Our New Fate

Chapter 11: Where were you?

Song used in this chapter: "Collide" - Desiree

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"Buried in pieces

Like some shattered glass

Now we're shattered glass"

Heung Soo didn't know why he was returning to that place. After sending him away, why was he hoping to see him again? He should have just followed his path, just as he said. However, he kept returning to that coffee shop. He kept hoping he would see a glimpse of him behind those glass windows, but when he didn't see him for long, he would go inside the cafeteria and act omnipotent, pretending he just wanted a cup of coffee. He knew he could just go somewhere else. He could just do what he was expected to do, and never go back there - yet, he always came back.

However, this morning, when he went with Moo Yul to buy a cup of black coffee, Nam Soon was not there. At first he thought he hadn't arrived yet. However, it was past eight o'clock in the morning. He should be there by now. He was always there at that time, so where was he now? Part of him was apprehensive - his heart was cold. It was as if part of him suspected what might have happened - but still, he didn't want to think about it.

Another part of him knew he shouldn't be worried. And that biggest part of him made him simply ignore it and go back to work, pretending he didn't hear Moo Yul asking him about Nam Soon - as if he would know.

He didn't know and didn't want to know. So he didn't even want to hear his name.

"Strangers and shadows

We're that desolate"

Heung Soo didn't go to the coffee shop the next morning, although he took a quick look inside when he was heading to his office. He told himself that he wasn't really worried when he didn't see Nam Soon. He thought the other might be inside taking care of the dishes, or something like that - or maybe he hadn't arrived yet. He didn't care.

He didn't care - he reminded himself of that again when Moo Yul came back to the office, telling him that Nam Soon didn't come today either. Heung Soo tried to lie to himself repeatedly that he wasn't apprehensive, yet, he spent the rest of the morning thinking about him. The office was full of work, but even that wasn't enough to keep his thoughts away from Nam Soon. Maybe something had happened? Maybe he was sick, or maybe it was something more serious, but part of him kept repeating in his head that maybe, just maybe, he took his words to heart - and maybe he wouldn't return.

Still, it might be that he was just skipping work. They used to skip school a lot back in the days. Anything would be a reason to skip class - sometimes it was a soccer game on TV, which would make them run to Nam Soon's house and watch it together. Or when the final volume of a manga was released - how could they not spend their last cents on it and read it together during school time? Even when they spent their nights talking, laughing and staying up late, and were too tired in the morning - that would also be a reason to skip class. Perhaps Nam Soon hadn't changed.

Or perhaps it was not that. He shouldn't be thinking about it, but the memories insisted on coming back.

Heung Soo had a few spare minutes in the afternoon, which to him seemed to be a good excuse to go downstairs and buy some coffee. It wasn't about Nam Soon. All he needed was a cup of coffee - that was all.