Between the Lines | Riize Wonbin

Chapter 39: A Birthday Reunion

March had arrived, bringing with it the promise of renewal and change. For Wonbin, this March marked not only the beginning of spring but also his birthday-a day he had often dreaded in recent years. He had spent so long running from his past and avoiding the memories that lingered like shadows, but this year felt different. This year, he decided to return home for the first time in years, hoping to reconnect with his family.

The dinner table was filled with the comforting aroma of home-cooked meals, a stark contrast to the takeout he had grown accustomed to in the city. His parents beamed with joy as they watched their son, whose presence had been sorely missed. Laughter echoed through the room as they shared stories, reminiscing about childhood memories and moments that had brought them closer. For the first time in a long while, Wonbin felt a sense of belonging.

After dinner, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the lake nearby, Wonbin excused himself. He needed a moment alone to reflect on the years that had slipped by, the choices he had made, and the relationships he had left behind. He strolled toward the lake, the cool breeze brushing against his skin, carrying with it the scents of earth and water.

As he reached the shore, the shimmering surface of the lake caught his attention. He stood there, taking in the beauty of the night-the stars twinkling above, the moon casting its gentle light upon the water. It was a tranquil moment, one that allowed him to breathe, to think, and to appreciate the path that had led him back home.

Just as he was about to turn away, a flicker of movement caught his eye. He squinted into the distance, and his heart skipped a beat. There, standing a few feet away, was Juhee. Time seemed to stand still as their eyes met for the first time in years. She looked just as he remembered-radiant, with an aura that drew him in despite the distance that had grown between them.

The years had changed him; his features had matured, and he had cut his hair. A black leather jacket hugged his shoulders, and a dark scarf wrapped around his neck gave him an air of confidence. But as he stood before her, he felt a familiar ache in his chest-a reminder of everything they had lost.

"Wonbin," she said, her voice trembling slightly, as if she were testing the waters of their shared past.

"Juhee," he replied, his tone cool and distant, a stark contrast to the warmth that used to flow between them. The moment felt charged, heavy with unspoken emotions.

The silence that hung between them was thick, laden with the weight of their history. Juhee shifted her gaze, taking in the changes in him. There was an undeniable attraction still lingering in the air, but it was buried under layers of hurt and regret. "I didn't expect to see you here," she finally managed, her words coming out hesitantly.

"Neither did I," he said, his voice steady but lacking warmth. He took a moment to let her presence wash over him, feeling the familiar mixture of longing and pain. "I came back for my birthday."

Juhee's heart ached at the admission. "Happy birthday, then," she said softly, the words feeling like a fragile truce in a war of emotions.

"Thanks," he replied, looking at her as if trying to memorize every detail-the way her hair framed her face, the way her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. But the distance between them was palpable, an invisible wall that neither of them knew how to breach.

"I should go," she said, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her. She turned to leave, but her heart urged her to stay, to say something, anything. But the words tangled in her throat.

"Juhee," he called out, the tension in his voice echoing the turmoil in his heart.

She paused, looking back at him. "What is it, Wonbin?"

He took a deep breath, fighting the urge to reach out to her, to bridge the chasm that had formed between them. "I... I just wanted to see you."

The admission hung in the air, both a confession and a wound. Juhee's heart raced as she processed his words, but the distance felt insurmountable. "You saw me," she said quietly. "What now?"

"I don't know," he admitted, pain etched across his features. "I didn't think it would be this hard."

Juhee's breath caught in her throat. "It's been years, Wonbin. We can't just go back to how things were."

"I know," he replied, his voice heavy with resignation. "But it hurts, seeing you like this."

"Like what?" she challenged, her eyes blazing with suppressed emotion.

"Happy," he said, his words laced with bitterness. "You look happy."

The vulnerability in his statement pierced through her defenses. "I am happy," she replied, her voice firm but softening. "I've moved on."

His expression darkened slightly, the pain in his eyes revealing the truth he didn't want to admit. "Have you?"

"I'm trying," she said, her voice faltering. "But it's hard when you... when you disappeared."

"I didn't mean to," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I had to get away."

"From me?" she asked, her heart breaking all over again.

He didn't answer, and the silence stretched between them, an unbridgeable chasm filled with all the things they couldn't say. "It's late. I should go," she said, her voice heavy with regret.

"Yeah," he replied, his eyes darkening with unfulfilled longing.

Before she turned to leave, she glanced back at him, her heart aching. "Happy birthday, Wonbin."

"Thanks, Juhee," he said, the words sounding hollow, like an echo in an empty room.

As she walked away, a part of him wanted to call her back, to reach out and pull her close, but the distance was too great, the pain too raw. He stood there by the lake, watching her figure fade into the night, feeling the weight of unspoken words and unhealed wounds press down on his chest, a reminder of everything they had lost and could never regain.