Happy Late Birthday To Our Wonyoungie! I Wasn't Active On The 31st, But I Still Want To Say That She

just between us, do you remember it all too well?

like the moodboard? it's a teaser for an upcoming fanfic! make sure u follow me and stay tuned! thank you, bye!! <33

@the-one-and-only-delphi

xxx. the memory of you

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CHAPTER THIRTY ─ the memory of you.

❛ i miss the old ways, you didn't have to change, but i guess i don't have a say now that we don't talk ❜

Kim Taesung's Perspective

I felt my heart drop the moment the woman who was supposedly waiting for me turned around. I barely recognized her at first; But my memories of her must have been etched into my brain permanently, because a part of me knew. That it was her. Her long and flowing hair was no more, and the only part of it left hung over her shoulders. As I stood there in front of her, staring, I found myself entranced by her face, just like I had all those years ago. I had seen her for the very first time at the music club, and the incident replayed in front of my eyes as if it took place only yesterday. Our eyes met- ever so briefly, and it was as if fireworks had gone off. Her features still held the same harmony- soft, with a air of gentility, yet they had an inexplicable charisma that captivated me.

I could practically feel my heart pounding in my head. My hand had begun trembling. I continued gazing into her eyes, trying way too hard to avoid the scar on the right side of her face. I practically had to tear my eyes away because my heart and soul ached as if they were being pierced by a thousand needles. There was that same emptiness in her eyes that always perplexed me. It made me so curious. What could she have possibly gone through for her eyes to look so lifeless and miserable. I wanted to know so badly. I wanted to know her better, and I failed to do it every time.

Our eyes met again after some stupid formal dialogue, the sound of which was drowned out by the deafening sound of the frantic beating of my heart. I felt like I was back in my teenage body, staring at her from afar and overthinking the gift she gave me- that I bought over and over again for years. The flush on my face must have been so obvious and for a second I almost felt sorry for my colleague who stood and watched us in confusion. My gaze shifted to her scar again, and I had to look away from her entirely because of the pain I felt in my chest. It was as if someone had ripped my heart out of my body and broken it in a million parts like it was made of glass. 

The truth was that I blamed myself to this day. There was nothing that I regretted more than failing to protect her. In hindsight, I wondered how things would have turned out if I just followed basic safety protocol. What was I thinking? Riding a bike with no helmet? That too with someone I cared about. I would give up anything to go back in time and fix it. Would that have fixed everything?

On my way home, the only thought that occupied me was that despite everything that had happened- the time that had passed, and the very obvious scar on Yumi's face, she was still just as pretty as fifteen years ago. That's the thing that made me feel ridiculous; In front of Choi Yumi, I was just a nineteen year old boy with a stupid crush.

Choi Yumi's Perspective

I sat in my room, staring at the floor, lost in thought. It was insane. I had endless questions that could never be silenced. How had I run into Taesung in this timeline? Why and how did he end up become a police officer...

Then, something inside me clicked

A familiar face flashed in front of me- Gahyun, the crazy bitch obsessed with Taesung. Her screaming voice and her shaking hands pointing to me in accusation appeared in front of me.

"You!" she shrieked. Her hollering voice echoed and rippled through the previously quiet, still hospital halls. The other patients shrunk back, closed their curtains to avoid looking at the scene she was causing and others went to call for help.

"What do you want?" I sighed, "And for god's sake lower your volume."

"You're the reason my Taesung is injured!" she continued yelling, "If it weren't for you, he would be perfectly healthy at home! Now- all thanks to you, he's going to have that hideous scar on his shoulder! Ugh, it's all your fault! How could you be so selfish?!"

A fire began burning inside me that started as a spark then exploded in an instant as I cried out with tears of agony forming in my eyes, "Don't you dare pretend like you know shit! He CHOSE to drop me. In case you haven't noticed, this damn thing on my face is going to be permanent. God, just stay out of it! You don't deserve to come here and yell at ME and cause a scene! Get out!"

My breathing became erratic, and it was as if steam was coming out through my ears. I was furious. Not because she was crushing on the same stupid teenage boy as me. Because of how right she was. If it wasn't for me, Taesung would be okay.

"Yumi, is everything alright?" asked a concerned Eunyoung who had just returned home, looking even more miserable than me.

"I remember everything now," I said, feeling dazed and confused, but at the same time things seemed to make more sense, "Did we really yell in the hospital like that?"

"Oh, yeah," she tried to tell me gently, "Everyone heard."

"God."

I ran a hand down my face, sighing for what must have been the millionth time that day, "What's up with you?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Don't even ask," she responded, sighing, "Sunjae's death was suicide."

I suddenly sat up straight, my ears perking up. The word seemed to crash right on my head as my chest began feeling tight. I never spoke about it, but my mother's death haunted me to this day. She couldn't endure the abuse from my father and ended her own life. I was too young to understand it when it happened, but it dawned on me now. The thought that I was not very different, that I would turn out the same made me cower in fear every time I thought about it.

I pulled Eunyoung into an embrace, and I could feel her surprise to my impulsive action. "I'm sorry," I whispered. The room was then filled with the sound of our breathing and the soft banging of the snow against the window.

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nana's notes: wonyoung's face card in the header tho-

delphi's notes: taesung having a whole melancholic monologue is everything.

next chapter: friday (out now!) list of chapters here!

; 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘦 . . .

; 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰 :: 𝘯𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘴-𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵-𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢 . . .

im making it look easy

i am free at long last

my exam is finally over!!!! *intense clapping* you know what that means? TOWARDS YOU is back!! chapter fifty-three will be out on 4th april (friday) in the meantime, i'm working on the following chapters as well :)

@the-one-and-only-delphi and i are working on other things to put out as well, so stay tuned as always <3 remember to interact with my stories so i can get to know the wonderful people who read and like my work ❤️

xi. strings of fate

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CHAPTER ELEVEN ─ strings of fate.

❛ i'm so in love that i might stop breathing ❜

Narrator's Perspective

The bus ride back home was a quiet one by all means. Sunjae's friends had offered to take him home but he refused and chose to go with Eunyoung. His father had run off to make arrangements to celebrate his son's victory. Not only had he won a gold medal, but he had also beaten a record. It was a groundbreaking milestone, which his father deserved to be proud of.

Sunjae fidgeted with the medal, looking around, not knowing what to say after the rather intimate moment they shared after the match. The scene replayed in his mind; It was almost as if he was reliving the moment again. He could still feel her warm touch against his cool skin and the thumping of his heart had not calmed since then.

"I'm proud of you, Sunjae," Eunyoung spoke with a gentleness and warmth in her voice that melted Sunjae's heart.

"After everything you said about my shoulder, I think I deserve to say ❛I told you so❜," he said cheekily, "I told you I'd be fine."

"I'm sorry I doubted you, Sunjae," she chuckled. The elegance and beauty of her laugh resounded in his ears, pulling at his heartstrings effortlessly. She always seemed to know what to say at the right moment. He turned away, trying to hide his flushed face.

The soft pitter-patter of raindrops against the bus window diverted their attention outside. The rain fell in a light drizzle outside while the sunlight dimmed and clouds began to appear in the once-clear sky.

"It's raining an awful lot lately," Sunjae observed curiously.

Little did he know, that it wasn't just rain; it was the universe pulling them together.

💿

"By the way," Yumi asked Eunyoung at dinner that night, "Where did you run off to today? Who goes out that early on a Saturday morning?"

"Sunjae's swimming match was today," she answered, trying to hide her excitement, "He won a gold medal and broke a record."

"Tell him I said congratulations," she told Eunyoung.

"And me," their mother chimed in.

"I sure will," Eunyoung smiled.

"Speaking of which," their mother began, "What's the deal with him? You ran off to give him the umbrella last night too."

"What're you asking?" Eunyoung asked in confusion, "I thought he would need it since the rain was kind of heavy─ but how do you know that, Mom?"

"I came to see where you were after you said you were going to return Sunjae's umbrella," she explained, "And I ran into his father. He's the one who told me."

"Oh."

"Oh, cut the crap, Eunyoung!" she snapped, "If you're dating just tell me!"

"It's not like that!" Eunyoung said defensively, "We barely know each other. We're just friends I swear."

"His dad knew your name."

"So what?" she looked up from her plate, "I have a memorable name!"

💿

Yumi stood at the bus stop, her eyes wandering lazily with no thoughts in her mind. She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, which did nothing to drive away her boredom. Each passing moment felt like an eternity, and waiting five minutes for the next bus seemed tiresome after piano practice. She felt increasingly exhausted on that particular Monday, despite the clear, cloudless skies and warm weather. Her shirt stuck to her skin and the humidity irritated her to no end.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone crouching in the bushes behind her. The boy wore a light blue biker jacket that shone brightly in the afternoon Sun. As she was about to turn away, he stood up revealing a rather familiar face that was Kim Taesung's. For a moment, she was stunned. He seemed to have a knack for showing up when she least expected it.

"What were you doing in the bushes?" she asked as he looked at her with the same amount of surprise.

"Why are you always showing up randomly?" he said, as if he had read her mind.

"I could ask you the same thing," she retorted.

As he stepped towards her, moving away from the bushes, she spotted a little black and white kitten where he was crouching. This seemed to be an answer to her earlier question. An uncontrolled gasp of adoration escaped her mouth as she smiled at the sight of the kitten. She advanced towards it, but found that it was eating something.

Upon seeing her contagious smile, Taesung's lips stretched into a smile as well.

"I feed her sometimes," he told her casually.

"This kitten always runs away from me," Yumi complained, "My biggest goal in life is to pet her."

"Look, I'm no expert, but if you run towards her like that she's going to get scared," he explained gently.

"I'll try a calmer approach next time," said Yumi thoughtfully, "But it'll be tough for me. I get really excited when I see cats."

"You like cats?"

"I love them."

💿

Knock knock.

"Come in," Eunyoung answered. It had been several hours since she had looked up from her desk. Loose sheets of paper were scattered everywhere─ on the floor and even on her bed. Some papers crumpled by her sheer agitation lay lifelessly in the dustbin by her foot. Eunyoung's hair was tied into a ponytail that was slowly falling apart as strands of her long hair fell messily on her face. She didn't bother to fix them; All that mattered at that moment was the article about the swim team.

Taking her first step into Eunyoung's room, Yumi stopped in her tracks, glancing at the room from a distance. "This place looks like a war zone." She looked at what Eunyoung was scribbling at her desk, "Oh, is this the article about the swim team?"

Eunyoung only answered with a grunt. Yumi took it as a sign of her focus and determination. She distinctly remembers how Eunyoung became a total wreck while writing articles in high school. Her justification had always been "The chaos on the outside contradicts the organization inside. It's called balance." Yumi never understood it, but it seemed to work so she never questioned it.

Yumi flopped down on Eunyoung's bed, making herself comfortable, "I'm almost done," Eunyoung told her. A few moments later, she finally put her pen down. Her neck made a loud cracking sound as she looked up.

"Dear God," Yumi exclaimed.

Eunyoung chuckled, gathering all the papers around her. She tossed some into the bin and placed some of them in her folder, which she kept in her school bag. "Okay, I'm really done this time."

"Your tape recorder is here," Yumi held up the little device with white headphones dangling.

Eunyoung took a seat beside her, "Yeah, just leave it there. So, how come you're here?"

"This is my house."

"No, I mean here," Eunyoung emphasized, "Here in my room."

"Why, can't I be here?"

"That's not what I said."

"Then?"

"Don't make me hit you."

Yumi burst out laughing, slapping Eunyoung's shoulder playfully, "I'm kidding. I just came to hang out. We haven't talked much lately."

"Aw you missed me?" Eunyoung hugged Yumi, "Tell me, what do you wanna talk about?"

"You remember that cat near the music club?"

"The one you always like to pet? What about it?"

"I think I know how to get it to like me," Yumi told her excitedly, "I got some advice."

"From who?" asked Eunyoung curiously.

"Taesung," Yumi's voice was reduced to a whisper as she said his name.

"Taesung, as in the guy with the motorcycle?"

"Yeah."

"Hmph."

"Don't be so judgy!"

"I didn't even say anything!"

"You didn't have to!" Yumi said, laughing, "Dont be so hard on him. How's it going with Sunjae?"

"Don't even get me started."

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nayoung's notes: taesung feeding the cat is such a funny crossover to me, it's like cat meets cat. eunyoung's mom is such a mood lmfao. hope you liked this much needed taemi content lol.

delphi's notes: taesung was definitely (nayoung- definitely what? complete ur sentence byotch)

next chapter: saturday (out now!) list of chapters here!

xliii. unfinished business

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CHAPTER FORTY-THREE ─ unfinished business.

❛ i've been looking at you since half past two wanna take this downtown? ❜

Choi Eunyoung's Perspective

The moment I opened my eyes, my ears filled with cheery chatter from all directions. Enthusiastic conversations and excited giggles went on all around me. I blinked my eyes rapidly a few times, looking around. Everyone was dressed in orange attire with the Yeonseo University logo. My mind couldn't process anything. Moments ago, I remember being at the hospital where Sunjae died... again. I felt a lump in my throat as I tried to blink back my tears that threatened to spill any second. I looked around frantically in desperate search for the only face I wanted to see at that moment.

Then I found him. My panic ceased for a glorious, fleeting moment while my teary eyes rested on his face. The corners of my lips curled up without me realizing as I saw his resting face. He leaned back on his seat with his eyes closed and features relaxed. He looked as perfect as ever, I thought to myself. The ache in my heart seemed to give way momentarily while my stomach did backflips at this sight. Fluffy hair that cascaded down his forehead just the right way, perfect, pillowy lips...

I snapped myself back to reality. Where was I? On looking around a second time, I finally realized. I was on my university field trip. This realization seemed to form even more questions in my mind. Where was Yumi? Was this my last chance to save Sunjae.

Memories from the future resurfaced as I began to see with a hurtful clarity. The detective had told me in his professional, emotionless tone that the man who was responsible for Sunjae's death, the driver of the truck was none other than Choi Minseok, my father. I knew I was on a train to some countryside location I couldn't quite put my finger on, which meant that I had to maintain composure. I couldn't break down weeping right there no matter how much I wanted to.

It was all so unfair. My dad took everything with him when he left my mom and me. All we had was a shanty apartment that not even he wanted. And now again, here he was, haunting my past, future and my present, taking away my everything.

"Eunyoung!" the girl beside me called out. Turning to look at her, I realized she was Yuri, the one friend I had throughout college who stuck by me through those times. I smiled, feeling nostalgic of my university days, "Did you hear what that guy said?"

"What?"

"God, you are so distracted today!" she observed, sounding slightly concerned, "He said that when two people kiss on the first field trip of Yeonseo University, they always get married later in life! Isn't that insane? Gosh, that's so romantic!"

"That sounds ridiculous!" I chuckled, waving my hand in front of my face, "They just make up stories to entertain us."

"Don't be such a mood-kill!" she said, elbowing me, smiling enthusiastically, "Let's have some fun, yeah?"

"Yeah, of course," I answered her, forcing a smile out of obligation, "We'll have fun for sure."

"Anyone you like from the orientation?" she asked, leaning towards me eagerly.

I went silent for a good couple of seconds, feeling heat rise up my face at the thought of Sunjae.

"Not really," I lied through my teeth, avoiding her gaze and staring out through the window, "Maybe I will once I get to know them better."

Choi Yumi's Perspective

I heaved a sigh. Out of all places, why did I have to end up at m university field trip? I clearly remember it being a disaster. I was a drunken mess and the hangover made me the sickest I had ever been in my life. And this trip was the beginning of four torture-filled years of law school that I loathed. My gaze fell on my neatly folded jacket in my lap. I traced the embroidery that read "Yeonseo University" mindlessly when I noticed the department written below it.

Practical Music

I had to bite back the gasp that nearly escaped my mouth when I realized what it said. How did it suddenly become Practical Music of all things? I had never been so perplexed in my life. Something in the time travel had altered my reality and now I was a Music major. For a moment, it felt like liberation. Like someone had given me the keys to freedom and to happiness. This was my escape. My path to fulfilment. I remembered my lifelong love for music. How I started listening to Eclipse because of it... and now I was here again. Time travelling for the last time, hoping to bring Taesung out of his misery.

I looked around as discretely as I could, scanning the sea of orange-clad freshman and seniors, only looking for a certain someone. The moment I saw his bright smile, my heart threatened to jump out of my chest. My happiness knew no bounds, seeing him laugh with the Eclipse members.

It was undoubtable, my love for Taesung and for music were always intertwined. It was fate all along. Perhaps I had a chance. How silly it was that his beautiful smile was enough to turn me into this foolish optimist? 

Everything reminded me of my mother. How she spent hours in the front yard with her cup of coffee and biscuits writing lyrics endlessly. The various times she would read out poetry to me were all so vivid in my mind. They played in front of my eyes like flashbacks of an old movie tape that was so worn out from watching over and over again. For a moment, I felt contended. That maybe she was watching over me from heaven, feeling proud that I was-perhaps, fulfilling her dream that she couldn't.  

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nana's notes: i'm SO excited for this part of the story. you guys aren't ready🤭

delphi's notes: yumi's confusion is so funny lmfao she's always so lost

next chapter: saturday list of chapters here!

TOWARDS YOU

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TOWARDS YOU ─ lovely runner.

❛ i might not get up, i might stay down bad ❜

jang wonyoung as choi eunyoung

❛ have i known you twenty seconds or twenty years? ❜

byeon wooseok as ryu sunjae

❛ you are a gift, given by the sky ❜

kim minji as choi yumi

❛ without ever touching his skin, how can i be guilty as sin? ❜

song geonhee as kim taesung

❛ don't forget to kiss me, or else you'll have to miss me ❜

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nayoung's notes: delphi and i went through so much watching this show lmfao. i just wanted her to watch this show because i thought she would like the plotline but she became so obsessed and convinced me to write another fic with her. i'm thrilled with how TOWARDS YOU unfolded. i hope you enjoy reading this as much we(I) enjoyed writing it! also, sorry if we scammed you lmfao new chapters ever friday and saturday!

delphini's notes: to be completely honest, this show was a wild ride for me and I didn't expect us to come as far as we have but well; sit back and enjoy the show. ;)

chapter list here

@the-one-and-only-delphi

♡　　⁺　as long as i'm here, no one can hurt you ˖　 (´-﹏-`) 🍊

like the moodboard? it's a teaser for an upcoming fanfic! make sure u follow me and stay tuned! thank you, bye!! <33

oc by @the-one-and-only-delphi

xxiii. whispers in the dark

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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE ─ whispers in the dark.

❛ and i should get a ciggarette for so much restraint ❜

Kim Taesung's Perspective

For a few moments after Yumi left, I found myself staring blankly at the door. I too was shocked at the fact that I offered to teach her guitar. Did I have that much restraint? And that too, at my house? I couldn't stop thinking of her and it drove me nuts. Tonight, she looked stunning. She had always been pretty, but today? She took my breath away. Her hair framed her face in a way that seemed so effortless, like a masterpiece painted with the dim light bulbs that lit up my living room.

I couldn't shake off the conversation that I had with Inhyuk in the kitchen. He said Yumi was the one who planned everything, and then slapped my shoulder playfully. Was it really the case? Or was he just teasing me? I had so many questioned swirling around my head, and I couldn't make sense of any of them.

I suddenly remembered that she got me a gift. It really wasn't a big deal, I tried to tell myself. Everyone got me gifts. But desire to see what she got me devoured me whole and I found myself inching towards the dark blue paper bag that sat on the table, which seemed to be calling out to me, waiting to be opened.

I sensed some hesitation as my hand reached inside it, pulling out a box—that seemed rather heavy for its size. My heart pounded in my ears as my fingers brushed against the smooth, velvety surface. A chill ran down my spine as my eyes landed on the label.

It was a perfume.

The delicate glass bottle shimmered in the dim light, its contents a mystery waiting to be unveiled. A wave of emotions crashed over me—surprise, confusion, and a strange sense of anticipation. How did she know? Had she been paying attention to my preferences, or was this a random act of kindness?

With a shaking hand, I lifted the box lid, revealing a delicate glass bottle. It was a simple rectangular bottle, yet its cold surface sent shivers down my spine. A clear blue liquid swirled within it. My hand reached for the bottle cap, unscrewing it with a newfound gentleness in my hands. I lifted the bottle up to my nose, inhaling the scent.

Unlike anything I'd expected, the fragrance was a captivating paradox. Woody notes, reminiscent of sun-warmed cedarwood, formed the base, grounding the scent with a sense of strength and earthiness. But then, a wave of unexpected freshness washed over it. A hint of salt air hit my nose, and I could practically feel the ocean breeze. It was the scent of a tropical beach after summer rain, where the heat had coaxed out the earthy aromas of the forest floor while leaving the air fresh and alive.

What does this mean?

Choi Eunyoung's Perspective

My mom had come into my room about half an hour ago, bidding me good night. I too, had tucked myself into my warm, comfy bed, when the realization that Yumi wasn't home hit me like a speeding truck on an expressway. An uneasy feeling washed over me, as all my drowsiness was drowned out by worry and concern. Ever since then, I've been sitting on the kitchen platform, staring out the little square window that looked down on the street.

I remember the day I first met Yumi. It was one of my most vivid memories as a child when my age was just a single digit. I don't remember a lot of things from when I was that little but that day was fresh in my mind as if it happened yesterday. I had heard a loud wailing sound from the sand pit in the park and found Yumi crying because all the other kids had sand toys except her. I remember chuckling and offering my toys, telling her to stop crying. I never knew that she would become such a significant part of my life.

When Yumi had been working at the law firm, I watched the spark slowly disappear from her eyes each evening she reached home. The vibrant young woman I knew was slowly fading away, slipping from my reach, replaced by a weary stranger burdened by unseen woes. My heart ached for her, but my attempts to reach out were met with a wall of silence. Whenever I brought up the subject of her job, a guarded look would cloud her features, and the conversation would hit a dead end. It was as if her feelings were locked in a vault, and she'd thrown away the key.

That's why, when I spotted her- practically skipping down the street, my lips stretched into a huge grin. I hadn't seen her smile like that in ages. It was as if someone had flipped a switch within her, igniting a forgotten light that had been buried beneath the weight of her burdens. The world, usually cast in a dull, dreary filter, seemed to come alive again. Even the streetlights, normally harsh and flickering, seemed to dim in reverence, their feeble glow overshadowed by the radiance emanating from Yumi.

Instead of letting myself ponder on the reasons for her newfound joy, I let myself appreciate the happiness radiating off her. Though we weren't related by blood, our bond was as strong as that of real sisters. I wanted her to keep smiling like that for the rest of time. 

As I heard her footsteps making their way to the front door, I leaped off the platform and bolted to my room, switching off the lights in a frenzy. I stumbled on my way, not being able to differentiate a lamp from a clothing rack thanks to the fact that I was sitting like a ghost in the darkness. Aside from the fact that I would have knocked the living daylight out of her, it would have been pretty difficult to explain why I was awake at that ungodly hour. I lay in my bed- that somehow felt warmer than before, and let myself fall into a slumber as the smile never left my lips.

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nana's notes: the header turned out so cute (*^_^*)

delphi's notes: taesung entering his loser era

next chapter: saturday list of chapters here!

here's a hot take: how about you actually study instead of watching gilmore girls?

just know that this is completely self-directed thank you very much