"You sit lightly like a waltz I can’t take my eyes off of you My eyes naturally follow you Each step you take, oh no"
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Eunseok stood before her, his presence a mirror image of the moment he found her at the park. The familiarity of the scene brought a mix of emotions - relief, concern, and a deep-seated need to protect her.
He exhaled a heavy sigh, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease slightly now that he had her in front of him. His primary concern was her safety, and he was determined to ensure it.
Jiwon's disheveled appearance struck a chord within him. Her hospital uniform seemed woefully inadequate, her messy hair and swollen eyes a testament to her ordeal. Eunseok's instincts kicked in; he swiftly removed his hoodie and gently draped it over her shoulders, enveloping her in its warmth.
To his surprise, Jiwon didn't retreat. She stood still, her eyes vacant, as if lost in thought.
Eunseok's frown deepened as he took in her fragile state. Her passivity unsettled him, a stark contrast to the strong, resilient person he knew her to be.
"Angel?" he whispered, his voice soft, hoping to rouse her from her trance-like state. As he pulled the hoodie around her, his fingers brushed against her skin, sending a spark of electricity through him.
His concern turned to alarm as he noticed her glassy eyes, her pupils dilated. Where was she lost to? What memories haunted her? Eunseok's heart ached to reach out, to bring her back to the present. He gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his touch feather-light.
Jiwon's thoughts swirled with the painful realization that Eunseok had left her too, just like her mother. The ache of abandonment stabbed deeper, a wound that refused to heal. She had seen him laugh with his teammates, play with them, and live without her.
These memories lingered, a bittersweet reminder of what she had lost.
The truth was hard to accept: people are meant to leave you one day. Yet, Jiwon couldn't shake off the longing. She needed to know if she had truly mattered to him.
Her voice cracked under the weight of emotion as she asked, "Was I really important to you?" Eunseok's hands retreated in shock, his eyes wide with regret.
He protested, "You are – I swear you're the most important person to me" his tone firm. But Jiwon's laughter was tinged with bitterness.
"Then why didn't you call me, even once, to ask if I was okay? If I was doing well?" Her voice trembled, memories flooding back. She recalled the countless calls, unanswered and unseen, until she was sick of trying.
The silence had been deafening, a resounding confirmation of her fears.
"You left me too, Eunseok. Just like my father did, just like my relatives. I needed you the most, and you disappointed me. You broke my trust." Jiwon said, her words laced with pain. Eunseok's face contorted in anguish, his eyes pleading for forgiveness.
His expression only fueled her anguish.
"You were supposed to be different, Eunseok. You were supposed to be the one who stayed. Heck i had only endured all that because it was you by my side" Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill. Jiwon's heart ached, torn between the desire to hold on and the need to let go.
She harshly wiped away her tears and stood up, prompting Eunseok to jolt upright, his eyes wide with desperation.
"Please, give me one last chance" he implored, his voice cracking. "I was fucked up, I didn't mean to hurt you. I'd kill myself before harming you. But I needed the gang at that moment, Angel. They became my family when I needed them most, and they need me too. They had no medic other than me; they were getting hurt, and I couldn't—"
Jiwon's expression softened, her voice measured. "I understand, Eunseok. Maybe I would've done the same in your shoes. But why didn't you meet me after? Why didn't you try to make things right between us? Do I really mean something to you—as a friend, best friend?" Her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion.
Eunseok's face contorted in anguish. "I know I messed up; I'm so sorry. I promise to make everything right." His voice trembled with sincerity, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. Trapped between his mother's expectations and the mafia gang's grip, Eunseok felt overwhelmed by guilt.
The memory of Jiwon leaving him, and his inability to stop her, still haunted him, robbing him of sleep. Now, the thought of losing Jiwon forever sent shivers down his spine. In this moment, his world revolved around her. "Jiwon, please" Eunseok whispered, his voice barely audible. "Don't leave me again. I can't bear it."
Jiwon's gaze locked onto Eunseok's, searching for answers. She saw the desperation in his eyes, the genuine remorse. Her heart wavered, torn between the desire to forgive and the fear of being hurt again.
"I need some time alone." Her feet dragged against the sand, heavy with the weight of her emotions. Eunseok's reaction was instant; his hand shot out, grasping her wrist. "Leave me alone," Jiwon insisted, her tone firm, though her eyes betrayed her vulnerability.
"You're not going to leave me, right?" Eunseok asked, his voice laced with desperation, his eyes wide with concern. Jiwon's response was curt, her words clipped.
"I need some time to think, Eunseok." With a harsh tug, she freed her hand from his grasp, leaving Eunseok's fingers to brush against the empty air.
Jiwon turned away, her feet carrying her in the direction she came from, leaving Eunseok standing alone, his eyes fixed on her retreating figure. His heart felt heavy, weighed down by uncertainty and regret. The silence between them seemed to stretch on forever, punctuated only by the sound of Jiwon's fading footsteps.
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