Rivalry Rewritten: Enmity to Intimacy ( Volume: 2)

Eighteen

As they sat in San's living room, Wooyoung suddenly remembered that he hadn't eaten anything since he arrived. He turned to San and said awkwardly, "Hey, do you have anything to eat? I'm starving."

San looked at him and replied, "I can cook something for you. What would you like?"

Wooyoung wanted to say that he wanted to eat something specific, but he didn't want to seem picky. So, he just shrugged and said, "Anything is fine."

San nodded and headed to the kitchen while Wooyoung excused himself as he received a call from his best friend, Mingi.

"Hey Wooyoung, how's it going with San?" Mingi asked.

"It's good. We're just catching up," Wooyoung replied.

"Be careful with him, Wooyoung. I don't want you to go through the same shit you went through two years ago," Mingi warned.

Wooyoung sighed, remembering how distant he and San had become after San's engagement announcement. He didn't want to bring up the past, but he also didn't want to ignore it.

"I know, Mingi. But I don't have any hatred towards San anymore. In fact, I feel sorry for him. He lost his wife. I can't even imagine the pain he must have gone through," Wooyoung said in a friendly tone.

Mingi was surprised by Wooyoung's change of heart towards San. He didn't expect Wooyoung to want to reconnect with him after what happened.

"If that's what you feel, then go for it. Just be careful, okay? I don't want you to get hurt again," Mingi said, concern evident in his voice.

Wooyoung promised to be careful and hung up the call. As he went back to the living room, he found San setting up the table for two. He smiled at San and said, "It smells amazing in here."
San smiled back and replied, "I hope you like it. It's just a simple pasta dish."

As they sat down to eat, Wooyoung couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. He and San used to have dinner together almost every night. Those nights were filled with hope and optimism. But sadly, fate wasn't siding with them then. As they say:

" The right person, the wrong time
The right script, the wrong line
The right poem, the wrong rhyme
And a piece of you that was never mine."

San and Wooyoung were sitting on the couch in San’s living room, sipping on warm cups of tea. It was late in the evening and Wooyoung could barely keep his eyes open. San noticed that Wooyoung’s eyelids were drooping and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Wooyoung, are you sleepy?” San asked, taking a sip of his tea.
Wooyoung let out a small yawn and nodded his head. “Yeah, I am. I’ve been traveling non-stop for the past few days, I haven’t had a proper sleep.”

San could see the fatigue on Wooyoung’s face and he felt a pang of guilt. He knew that Wooyoung had flown back to Korea from Canada upon hearing the sad news of his wife’s demise. And now, he was sleep deprived because of all the traveling.

“Come on, let me show you to your room.” San said, standing up from the couch.

Wooyoung followed San to the guest room where he would be staying for the night. As they walked, Wooyoung couldn’t help but feel a sense of worry. He didn’t want to impose on San, especially during such a difficult time. He turned to San and asked, “Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay here? I don’t want to intrude.”

San stopped and looked at Wooyoung with a warm smile. “Don’t worry about it, Wooyoung. You’re always welcome here. Besides, I need some company.”

Wooyoung smiled gratefully at San’s words. He knew that San was going through a tough time, yet he was still concerned about his comfort.

As they entered the room, Wooyoung noticed a small crib in the corner. “Is that for Jiwoo?” He asked, pointing to the crib.

San nodded, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Yes, Hyejin and I bought many things for Jiwoo when we found we were to have her. We bought clothes, toys and diapers and many other things too."

Wooyoung felt a lump form in his throat. He couldn’t imagine what San was going through, losing his wife and now left as a single father to take care of his child. He looked at San sympathetically and then back at the crib.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to sleep with the baby in the room?”

Wooyoung asked, worried that Jiwoo might be fussy and disturb San’s sleep.
San chuckled and patted Wooyoung’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, she’s an angel. She won’t make much noise. And even if she does, it’s just a small price to pay for having her in my life.”

Wooyoung smiled, his heart melting at San’s words. He had always known San to be a caring and loving person, but in this moment, he saw just how strong and resilient he was.

San then went to grab Wooyoung’s suitcases and brought them to the room. “Well, I’ll let you get some rest. Goodnight, Wooyoung.” San said, waving him goodbye.

“Goodnight, San.” Wooyoung replied, returning the wave.

As Wooyoung settled into bed, he couldn’t help but let San consume his thoughts. Despite the tragic circumstances, San had opened up his home and his heart to him.

It was a typical night for Wooyoung as he went through his usual night routine. He washed his face, brushed his teeth, and put on his comfortable pajamas. As he was about to settle in bed, his phone rang. It was Minji.

"Hey, Minji. What's up?" Wooyoung answered with a smile.

"I just wanted to check in on you. How's everything going?" Minji asked, her voice full of concern.

Wooyoung's smile faded a little as he thought about the current situation. "To be honest, it's a bit awkward. But I'm sure things will smoothen out soon."

Minji could sense the tension in Wooyoung's voice. "Where are you planning to stay for now? Do you have any plans?"

Wooyoung let out a defeated sigh. "I have no idea. I'm just taking things one day at a time."

Minji knew that Wooyoung and San were awkward with one another right now because they had met after two years and during that time duration, Wooyoung had neither texted nor called San.

"Have you talked to San? Have you caught up with each other?" Minji asked hesitantly.

"I have, actually. And to be honest, I feel sorry for him. I don't plan to keep more hatred for him in my heart anymore. He already has enough on his plate right now. Ignoring his fragile thoughts right now would be really cruel," Wooyoung replied, his tone sincere.

Minji was impressed by Wooyoung's wisdom. "I'm so proud of you, Wooyoung. You've always been the level-headed one. What changed?"

Wooyoung took a deep breath before answering. "I'm still the same old me, Minji. Time and people taught me valuable lessons. Forgiveness is not just about letting go of someone's wrongdoing, but also about giving ourselves peace. Holding grudges will only burden our hearts. And as for forgetting, it's not about erasing the memory, but learning from it and moving forward."

Minji was touched by Wooyoung's words. "You're right. You've always been mature beyond your years. I'm beyond speechless. You're thoughts are deep and meaningful."

"Thank you, Minji. I just hope that everything will be resolved soon," Wooyoung replied with a smile.

As they continued their conversation, Wooyoung felt a sense of comfort and relief. Minji's friendly and understanding tone was exactly what he needed. He realized that despite the current situation, he still had friends who cared for him and would be there for him no matter what.

As Wooyoung ended the call and settled in bed, he felt a sense of peace. He knew that things may not be perfect at the moment, but with friends like Minji by his side, he was confident that everything would work out in the end.