it ending with me reminiscing, saying, “I loved the piano so much back then that I dreamed of traveling the world and holding concerts.”‘
‘Even while being afraid of that happening, Selene vaguely knew that the piano was getting farther away as she got closer to Theron.’
‘Her obsession with the piano had started from a sense of lack. Now that Theron was filling that lack, it was no longer needed.’
‘Although the piano was still important to her since Theron remained an uncertain relationship, there was a possibility that it would become that way someday.’
‘It felt strange. Like a sailboat in the middle of the sea, waiting for a huge storm.’
“Don’t tell me you’re getting serious because you can’t remember what you had for lunch yesterday?”
Theron’s sudden joke brought Selene back to her senses.
“No. I was just thinking if the day would come when the piano would also be forgotten by me.”
Selene did not hide it and honestly said what had come to her mind.
“If that happens, it might be because of you, Theron.”
“…Because of me?”
“If you take the piano away from me, I’ll hate you for a while.”
Theron seemed to be flustered by the sudden resentment from the future.
However, at Selene’s extremely serious expression, Theron seemed to accept it.
“I don’t know what it is, but if it makes you feel better, then do it.”
Even at those words, Selene somehow felt unsettled and stared at the scenery passing by quickly outside the window for a long time.
Theron also did not force a conversation and drove, waiting for Selene’s mood to improve.
Still, as the car stopped near a quiet field, the silence was naturally broken.
Theron, who got out of the car, looked around.
“Here?”
“Yes. This is the private property of the Ashcombe family. My parents’ grave is inside, along with our ancestors.”
Selene led Theron.
Theron, following Selene’s back, looked around.
“It’s quiet.”
“People don’t come here often. We’ll probably be the only ones at the grave today too.”
As expected, there was no one at the grave.
In the cemetery surrounded by trees, only Selene and Theron were there.