Between the Lines | Riize Wonbin

Chapter 46: Echoes of the Past

Juhee woke up in the dimly lit apartment, the soft sounds of rain tapping against the window soothing her into wakefulness. She stretched, feeling the warmth of Wonbin's presence beside her. His face was relaxed in sleep, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions she had felt just hours before. The comfort of his company lingered, but her throat felt dry, prompting her to slip out of bed and make her way to the kitchen.

As she quietly padded through the living room, the soft glow of a lamp caught her attention. She noticed a stack of items on the coffee table-tickets of varying colors and sizes, neatly arranged, but what truly drew her in were the small polaroid photos scattered among them.

Curious, she picked up one of the tickets, reading the destination and date printed on it. It was a flight ticket to a city she recognized-a place where they had shared countless memories. Her heart quickened as she shuffled through the others, each ticket revealing a journey Wonbin had taken in the years he was away. It felt like a window into his life-a life she had been absent from, filled with adventures and experiences she had never known.

Her gaze fell on the polaroids next. The first picture was of her, taken at a birthday party-her face beaming with happiness, surrounded by friends. Written in delicate handwriting on the bottom was the inscription: "Happy 22nd Birthday." The second photo was similar, capturing another year, another moment of joy, marked with the same message: "Happy 23rd Birthday."

Juhee's breath caught in her throat as she turned to the third photo. It was a snapshot of her taken during her convocation ceremony, the day she had worked so hard for. In the corner of the picture, in Wonbin's familiar script, it read: "I hope you never meet someone like me in this life. I hope you find someone who loves you more than I ever could."

The words hit her like a wave, crashing over her with overwhelming force. Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes as she clutched the photograph to her chest, the sentiment echoing in her mind. She had spent so long wondering what could have been, the pain of their separation a constant ache in her heart. But this message felt like a bittersweet farewell, a confession of love that transcended time and distance.

Feeling a mixture of sadness and warmth, she turned back to the table, scanning the remaining tickets and photos. Each one told a story of longing and heartache, of a boy who had loved her deeply but had felt compelled to leave. It was both beautiful and painful, a reminder of everything they had lost and everything that still lay between them.

Taking a deep breath, she whispered into the quiet room, "What were you doing all this time, Wonbin? What were you feeling?" She placed the photographs back down gently, feeling the weight of their shared history. She knew their journey was far from over, and as she stepped away to pour herself a glass of water, she felt a flicker of hope that they could find their way back to each other.

As she sipped the cool liquid, her mind swirled with thoughts of what lay ahead. Whatever the future held, she was ready to face it-with all its pain and beauty, hand in hand with the boy who had loved her from afar. She looked back at Wonbin, still lost in dreams, and felt an overwhelming sense of determination rise within her. Their past was filled with shadows, but she believed that together they could create a new beginning.