About You: Love & Sacrifice

Time To Let Go of Each Other

Younha really can't bear to leave Woojin alone under these circumstances, but Younha can't stay because there are people waiting for her elsewhere.

After raising the blanket that wrapped the man's body, it, Younha gets up and intends to leave before Woojin wakes up but a rather rough hand that grabs her wrist forces Younha to stop stepping. The man sat down without letting go of their hand link at all.

“I want to hear your answer right now.” Woojin catches up with Younha standing up, though she staggers, and tries to stay firm.

“I don't understand you mean.” Younha was confused.

“The answer you will give me that time, I waited for him until now.” Woojin's manic stares fixedly at Younha, waiting for an answer that may have now changed from the woman's initial beliefs. Woojin does not want to give up, despite the fact that Younha has earned her happiness again. “Don't cover it up with me, Younha. I'm sure you didn't just forget about it ‘kan?"

Younha's eyeballs moved furiously not knowing what to say. If he answers yes, it is the same as lying to Woojin but if he answers no, then there will be more hurt from him.

“I also came that night.” Woojin continued and Younha's expression turned worried for a moment.

Younha. “Dohwa-dong Engine? You like this because of me? Right?”

Woojin fell silent before finally nodding with a stifled smile.

“Yes, you are right. I came when you got protection from someone. I wish I could have come earlier by then.” The man is grieving. “So why? Now you're seeing me out of worry? Because you feel guilty and overwhelmed? If true then I'd be very happy.”

The smile on the corner of his lips seemed to describe a sense of defeat. Younha looks at Woojin's face, which she can't recognize as Woojin. Younha did not know if the gentleman was also there to wait for her and keep those feelings quiet.

While he waited for another.

“Because I—want you to care about me, Younha.” Woojin grabs Younha's body to be hugged tightly then whispers on that narrow shoulder. “I want to be the one who is always there for you, if you find it difficult to step with me. Can you give me a chance too, hm?”

"Woojin..."

"I know it's hard for you, but I'll keep waiting."

The man's embrace stretched, and Woojin's hands came down touching Younha's arms as she muttered to buy time so she could stay a little longer by his side. "If only we had met first, if only I had clarified this from the beginning, if only—" Woojin screeched a little. "If that is only an expectation. In case that can't change anything."

They're speechless. Thinking of the sentences and circumstances they were facing that were actually only one, hope. From the beginning, Younha put her hopes on Woojin when she was falling. Younha feels comfortable when with Woojin either talking or the treatment of the man to her who says she will always be there as a friend, accompany her and ask for news at the end of the day, it even gives you peace of mind when Younha is not okay. From the beginning, Jihoon fought for his hope even though he continued to hurt Younha. And from the beginning, Woojin was among the two people who were maintaining hope until he finally realized that he was the reason why the hope problem became strange.

Woojin—heavy admitted to himself that he was a problem.

"I-I... Kak—"

Geck! Geck! Geck!

"Sir Woojin, are you conscious? Can I come in?"

The voice from across the door became a tense atmosphere breaker between them.

"Go, I won't hold you this time." Woojin said with a smile that saved a piteous—then stepped into the bathroom. Let Younha go without Woojin seeing her.

He can't.

...*****...

Jihoon looked at the ceiling of the room, he just woke up when the fever had subsided then turned to the window and saw the big glass was still flowed by rain water even though it was just a stub. It was dark, seeing the curtains had not covered the wide glass—Jihoon thought Younha was still busy preparing dinner while being bullied by her nosy children.

Imagining that alone made Jihoon able to heal instantly without medicine, he was thinking of a way to restore Younha's smile even though he realized what had been done so far was very cruel.

He wanted to change it, treat me like Younha at the beginning of their meeting.

When he was about to lower his feet to the floor, a notification went into his phone on the table. A message from Hyejin who said Wants to talk on the phone, Jihoon always asked Hyejin and her treatment progress in messages and never talked to each other on the phone. When Jihoon's fingers were typing an answer that could not, the woman immediately called. Jihoon sighed, glanced at the door to make sure Younha would not enter suddenly then walked over to the glass window—viewed the night world from the 15th floor of the apartment.

"Nothing." Jihoon answered. "What about you?"

"I'm suddenly thinking about you, it's been almost a month we haven't talked like this. Are you okay there?" Ask Hyejin from across the street.

Jihoon was silent for a moment. "I should have asked if you were okay there? Are you eating and sleeping well?"

"Not good." Hyejin sighed not knowing if Jihoon's countenance turned anxious now. "There's a lot I've been through and it's not easy. But the good news is the doctor said if I'm gonna get well soon, I'm relieved."

"Thank God."

"But there's one thing that's stuck." Hyejin covered her lips while holding a plane ticket to Korea for two more days in her left hand. She hesitates to tell Jihoon or not, Hyejin is convinced that Jihoon is already with Younha at the moment but she still can't bear to say the word over and actually leaves Jihoon's side.

"Why?" Ask Jihoon. "You've been quiet for a long time, is there something bothering you?"

"I miss you." Unknowingly tears flowed slowly from the corner of Hyejin's eyes. "I miss you, Jihoon. Can I go home?"

Jihoon. His gaze was straight at the sparkling of the outer building while twisting some memory in the head. Until the memories of her childhood with Hyejin, when the beautiful smile slowly turned into tears of unwillingness over Jihoon's situation with Younha. How Jihoon's relief was so Hyejin could rise up and move on with him—until Jihoon's treatment made Younha suffer.

All those things urged Jihoon's head to feel dizzy for a moment, then now that he wanted to start from the beginning back with Younha—hould Jihoon be devastated for Hyejin who wants to go home?

"Why are we like this?" Hyejin's voice sounded desperate.

"Sorry I let you down, Hyejin. I should have been honest with you from the beginning."

"I shouldn't have been selfish back then, I should have understood our circumstances." Hyejin smiled smirkingly.

Jihoon shook his head feeling that he was wrong for Hyejin. "I'm sorry."

"Now it's all for each of our paths, right?" Hyejin whispered with tears that started rushing. "Should we finish now?"

Jihoon fell silent as he scowled his temple.

"I have to let you go back to your real family." Hyejin sobbing. "I know it feels hard for me, but instead of that isn't there anything heavier to the point of sacrificing her marriage?"

"Hyejin—"

"I'm tired of my own ego." The woman immediately silenced Jihoon's call. "I feel guilty every time I see Yeonjun and Seojun, they have to see their parents separate because of me. Therefore, this evil relationship must end now."

Jihoon again did not answer— who should be relieved of this separation but he felt tightness in his chest.

"I love you Ji, but I don't have a chance anymore." Hyejin closed her eyes. "After I get to Korea, disconnect all our personal contacts. Never ask daily news and care for each other for the purpose of affection. In the future as well, I will try to really stay away from you, I will not return to the company and will start my own career. So—can I say goodbye now?"

Jihoon's tears seeped in, it felt so heavy to say that sentence.

"Yes." Yeah." Bisik Jihoon finally. "I've always wished for your kindness Hyejin, I'm sorry."

"Thank you."

Hyejin closed the call immediately. The crying can no longer be held in the middle of the silence of the dimly lit apartment. Hugging her own knees, Hyejin spilled all her tears until she was left with nothing for Jihoon.

The man who became his beloved.

...*****...