“I’ve realized that there are only two types of people in this world. The people that I have to use, and the people that will try to use me. As soon as I realized that, I started to understand people’s behavior. For the vice president, her son was just an object she would use for her benefit.”
“That’s why…” Sun recalled what he had said in the past.
His mean words that hurt her so badly and became a part of her wounds. They sounded pitiful today.
He nodded slowly and started speaking again. “… And then I met you. The person that I don’t need to use, and one who wouldn’t try to use me. You were the first such person in my life.”
He said this like he still remembered that time clearly.
He spoke as he recalled one of his old memories with a slight smile.
“When you asked me how much my salary was, it was already over $200,000.”
“… You said it was two thousand…”
“You jumped to a conclusion. I only said two.”
“…”
She recalled at that time in hindsight and didn’t say anything after.
“It was definitely outrageous, but I actually liked it. It felt like… something… warm.”
He smirked and continued speaking again as he looked at her.
“That’s why I started liking you. When I was with you, I was truly a man, a real person.”
Hearing him, she lowered her head with a sunken expression. She was able to feel the pain that kept him struggling without missing a thing.
“Now, it’s your turn.” Looking at her, he said.
Sun agonized for a while, but she soon nodded when she determined something. It never was easy for him to talk about his own wounds, so she had to be honest as well.
“… My mom died when I was really young.”
Her voice started trembling while she recalled the unforgotten memory of her mother.
“When she passed away, my dad raised me by himself. He was generous and loved me so much.”
“He wasn’t like me at all.”
“No, he was the man of my dreams. However, her smiling face became darker slowly. “On the graduation day of my high school, he passed away after a car accident that occurred the same day. We were sent to the hospital, but I cried and screamed in panic, so he lost the peak time for the treatment. He basically died because of me. If I would have said that I’m okay, then he would have lived…”
It seemed like she was still regretting her behavior at the hospital ten years ago.
Gyeonhui recalled what Dr. Seo told him about the accident in the past.
The wound that she had to deal with at such a young age was still bothering her.
He squeezed his fist after feeling her pain that was all conveyed to him.
“Since then, I have always said that I’m okay. Although I was troubled, sad, and, lonely, I would still say that I was okay. Whenever I mumbled to myself, at least at that moment, I felt like I really was okay.”
Only silence laid between the two of them after they confided with each other.
Although they partially knew their past, it was different and more painful when they heard each other’s wounds themselves.
Gyeonhui was lost in thought for awhile and started speaking slowly.
“… We’ve been together for three years, but we actually didn’t know enough about us.”
“Right. We didn’t even know each other’s blood type.
When he heard the word, ‘blood type,’ he smiled bitterly. “I know it’s too late, but I’m still alive because you saved my life after the car accident.”
Hearing him, she shook her head slowly. Another silence laid out between them.
After looking at her for a moment, he pushed the button on the doll to play the recording.
“Gyeonhui…”
“Stop it.”
When she heard her own voice from the recording, she seemed embarrassed and tried to take the doll from him. However, Gyeonhui hid the doll behind his back and mocked her voice in the recording.
“The language of the coffee tree is, ‘I love you, even your pain.’ I would like to love even your pain for many years to come.”
“I told you to stop!”
“In order not to forget this, I’m putting it in a time capsule. Am I still loving you then?”
What he mocked was her own confession.
Hearing him muttering the same question that she said, her face relaxed.
“… Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not confident…” She didn’t look at him and struggled to speak.
“You don’t need to do anything. It’s my turn to love you.”
“Gyeonhui…” Still looking at her, he tried to hug her with his two arms, but she refused.
“What’s wrong?” He was surprised and asked.
“I’m not ready for this yet…”
“Sun… Okay. Let’s take some time.”
“Time?”
“It could be a rash act to start a relationship right away. We need to take some time to think more about us.”
“I’ve thought enough so far.”
“Please…”
Sun looked at him with sincere eyes.
When he saw the firm determination on her face, he had to nod.
“Can I then meet you?”
After a while, she nodded slowly.
“Can I just hug you?”
“No, you’re not my boyfriend yet.”
“Hah…”
Gyeonhui wasn’t satisfied and furrowed his eyebrows.
“… Alright. I’ll do it the way you want.”
Sun was surprised when he readily agreed with her, so she looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I told you that I will wait if you say so.”
“…”
She recalled what he said to her in the past and nodded.
“With one condition.” When he paused, he reached out and slowly held her hand. “Let me hold your hand.”
However, she let his hand go.
“I said, no.”
“You hold your friend’s hand. Even in the Church, people hold hands with each other even if they don’t know about the person beside them.”
Hearing him whining like a child, she smiled.
She felt so awkward, and she took out her phone to confirm the time
“Oh no, I have to go.”
“Why? Do you have a meeting this late at night?”
“No, I have to go home.”
“If you don’t have to do anything urgent, then let’s stay a little longer together.”
“Sorry. Labong is waiting for me.”
“Labong? The dog?”
“Yes, Labong will be lonely.”
“So, you’re thinking about the dog more than me?”
“Labong is my family.”
“Hah… okay. Let’s go home.”
“Sorry?”
“I’ll take you home, so you can see Labong sooner.”
Pouting his lips, he started walking forward before her.