Secret Admirer

24. Memories

The chime of the doorbell broke the quiet hum of the tattoo parlor. 

Buri paused mid-swipe as he wiped down the counter, his tired mind assuming it was a customer who hadn't noticed the "Closed" sign hanging on the door. 

Without looking back, he called out, "Sorry, we're closed for the day—"

His voice faltered when he turned and saw who it was.

June stood there, framed by the doorway, his eyes wide and uncertain. 

Buri froze, his breath catching in his throat. The sight of June—a face he thought he would never see in this space again—sent a wave of emotions crashing over him, unbidden and relentless.

Memories rushed to the forefront of his mind, vivid and unrelenting, as though the years that had passed between them were nothing but a fragile curtain torn apart in an instant.

The first time Buri had seen June came flooding back to him like it had just happened yesterday.

 It was at the international students' care office back in Sweden, where they both attended university. 

June had walked out of the office with tears in his eyes, his buzzcut hair and round cheeks making him look both young and heartbreakingly vulnerable. 

Buri hadn't meant to stare, but the sight of another Asian student—rare at their university—had caught his attention.

Curiosity had driven him to step into the office. The counselor, a kind-hearted older woman, explained that the boy had been struggling to adjust to life in Sweden. He was overwhelmed by his studies, the unfamiliar culture, and the sheer weight of being far from home. 

On impulse, Buri volunteered to tutor him. The words left his mouth before he could think them through, and the counselor's delighted reaction left him with no way to back out.

Later that evening, Buri had scolded himself for the rash decision. He had been planning to drop out of university to focus on becoming a full-time tattoo artist—a dream he had carried for years. But with this commitment, he couldn't just up and leave. 

Still, when June showed up at their first tutoring session, his wide eyes filled with gratitude, Buri couldn't bring himself to regret his decision.

He found himself working harder than ever, not just to help June but to impress him. June's determination, the way he tackled every challenge head-on despite his struggles, inspired Buri.

 Before long, Buri realized why he was putting in so much effort: he was falling in love with June.

The day Buri confessed his feelings was one he'd never forget. His fears of rejection were overwhelming—what if June didn't feel the same? But there was no need for worry. 

June had smiled, his cheeks flushed, and admitted he had felt the same way all along. Buri had been over the moon, his heart bursting with happiness when they officially became boyfriends.

Their relationship was beautiful in those early days. 

June introduced Buri to his parents, who, to Buri's astonishment, had approved of him as their son's boyfriend. 

Their acceptance meant everything to Buri and gave him the courage to tell June about his dream of becoming a tattoo artist. Dropping out of university felt like a massive leap, but June had supported him wholeheartedly.

That support didn't come without sacrifice. 

When June's parents opposed Buri dropping out, urging June to break up with him, June chose Buri without hesitation. He moved out of his family's home and into Buri's small apartment, leaving behind a life of comfort and privilege. 

Though Buri was touched by June's devotion, guilt began to creep in. He felt responsible for the rift between June and his parents, who had loved their son dearly.

As Buri started working as a tattoo apprentice, June became their sole provider. He took on multiple part-time jobs, translating documents to keep them afloat financially. 

Buri admired June's unwavering determination, but his guilt deepened with every passing day. He hated seeing June, who had come from a wealthy background, work so hard just to support them.

Despite the challenges, their love endured. 

June's unwavering belief in him kept Buri going, even when everyone else doubted their relationship. 

Friends, colleagues, and even strangers told June he deserved someone better, someone who could give him the life he deserved. But June stood by Buri, refusing to let go of the love they shared.

When June was offered an internship with his dream company in another city, Buri knew he had to support him, even if it meant being apart for six long months. He encouraged June to take the opportunity, though the thought of being separated tore at his heart. 

June left, and Buri channeled his energy into saving money and working tirelessly to open his own tattoo parlor.

But life wasn't kind. Finding an investor was a struggle, and just when he thought he had succeeded, the investor pulled out at the last moment. It was devastating. 

Buri wasn't upset about the delay in achieving his dream—he was worried about how it would affect June. He couldn't bear the thought of June continuing to struggle alongside him.

When Yen offered to partner with him at the eleventh hour, it felt like a lifeline. She was willing to share the space for her hair salon, which meant Buri's dream could still come true.

 Overwhelmed with relief, Buri threw himself into preparing for the opening. He didn't tell June about Yen, not because he wanted to keep secrets, but because he didn't want to add to June's stress.

The day of the opening came, and when June called to say he couldn't make it, Buri was heartbroken. He masked his disappointment, pretending everything was fine. 

But when June surprised him by showing up anyway, his heart soared. He rushed to hug him, overwhelmed with joy.

What followed was a nightmare he hadn't anticipated. 

June misunderstood his relationship with Yen and accused him of cheating. Buri was too stunned to explain, and before he knew it, June had walked out of his life, leaving Buri shattered.

The memory of that day lingered like a scar on his soul. 

Buri was left devastated when June walked out of his life, the misunderstanding cutting deeper than he could have imagined. 

Losing June, the person who had sacrificed so much for their love, felt like losing a part of himself. Guilt and heartbreak consumed him, and he often replayed the events, wondering if he could have done something differently. 

To cope, Buri buried himself in his work, pouring his pain into perfecting his craft as a tattoo artist. 

Success in his career became his way of honoring June's belief in him, even as he struggled to fill the void June had left behind.

He could never move on as he loved June more than himself.

Despite years of separation and the heartbreak, Buri's love for June remained steadfast. 

Every success and every tattoo he crafted held traces of June's encouragement and sacrifices. Buri never moved on, cherishing their memories and holding onto the hope that, one day, fate might bring them back together.