You Are My Cure

26

Yeji's POV

These past weeks without Ryujin have been hard, but somehow, Han has made it bearable. He's been there when I needed a friend, and I've found myself leaning on him more than I expected. It doesn't mean I've stopped thinking about Ryujin—far from it. She's always in the back of my mind, but Han's company distracts me, softens the ache of her absence.

I've tried calling Ryujin so many times, but her phone just doesn't connect. At first, I thought she might be avoiding me, but when I asked Yuna, she told me Ryujin had lost her phone shortly after arriving in Australia. "She's getting it sorted," Yuna said casually when I cornered her during lunch one day. "It's nothing personal."

That's what Yuna said, but it didn't stop the hollow feeling inside me. I miss her more than I can say, but there's nothing I can do from here.

In the meantime, Han has been... comforting. He's so thoughtful—always remembering little things, like my favorite coffee order or the way I like to sketch quietly without being interrupted. The other day, he stayed late after class just to help me clean up a mess I made with some paint. "You don't have to do this," I'd told him, embarrassed as I wiped my hands on a rag.

"I know," he said, flashing me that easy smile of his. "But friends help each other out, right?" It's small things like that which make me appreciate him.

 I still feel the void Ryujin left, but with Han, it doesn't feel as sharp. He's become someone I look forward to seeing, someone who seems to understand without me having to explain.

---Han had made these weeks bearable in ways Yeji hadn't expected. During a quiet lunch break, he showed up unannounced, his tray in hand and a warm smile on his face. "Mind if I sit with you?" he asked, his voice cutting through the haze of her thoughts. She blinked up at him, surprised but not opposed. "Sure." As they ate, Han talked effortlessly, sharing stories about his old school and lighthearted anecdotes that coaxed small laughs out of her. By the end of lunch, Yeji found herself feeling lighter. ---In art class, he was always there, quick to help whenever she struggled. One afternoon, she was frowning at her painting, trying to figure out why it didn't look quite right. "Here," Han said softly, leaning over. "Maybe add a little more contrast here? It'll make this section pop." She tried it, and to her surprise, it worked perfectly. "You're good at this," she admitted, impressed. "Not as good as you," he replied casually, his modesty earning a small chuckle from her. ---Even outside of class, Han seemed to show up at the right moments. On a rainy Wednesday, Yeji was caught without an umbrella, and just as she was about to make a run for it, she spotted him waiting by the entrance. "Need a rescue?" he teased, holding out his umbrella. She smiled, her heart warming at the gesture. "Thanks, but you didn't have to wait for me." "I wanted to," he said simply. "It's nicer walking with someone, don't you think?" The walk home was quiet, filled with the gentle rhythm of raindrops. Yeji couldn't help but feel grateful for Han's steady presence. ---By the second week, their connection deepened. A group project brought them together for long study sessions in the library, where Han's easygoing nature made even the most tedious work feel manageable. "You really know how to make studying tolerable," Yeji said one evening, half-teasing. "Happy to help," he replied with a grin. "Besides, you're not too bad yourself. Good company makes all the difference." ---Han's constant kindness was comforting in a way Yeji hadn't realized she needed. He wasn't Ryujin—no one could be—but he was... something. Someone.