WHEN LOVE FAILS

CHAPTER 16 - When Love Hurts

As I made my way to the park, my heart raced with anticipation. The familiar scent of flowers filled the air, and I couldn't shake the butterflies in my stomach at the thought of seeing Wonnie again.

But when I arrived, my excitement quickly turned to confusion as I spotted a woman standing nervously by the old tree where we had shared so many memories.

Who could she be?
Wait, she looks familiar...

A sense of unease settled in.

Before I could approach, she turned toward me, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and determination.

"Are you Jeremiah, right?"
She asked, her voice trembling slightly. I nodded, my heart pounding.

"My name is Ae-cha. I'm Wonnie's wife."

My heart sank at her words, disbelief washing over me.

"Wife? Why are you here? Where's Wonnie?"

I could barely speak, my mind racing with questions. This wasn't how I imagined our reunion—if it could even be called that.

"I'm here because I wanted to tell you the truth..."

Why do I feel this way? Why does it feel so heavy and nerve-wracking? What is this woman trying to tell me? My mind and heart warred. I didn't want to know, yet I had to.

"Wonnie died in a car accident in Korea. He wanted to escape and come to you here in the Philippines. It hurts me to tell you this, but I need you to know...I don't want to break my promise to him one last time."

Ae-cha's expression was pained as she spoke, pausing with her voice cracking.

"He tried to love me, but he was always thinking of you."

"He told me, 'Jeremiah is the one for me.'"

My heart shattered at her words, tears stinging my eyes.

"Is this true? Or are you playing with my feelings? I can't believe this... It's hard to trust what you're telling me right now. How can I be sure this isn't a cruel joke? My heart is in pieces, and I need to know if you're telling the truth. Please, don't make this even harder."

I spoke through tears, overwhelmed by pain.

"I'm not lying," Ae-cha said, her voice steady but full of sadness. "I know this is hard, but it's the truth."

She pulled out her phone and showed me a photo of Jungwoo's burial site, his grave marked with his name.

"This can't be real! No..."

My heart sank staring at the image, the weight of reality settling in. I wanted to deny it, to believe it was a cruel mistake, but the photo was undeniable. The man I loved was gone. My chest tightened, the truth nearly suffocating.

"I wish I could be with him now."
"I wish I could have held him one last time."

Ae-cha stepped closer, her own eyes glistening with tears. She hugged me gently and whispered that I shouldn't blame myself.

"I know this is hard. But he wanted you to know you were his true love."

Her words were a bittersweet balm. In that moment, I felt an unexpected connection with her—she lived the life Wonnie never wanted, yet understood the depth of his love for me.

In our shared grief, I realized love, no matter how complicated, could bring people together.

"Thank you for telling me this, Ae-cha."