EIGHTEEN || 2YEON

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Nayeon's POV

"I'll let you have my life but not Nayeon." I heard Jeongyeon said. I heard every single word he said. Every word he said hits me hard and gave me goosebumps all over my body. My knees feels so weak right now that had Jihyo held my arms so I won't fall. Jeongyeon's gaze went to me. His eyes. It's telling it all.

"Jeong." I whispered when he passed me but he didn't stop.

"Jeongyeon! Yoo Jeongyeon!" I called out to him but he just ran away. Fuck it. I removed Jihyo's hands from me and ran after him.

"Yah! Unnie!" I heard Sana and Momo call me but I didn't mind them. I ran after Jeongyeon.

"Yoo Jeongyeon!" I yelled but he didn't stop from running away from me. I caught up with him and got the chance to hold his wrist. "Can you stop running!?" I said catching my breath.

"Nayeon, just go for now. What you heard was nothing. I was just-"

"Just what!? Damn Jeongyeon stop with your nonsense reasons! Why do you keep pushing me away!?" I asked angrily. I felt that my tears are already streaming down my cheeks.

"I'm scared Nayeon! I'm scared that I'm going to hurt you." Jeongyeon said. "I'm scared I'll hurt you again."

"Don't you see I'm already hurting!? What you're doing to us right now, it's just hurting me Jeong." I said biting my lips and trying to calm down but I just can't.

"You don't understand." He said avoiding my gaze

"Then make me understand!" I yelled again.

"I don't want to hurt you again okay!? I just want to protect you as much as I can. I just want you to be happy, can't I do that?" Jeongyeon said. But he makes me happy. "I don't know what'll happen to us but I'll bring you home to Yujin no matter what." I just slapped him.

"I hope that wakes some senses to you. You're the one who makes me happy but how can I do that when you're always like this to me? Why bring me home to Yujin when we can go home TOGETHER to Yujin." I said catching my breath. "I hope I could just easily forget you huh. For god damn 15 years Jeongyeon, you're still the one I love. Whenever I look at Yujin I can only think of you."

"Nayeon." Jeongyeon said my name but nothing else. He just sighed.

"Why can't my heart do what I want it to do? Why do I keep missing you?" I said and just looked down making my tears fall down on the ground. "I-I'll go. If you really don't want me anymore, I'll go." I added. I just can't bare this pain anymore. I was about to walk pass him when he pulled my wrist, making me turn around. Jeongyeon wrapped his right arm on my waist while his other hand scooped my head as he leaned in for a kiss.

I feel like the time stopped. Everything around us fell silent. All I can feel is the cold air hitting our skin and Jeongyeon's lips. Everything feels unreal. It feels like the first time I fell inlove with him, the first time I touched his hands, the first time we shared a kiss under the wide full moon. I closed my eyes as I wrapped my arms around his neck, slowly kissing him back. I tiptoed just to reach him more. I don't want to let go. I'm scared of letting him go again. Jeongyeon let go of the kiss to catch our breath. He rested his forehead on mine.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. I hugged him tightly burying my face on his chest. "I'm sorry if I made you feel like that. I tried, we tried. We fought for it, destiny was just testing us. I was scared that they'll hurt you but what I did just hurt you more."

"Even if you keep hurting me, I will still forgive you no matter what. I'm still missing you everyday and ever since you left me. You're my pain but also the one who keeps me safe. I would always come back to you. We can always try again. Together. Right?" I said still hugging me tightly.

"I just don't want you to take the risk and end up hurting because of me again. You don't know how much I regret letting you go. I hated myself for being weak and not fighting for you but I just realized that I was being like that again." Jeongyeon said caressing my hair with his hand.

"I don't care if you'll leave me again once we come back but I just want you to be mine again." I said

"I'm already yours. I'm always yours. I'll never leave you again. I'll take all the risk with you. You made me realize that." Jeongyeon made me face him before continuing his sentence. "You're the risk that I'm willing to take." He said before kissing my fore head and wiping my tears.

"I l-love you." I said even if the uncertainty of him saying it back I still said it.

"I loved you. I love you and I will always love you." He said making me smile and cry again. "Don't cry. Let's go." Jeongyeon said as he lets go of the hug and holding my hand.

"Wait where are we going?" I asked as he pulls me further into the forest.

"Trust me." He said and looked back while smiling. It was scary since it's very dark and we're in the forest. I just let him pull me until I saw the lake ahead us. Jeongyeon pulled me towards there as I saw a boat. He let go of my hand as he rides the boat, getting the paddle from under it.

"I'm not riding that." I said. First of all I'm scared that something might come out if the water and pull us in. Second I don't know how to swim if ever the boat tips over.

"Scaredy cat. I'll leave you here." Jeongyeon said. I had no choice and join him there. I sat across him as he paddles to get us in the middle of the river. I was gripping tightly on the sides of the boat. "Hey, don't worry, I'm here." With those words I felt comfortable and safe. He sat down and moved closer to me.

"It's beautiful here." I said. You can see the lights from the camp and the moon gives us enough light.

"Very beautiful." Jeongyeon said that made me look at him. He reached for my hands and held it in between his. It was cold so he handed me his jacket.

"Thank you." I smiled. A sudden thought came to my mind that made me nervous.

"What's wrong?" Jeongyeon asked and held my face.

"I just thought of something." I said honestly. He just hummed waiting for me to continue. "What if this is the mission. Being with you again. What if tomorrow we'll be back? Will I still have you?"

"Listen, if ever we get back there tomorrow shouldn't you be happy? You'll see Yujin again." Jeongyeon said but I didn't answer him. "Look Nay, you will always have me. I'll come to you no matter what so don't worry." He added making me nod.

"You promise? You'll come to us if we go back?" I asked

"Yes I promise." Jeongyeon said and kissed my hand. "Let's go back. You're getting cold and the others might be looking for us." We went back to the camp site and there were only a few students outside. Most of them are on their tents already. Jeongyeon walked me to my tent.

"Goodnight." I said and kissed his cheeks.

"Goodnight hun, have a good sleep hmm." Jeongyeon said which made me blush because of the nickname. "You're so cute." He added and pinched my cheeks.

"Ouch that hurts. I know I'm cute. Go now." I said shooing him

"Okay Ms. Im! See you tomorrow!" He said before running towards their tent. I just shake my head at his silliness. I went inside the tent and saw the girls already sleeping. I quietly changed into my pajamas before laying down beside Jihyo and hugging her. She turned around and hugged me too.

"Goodnight unnie, we'll talk tomorrow." Jihyo said with her sleepy tone.

"Goodnight Hyo." I said before drifting off to sleep.