About You: Love & Sacrifice

Is It Too Slow to Regret?

They shook hands with two colleagues when they arrived at the door and then said thank you from the restaurant owner. Jihoon and Younha continue their journey in the sweltering city of Busan to Jihoon's grandmother's house on the coast of Haeundae. Fortunately two colleagues proposal distance close together so it does not spend a lot of time.

After another hour and a half of travel, they were up until three in the afternoon, with the sky full of beautiful clouds and sunshine penetrating the interlude—but the beauty of nature today cannot present their tension-filled journey in silence. Jihoon occasionally opens awkward chats, such as offering snacks when they fill up gas or taking Younha for a short break while eating when arriving at a nearby rest area. Younha was more silent, very different when meeting colleagues earlier. He also does not respond much, nods and yes words are quite representative.

Jihoon's car was parked in front of the grandmother's house. House with a sunny and cool courtyard near Haeundae beach. Jihoon dragged his suitcase towards the yard and followed Younha although with heavy steps— prepared the courage and fake smile to face the grandmother who had waved on the homepage.

"Jihoonnie my granddaughter has arrived." The elderly woman hugged Jihoon tightly with her wrinkled hands. "You healthy?"

"Jihoon's healthy, Grandma. What about my own grandmother?" Ask Jihoon back while taking off that hug. Younha only looked in silence, while feeling the beach breeze sweep over her skin.

"As you can see. Grandma is so good."

"But I'm sore, Grandma, I'm driving from Seoul to Busan." Adu Jihoon who even got a blow from the grandmother.

"Ih, you're old, aren't you? Just complaining."

Younha rubbed his arm with a breath, how much longer would he have to see the grandmist drama with his granddaughter. He was also tired, his waist was sore because since morning sitting in a meeting with colleagues.

"And Younha, come here." The woman was slightly stunned as the grandmother called out. Younha advanced a step and instantly got a hug without asking. "How are you doing? We haven't seen each other in a long time. Grandma misses you."

Younha. "Ah, I'm good too, Grandma. Sorry Younha just visited now."

The grandmother stretched out a hug and held onto both of Younha's shoulders. "You're getting sweeter, Grandma remembered Seojun. How's my great-grandson. They're good too, right? Seojun can already walk?—and yes, Yeonjun must be bigger now. They must be so adorable."

The white-haired woman grabbed Younha's palm then, grasped it tightly with a sigh before saying again. "It must be hard for you guys."

Younha was a little confused, exchanging face to face with Jihoon who had the same expression. Then the man snorted and politely cut his grandmother's words before creeping anywhere.

"Sir, let us in first. Poor Younha is cold like this." Traceability.

"Gosh, you're right." The grandmother brushed Younha's hair and gave way to the house. "Let's go in, grandma's been cooking a lot for Younha."

"Just Younha?" Jihoon Protests. "What about me."

"You go on cooking by yourself."

"Cruel." Gerrutu Jihoon, even though he knew his grandmother liked to joke.

...*****...

Jihoon has an appointment with his teenage friend at a Seafood restaurant near the coast of Haeundae. The beach is a happy memory of his teenage years when dizzy with family affairs. Jihoon and his friends are child circle who bear the burden of family—they have been burdened with corporate responsibility since young.

While turning the tentacles of the octopus that was still wriggling on the grill from the Seafood restaurant directly facing the beach, Jihoon occasionally glanced at Younha who was cool walking with bare feet on the beach, he brought her to smile in bitter.

"Doyoung has long moved to Switzerland, Junkyu is not in Busan. You also want to come here not to say. Good thing my flight to Sydney is still three days away—at least we can say hello to each other after a long time apart." Seungmin said shaking a can of cola in his hand.

"We're busy with each other, yeah." Jihoon replied. "Especially Junkyu who is now preparing for marriage. Huh, that boy didn't even get to return my message."

"You're the same, especially after having two kurcils back then." Seungmin's temptation followed a small ruckus. "Ah, you're a bastard. If you knew it would be better to leave Younha with me, I would take care of the woman with a heart as soft as snow."

"I heard from Woojin, if you're going to marry his cousin and the daughter of your father's corporate commissioner?"

"Hyejin and I haven't planned that far, actually." Sela Jihoon's. "Marriage is not easy."

"It's not easy if your heart is still stuck with Younha, Ji." Seungmin said sewot. "If you are serious with Hyejin, then the acceleration of the marriage so that your heart is steady and not easy to tolerate. Don't just give me hope, you've fucked her a lot?" Seungmin rotates his eyeballs. "What a jerk, I should have married her first."

"I thought it was personal."

"It's personal but for a man like you to be made aware. Now explain, why did you come to Busan with your ex-wife?" Seungmin's tone became cold. "Both alone doesn't make Ji's sense for business travel. Or do you intend to refer to him?"

"I don't know."

"Don't know?" Seungmin. "I thought I'd get an absolute answer like not a steady—but don't know? Hey, realize Jihoon what you said."

Jihoon let out a long sigh, did he also have to tell me that for the past two years his sleep was not good and always thought about the things he felt he had lost. But the more he remembered it, it did not disappear or go away from him—Jihoon felt if he was the one who let go willingly and it brought regret, perhaps.

"What do you think of Younha?" Jihoon said listlessly.

"If you ask, I will answer, there are many good and beautiful women in the world." The man said softly to resuscitate Jihoon. "But women seem to have only one. Younha himself."

"So, can you take care of Younha?"

Seungmin choked on his drink, then squinted at Jihoon who was looking at him meaningfully. "You kidding me?"

"I'm serious enough if it's best for Younha." Tukas Jihoon was serious, but was responded with a small laugh by Seungmin.

"I don't understand, stupid." Seungmin. "Just say it plainly, don't twist like this. What makes you still worry about that woman and care about her when you're separated. It's so weird."

"Love of Younha." Tukas Jihoon's. "I was so deeply loved, but I wasted it until I realized that nothing was missing in my life —but I threw it away. I don't appreciate the love that woman sacrificed for me when she chose to separate from Jinan first."

"You mean, now you're sorry?" One of Seungmin's eyebrows swooped.

"May I feel that way?" Jihoon is getting sad. "May I feel sorry, Min?"

"Repent or not, it's meaningless now. You won't be able to get back to her either." Seungmin. "Don't make the same mistake twice. If you go back to Younha, it would hurt Hyejin just as much as you hurt Younha back then. Is now your expertise hurting the hearts of those who love you?"

"Hyejin, do I love her?" Mumbled Jihoon with a blank look.

"Don't confuse me, Jihoon." Tegur Seungmin's.

"How do I say it?"

"What?"

"Hyejin that. He can't get me used to it."

...*****...