WHILE IT WAS RAINING

DOWN MEMORY LANE (52)

- ' You know those happy kids...always laughing and enjoying the little things in life? I was one of them..and my appa was the reason. When my eomma left us forever, I was merely a one day old newborn. She didn't survive after giving birth to me....and appa never really let me realize the blank space she left. He....he was everything to me...everything. '

Hoseok was hearing the girl with unbothered attention as Ara was going down her lane of memories. She was looking outside from the glass window of her room as the evening was slowly falling upon the city .

- ' But....what made you think that he hates you now? From your words, it seems like he's one of thr most wonderful fathers ever. '
Hoseok asked in a gentle voice . After Ara finally decided to open up , he realized now he can ask questions without hurting the girl or invading her personal space. Hearing his question, Ara sighed and slowly turned her head towards Hoseok
- ' Because... I did everything wrong Hobi. I... I... misunderstood him.... I was so hopeless and blind in love at that time.... I didn't even realize what I did until my every dreams shattered like broken glass. '

Her voice was trembling again...and though she was trying her best, still her eyes were glistening with tears. Hoseok slowly scooted towards her, and she did what she's been doing for the past few months - melting her worries and pain into the warmth of his embrace. She laid her head on his shoulder, hugging his arm closer to her.... and he laced their fingers together , slightly pressing her hand in an assuring way. This feeling, this is the only thing that made her feel safe....made her smile again. They does this like this is what they're supposed to do for their entire life.

- ' It all started in my high school days...when I fell in love with the the new boy from our class. He got it all that's needed to charm a teen girl - looks, grades, style....everything. In a few days, he was the most popular boy of the entire school and literally every girl wanted to be with him....so did I. And rejecting every other girls, he chose me. Yup, we started dating. His family owned a million dollars worth business....and he was the perfect definition of a spoiled brat, but I didn't see that then. When we were about to graduate from high school, I told my father about him. We've been together for almost a year then....and nothing seemed more perfect. But when I introduced them...appa lashed out. He told me for a thousand times that he's not meant for me...he's not a boy who can be trusted. That was the start of my conflict with my father. I was 18 then...and the conflict and disagreement grew so worse that I left home. '
- ' You what...? '

Hoseok was looking at the girl with wide eyes. He never thought the girl can be so desperate . Ara sighed and gave a tired smile , slowly meeting Hoseok's eyes
- ' I left my own home...my father...my family... my everything. '
- ' For....a guy?! '
- ' Now you understand just how reckless and devastating I am. Now you hate me....don't you?'
Ara asked looking straight into his eyes, but her gaze crushed Hosoek's heart. There was so much agony and pain in those eyes that maybe raining clouds will be tired to soothe the burning heart. In an instance, he pulled Ara closer into an embrace, wrapping her into his arms.
- ' I could never hate you Ara...never. Yeah , you made a mistake...but don't we all do that? At this rate, we'll soon end up hating everyone alongside with our own selves. Making mistakes are absolutely fine as long as you understand your faults....and I think you do that now, right? '
Ara just nodded her head which was now buried on Hoseok's chest, and from the wetness on his shirt, he could tell the girl was crying once again. He has never seen her this much broken ever....not even the day when he found her on the verge of ending her life.
- ' It's okay if you don't wanna continue today. We can do this tomorrow- '
- ' No no....no please...please hear me today. Maybe, tomorrow I'll lose the courage to tell everything. '
The girl was clutching his shirt tightly as Hoseok patted her back to calm her down a bit.
- ' Shhh...okay.....I'll hear it...but first, stop crying? I know you're way too much hurt...but Ara...you're crying for hours now. You'll get sick. Please....calm down....calm down a little... it's okay...nothing's wrong. '
- ' No no....everything is wrong...so wrong! After leaving appa, I never even contacted him, I was soo bad of a daughter. How can that be okay Hobi ? And...after all this, what I got in exchange? Exactly what I deserved. Betrayal... pain....suffering....loneliness. '
- ' What happened after you left home ? '
- ' Me and that...guy..we started living together. His father bought an apartment for us and we lived there. That time, I started writing professionally and earning. A part of me always longed for my appa...but I thought this is for the best maybe...and that was my biggest mistake. After trusting him blindly, he taught me a good lesson . '
- ' What did he do? '
- ' After an year...I started seeing some changes. He was getting rude, possesive and arrogant day by day. And when I talked about it, he became ....a....monster. He...he... '
Hoseok could feel the hesitation in her voice, so he gently whispered
- ' It's just me here Ara....no one else. But if you still don't wanna share, that is also okay. You don't have to feel uncomfortable, not around me. '
Ara snuggled more closer to Hoseok and her voice was merely audible
- ' He started...abusing me- '
- ' HE WHAT!? '
Hosoek lost all his composure upon hearing this and shouted so loud that Ara literally trembled in his embrace.
- ' You...what....how !? How can he ?! '
- ' I didn't know then..but after some days I found out he has been cheating on me for the entire time. He already had a girlfriend and she was the girl of a well known businessman... matching his status. He was always way out of my league but my dumb heart never really realized that. After discovering all this, I lashed out at him and wanted to move out .... but I actually forgot I have nowhere to go. And on top of that, he had already ceased my bank accounts. I was homeless....moneyless... familyless ...loveless at that point, and that's when I left him to end all of this for once and for all. That night.... I met you. '

After getting no answer, Ara raised her head to look up at the man , only to find his eyes shining with tears.
- ' Hobi - '
- ' It hurted..right? Where did he hurt you? Should we go and consult doctor? - '
- ' Hobi....it's nothing now....just a few scars. '
Smiling faintly, Ara slowly lifter the fabric of her tee shirt from her left arm, revealing a dark scar along with some scratches on her bicep.
- ' See?Other wounds are also like this. Nothing much. They healed in this past months. '
- ' But why you didn't tell me earlier?! I.... I could've treated this wounds... I coud've sued that bastard... I could've- '
- ' You've done everything that I don't even deserve. A girl like me deserves nothing but pain Hobi. This is my own deeds that dragged me here. And....you've healed the deepest wound Hobi.'
Ara said, pointing at her heart
- ' I wouldn't even be breathing now if you were not there that night. You're...my lifesaver... a literal angel.. a friend, a guide....and... a lot of other things to me that I could probably never be able to say in words.What more I could ask from you? '
Both were staring at each other with tears in their eyes, and Hosoek didn't even realize when he said it out loud
- ' You didn't even asked for my last breath, my life, my soul and my heart....and I gave you that already. You could ask for anything that I have Ara....and I would never thought before handing it over. What is life if not getting lost in these ocean eyes and honey voice? Nothing.... absolutely nothing. '

As the girl opened up about her past, Hoseok confessed his feelings unintentionally.

Now where will this lead them?

Keep reading to find out !

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