HEAL || Lee Minho

28. Pent Up Anger

a/n : I'm a certified delulu now.

*✧⁠*✧⁠*✧⁠*✧⁠*✧*✧⁠*✧⁠*✧⁠*✧⁠*✧⁠*

Haejin's Graduation Day, at her college:

"You should have told him. Why would you hide such a thing?", Hyunjin asked, his tone having hints of disbelief.

"I didn't hide. I just chose to tell him later.", Haejin shrugged.

"Chose to tell him later? Sure.", Hyunjin repeated Haejin's words, rolling his eyes.

"He was busy Hyunjin. I didn't want to interfere with his work!"

"Attending his wife's graduation isn't interfering with work.", Hyunjin retorted.

"You know what- leave it.", Haejin sighed

The bickering between the two friends continued for a while until they were finally stopped by Hyunjin's parents who had come to congratulate their son (and Haejin) on the occasion of graduation.

"Our Haejinnie! It's been so long! How have you been dear?", Hyunjin's mom hugged Haejin, walking past Hyunjin.

"Woah.. I am your son.", Hyunjin gasped dramatically.

"Oh c'mon! We see you everyday but we see her rarely.", Hyunjin's mother shushed her son up, continuing to give attention to Haejin. Mr. Hwang enjoyed the scene as he patted Hyunjin's back.

"I've been fine, how have you been?", Haejin replied with a smile. She was happy to see Hyunjin's parents after such a long time. They had been like her second family, as she stayed at Hyunjin's home half of the time during their teenage years.

"We've been fine too dear. It's so good to see you. How has been your life after marriage?", Hyunjin's mother asked the question without any hesitation, just like her own mother would have. And she was glad that she still had a mother figure in her life.

"It's.. it has been better than I originally thought for it to be.", Haejin replied and Hyunjin's mother could see that she meant the words that had left her mouth. His mother could read Haejin just as well as she could read her son.

"I'm glad. Even though Hyunjin keeps us updated about you, we were still worried. But I believe we don't have to worry, right?", Hyunjin's mother asked Haejin as she caressed her cheek, this motherly action of her making Haejin a little emotional.

Maybe, she was wrong. Maybe, she did have someone apart from her own mother.

"Yes, there's nothing to worry about now. Everything's okay.", Haejin replied politely.

"Now, can you pay a little attention to me my dear mother?", Hyunjin interrupted, making everyone laugh. His expressions showed that he had been sulking (not really because he was happy too, seeing the interaction).

"Aww my dear son, congratulations on graduating.", Hyunjin's mother congratulated her son, handing him the bouquet of flowers she, along with her husband had prepared.

If Haejin was honest, she did feel a pang in her heart.

If only she was alive... If only he wasn't busy...

She felt lonely. These emotions were inevitable in a ground full of students with their parents/family members.

Haejin's thoughts were paused by Hyunjin's mother questioning her.

"Will he not come today?", she asked Haejin, a frown evident on her face.

Haejin understood who Hyunjin's mother referred to as he. She smiled awkwardly as she proceeded to speak.