-Chaerin’s POV-

“Sorry, did you waiting too long?” I run hurriedly to Kris. I’m late… I supposed to be here about an hour ago. But, hey, blame the traffic jam!

“It’s alright, Chae” he smiles. Aah…, this man. Sometimes I feel awkward with him. he is too kind. I mean, no matter I really make a mistake, he never blame me or get mad at me. And that’s make me feel really bad….

“No, it’s not alright! I am late, Ok? And you should scold me” I pouts and he just lets a chuckle

“Ok.., then… what kind of punishment you want?” he asks me. God…, I can’t believe this man…

“C’mon Kris…” I roll my eyes and he laughs

“Fine, I’ll decide” he smiles and lean down to face me “let’s go to my place, cook for me” he grins and I can’t help but laugh. He is really cute

“Fine. Let’s go”

“Thank you, Chae-ah… you’re really a great future housewife” he grins happily after eat all the meals I made

“ok..ok…, and since you’re finished your meal, let this great future housewife to go home” I pout. He likes to teases me like that, saying that I’m a great future housewife due to my ability to cooking and cleaning. Huft… should I consider it as a compliment?

Kris chuckles seeing my pouting face. Then he stands up and walks toward me, and stops right in front of me

“Chae…, who would believe that you’re 27 already” he laughs as pinching my cheeks and I blush instantly

“So what?” I mumble, looking down, trying to hide my blushed face. But his hands don’t leave my face. He reaches my chin and lifts my face up. And I see his smiling face leaning closer to me

“Kris…” I whisper. My brain knows exactly where it will go, but damn, my body feels like frozen. I can’t move at all. And the next thing is, I feel his soft lips on mine, pressing it gently.

My body is shivering. It’s been long time since my last kiss. Three years ago, in a cottage, on Dara unnie’s wedding, with a man named Kwon Jiyong.

Suddenly I snapped and push Kris away. My heart is start to aching again

“Chae...”

“No, Kris. I have to go home” I cut him. My vision becomes blurred by tears

“I’m sorry, Chaerin-ah. I just…”

“I go first…” I cut him again and run, leaving him alone. I run out from his apartment and heading home as my tears keep flowing. I can’t…, I can’t get over him

Sobbing in my room alone, I roam my hand on a large framed photo collage. Three years ago, when I went home from Dara Unnie’s wedding with a broken heart, I found this on my living room.

That day, he went here before he left

I trace my trembling fingers on the frame, studying the photograph one by one. there was me on my first day of work. The old-fashioned me, with my black hair and minimalist make up, then the picture of me when I was talking on the phone at my office. Next, it was me cooking in the hotel room at Shanghai, then the picture of me laughing with Dara Unnie at cafeteria, and there are many more, until my eyes stopped on the picture of me sleeping with a slight of smile plastered on my lips.

My tears are flowing more and more as I read the words written on the center, surrounded by the pictures.

 I’m not a perfect person

There’s many things I wish I didn’t do

But I continue learning

I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know

I’ve found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

And the reason in you

I feel the pain in my heart just getting stronger and stronger. But my eyes can’t stop from reading those lyrics

I’m sorry that I hurt you

It’s something I must live with everyday

And all the pain I put you through

I wish that I could take it all away

And be the one who catches all your tears

That’s why I need you to know

I’ve found a reason to show

The side of me you didn’t know

A reason for all that I do

And the reason is you…

I curling my body on the floor, crying like a little kid. I’m tired, tired to pretend that I’m ok while I’m not. I’m tired to smile like there’s nothing wrong while my heart is bleeding to death.

Three years doesn’t enough to heal my wounded heart. It’s still bleeding, up until now

***********************************************************************

-Appa’s POV-

“She doesn’t come out yet?” I ask my wife worriedly and she just shakes her head, shows me the same worried expression. Last night, Chaerin went here, with swollen eyes. She run straight to her room and doesn’t come out until now. She even locked the door, didn’t allow her Mom to come in.

“What’s happen?”

“I don’t know. She doesn’t let me in. I heard she was crying all the night” my wife answers me worriedly

“Try to call her again” I speak, and my wife does it. she knocks Chae’s door while I’m standing next to her

“Chae…, are you awake? Please, open the door baby…” she calls our daughter

“I’m ok, Omma. Just leave me alone” Chae answers. Her voice is cracking. My wife and I just looking each other

“Are you sure, Chae? Do you want Omma to bring you some food?” My wife asks again

“Ani, Omma… I’m ok. I just need some rest”

“Just come out if you feel better, you need to eat, Baby. Or else you’ll get sick, Ok?” She says again, but this time, there’s no answer. So we walk downstairs and sitting on the living room sofa

“What do you thing? Is something happen to her?” I ask. I’m worrying my daughter so much. My wife seems thinking so deep, and then she sighs and looks at me

“Yeobo, I think…, it’s about Jiyong…”

I’m surprised hearing his name. Deep in my heart, I feel it too, but I always try to wipe it away

“But, it’s been 3 years. Don’t you think that she’s over him already?” I ask my wife

“Over him? Aigoo…, Yeobo, just look at your daughter! Does she look like she had over him? She always smiles and acts just like everything is ok but, just look at her smile… it’s not Chaerin’s real smile… it’s just her lips…, look at her eyes…” she blurts out. Then leaves me

I close my eyes, take a deep breath and trying to calm down. She is right. My daughter has changed. She is no longer the bright Chaerin I used to know. Her smile is no longer the same. It’s empty…

It’s hurt to see my only daughter like this. I love her. With every breath I take, from the time she opened her eyes until the time I’ll close my eyes, I will always love her.

I know, she loves that man named Jiyong. And he loved my daughter as well. But I just want the best for my daughter. Jiyong, he had such a miserable past. He witnessed his parent being murdered at his young age. In many cases, the child who was witnessing or being a victim of harassment usually has unstable emotions and has such a psychopath trait, and very possible to repeat the scene they used to see.

And after that.., he was living in a very bad way.

How come I leave my dear daughter to a man like him? Chaerin deserves a better man. I just try to protect my daughter from any bad possibilities. But now I see…, I just torture her…

Did I do something wrong? Should I let them be together? Aish…., but it’s probably too late. After that day, I never hear anything about Jiyong again. He keeps his promise to leave Chaerin and never be around her anymore

I sigh. Appa is really sorry, Chae… Appa just love you so much