Rivalry Rewritten: Enmity to Intimacy ( Volume: 2)

Thirty Eight

                   Lost in your mind
                      I wanna know
                Am I losing my mind?
                    Never let me go
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The past month had been a blur of pain and sorrow for Wooyoung, each day stretching on endlessly without San's comforting presence. The weight of grief had threatened to consume him entirely, driving him to the brink of despair. In his darkest moments, Wooyoung had contemplated ending it all, seeking an escape from the relentless ache in his heart. Through suicide.

But fate intervened in the form of Minji and Mingi, who had sensed his anguish and refused to let him slip away into oblivion. With gentle words and steadfast support, they had pulled him back from the edge, reminding him of the precious little girl who depended on him for love and care.

As Mingi held him close, whispering Jiwoo's name with a mixture of desperation and determination, Wooyoung felt a surge of emotion wash over him. He realized the selfishness of his actions, the cowardice in trying to flee from his responsibilities and abandon Jiwoo to face the world alone.

With a heavy heart, Wooyoung cast aside the blade of self-destruction, symbolically rejecting the allure of escape. He knew that he had to stay strong for Jiwoo, to be the pillar of support she needed in the absence of her father.

Though the pain of San's absence remained a constant ache in his soul, Wooyoung found solace in the knowledge that he was not alone in his struggles. With Minji and Mingi by his side, he vowed to endure the trials that lay ahead, determined to overcome the darkness and find a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows.

A few days later, they were on their way to meet Mingi's cousin at the airport. As they cruised down the highway toward the airport, Mingi's cousin's impending arrival injected a sense of excitement into the car. Mingi had initially planned to make the trip solo, but upon seeing the weight of sorrow still etched on Wooyoung's face, he insisted that his friend join him for the outing. Yeosang and Minji readily agreed to accompany them, eager to lift Wooyoung's spirits with a change of scenery.

With Jiwoo's infectious laughter filling the air, the mood inside the car shifted from somber to buoyant. Yeosang's playful banter and Minji's witty remarks sparked laughter and smiles, gradually coaxing Wooyoung out of his melancholy state. Mingi added to the jovial atmosphere with his contagious enthusiasm, regaling them with tales of his cousin's eccentricities and quirks.

As they approached the airport, anticipation tingled in the air, mingling with the warmth of camaraderie and friendship. For a fleeting moment, the weight of sorrow lifted from Wooyoung's shoulders, replaced by a glimmer of hope and joy. In the company of his friends and Jiwoo's innocent laughter, he found respite from the relentless ache in his heart, savoring the precious moments of happiness amidst the trials of life.

As Mingi checked his watch, he announced that his cousin's plane had just landed, and they would soon see him walking out of the gates. Sure enough, a figure emerged from the bustling crowd, and Wooyoung's eyes widened in surprise. It was Yunho, Mingi's cousin, and a familiar face from his past in Canada.

Yunho: "Well, well, well, look who's here! If it isn't my old buddy, Wooyoung!"

Wooyoung: "Yunho! What are you doing here? Did Canada miss you already?"

Yunho, equally shocked to see Wooyoung there, dashed over to him, their reunion brimming with joy and laughter.

Mingi: "Uh, guys, what's going on? Do you two know each other or something?"

Yunho: "Know each other? We practically shared maple syrup back in Canada!"

Wooyoung: "Yeah, and let's not forget the great Canadian goose chase of 2019!"