Stay With Me - Hwang Inyeop

Chapter 18: Her Pain

They arrived home with the sun about to set. Soomi hopes that Yumi and Chorong are already done preparing the surprise she asked Yumi. Even though they really need to restock food, it was just part of their plan to make sure In-yeop won't see their surprise. Soomi silently wishes that In-yeop won't get mad knowing that he doesn't want his birthday to be celebrated.

They went inside the house and placed what they bought in the kitchen. No one is around and Soomi secretly smiled knowing the reason why there are no people inside the house. In-yeop looks around when he noticed that Yumi and Chorong are nowhere to be found.

"They must be outside," Soomi said when she noticed the uneasiness of In-yeop. "Let's go check what they are doing," she said but to her dismay, In-yeop refused.

"They are just goofing around. Let them be," he said and walked to the living room but Soomi stopped her by his wrist.

"Uhm... Join me to watch the sunset?" She asked as she finds ways to make In-yeop go to the seashore. In-yeop mushed his eyebrows in the sudden request of the girl. That made Soomi panicked.

"Uhm... I was... Uhm... The sunset... It was beautiful. Didn't you see how beautiful the sunset is when we arrived?" She stuttered and she wishes she just dragged the guy with her to go to the seashore. In-yeop noticed Soomi's uneasiness so he grabbed her hand and stared at her.

"Let's go," he said which made Soomi smile. With their hands together, they walked towards the seashore. Soomi looks around and when she spotted Yumi and Chorong, she immediately walked backward to block In-yeop's view, still holding his hand.

"What are you doing?" In-yeop asked with his low voice.

"Nothing. I just want to see you as I walk," she said as an excuse.

"Walk properly. Come here," In-yeop said and pulled her to his side again. That is when In-yeop saw what the commotion is all about. However, the surprise Soomi was expecting is very different from what the two are doing.

"I told you to place the lights on that side!" Yumi shouted with irritation when Chorong placed the fairy lights where it was not supposed to be. In-yeop and Soomi stopped walking and stared at the two arguing.

"This is exactly where you told me to place it!" Chorong shouted back. The fairy lights were all over the place, balloons deflated, happy birthday sign still on the ground now covered with sand. In short, the surprise is a disaster.

"What are you doing?" In-yeop asked which made the two startled. Both of them tried to hide the things they are holding but it is too late to do that. In-yeop looked at the mess the two created then looked at the two again.

"You're back! You were quick," Yumi awkwardly chuckled. Yumi looked at Soomi and gave her an apologetic smile.

"Screw this! I'm not doing it anymore," Chorong said and threw the lights he is holding on the ground. "Happy Birthday, boss," Chorong greeted In-yeop with less emotion as he placed his hands in his pocket.

"Happy Birthday," Yumi followed and made a fake sound of excitement. In-yeop stared at them with a serious look on his face.

"I told you I don't want surprises, right?" In-yeop said in a serious tone of voice. Both Yumi and Chorong immediately pointed to Soomi for them not to experience the wrath of their leader. When In-yeop turned to Soomi, the girl just gave her an apologetic smile.

"This was all her idea, In-yeop. She wanted to make your day special on your birthday. She tried her best to make you forget all your worries when you were in the marketplace and asked us if we could set up this place to celebrate your birthday. However, we screwed up," Yumi chuckled. "She did all these for you."

In-yeop looked at Soomi who is now just staring at her hands clasped together. Even though he doesn't like the idea of surprising him, after knowing the efforts Soomi made just for him, he felt warmth in his heart realizing that all these commotions are for him.

"I'm sorry. I know how you disliked this idea but I liked to give it a try. I want to try making you happy," Soomi shyly said as she cannot find the courage to look at In-yeop.

"Let's just have bonfire again," In-yeop suddenly suggested to lighten up the mood. "We brought your favorite sausages," he said as he looked at Chorong then he looked at Yumi. "We also brought a lot of beer."

Both Yumi and Chorong looked at each other upon mentioning their favorites. They immediately left the things they were working on earlier and set up the bonfire by the seashore. Soomi followed the two to help set up the bonfire. When all is set, they sat on the blanket Soomi prepared for them to sit on. They started roasting the sausage and drink beer as they talk with each other.

"What was the bravest thing you did, Soomi?" Yumi asked as their conversation went to the experiences Yumi and Chorong had which almost costed their lives. All of them waited for her answer as she tries to think.

"Talking back to our boss when we first met?" Chorong helped her think. "Dang! You were so brave back then. If you were a guy, boss has already shot you right there and then." Chorong chuckled as he remembers their first encounter.

"That was not bravery," Soomi chuckled as well. "That was trying to survive." She glanced at In-yeop who is just staring at the fire once again in his deep thoughts.

"That was brave for me," Yumi butted in. "No one dared to talk back to this guy, not even once. We all have witnessed his rage so no one dared tried to make a mistake again." Yumi said which Chorong agreed with a nod.

Soomi smiled at them as they recall their days doing jobs they really never wanted to do. It makes her heart ache to see them all scarred not just physically but also emotionally.

"Staying sane when my mother died," Soomi said which made all of them look at her including In-yeop. "That was the bravest and smartest thing I did." When all fell silent, she continued.

"I tried killing myself several times after what happened," she hooked the neckline of her shirt and showed them the scar of a slit that she caused on her neck.

"However I tried, I still stayed alive," she chuckled at the thought but no one chuckled back. All felt the sentiment Soomi experienced, thinking that the girl also holds some dark pasts in her life.

"Then I thought that maybe the reason why I am still alive after trying to end my life several times is that my mother is watching over me, guiding me, protecting me. So I decided to stop being gloomy and went back to work," she stared at the fire in front of her, reflecting the flames of it as she remembered what Mr. Han did to her mother.

"I told myself that I will do everything to take that bastard down... Even it costs my life." All fell silent after Soomi's revelation. They all felt the determination in her voice and empathizes with what she feels.

"I'm sorry about that long speech," she said with her teary eyes and drank the remaining liquor in the can she's holding. She then grabbed another one and took a sip from it.