False Impressions I Book 1: Lee Heeseung

Chapter 26: Truth Unfolds

"I'd rather spend my time with no one else but you."

Aerin was completely caught up, surprise was seen on her face. She didn't expects those words to come along, not soon enough. It sounds like a wonderful tune, like the summer of June. It goes so beautiful, and yet seemingly fearful. Startling and clearly confused, there's an ongoing battle between her silly heart and her wayward mind, defeating the former.

She wanted to close her eyes and feel the warmth of his skin. It still feels familiar - his ruggy hands, the tightest clasp but the moment she'll surrender into a reminisce, hurt will again flow, and it's taking over, it's taking her down low. 

What they had is like a beautiful dream came true but on a spur of the moment, it turned into night terrors haunting in them in their sleep. Aerin stepped back, hearts open, she's out for a cry. Questions filled her mind and was caught in the middle where the answer is just the same. He didn't come home. He left her all alone.

"I-I've waited for you but you never came back--" she mumbled as the long kept tears finally found it's way out.

Heeseung was stunned from the answer he had got. The outpour of emotions, it's too much to take. Seeing Aerin in the verge of tears is like sharp knives bringing more pain and isolation. She's fighting a sob, desperate in pain that keeps on slicing deeper.

"I know, I was an idiot. I-I was selfish." he again tried to reach for her face.

But instead, Aerin stepped back a little farther, not wanting to be touched. Looking at her startling face, it's as if she'd quickly built a wall, preventing herself to get hurt even more.

"Aerin--" Heeseung was extremely caught off guard. Her, drawing away, is the last thing he thought she'd ever do. "Hear me out, please?"

How fast she shook her head making Heeseung mind in clank in disbelief. She refused to listen. She's scared to hear him out because he might say things she's afraid to hear. The shudders covered her in the time when he least expects it.

"I get it, Hee. I get it. You don't need to say anything. Maybe it's better this way. Look at you now." saying it created a nudge in her heart and that tear finally rolled upon her cheek.

She was not a priority. Never was. Never will. Loving Lee Heeseung is like choosing between a two way path that eventually guide you to only one end. Aerin comes to realize, loving him before, they didn't survived the odds. How much more now, when he is on top of the world.

"Aerin--" he was out for words looking at her sluggish tears.

What have he done? Leaving her alone just like that creates a damage he couldn't mend. Heeseung can't hold it anymore. He pulled her close and clasp her tight into his arms. In that moment of embrace and stillness, he let her cry. It's as if those nonstop tears she held in for too long finds it's way out finally. He can feel Aerin fighting with his hug but he's not letting her go even if she pushes him away.

"Stop it. Stop pushing me away." he closed his eyes feeling the pain in her hurtful cries. 

Aerin wept like a river. It's the only way her eyes speaks when her heart cannot. She again broke down in Lee Heeseung's arms, not for comfort but pains of the past. 

"I'm so sorry I couldn't get to you sooner." Heeseung whispered as he tried to clutch her tighter in her shrugging cry.

All he's asking is forgiveness, so eager to fix everything and start again. If Aerin accepts it, he'll do the best he could to love her more than he used to do, without any room for mistakes this time.

"Hey--" he loosened his arms to get ahold of her sight. "It's okay. We can work it this time. I know I promised you before and I broke it. And it sucks like hell. I can't promise now but I will try. I will try harder, Aerin. Just tell me you feel the same way, that you love me still."