Reality As She Knows It

Chapter 20: Acceptance and Confessions

I'm having separation anxiety with this story. But I'm proud I made it this far :))

Enjoy!!!

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            “I bet those two will be a couple in a week,” Eiji said to Ayako.

            They had just arrived at school and was looking at Dong Min and Min Ji who were studying on a nearby bench. Well, Min Ji was studying, Dong Min was basically distracting her from it.

            “Stop moving around!” Min Ji shrieked, pissed.

            “Then stop studying. Pay attention to me,” Dong Min said.

            “One, we have a test in Physics later. I need to study. Two, I don't have any obligation whatsoever to pay attention to you. And three, who told you to loiter around here? Your class is on the other building!”

            “But Min Ji~” Dong Min whined.

            Ayako smirked. “Three days.”

            “Alright, it's a bet,” Eiji said. “But isn't it nice to see him like this? So normal and not pretending to be fine?”

            Ayako smiled. “Yeah. It's a relief.” It was good to know that Dong Min had returned to his goofy self and seemed to be truly okay now. He had looked so distraught the days after she told him the truth about his father but had tried to act like usual. It's been a 6 months since then.

            Just last week, Dong Min told her he had visited his father's grave.

            “The wound in my heart is no longer bleeding, Ayako. But it will forever leave a scar. Even so, I still visited him. I told him he was a bastard for throwing me away and for dying without seeing me.” He smiled. “Then I said thank you.”

            “For what?”

            “For leaving me to the Park family. I had a happy life thanks to that. I was loved. I wish he could have had the same. But since he couldn't. I just wish he's at peace now.”

            “You're brave, Dong Min, for going there.”

            “I just wanted him to know that I'm okay.”

            She was so proud of him. Even at his weakest, he was strong because he had managed to accept his past and the kind of father he had.

            Father, I don't think we have to worry about him becoming like Kang Dae. Because he won't. He simply won't.

            “Hey you guys, are we intruding in your lover's time?” Eiji said as they approached Min Ji and Dong Min.

            “Nah, we can continue later,” Dong Min said.

            “Hi Eiji! Hi Aya!” Min Ji said, smacking Dong Min on the side of his head. “Ignore him, please.”

            “Sure thing Min Ji,” Ayako grinned and did a high five with Min Ji.

            Just then, Dong Min glanced at his wristwatch. “Darn! It's already 8:30. Gotta run! Let's go Eiji! Our class is the farthest room from here,” He said before sprinting off with Eiji.

            Ayako and Min Ji looked at each other and laughed.

            “They're so silly,” Min Ji giggled.