"WAHRHEIT"
(TRUTH)
...
Germany — Late Afternoon
The wind was colder than Sooyoung expected. Germany in early spring still carried winter in its breath. She tightened her coat around herself, walking out of the clinic with her head lowered, her fingers clutching the folded envelope inside her bag.
She didn't see the person in front of her until—
Thud.
"I'm so—" Sooyoung bowed quickly.
Then she froze.
"...Sooyoung?"
That voice. Warm. Calm. Unmistakable.
She slowly lifted her head. Standing in front of her, eyes wide with disbelief, was Bae Joohyun. Her former high school teacher. Alice's close friend. The one person who always saw right through her.
"Joohyun...unnie?" Sooyoung whispered.
Joohyun stared at her for a long moment. Not shocked. Not angry. Concerned.
"You disappeared," Joohyun said quietly. "Exchange program, right?"
Sooyoung swallowed. She nodded.
Joohyun didn't nod back. Instead, her gaze dropped—to the faint hospital wristband peeking from Sooyoung's sleeve.
Silence.
"...That's not an exchange program wristband," Joohyun said softly. Sooyoung's breath hitched.
For weeks, she had perfected the lie. For months, she had smiled through video calls. For everyone — Sungjae, the gang, even Alice at first. But not Joohyun. Never Joohyun.
⸻
A Small Café Nearby
They sat in the corner. Sooyoung hadn't touched her tea. Joohyun didn't pressure her. She simply waited.
"You've lost weight," Joohyun said gently.
Sooyoung gave a small laugh. "German food isn't really my thing."
"Don't."
That single word broke her. Her fingers tightened around the cup.
"...When were you going to tell them?" Joohyun asked.
Sooyoung's lips trembled. "I wasn't."
Silence.
Then Joohyun's voice softened even more.
"What did the doctor say?"
That was it. The wall cracked. Sooyoung lowered her head.
YOU ARE READING
Red Dress | SUNGJOY
FanfictionPark Sooyoung is a 20 year old senior High School student in Seoul International High School. She was originally from Germany but moved back to Korea after her sister died from cancer. Sooyoung is a typically tomboyish girl who loves sports over mak...
