"Moon Yongsun"

Wheein reads the name engraved in the epitaph.

It was oddly familiar, as if her heart recognizes the name; Wheein guessed it's probably because of how many times Byul has mentioned her name.

Byul placed a bouquet of lilies beside Yongsun's grave along with the other fresh flowers surrounding it; Byul obviously visits her everyday.

Wheein wonders if she'd ever find someone who would love her the way Byul loves Yongsun. More specifically, she wonders if Byul could ever love her the way she loves Yongsun.

But she acknowledges the fact that maybe its too early to think about it now.

So there they are, finally standing right in front of Yongsun's grave. Byul was quieter than usual on their ride to the cemetery, so she knows that there's a lot of things going through Byul's mind right now. Maybe Byul's having second thoughts, or maybe she just had a bad day, but Wheein can't let that dampen her mood too, so she finds comfort at how Byul didn't let go of her hand this time.

"Yong," Byul breathed, "I want you to meet Wheein." she says, sounding a bit tensed, guilty even. The way Byul introduced her as if she's some mistress that someone introduced to a legal wife is unsettling. But she tries to brush it off; she needed to be more understanding. She decided to focus on the fact that Byul actually introduced her to Yongsun. "She's a good friend of mine." Byul felt the need to add.

Friend.

It shouldn't hurt because they aren't really anything but that, but somehow Wheein hoped Byul would at least refer to her as her date. She feels petty for thinking that way, but she can't help it.

There was a pang of pain on Wheein's heart when Byul obviously couldn't look her in the eyes. Yongsun wasn't really there, at least not physically, but somehow Wheein feels like she's still second best.

She knows it isn't a competition but she wonders if being with Byul would always feel like this.

She hopes not; her heart could only take so much.

Wheein's POV:

"Hello, Yongsun-ssi." I greeted, trying to make a conversation as if the other woman was actually present.

My remark caused Byul to look at me.

It was ironic.

It was the first time Byul really looked at me tonight.

I dressed nicely, I asked Hyejin to do my hair and makeup, my mom and grandma even gave me a brand new perfume, just for tonight, but Byul didn't seem phased by my preparation; if she appreciates it, she didn't show. But when I said Yongsun's name, suddenly, Byul's attention was on me.

If I had known, maybe I would've just printed her name on my shirt.

I didn't expect Byul to be so quiet. Yesterday actually felt like things were starting to go smoothly. And the kiss... -I know we're not in some fairytale where a kiss would magically take away all the pain, but I at least expected things to be a little better, a little clearer.

I guess I should've known better.

"I'm glad to finally meet you." I uttered. Byul won't talk to me, so I might as well talk to Yonsgun. It seemed like no one would answer me, anyway. "Byul told me a lot about you. In fact, you're all she ever talks about." I added, hoping that the bitterness in my heart didn't show.

My eyes then fell on the flowers that Byul just bought her. I tried my best to ignore the fact that Byul didn't give me one, but the green-eyed monster inside of me was really persistent.

"You're so lucky, do you know that?" I asked, addressing the question to a tomb. "Byul loves you so much." I state, as my voice wavered; I was caught in between jealousy and sincerity. It's painful how much I envy someone who's already dead, despite trying my best to understand.

"She probably tells you that every day." I remarked. When I catch a glimpse of Byul, she was looking away, but I could tell that tears were threatening to fall from her eyes.

I could feel her hand slowly slipping away from mine but I tightened my grip on her hand. I'm not willing to let go of her yet. "Can I ask you a favor, Yongsun-ssi?" I asked Yongsun.

"Can you tell Byul that it's okay now?" I asked as tears start to fall from my eyes, overwhelmed by my own emotions. "Please tell her that she's allowed to love and be loved by someone else." I don't know if I'm crying because of the clenching of my heart or the pain on Byul's eyes, but I'm hoping for some miracle to happen just so she could tell Byul herself; so Byul could finally free herself from the cell that she locked herself in. It's getting harder and harder each day watching her be imprisoned by her past.

"Wheein-ah." Byul whispered, I don't know if she wants me to stop because I'm crying or because she's going to cry soon but her hand reached for my cheek; her thumb wiped my tears as I leaned in her touch.

"I obviously like you, Byul." I admitted, as if it wasn't the most obvious thing in the world. "I clearly do. And I'm willing to work this out, but we'll never have a future if you keep living in the past." I said with caution, I didn't know if I had any right to tell her all this, but I needed to say it. "So I need you to assure me that you're at least willing to move forward." I state, but I'm pretty sure it sounded a lot like I was begging.

A part of me died a little inside when she didn't answer.

Byul's POV:

"Please tell her that she's allowed to love and be loved by someone else." Wheein states, causing a hurricane in my head and in my heart.

"Wheein-ah." I say to try and change the topic, but it came out as a whisper.

I couldn't possibly tell her how scary it is to love someone else, and be loved by another person that isn't Yongsun. Yongsun's my first love. And she's the only love that I know.

"I obviously like you, Byul." Wheein says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "I clearly do. And I'm willing to work this out, but we'll never have a future if you keep living in the past." she states carefully, as if she'll scare me away if she didn't say it so gently.

"So I need you to assure me that you're at least willing to move forward." she adds, her voice cracking at the end, as if she's falling and she needed something to hold on to.

...And I couldn't catch her.

I couldn't give her the reassurance that she needs because I am still scared.

I'm scared to move on, because moving on meant that I have to accept that Yongsun is gone, and I would rather be heartbroken than forget Yongsun.

So I didn't say anything. I couldn't.

But I wrapped my arms around her; her body molding to mine while my tears threaten to fall; hoping that its enough reassurance for now...

But then she pulled away.

I cleared my throat. "Do you want to have dinner now?" I asked, trying to redirect the conversation.

She looked at me with uncertainty.

"I..." I trailed off. I know that I hurt her feelings by not being ab