Seven Deadly Sins

I Can't

After Lust had escaped from her, Sang-won was able to catch up, panting and breathing large gulps of air.

His hair was tousled by the run, clothes rumpled in some places.

"Who was that?" he asked breathlessly, leaning on the wall.

Hana was silent as she took a moment to scan her surroundings in case the Sin was lurking anywhere nearby. She made sure to pass over corners and buildings with a calculated gaze, trying to sense for any abnormality. When it became clear he was nowhere to be found, she turned to her newfound companion and softened her expression to something apologetic.

"Mian," she apologized with a bow. "Lust was able to escape, but I kinda let him since I didn't have the box with me." She turned to check once more, and then whipped around to face the boy.

"You were right," she then said, surprising Sang-won as his eyebrow rose in question. "About that tracker. They were using it to keep tabs on me!"

Anger and frustration bubbled up in her gut, clawing at her insides and tearing at her self-esteem. The burn of wrath was accompanied by humiliation and the utter feeling of defeat as tears welled up in her eyes. She struggled to keep in her sobs, wiping repeatedly at her sockets even as they continued to leak out tears. Her chest constricted, cutting off her air supply as she tried valiantly to hold in the dam that wanted so badly to crack.

No, not right now.

Not in front of a new friend, who looked willing to help her with anything. But it didn't change the fact she knew him just a few moments ago.

"A- are you okay?" he asked cautiously, a hand outstretched to touch her shoulder, but hovering only near her, afraid to cross any boundary. She appreciated the thought anyway.

She sniffed, a tear able to escape her left eye. Her hand was quick to stop its downward movement with a swipe, her lips pulling up to form a gracious smile.

"Yeah I'm fine."

"You don't look like it, though."

Her fragile smile cracked just a bit, and she gave out a heavy sigh, trying to dispel the negative emotions from her system.

"I- it's just..." she breathed in air through her nose to maintain composure, but her eyes were filling up quickly with the tears. Sang-won watched her quietly, patient and waiting. "I- I can't do it."

It was said with such resignation and defeat that Hana's shoulders slumped and Sang-won's eyebrows jumped in surprise.

"You're joking."

He tried to offer an amused smile but the girl's expression looked so lost and broken that he ceased trying to lighten the mood.

"I can't anymore."

Sang-won's brows creased before he roughly took ahold of her shoulders, shaking them for good measure and looking directly into her eyes, which were glassy and full of tears.

"You can't give up out of the blue like that, Hana-ssi," he said hardly. "You can't just say 'I quit' and expect the world to be saved with that dejected statement."

More beads of tears rolled down her cheeks, but she wiped it all away as she continued to stare at the tall boy.

"But I'm useless-"

"No one is!" he cut almost angrily. "Everyone's got a purpose in life; others just haven't found it yet. But you? This is your mission, and I'm positive you'll be able to accomplish it with a bang and return those Sins back to where they belong.

"You just haven't found the solution yet, but I'll try my best to help and make sure this mission of yours succeeds, 'cause I've still got a dream of becoming a bassist and drawing caricature for the rest of my life, you hear?"

He searched her gaze, though foggy with the constant downpour of tears. She was crying openly now, dragging her hands across her eyes and biting her lips to keep in the most of her torrent. But she was listening, nodding to what he was saying and storing the knowledge in a willing heart.

He admired that about her, despite knowing her for only over an hour.

"Yah, you're gonna be fine," he assured with a soft smile, using his thumbs to rid the wetness of her cheeks. "You're gonna do good, and I know so. I'm not only saying these things to make you feel better, but I want you to believe them and make it happen. Okay?" He wiped at her eyes still, and he felt her nod her head.

"Sang-won-ssi," she croaked, voice hoarse from all the crying.

"Ne?"

"Can you let go of my face? I think I'm fine now."

He did so quickly, smiling in embarrassment and rubbing small circles into her shoulder even after that episode. Hana smiled back in thanks, all better now that she released her pent-up emotions.

"Gomawo," she said with as much gratefulness she can muster after crying, bowing reverently.

Sang-won returned the gesture respectfully, smiling a close-lipped one and trying to offer comfort to the girl.

She inhaled through her nose and huffed out an exhale, ending the small coping mechanism by releasing a breath.

"Feeling better?"

"My mind's clearer, if that's what you're asking," Hana giggled as she and Sang-won trudged back to the library.

"You have to get rid of the thing that Lust gave you," Sang-won reminded, the cold air of the public library greeting them as they entered to head back to Hana's table.

She nodded, walking back to her table and receiving the shock of her life.

Her jaw slackened and her eyes widened, heart thumping at an erratic pace as she stared at the empty spot where the tracker used to be.

She gaped at Sang-won, who stared back equally confused and befuddled. He shrugged helplessly, going over to her desk to make sure they weren't dreaming.

"It's gone!" Hana exclaimed though both knew that fact perfectly well. They just needed someone to proclaim it to be certain this was real and happening.

"What- where'd it go?" the boy questioned, though not expecting an answer to that. He met Hana's panicked orbs. "You think they got it back?"

The girl chewed on her lower lip contemplatively before nodding slowly.

"Maybe that's why Lust was here." She moved her gaze from the floor to his own. "To get that back once he knew he was found out." Her brows crinkled. "Sneaky little pabo."

A sigh escaped Sang-won, the action gaining Hana's attention.

"Never mind them. For now, we have to know where their symbols are located."

Hana stood rooted to her spot, eyes looking out one of the windows of the library in a somewhat forlorn way. She looked to Sang-won's questioning gaze, and spoke.

"I have to be home by now. It's getting late, and my mom will definitely hit me if I don't come back by dark. Mianhae, Sang-won-ssi," she said again, packing up her things rapidly and bowing to the boy, who waved wordlessly and watched her go.