episode_0018

“Let’s talk.”

Standing in the doorway, Ma Yeon-seo calmly demanded a conversation from me.

“When did you come back?”

Unaware that she had returned from the United States due to my blocked contacts, I momentarily considered turning her away with an indifferent expression.

“…I have nothing to say.”

And then I attempted to shut the door completely to block the conversation…

Thud! She wedged her foot in the door crack and forcefully pushed it open.

“What, here?”

“……”

A wide-open door and intersecting gazes.

Realizing that I couldn’t stop her now that she had come this far, I reluctantly ushered her inside.

“……”

“……”

A heavy silence filled the house.

Glancing around at the piled-up belongings, Ma Yeon-seo nonchalantly posed a question as if nothing had happened.

“Are you all packed?”

Her audacious demeanor prompted a curt response.

“You probably know everything already.”

She didn’t bother to refute my blunt remark.

“…I’m sorry.”

Instead, she offered an apology, lowering her gaze.

“….!”

It was an unexpected reaction.

“…I should have been there for you… I won’t make feeble excuses.”

“……”

“I understand why you were angry with me, why you spoke harshly.”

“……”

“So… let’s just pretend nothing happened between us back then.”

As always, Ma Yeon-seo didn’t force anything, didn’t get angry, didn’t threaten.

She simply acknowledged her fault and suggested reconciliation.

Perhaps the old me would have gritted my teeth and moved on, ignoring her changed demeanor.

But not now.

“…Yeon-seo….”

Exhaling deeply, I looked directly at her.

And then, I confessed the deep-seated truth I had hidden for so long.

“I don’t like you anymore.”

It was too far gone to turn back.

Everything I said before was sincere. Being with you suffocates me, and the stress is overwhelming.”

Now it’s time for each of us to go our separate ways.

“…I’ll apologize for speaking harshly. But… I can’t take back the breakup. I’m sorry.”

There’s also a part of me that wants to hold onto only good memories.

Anyway, she’s my one and only first love in my life.

“…I was wrong, Yoochan…!”

But Mayeonseo didn’t give up easily.

Suddenly grabbing my hand, she pleaded desperately for forgiveness with a pitiful expression…

“I’ll do better from now on. Just give me one more chance. I won’t act recklessly again…”

Perhaps because my heart had already drifted away, I felt no particular emotion even seeing her like that.

“Yeonseo, you were already doing well. I just couldn’t handle it.”

Looking back, Mayeonseo was an overly significant presence to me.

From one to ten, everything.

Forcing myself to accept an overflowing amount led to the problem.

“So you don’t need to apologize now.”

“……”

As I gently released her grasped hand, a fierce expression suddenly crossed her face.

“I… I can’t live without you.”

“……”

“I’ll die.”

In the end, it’s another threat.

“…Sigh…”

Disappointment flooded over me.

She was always like this.

If things didn’t go her way, she’d resort to threats.

“You… really keep disappointing me till the end.”

Furrowing my brows, I let out a deep sigh and muttered bitterly.

“I didn’t intend to become friends with you back then.”

Right at that moment.

“……Huh?”

Her face showed a flicker of uncertainty.

“…What did you just say…”

“I’m done talking, so please leave now.”

Having no intention of continuing the conversation, I abruptly stood up and signaled for her to leave.

Mayeonseo also stood up and firmly grabbed my wrist…

“What did you just say?”

Snap. Suddenly, an immense force gripped my wrist.

“Ugh…! L-let go of…!”

“Yoochan, I’m asking. What did you just say?”

Pressing on with a lowered voice, she interrogated me intensely.

Startled, as I looked at her, her usually lively eyes were chillingly lifeless.

She wasn’t herself.

“Gah…!”

Flustered, I tried to push her away, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake her off.

An ordinary person cannot overpower an awakened being beyond measure.

“Y-Yeonseo…! Let go…!”

“…No… You said I’m your favorite…”

Her trembling fingers sent shivers down my spine as her grip tightened.

“Yeonseo, please…!”

“I told you there’s no one else!!!”

Thud! A sudden, intense pain shot through my wrist.

“Ahh!”

Blinded by the searing agony, I collapsed to the ground as my legs gave way.

“M-My wrist…!”

It was a horrifying pain I had never experienced before, and fear gripped me instantly.

“P-Please…!!!”

“Yoochan, speak quickly. I’m canceling that right now.”

“Aaah!!”

She viciously twisted my wrist in the opposite direction, threatening to crush it if I didn’t answer promptly.

“I have to… I have to answer.”

In my mind, an urgent alarm urged me to give her the response she wanted. But…

“N-No!”

A feeble sense of pride pushed me to resist.

“Just kill me instead!!!”

I no longer wanted to submit to her.

“…You still haven’t come to your senses, have you?”

“Aaahhh!!!”

Just as my wrist was about to break, I managed to free myself, realizing the vast difference in strength, and collapsed, pale, onto the floor.

“S-Stop…!”

“Yoochan, our conversation isn’t over yet.”

As Ma Yeonseo approached, reaching out her hand, I reflexively swatted it away.

“This is bad.”

Thinking I had needlessly provoked her, I braced myself, closing my eyes tightly in anticipation of the impending pain.

…But nothing happened as expected.

“…?”

Raising my head, I saw Ma Yeonseo, whose hand I had pushed away, staring at me in shock, as if caught red-handed like a guilty child.

“N-No, it’s not…!”

Clearly flustered, she hastily began to explain herself with a frightened expression.

“No, Yoochan…! I, I…”

Her indecisive behavior only fueled my fear.

“T-That’s not it…!”

In a panic, Ma Yeonseo, looking bewildered, cautiously reached out to me as if trying to say something.

But…

“Eugh…!”

Startled by a dizzying terror, I involuntarily recoiled, avoiding her touch.

“Ah…”

She seemed to be in shock once again, as she let out a small sigh and slowly raised her hand. Embracing her trembling hand, she murmured an apology. “I’m… sorry… I’m so sorry…”

With that, Ma Yeon-seo turned away from the frozen day and began to pack her belongings hesitantly. Amidst it all, she dropped things several times, her hands shaking. “Sorry…”

Finally, leaving behind her apology as if fleeing, she abruptly disappeared. “Damn it…” It was truly the worst parting.

*

Tick… tock… tick…

Walking along the chilly street, Yeon-seo recalled the sight of Yu-chan looking at her with a face filled with fear. It wasn’t the gaze of a lover, but rather that of someone staring at a monster. Each time she remembered that look, it felt like her heart was being stabbed with a knife. “…”

Why did it have to turn out like this? Where did it all go wrong? Everything seemed to be falling into place. Just a little more, and they could have returned to their former loving selves.

-I shouldn’t have gotten close to you back then.

In that moment when all the accumulated memories were denied, she lost her rationality. Everything went awry in a single moment of anger.

“If only I had been a little more patient…” Yeon-seo regretted her impulsive actions. If only she had been a bit more careful, or at the very least, not caused harm. Unfortunately, her regret changed nothing. They had crossed a river that couldn’t be uncrossed. Both she and Yu-chan. It was truly over. All of it.

“…” Facing reality, Ma Yeon-seo mechanically moved her feet towards the apartment filled with memories of Yu-chan. Entering the elevator, she took out her phone and left a message. If something were to happen, she asked him to send a red rose and a letter in her name.

[33rd floor.]

As the elevator reached its destination, she descended from the highest floor and headed straight for the emergency staircase. Clack. Clack. Clack. There was no hesitation in her steps as she ascended the stairs. Now, there was only one way for her to forever remain in Yu-chan’s memory.

“It’s cold…” Standing on the rooftop where the chilly wind brushed against her, Ma Yeon-seo gazed around with a desolate expression.

Taking off his shoes and coat, he neatly arranged them to one side. As his body cooled down, his mind suddenly cleared.

“…….”

Exhaling a white breath, he slowly approached the distant rooftop railing.

Step by step. As he neared the railing, memories with Yoochan flashed before his eyes.

From the moment he first sat beside him.

To the moment they started talking by chance.

The moment he began teaching him at Yoochan’s request.

The first time he was acknowledged as a friend.

The first time they went home together.

The moment they both entered the same school.

The moment he felt inwardly sad when their class was divided.

The moments of anxiety as Yoochan became more impressive.

The first time he felt jealousy towards him.

Their first kiss, the beginning of their relationship.

Their first date, and the thrilling first experiences they shared.

Memories that he would never forget even in death.

Perhaps they would linger in Yoochan’s heart for a long, long time.

They might fade, but never disappear, like indelible scars.

Forever.

Eternally.

Whooooosh─. Eventually, a fierce wind blew across the empty rooftop.

Moments later, there was a thud from below the rooftop, followed by a scream.

And so, the love story between the two came to an end.