Chapter 195 - Compulsion

Although Lee Jinhee repeated those words inside of her mind, she could not calm her heart down. At this moment, she felt extremely possessive over Han Taehyun, and Jinhee was starting to hate it.

Memories from her last life flooded into Jinhee's mind. Jinhee recalled how Taehyun left her to make new friendships with others and barely spared her any time. Jinhee did not want that to happen in this life of hers.

Tears stung her eyes, and Jinhee tried to gain control of them so that they stayed inside of her eyes. She could not bear to let them out or let Han Taehyun see her crying— that is if Taehyun glanced at her in the first place.

"Wow! Lee Jinhee, it looks like you're really abandoned. That Taehee has actually made some new friends and looks happy. Judging by how clingy she is, I thought she would stay the same way forever," Hyunbin voiced out.

Min Hyunbin's words made Jinhee lose control over her tears, thus before anyone could see them, Lee Jinhee immediately ran out of the classroom. Her shoulder bumped into Taehyun's before she ran away, causing Taehyun to turn back.

Running across the hallway, Jinhee felt a tear escape from her eyes. A sharp ache travelled through her heart, and she placed her hand over her chest in order to control her distressed emotions.

'Lee Jinhee, this is nothing. You're used to people abandoning you. What is so new about this?'

Lee Jinhee's head spun and she herself could not clearly see where she was headed towards. All Jinhee wanted was this pain she currently felt to stop.

More tears left her eyes, and as she dashed through the hallway, many eyes stared at her. Nonetheless, Lee Jinhee paid no attention to those eyes.

Her mind was all overflowing with thoughts of Han Taehyun. Han Taehyun had abandoned her, after all, in this life as well. This was not Taehyun's fault though. Maybe if Jinhee had acted sweeter and welcoming, Taehyun might have stayed. 

Then again, what benefits would Taehyun get by sticking beside her? Lee Jinhee barely held any value towards someone like Han Taehyun and her personality was not in any way likeable either.

Noticing the flight of stairs, Jinhee was about to go down them when a sharp pain went through her head causing her to lose her balance, Jinhee was about to trip down the stairs.

Just then, Jinhee felt a pair of arms securing her waist, and she was pulled up. Lee Jinhee's eyes widened, and a breath of relief left her mouth. Her heart palpitated rapidly in her chest.

That embrace— Lee Jinhee could identify whom it belonged to, and this shocked Jinhee. Nonetheless, being in those arms comforted Jinhee, and Jinhee made no effort to move away from them.

Lee Jinhee could feel Taehyun's heavy breathing and rapid heart beats. Taehyun's hands shivered as they held on to Jinhee tightly as if he was afraid Jinhee would sleep. To Jinhee, it almost seemed as if Taehyun was panicking.

'Why would Taehyun be panicking?'

"You're safe," Taehyun voiced out.

Jinhee voiced out no words and leaned against Taehyun's chest. More tears left her eyes. Han Taehyun had protected her this time around as well; Taehyun did not abandon her completely. The warmth that Taehyun's arms gave her could not be found anywhere else.

Taehyun took a step back, and turning Jinhee around, Taehyun stared at her face. His eyes showed how worried and scared he was at this moment. Lee Jinhee looked at Taehyun with tears glistening in her eyes.

Touching Jinhee's face and then her hands with his own trembling hands, relief spread across Taehyun's face. He smiled softly and pulled her into a tight hug. Jinhee did not wrap her hands around him.

"You're safe. You are really safe. You did not get injured. I am happy. I am really happy and relieved. I am relieved that you did not slip down those stairs. Jinhee-ah, I don't know what I would do without you," Taehyun voiced out.

'You're saying these words now. Why did you ignore me back there then? If I had done something wrong, just scold me or even yell at me. Please don't ignore me. I can't bear it.'

Lee Jinhee lacked the courage to voice those words out loud and her tears did not stop falling down her face. Lee Jinhee wanted for them to stop. However, her heart felt extremely heavy, and this was the only way for her to lighten her heart at this moment.

"Jinhee-ah, don't leave my side ever again. No, I won't allow you to leave me again. I am sorry. This is all my fault. I should not have tried to ignore you. I went too far. This is all my fault," Taehyun voiced out.

Raising her hands, Jinhee wrapped them around Han Taehyun. Jinhee had no idea why she did it. It was as if she had a compulsive urge to do so. Tightly gripping onto Taehyun's shirt, Jinhee mumbled, "Don't leave me."

°°°

As the both of them sat in one of the empty classrooms, Jinhee stared at the floor. The tears had stopped flowing out of Jinhee's eyes. Due to her crying, her headache further intensified.

Taehyun sat opposite to Jinhee, and his eyes scanned Jinhee. On his face sat a stern expression— holding a hint of concern— as he reprimanded, "Lee Jinhee, can you not be a little more aware of your situation? How many times do you have to slip on a regular basis? 

If I did not support you on time, you could have slipped down those stairs and ended up in the worst possible situation! Can't you watch your surroundings before you walk and why did you not take Shin Soyeon with you? Soyeon was assigned to be with you for a reason!"

Taehyun groaned and added, "I swear, Jinhee, I will get wrinkles from worrying about you."

Staring at Taehyun's eyes, Jinhee said, "Then, don't. No one told you to care. Just go to those new friends of yours. Even if I die, fall into a coma, or am paralyzed for life, how does that concern you? You might be sad for a few days, but soon enough, you will move on and make new friends. It's not like your life revolves around me and besides, everyone has to die one day."