Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The moment I saw Hyejin I dragged her to the back her room.
I'm sure I startled everyone, the way I flew into the cafe. But I had more pressing matters than care if they see my tear-stained cheeks or not.
I heard shouts of concern after us, but I didn't stop to reassure anyone. I didn't want to break down right then and there. In the midst of everyone who were helping to arrange the party.
The moment we were alone I threw my arms around Hyejin in a tight hold. Feeling the tremble in my body only when it was pressed so close to hers.
"Oh Eunha, what's wrong?" she asked. Her arms wrapping around me. Not in the tight hold I had her in, but enough for me to feel them around me. Grounding me from flying off reality.
I shook my head. Too strung up to construct a sentence that made sense, much less explain all these weird things I was feeling.
I'm not even going to pretend I had no idea what it was that I was feeling. I knew very well where the feeling stemmed from. Why I was feeling it. And towards whom that feeling was directed.
Putting it into coherent words, all that depth in the feeling... I could never do it justice.
Sighing, she pulled us to sit on the couch. Hands rubbing up and down my back, carding through my hair. She let me be. Holding her to ground myself as I gathered my thoughts. Letting me take my time to explain what it was all about.
The comfort of her arms didn't take long to reduce me to tears. The release very much wanted despite having already cried on my way here. All the way from Antieno's house.
It took a full half-an-hour for me to stop cry and another fifteen to let go of Hyejin.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Hyejin asked. Hand soothing my hair down, voice soft.
I bit my lip as I shook my head.
"Not really. I am just... A bit overwhelmed," I said, giving her a smile. Lips pressed tight to avoid another breakdown.
Hyejin's brows creased, the hand on my hair going still.
"Did something happen?"
There was caution in her voice.
I let out a huff that was more a laugh. I actually didn't know whether what happened in the villa could be counted as 'something happened'. If anything, it's my own realisation of something I promised myself away from that happened. That's the reason for all those tears.
Because in all honesty, I am terrified.
"We kissed," I said in explanation. The gasp she let out, the hand she pressed over her heart, was all a bit overdramatic. Not that it wasn't understandable.
I had not showed interest, much less let anyone get as close to me, since I got to Jeju. Not since that disaster of a breakup with Jaewon.
"I'm not crying because of that," I said with a dismissive wave of my hand. Annoyance creeping up on me at how hesitant, cautious, she was being. "He did it with consent, Jin-ah. No, I'm just..."
