BY THE SEA ✓

XLV

여름
aestas
summer

"why won't you
tell me
what's wrong?"
Taehyung urged,
imploring
for his girlfriend
to say something-
anything.

she was having
one of her rotten days,
the days
Taehyung wasn't
used to.
she felt bad
but had no
self control
over what she felt,
on what day.

"nothings wrong."
she'd utter-
her voice letting
her down,
as lies spurted
from her mouth,
onto her face,
catching her out.

"open up to me,
i'm here for you."
Taehyung would reply,
his response hasty
as he'd
rub her shoulders,
smile into her neck-
do anything
just to make her
feel more
at ease.

but Seol was
flawed,
unreliable
and lacked confidence-
she was used to
people leaving,
people talking
and people using.
opening up
wasn't as easy
as Taehyung assumed.

"every time
i open up
to someone,
they leave.
when i say something
close to my heart,
i'm forced to
hold the door open
and let them leave.
what does it
leave me with?
regret, always."

Taehyung felt
defeated,
because his girlfriend
was distant
and hostile-
he wanted to be there,
help somehow?
but instead,
his words
came out wrong-
as humans make errors
sometimes.

"i don't know
anything
about you."

"you don't?"

Seol felt worse.
it made her ponder
and question,
if they didn't know
anything
about each other-
how did Seol know
Taehyung hated coffee,
wanted a puppy as a son,
loved flowers,
was eager to break stereotypes
and his personality traits
included, carefulness,
patience,
reliance
and a loving heart.

"just leave."
Seol pointed
to her door.