Ryeji - What is love?

Chapter 7 - Believe me

-Bring the tissues 😓 -

POV | Ryujin
That night, we went back to Seoul. On the car ride back, I stared at Yeji, "Yeddeong.." I tilted my head at her, "Yes, Ryuddaeng?" Yeji glanced at me. "Can you make a promise to me?" I kept looking at her. "Alright.." She kept her hands on the wheel, "C-can you always be there for me.. like whenever I need to cry or just let out my anger...?" I bit my lip. "Of course Ryuddaeng.." Yeji put her hand on my thigh, I put my hands on hers. "Thank you.." I got embarrassed and looked out the window. Soon we made it home and I immediately went to the bed, spreading out like a star. "Finally home.."

POV | Yeji
"Ryuddaeng, you hungry?" I walked in the bedroom. She shook her head. "Okay.." I sat down on the bed next to her. "Go get some food Yeji.. you can't just not eat.. I'm worrying about you.." Ryujin looked at me. "N-no.. it's fine.. I'm not hungry.." I lied. She got up and sat down in front of me, "Yeji.. I'll give you the money.. please eat.. I'm not just saying it's worrying me just to get you to eat, I'm saying it because I am really worrying about you.." I looked down, "I can't.. I'm not gonna use your money.." Ryujin held both of my hands, "Yeji.. I will do anything for you just to eat.." I looked at her, "Why do care so much?" Ryujin looked at me like I was stupid. "Yeji.. I am scared.. okay? When.." She let tears fall, I looked at her, being concerned, "Ryuddaeng it's okay.." She looked away, "When I was sixteen.. about two years ago.. m-my brother took his own life.." I gasped and hugged her, "I'm sorry Ryu.. b-but what does this have to do with me?" She began to speak, "Well.. he suffered depression.. and pain from not eating.. and.. yeah.. I don't know why he didn't choose to speak about it.. it hurt me.. a lot.. his name was Jonghyun.. I'm sure you've heard of him.. he was the best big brother in the world.. I lost everything when he was gone.. he taught me how to love myself.. he didn't even love his own self. It broke me Yeji.. then everybody started to call me a freak and I wanted to die. I really did.. so Yeji.. please don't ever leave me.. I don't want to suffer that again.. I want you to eat.." I widened my eyes, "W-wait.. Jonghyun was your brother?" She nodded and looked down, "The best one.." I looked down, "Ryujin I'm so sorry.. I didn't know that.. happened to you.. but I'm curious.. you don't want me to leave you?" I said in a soft tone. "Of course not.. y-you sorta brought life back to me.. I take it as a sign that Jonghyun is trying to bring to me. Yeji.. I haven't felt happy in two fucking years.." Ryujin placed her hand on my shoulder. "I-I.. wow.. don't make me cry." I felt a lump in my throat. I held my hands over my eyes. Ryujin whispered, "You're the only person I can trust.. so if you ever try to break me or spread these very personal things... I-I'll be gone.. and if you hurt yourself by not eating.. I'll be gone too so just do this for me.." I wiped my tears and looked at Ryujin, "I will.."

POV | Ryujin
"Okay.. I'll pay for anything you want.. just tell me.." I pulled out DoorDash on my phone and let her choose a restaurant. As soon as she picked something, I ordered it. "I-I'm gonna go freshen up." I went into the bathroom and tried to keep it together. I looked in the mirror, I saw Jonghyun looking at me. "Ryujin.. don't cry.. I love you.. and so does Yeji.. I promise that Yeji will never do anything like I did.." I reached out for him but then he was gone. I was now staring at myself. "Jonghyun!" I yelled at the mirror, "Come back!" I cried. I flinched when Yeji tapped my shoulder. I cried in her arms, "H-he's gone!"

POV | Yeji
My heart broke for her, I held close, "Ryujin, it's okay.. I know he's gone.. I'm here for you.. I'm here.." She kept crying. "He was here! Yeji, he was here!" I rubbed her back, "Oh Ryujin.." Tears fell down.. she was so desperate to have her brother back. She fell to her knees, looking up at me, "H-he was here.. I am not lying.." I kneeled down, wiping her tears and kissing her cheek. "I believe you.. but hon.. it's impossible for him to be.. uhm.. like me.." I didn't want to break her heart.

POV | Ryujin
My heart started to hurt.. I heard a knock on the door, I got up, running to the door to a pizza delivery man who looked just like my brother, "J-jonghyun!" Then Yeji came out, he disappeared. I was left speechless. "H-how did you get the pizza?" She looked at me weird. "Jonghyun!" I ran out, looking for him. "Jonghyun!" I was stopped by Yeji, "Ryu.. listen to me.. h-he's not here.." I felt broken. "B-but he was here.. I swear.. he told me that you loved me.." I turned around and looked at Yeji. She was speechless, "R-Ryujin.. I think it's just your imagination.. b-but I really do love you.." She stroked my hair. I looked down, "B-but how did I get this pizza then?!" I looked up at her. She didn't know what to say, "Ryujin.. let's go inside.. I'll eat later.. I lost my appetite.."  She picked me up, taking me inside, and putting me on the bed. She pulled me into a hug and intertwined her legs with mine. She felt so warm and cozy. I wrapped my arms around her, nuzzling my head into her neck, "I swear he was here.. somehow.." She held me tight, "If you say so.." Then I fell asleep in her arms.

-I'm crying 😭