Choi HaSeul

As I woke up, I decided to go downstairs to have breakfast with YongGuk. I was still unwell but did efforts. I was getting down the stairs when I realized YongGuk was on the phone. It’s been three weeks since the accident and he've been taking care of me so well. I know perfectly I'm grumpy and pouty most of the times and he have to deal with my mood swings all the time. 

“Yes she is still recovering.”

He groaned while answering and didn’t look satisfied of what the person told him. He took a deep breath.

“She is slowly recovering. Day by day.”

“Exams ? Do you really worry about that ? My girlfriend almost died in an accident ! ”

He stayed silent for a moment before gasping. “She’s holding me back ? Mom you’re serious, she’s the reason why I’m a free man and she’s holding me back ?”

I sat on the stairs and listened to YongGuk arguing with his mom on the phone. I had no idea he called her. YongGuk seemed angry at first and now was sad.

“Mom it hurts to see her this way. She is so silent and I can’t do anything for her. Don't tell me stuffs like that.”

I couldn't see his face but I knew how YongGuk looked when he's sad. Long minutes were spent in silence and I started to think he hang up on her. After a moment; I heart a soft goodbye from him. He sighed heavily.

I felt sad. Knowing YongGuk ,he would not like the fact that I witnessed this. Resisting the urge to go and comfort him, I  went back in my room and laid on my bed. How could I make sure YongGuk go back to class ?

His mom seemed to perceive me as a weight in his life and I felt sad about it. Sure, right now I needed YongGuk assistance for a lot of things ... I ended up crying softly, feeling like I have no options. I woke up, groggy and opened my eyes to YongGuk sleeping in front of me. My hands were resting on his palms. He seemed in a deep sleep. My boyfriend was such an handsome man. He didn't look skinny anymore and his cheeks were rounder. His skin seemed so soft and I was craving to trace my finger on his face. I kissed his nose instead and YongGuk woke up with a groan.He looked at me still sleepy and smiled.

“Sweety, you’re up ?”

I nodded. He hugged me, making my hands rest on his chest. "YongGuk ... what about university ?"

His eyes avoided mine. "Well, I'm taking a leave for now."

"Because you have to care for me ?" I asked gently.

"Because I want to take care of you. Not the same. Let's not fight about that, huh ?" He said with a tired voice. I sighed. I didn't want us to figh about that either.

"YongGuk, please, I want you to go to university. Don't miss your examen session."

He sighed. "I'll take them later. I promise." He kissed my forehead and looked at me, suddenly realizing. "You heard the call, right ?"

I nodded, ashamed. His expression hardened. "I knew I heard steps in the stairs. HaSeul don't believe what she says. You count for me."

"What about if the roles were reversed ? Would you allow me to stay by your side all day when I'd need to go to school ?"

YongGuk seemed defeated by my question. He was a bad liar. "I understand but still ..."

"The ladies from the market could visit me once a day." I added before he finished to talk.

He raised his hands in defeat. "I'll talk to them."

I hugged him. YongGuk looked at me. "I have conditions, young lady. You need a therapist to get better. Or else how do you want to feel peaceful about what happened to you ?"

He knocked gently on my head. "I"ll go back to university if you promise me to follow a therapy."

A therapy ? YongGuk wasn't wrong about this. I would like to go out and take car or buses just like I used to do before.

"It's a deal ?"YongGuk showed me his pinky finger before remembering. I chuckled at his cute mistake. 

"Sorry I forgot for a mere second ..."

He took my bandaged hands and traced my palms with his fingers.  I kissed his lips to seal our contract. "Deal. I promise"

YongGuk held my hands in his and kissed them. "I can't wait for your hands to heal.You remember when we held hands while I was in jail. I felt so happy about this. I always felt like I was given a priviledge."

Looking at his eyes, he really thought of it as a fond memory about us. "Haseul, never think of yourself like a weight in my life. You're the reason why I'm free. You saved me. "

He made me rest on his lap and hugged me tighly, burying his head on my shoulder.

*

Bang YongGuk

As I headed to class a few days after that, I asked the ladies from the market to keep an eye on HaSeul I didn’t want her to stay alone. The ladies from the market accepted right away to keep an eye on HaSeul, it was heartwarming.

What Mom said hurted. My life has been so imbricated with her since I met her, and even more after my release. I didn’t remember what life was without her. Her telling me that HaSeul was holding me back was so wrong. Suggesting to break up with her was like throwing me in the unknow and wild world all alone. Freedom meant HaSeul. I was alone for such a short period of time after I got released that I just felt so connected to her. She helped the person I am today. My life wouldn’t be that one if she didn’t step up for me if she didn’t fight for my life. So hearing my mom talking about breaking up hurted on several level.

And my feelings were too deep, too strong to accept this. Coming back to university, I had  classes to catch up. I took time to explain my situation to my professors and they gave me new deadlines for homework. At lunch, I called home.

"Lady Ho, everything went okay ?"

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