Chapter 25: My Hero (1)

Chapter 25: My Hero (1)

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: 4/week

Illustrations: Here

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Song Soo-yeon had fled to Jung-gyeom's studio apartment.

She hadn't even considered going anywhere else.

She needed to be in a place where Jung-gyeom could find her.

She had to wait for him here.

Sitting in the dark, leaning against the bedside, she hugged her knees to her chest.

It wasn't her intention to look pitiful, but she had no desire to change her current state.

If Jung-gyeom walked in, he would see her in this pathetic state.

Then, he would comfort her more.

.............

She checked the time.

It was already past 3 a.m.

Snow was falling outside, and the fierce wind was howling.

......Jung-gyeom hadn't arrived yet.

Song Soo-yeon tapped the floor with her fingernails.

...........

She knew it was a waiting game, but she was anxious.

She feared this might be the end.

If he grew tired of her and finally let go.

If they truly became strangers.

.........Just the thought made Song Soo-yeon's heart twist painfully.

She didn't understand why she felt this way.

Perhaps it was because he was her only ally.

....sigh....sigh...

She clenched her hair.

Pushing away the anxiety.

She knew he would come back.

Because he loved her.

She was always the one who spoke harshly, who got angry.

He was always the one who yielded, who suffered.

It wouldn't change this time.

4 a.m. approaches.

Still, Jung-gyeom hadn't come.

The graduation ceremony was only a few hours away.

Despite eagerly awaiting this moment, Song Soo-yeon couldn't care less about the graduation now.

Sitting in the same position, her back ached, her legs were numb, and she was trembling from the cold.

But she didnt change her miserable posture.

Song Soo-yeon had never tried to look pitiful to anyone before... but now, she couldnt let go of it.

When he opened the door, she didn't want to be seen cozily tucked into the blanket.

She could really give it all back.

Changing homes was fine.

Not taking a single dime was okay.

She just didn't want to distance herself from the restaurant......and from him.

---

---

5 a.m.

Overwhelmed by doubts and unbearable anxiety, Song Soo-yeon turned on her phone.

She debated hundreds of times whether to text Jung-gyeom.

Suppressing her feelings again, she opened the gallery.

She meticulously went through the hundreds of photos of Jung-gyeom.

Photos that would have made her smile under normal circumstances now only felt distant.

She gazed at the most recent photo.

Unlike the others, it was a special one.

A photo of her and him, laughing together.

Song Soo-yeon couldnt take her eyes off that picture.

---

---

Morning came.

I had thought it over all night.

Was I too hasty?

Leaving the restaurant aside, I didn't expect her to cry like that.

Considering our past conversations, it didn't seem like she was crying because she didn't want to part with me.

It was probably the fear of leaving the restaurant and stepping into society that made her so.

Everywhere else had been hostile to her.

".....Haah."

But setting aside the effort to understand her feelings, my own heart ached.

I'll never see her again.

Could there be anything colder than that?

I had thought we had built memories and affection, but to her, was it something she could easily discard?

I kept telling myself not to expect anything in return, but when it came down to it, I did have expectations.

The chatter around her went unnoticed.

She kept feeling the urge to grab her phone.

Really....he really didnt come?

Everyone, congratulations on your graduation. I hope you all bloom into unique and wonderful flowers.

The principals speech ended.

As everyone stood up and saluted, a thunderous applause erupted.

One by one, the students got up and greeted their approaching parents.

The field quickly became bustling and noisy.

And in the midst of it all, Song Soo-yeon, still unable to grasp the situation, stood alone, motionless.

......

A piercing loneliness, unlike anything she had experienced before, enveloped her.

She realized anew how alone she had been.

Before him, she had never properly understood loneliness.

Having never had someone by her side, she had never fully realized that emotion.

Even if she did, it was at a level that could be forgotten with other thoughts.

But now it was different.

After feeling warmth, his absence made the fall feel even more severe.

Song Soo-yeon looked around.

Smiles and laughter were everywhere.

She felt utterly isolated.

It felt like the string holding her back had snapped.

She couldnt bear it any longer.

She had to go see him.

Song Soo-yeon quickly turned to leave the place.

....Soo-yeon.

Until she heard a voice.

Song Soo-yeon instantly turned towards the direction of the sound.

There stood Jung-gyeom.

He was neatly dressed, holding a large bouquet in his hand.

His expression bore signs of fatigue.

The moment she saw him, she knew.

He too had worried.

And realizing that, Song Soo-yeon felt a great sense of relief.

She wasnt the only one agonizing.

He walked up to her slowly, smiling, and handed her the flowers.

Only then did she feel like everyone else.

She was no longer the lone outsider.

.....Congratulations on your graduation.

His smile was subtly different from usual.

Tinged with yesterdays emotions, it wasnt the pure smile she loved.

She had to hold back her tears from bursting forth.

She felt overwhelmed.

The feeling of relief was fleeting, and soon a sense of resentment exploded.

It was always like this with him.

With others, she couldnt truly feel any emotions.

But with him, she became excessively childish.

She just couldn't keep her composure.

She would be happy over trivial things, and sulk over trivial things.

It was the same now.

Her emotions were amplified as if they were in a magnifier, ready to burst.

Why did he come only now?

Couldnt he have come a bit earlier?

She had waited for him through the night.

Why didnt he come?

Why did he do that, if he liked her?

Song Soo-yeon couldnt react and just glared at him.

She felt like she would start crying if she moved.

....Please take the flowers. Haha.

........

......Im sorry. I was too hasty.

Song Soo-yeon turned away from him.

It was to hide her face, which seemed about to crumble with tears.

It was also to show that she was upset with him.

She couldnt let it go so easily.

She couldnt just crumble and surrender to a mere apology.

That would... reveal that she had been waiting too.

No.

That wasnt it.

She had to make it clear this time.

She needed to teach him a lesson to ensure this wouldnt happen again.

She had to make him not push her away again.

If she let him off too easily, he might do the same thing next time.

....Get lost, damn it.

She said.