THE PRINCE (Ryeji fanfiction)

CHAPTER 22

Ryu locks himself in Yuna's room for almost three weeks. no one dares to see him or even knock at the door. He even can't bear the thought of taking care of her funeral. His team worked on that with the help of his mother. The plan is that the funeral will be held in two days from today.

Yeji, Chaeryeong, and Jeong heard the news. Wonpil told them that Ryu is still locking himself up. nobody knows what he's doing in there or how he's doing. Though Ryu didn't want to come out, the three still visits to keep themselves updated, to let him know that they still care.

"thank you for coming... again." Nayeon said to them. "I have no other way to get him to come out."

"can I try?" Yeji offered herself.

"well, sure." Nayeon sighs. "he has no one close to him. maybe you can move him."

Yeji excuses herself. She takes a deep breath, slowly walking upstairs. approaching the locked door, she slowly raises her hand. The fact that she's been here, doing the same thing, make her doubt herself. She gently knocks on the wooden door a few times.

"Yuna?"

Yeji can hear him vaguely. She sighs, knowing that he's still haunted.

"go. Whoever you are."

Yeji heard his cracked voice in the end. It breaks her heart knowing Ryu's conditions.

"Ryu..." Yeji called out softly. "you have to eat."

Then, no answer from him. Yeji leans on the door. She looks around and noticed a tray, guessing that it's his food tray. 'so he still eat.', she thought. That's one good news.

"Ryujin." Yeji tried again.

"please, leave me alone."

Yeji then sits down, leaning against the door.

"I won't leave. Not until I can see you." Yeji said. She's dying to see him. dying to take care of him. she make herself comfortable, sitting still in front of the door. She will wait until he comes out.

-

"miss." A maid woke her up. "here's the food for you and Mr. Shin." She smiles at her, lowering the tray on the floor beside Yeji, then take the last tray.

"thank you." Yeji returns the smile. She then waits for him again.

Not long after that, Yeji got startled by an open door behind her.

"here's your food." Yeji looks up. before Yeji can stand up, Ryu pushes the door. "wait." Yeji's hand stays on the door, preventing it to shut. "you're not gonna eat?"

Ryu keeps pushing the door. He refused to see anyone literally. This is the first time he made contact with someone.

"go." Ryu said with a weak voice. He keeps his eyes on the floor.

Yeji take the tray and shoves it towards him. she takes a step forward one at a time. her eyes stays on Ryu.

Ryu knows that he doesn't have the guts to push her away. He steps back unsurely, finally letting Yeji into the messy room.

Yeji can feel the anger of Ryu just by looking at the condition of the bedroom. Everything is on the floor. From painting equipment to lamps and bedsheet. She needs to be slow at this. despite the messy environment, she managed to get to the bed. She placed the tray on the bed and pats the space in front of her.

"sit down."

Ryu is still standing before the door. Feeling defeated, he walks over to her, sitting legs crossed across her.

"it's okay. I won't be talking to you. just eat." Yeji pressed a smile. She then starts eating. Noticing that Ryu looks skinnier, she adds more to his plate from hers. "eat well."

Ryu slowly starts eating, still silent. Yeji couldn't care less about Ryu's condition. She's still happy to be with him even in silence like this, though, she find it hard to bear with it.

"alright fine." Yeji drops her utensils. "I can't take this. I wanna talk."

Ryu ignores her. instead, he just looks up for some seconds before looking back at his tray and continues eating slowly. His only hope right now is that Yuna is supposed to be here instead of Yeji.

"you don't have to respond to me." Yeji slowly placed her hand on Ryu's knee. "just to let you know, you can come out anytime. Me, Chae, and Jeong will wait for you. remember that we're here. We exist." Yeji smiles, caressing his knee with her thumb before focusing back on her meal.

Soon after that, Ryu stops eating. There's not much food left on his plate but he's already full.

"you're not gonna finish it?" Yeji asked, watching Ryu setting the plate on the not so clean nightstand.

Ryu ignores her again. He rolls to the other side of the bed, covering himself with a blanket up until his neck. He turns his back on Yeji.

"you haven't drink yet." Yeji tapped his shoulder. Almost giving up, she stands up and clean up the plates. She walks out to bring the tray outside but when she comes back, the door is already locked.

Yeji sighs. She decided to just go home after that.