23.5 WHEN THE EARTH STOP SPINNING (Adult Version)

SUN IS WAVING

At the family dinner, Sun's parents noticed the change in her mood since she came back from school. They were reluctant to ask, but their concern deepened when they saw tears welling up in her eyes.

"Are you okay, Sun?" her mom asked gently.

Sun sighed, looking at her mom with a mix of sadness and pleading in her eyes. "I met Ongsa," she said, her voice trembling.

Her parents exchanged shocked glances. "What happened?" her dad asked.

"I knew I would see her, but I was still so stunned. I didn't know these feelings would come back, and I hate it," Sun confessed, tears beginning to flow.

"It's been 8 years, Sun," her mom reminded her softly.

"Yes, and I thought I had moved on. But when I saw her earlier, all I wanted was..." Sun's voice broke as another wave of tears fell. "I want her back, Dad, Mom. I miss Ongsa so much."

"Sun..." her parents could only utter, feeling her pain.

"Am I that selfish?" Sun asked, her voice cracking.

"It took you 8 years to come back. Did you think everything would stay the same?" her father asked gently.

Sun nodded, understanding the truth in his words.

"She probably already moved on from you, Sun," her mother added softly.

"It's unfair. Why do I still love her the same?" Sun cried.

"Why didn't you come back sooner?" her father asked, looking intently at her.

Sun stopped, meeting her father's gaze, and a flood of realizations hit her all at once. She knew it was her fault they had drifted apart. She had left without telling anyone, without even saying goodbye to Ongsa. Her dreams and ambitions had taken her far away, and in her pursuit of them, she had pushed Ongsa out of her life. When she wanted to return a year later to be with Ongsa, she had been consumed by fear-fear that things wouldn't be the same, fear that Ongsa had moved on, fear of facing the consequences of her choices.

Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "I was so scared, Dad. I left without a word, thinking it was the best for both of us. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I was just running away. When I realized my mistake and wanted to come back, I was terrified. I couldn't face her, couldn't bear the thought that she might hate me."

Her mother reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Oh, Sun..."

"I didn't know how to fix it," Sun continued, her voice breaking. "I thought if I stayed away, maybe it would be easier for both of us. But seeing her today... it brought everything back. All the love, all the regrets, everything. I've missed her every single day, and now I don't know if I can ever make it right."

Her father sighed deeply; his eyes filled with compassion. "Sun, we all do make mistakes. What matters now is what you do next. You have to face her, talk to her. It won't be easy, but if you still love her, you owe it to both of you to try."