Her Distraction || Kang Sae-Byeok

chapter 21

My vision went fuzzy and black and the floor swayed beneath me. I couldn't hear anything anymore. The last thing I saw before the darkness consumed me completely was Sae-Byeok running towards me.

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I wake up and notice that I'm lying on a bed. My bed.

The memories of what happened before I fainted slowly kick in.

Oh, no. No, no, no.

I see someone lying beside me but don't understand who it is.

— Ji-yeong?

— No, it's me, Sae, she says turning around. Ji-yeong is..gone. I'm so sorry, Y/n.

Tears begin spilling on my face and I can't seem to be able to stop them. Why? I don't want Sae-Byeok to see me crying.

I quickly turn around to hide my pained face, but she grabs my shoulders and turns me back. And now I'm facing her.

— Hey, look at me. It's not bad to cry. In fact I think it makes a person stronger. Y/n, love, look at-

— Love?

— Oh. No, it's not like that. I.. That kinda slipped out, you know? she says awkwardly.

— Okay?

I decide to ignore what she said because it was not the right moment to think about it.

— Please don't look away from me, she says. I know that you're in pain right now, I know, she says gently stroking my back. But think about what Ji-yeong would have wanted. I don't think she'd want you to cry and suffer right now.

„ But you could at least spend the time you have left with her. Hug her, kiss her, spend more time with her. Don't push your feelings down."

She wanted me to spend the time I have left with Sae-Byeok. She wanted me to be happy. She wanted me to win this game.

— Say, Sae, do you think we could go somewhere more.. private? I want to talk to you about something.

— I also want to talk to you about something. The only place where we could talk about this without anyone disturbing us would be the bathroom, but those motherfuckers won't let us go, she says.

— Come with me, I'll handle this, I say.

We stand up and I start talking to a guard.

— We need to go to the bathroom, I say.

No reaction.

— I have a problem, I say. I'm on my.. period. You have to let us go, please.

After talking and talking to him he finally gives up and allows us to go.

I close the door behind us. My heart started beating really fast as I turned around and my heartbeat seemed way too loud in my ears.

— Y/n, look.. I've been thinking about you so much lately.

It started beating faster. Faster. Faster.

— And I'm scared that this will ruin our friendship, I truly am. But I can't stand not telling you about my feelings anymore.

I felt my cheeks flush.

— You make me feel... you make me feel. Something. Something I've never felt before... Love.

My heart pounds more and more and more.

— Y/n, I'm not good with words, especially since I've never been in love with someone, but you get what I'm saying, right? she asks.

I nod.

— So.. what do you say? she asks.

— Sae, I love you too.

She looks at me shocked.

— Why do you look so shocked? Of course I'm in love with you too, Sae. How could I not be? You're.. everything to me right now. The only person I have left.

She smiles at me. That goddamn smile. I walk closer to her and wrap my hand around her waist. I place my other hand upon her cheek, caressing it with my thumb.

There we are, staring in each other's eyes and I want to taste her lips so badly so I close the gap between us.

Sae-Byeok responded passionately, returning my kiss eagerly.

I pull away, gasping for air, but her grip on my waist tightens.

— Wait, don't pull away... Not yet, she says.

She kisses me again and there's a loud knock on the door.

I pull away again, taking Sae's hand.

— We have to go now. We can continue this later, I say smiling.