Midnight Tales | ✔

14

Jaehyun

Soyoung woke up during the afternoon. I was in the living room, cleaning things up when she went down from the second floor. I turned to her.

"Soyoung—"

But she ignored me and proceeded to the kitchen and then out to the back porch. I quickly went to the kitchen and took out the porridge I made for her and followed her. I found her sitting on the steps, staring at the lawn, arms on her folded knees. I went over to her and sat beside her, leaving a good distance by putting the bowl of porridge in the space between us.

"You should eat, you missed lunch"

Without saying anything, she reached for the bowl and the spoon and started eating in silence. I just stayed there with her until she finished and put the empty bowl in the space between us again.

"Min Seok" she breathed. "H-How did he die?"

"It was a silent one. The doctor said that he died during his sleep"

"Was he alone?"

I shook my head. "No, he was with my grandma"

She smiled. "What a relief. He was not alone, he was—" her voice broke as she clutched her chest. A tear fell then followed by another until she was sobbing uncontrollably. "It's a relief, he was not alone" she cried.

I couldn't do anything but listen to her cries. Did Soyoung wait for his return? How long was she waiting?

I stayed there for hours and let Soyoung grieve for my grandfather. I waited until she has finally calmed. The surroundings were already filled with afternoon golden light when she finally spoke again.

"I'm sorry"

"It's okay"

Soyoung turned to the sky and smiled. "Min Seok and I spent the last day here too. We were talking about who should cook for dinner the next time he visits. Little did I know it was his last"

She turned to me. "Thanks, Jaehyun for enduring my ugly cry"

I chuckled at her statement.

She frowned. "Am I really ugly when I cry?"

I shook my head at her then reached for the porridge bowl on the floor and stood up. "Come on," I said and offered out my hand to help her stand up.

Soyoung turned to my hand and stare at it for a second then took it. I quickly pulled her up.

"You already cried enough I'm sure he heard it all up there"

And for the first time since we met, Soyoung laughed. Genuinely laughed.

I can't help but smile at her. "Laugh Soyoung, happiness looks good on you"