Boundless

제 5 장

"I think I deserve some kind of explanation, Athena," Jae murmured, his voice calm—so calm it nearly masked the storm he carried behind his eyes. "You didn't even say goodbye."

His gentleness made the guilt burn deeper.

I said nothing, only stared into his trembling eyes, watching the frustration flicker like candlelight behind them. My lips quivered, and a lump rose in my throat, thick and unmoving.

He stepped closer.

"You don't have to be ashamed," he said softly, turning his head slightly as though the memory itself hurt to hold. "I meant every second we spent together. Did you... not feel the same?"

I reached for his hand—warm, familiar, grounding. He looked at me then, his gaze quiet and searching.

"You were wonderful," I whispered. "You are wonderful. I left because I was scared."

His hands cradled my face, ready to catch any tear that might escape.

"I haven't stopped thinking about you," he confessed. "Couldn't stop. I kept wondering what I did wrong... until I realized maybe it wasn't me. Maybe it was the way you were feeling. Maybe you were alone again. And I wasn't there to hold you."

He pressed his forehead to mine, and the tears finally came—hot and silent. He pulled me into his chest, arms wrapping around me like he could shield me from my own fears.

Then we heard it.

"Mr. Min."

We both turned.

Ms. Oh stood in the doorway of the pub, her eyes wide and her presence sharp.

I tried to pull away, wiping my tears and stepping back, but Jae's arm curled around my waist, firm and sure.

His eyes never left mine.

"Ms. Oh, could we have a moment?" he asked, not breaking his gaze.

She nodded and slipped inside, her heels clicking like accusations.

Jae finally let go of me, his fingers brushing mine before falling to his side.

"Why?" he asked, barely above a whisper. "Why did you leave?"

"I was afraid..." I breathed, hugging my arms around myself. "Afraid I'd misread what you wanted, that I'd fall for a fantasy... and find myself more alone than before. I didn't want to need you. I don't want to need anyone."

He exhaled slowly, like my words punched the air from his lungs. Then he took my hand again.

"What if my intentions were real?" he asked. "What if I want to be someone you can depend on? What if I need you, Athena?"

"I don't deserve you," I muttered bitterly. "I'm a mess."

His hand tightened around mine.

"Don't say that. You don't know how untrue that is," he said softly. "You're only seeing the surface. There's more strength in you than you realize."

I looked into his eyes and said nothing. The sky had grown darker around us, heavy with rain yet to fall.

"Let's go," he whispered. "The storm's coming."

That night, Jae didn't take me home.
Not in the way one might expect.

We parked in front of my tiny studio apartment and stayed in the car until the sun began to bloom across the horizon.
We talked.
About everything and nothing.
About music and childhood, about scars and dreams.
Time folded in on itself, and suddenly it was nearly seven.