Start-Up (Seo Dal-Mi x Han Ji-Pyeong) [FanFic]

Chapter 2: The Truth

The entire ride to Dal-Mi's home was a quiet one. None of them spoke because they knew this topic couldn't be covered in a single car ride.

Ji-Pyeong let Dal-Mi cry silently, his heart aching all the while. He wanted to hold her tightly and take her pain away, but he knew the boundaries were necessary. Because all this while she might've never seen him anything other than her mentor. And he didn't want to cross that line which might ultimately push her further away.

He peaked a glance at her face, only to find her head pressed against the window, her eyes staring into nothingness of the empty shells of the surrounding. New tears made way as the old ones dried up, her fingers trembling as they wiped them away.

Ji-Pyeong looked away, his hands clutching the steering wheel tighter. His heart burned with regret as he started to realize how much damage he had actually done.

If only he had written his own name. If only he hadn't tried to find Do-San and showed up himself in front of Dal-Mi at the networking party.

None of this would've happened if only he had the courage to accept his lies.

"Thank you for the ride," Dal-Mi said, bowing her head slightly before heading towards the door.

"Dal-Mi ya," Ji-Pyeong started, the casualness surprising them both. But he didn't care anymore. He didn't want to be just her mentor. He wanted to be her friend. He wanted to be her confidant. He wanted to be the guy she fell in love with fifteen years ago.

Dal-Mi turned around, pretending not be bothered by it.

"You will have your answers by tomorrow," he assured her. "Please let it not hinder your preparation for Demo-Day. I will make sure you know how to separate your past Do-San with your present. But I beg you not to let it factor your future."

Dal-Mi huffed a breath. "Is it that easy for you?" she asked. "Because it's not for me. What is my future without my past or present?"

"You have every right to be angry with me," Ji-Pyeong said, taking a step toward her. "But we can get through this if you give me a chance, Dal-Mi."

"Was it fun for you?"

Ji-Pyeong stared at her, the question startling him.

"Was it fun seeing me getting exited over every letter you sent me?" Dal-Mi asked, tears trickling down her face. "Was it fun how I shared my deepest thoughts with a stranger? Was it fun for you all these years deceiving me?"

"It wasn't," Ji-Pyeong answered instantly. "Because like you, I shared my feelings with you as well. Not everything was a lie."

"How can I trust what you say after everything?" Dal-Mi said, raising her voice out of anger. "How do I know you're not lying to me again?"

"Because I like you, Dal-Mi," he responded without a moment of hesitation. "Because I have liked you all this while and seeing you with Do-San is literally driving me crazy."

Ji-Pyeong's heart raced rapidly as he realized he had confessed his feelings to Dal-Mi. He didn't want anymore secrets. He didn't want to hide how he felt. He wanted her to know the whole truth.

Dal-Mi smiled fakely. "See? I can't even tell whether you're serious or not."

Before Ji-Pyeong could answer, she turned and entered her home, leaving him stranded with his thoughts.

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