AND THEN YOU CAME

23 회

I run and look around the complex, completely clueless about where she might goes. The complex is large. Even though i spend the night looking for her, i don't think it will be enough.

When i stop to chase my breath, an idea suddenly pops out of my head.

I snap my head to the left and right, trying to find that place.

Thanks to my eagle vision, i get to spot the faint light from afar. The signature blue light from the water fountain.

I run to the fountain, and i soon as i get there, i can see a familiar figure sitting by the edge of the fountain. And as expected, it's Jieun.

She doesn't realize that i'm near her, silently observing her condition.

Poor girl.

Slowly, i approach her. I don't wanna be too close, or she'll run away. We're not in good terms, i clearly know the boundary.

Just then, she turns her head towards me, finally acknowledging my existence. However, i don't say anything. I only sit down, probably two metres away from her.

The atmosphere is completely quiet, if only she stops sobbing. I glance at her swollen ankle. Ah, that's why she's limping just now.

Whatever that just happened to her, i feel sad for her. I always do. Deep down inside my heart, i never stop caring about the girl. Not even when she asked me to go away at the wedding party that time.

I'm not mad at her when she said that. I think i deserve it. It has always been my fault anyway. I totally know that she's a fragile woman, yet i hurt her. I know i didn't have to be rude, but i did anyway. I was the only one she trusted, but i didn't want her. I pushed her away.

How mean you are, Kim Taehyung.

I open my mouth, and white smoke escapes as i breath out.

"Do you remember when i first moved here?" I start, looking up to the night sky.

She doesn't reply. I don't expect her to anyway. I just want her to know how grateful i am to meet her in my life, and how sorry i am to ruin our precious relationship so severely.

"I had a hard time adapting to the new environment, and i missed my old friends." I pause. "So i cried everyday while sitting here, alone. Because i didn't want my parents to know."

It sucks remembering that time.

"It was a hard and lonely time for me, but then.. you came." I smile at the thought of it. "You just sat there, and you wouldn't even say a word at the beginning. You were just.. there, until i left."

I glance and she just stares at her bare feet.

"You did this everyday, and i started enjoying your company without i even realized. Well, even though you didn't say a word, i really appreciate it." I laugh.

"And slowly, we became friends. It's hard to be friends with you at the beginning, because you're so closed off. But somehow, i just really like you."

She's always been my source of comfort, even until now.

"When i got sad, i'd just call out your name and it never failed to comfort me everytime."

I stand up, slowly approaching the girl.

"Jieun, Jieun." I sing nostalgically, and i can feel the lump in my throat. I miss us. "Amazingly, after i called your name several times, you came everytime. It's like you heard me."

I squat down in front of her, eyes catching her teary ones. Without i even realize, my eyes start to be blurry too. To be honest, i could never stand seeing her cries.

I take a hold of her freezing hands, squeezing them tight to warm them.

"Now you can do the same. Just call my name and i'll come to you immediately. I promise."

I force a smile, and as i did, a tear escapes. She stares into my eyes, and her tears won't stop streaming down her red cheeks.

She pulls her hands away from me, covering her face to hide it.

I stand up, developing her into a hug.

"I'm sorry," I say, and my voice shakes terribly. "I missed you so bad."

Nobody says a word after that. We just cry, but we know, the tears mean more than the words.

-Jieun's POV-

Taehyung brings me to his house after that. He piggybacks me, because i hurt my foot. He even calls my mom too because i left my phone in my room.

His parents are asleep, and he suggests that i have to stay the night here. Of course i say yes, i don't want to see dad. At least, not tonight.

"You can sleep in your room. It's been a long time since you last came here right?"

I nod, staring at him pressing the ice pack to my swollen ankle.

The last time i came here to have a sleepover was when we were in middle school.

I used to have sleepover here a lot when we were younger. So the guestroom here is basically my room. I even put some of my belongings in the room, including our childhood photo together. I wonder if it is still there.

"Should i call Jimin?" He asks suddenly, and i immediately shake my head.

"I don't want him to worry. Beside, let's keep it a secret until tomorrow." he looks up to me. "The fact that we've made up."

He smiles, and i do too. We know how much we missed each other, we just couldn't lie.

"Is our photo still in the room?" I ask, hoping that he hasn't get rid of them.

He nods, and i feel slightly happy because of that. "I didn't change anything, Jieun. Even though we stopped talking for a while, i never did. You're still precious to me no matter what."

Oh, really. Thanks for not hating the annoying me.

"I think you'll have to keep your leg cold if like this. The swelling is quite bad."

I nod obediently, bend down and take over the ice pack from him.

When he looks at me with questioning look, i immediately say: "It's okay, i can do this by myself. Let's go to sleep now, it's late."

He stands up, sighing. "Are you sure? Do you want me to accompany you to sleep?"

"We have our own partner, Taehyung. How can you say that?" I chuckle, shaking my head.

He frowns, totally disagree. "I mean, we used to sleep together when we were kids."

"It's not the same Tae. We're grown ups!"

"You're not a grown up at all, Nam Jieun."

And we continue to mock on each other, spilling our untold stories until the time is too late.

Just like old times.