Between the Lines | Riize Wonbin

Chapter 42: Silent burdens

Wonbin had spent a month back at his family's home, a bittersweet return that felt both comforting and constraining. The house was filled with the familiar scents of home-cooked meals and the sounds of his mother bustling around, but it also echoed with memories of a life he had left behind.

His younger brother, Minho, was a whirlwind of rebellion. At sixteen, he embodied the typical teenager-loud, defiant, and seemingly uninterested in anything that required responsibility. Yet beneath that tough exterior, Minho had always looked up to Wonbin, finding solace in their shared moments.

"Do you really think you're cooler now that you're working?" Minho teased one evening as they sat in the living room, a video game paused on the screen.

Wonbin smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Definitely. I can buy you new games, can't I?"

"Only if you keep coming home!" Minho shot back, laughter filling the room, easing the tension that always lingered in Wonbin's chest.

But even in these light-hearted exchanges, Wonbin felt the heaviness of his unresolved feelings for Juhee. Memories of their time together haunted him, intertwining with the present and making it difficult to fully embrace his return home. He often found himself staring out the window, lost in thoughts of her laughter, the warmth of her smile, and the way her presence had once illuminated his life.

One evening, as he took a walk to clear his mind, he spotted Juhee walking aimlessly down the street. Her shoulders were hunched, and her face was drawn in a way that made his heart ache. Something was wrong.

Without thinking, he quickened his pace, calling out, "Juhee!"

Juhee's breathing was ragged as she looked up at Wonbin, her face flushed with both anger and sadness. Her fists clenched, and before she could stop herself, she hit him in the chest, her voice breaking with pent-up frustration.

"Why are you even here, Wonbin?" she choked out, her fists still pressed against his chest. "You left, disappeared without a word. And now, when everything's falling apart, you just show up like... like it's nothing."

Wonbin stayed silent, absorbing the force of her words and the hit, letting her vent her emotions without interruption. His gaze softened, understanding that her pain ran deeper than he had ever realized.

Tears welled in her eyes as she hit him again, softer this time. "You don't get to be here," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Not when you walked away."

He reached out, pulling her into his arms, and though she struggled for a moment, she eventually let herself sink into his embrace. She felt the warmth and steadiness of him, a familiar comfort she'd tried to forget. His silent strength only made her angrier, yet she found herself clinging to him.

"Why did you have to come back?" she muttered into his shoulder, her voice muffled but thick with emotion. "It hurts to see you. To have you here... when I'm breaking."

Wonbin held her tighter, his hand resting gently against the back of her head, his touch calm and reassuring. "I'm sorry, Juhee," he whispered, his own voice heavy. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me."

She pulled back, brushing her tears away furiously, still breathing hard. Her face was twisted with hurt and anger, and for a moment, she just stared at him, feeling the weight of the years, the betrayal, and the ache of his absence. "You can't fix this," she said bitterly. "You don't get to show up and think everything will be okay. It doesn't work like that."

Wonbin met her gaze, and though her words were like knives, he took them without flinching. "I know," he said softly, giving her a small, pained smile. "But I'll be here if you need me."

The sincerity in his eyes, the way he stood there, unshaken by her fury, only stirred up her resentment further. She wanted to scream at him, to push him away, but part of her couldn't deny the solace she'd felt, even for just a moment, in his arms.

Juhee huffed, her lips pressed into a bitter line. "Don't smile at me like that," she snapped, anger lacing her voice. "You don't get to act like nothing happened."

He chuckled softly, though it was laced with sadness. "I know I don't deserve it. But I'm here, Juhee. Even if you hate me."

"Maybe I do," she replied, her voice shaking with the intensity of her feelings. "Maybe I hate you for making it so hard to forget you."

Wonbin's expression softened, and he reached out as if to touch her face but stopped, respecting the boundaries her anger had set. "Then hate me," he murmured, "if it helps. But just know... I never stopped caring."

She closed her eyes, battling the wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. "I don't need you," she whispered, more to convince herself than him. "I'll figure things out on my own."

He nodded, stepping back to give her space, though the pain of it was clear in his eyes. "I know you will. You're stronger than anyone I've ever known."

She turned away abruptly, unable to bear the quiet tenderness in his voice, and started walking off. But just as she was about to leave, she paused, swallowing hard before glancing back over her shoulder.

She turned away quickly, her footsteps fading into the night, leaving him alone. Wonbin watched her retreat, feeling the ache of what he'd lost settle deep within him. It was a bittersweet moment, a glimmer of connection overshadowed by years of pain and longing, but for now, it was enough.