Between the Lines | Riize Wonbin

Chapter 14: Breaking point

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees as Juhee sat alone on the park bench, staring at the ground. She could still feel the sting of her brother Jaehyun's words echoing in her mind. The argument had been explosive, leaving her feeling raw and exposed. Despite the warmth of the day, an icy chill crept into her heart as she recalled the venom in his voice.

"I don't want to see you anymore, Juhee," he had said, his tone sharp and unforgiving. "Maybe it's better this way."

She had tried to reason with him, to make him understand that she was not the enemy. But he had closed himself off, refusing to let her in, and in that moment, it felt as though she had lost the only person who truly understood her. A wave of despair washed over her, and she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

"Why can't you just let me help you?" she had pleaded, but his anger had been too consuming.

Now, she felt completely alone. The familiar chatter of students around her seemed distant and hollow, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside her. Juhee wiped her eyes, determined not to cry in public, when she suddenly heard a voice behind her.

"Juhee?"

She turned to find her brother Jaehyun standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable. "What do you want?" she snapped, her voice laced with frustration.

"I... I just wanted to talk," he replied hesitantly, the usual bravado missing from his tone.

Juhee shook her head, feeling the heat of anger rise within her again. "Talk? About what? How you're cutting me out of your life? How I'm not allowed to care about you anymore?"

"Stop acting like you know what I need!" Jaehyun shot back, his voice rising. "You don't understand the pain I'm going through. You think it's easy for me?"

"No, I don't think it's easy!" she shouted, feeling her heart race. "But you're not even trying! You're pushing me away, and I don't know how to reach you!"

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "Maybe you should just let me deal with this on my own."

Juhee's heart sank. "You think isolating yourself is going to help? I'm here, Jaehyun! I'm your sister! I want to help, but you keep shutting me out!"

"Maybe I don't want your help!" he yelled, his eyes flashing with anger. "Maybe I don't want to be your project!"

The words struck her like a physical blow. Juhee felt tears spill over as the realization hit her: he really meant it. "I'm not trying to control you. I'm trying to be there for you because I care. But it feels like you don't even want me around!"

"Because I don't!" he shouted back, and the finality in his tone shattered her resolve.

"Fine," Juhee said, her voice shaking with emotion. "If you want me out of your life, then I won't force myself on you. But don't expect me to wait around while you push everyone who cares away!"

With that, she turned and walked away, her heart breaking as she left Jaehyun behind. The anger that had fueled their argument dissolved into a deep sadness, and she felt a profound sense of loss as she distanced herself from her brother.

Juhee didn't know where to go, so she wandered through the campus until she stumbled upon a gathering in the courtyard. Students milled about, laughing and enjoying each other's company, but the atmosphere felt suffocating. She tried to blend in, to distract herself from the pain, but all she could feel was the weight of her heartache.

As she walked, her eyes landed on a familiar figure leaning against a wall—Wonbin. He was smoking a cigarette, a habit that felt so out of place in the vibrant setting around him. The sight stirred a mix of anger and vulnerability within her, and she approached him without thinking.

"Don't you have better things to do than stand around here?" she snapped, her voice sharp.

Wonbin looked up, surprised by her sudden confrontation. "What's your problem?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What's my problem?" she echoed incredulously. "I just had a massive fight with my brother, and you're out here acting like you don't give a damn about anything!"

He took a drag from his cigarette, unbothered. "And? That's your family drama, not mine."

"Of course, you wouldn't understand," she said bitterly. "You're just so good at pushing people away, aren't you? Do you even care about anything?"

Wonbin's expression hardened, and he flicked the ash from his cigarette. "Look, I'm not here to play therapist. You're not the only one with issues."

Juhee's heart raced, frustration boiling over. "I'm not asking for your pity! I'm just tired of feeling alone! I've tried to reach out to my brother, and all he does is shove me away. It's like I don't even exist to him anymore!"

"Then why are you dumping all this on me?" Wonbin shot back, irritation flashing in his eyes. "I'm not your shoulder to cry on."

"Maybe you should be," she retorted, the tears she had been holding back threatening to spill over. "You're the only one around who seems to understand what it feels like to be cut off from everyone."

Wonbin hesitated, his hardened facade cracking for a brief moment. "You think I understand anything?" he said quietly, but Juhee was too wrapped up in her emotions to hear his words.

"Stop pretending you're fine! You act like you don't care about anyone, but I see you standing here, alone, just like me!" she cried, her voice breaking.

He met her gaze, and for a heartbeat, the world around them faded away. Juhee felt exposed, her vulnerability laid bare, and it terrified her.

"You don't know anything about me," he replied, his tone softening slightly.

"Then help me understand!" she yelled, frustration spilling over. "I'm tired of feeling like I'm screaming into the void! I need someone to hear me!"

Wonbin stepped closer, a flicker of something unrecognizable in his eyes. But before he could respond, Juhee felt a wave of emotions crashing over her, and the moment slipped away.

"Just leave me alone," she muttered, taking a step back. She turned away, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders once more.

As she walked away, she didn't look back, but she could feel his gaze on her, heavy and unyielding. The distance between them felt insurmountable, just like the gap that had formed between her and Jaehyun.

Juhee stepped into the night, the cold air biting at her cheeks. She felt utterly lost, caught between the two people she had tried so hard to connect with. The tears she had fought so hard to suppress began to fall freely, each drop a testament to her loneliness and pain.

Wonbin watched her go, the cigarette hanging loosely from his fingers. He felt the gravity of her words, the impact of her pain, but he didn't know how to respond. His own walls were fortified, and he had no intention of letting anyone in, even if it meant being alone.