❝ Stardust & Heartstrings ❞ YEONBIN FF

Chapter 15 : Scars of Yesterday

Yeonjun withdrew from Soobin's grasp, his voice firm as he declared, "Either explain your past behavior or leave my home immediately."

Soobin rose to his feet and began to unbutton his shirt, prompting Yeonjun to recoil to the farthest edge of the bed, his voice laced with alarm as he demanded, "What exactly are you doing?"

As Soobin sat down on the bed, shirtless, Yeonjun's gaze burned with indignation, his voice seething with resentment as he spat out, "Do you think I'm just going to surrender to you whenever you please, that I'm some kind of convenience for your desires?"

Soobin's silence was unbroken as he turned away, revealing a large scar on his back. Yeonjun's shock was evident as his mouth hung agape, before he tentatively reached out to touch the scar, his voice barely above a whisper as he asked, "What...how did this happen?"

Soobin's voice broke the silence, his words laced with a hint of vulnerability as he revealed, "I got into an accident on my way to the airport that day."

Soobin's gaze fell as he continued, "When I finally regained consciousness, three days had passed. Yoon Hee halmeoni was by my side in the hospital, and when I asked about you, she told me you were gone."

Yeonjun's voice trembled as he fought to hold back tears, his words barely above a whisper, "Why didn't you try to contact me after you recovered? Why did you just disappear?"

Yeonjun's mind raced with a silent question, "How did I miss this scar when we were together that day, when we were so close?"

Soobin's voice cracked as he revealed, "I attempted to call you countless times, but you'd blocked my number. I tried to send messages, but they never reached you."

Yeonjun's voice was laced with hurt and confusion as he asked, "Why didn't you come to Seoul like you promised? You said you would come and talk to my parents, but you never showed up."

Soobin hesitated, knowing the truth but deciding it wasn't the right moment to share it. Instead, he offered a simple, sincere apology: "I'm sorry." His eyes cast downward, unable to meet Yeonjun's gaze.

Yeonjun's voice dripped with sarcasm as he continued, "So, you just gave up on us, huh? I figured as much. Your parents, they treated me like family, even let me sleep in your room... it's clear you never told them about us, about what we meant to each other." His laugh was tinged with bitterness, a harsh contrast to the warmth that once filled his eyes when looking at Soobin.

Yeonjun's words hung in the air like a challenge as he rose from the bed, his voice heavy with emotion. "So, I'm just your dirty little secret, forever locked away, hidden from the world... and from your family." He took a step back, his eyes blazing with a mix of hurt and anger, as if the truth he'd long suspected had finally been confirmed.

As Soobin stood up and slowly buttoned his shirt, his eyes never left Yeonjun's face. With a quiet intensity, he uttered a parting blow before turning to leave: "I wasn't the only one who gave up on us." The words hung in the air, a poignant reminder of the heartache and regret that had driven them apart, before Soobin disappeared through the gate, leaving Yeonjun to grapple with the truth in his absence.

The silence between them became a chasm, a vast and unbridgeable expanse that swallowed all hopes of reconciliation. Three days ticked by, each one a stark reminder that some wounds run too deep, some hearts too broken.

Amidst the vibrant chaos of preparations for the locality fair, Yeonjun and Soobin's paths crossed once again. But they didn't speak, didn't acknowledge the elephant in the room – the unresolved heartache, the unspoken words, the shattered dreams. They simply passed each other by, two ships in the night, their connection lost in the sea of festivities.

Yeonjun's application to the hospital was met with swift approval by Dr. Gye, who was more than happy to grant his grandmother permission to attend the fair. But what Yeonjun didn't expect was the hospital's request for Soobin to be his grandmother's volunteer escort for the day.

Yeonjun reached for the wheelchair, but Soobin's hands lingered, his grip gentle yet firm. As he looked up, their eyes met for a brief moment, a spark of awkwardness flashing between them. Then, Soobin's face broke into a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he addressed Yeonjun's grandmother. "Halmeoni, we've tried to plan the fair just like you used to do. There's even a dance event – you'll have so much fun!" His words were infused with a genuine enthusiasm, a hint of nostalgia, and a deep affection for the elderly woman, making Yeonjun's heart skip a beat.

A woman rushed towards Soobin, hugging him tightly around the neck. "Yewon-ah, when did you return from Seoul?" Soobin asked. Yewon's eyes sparkled as she replied, "I returned just today, Eomma and Appa are also with me." She held his arms, beaming with joy.

Yeonjun's eyes narrowed as he watched the woman cling to Soobin's hand, refusing to let go even for a moment. "She's really glued to him, huh? "he muttered under his breath, a hint of discomfort and annoyance creeping into his voice, unaware that she was actually Soobin's best friend, Ye-won.

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