Another Chance At Love

Chapter 9: Breathe

Seri did not say anything to stop Jeong Hyeok from pulling her out of the rain. Her fatigue because of all the pain she was feeling just consumed all of her strength. She let him gently drag her to her room and the next thing she knew, she's already at her door.

"Don't mind me and don't be embarrassed. It's okay. I'll be here whenever you need to breathe. Don't forget to get a shower and change your clothes, okay?" Jeong Hyeok made sure to remind her to wash up since he thought she might go straight to bed because her feelings may use up all of her attention.

"Thank you," was all Seri could say as she quickly went to her room and closed the door. Jeong Hyeok made sure she went inside safely and did what she needed to do so he stayed outside her room for a few minutes and sensed what's happening inside. It eased his worries and went to his room when he heard a door shutting inside. He was now certain that it was her bathroom door.

Seri didn't forget what Jeong Hyeok reminded her to do. She took a shower and got changed before lying on her bed. She thought she could easily sleep because of an exhausting night, but she was wrong.

She was having a hard time falling asleep as she rolled from her sides until she laid her back flat on the bed, "Ugh why can't I sleep? Why does it bother me?" She tried to stand up and do some stretches to tire her a bit. She tried laying down again to sleep, but to no avail, what's troubling her to sleep, kept on bothering her.

Seri gave up. She opened her eyes and admitted, "Why is my heart pounding like this? Why... why does his hug comfort me so much that I was... I was able to breathe again." Her eyes furrowed as she kept questioning what she's feeling, "I let him hug me despite not knowing him so much. But his hug... it felt like home. I can breathe just like before."

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In the other room, Jeong Hyeok also finished washing up and went straight to bed. But, just like Seri, he's also having a hard time going to sleep.

He switched his position around the bed, turned his pillow upside down, adjusted the room temperature and who knows how many more ways he did just to let himself enter dreamland. He sat up from his bed, annoyed. He put both of his hands on his face in frustration, "Let me sleep."

He tried standing up and walking around his room. He knew what's stressing him out. He knew what's running through his mind but kept on denying it. He knew he felt something because of that hug, "Why do I feel this way? You just hugged her because she needed it. You just hugged her because she needed a friend." He shook his head as both of his hands traveled to his hair and pulled it in irritation, "No, Ri Jeong Hyeok. You can't. You're not here for that."