28 – Opportunity (5)

I helped Hayeon out of the taxi.

Even when I called the address earlier, I had a rough idea, but it wasn’t where she used to live before.

After all, it had been two years already, so the lease for that room must have ended a long time ago.

The small studio apartment where Hayeon used to live was filled with memories of us.

Like the couple’s toothbrush hanging in the bathroom.

And men’s clothes prepared for me to stay over whenever I wanted.

“I guess it’s a relief that it’s not there.”

If I had seen that studio apartment again, my mood might have become even more melancholic.

The memories that ended in betrayal were like salt that made the wounds sting even more.

But outwardly, I didn’t show any signs.

Because I didn’t want to reveal such vulnerability in front of her.

“Is this the place?”

“Yeah. Third floor. Room 304.”

I asked her briefly about the purpose and entered the elevator.

She was still leaning on me.

In the meantime, it seemed like she had become lighter.

Even before, she had almost no weight to begin with, but now it didn’t feel strenuous even supporting her.

“Another useless thought.”

That’s why I didn’t want to be with Hayeon.

Because strange thoughts kept popping up in my head.

It was hard to accurately describe what to call it.

Regret or longing for that time, perhaps.

Either way, it was an emotion that I, as the current me, didn’t want to feel much.

“Let’s quickly take her home and go back.”

I wanted to distance myself from Hayeon as quickly as possible.

There were quite a few things I needed to fix. First, I had to explain the situation to Gia.

I wanted to finish everything quickly, go back home, and play a game to clear my mind.

*Groan*

The elevator started moving and stopped on the third floor.

I found Room 302 and supported Hayeon, walking a long way.

And she leaned against the wall in front of the door.

“… Yura. Thanks.”

“It’s okay. Did you change your phone number?”

He asked her in case the number he called last night while drunk was hers.

“What? No. It’s still the same. But why…”

… So, did I contact someone else’s number at that time?

Ha-yeon asked me with a trembling gaze.

There was a faint expectation mixed in there.

I cut off her expectations like a knife.

“You have to keep getting treatment for your burns. Let me know if there is any progress. I’ll pay for half of it even if it costs money.”

“…Oh.”

“Don’t contact me for anything else. Anyway, I won’t reply to that. Then go.”

After completely taking care of business, I turned around.

Then a hand reached out from behind and grabbed my wrist.

I instinctively threw off that warm touch.

“What are you doing?”

“…Uh…that. Maybe since you had trouble bringing me here. Can we share a meal together or something…?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Then…how about a cup of tea at least…”

Ha-yeon looked at me with eager eyes.

I was speechless at her behavior and replied.

“Hey, Seo Ha-yeon.”

“…Yeah?”

“I didn’t forgive you. Don’t get me wrong. I just came here to take responsibility for my mistake. Got it?”

Just in case she has any strange expectations,

I drew a line on her request without hesitation.

Ha-yeon’s face was briefly hurt by my firm tone.

Then she closed her eyes tightly as if she had made up her mind and called my name weakly.

“…Yura.”

“What.”

Is there still something to say?

“Do you remember the last time we talked?”

“…”

I remember. Very vividly.

It was a conversation that couldn’t deteriorate my mood in an instant.

Maybe it would stay in my memory for a lifetime, without me even knowing.

“…I told you back then. There was a misunderstanding between us. I want to resolve it now.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Please!! Please! Yura, just this once, I beg you.”

“I have nothing to discuss with you.”

As I was about to say that and turn away, she kneeled right there, without moving an inch.

Ha-yeon may seem like that, but she was a woman with strong self-esteem.

She was stubborn and had her own beliefs, not someone who would kneel down easily to anyone.

With teary eyes, she pitifully looked up at me and pleaded.

“I’m begging you like this… Please… If you don’t listen to me this time, I will annoy you by following you around in the future.”

“…”

“If I keep lingering wherever you go and annoying you, would that be okay?”

“Since requests no longer work on you, is it a threat?”

Despite her defiant attitude.

The question of why she goes this far with me continuously rises within me.

What exactly is the misunderstanding she mentioned?

Why does she go as far as kneeling down before me multiple times?

“Just this once, can’t you listen to me? Then I’ll never appear in front of you again forever. I won’t ever contact you. So just this one time…”

There was also a part of me that wanted to resolve the doubts in my head.

And her proposal seemed somewhat tempting to me.

Because I didn’t want to encounter her anymore.

She was the trigger for my emotions.

Recently, I can’t remember how many times I struggled when I encountered her.

If it wasn’t for Jia, I would have been locked in my past memories and remained depressed for a long time.

After all, isn’t it just a matter of a few words being spoken and then it’s over?

Then, I wouldn’t have had to deal with any more bothersome things in the future.

There would be no need for her to cling to me like she did before or to call me while drunk.

I stood there, contemplating for a while.

And after a moment, I came to a conclusion.

I decided to listen to her story for a moment.

“Alright. Get up.”

It was certain that the dressing part on the floor would hurt when pressed down upon.

But she bit her lips and managed to endure the pain.

“…Really?”

“Yes. Just make sure you keep your word. Once this conversation is over, you disappear from in front of me.”

“…Okay. If you want, I’ll disappear anytime. Let’s go inside.”

Was she thinking that I would run away?

As I hastily pressed the doorknob and opened the door, I glanced at Hayeon.

I couldn’t understand why her words about disappearing whenever I wanted bothered me so much.

*

Haying’s hand trembled as she pressed the doorknob, making mistakes twice in a row.

Despite that, she continued pressing the number hurriedly, afraid that Gunyul might leave.

*Ring!*

Finally, the door opened, and Hayeon quickly stepped into the house.

And Gunyul slowly followed her, stepping into her house.

“I did it. You did great, Hayeon.”

Now, she wanted to praise herself for the accomplishment she achieved.

She hesitated countless times and was even scared when threatening him.

She was afraid that he would completely lose interest and not even give her a chance anymore.

But this decision was the right one.

If she hadn’t mustered the courage to not kneel before him, she wouldn’t have known when another opportunity like this would come.

Fortunately, there were plenty of evidence left in the house to prove to him.

“What are you doing? Don’t just stand there.”

Ha-yeon heard Gyonyul urging her from behind.

Her hands and feet were trembling.

She couldn’t tell whether it was pleasure or fear.

Honestly, both anticipation and fear coexisted in her mind.

Explaining her life in the hospital and why she rejected him.

That was her last card.

If he didn’t believe her or, even if he did, still remained unchanged.

Then, practically speaking, Ha-yeon had no more chances left.

It could really be the end between her and Gyonyul.

She even promised to disappear if he wanted her to, which made it even more heart-wrenching.

“Oh… I’m sorry…”

Ha-yeon quickly moved her feet.

But she didn’t even have time to be scared like this.

She didn’t know when Gyonyul might change his mind and leave the house.

As for her, she could only do her best to turn Gyonyul’s heart.

“Yul, can I get you some tea?”

“No, I didn’t come here to have tea with you. Say what you wanted to say earlier.”

His reaction was still cold.

It hurt her heart, but she couldn’t help it.

It was what she had caused, so it was what she deserved.

“Then wait here a bit. I have something to get.”

“……Sigh. Fine.”

Gyonyul let out a sigh and slumped into the chair.

Ha-yeon hurriedly entered the room and started searching through documents.

The health examination report that she hadn’t thrown away was still there.

“Where is it? I should have put it away neatly. I’m such a fool.”

She found the examination report in a corner of the desk drawer and sighed with relief.

It was better to have as much

“Is it done?”

“Yes.”

What would his reaction be when he sees this?

All kinds of thoughts crossed her mind, but she took a deep breath and sat down across from him, steeling herself to tell him everything.

“Yul, please listen to me carefully.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

She had to hand him the medical report to start the story.

She pushed the slightly worn paper across the desk towards him.

“What’s this?”

Geon-yul stared at the paper that Ha-yeon had given him.

“…A health check-up report?”

“Yes. There are too many numbers on it, so it doesn’t mean anything to look at them all. Just look at the doctor’s diagnosis at the bottom.”

Ha-yeon’s voice trembled, but she held it together.

There was only one line at the end of the medical report that she had mentioned to him, one diagnosis:

“Pancreatic cancer stage 3 to 4 expected. Precise examination at a specialized cancer hospital followed by treatment required.”

Just as she had said, Geon-yul’s gaze went down to the bottom of the report. Immediately, his pupils widened in shock.

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