Ji pyeong's POV
"Ah, who is that?" I sigh as water runs down my head from the shower. The doorbell rings. I wipe the residual soap out of my eye as the doorbell continues to ring.
"Jeez I can't shower in peace." I sigh as I wrap a towel loosely around my lower body.
"Coming. Coming." I say as I make my way to the door.
"Dal mi?!" I exclaim in shock as I see her standing at the door. I'm suddenly aware of how naked I am, standing before her.
Dal mi gasps and covers her eyes as the worst possible thing happens.
I exclaim loudly in horror as the loosely wrapped towel falls to the floor.
~
"You can open your eyes now." I say as I inch out to the living room, where Dal mi is. I made sure I was fully clothed this time.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were in the shower." Dal mi says shyly and I laugh softly.
"I thought you'd be celebrating with your team tonight?" I ask. Dal mi doesn't say a word. She reaches out and touches my forehead.
"That's weird..." She says.
"Why?" I ask.
"Dong cheon said you were on sick leave. But you don't look sick to me..." Dal mi says, puzzled.
"Ah, this Dong cheon...I'm going to kill him." I mutter under my breathe
"Ji pyeong," Dal mi asks me. "Are you feeling alright? Why weren't you at Demo Day today?" Her eyes search me.
I feel a heaviness weigh over my chest like a grey cloud.
"Dal mi ah," I start.
"Hmm?""Am I too harsh? Am I too critical when I give feedback?" I ask slowly. Dal mi pauses for a while and thinks.
"You asked me last time whether I wanted to hear facts or a future with hopes and dreams." Dal mi say. "I'd choose facts anytime."
"Why do you suddenly ask?" Dal mi says and moves closer to me.
I put my hands to my face, covering my face. There's a plethora of emotions that I can't understand... regret... denial... shame...
"Ji pyeong ah," Dal mi's tone softens when she realises that something is wrong. "What's wrong?" She asks, slowly drawing my hands away from my face.
Dal mi's POV
As I peel Ji Pyeong's hands away from his face, my heart shatters into a million pieces as I see his eyes puffy and red. He looks down with watery eyes.
"What's wrong, Ji Pyeong ah?" I ask more desperately now as I pull him closer to me.
"Dal mi..." His voice shakes. "I... I... killed someone." He says words that I can't believe.
"What? What do you mean?" I ask, horrified.
Ji pyeong breathes heavily.
"Someone killed himself... He committed suicide... because..." Ji pyeong can barely force out the words. "... because I told him his company would never succeed." Ji pyeong's voice cracks.
Ji pyeong's cheek rests against my shoulder and I hold him tightly as he shakes in my arms.
"It's not your fault." I say, feeling my own voice turn hoarse.
Each crack and cry in his voice is like a needle pricking my skin.
"It's not your fault." I comfort him. "You were just doing your job. You were just doing what they asked for. They asked you for your advice, they asked you for your opinion." I whisper.
I've always seen Ji pyeong as someone very calm and put together. He's like a rock, nothing could hit him, hurt him. But tonight, as I held him in my arms, I saw a new side of him. The part of him that can get hurt and injured. I try desperately to stand in between this soft side of him and all the harsh accusations that come hurtling at him like spears.
The grey clouds start to clear and a heavy sense of fatigue hovers over Ji pyeong. I watch him fall into a restless sleep on the couch. There's a hint of a frown in his forehead even as he sleeps tonight.
I sit on the floor, by the side the couch, stroking his hair and waking up every time he makes the slightest sound.
Eventually, his chest rises and falls at a steady state, telling me that he sleeps more peacefully.
I cover him with a blanket.
Lying on the floor, I look up at him.
I watch him sleep that night until weariness pulls me into unconsciousness.
YOU ARE READING
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