Rekindling the Lost Affection- Haerin/Wonyoung x Reader

Chapter 4: Flashback Part 2

     After Haerin taught me how to sing in the correct pitch, my heart started beating quickly, which I thought was likely because I was excited to spend more time with her the next day. 

     However, the next day, when I came to Haerin's house at the designated time, I heard her dad loudly lecturing her. Slamming his fist on their dining room table, he questioned Haerin: "Do you know how hard it is to become an idol? Why can't you just focus on school and go to college? Then, in an outburst, he shouted, "You're fourteen now; it's time for you to stop deluding yourself with your childish dreams!"

     I glanced over at Haerin, who couldn't find the strength in her to say anything back. Her legs trembled at her father's harsh words. In her eyes, I saw bitterness, sadness, and worst of all, acceptance. "There's no way she actually accepted and believed what her dad was saying to her, right?" I thought to myself.

     Her father finally noticed me. "Ah, y/n, you're here. Then, he turned to Haerin and said sternly, "Haerin, you and y/n go upstairs and prepare for the school festival. We'll continue this later"

     Haerin clasped my hand tightly as we walked away from her father. As she dragged me up the stairs to her bedroom, I saw the shiny reflections of tears in her eyes, threatening to spill out with each step we took, but she wouldn't let herself cry in front of her father. It wasn't until she closed the door and made sure her father was out of earshot that she let her tears fall.

"I-I'm sorry you had to hear that...I...," Haerin apologized to me, her voice shivering. Her voice trailed off before she could complete her thought. "And sorry for crying in front of y-you. We don't even know each other that well. I'm trying to hold in, but I just can't," she sniffled.

     "Don't apologize," I told her. I was a bit offended by what she said about us not being close, but I did my best to comfort her, "Just let it all out. You'll feel better afterwards."

     "I'm sorry Y/n. Do you know why I chose to sing and dance for the school festival instead of just doing a presentation?" she continued to apologize as if she hadn't heard me. "I know a presentation would be way easier for both of us, but I wanted to show my dad I had what it took to become an idol. I'm sorry for making you work harder than you need to," she confessed.

     "But he won't acknowledge my efforts," Haerin continued frustrated. Looking utterly defeated, she said in a small voice, "I guess this is it...  from now on, I'll just have to study hard, make it into a good college-"

     As Haerin said these words, I could tell how close her dreams were to shattering. Just yesterday, Haerin told me how much she wanted to become an idol, and she was really passionate about it as she talked about how hard she trained to try to get recognized by a company. But that fire was gone today. Haerin was not herself. Although she was sometimes a bit quiet and introverted, she wasn't indifferent.

     Unlike what her father said, becoming an idol was much more than a silly childhood phase for Haerin; it was her long-term goal and dream. Haerin deserved the chance at achieving her dream. Even if she tried and failed, that would be better than not trying and regretting it in the future, but now, she seemed intent on treating her dream as if it had never existed. As a second wave of tears hit Haerin, I couldn't stand seeing her as she tried to push her feelings away.

     At that moment, Haerin needed someone to turn to, and although I had only known her for a few days, I was the only person she could rely on at the moment. Somehow, my body instinctively knew I had to support her when no one else would. I looked her directly in the eye and held her shoulders while she attempted to avert my gaze. "Haerin," I told her sternly, "Please, don't listen to your dad. Everyone deserves the chance to follow their dreams, and you're no exception. And stop holding your tears back; let it all out and get it over with."

     Haerin tried to resist, her internal turmoil evident in the trembling of her lip and the uncertainty clouding her eyes. However, the weight of her suppressed feelings overwhelmed her. Within a few seconds, like a dam bursting, Haerin could no longer hold back her tears.

     I got up and handed her a box of tissues. After a few minutes, she eventually calmed down and gave me a small smile. Seeing this, I smiled as well, knowing that Haerin's dream had been restored. 

     "You're right. I can't let my dad get to me. I'll either become an idol or die trying!"

     "Uh, I like the enthusiasm, but please don't die," I said, a bit taken aback. 

     She started giggling all of a sudden. "Don't worry, that was a joke, but I'll give becoming an idol everything I've got. I'll make it eventually, and when I do, I'll become super famous!"

     "I'm sure you will, and when you become an idol, I'll be your biggest supporter."

     I wasn't lying. Internally, I promised to be there for her every step of the way. For a reason I couldn't quite place, I wanted to support her in achieving her dream.

     Although neither of us realized it, after this moment, our feelings toward each other would soon grow to the point that they would be undeniable, and by helping Haerin through her darkest hour, our futures had become intertwined.

     As my mind snapped back to the present, I let out a long and tired sigh as I faced Wonyoung. Thinking about my current situation, I sometimes wished I had never encouraged her to be an idol. "The world is full of irony," I mused. 

     "What do you mean?" Wonyoung asked, confused by my statement. 

     I explained to her, "Haerin and I both believed she would accomplish her dream, and it was this shared belief that brought us together, but now, after she managed to become an idol, her dream is the reason our relationship has been apart."

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A/N: Is this story more enjoyable than the old one? Please lmk because Idk if I'm on the right track lol