The Cat That I Love

"Lucy"Ch.27

Authors pov.

Chaeryeong woke up early at 5 a.m. and decided to go for a run, her mind still filled with fresh memories of the previous night. Frustrated, she stopped running, kicked a small rock on the sidewalk, and muttered, "Shibal, Shin Ryujin, damn you," recalling when Yeji mentioned seeing a video on Ryujin's phone. Picking up her pace again, she headed straight to Ryujin's apartment. When she arrived, Ryujin was about to lock her door, but Chaeryeong stopped her. 

She grabbed Ryujin's hand, opened the apartment door with her other hand, and pulled her inside. Ryujin looked utterly confused. "Ryu, why did you give Yeji your phone? You should've locked those videos! Gosh, now she's gone and done something—ashhh, shibal!" Chaeryeong said in frustration. Slowly, Ryujin pieced together what had happened, a big smile forming before she burst into laughter. 

"Dude, she did that to you? Hahaha! Omg, I didn't know Yeji had that in her. Damn, wait... are you two a thing now?" Ryujin's curiosity grew as she watched Chaeryeong's expression. "Shibal," the pale girl muttered. "Gosh, dude, just tell me already, I'm dying to know, jebal Ryeong?" Ryujin pleaded. The two sat down on the couch, and Chaeryeong began recounting the events of the previous night, making Ryujin light up with childlike excitement.

"So, both of you live together, even sleep together, so the question is, what are you two?" Ryujin asked, leaving Chaeryeong unable to answer. The question stuck in her mind—what are they? A cat and its owner, friends, or something else entirely? She honestly didn't know. "Ryeong, just some advice—make a move already. We all know you like her, and she likes you. Can you two just be together already? Don't waste the opportunity; you can't predict the future. Maybe one day she won't be yours, she'll be gone like nothing happened. Take the risk, Ryeong," Ryujin said, sounding like a professional love expert.

(Should she take the risk? Or should I?)

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Minhyun's POV.

What's wrong with these two, not talking at all? I've been sitting between them the whole ride to appa's hometown on our way to the old Hwang house, just like we planned. I think they might've gotten into a fight or something! A minute later, we arrived at the house. As we entered, Yeji suddenly collapsed—thank goodness I caught her in time. I could feel a hot stare on me, but I shrugged it off and carried Yeji to Aunt Lucy's room, just like appa asked me to.

I left the room and went to the piano room, where I saw Appa sitting on the piano bench, ready to play the song he always played. As he played, I heard footsteps approaching. When I looked, it was Yeji, slowly walking toward Appa with a gentle smile on her face. It reminded me of the stories Appa told me about Auntie Lucy—her smile was soft and genuine, and her eyes were captivating, like sand at the seaside when the waves and sunlight meet, creating tiny diamonds that sparkle on the shore. Could this really be Aunt Lucy I'm seeing today?

They played the melody flawlessly, and I realized it was their own. As they played happily, I heard another set of footsteps stop at the door. It was Chaeryeong, her eyes filled with worry and fear as she watched Yeji become someone unfamiliar. Our eyes met, but she quickly turned away and left, carrying her unease.

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Author's POV.

The siblings played the music to their hearts' content. After finishing, Hyunjin asked his sister, "Unnie, is that really you?" His voice was full of hope. "Yes, Sam, it's me. You've grown taller, my little brother," Lucy said, reaching out to pat Hyunjin's head like she used to when they were kids, smiling gently at him. "Unnie, I missed you... I-I really miss you. Every year on your birthday, I never forgot, and I always bought you so many presents, a-and..." Hyunjin wanted to tell her everything, but his words dissolved into tears. He couldn't bear the thought of her disappearing after only just returning.

"You don't need to tell me, Sam, I know everything. How you promised me you would save Appa's business, even giving up on your dream just to do that. I know you suffered, but it's okay now, Sam, you did great. You need to stop carrying this guilt, thinking you have to pay for everything because of my death. Stop blaming yourself, jebal, my little brother—you've suffered enough." Lucy caressed her little brother's face, looking at him with a smile as tears slowly fell down her cheeks.

"B-but, unnie... I was the cause of why you died. It was because of me. If only I hadn't run that day, if only I hadn't invited you to play with me that summer, if only I hadn't stopped you from finishing your assignment, i-if I had only..." Hyunjin cried like a child, regretting everything that happened that day. "Sam Hwang, remember what I always say: never regret anything, or you'll be stuck in the past. My crybaby little brother, stop regretting, jebal, please. I was happy choosing to play with you that day. It was my choice. You only did what I told you to do. It wasn't your fault, okay? It was already written in my fate that I would die that day, so stop regretting, my little brother."

Hyunjin looked at his sister, tears still streaming down his face. "U-unnie, I still didn't want you to die that day. Everyone was so sad, everyone was gloomy. The house didn't feel like home anymore without you in it, unnie. When you said to let go of the guilt, I felt like a selfish person, letting go of the guilt and the suffering. You suffered the most, unnie. How can I let go when, because of me, your dreams, your youth, and your happiness were shattered?" Hyunjin was frustrated with himself, anger reflecting on his face.

"Sam, you've suffered enough. You lost your dream, gave up the things you loved most, and lost your sister. That's enough already. It's time to let go, to do the things you enjoy, to go places you like. Stop suffering, my little brother. It's okay now—everything is okay. Don't carry the guilt and regret from the past. Be free, Sam." Lucy smiled, reassuring her little brother as she hugged him to comfort him.