blossoms 《jaehyun》

s e v e n t e e n

soojung helped me to carry the boxes to my car as i was on my way to give my resignation letter to the principal.

"i'm sorry jaehyun for all the trouble. i wish you goodluck for your studies." he patted my back as i said my last goodbye to him.

i didn't say my goodbyes to all the class i've taught as they were oblivious about my leaving.

after the incident last week, her mother and i lodged a police report regarding her father and thankfully, they went onto some procedures and i could say that jaerin and her mother were now safe.

that was enough to make me happy.

as i was about to walk down to my car, i saw jaerin standing in the middle of the  hallway. she was the only one who knew about my departure.

we went to the teacher vehicle parking together, not too far from student's blocks. none of us said anything through the walk but i felt every steps that i took, it became heavier.

i didn't know if she felt the same thing.

"i want to say thank you," she broke the ice.

we were now standing while facing each other. she had to look up to me as i was taller than her. i gave her my smile.

"thank you for what you've done for me. and my mother. we're very thankful for it." her voice started to crack. for a moment, i wanted to badly take my resignation letter from the principal and turned down the university letter so bad.

"it was nothing." i blurted out.

"must you go?"

for a moment, i was holding her gaze and she was holding mine. we were looking each other in the eyes. i didn't have the balls to reply to that.

"i see it's a goodbye then. i wish you well jung jaehyun." with the last words, she slowly turned away from me and moved away.

i let out a sigh. she was the only one in the school would called me by my full name without feeling guilty.

"shim jaerin," i called out to her that caused her to stop from her tracks. it took a while for her to turn around to face me.

she was holding her tears from falling down.

"am i still a coward?"

with that last question on a bright autumn, she broke down in tears. slowly, she shook her head from left to right.

no you're not, was the last thing i read from her lips as we both said our goodbyes.

as i turned to my car, a tear escaped from my eyes, only to be wiped off by the cold wind. it was indeed a cold day for the both of us.