The Price Of Redemption

2.

2018:

"What are you doing?" Dani asked, her voice breaking the quiet as she heard Haerin scribbling intently in her notebook.

Both girls were in Haerin's room, unwinding after a long day at school. Dani lay sprawled on the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, while Haerin sat at her desk, fully immersed in whatever she was writing.

"Nothing much," Haerin replied, ripping the page from her notebook, crumpling it up, and tossing it into the trash bin. Her voice was calm, but there was something behind it, something Dani couldn't quite place.

Dani sat up, narrowing her eyes. "Nothing? You've been writing for ages. You're up to something."

Haerin chuckled softly but kept her eyes on her now-blank notebook. "You're overthinking. It's really nothing."

A spark of curiosity lit up Dani's eyes. "Wait... are you writing a love letter?" She raised an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at her lips.

Haerin turned in her chair, her cat-like eyes locking with Dani's. "Why would I do that?"

Dani stood, hands clasped behind her back, mock seriousness on her face. "Because love letters are for people who can't find the words to say how they feel."

"Well," Haerin said with a smile, "I don't need a love letter."

"Oh? And why is that?"

Haerin didn't answer right away. Instead, she picked up her phone, scrolling through her music until the familiar notes of A Thousand Years by Christina Perri began to fill the room. Without a word, she rose from her chair and crossed the room, gently taking Dani's hand.

Dani giggled softly, understanding what was about to happen, her heart picking up pace. Haerin placed one of Dani's hands on her shoulder, guiding her other hand to her waist. They began to sway slowly, in rhythm with the music, eyes never breaking contact.

"If I ever love someone," Haerin said softly, her voice barely louder than a whisper, "my eyes will say everything."

Dani's heart skipped a beat, and her gaze softened. "And what if that person needs to hear it?"

Haerin chuckled, spinning Dani around gracefully. "Then maybe, just maybe, I'll say the words they want to hear."

"And what do they want to hear?" Dani asked, her arms now resting loosely around Haerin's neck, her lips curling into a smile.

Haerin leaned in slightly, her voice tender. "I love you."

2024:

Dani's POV:

"Haerin..." I whispered to myself, staring at the girl I once thought I'd never see again.

Her smile—the same one I used to love—was there, but now, it felt different. Strange. She called out my name again, her voice so familiar yet distant.

I glanced at Hyein, who had a look of pure confusion on her face. Then it hit her. She mouthed her name, her eyes searching mine for an answer. I nodded, my heart heavy, and without a word, I turned and began walking away.

I thought I had moved on. I was so sure that time had dulled those feelings, that I had buried them deep enough to never resurface. But seeing her again... it was like everything inside me had been waiting for this moment. My heart did that stupid thing it always used to do—it sped up, like we were kids again, like no time had passed.