PAPER HEARTS - Ryeji (English ver)

Chapter 9

—Ryujin— Yeji called, watching her pour leftover coffee from the previous day into a cup. —You don't have to do that. I can make you some fresh coffee.—

—It's not necessary, thanks— she replied without looking at her.

—Please, I don't want you to be upset— Yeji pleaded, stepping closer, just inches away from her. Ryujin put the coffee pot back on the counter and stared at Yeji intently.

—I told you about my child, and the least I expected was support from you— she said sincerely. —Instead, you told me I needed to get over the death of my son, who lived for three years, eight months, and sixteen days.— Yeji felt a bit guilty. —Eleven hours and twenty-two minutes— Ryujin whispered. —He didn't have time to say goodbye to his mom.— She took her coffee cup and moved toward the table to start her routine of reading the news, looking for anything about a driver involved in an accident, as she did every morning.

—It wasn't my intention to make you think that— Yeji sighed, walking toward her, watching as Ryujin completely ignored her. —What I tried to say is that your son deserves to see you happy.— Ryujin gave a bitter laugh and looked directly at her.

—When Niki died— she said it so naturally, so normally, and Yeji noticed. It hurt Ryujin deeply, but she never looked away when she talked about her son. —When Niki died, do you know what happened to me?— Yeji shook her head, sighing. —My parents told me that none of this would've happened if I had never married Beomgyu.— She wouldn't cry, not at that moment. —My son died, and my parents told me I never should have loved his father. Less than a year later, I was divorced.— She turned her gaze back to her coffee.

—And why do you still wear your wedding ring?— Yeji asked directly, sitting down as well. Ryujin looked at her. —Why do you and your husband still wear your rings if, according to you, you don't love him anymore?— Ryujin sighed.

—We need to get to work— she replied before taking a sip of her coffee.

—Beomgyu was right. You always prefer to run away from your problems rather than face them— Yeji shook her head. —When my boyfriend left me at the altar, I didn't stop my life to feel miserable every day. I moved on— she couldn't help but say. Ryujin just stared at her.

—I hope the life you love so much never takes away the only thing that gives it meaning— Ryujin simply sighed. —Could you handle that?—

—My ex left me at the altar, Ryujin!— Yeji smiled sarcastically. —He ruined my present, took away my future. And what happened to me? I got into Harvard and overcame my problems, unlike you.— Ryujin sighed again.

—You're right, I'm pathetic— she replied sarcastically. —I'm a pathetic woman who still wears her wedding ring after a depressing divorce and the death of her son— she said sarcastically again. —A pathetic woman who writes every damn day the stories she would've read to her child before bed, to bring one each month to where his body is buried— she smiled sarcastically, almost intimidatingly. —I don't go through life asking for pity, Yeji. Nor do I boast about how good I am at overcoming problems, unlike you— she stopped smiling. —Our pain is different, you're right, but I won't accept you talking about my child like that.—

—I'm just telling the truth— Yeji sighed. —I understand that...—

—You don't understand!— Ryujin snapped angrily. —You don't understand anything!— She stood up and started walking away. Yeji immediately followed her, and actually managed to see Ryujin returning to that room. Quickly, Yeji stopped the door before she could close it. Ryujin no longer cared if Yeji came in or not.