COME BACK HOME ➤ KIM TAEHYUNG

MENTOR | page 02

"Do you lie often?"

I paused before answering him, as if I was thinking about it. I wasn't.
"I don't mean to. But I know I do."

He nodded, pursing his lips, his head was resting on his hands. We were sitting at a table on top of a hill, it was a beautiful night, except there were no stars this time.

"You shouldn't lie, it doesn't give you anything. You just deceive people and eventually all the lies will come back to bite you in the ass," he spoke matter of factly, like a teacher. It was one of the few times where he actually looked at me while speaking.

"I don't like liars."
He took a deep breath, for dramatic pause I assume, then started speaking again: "What do you think of me?"

I didn't hesitate: "I respect you. Or I'm just a bit intimidated by you, I'm not sure yet."

He grinned suddenly, a devilishly cheeky grin: "Intimidating? Respect? I'm glad. I'm like your mentor here, aren't I? Teaching you how to be a better person and live a better life."

"I wonder if you've actually listened to my advice in the real world," he mumbled, he raised his head to the sky and I noticed his eyes shine again, the stars were back.

"I believe I've been influenced by you a lot, actually," his eyebrows raised at my words, "I'm happier. I'm better off, somehow. I feel like a better person... I hope I am."

He looked... astonished, to say the least, he licked his lips before speaking again: "Wow- I- well, that's great. Only took you a whole year."

"I feel like you were a teacher in your past life."

He laughed this time, "You're probably right."

It was only quiet for three seconds before his eyes widened and desperately searched for mine: "You just felt like that? Or you had a.. thought about it?"

"I... don't know," I tilted my head at his hopeful stare.

My words seemed to have crushed him, I noticed his hand ball up into a fist and jaw clench, he turned himself sideways and leaned back until he laid on the bench completely.

"Of course," he muttered, disappointment lacing his tone.

My eyes narrowed at his acts but other than that I couldn't react. The stars were gone again.