You Make Me | Lee Eunhyuk

21

Jiwon sat gravely on the living room couch cushions, Jihoon's dishevelled head resting in her lap, her fingers carefully threading through his hair. After a marathon of online gaming, the boy had given in to the embrace of slumber, and Jiwon, in this rare moment of calm, became lost in the sight of his beautiful repose. Beyond the windows, the sun was slowly setting, painting the sky in orange and pink colours, a stunning scene that contrasted with the deepening silence that settled over the mansion as its people retired to their individual rooms.

Jiwon dared to believe in this quiet silence that she had discovered the illusive serenity she had sought her entire life. In her childhood, she had focused her unwavering attention on learning Hapkido in an attempt to bridge the breach created by her family's tragedies. Despite her accomplishments, the emptiness in her heart remained unfilled. That vacuum appeared to recede for a minute now, with Jihoon held on her lap and a semblance of peace saturating their surroundings. Her lips curved into a faint grin, and the tendrils of contentment tightened their grasp on her heart.

But there was a gnawing ache underneath the flimsy veneer of joy, an unpleasant sense that warned of coming doom. Jiwon's fingers remained steady in Jihoon's hair as her eyes shifted to the window, her mind a whirlwind of unsaid anxieties. What if this little reprieve turned to dust at her touch?

The discomfort within her became more as the minutes passed, demanding recognition. It was an unavoidable reality that she couldn't deny. Jihoon's sleepy murmurs signalled the end of his rest, and her family's appearance in the living room felt almost choreographed as if the cosmos was conspiring to address the conflict seething under the surface.

"Jiwon," Jihoon's voice, tinged with sleep, cut through the stillness. "Why are you so restless? Is there somewhere you need to be?"

Her words became stuck in her mouth as she was caught by surprise, leaving her defenceless and mute. How had Jihoon sensed her deep turmoil? A shudder ran down her spine, foreshadowing imminent problems. She reached out a delicate hand to caress Jihoon's cheek with a compassion that seemed to transcend words. Her vision was obscured by tears, and her speech came out as a frail whisper.

"Yes, Jihoonie," she said, her voice trembling. "I have to go now. But always remember, I love you, and I will never forget you."

Jihoon's eyes flashed with confusion, an unsaid question hovering between them. His little heart struggled to absorb the weight of her imminent departure as he leaned into her contact, seeking refuge inside her palm.

Jiwon removed herself from Jihoon, a bittersweet pain of grief already tugging at her heart. The road ahead of her went to her parents, individuals from whom she had formerly sought approval and acceptance. She could feel the weight of their uncertainty as she stood in front of them, a tangled web of unsaid emotions stretched between them.

"I love you, Mom. I love you, Dad," she uttered, her words resonating with profound sincerity. Their perplexed gazes met hers, and with a sense of urgency, she stepped into their embrace, seeking to bridge the gaps that had long festered within their relationships.

"We love you too, Jiwon," they murmured, their words mired in puzzlement.

Jiwon pulled herself from their grasp with cautious steps, her heart heavy with the weight of whispered frustrations. Her attention was drawn to her other brother, Jaeheon, who was enthralled by the brightness of the screen, blissfully oblivious to the emotions raging behind him. As she neared him, a tidal surge of emotions enveloped her.

Jiwon encircled him, her arms wrapping him in a grateful and sorrowful embrace. His warmth radiated against her, a haven in which she had taken safety time and again. Her voice trembled as tears streaked her cheeks and she emptied her emotions into words long kept unsaid.